The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 141: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

UNPLEASANT VISITORS 125 want to know what you'll give if I help him to escape out of Newgate.” ‘‘ Escape! ” cried Ernestina, recoiling from the bare idea of a result which would fatally frustrate all her plans. ‘“ Ah! you may well be astonished at such a proposal, ma’am,” said Coffin, entirely mistaking the cause of her sud- den start and emphatic exclamation. ‘“ But I don’t think it’s altogether impossible. At least it’s worth while to have a try for it. You see that as your husband’s a genelman and connected with the aristocracy, he will be allowed many indulgences which poor devils in trouble couldn’t obtain for either love or money; and as you can visit him without being searched, you can easily take him a file and a jimmy. A jimmy, ma’am, is a small crowbar, — a very handy thing at times, as genelmen of the crack and pannie . profession well know. It’s the best thing to open a shop with, ma’am, a capital stock in trade, as one may say, for an enterprising individual anxious to set hisself up in busi- ness. Well, my lady, if Mr. Dysart can get out of the con- demned crib and manage to reach the roof of the Stone Jug, or even let himself into one of the yards, [ could have a party of leary chaps all in readiness outside to help him to do the rest; and then, a post-chaise and four spanking horses being close at hand — ”’ ‘‘T thank you,” interrupted Ernestina, who had listened thus far with the tortures of impatience, ‘‘ but your proposal cannot be accepted. My uncle, the Marquis of Leveson, has written a strong and appealing letter to the prince regent on my unfortunate husband’s behalf, and I have every hope and confidence therein. But should Mr. Dysart endeavour to escape and be caught in the fact, all chance of reprieve or pardon would be frustrated. I shall give you five guineas for your trouble in calling upon me — ”’ But scarcely had Ernestina taken out her purse as she thus spoke, when the footman entered the room, saying, ‘Mr. Lawrence Sampson wishes to speak to your ladyship.”’ Coffin had started up the instant the handle of*the door was heard to turn, and thus the domestic did not observe that he had been previously sitting in a familiar manner in Lady Ernestina Dysart’s company. But when the terrible name of the Bow Street officer was mentioned, the Hang- man became visibly troubled. Ernestina saw in a moment CEONNICLOOO (CO)