The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

THE FLIGHT AND THE PURSUIT kay “Who d’ye mean?” demanded the coachman belonging to the yellow vehicle. ‘Why, your fare, to be sure,’’ answered Page; “the gentle- man in the cloak! ”’ “ Well, he didn’t say much,” was the response; “ only when he happened to twig that you or some one with ye was hanging half-way out of that coach, he instantly called out to me to stop, tossed me a guinea, and cut off.” “But in which direction?’’ demanded the impatient commercial traveller. ‘‘ Ah! there you bother me,’’ returned the man, evidently fencing with the question. ‘You mean that he gave you a guinea not to answer any questions?” cried the astute Page. ‘‘ Come, here are two; and now tell me the truth.” “‘Thank’ee kindly, sir,’ said the jarvey, leaning down from his box to receive the gold which Page handed up to him; then, having clutched the reward, he added, “ But it’s precious little information I can give you, sir. All I know is that when the gentleman jumped out of the coach, he cut across the road and was out of sight in a minute. Whether he turned down the lane there, or whether he went into one of the little gardens in front of the houses close by, I really can’t say. But it must have been one or t’other, for he disappeared in a jiffy.” “ And that’s all you can tell me for the two guineas! ”’ exclaimed the irritated commercial traveller. “Every bit, sir,” responded the man; and whipping his horses as he thus spoke, the yellow vehicle rolled rapidly away. ‘‘ Perdition!’ cried Page; “‘ he has fairly swindled me! But never mind, [ shall not give up the chase, so follow me, my men, as quick as you choose.” And conceiving that it was not worth while to return into the vehicle in order to accomplish the little distance to the spot where the object of pursuit had descended from the yellow coach, the commercial traveller took to his heels, rushing along the road like a madman. Grint and Sneesby, supposing that Page intended them to follow him likewise on foot, now leaped out of the vehicle; but the coachman, suddenly impressed with the idea that his fare were endeavouring to bilk him, bounded from the PF ce I on, comichboo SS (GO)