The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

50 THE COURT OF LONDON admire the prospect of placing himself in collision with Joe the Magsman and the Gallows’ Widow. ‘“There’s a hundred pound reward offered for the appre- hension of the Magsman,’”’ observed Mr. Grumley, deliber- ately unrolling a bundle of bills printed in ominously large type, and displaying the one which related to a certain Joseph Warren. “ A hundred pound to be got,” he repeated; ‘and therefore me and Mr. Page will go sheers.’ “ That’s businesslike,’’ exclaimed the commercial trayv- eller, his countenance brightening up at the prospect of a recompense for the risk he was about to encounter. “Well, then,” resumed Mr. Grumley, “ you must keep the appointment punctual this evening; and when you meet the Gallows’ Widow, you must tell her that you want to see Joe the Magsman about some partickler business, and that you’re going on as far as the Beggar’s Staff in Horsly- down. If so be the Magsman is in the neighbourhood at the time, watching your interview with his woman, she’ll most likely take you to him. If not, she’ll say that you can go with her to the flash boozing-ken. But in any case you must go on to the Beggar’s Staff; and then leave all the rest to me.” “Am I to go alone?”’ inquired Page, with some degree of surprise and dissatisfaction at the arrangements proposed. ‘“ To be sure! ’’ answered the officer. ‘‘ Why, what a fool’s trick it would be to make your appearance with a troop of constables at your back. The rascals would take the alarm, and in a few minutes they’d be nowhere. Don’t be afraid, sir; assistance will be pretty nigh, I can tell you.” “Very good,’ remarked Page. ‘“‘ And supposing that I am introduced into the presence of this Magsman, as he calls himself, what excuse had I better make for wanting to see him? ”’ “Why, you'll tell him that you’re in the employ of a very rich firm in the city, and that having made a mull of your accounts, you’re grown desperate and don’t mind helping to rob ’em,” said the officer. ‘ The Magsman will snap at the bait; and so, if we don’t succeed in grabbing him to- night, we shall be preparing a plant to catch him in Wood Street. But you must mind and do it properly, or else the whole thing’ll fail, and he’ll grow cunninger than ever.’ “T understand,’ observed Page, ‘‘ and you may depend CONNIE OOO KS (Ele)