The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

EVENING IN LONDON 57 approaching, and the woman again caught the commercial traveller by the arm to retain him in the doorway and im- press upon him the necessity of keeping silence. Almost immediately afterward, the form of a man passed the place where they were concealed; and it was easy to judge by his footsteps that he turned the corner into Horslydown. “We must remain a few minutes longer, if you please, sir,’ said the woman, in a whisper so low that had Page been a foot farther off he could not have distinguished the words that were thus uttered. In a very short time another man passed the doorway, and likewise turned into Horslydown; and when the echoes of his steps had died away, the Gallows’ Widow again re- quested her companion to stay a little longer in that recess. It now struck Page that the two men whom he had seen pass that way were not altogether unconnected with the present adventure; in fact, he felt assured that they were constables on the watch. But, almost simultaneously with this idea, the suspicion flashed to his mind that the Gallows’ Widow might be waiting in that dark concealment to ascertain i! her footsteps were dogged; and a cold trembling came over him as he contemplated the perils which he was encountering, the desperate character of the man whom he sought to deliver into the hands of justice, and the horrible neighbourhood in which he was pursuing this dangerous course. “What are you waiting for?’’ he suddenly demanded of his companion, in a whisper. ‘Hush! — more footsteps are approaching,’ was the prompt reply, also delivered in a tone barely audible. “ But I do not choose — ”’ began Page, his terror gaining upon him. , “ Silence — or I will blow your brains out!” was the low but hasty and emphatic rejoinder; and at the same time the commercial traveller felt the cold muzzle of a pistol touch his cheek. An appalling consternation seized upon him; and had he not been leaning against the wall in the deep doorway, he would have fallen to the ground. Another man passed along the street, and turned into Horslydown. * We will remain a little longer,” said the woman. “ But if you dare move or make a noise I shall instantly suspect ECOMNE OOO SS (GO)