The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

148 THE COURT OF LONDON “JT can at once fathom your meaning,” responded the lady, likewise lowering her voice to a scarcely audible whisper; “ but would you trust him? ” “And why not?’ asked the prince. ‘‘ He would not dare betray us, because he must know full well that not a human being would believe him, and that he would be treated as a bedlamite. Besides, gold purchases the secrecy even of such ruffians as this.” “True! But he is no longer the agent of the law; he has ceased to occupy his loathsome office,” observed the lady. “For, if I be not mistaken, he is the wretch who shot Mrs. Owen’s footman, and therefore he himself has become amenable to the law.”’ | “ Ah, I did not think of that at the moment,” said the prince. ‘“ But, at all events, let us question the villain and ascertain what his position and prospects really are. One never knows what loopholes such scoundrels have to creep out of. In any case, there is no harm in questioning him; it will only be at the expense . remaining a few minutes longer in his precious company.” With this resolve the prince turned again toward the Hangman, who had waited in some degree of suspense the result of the whispered colloquy between his Royal Highness and Ernestina. As for the lady herself, 1t was with evident reluctance that she again accosted the Hangman; nor did she much. admire the prospect of falling even more deeply into that rufhian’s power than she already was. ‘Now tell me,” said the prince, leaning against the secret door of the dressing-room, and fixing his eyes search- ingly upon the Hangman, ‘* what prospect you have of ever getting out of the scrape into which your crimes have plunged you? ”’ “First tell me,’ exclaimed Coffin, ‘‘ what motive you have in asking? ”’ . “No unfriendly one,’’ replied the prince. ‘‘ You are well aware that it does not suit my purpose to hand you over to the grasp of justice: that calculation you have already revolved in your mind, and therefore you need no assurance from my lips upon the point. But I have a particular reason for wishing to know whether you entertain any hopes of being shortly restored to the very pleasant and Gomichbooks (E(0)