The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 391: what you’re looking at

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

374 THE COURT OF LONDON “ Well, I’ve no doubt but what my young woman will turn her to precious good advantage,’ said the Buttoner. ‘But wouldn’t it have been much better to go on looking after the swell cove than to bother oneself about young vals pitched from the top of stage-coaches? ” “This Huntingdon chap, you see, has slipped betwixt our fingers,” said the Mushroom Faker; “ and to think of looking any longer for him in the midst of this dark night was about as wise as to hunt for a needle in a haystack.”’ “Then we must all bolt off at once,” said the Buttoner, ‘or else the swell cove will p’r’aps come back with a posse of beaks at his heels.”’ ‘““ Now, then, who’s giving way to idle fears like that there, and where the deuce is the swell cove to get assistance or raise an alarm at this time of night? ”’ demanded Bencull, who had just descended from the chamber above. ‘*‘ The circumstance of his knowing our precious names and having seen all our beautiful faces is the worst; ’cos why, it will make London too hot to hold us. Now, then, I tell you what we will do,’ he continued, speaking with great rapidity. ‘““There’s no doubt this baronet — ”’ ‘“ Baronet! ’’ ejaculated the Buttoner. ‘‘ How d’ye know he’s a baronet? ”’ : “Why, your young woman says so,” answered Bencull. “Ah! Nell said so, did she?’’ observed the Buttoner, - all his suspicions flaming up again, more vividly than ever, in his mind; but not deeming the present time a favourable opportunity to mention his misgivings, he said, ‘ Well, go on, Bencull; what are we to do? What do you advise? ”’ “Why, I should think,” continued the landlord of the dark erib at Jacob’s Island, “‘ that the baronet must have vot down into the main road by this time; so either he is making for Dartford or else for Greenwich. Whichever it is, he must be overtook and done for, come what will. Now, then, you and me, Buttoner, will cut mght through the thicket and take the Dartford direction, while you two,” he added, addressing himself to the Durrynacker and the Mushroom Faker, “‘ set off toward Greenwich. This is what we ought to have done at first; but it’s better late than never, and we’re pretty sure to overtake him.” “Tl just run up and let Nell know what we are doing,” said the Buttoner. Gomichbooks (E()