The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 115: what you’re looking at

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

92 THE COURT OF LONDON “TI know it —I know it,’”’ murmured Mrs. Brace. “I have read it all in the newspapers.” “And Mr. Stephen Price, this young woman’s father,” continued Elizabeth Marks, pointing to her female com- panion, “ will be tried along with him. Well, we are certain that they won’t be put to death —”’ ‘How are you so sure of that?’ demanded the milliner in surprise, at the confidence with which the assertion was made. ‘Oh, because he caught the prince in a trap the other night,” responded the Gallows’ Widow; “ and we compelled him to give us a written guarantee that the men’s lives shall be saved. But they will be sentenced to transportation for the rest of their lives; and as me and Poll Price intend to follow them across the water, we thought it would be as well to carry out with us as much money as we can possibly rake together. So we resolved on paying you a last visit and taxing your generosity,” added Elizabeth Marks, with a slight amount of irony, “‘ for the last time.” “And how much do you require?’’ demanded Mrs. Brace, who had somewhat recovered her self-possession while the Gallows’ Widow was giving the preceding explana- tions. “ We can’t very well do with less than a thousand pounds,”’ said the Gallows’ Widow; “and if you will give us that sum, depend upon it you will never hear any more from us, whatever you may chance to hear of us.” ‘A thousand pounds! ”’ repeated Mrs. Brace. Then, sud- denly recollecting that Frederick Dray had more than half- promised to accede to her proposal for emigration and that they might therefore leave England within a few days, she hoped to gain time by observing, ‘‘ Well, I suppose I must comply with your demand; but when will you want the money? ”’ ‘“ Now, at once, down upon the nail; there’s nothing like the prompt!’ exclaimed the Kinchin-Grand. ‘IT have not a thousand pounds in the house,” said Mrs. Brace; “nor anything near that sum. It will take me at least a week to raise it.” ‘“ And in the meantime you'll perhaps be off to America,” observed the Gallows’ Widow. “ What — why — what made you think so? ”’ stammered CORNIELNOOLKS (E(0)