The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 175: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XIX THE PATRICIAN LADY AND THE PLEBEIAN GIRL WE must now return to Caroline Walters, whom we left at the conclusion of her interview with Mr. Rigden. On issuing forth from that gentleman’s office, she retraced her way to the coffee-house where she had passed the night; and, seating herself in a corner of one of the boxes, she opened a book in the contents of which she soon affected to be deeply absorbed. But her thoughts were elsewhere, and her ears were open to catch every piece of intelligence which any newcomer might happen to impart to the other persons frequenting the place. Nor was Caroline compelled to remain very long in suspense, ere she acquired the cer- tainty that her letter to the Bow Street magistrate had produced the wished-for result. “T say,’ exclaimed an individual who bounced into the cofiee-room at about half-past one o’clock in the afternoon, and who thus familiarly addressed himself to three or four of his acquaintances who were seated there, ‘‘ I say, my fine fellows, have you heard what an awful discovery and precious smash there’s been up at the West End just now?” “No. What is it?’’ was the query put with all the impatience of suddenly awakened curiosity. ‘‘ You remember that two Bow Street officers, one Grumley and one Mobbs, disappeared very suddenly some little time ago, don’t you? Well,’ continued the informant, “ their fate has come to light this morning, and it seems they were murdered — ”’ ‘““ Murdered! ’’ cried the listeners, with shuddering voices. “ Yes, murdered, and in a most mysterious manner, too,” continued the informant. ‘“ At all events their bodies have 148 GoOmicdooks (E(©)