The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER VIII MR. GUNTHORPE In the evening of the same day, punctually at half-past six o’clock, a loud double knock was given at the front door of the house in which Harold Staunton occupied handsome lodgings. He and his friend Lord Saxondale were together in the drawing-room, and at the sound of that knock they approached one of the windows. “As I live,” cried Edmund, “ he has come in a hansom patent cab! ”’ and he turned away with a grimace expressive of immitigable disgust. “IT wonder whether Alfred will be able to keep his counte- nance as he shows him up,” observed Lord Harold. ‘“ Iam sure I could not blame him if he did not. But then,’’ he immediately added, “‘ Alfred is so very discreet and prudent. But what on earth is the old fellow stopping to parley with the cabman for? I do believe he is disputing the fare. Good heavens! what will the people of the house think, what will the neighbours think, what — ”’ “Yes, and now the quarrel 1s waxing warmer,’ cried Saxondale, returning to the window and looking down into the street. ‘‘ By jingo, this is devilish pleasant! A crowd is already collecting.”’ “You are nothing better than a reg’ lar old bilk,’’ were the words which, being vociferated forth by the indignant cab- man, now reached the ears of the two young nobles who were gazing aghast from the first floor windows. ‘‘ What do you think,’ pursued the cabman, turning around and appealing to those whom the disturbance had already col- lected, ‘‘ this old fogy, with his great shirt-frill, wants me to take sixteen pence for driving him from the Bell and Crown right away up in Holborn, down here to Jarmyn - 83 GomiGcoaooks (S(O)