The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 196: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XVI LADY BESS True to her appointment with Chiffin the Cannibal, Madge Somers crossed the threshold of Solomon Patch’s ‘boozing-ken in Agar Town just as the clock in the tap-room was striking nine, on the same evening on which Lady Saxon- dale’s entertainment took place. The Cannibal was drinking with a party of his friends when Madge made her appearance in the tap-room, but laying down his pipe and tossing off the remnants of his liquor, the Cannibal at once rose from his seat and followed her up into the room above. This room was specially devoted to the private conferences of the persons frequenting Solomon Patch’s house. It was here that many a dark and desperate deed was planned, here that the perpetrators thereof were wont to assemble afterward and divide the fruits of their iniquity, here also that Mr. Patch himself transacted business with his friends when stolen property was to be disposed of. It was a wretched place, Solomon Patch’s love of money and niggard disposition preventing him from laying out the few shillings that might have rendered it somewhat decent. But then, on the other hand, it answered the purpose very well; no one grumbled at its rude furniture, its dirty floor and blackened walls, nor were the persons who were accustomed to use the room of that delicate constitution likely to suffer by the draughts from the broken windows or the places where the absent panes were indifferently stopped up with old rags thrust through. A rude sort of staircase led up to an attic above, and this attic was provided with a bed for the accommodation of any one of Mr. Patch’s friends who might seek a tempo- rary retirement until some menacing storm was blown over. 179 CORVICLO@OO) (S(O)