The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 384: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXxXI A NIGHT ADVENTURE It was about twelve o’clock on the same night of which we have been writing in the previous chapter that Chiffin the Cannibal emerged from the Edgeware Road, and crossing Oxford Street, entered Park Lane. But instead of immedi- ately pursuing his way, he stopped short, looked up and down, and not perceiving the person whom he expected to meet him at that spot, he gave vent to a deep imprecation, muttering likewise, ‘‘ If he don’t come, I’ll make him repent it the next time I meet him, hang me if I don’t! ”’ Fearful of encountering a policeman, the Cannibal walked a little way down Park Lane, and then turned back; but when he found that the person whom he awaited did not make his appearance, a deeper and more terrible imprecation denoted the rufhan’s ferocious rage. In order to avoid attracting any inconvenient notice, his bludgeon was concealed beneath his loose, shaggy coat, and he kept as much as possible in the deep shades of the place where he was now loitering. For it was a clear, bright night, and, moreover, the street-lamps in front of the man- sions in Park Lane gave forth a light which rendered it all the more necessary for him to observe the utmost caution. ‘ Perhaps he thinks because it’s a fine night I shouldn’t do the trick,’’ muttered the Cannibal to himself, ‘‘ but he’s no business to have any opinion of his own in the matter. lor the job of getting into a strange place without a confeder- ate inside, and no put-up affair, I rather like a clear night. One sees better how to go to work. Some cracksmen always do their business in the dark, and though it’s a good rule on most occasions, it isn’t always to be followed. But here’s Tony, after all, blow him!” 367 COnniCcooolkKs (CO)