Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 309: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXVI THE SNARE THE carriage had stopped in the same place where the Marquis of Eagledean and William Deveril had alighted on the former occasion of their visit to Agar Town, and the coachman being ordered to wait their return, they pro- ceeded toward Solomon Patch’s boozing-ken. On reaching the entrance of that establishment, the uproarious sounds of mirth and revelry rang forth even louder than usual, and on crossing the threshold, the visitors perceived the land- lord and his better half serving malt and spirituous liquor to the ill-looking persons gathered about the bar. It was from the tap-room that the din of voices emanated, and the whole conversation of the revellers there appeared to be made up of oaths, obscenities, slang songs, and ribald jests. The moment the marquis and William Deveril made their appearance, Solomon Patch, evidently prepared for their arrival, stepped forward to receive them with his usual cring- ing servility, and inducted them into the little parlour be- hind the bar. He officiously handed them chairs, and bus- tling about, drew a bottle of wine and put some glasses on the table, before they had leisure to utter a word, much less give a specific order for any refreshment, even if they had required it. | “Ts a certain person here?’ asked the nobleman, with a significant look at Solomon Patch. ‘Yes, he be, sir,’ was the reply. ‘‘ Mr. Chiffin, who is a genelmen of the greatest punctuality, and never keeps nobody waiting for nothing whatsumdever, will show the light of his blessed countenance in less than five minutes.”’ “You seem to have a great deal of custom here,” remarked 292 Sj (eo) m Gomichoo | |