The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 389: what you’re looking at

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

308 THE COURT OF LONDON excellent. In fact, you must make yourself as comfortable as you can, while I go and see what my young woman can do toward accommodating you for the night.” The baronet made no reply, but threw a look of bitter annoyance around the room, and of disgust upon the But- toner; then seating himself on a rough stool at the clumsy table, he once more endeavoured to soothe his annoyance and resign himself to the temporary inconveniences of his position. The Buttoner opened a small door and ascended a narrow staircase, which creaked and groaned beneath his heavy tread, while Bencull, Bob the Durrynacker, and the Mush- room Faker sat down at the second table and began drinking as fast and furiously as if they had never tasted strong waters before in their lives. It was, notwithstanding, pretty evident that there was no lack of the alcoholic fluid in the hut, as indeed the numerous bottles which appeared on the shelves of an open cupboard satisfactorily proved. In a few minutes the Buttoner came down-stairs again, and presenting a sheet of paper, writing materials, and sealing-wax to the baronet, he said, ‘“‘ Now, sir, you’ll please to draw up at once that there letter which is to be delivered to your housekeeper, Mrs. Baines, as I think you called her; ’cos why, my young woman will get up precious early in the morning, so as to be at your house in town, wherever it is, by eight or nine o’clock.”’ Sir Douglas Huntingdon immediately proceeded to pen the requisite instructions for the payment of the hundred suineas to the bearer; and having affixed his signature to the letter, he was about to seal it when the Buttoner leaned over his shoulder, observing in a coarse tone of familiarity, ‘“ Beg pardon, sir, but I must see what you have wrote, if you please.”’ ‘‘ By all means,’ observed the baronet, scarcely attempt- ing to conceal his disgust. ‘‘ But if you did not mean me to close the letter, why did you bring the sealing-wax? ”’ ‘“T fancied you would rayther seal it,’’ was the reply; ‘so that when delivered at your door, to-morrow morning, it won’t be read by no one but her as it is addressed to. But all this isn’t no reason why I shouldn’t see aforehand what the letter really contains. Howsumever, it’s all right, and so now you can seal it.”’ GOMIGDOOKS () (E(0)