Ravenshoe. By Henry Kingsley.

390 RAVENSHOE.
woman, and a honest young woman in her way, and what she
says this night about her brother is gospel truth."
"Flimping" is a style of theft which I have never practised,
and, consequently, of which I know nothing. "Cly-faking" is
stealing pocket-handkerchiefs. I never practised this either,
never having had sufficient courage or dexterity. But, at all
events, Police-constable Dickson's notion of "an honest young
woman in her way" seems to me to be confused and unsatisfactory in the last degree.
The inspector said to Charles: "Sir, if gentlemen disguise
themselves they must expect the police to be somewhat at fault
till they open their mouths. Allow me to say, sir, that in putting
on your servant's clothes you have done the most foolish thing
you possibly could. You are on an errand of mercy, it appears,
and I will do what I can for you. There's a doctor and a Scripture reader somewhere in the court now, so our people say.
They can't get out. I don't think you have much chance of getting in."'By Jove!" said Charles, "do you know that you are a
deuced good fellow? I am sorry that I was rude to you, but I
am in trouble, and irritated. I hope you'11 forgive me."
"Not another word, sir," said the inspector. "Come and look
here, sir. You may never see such a sight again. Our people
dare n't go in. This, sir, is, I believe, about the worst court in
London."
"I thought," said Charles, quite forgetting his top-boots, and
speaking " de haut en bas," as in old times,-" I thought that
your Rosemary Lane carried off the palm as being a lively
neighborhood."
" Lord bless you," said the inspector, " nothing to this. Look
here."
They advanced to the end of the arch, and looked in. It was
as still as death, but it was as light as day, for there were candles
burning in every window.
"Why," said Charles, " the court is empty. I can run across.
Let me go; I am certain I can get across."
"Don't be a lunatic, sir," said the inspector, holding him tight.
"Wait till I give you the word, unless you want six months in
Guy's Hospital."
Charles soon saw the inspector was right. There were three
houses on each side of the court. The centre one on the right
was a very large one, which was approached on each side by a
flight of three steps, guarded by iron railings, which, in meeting,
formned a kind of platform or rostrum. This was Mr. Malone's
house, whose wife chose, for family reasons, to call herself Miss
Ophelia Flanigan.