Both Kelly and Murphy answered that they did.
"Why, then," he said, "I'll tell you what: there's an old blind bitch that keeps a shop within twenty yards of Holborn Bridge and sells fine Flanders lace, and her daughter is as blind as herself. Now, if you'll take the trouble of calling upon her, you may speak with a box of lace. I'll go along with you, and show you the door."
The Judge at this moment intervened with the question, "What do you understand by 'speaking with a box of lace'?"
Even in our own day judges are commonly found enquiring the meaning of phrases whose significance is common knowledge which one might reasonably suppose to be shared even on the Olympian heights of the King's Bench and other exalted divisions of the High Court. Every one in Jonathan Wild's day understood perfectly well that to "speak with" a thing was to steal it, and this was duly expounded to his lordship.
Then Kelly went on to explain how Wild, himself, and Murphy went along Holborn Hill until they came within sight of the lace-shop, which Wild pointed out to them.
"You go," he said, "and I'll wait here and bring you off, in case of any disturbance."
To all the Thieves, Whores, Pick-pockets, Family Fellons &c. in Great Brittain & Ireland, Gentlemen & Ladies You are hereby desir'd to accompany yr worthy friend ye Pious Mr. I——W—d from his Seat at Whittingtons Colledge to ye Tripple Tree, where he's to make his last Exit on, and his Corps to be Carry'd from thence to be decently Interr'd amongst his Ancestors.