Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

106 ROSE MORTIMER ; OR, **T don’t understand you yet’ ‘‘ Why, that is surely known to you.” What?” “‘The nature of the liquid.” *“T don't see—”’ ‘‘Pshaw! Major Strangeways,’’ said Sir Harold King. ‘ You don’t mean to tell me that you use poi- sons—”’ ‘* Poisons ?” *‘ Without knowing if they are vegetable or animal poisons.” ** Nonsense,”’ said the major. And he endeavoured to laugh, but it resulted in a failure. The baronet grew serious. ‘“‘Come, come, Major Strangeways,’”’ said the baronet, ‘‘no nonsense. You have tried to murder—” “* Murder ?”’ faltered the baronet. ‘“Ay, to murder me. Here's the proof of it. I shall take this to the nearest chemist.” ** Pooh, pooh!’’ *¢ And J shall deliver you over to the care of a con- stable without further delay.” The major jumped up. “Come, Sir Harold,’’ said he, growing serious at once. ‘‘ What do you mean by that assertion?” ‘‘ Why, you audacious scoundrel,” said Sir Harold, dare you yet brazen it out in face of these proofs ?” Which?” ‘¢ This ’ He held up the glass containing the ¢ een liquid, ‘‘That’s none,” ** No proof ?” HINO; “Tt strikes me, major, you’ll find it enough proof for a jury.” . “ Pshaw !”’ said the major, with scornful coldness, ‘* where are your witnesses ?” His coolness almost dumbfounded the baronet for a while. ‘‘Oh! as for witnesses,” he said, ‘‘ I'll soon settle that.” 3 Hejumped up, and, before Majcr Strangeways could divine his intention, rang the bell violently. A rush of servants was heard almost immediately. The major grew pale. Determination to do plainly marked in his face. A hand was laid upon the door without. Now then was the time to act, or be lost, and for ever. Up dashed the major.. With one bound he was upon Sir Harold. He tore the glass from his hand and threw it to the eround. This was barely accomplished when the door was opened, and in came two of the servants. The baronet could not contain his rage and disgust. ““ Miscreant !”’ he ejaculated. ‘‘ Cheat and traitor, your—”’ Passion choked him and he could not iterate. So he seized hold of the major by the collar, squeezing him so that he was more than half choked, Then dashed him to the ground. The major fell all of a heap, considerably shaken, bruised, and half-stunned. His first care upon gaining his feet was to appeal to the servants who had seen the affront put upon him, “You see that this man has outraged all the Jaws of society,’ said he, ‘and that he owes me reparation. Sir Harold King,’ he continued, turning to the baronet, and with bitter emphasis, ‘‘ you shall suffer for this.’’- “Good,” said the baronet. ‘‘I accept what you would propose—although to do justice upon you I ¢ n something desperate was should send you to the station-house without a mo- ment’s delay.” ‘‘In the morning,” said Major Strangeways, “a friend of mine will wait upon you.” “Oh! no,” said Sir Harold ironically, ‘‘ not in the morning. I don’t lose sight of you now, I can assure you.”’ “¢ What mean you?” | This,’ said Sir Harold. “1 am willing to give you the chance of shooting an English gentleman, although I shall be disgraced by opposing myself to your fire. But Ishan’t give you the chance to get off. Ishall disable you, and hand you over to the police.”’ “Enough, sir.’* The major smiled a bitter smile of hate and malice. ** We must have some witnesses to the deed. I don’t want torun any risk.” * You shall have witnesses.”’ Some gentlemen having heard the disturbance in the card-room, came in just at this point in the con- versation. They offered their services, which were at once ac- cepted. ‘* What is the nature of the quarrel ?”’ was the first question put. ‘‘Tt is no quarrel,’’ said Sir Harold. “This demon has basely attempted my life.” “Never !” “© Tmpossible !” Just so, gentlemen,’’ quoth the major, with the coolest assurance imaginable. ‘* So would any one say. But the fact is, if you must know, that Sir Harold King and I have been playing écarte for rather fool- ishly high stakes. I was unusually lucky, and you guess the rest.” “What?” said one of the gentlemen, “ Sir Harold lost his temper with his money.”’ ¢ Exactly.” ; In vain did Sir Harold protest against this barefaced assertion. It certainly looked as if he spoke the truth, The exhibition of choler appeared so much greater upon the baronet’s side than that of his adversary. ‘“‘ Enough, gentlemen,’ said Sir Harold King, after vainly endeavouring to make himself heard. “ This is a plausible scoundrel.” ‘*Come, Sir Harold !” “Well, hang it! I’ll have patience; but I pro- mise you that you will see how he has thrown dust in your eyes by his devilish cunning. Ask for an explanation of that broken glass.” ‘““Oh! that’s simple enough,” said the major, “I broke it.” cc You 993 (73 Ay.”? “He admits it,” “exclaimed Sir Harold King, all eagerness, ‘Yes, I admit it. I broke it because you were about to hurl it at my head, that’s all.” Sir Harold was utterly overwhelmed by the cool- ness of the ruffian major. He hurried down to the door, followed by the tiyo gentlemen and Major Strangeways, Here they called a cab. A hansom drove up. “‘ No,” said Sir Harold, ‘ A four-wheeler. We all go together.” Why 127 “‘T cannot spare that man out of my sight until he isin the hands of the police.’’ ‘This is nonsense.” “Nonsense or not, I insist upon this point,” said Sir Harold. This settled the discussion, and they had to yield. ‘Harley Street,’’ said Sir Harold. } oO ECONMIE OOO Sa