Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 114: what you’re looking at

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

Se i oe — cw ROSE MORTIMER ; OR, In the meantime the gentlemen pulled off the steel shirt and searched for the wound. But all in vain. There was not the faintest signs of blood. he mark of-the pistol shot was shown by a faint dentin the steel, but it had not penetrated it. = A light blue spot upon the flesh showed that the shot had simply bruised it a little, nothing more. What, then, caused death ? Dead he was, it was apparent to an unpractised eye. “The fellow’s an arrant coward,” said his second contemptuously. ‘ He’s dead through funk.” ‘¢ What a paltry bully !” ‘©T told you so,” said Sir Harold. ‘‘ And you would not believe me when I told you of that affair at the club.’’ ‘*The poison business ?”’ 6 Ay”? “‘Because you gave no reason for such au extra- ordinary proceeding.” ‘But I can now.” 6 Well?” “The paper which has fallen from the rascal shows me that this scamp, who has so imposed upon us all, is an old offender in disguise.”’ ** Never.!”” At Struest “ You know him?” “Yes. I trounced the ruffian once before, long, long ago, for palming the king, or something rascally, and this is his revenge,” “* Bul who is he 2” ‘‘ Major Strangeways of to day,” said Sir Harold, ‘‘ was Captain Roper the blackleg.”’ And thus ends the career of this notorious scoundrel and cheat. CHAPTER XLIV, MERMET—THH POISON TRAFFIC—THE AGE OF THE BORGIAS REVIVED—A DARK SECRET—THE CANARY—THE VEILED VISITORS—THE WOULD- BE SUICIDE— THE OLD STORY — THE COUN- SEL—AHMET’S RETURN, WE have yet another visit to pay before return- ing to the fortunes of Rose. Mermet the Arab magician continues to receive illustrions guests. The high and mighty, low and humble, alike visit the Eastern necromancer. Many and curious are the secrets which Mermet now holds. Many a noble family lies at his mercy. Many an expectant heir would give the whole wealth to which he aspires, to be free from the power of the Arab, did he know how deeply he was in his clutches. Amongst the many visitor whom Mermet now re- ceived was one whose introductory interview we will attempt to describe. It: was a lady, who observed the strictest secrecy in all her movements. She arrived incognito, and wore a thick veil through- out the interview. All this, of course, excited the curiosity of Mermet to the utmost. When, however, the Arab learnt the nature of the business upon which the mysteiious lady had come to consult Lim he grew so interested in her movements that he determined to discover her name and family, if possible. As the lady entered the necromancer’s clamber she bowed and stared at the attendant Ahmet. Then she turned towards the Arab. “You are Mermet ?”’ Mernict bowed: ‘Can I speak with you ?” ‘* At your service.” ** Alone?” s Vey.7? “Then dismiss your man,” said the lady. A few words in their tongue were exchanged between master and servant, and the latter left the room. ‘* Now, my lady.’’ The visitor started. Her action was inentally noted by the necromancer, ‘My lady,’’ repeated the Arab, ‘‘ will you please to tell me the service you wish the humblest of your slaves to perform ?’’ | The lady paused a minute to consider, and then spoke abruptly. ** You deal in poisons ?”’ The necromancer was startled by the round manner of putting so dangerous and delicate a proposition. — However, he was a master of deception, and he replied to his visitor as coolly as the question had been put— EY eo «Some poisons.” ‘* And subtle deadly ones, which leave no tell-tale traces ?” “* Even those.”’ ** We must be sure of that.’ “You can be.” ‘J will be. I want no drug of which the victim must take a quart to destroy life, and then turn saffron- coloured.” ** My skill does not know such impotent compounds, lady.” c ** Doubtless.” ‘Tell me the kind of poison you desire, and you shall be satisfied at once as to its eficacy.” ‘* Have you a drug which would kill by inhaling it?” “ By smell?” ‘OY 6s,77 *©On a bouquet ?” ‘“ Ay, or elsewhere.”’ ‘Tl haves “Yon have ?” exclaimed tlie lady eagerly. “‘ Then that is mine.”’ *¢ T will show you.’’ And Mermet hobbled off his perch to a small carved cabinet, from which he took a long narrow-necked hial. The liquid within this will kill by the smell alone, and instantly.”’ ** And upon a bouquet?” ‘*The same,” ** Will it destroy colour?” **No. It is the more efficacious, of course, the more recently it is applied.” ‘““Good. Qh, it could be applied only at the very last moment—”’ The visitor suddenly stopped short and looked anxiously at the Arab, as if she almost feared that her hasty words had put him in possession of her secret. ** You are discreet ?”’ she asked. ‘The nature of our business together should speak for that.’’ ccTrue.:: ** Rest assured that you see me now for the first and last time, if you wish it. No one on earth but ourselyes need know of your visit here,’ *€ Good.”’ ** And as for the drug, I defy any one on earth to detect its presence, no matter how keen or learned the chemist.’’ ‘And of its power you can youch ?” ‘** More, I will proye it.” ‘* How 2?” *€ You shall see.” com ClHOOKS a CO