Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

a yey peer erence ane - THE BALLET-GIRL’S REVENGE. 139 a a a * Don’t know,” he said, staring rudely. ‘How long since?” demanded Mermet, far too occupied to heed the insolent demeanour of the fellow. “I can’t say, my friend,” said the flunkey, super- ciliously._ “ Your friend?” iterated Mermet. “ Whatever is the _ idiot talking about ?” This brought John Thomas a little nearer to his natural level. ‘“‘ Answer my question, you painted jackanapes !”’ exclaimed the necromancer. ‘‘ Where has your mis- tress gone to ?”’ “I, I can’t say, sir. minutes since.”’ ‘© Not more 2?” ** No, sir.”’ “And you don’t know if she went right or left? Answer me, fellow. I tell you that I have most im- ‘portant business with her.” John Thomas was now really very much alarmed. Some great folks, he knew by experience, were very peculiar individuals in appearance. The necromancer might therefore be even a duke or a marquis. Who could say? Then upon Mermet further assuring the fellow that he came by appointment, and had instructions in a letter (which he here produced) to ascertain in which direction she had gone and follow with all speed, “Well, sir,’*replied the domestic, “‘I know that Miss Waler ave left in the carriage not more than five minutes since.’’ ** Five minutes 2?” 66 Yes, sir.’’ “In which direction ?” “¢ Can’t say, sir.’’ ““Fool!’’? exclaimed the Arab, in great wrath. ““Can’t you say if she went right or left, north or south.”’ ‘Yes, sure, she went that way,’ said the man, now ready to kiss the necromancer’s boots, in hu- mility. Just at this juncture a splendid equipage, high upon the smoothest of springs, came rattling along the square. ‘“‘ Here is our carriage,” said the footman. Walgrave’s back.”’ ‘‘That’s fortunate.’’ The carriage was passing the house when the ser- vant at the door stopped it. “¢ James.” ‘‘ Yes,’’ answered the coachman. ‘¢ Where did you leave Miss Walgrave ?”’ “ Near Covent Garden.” “Do you know which way she intended going after you left her?’’ asked Mermet. No,” sir.”? “You quitted her at the market ? iY “€ Close by, sir.” “¢ What do you mean by that?’’ ‘Tn one of the streets leading into the Strand.” ce Ah! ? “‘ Wellington Street, I think, sir.” <‘ And was Miss Walgrave going in the direction of the Strand ?”’ SOV en, Siri? * ff Good. yy And with no more acknowledgement of the ser- vant’s services than this, the little necromancer hob- bled off. He was in the cab again in an instant. ‘< Waterloo Bridge,’’ he shouted tothe driver through the little tr ap in the roof. “Yes, sir.’ ‘¢ And double fare if you double your speed.” ‘6 Yes, sir.” She went out about ten ‘¢ Miss The cabman whipped up his horse and they flew over the ground in a way which would have brought the jarvey into trouble with the police, had he been noticed by those diligent officials. A few minutes at this sparkling rate sufficed to bring them to Waterloo Bridge. As they passed through the toll Mermet tossed a shilling to the toll-keeper, and they drove on without waiting for change. Mermet stretched over the doors s, and drew himself up by the splash-board. ‘¢ What was that?” Something white upon the left parapet of the bridge caught his eye. He stretched eagerly forward. Yes. There was a something there which most tere ribly confirmed some doubts which the Arab had pre- viously entertained. He saw the white skirts of a woman flutter for an instant upon the stone parapet. Then disappear. ‘* Stop! stop !’? shouted Mermet. The cabman pulled up with such suddenness that the horse was thrown almost upon its haunches and Mer- met was dashed back upon the seat. Springing up, however, he jumped from: the cab and dashed up to the spot. His lameness seemed to disappear almost entirely with the necessity for active movements. He clawed hold of the stone abutment and drew himself up. Leant eagerly over. All that he could now see in the dim light was that there was a faint sign beneath of some object having fallen into the water. The water was but very little agitated, and the only evidences to confirm the necromancer’s suspicions were the expanding circles upon the surface. He rushed back to the cab. ‘¢ What’s the matter, sir ?”’ demanded the astonished jarvey. “Woman jumped over the bridge,’’ answered the necromancer. ‘* Indeed, sir ?” “¢'Yes-—back again—drive for your life! see what’s to be done.’’ ses, sir: The cab flew back again. It pulled up short by the steps, and Mermet was out and galloping down before an eye could wink. “‘ Boat! boat!’? he shouted. ‘ Boat ahoy!” But some. little delay was here occasioned, for there were no watermen about at that hour. Mermet must have despaired now of attaining his object had there not chanced to be two men upon the pier whose attention had been attracted by the falling of the unfortunate suicide. “*¥ti!” shouted the Arab. ‘‘Hi—a boat ahoy !” “‘ Hullo!’”? answered one of the men. “A boat—come quickly!’’ shouted Mermet, all excitement. ‘‘A woman has throw n herself off the bridges: = ‘Blessed if I He think so,’’ said one of the men. As he spoke Ke ran up, and, handrail, ran to the shore. Here were two or three boats, and one of them he proceeded to let loose with all possible speed. Mermet jumped in, and the fellow, shoving off, sprang in after him. He plied his oars with the skill of an experienced rower, and they ploughed through the muddy waters of the Thames with great rapidity. “Tt’s more than three minutes ac’o,”’ said the fellow, throwing in a word or two between each stroke. “ What of that ?”’ We must springing over a eORMElOO