Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

ee ROSE MORTIMER 5 OR, CCC ttt ——————— “‘You told me that you could secure her acqui- escence.” ‘* Miss Chepstow’s ?” 74 Yes.”? “‘And so I can, to anything that is upright and honourable—to anything that can bear the light of day.”’ The young man coloured slightly. ‘‘Humph!” he muttered. ‘‘ You choose a strange hour for such words.” ‘* What matters the hour ?”’ “Nothing great, perchance,” said Mr. Brownbill. ‘* And yet some people do say that night is the hour for evil deeds. You have been abroad late, too, Mr. Mermet.”’ He gave such a deep significance to his words that the necromancer coloured deeply beneath his glance. This speaks for itself. It must indeed have struck truly home to cause the necromancer to feel uncomfortable in the least degree, - ‘* Babbling old women talk thus,’’? muttered Mer- met. “* And not old women alone. However, this is but childish gossip. Can you do as you have told me, or is it merely a fiction ?” , ¢'A what ?”’ ‘A fiction—or, if you like it better, sir conjuror, a lie.” The necromancer started to his feet in the greatest rage at this. His hand grasped a small crystal phial, the very one which had stood him in such good stead upon the occasion of his trip to Richmond. But a great stake was at hand, and he made an effort to put a curb upon his temper. It was a powerful effort too, for the necromancer was not precisely a philosopher. On the contrary, he felt an insult as deeply as the most honourable and upright man could do, ““No matter,” he muttered, grinding his set teeth ferociously. ‘‘T must wait. He shall pay for it—ay, and shortly too.” “* Well, my friend,’’ said Mr. Brownbill, “and what does all that whispering mean, eh? Hatching spells and charms, old boy ??? “T am thinking.” “* Of what ?”’ ‘“Vou.? “¢ And what of me?” 4 ‘‘ That youth is as hot-headed now as in the days | man. . of yore.”’ “And age as cunning and as garrulous too, “ added the visitor. - No matter. I have no wish to prolong this inter- view.’ ‘“‘ Nor I, ’pon my soul.” “*Then say what you wish, and begone at once,” said Mermet. | ““That’s kind. However, I desire no more. I want to know of your boasted skill.’’ The Arab interrupted him. ‘* T boast none.” “Well, well, we will not quarrel for a word. Can you tell me—as you in your superstitious fervour or gammon say you can—if Lotty Chepstow is to be mine ?”’ “Choose your expressions better, or I shall not reply 2?” ‘You don’t like the gammon and the superstitious fervour ?” ‘**No, I donot. As for superstition, you must not accuse me of that weakness, since you yourself pos- Sess it to a large degree.’’ “Do I, egad 2?” ‘Else why are you here 2”? ~ “The old curmudgeon has me there,’’ thought the visitor. ‘‘ Well, no matter,’’ he added aloud. “You must make some allowances, Mr. Mermet. Give me the information I desire, if in your power, and I will requite your pains.” ‘¢ Requite my pains ?”’ “‘ Ay, as amply as your avarice shall demand of me.” ‘‘T have no avarice. I love not gold.” ‘Bosh! There, there, don’t pucker up so. I can’t understand a man not liking gold, and that’s the fact. I have rather a liking for it, I can tell you. How- ever, I will part with any quantity in moderation to learn what I wish to know.”’ “Say on, then.”’ ‘© In a word, shall I succeed ?” ‘In making this girl yours ?” — 74 Ay.’’ ‘This is all I can say upon the matter. You have a greater chance of success this night than eyer will present itself again.” AnD ‘‘ This is the reason of it. She will not have coun- sellor at hand to warn her against your villanies,” ceils It was now the visitor’s turn to grow indignant. The information he got here, however, was so agree- able to him that he soon forgot his indignation. He rose to depart. ‘‘ You are going ?”’ said Mermet. 74 Yes.’ “€ Shall my servant call you a cab 2?” ‘No, mine waits.” * Very good.” He rang the bell and Ahmet appeared. ; “The gentleman’s hat and coat.” ¢ *< Yes, sahib.”’ Then he said a few words in a foreign tongue to the man, and, with a bow to the visitor, left the room. Mermet hurried downstairs before Mr. Brownbill could leave the room, hastily snatched up his cloak and hat from the hall, and left the house. A cab was waiting close at hand, and Mermet walked quickly up to it. ** You are waiting for a gentleman?” he asked the driver. ** Yes, sir.” **T have to take you. He will not come out.” _ “ Phere’s my back fare, though.” ‘1’ settle that with you.” All right, sir.” Mermet got in and called out a direction to the ‘Double fare if you drive quickly,” he said. “ All right, your honour.” And, lashing up his horse, they flew over the stones with the rapidity of a fire engine. Arrived at the direction given, Mermet got down, remunerated the cabman liberally, and dismissed him. A gentle rap at the door soon brought a light to one of the windows. Then the door was opened by a fair comely girl of twenty summers. She started back, half alarmed at perceiving the rae and stopped short as a name rose to her ips. “* Arthur—” “‘No,” said Mermet. ‘Not Arthur Brownbill, Miss Chepstow. But I’ve come upon his behalf.” ** From Arthur ?” , *‘ Well, not precisely.” The girl looked unspeakably alarmed. ‘* He is not ill ?”” she asked nervously. ‘No. I left him not long since—that is, to day— quite well. He was then in the company of several persons whose society appeared to keep him in the best of spirits,’ Bcomichbooksreom