Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 168: what you’re looking at

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

162 ROSE MORTIMER ; OR, ‘¢ A little casket, air-tight, or as nearly so as possi- ble, to contain this bouquet.” ‘“‘ T’ve nothing exactly answering your description, doctor, but—’’ ‘‘Stay,’? interrupted Rose Mortimer anxiously. ‘I have such a box in my dressing-room. One moment, and I’ll fetch it.” She ran off, all eagerness now to render some assist- ance. The words coming from the doctor had put her own conduct before her in so reprehensible a light that she was all anxiety to do something to assist the work- ing of justice, She returned in the space of a few seconds with a small metal-bound box. : It was one she had recently purchased to contain her stage trinkets. As she rather prized this little casket, the greater was the consolation she felt in making the sacrifice in such a seryice. ‘“‘T shall take the bouquet with me,” said- the doc- tor, ‘‘and analyse it carefully.” — ‘‘ Do you think there is poison, doctor ?”? demanded the manager. ‘“‘T don’t merely think it. I am convinced of it. It only remains for me to discover what poison if is.”’ The doctor had only just completed his packing of the bouquet when Mr. Quirk’s messenger returned breathlessly. ‘Well, Manning,’’ said the manager, ‘f what have you discovered 2” ‘* Not much.” ‘‘ That’s unfortunate.’’ “TI traced him to the King’s Head Hotel, and described him to the landlord.”’ ‘‘Good. Did he recognise the description ?” “Yes, sir.?? “And what is his name ?”’ ‘¢ Smithson.” “ Assumed,” said the doctor, glancing up from his task. ““ No doubt.’? ‘¢ So much the better,”? said Rose Mortimer. ‘ For if he has disguised his name, and you can prove this, it will be something in the way of evidence against him.”’ ce Yes.”? But while the manager thus readily acquiesced, and was even pleased with Rose Mortimer’s discernment, the doctor, who saw further, was rather troubled by her reply. “It strikes me that you are rather quickly grasp- ing at conclusions too,” he said. ‘‘ Why so?” ‘“‘ Tf this name is an assumed one, it would prove the whole affair to be premeditated, rather than the work of revenge upon Miss Mortimer for haying slighted his attentions.”’ Rose began to feel uncomfortable again. His reasoning was clear and simple enough. She felt in fear that she was being gradually drawn back into those fatal incidents which had so embit- tered her existence during her brief stay at Sloeford. The manager happily broke in and interrupted this part of the discussion as it began to assume an un- pleasant feature for our heroine. ‘“‘One moment, doctor,” he said. ‘‘ As_the old saying has it, ‘ First catch your hare.? How about this Mr. Smithson, Manning ?” ** Gone, sir.” -ewWhat 2? ‘** Left the hotel.” ** Already 2” ‘‘Yes, sir. Left in a hurry—a letter coming unexpectedly, he said.” The doctor and Mr. Quirk exchanged significant elances. i LL ‘Tt looks strange,’’ said the former. “ ‘ Strange ?”” echoed the manager. “ It looks to me, doctor, a clear case.”’ * * ES bg a a As soon as Lady Bellisle left Rose Mortimer at the inn where so desperate an attempt had been made upon her life she hastened back to Sloeford. _ She expected here to see the earl, according to to a previous agreement. ; However, the first person she encountered (one of the domestics) informed her that his lordship had only that day departed. He had left suddenly, afier writing a letter to her ladyship, which was here delivered to her. | «¢ And Miss St. John ?’”’ she asked. ‘¢Ts within, Shall I tell her you wish to see her, your ladyship ?” ‘‘Yes—yet stay. No. I will see her later.” <¢ She is in her dressing-room.” “Very good.” <¢ Anything further, my lady ?” ‘““No. Leave me.” As soon as she was alone sho eagerly tore open the letter. “Tet me hope,’ she murmured as her hand nervously tore the letter across, “that he has not departed upon the errand of which he spoke to me. If he has left upon her destruction, then there is fresh danger for us.’’ ; NY Whether this was or not the case the contents of the earl’s letter will show. It ran thus :— - ““T have departed upon the important mis- sion of which we had lately so little hope. I have | just received a clue which leaves not the slightest doubt upon my mind now of success. Within a week you may reckon upon hearing that the annoyance which you have so keenly felt for some time past has disappeared. Upon another hand means are in operation to secure the man.” / “Great Heavens!? ejaculated Lady Bellisle. “ After all, the worst hascome. But what more does he say ?” ne ah *“ As soon as anything positive can be determined you may count upon hearing from me. If I do not write shortly you may understand that I have not as yet succeeded in my object. I shall not wr oftener than I deem absolutely necessary to quiet your apprehensions, for fear of misadventure with the ' 10 | post. *© Yours, ‘© SLOEFORD.” As she concluded she crushed the paper in her © | hand and thrust it into her pocket. ‘‘T must follow him instantly,’ she said. “ With | diligence I may yet overtake him before any steps can be taken in the matter.’’ She rang the bell, and a domestic made his appear- ance. e “Did the earl say in which direction he was — going ?”? she demanded, “* No, my lady.” ‘Then you know nothing ?” ‘* Nothing, my lady.’’ ‘*You may go. Stay. Did the earl leave here on 100022? 57. q ‘** He drove to Springford in the carriage.” 6c Ab 173 ** And his lordship took the railway from. sa gre. «Where to?”’ a ‘* T don’t know, my lady.?’ * ** Does Thomas know ?” OMiGDGo