Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 171: what you’re looking at

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

THE BALLET-GIRL’S REVENGE. “A bit of business,’’ replied the bodysnatcher cautiously. “What is it?” “I’ve heer’d as you wanted to buy a few stiff ‘uns.”” *T don’t understand.” os Corpses for experiments, you know, doctor—dead uns.’ ““Oh! bodies.” ‘‘ That’s the hammer.”’ “Well, and if I do?” **T’ve got the percise articles.” Z But do you not know that it is a forbidden traffic?” Yes.”’ “ And yet you venture openly to propose it to me, a perfect stranger.” *T ain't afeard. You wouldn’t split I know. The buyer and seller are both in for it you know, guv’nor.’’ “Enough,” said the necromancer, evidently not relishing the fellow’s retort. ‘‘ What is it you have to sell ?”” “A stiff ’un I tell you,” A body ?” *€ Of course.” ‘Where is it ?”” ** At home.” “‘ And where is that?” ; ‘€ Not far.’’ ‘When can I see it ?”’ ‘* Now.” * At this hour ?” “No time like the present, guv’nor, besides which this ain’t exackly the sort 0’ business one likes to do at daylight.” FINO, 110,"" ‘¢ Will you come and see them now ?” “Yes; but what mean you by ‘ them?’ you had but one.” “Two, doctor. But you can have one or both, as you like, you know.”’ * All right, and for the removal of them ?”’ *T can hire a trap.” ** Very good.” Without more ado, therefore, the Arab donned his walking apparel and sallied forth with the professor of this infamous traffic in human flesh. Mermet’s impatience to be there could not brook a long delay, and he therefore called a cab, and they drove up to within a short distance of the haunted house. Then they descended and entered the house with as little noise as possible. The cellar door was closed. “That’s a rum go,” muttered the bodysnatcher, half aloud. ‘Why, I could have sworn that I left the door open.”’ He pushed it open and entered the cellar. Now just as he crossed the threshold the tallow candle which he had left stuck in the stone bottle gave an expiring flicker. ‘This way, guv’nor.’’ - “ Geta light,’ said Mermet. **T ain’t got one.”’ ** Here’s a match.”’ *‘ Here’s the last one. three hours in the box.’’ *‘ Bring it up to the light then.” ‘Yes, guv’nor.”” And the bodysnatcher groped along the black vault in search of its ghostly occupants. But nothing could be found. After he had continued his search for some little time the necromancer grew impatient, “‘ Now then,” he said. ‘‘ What are you after? Be quick, will you?”’ “T can’t find it, guv’nor.” “Getalight. Here’s a match,” IT thought He ain’t been more than Pe. _COUMICIDOOKS 165 “‘ Thank ye, guv’nor.” He struck the lucifer and held it aloft whilst he glanced about the vault. It was empty. The Arab was greatly enraged at this. At first he deemed it to be merely a ruse to get him there and then to extort money from him by some means or other, — But here he was mistaken. The resurrectionist had no such thought as this. And fortunate for him it was, for the necromancer carried with him a certain crystal phial more potent than any arm of destruction ever known. The only pocket pistol which never missed fire. But so real was the fellow’s astonishment that the Arab saw that he had not been wilfully deceived. It was clear that he had had two bodies to dispose of, which had disappeared by some extraordinary chance. However, there was no help for it. He must re- turn home at once, baffled in his object, and it was ont enough that Mermet was not a little annoyed ‘if, What he wanted with these fearful objects we shall see as we proceed. Another piece of villany was at work. And another more rascally than any yet practised by this arch knave. “‘ I know what it is,” said the resurrectionist sud- denly, as a thought crossed him. ‘‘I know where they be gone to.”’ ** Gone to?”’ ‘* Where they’ve been taken to.” “Do you let others share such matters as these with you ?’’ ‘* Not others—only one.” ** As few confidants as possible will suit my humour. I don’t care about having my affairs known to the whole world.’ ** No, guv’nor,’’ said Snatchem, “ but Resurrection Joe and me was pals for a long time, but as we couldn’t get on square together I cried off, and—” “‘ Dissolved partnership.” “Yes.” * And so you think now—”’ *‘As how Joe’s been and done an old pal a dirty trick.” “You think that he has taken them, then—that he has robbed you ?’’ < Vieuin. to ** Well, you must trade with me another time.”’ * All right, guv’nor.”’ “* Tf you like to call upon me to-morrow I can put a job in your way.”’ “¢ In what line ?” ‘‘The same.”’ ‘Very good, guv’nor.’’ ** A lady is to be buried in a city churchyard.” “City? Pheugh !” *¢ So much the easier.”’ ‘¢ In the city ?” ‘To be sure. The city is quiet and deserted after evening is past.”’ And with this the necromancer left and liastily returned home. As Ahmet, his servant, let him in he told him that another visitor awaited him. ‘Ah !”? said the necromancer. ‘‘ They come late to-night.” ‘‘ Heis on important business, sahib, or he should not have waited,” said the Arab, with a salaam, 66 Where ?”’ ‘‘ In the consulting room.”’ ‘*€ Good.”’ { | Then, leaving his cloak and hat below, he hastily ascended, CONAN