Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 172: what you’re looking at

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

— 166 ROSE MORTIMER 5 OR, This visitor was a trifleymore low and ruffianly than Snatchem, the resurrectionist, whom, he. had just quitted. ** What is your business with me ?” demanded. the necromancer, ‘‘T’ve heard as how you’re a doctor; HOME honour, and—”’ “¢ And what ?”’ ‘“Make essperiments.on dead ’uns, and dissex ’am. bP] Mermet started, His reputation in this respect was gaining him an, unenviable notoriety. He thought that he must proceed warily now. |. | After all it,,might only, bea snare, to entrap, him into a confession of his strange; dealings. He had been working; with considerable boldness of late, and could not hope to continue his proceed- ings quite out of danger. ‘* I don’t understand you; myman,’’ he said, ‘*You must either speak more plainly or else I cannot. cons verse further with you.” ‘All right guv’nor, All I.want.to know,is if you'll buy a couple of stiff ’uns of me. Tye two lovely ones as ever you set eyes on.”’ A sudden thought, occurred to Napanee here. It might be Resurrection Joe, the late partner of Snatchem, who had robbed him. Now Mermet never lost:an opportunity for inspiring any one with awe of his great knowledgo of acquit sciences. lost. “‘T knew of your coming,” said the necromancer, looking his visitor steadily in the eyes. ‘§ The devil you did.’’ ‘¢ And of your purpose, ? ‘Get on, guv’nor. You are trying to getiata feller; L:know.”’ ‘* What do you mean, fellow ?” ‘Why, that it’s all’bosh.’’ ‘‘Do you think, then, that you can ral your robberies from me as fr om the man you have robbed ?”’ ce Eh? 919 ‘¢ Answer me now—whence did you procure these two bodies ?’? This hit Mr. Resurrection Joe so straight home that he could not face the necromancer any more, ‘Why, where do we get ’em: from, guy ‘nor! .” ‘he faltered. You speak evasively,”’ (a4 No, eee = “Silence! You have stolen these two froma dark vault—you have robbed them from a. companion of your works.”’ ‘“T say, now, guv’nor—”’ “¢ Silence !” ‘You seem to know all about it.” 1 do?” ‘‘ And where did you get your information from, guv’nor ?”’ Mermet replied by pointing his forefinger down- wards with silent sternness. Resurrection Joe trembled from head. to foot at this. ‘No matter for that,” said: Mermet. ‘* Do what I bid you, and we can trade together. If you can take charge of one of these bodies to deliver it out of town I can. make it worth your while.”’ ce Bute? *¢ Silence !”’ ‘¢ Tf 1 refuse 2? ** You cannot.”’ “ Cannot ?”? ‘** Dare not, then, if you like that better.” Here was an excellent, chance, which was not to b8 | “‘Confound your cheek,’’ exclaimed the body-_ snatcher. ‘‘ Dare not?” “‘ No; for, Resurrection Joe, I know you, and you are in rd power !” CHAPTER LXVI. LADY BELLISLE — SCHEMES FRUSTRATED — OFF THE SCENT—THE DESPATCH—DANGERS MUL- ‘TIPLIED--THE FAINTING FIT— THE COUSIN’S LOVE—SUSPICIONS—CLARA ST. JOHN STILL AT WORK—OLD MARTIN: — REVELATIONS — LADY BELLISLE’S JOURNEY — STRANGE. SCENE IN A oMARKET-PLACE ~ THE -WIFE AUGTION—THE END OF THE JOURNEY —THE THEATRE — EX CITEMENT ——'DEATH OF ROSE, MORTIMER — ‘‘ DRAD! THEN WE ARE LOST !’’ ‘ BEFORE continuing this portion of our ae we had better conclude the movements of Lady Bel-— lisle. The object for which she had taken her sudden de- -parture was one which so nearly touches the interest of our tale that it should not be further delayed. The life of Rose Mortimer was imperilled.. And thus the safety of Lady:Bellisle and her cou- sin, the new-made earl, was endangered. Lady Bellisle had the note which. the latter. had left behind him, and had not. failed to construe its fatal meaning aright. He was upon the track of Rose Mortimer, and had departed with the murderous purpose, which, as we have already seen, had so nearly succeeded. , ‘When Lady Bellisle arrrived at the next station she made inquiries again. The Earl of Sloeford had, booked for London. This was fatal to her hopes. From ‘London she well knew that she would lose all clue. ‘With the most vivid fears and apprehensions-for Rose. Mortimer’s safety, she returned to Sloeford. A day passed, and there was no letter from the earl, This was both torture and relief at once to her, Torture, on account of the silence and the fear that he might be working actively while this continued. ol Relief, because she deemed that he would certainly communicate with her as soon as he was near the ac- complishment of ‘his cruel purpose. And she was powerless to act in any way to avert it. Utterly helpless, whilst he, the par tner in her crimes, was blindlg hurliny. them on their doom. It was maddening to contemplate. —. And now Lady Bellisle began to feel. some of the pangs of bitter remorse for the crimes which, she hatl so ruthlessly committed. Crimes of which she had thought nothing at the time. The second day, however, brought her fears to a climax. A letter arrived from the ear]. It was dated two days previously, and ran thus :—. Tam now within an ace of the achievement of the object for which you betrayed so much anaiety. Before a day is over I hope to say to you that she is no more.’ This was too much for her, She gave a loud shriek and fainted. When she recovered. her cousin, Clara St. John, was standing over her bathing her temples with eau de Cologne, whilst her waiting-maid was chafing the palms of her hands, ‘“‘ Are you better, dedr.2?? said Clara; with, a great show of anxiety. ‘Yes, much.” (COMMICLOOOLRS COLL