Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 176: what you’re looking at

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

170 ROSE MORTIMER; OR, _—— = a “¢ Not morally.”” ce No.” ‘* But legally?” ** Pehaps legally.” ** Alas! I know it.” ** But all is not yet lost.’? Lotty looked eagerly at the necromancer at these hopeful words. ** Not lost?”’ ce No.”? ‘¢ What mean you?” ‘‘ We may succeed in removing all traces and defy unjust justice.’ ‘* I fear not.’’ ‘* Pshaw !”? ‘* Murder will out.’ ** We shall see.” He handed her down the trap in the roof, and they descended the stairs. “ Now,” said Mermet, ‘* what do you think of do- ing in the matter ?”? ** You ask me this 2? cs Ay.’”’ “‘ How can I conjecture?” said Lotty Chepstow. ‘I may be arraigned for murder, and I must take my chance of it.’ “Nay. Let me see first what I can do to assist you.” ape . “*Many, many thanks.?? ‘Spare your gratitude until I haye been to see what I can do for you.’? ; ‘¢ Do what you will.’? ‘“‘ Have you a carpet bag?” ce Yes.” ‘* Give it to me.?? *€ For what 2’? ‘*No matter. Give me the carpet bag, and I think that I possess effectual means to rid you of this terror.’’ : Lotty ran eagerly down the stairs to find the carpet bag. “ Now you are mine, I think,?? murmured the necromancer. He went down after the girl, who met him by the hall door with a large carpet bag in her hand. ** Give me the hag.” ** Take it,’’ she said. * T shall see you again in the morning.” “Oh!” ejaculated the unhappy girl, in a burst of agony. ‘* May I neyer see another sun rise !’? ** Pshaw!?? = “Woe, woe is me!” ‘* Nonsense,”’ said the Arab. Keep a stout heart in you. I shall see you to-morrow. All will be-well I doubt not, and you cannot reproach yourself with this man’s death.”’ ‘* Not reproach myself ?”” ce No.” ‘* Alas! would it were so !’” ‘No, it is of his own seeking.” ‘‘ Man, man,” she cried, ‘* you cannot disguise the hideous fact from me.” *¢ What fact ?” ‘¢T am a murderess.”? “Ugh! that’s an ugly word,’? said the necro- mancer with a shiver. ‘* Pray be more choice in your e€xpressions.”’ ‘* This hand is stained with blood.” And she wrung her hands piteously and wept aloud. ** You have done no murder,’ said the Arab. ‘‘ He fairly earnt the death you gaye him. Therefore weep no more.’’ ‘No reasoning ean absolve a murderer,” exclaimed the girl. ; “* Such a murder.” *“Not even this.” *‘ Ay, but it can. A maiden’s chastity is more than life.” Se Tene:22 *‘ Then why repine 2?” ° *‘T should haye sacrificed myself, not this perjured lover.” ‘* False reasoning.’’ *< Too true reasoning.” *‘ Self-preservation is the first law of nature—the first of all laws, human and divine.’’ ‘** You speak thus in kindness, I feel, but I cannot accept your reasoning as absolution for my great crime.” ‘‘ Because you are blinded by the horrors of this night.”’ ** Perhaps.”’ ‘One word, and I must begone.” *¢ Speak.”’ ‘** Did this man merit death ?” She hesitated. *¢ Answer me.”’ “* Not at these hands.” ‘You quibble with my reasoning,” said the necro- maneer. ‘‘If Arthur Brownbill—”’ ‘Hush!’ she exclaimed, looking about her affrightedly, as if expecting to see his epee issue from the ground. ‘‘ Never let me hear his aape mentioned again.’ x ** Well, then, if he merited death, certainly ne hand could better execute justice upon the pexjured ruffian.” ** Alas, alas !”’ “‘ You were his executioner by right.” 66 2% : Do you not see a retributive justice in this ‘f'Yes. act?” {= ‘No, I see the frenzy of a maddened girl, an un- happy one who had no other means of tion,” ‘* Be convinced,”’ said the necromancer. ‘I must begone now.”’ * Adieu.’ ‘f No, aw revou'.?? ‘* As you will.’ “I go now to destroy all frees of your crime, if you insist on so calling it. -morrow, early, I shall return.” f As you will.” ‘Promise me that you will rest quiet until that time.”’ | ‘* Rest 2?” Ves.” ** Never, never again.”’ | ** At least, say you will not be influenced to any rash act by what has passed to-night.” ‘** T promise.”’ ‘Good, I rely on you.” ‘Fou may.’ And with a last salutation, the necromancer de- parted. He closed the street door noiselessly after him, and tripped lightly down the steps. _ He paused to look about him upon the pavement. The night was pitchy dark, and Mermet could scarcely see a yard before him. Something of a sudden seemed to catch his ear. He bent to the ground and listened intently. Yes. There was.a low moan. A wail of agony of some suffering creature. And close at hand too. The necromancer started in the greatest surprise. Surprise alone, for Mermet was little susceptible to the sufferings of his fellow-creatures, or influenced by them. ‘* Strange, very strange,” he muttered. ‘* He must — have more liyes than a eat if he has escaped that fall. Let me see.’” ' <SqGOi