Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 178: what you’re looking at

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

172 ROSE MORTIMER ; OR, LL He made his way to a low street in the neighbour- hood of Soho Square. Here he knocked at the door of a house, and had a long time to wait. At length a nightcapped head was protruded from one of the upper windows. “¢ Who’s there ?”’ ‘6 Mo37? “Lor! Mr—’”” *¢ Hush,’’ said Mermet. Come down.” Yes; grea “¢ Look sharp.” SEV OS, Ribsce % The head was withdrawn and the window closed again. * Yes,’’ mused the necromancer half aloud, ‘‘ she shall doit. I can watch at a convenient distance to see that she works fairly. If not, woe betide her! At any rate, I am altogether free from blame in this job.” The street door was opened, and the woman owning the nightcapped head made her appearance, but only very scantily clothed. ‘¢ What is it, Mr—’? «¢ Silence.”’ “Tor, Bil.” ** Are you mad, woman, that you would blab out my name to all the world. Think you I’m proud of your acquaintance 2” “¢ No offence, sir.’’ ‘¢ Go and dress yourself.” ‘¢ Dress ?” ce Ay.” “¢ T was in bed, sir.’’ “¢ What then ?” ‘* It is so late,” : Begone.” Yes, sir.’ And in the most abject humility the woman Bale lopped off. “This is the convenience of never missing an opportunity,’? muttered the magician. ‘‘ Now that old woman is so thoroughly mine that she dares not say her soul’s her own. I shall shift all danger in this night’s work from my shoulders to hers, I shall reap all the profit and she the pain. Good. The division of labour is most satisfactory.”’ By this time the woman appeared, having carefully arranged herself for walking. “What is it you require of me, sir?” she asked humbly. ‘To come with me.” “Ves” sir.2? “You see this bag ?’” fVor sins’? “You must carry it.” “Yes, sir.” He handed the bag to the woman, who found great difficulty in lifting it. “‘ Do you think you can carry it ?” <Not far.’ ‘Give it to me, then.’’ ‘“‘The woman obeyed. ‘Follow me close behind,’’ said the necromancer. ‘* Yes, sir.” And in this way they proceeded through St. Giles’s towards the Strand. But what further befell Mermet the Arab necro- mancer and his companion we will describe in a new chapter. “‘ Don’t be a foo], woman. CHAPTER LXVIII. WATERLOO BRIDGE—THE TOLL KEEPER—DANGER —MERMET’S DECISION—TROUBLES AVERTED— THE HANSOM CAB—THE GIRL’S WOES—DESPAIR —THE DEATH COMPACT, Tue Arab, with his weighty carpet bag upon his shoulders, crossed the Strand, turned down by Water- loo Place, and stopped short in Lancaster Place. He chose the quietest part of the street, which was, for a wonder, quite deserted. He beckoned to the woman, who was following behind, and she came up with arun to her tyrant master. ‘‘Take the bag now,’’ said the magician, ‘6 Yes, sir.” “¢ Carry it carefully.” ‘¢ Yes, sir.”’ ‘“‘ Cross the bridge.” ‘OVEN. Bir, “Half way over watch your opportunity well, and drop the carpet bag over the side.” The woman opened her eyes to their full extent and stared at Mermet. ‘¢ You understand ?” ‘6 Yes, sir.”’ ‘¢ Away, then, and remember—no matter.” The woman took the bag and trudged off across the bridge. A little difficulty occurred in passing the toll. “Hullo !”’ said the money-taker. ‘* What have you got there ?” “¢ Nothing.” ‘Rather a lump of it.”’ ‘‘ That can beno business of yours.’’ “¢T don’t know that.” “Let me pass.” <¢ Wait, wait.” “Tf you don’t think proper to turn the turnstile I shall go round.” “The gate is closed.’’ “* Let me pass, then.” ““ Now you appear to be so very anxious about it that bless me if I do,’? exclaimed the money-taker. ** So hand over.”’ And he attempted to take the carpet-bag from her. Seeing matters arrive at this pitch, Mermet hastened up to the spot. He popped down a halfpenny upon the iron slab of the turnstile and endeavoured to push through. ** Hold hard !” said the man. *¢ Come, come.’’ ‘Wait a bit.” ** Let my bag alone,” said the woman. ‘¢ What are you about with her bag?”? asked the necromancer, as if only now perceiving that the woman was in trouble. ‘¢ She won’t show what she has got in it,’’ said the money-taker. ‘© Why should she?” ce Why!” ‘Yes, why ?” “Oh, why—”’ “Don’t echo me, but reply to my question or let the woman pass.”’ “‘She’s got something in it that oughtn’t to be there I’m sure.”’ “Oh! you know it 2” “¢ Of course.”” “Then if you know the contents of her bag, why do - you want to see in it now ?”’ The man was puzzled for a reply to this. ‘Well,’ he grumbled, ‘‘I believe as I was only doing my duty,” ~ ConnicloookSs. conn 7