Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 180: what you’re looking at

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

— 174 ROSE MORTIMER 5 OR, “Tis in a cause for which your bitterest enemy. could not blame you.’’ ‘You are so good.” ‘* Nay, I speak the truth.”’ ‘¢ Would I could think so !”’ ‘You may.” ‘You will see. if the law is inclined to look so lenienfly upon it.” “The law will probably not look upon it at’ all.” “What mean you ?” ‘¢T have destroyed all traces.” ce Ah! 1)? **J promised, and as I promise, so I ever per- form.’’ ~ © Oh! you have saved my worthless life,”’ cried the cirl in a bitter flood of tears, ‘‘and I cannot thank you. But you have preserved my reputation, and so I thank you from the bottom of my heart.” ** And you will endeavour to rally now ?” ee°T will.”’ “You promise me ?”’ (44 Yes. ” ‘And if the fit of despair should unhappily come upon you again, you promise to appeal only to me for assistance ?”’ ** As you will.”’ ~ GOOUege Lotty Chepstow looked earnestly up into the Arab’s face, and then suddenly burst into a fresh flood of tears. “‘What now, what now?” demanded the necro- mancer soothingly. ‘“*Oh ! I’m so unhappy!” she cried. ‘‘T believe if.” “Bat oh, how much more than you possibly can conceive !” eT thik no... “‘T am indeed, because I am a murderess—because IT am also false and perjured to those who have proved themselves my only friends—to those who would serve mé kindly and truly.’’ 6 What272 “Ah! you may well be surprised.” “ Explain yourself.”’ “‘T must tell you, but upon condition only that you will not take steps to prevent the accomplishment of my purpose.” “‘T half guess its intent,’ said the necromancer, with a sad expression. *¢ I think not.’’ Say, then, what is it ?” ‘‘] have more than half resolved upon—oh ! I dare not speak it now.” ‘Then I will for you,’’ said Mermet, “ for I divine your fatal purpose.”’ t4 Ah ? ‘* Suicide.”’ The girl hung her head, but said nothing. “Alag!’? said the necromancer. “I thought as much. But have you not reflected that even thus you will just gain that which you so desire to avoid ?” «¢ What ?” ‘* Notoriety.” ce Ah! 12) “‘Undoubtedly. Aninquiry is always held upon any one dying very suddenly.” ‘“‘And do you think that my fatal secret could transpire ?”’ ce Vege? ‘‘ Nay, nay. Say not sol beseech you!” ‘*¢ T speak the truth.”’ “¢ T will drown myself—anything sooner than live with such fearful companionship.” ‘6 Which ?” ‘My thoughts.” ‘You take it too severely.’ . i a a ee SCtCtstéC<Cs~SC IM COOKS ** Ah, sir,’ said the unhappy girl, not stained with another’s blood.” “ Happily,” groaned Mermet. ‘‘No, no; and therefore you cannot possibly com- prehend what a murderer’s sensations are.” “And you are resolute upon self-destruction ? 73 Ayu Mermet looked into her face, and there he read determination—fixed unalterable determination — in every line. And then he mused— ‘Now if she kills herself she slips through my fingers, and I gain nothing but my hard work for my | pains. No, not so. This must not be. She shall have her way, and yet be mine. If think I have the means of satisfying her upon this head, and yet achieving my own object. A week or so hence her loye of life will be full upon her again. It shall be so.” He looked up and spoke. ** Promise me,’’ said he, ‘ at least one thing.” “* Name it.”’ “ You think possibly that you owé me some little eratitude ?”’ ‘¢ Nay—” ““T know what you Would say. Well then, dear girl, know that I have your interest, your honour, so much at heart that I will even aid you in ae Strait should your determination continue.” ¢ Mill when °?”” “‘ To-morrow.”’ ** And then ?”’ “Then, if your purpose still holds good, come ate me about this hour.’’ ce Yes. 9 “And I will give you something which shall pro- duce the effect of apoplexy. Thus an inquiry can be avoided.”’ Her gratitude for this fresh proof of what she deemed the necromancer’s attachment was unbounded. She promised so earnestly to obey his Sage that he left her quite satisfied. ‘To-morrow at this hour,” said he, ce Yes. 5] “You promise ?’? ‘¢ Faithfully.’’ “ No matter what determination you take ?” 74 T do.?’’ “* Good, my child, I rely on you.” ‘You may.” And the Arab left, muttering to himself— ‘¢She’s mine, she’s mine. To-morrow will see the business closed.”’ “your hand is a” a] CHAPTER LXIX; MERMET’S PLOT WORKS BRAVELY—DEATH—THE LAST HOME—THE CHURCHYARD—THE RESUR- RECTIONISTS AGAIN—THE VAULTS—THE GRAVE —sSUCCESS—REPOSE OF THE DEAD DESTROYED —THE AKAB’S HOUSE—MIDNIGHT DOINGS—THE DISSECTING ROOM—FACE TO FACE WITH THE DEAD—WHAT FOLLOWS? A DAY passed. It was about the same hour, when Ahmet, the necromancer’s Arab attendant, entered to announce a visitor. ‘¢ Show her in,’? said Mermet. A veiled lady appeared with the servant upon the threshold. © “Enter, lady,” said the necromancer, nothing. Remove your veil.” She did so. As Mermet had conjectured, it was none other than Lotty Chepstow, who came there according to the appointment of the previous day. *¢ and fear