Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

ee nt eee ee Nn i ee — 46 ROSE MORTIMER ; OR, renner ee Having waited a while, until all was still, he got out of bed and peeped into the passage. All was dark and silent. He could see nothing of his fellow-prisoner. — He hurried up the passage as fast as he could, and opened the door at the end, but he was not to be seen. Then he paused and hesitated. Ho had been mis- taken about the footstep, he thought, and by the delay had given Mortimer an opportunity of getting too far to be easily overtaken. Under these circumstances, and painful as was the alternative, there was nothing better for him than to retrace his steps. When he got back to his room he seated himself despondingly upon the side of the bed and pondered. ‘‘ Perhaps I shall never get another chance,” he thought. ‘‘It was very unlucky.” But at this moment his attention was attracted towards the ceiling by a faint scratching noise. ‘¢ What’s that I wonder?” he said to himself. ‘‘ It can’t be rats surely.” The scratching, however, continued, and then sud- _ denly a faint streak of light appeared. Could it be Mortimer ? He sat motionless upon the edge of the bed listen- ing and watching. The streak of light widened. It was a trap-door that was being opened in the ceiling. Suddenly a bull’s-eye flashed into the room and settled with a-glare on his face. Then a soft female voice asked— ‘‘ Are you Edgar Deville?” “¢ Yes,” he answered in astonishment, *€ And you are a prisoner 2?” “Indeed I am.” ‘¢ And wish to escape ?”’ *¢ Need you ask?” *¢ T can help you, then.” Ah 2? = ‘¢ But only on certain conditions.’’ ‘¢ Name them,” said Edgar eagerly. “You will owe me a debt of gratitude if I again restore you to the world ?”’ “‘ Indeed I shall, and one that 1 can scarcely ever hope to repay.” “You will serve me, then, in return ?”’ ‘* However you may dictate.” ‘Very well. Ishall try you at any rate, and hope I may not find you undeserving.”’ With these words the trap-door was closed again and Deville resumed his seat in silent astonishment. This feeling, however, soon gave place to one of disappointment, as minute after minute passed away without his hearing any more of his new friend. Perhaps Mortimer would return. What then ? Every moment’s delay he felt to be more dangerous than the last, and yet the trap-door remained closed and the silence continued. At last, when he was beginning to despair, the trap once more was raised, and the same soft woman’s voice addressed him, ‘Will you come now 2” it said. SEY eg;?: ‘* You are alone ?”’ “ce Yes.” ‘“ Take care, thea. I will let down a rope ladder. There, have you got it ?”’ sé Ves. “‘Can you climb up it without making it fast at your end ?”’ ‘* Oh yes, easily.’’ ‘Tt is fast above ; so now come quickly.” Edgar waited for no second invitation. He laid tight hold of the ladder and prepared to climb. But scarcely had he raised his foot when a heavy step behind him caused him fo turn his head. ee The next moment he received a violent blow in the face which felled him to the floor, Then Hugh Mortimer sprang past him, rushed up the ladder, and passed through the trap door, pulling the ropes aiter him. Half insensible from the violence of the blow, Edgar was still vaguely conscious of the sound of a struggle above and a woman’s scream. And then all was still. What did it mean? How was it that Mortimer had so suddenly returned? Had he really wrested from his grasp all chance of escape? What had become of the mysterious female who had so strangely offered him her assistance ? He staggered to his feet with an effort, and passed his hand to his head, which was throbbing painfully. Whilst he stood thus he heard the sound of voices and the tramp of feet approaching. He looked wildly around, and with the aid of the faint light which struggled in between the bars of a tiny grating high up in the wall, strove vainly to find something which might serve as a weapon of defence. The voices and the footsteps approached nearer. They were in the passage. They were at the door. Edgar Deville turned to face them, and clenched his fists ; but as he did so a deadly sickness stole over him. He reeled, and, striving in vain to catch at the wall, fell heavily to the ground. Next moment there was a sudden rush of men into the room, and naked daggers and flashing lights sur- rounded him, CHAPTER XVIII. EDGAR AND THE COINERS— DOWN WITH HIM!”?— THE EXAMINATION—THE TRIAL—THE DOOMED TRAITOR—THE WATER-WHEEL—THE FEARFUL DEATH, AROUND the prostrate form of Edgar Deville an angry consultation was held by the gang of coiners who had thus rushed in a body into the room, ** Down with him !” ** Stab him at once !” **No—no ; stay awhile.” ‘ Why should we spare him 2?” “Perhaps he had no share in wounded.” ** Mortimer must have done this, then. There has been a struggle between them.”’ Thus incoherently did the coiners dispute among themselves, whilst their prisoner lay perfectly passive in a deep swoon, caused by the loss of blood from his wound. Some were in favour of executing him at once, with- _ out the benefit of judge orjury. He had never been very popular with the gang, and the greater part of the number were of this way of thinking. Vortunately for him, however, lawless ruffians though they were, these men were governed by laws of their own, and one and all entertained a great respect for the opinions of their cliief, the count. Therefore, after the first moment’s rage was over, they cooled down a little, and began to talk more reasonably. As it was, they had already got one victim on whom to wreak a bloody vengeance. Hugh Mortimer had been caught, and was now lying, bound hand and foot, awaiting the judgmeut to be passed upon him. The count was absent that night, and was not expected until late on the following evening. Until then he must wait, suffering agonies of sus- pense. it. See, he is . A Sa SESS ea a ee a ea COINICDEOKS..COM |