Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

With a deep groan, he fell heavily to the ground. At this moment loud and piercing shrieks rent the air— Fire! Fire? The servants were screaming shrilly in their bed- rooms above, for the stairs were one raging furnace. * * * * * * When Clara left the house she hurried away ina westerly direction, and, hiring a cab, drove as it seemed in pursuit of her husband. She came in due course to the villa where the count was awaiting Madge’s return. Here, in front of the house, having sent away the vehicle, she waited patiently until he came out again. Then she followed him to Park Lane. She saw him go in, and waited once more, with the same patience, for him again to make his appear- ance, As he did not come, however, she took from her pocket a small latch key, and quietly entered the liouse. Then stole on tiptoe upstairs. In at most a quarter of an hour she again descended to the street. Then stole stealthily away. It was now broad daylight, but the streets were still and deserted. It was the quietest hour, perhaps, of all the twenty- four. ae No one was about, and no one noticed the bright glare within the house, until the piercing shrieks of the servants were heard rending the still morning air. Caring very little what might be their fate, Clara hurried away. She this time caused herself to be conyeyed in the direction of Scotland Yard, Before the police station she stopped her cab and alighted. : The inspector taking the night charges raised his eyes as she entered, seemed to recognise her, and bowed. ° ‘‘T told you,’’ she said, ‘‘that I would come un- expectedly.” ‘**Ts it time, ma’am 2?” ce Yes,’’ “When will you be ready, ma’am?” ‘“‘This moment. Haye you any men here fit for the business ?’’ ‘Tt will not take very long, ma’am. Not many minutes, although we certainly did expect a longer notice.” ‘*T told you that the notice would be short. It could not be otherwise. Ihave been anxiously wait- ing for it myself for the last fortnight.” ‘* And now you can put us on to the gang ?”’ ‘‘T can take you to the place where you will find them all.’’ ‘* Are there many ?”” ‘A dozen.” ‘‘ Humph. 79 Very.” The inspector looked very grave at this. ‘‘ We must use great caution,” he said. ‘¢ Every caution is necessary.” ‘* And you think that you can put us on to the right scent ?” ‘“T am sure I can.” ‘“‘ Tf we could only have reconnoitred the premises previously.’’ ‘* And ruined the whole business.” ‘“How so ?”” ‘‘ By letting them know that some treachery was afloat. No. Rely on me, and all will be right. This is the only time when you would haye any chance.” ‘*“ How so??? Tough customers, I suppose ?’’ ROSE MORTIMER ; OR, ‘‘This is the time when you will find them in their first sleep after their orgies are concluded. At any other time it would required at least three times their number to do anything with them.” The inspector reflected for a few moments Then he called one of his subordinates and despatched him with a message. In less than five minutes appeared a party of sixteen policemen, all in private clothes and armed with pistols and cutlasses. Clara meanwhile had asked to retire to an inner room, and emerged in a few moments wearing a suit of male attire, which became her admirably. In fiye cabs the party started for Fulham, Clara leading the way. CHAPTER XXIII, THE DANGEROUS EXPEDITION—THE ATTACK ON THE COINERS’ DEN — THE STRUGGLE — THE EXPLOSION—THE BURNED TREASURE, It was between four and five o’clock when Clara and the police arrived in front of the old house at Fulham, She was evidently well acquainted with all its details. She caused the cabs to be stopped at a distance of fifty or sixty yards from the gate, and directed the men to divide and approach in separate parties, On each side of the house were fields, and through the hedges they made their way noiselessly, under the shadow of the high garden wall, towards that wing of the house where the coining was carried on. All was dark and silent within the house, ‘This is the only time,’ said Clara, in a low voice, to one who had command of the party, ‘‘that we could have hoped to surprise them.”’ i ** How shall we now proceed ?”’ ** You had all better put on your list slippers now. Close to this spot is the entrance to the subterranean passage, and we will all descend together.”’ **T am afraid that even with all our care we may be overheard. There are so many of us,”’ ‘If we are overheard we are lost. The passages through which we are going to pass can be flooded at a moment’s notice.” “* Flooded?” ~ ‘‘Yes. Do you see that dyke? It is a sort of cistern. A ring can be pulled by any of the band. The exits of the passages are instantly closed, and the water pours in through the roof.’’ “Good heavens! It is like walking into a trap.” “‘ There is no other way, though.”’ “Tt would not bea good plan, do you think, for half the party to remain outside ?”’ ‘What for?” “To keep guard.” “* Out of danger, eh ?’’ “Out of danger? No. What do you mean ?” ‘Would you take command of that part, and shall I go with the other ?”’ “T’m not afraid to go, if you mean that. Only I don’t want the vagabonds to escape, that’s all.” ‘ Ah, to be sure, I did not look at it in that light, However, they won’t escape if we mind what we are about.” **T hope not.” ““Leave it to me, and I’ll take care of you. You see there are twelve of them and only sixteen of you, and they’reroughish customers, and won’t allow them- Selves to be collared and pulled along by the ear like a lot of boy pickpockets.” : Clara’s tone was very insulting, and the inspector was rather jealous of her authority.