Despard, the Spy: Or, The Fall of Montreal — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

22 DESPARD, TIT® SPY. Dujardin left the room slowly, his eyes full of hate. Des: pard watched him keenly until the door closed behind him, and then turned the key quickly. * “TI must be off, mademoiselle, and get to my house before he has time to gather his rufflans, or I shall never see another sunrise. He will let you alone while 1 am above-ground, however. Is there no'way by which I can get out from the back of the house ?” “Yes; come with me.” She lifted a lamp to lead the way, but he took it from her. “No lamps,” he said. ‘“ They have betrayed many a man ere now. Give me your hand and lead the way.” Taking his hand, she led him through the dark passages to a door in the rear of the residence. Behind it the grounds were full of young fruit-trees and choice plants. They pur- sued a narrow path to a gate set into the garden wall, which she unlocked. Despard then pressed her hand, and without a word darted down a side street at his best speed, taking a course toward the eastern side of the city. For nearly a mile he hurried on in silence, keeping the center of the street, un- til he reached a small wooden house near the inside barrier, which defended the city. It was a small, low, antique build- ing, With white-washed walls, such as we often séein St. Ann’s and other ancient towns along the St. Lawrence. Even in the suburbs of Montreal to-day, especially in the French quarter, such buildings’ may be found. Despard ran to the window and rapped on the glass in a peculiar manner. ‘The door opened almost instantly; the spy darted in, and dropped the heayy bars before the door immediately. “ What is the matter ?” said a harsh voice, The voice appeared to come from the floor, Despard looked down. A man, crippled and deformed to a degree that seemed ineredible, was crouching there. If standing erect, he would have made a well-proportioned person; but, by some accident or crime, his back was so deformed that he walked with his face always looking at the fluor, aided’ in his course by two short canes. ““T was pursued, good Conrad,” said Despard, who spoke to the c'eformed wretch with the utmost teriderness'; “ but, I comicboOokS.c©