The String of Pearls; or, The Barber of Fleet Street — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

ct | © Well, that is perhaps best; but have you a man on whom you can depend Pm. because if you have, why, I would not be in the affair at all. | “** You must,’ said I; ‘in the first place, 1 can depend upon one man best; him || I must leave here to mind the place; so if you can manage the gcirl, I will drive, || and I know the road as well as the way to my own mouth would rather have as { few in it as possible.’ || “*Your precaution is very good, and I think I will try and so manage it, that || there shall be only you and I acquainted with the transaction; at all events, should || it become necessary, it will be time enough to let some other person into the secret || at the moment their services are required. That, I thifik, will be the best arrange- | ment that I can come to-—what do you say ? | ‘| “That will do very well—when we get her here, and when I have seen her a || few days, I can tell what to do with her? ) | ““< Exactly ; and now, good night—there is the money I promised, and now |} agam, good night! I shall see you at the appointea time.’ ‘| *You will,’ said I<‘ one glass more, it will do you good, and keep the rain || out.’ || _ “He took off a glass of wine, and then pulled his hat over his face, and left || the house. It was a dark, wet night, and the wind blew, and we heard the || sound of his horse’s hoofs for some time; however, I shut the door and went | in, thinking over in my own mind what would be the gain of my own exertions, = * = * oe ‘| “Well, at the appointed hour, I borrowed a chaise cart, a covered one, with || what you call a head to if, and I trotted to town init. At the appointed time I || was at thecorner of Grosvenor-street ; if was late, and yet I waited there an || /| hour or more before I saw any one. I walked into a little house to get a glass || /| of spirits to keep up the warmth of the body, and when IL came out again, | saw || || some one standing at my horse's head. Limmediately went up. .... .. : ‘¢*¢Qh, you are here,’ he said. vhs | - “ i am,’ said I, ‘1 have been here the Lord knows how long, Are you || || rea “ | | 8 Vos, I am; come,’ said he, as he got into the cart‘ come to the place I shall || || tell you—TI shall only get her into the cart, and you must do the rest.’ | ‘| © © Yowll come back with me: I shall want help on the road, and I have no one |} || with me.’ ; | «¢ Yes, [ will come with you, and manage the girl, but you must drive, and take |} || all the casualties of the road, for I shall have enough to do to hold her and keep || '| her from screaming when she does awake.’ 3 ee eer 2 | Vik. eee a x «© What! is she asleep?” S | | €T have given her a small dose of laudanum, which will cause her to sleep || '! comfortably for an hour or two, but the cold air and disturbance will most pro- || | bably awaken her at first.’ | | 6 Throw something over her, and keep her warm, and have something ready to || thrust into her mouth, in case she takes to screaming, and then you are all || | right. | a i ne Good,’ he replied: ‘now wait here. Iam going to yon house. When I | have entered, and nape degre several minutes, you may quietly drive up, and take |}. | your station on the other side of the lamp-post.’ “As he spoke he got out, and walked to a large house, which he entered softly, | and left the door ajar; and after he had gone in, I walked the horse quietly up to the lamp-post, and as [ placed it, the horse and front of the cart were completely in the dark. IL had scarecly got up to the spot, when the door opened, and he looked out to see if anybody was passing. I gave him the word, and out he came, | leaving the door, and came with what looked like a bundle of clothes, but which '} was the young girl and some clothes he had brought with him. ; Ho Give her to me,’ said I, ‘and jump up and take the reins; go on as quickly as |f ou can, oe ee : a aie “ I took the girl into my arms, and handed her into-the back part of the chaise, comicbooks.com