The String of Pearls; or, The Barber of Fleet Street — page 200: what you’re looking at

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

192 THE STRING OF PEARLS very unlikely that Todd would take the trouble to construct a trap-door in any other attic than the one which was so easily accessible from the parapet. _ ‘Old clothes—old clothes !’’ said Crotchet. ‘‘ There seems to be nothing else | in these rooms.’ ‘© So it would appear,” said Sir Richard. He lifted up some of the topmost of a heap of garments upon the floor, anda | cloud of moths flew upwards in confusion. | “‘ There’s the toggery,’’ said Mr. Crotchet, “ of the smugged ’uns !” ‘¢-You really think so.” > ©’ Knows it.” - “Well, Crotchet, I don’t think from what I know myself that we shall disagree about Todd’s guilt. The grand thing is to discover how, and in what way he is I’m quite sure we have seed all as there is to see up here, so. sup- pose we toddle down stairs now, sir. There’s, perhaps, quite a Jot g’ wonders and natur’, and art, down below.” ‘*Stop a bit. Hold the lamp.” Crotchet did so, while Sir Richard took from his pocket a pair of thick linsey- woolsey stockings, and carefully drew them on over his boots, for the purpose of deadening the sound of his footsteps; and then he held the hght, while Mr. Crotchet, who was similarly provided with linsey-woolseys, went through the same process. After this, they moved like spectres, so perfectly noiseless were their footsteps upon the stairs. Sir Richard went first, while Crotchet now | carried the light, holding it sufficiently high that the magistrate could see the stairs before him very. well, as he proceeded. It was quite evident, from the state of those stairs, as regarded undisturbed dust, that they had not been ascended for a considerable time; and indeed, Todd, considering the top of his house as perfectly safe after the precautions he had taken, did not trouble him- | self to-visit it. Our adventurers reached the landing upon the second floor in perfect safety ; and after giving a few minutes more to the precautionary measure of listening, they opened the first door that presented itself to the observation, and entered the room. They both paused in astonishment, for such a miscellaneous collection of matters as was in this room, could only have been expected to be met with in the shop of a general dealer. Several chairs and tables were loaded with .wearing apparel of all kinds and conditions. The corners of the room were literajly crowded with mobs of swords, walking sticks, and umbrellas; | While a countless heap of hats lay upon the floor in disorder. You could not have stepped into that room for miscellaneous personal appointments of one sort || or another; and Mr. Crotchet and Sir Richard Blunt trod upon the hats as they || walked across, the floor, from sheer inability to get out of the way. | ““Well,’’ said Crotchet, “ifso be as shaving should go out of fashion, Todd could set up a clothier’s shop, and not want for stock to begin with.” “I can imagine,” muttered the magistrate to himself, ‘“‘ what a trouble and | anxiety all these things must be to Todd, and woollen goods are so difficult to burn. Crotchet, select some of the swords, and look if there are-maker’s names _ | upon the blades.” While Crotchet was preparing this order, Sir Richard was making a hasty but sufficiently precise examination of the room. ae a a Ne a Ss > = TO AE SOS Sa a a ge ee er —. Se e- a i ees p5<2 —_ ee ~ = ==s oe Tt - aS —— = SS SS —————— —<~—s~ —— -<—————— as _ = ~ ~ ~- a c=. oa 2 : —— ~ = - es — —— sala = — = - . ane 7 ree - ee a ~— aera — - ~ - a = Slee Sa a a ee Se Pe a ee en rere — ~ - —-+- — oe et ———e- _ - = oa = = * ae —— ——— <= a ee Saeed : > - > —- ae — "9 ———— SS CHAPTER XXXIX. THE MYSTERIOUS CUPBOARD, “Here they are,” said Crotchet. ‘ Some of these are worth something.” ‘* Get a cane or two, likewise.” . ; ‘All’s right, sir. I tell you what itis, sir. If there’s such things as ghost3 op eee ! 4 & i at i ii Phy PY es i M | a! H Uh et a f at wit Peat a uit Beeman 4a le RH Balt j Av Ai) : 1) ROM AL Dm Bail | . } ae |i { i i r i ft . Pet i , i\ is it i 4 t } 1 Ae 3 yi We tidy ( Hh HY ed - v i {! { HH i] Lt} i } i y ry Wahl . t } { i H - ‘ ait ru ; I | | HT 1 HH t i t] Paull y i iat | en) ay | | BI) i t Hey} i 1 ; in aN a) ba il [hen (iH ft Bath ¥ t ML iN i de WM ; pigaiit i i ; } a abel Te ri f iW ; } : t ( - eau Ve ; & ih i | al 5 » i i a if Ph V4 lif } Weil Hi rs Wal 4 i i By, » | ane) RY : . js i | LF ‘ \ Paks 4.4) i ft san § ! 1 \ 7 ae i Mb ' ] i 1 4) Bie 1 tH inl Hy if 4 th uf hi Pa a) ! \ 1h i Brie au id EE ee uy ba | i# ‘ ) f Pe A alta) : ie tH lie |) | i 1 , " ABE mn) ae * ne 4 | ARPA || 14) i aa ey ‘ Hi Gy i! Mt i Ae lt i) iy J i Koni Wik eee ween + ees — + eee comicbooks.com