The String of Pearls; or, The Barber of Fleet Street — page 224: what you’re looking at

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

THE STRING OF PEARLS. “There, Charley,” he said as he handed them to the little fellow. ‘‘ There’s a piece for you, and a piece for mamma.” “‘ Really you are very kind, Mr. Todd,” said Brown. ‘Oh, don’t mention it. Run home at once, Charley, with them, and by the time you pet back your father will be—finished. Run along.” ‘¢T won't,” said Charley. ‘Ah, come—come,” said his father. RS. “TI won't go, and I don’t like soap.” ** And why don’t you like soap, my little man ?” said Todd, as he recommenced operations upon the silversmith’s face. ‘* Because I don’t like to be washed at all, it scrubs so, and I don’t like you, || either, you are so dreadfully ugly—that I don’t.’ ’ Todd smiled blandly. ‘*“ Now, Charley,” said his father, “I am very angry with you. You area very bad boy indeed. Why don’t you doas Mr. Todd tells you ?” ‘« Because I won’t.” “Bless him,” said Todd, “bless his heart. But don't you think, Mr. B.”— here Todd’s voice sank to a whisper—“ don’t you think that it's rather injudi- cious to encourage this obstinacy—if one may call it such—thus early in life ? It may, you know, grow upon the dear little fellow.” “You are right, Mr. Todd; ‘‘ and I know that he is spoiled; but I have a more than ordinary affection for him, since, under most critical circumstances, once I saved his life. From that time, I confess that I have been weak enough to allow him too much of his own way. Thank you, Mr. Todd. A very clean comiortable shave indeed.” Mr. Brown rose from his chair and approached the little boy. “ Charley, my dear,” he said; ‘‘ you will save papa’s life some’ day, won’t you! “ Yes,’’ said Charley. The father kissed him; as he added— ‘“ How affected I feel to-night. I suppose it’s the thought of the long journey — I am going.” : | } “‘ No doubt,” said Todd. : “‘Good night, Mr. Todd. - Come along, Charley.” ““ Won't you give me a kiss, you darling, before you go ?’”’ said Todd. “No, ugly, I won't.” : . ! “Oh, Charley—Charley, your behaviour to Mr. Todd is really anything but right. You area very bad boy to-night. Come along.” : Away they went, and Todd’ stood stropping the lately-used razor upon his hand, as he glared upon them, and muttered— | _“ Jewels worth three thousand pounds! And so you saved the child’s life, did you? By all that’s devilish he has returned the obligation.’ He went to the door and looked after the retreating figures of the silversmith and his child. He saw with what tender care the father lifted the little one over the road-way, and again he muttered— ‘«’Three thousand pounds gone !—-gone, when it was almost within my grasp. All this is new. Lused not to be the sport of such accidents and adverse circum- stances. ‘Time was, when by the seeming irresistible force of my will, I could bend circumstances to my purposes, but now I am the sport of dogs and children. What is the meaning of it all? Is my ancient cunning deserting me? Is my brain no longer active and full of daring ?”’ _ He crept back into his shop again. The hour was now getting late, and after sitting for some time in silent musing he rose, and without a word, commenced closing his establishment for the night. : z I must have another boy,” he said, as he put up the last shutter and secured it in its place. ‘ 1 must have another boy. This state of things will not do. I must certainly have another boy. Tobias Rage would have suited me very well, if he had not been so—so—what shall I call it, confoundedly imaginative. we ClUi9r32S--30O osrtrs F.F2 LEI ia ee . ie Seating E=.¥2 oO tens - 4 a eee a ethg 2 wey EMSA siiarred to5 — — ee m 44. } id ues | | wets} Pee | } j it % ‘ ‘* ; 4 ’ ; ‘4 ) eae Peres; fs | Buea a4) LAS aa ht See Petit Tan JH aaa i kt Ata hi baie tl ee Y Path ii ' iA ni | » / yr Hy tH HANG iy mit tt Wh a8) Amt i. Hie |} Mail t} | WaT TP Le Waa} } THE | i \s } Ly t | Mae yt th Ly WAR Pe ame ity | iE hd) | Hat)! th vieas S ‘ t He : 11h j aaa: | #8 eet hy WMH EE | Wa sel || a a Amat 1 | | An | Pn | a i if ' A Teale He A AG | if iE} Why Bil BM all ae Ws Nt PURE AHE E | RVI CA | tt es wits BYE ei } BEE | f HF ety } } } eee (tay {OPMURHEL | te) ita Vag | t Pa BLE | Ma wl j eis! Hk} aa ii Neue Ba | Wingert tt ‘ ‘ay bale} MEI HIRO MEL A ) | f } 5 rt HELE inet | AG i i Besta ieee alee | Melty t } ‘ Hats: Wer} Hatt Pas 0 Bt ae adie th {} Ht Ee ari th ath iin if f i s The ,, i ig a et { } Bh be | | eras aha teed ue + ee | Baa! | ius eT ig We Aye if Wh ha Dae a WADE FS 4 Hefti Bie a. ane ie th t t i , ii —-s K.ondeon a OF ee oe oe sl SE a ee ‘ 2 seis Woeekl Fax A & . ee ea | — comicbooks.com