The String of Pearls; or, The Barber of Fleet Street — page 381: what you’re looking at

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

——— sr ge 2 BE gf ihe Pell | before it can be thought that it was I who struck the blow, I shall be THE STRING OF PFARLS. 373 He nowa rrived at the door of the kitchen. It was very unlikely to be locked or otherwise fastened, so immediately after the young woman, who had left the house, and passed so close to him, Todd. Yet he listened for a few mome ns more, as Mrs. Ragg kept making observations to herself. ‘‘ Listeners hear no good of themselves, says the proverb, and at all events it was verified in this instance.”’ “ Lor’ a mussy,” ejaculated,” Mr. Ragg, “ how my mind dorun upon that horrid old ugly monster of a Todd to day. Well, I do hope I shall never look upon his frightful face again, and how awful he did squint, too. Dear me, what did the colonel say he had with his vision—could it be—a something afixity? No that isn’t it.” “‘Qbliquity!”’ said Todd, popping his head in atthe kitchen door. “It was obliquity, and if you scream or make the least alarm, lL’ll skin you, and strew this kitchen with your mangled remains !” Mrs. Ragg sank into a chair witha melo-dramatic groan, that would have made her fortune over the water in domestic tragedy if she could have done it so naturally. Todd kept his eye upon her. That basilisk-like eye, which had fascinated the good woman often, and this time it acted as a kind of spell, for truly might he have said, or rather might some one have said for him, “ He held her with his glittering eye.’ Todd’s first care now was to get between Mrs. Ragg and the kitchen door, lest upon some sudden impulse she shouldrise and flee. Then he folded his arms, and looked at her calmly, and with such a devilish smile as might have become Mephistopholes himself, while contemplating the ruin ofasoul. He took from his pocket a razor. ‘‘Mercy,”’ gasped Mrs. Ragg. «¢ Where is Tobias ?” «Up stairs. Back room, second floor, looking into the garden.” ~« Alone?” ‘* No, Minna Grey is with him.” «‘ Listen tome. If you stir from here until I come to you again. I will not only murder you, but Tobias likewise, and every one whom I meet with in this house. You know me, and can come to some opinion as to whether or not I am aman likely to keep my word. Remain where you are; move not, speak not, and all will be well.” Mrs. Ragg slowly slid off ker chair, and fell to the floor ofthe kitchen, where she lay, in what seemed a SWCON. ‘¢That will do as well,’’? said Todd as he glanced ather, “and yet asI return. He madea movement with® his hand across his throat to indicate what he would do, and then feeling assured that he had little or, indeed, no opposition to expect in the house, he left the kitchen, and walked up stairs.” When he reached the top of the kitchen stairs he paused to listen. All was very still in the house. “Tis well,” he said ‘‘ tis well. This deed of blood shall be done, and long —— Sy a a —— Sa ae ee Se an me ps — ———— - - = rae- = - — . ‘ SS SSS AAO : 2S SS SS SSS SSS eS aa er ee ee = — — — = ee 7 - ~ a —— Sa = = a aa ees TT —— = — SS can ee ——— one.’ =) Alas! After passing through so much! After being persued in so almost a miraculous manner from the murderous intentions of Todd, backed by the cupidity of Fogg, and his subordinate Watson, was poor Tobias yet to diea terrible death as a victim to the cruel passions of his relentless persecutor ? No we will not yet believe that such is to be the fate of poor honest Tobias, although at the present time, his prospects look gloomy. Todd may, and no doubt has taken as worthy lives, but we will hope th.t the hand of Providence will prevent him from taking this one. He rea’!.ed the landing of he first floor, and he paused to listen again. He thoug!,: this time, that he heard the faint sound of voices above, but he was not qui‘e sure. Otherwise comicbooks.com