Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER II THE FLIGHT AND THE PURSUIT WE should observe that hitherto the gentleman whom we are still compelled to denominate “ the»stranger ”’ had not noticed the searching earnestness of gaze with which the bagman regarded him. Indeed, no sooner had he taken his seat at the table, when he appeared to fall into a profound reverie, — as if totally forgetting the observation he had made on entering — the words which had elicited it — and _the presence of any one else in the room. Mr. Page, feeling his survey of the stranger would be deemed an impertinence, if remarked, turned toward the fire, which he poked vigorously, then he took a few sips of whiskey and water, and tried to make himself comfortable. But there was a feeling of uneasiness upon him, which rapidly grew more painful; and in a few minutes he found that he was again staring at the gentleman more intently than at first. ‘Tt is impossible that I can be mistaken,” thought the bewildered commercial traveller, fidgeting in his chair; “and yet it is equally impossible that I can be right. He would never come into a public room in this manner — par- ticularly so soon after the event. Nevertheless, the likeness is striking! The same hair — the same high and open fore- head —the same stature—the same _ well-proportioned form! Upon my soul it is very puzzling — and very, very disagreeable.” Having reached this point in his reflections, he rang the bell violently and ordered his glass to be replenished. The waiter was evidently astonished at the excitement mani- fested in the summons, and begged submissively to know ‘“‘ whether the last tumbler was to Mr. Page’s liking?’”’ The 9 COnnicloookSs (E()