Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 357: what you’re looking at

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

340 THE COURT OF LONDON mined to risk the venture; and, if they failed, they could but be made captives again. “Now, my Amazonian confederate,’ said Tim Meagles, gaily, “let us see whether the bed will furnish us with materials sufficient for our purpose; otherwise all our fine schemes melt into the air at once.’’ Groping their way in the dark to the alcove in which the bed stood, they speedily satisfied themselves that the sheets, the blankets, and the coverlid were all there, and to work they went. Meagles had a clasp-knife with him; and the articles of bedding just enumerated were soon cut into halves. They then twisted the pieces, and fastened them together; and, having calculated the greatest height which the window could possibly be from the yard below, they found that the rope thus manufactured was amply long enough. But to make sure doubly sure, they likewise cut the carpet into strips, which they plaited together, and then attached this supplementary piece to the rest. Having accomplished this important incident in their proceedings, ‘Tim Meagles and his heroic assistant removed the bed close up to the window, in order that there should be some solid object unto which they might fasten one end of the rope. ‘“ Now, Letitia dear, I shall descend first,’”’ said Tim, “‘ and then I can steady the rope for you.” “No, I am lghter than you,’’ observed the huntress, emphatically, “ and I will go first.” ‘“ But for the very reason that you are so much lighter, my darling,” exclaimed Meagles, “‘ the rope will oscillate all the more dangerously. In a word, I insist upon descend- ing before you, or I abandon the attempt at once.”’ ‘“ Well, have your own way, you wilful fellow,” said the Amazon. “ But kiss me first, and then away with you.” Meagles embraced his heroic companion; and then, dis- engaging himself from her arms, — for during a few moments she clung to him as if entertaining a presentiment that some dreadtul accident was about to happen to him, — the in- trepid Tim passed himself, limbs foremost, out of the window. Courageous as Lady Letitia naturally was, she shuddered and felt sick at heart as she beheld her paramour clinging to the rope outside the casement; but a few reassuring words which he conveyed to her in a subdued whisper re- ,) COMmuieoooKS (E(0)