Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 378: what you’re looking at

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

MRS. BRACE AND HER VISITORS db] glided past the intruder with terrified looks, and closed the door behind him; while Mrs. Brace sank back in her chair, a perfect pandemonium raging in her bosom. Well, indeed, might the lady’s-maid have described this formidable visitor as “‘ an ill-looking man;” for, although it was Sunday, he had not bestowed the slightest pains upon his toilet. His garments were coarse, shabby, and negligent as usual; his coal-black hair was as rough and his whiskers were as bushy and fierce as ever; and his eyes gleamed with a sinister expression that was habitual to them, from beneath the coarse, shaggy, overhanging brows. He kept his hat upon his head as he entered the room; and he carried in his hand a huge stick, or rather club, by means of which his powerful arm might have felled an ox at one blow. For a few moments Mrs. Brace was overwhelmed by his presence. But suddenly a thought struck her; and, starting from her seat, she said, in a low and hurried tone, ‘‘ Follow me into another room—I expect company here every minute.” | “Well, then, the company may wait till you and me have done the little business that has brought me here this evening,’ replied the Magsman. ‘‘ The place looks so comfortable,’ he added, taking a calm and deliberate survey of the beautifully furnished parlour, “ that I prefer staying here. Besides, there’s a capital fire, and the weather’s deuced cold, I can tell you.”’ Thus speaking, the Magsman took the chair which the prince had quitted only a few minutes previously; and Mrs. Brace resumed her seat, pushing it back, however, to a greater distance from the formidable ruffian who had placed himself so near her. “ What! do you think I carry a pestilence about with me? ’’ exclaimed the Magsman, offended at this movement. ‘“ But no matter; we won’t quarrel about trifles. I dare say I’m not quite so good-looking as when — ”’ “For heaven’s sake! tell me what you require — what you want,” interrupted Mrs. Brace, in a tone of feverish Smenbemient: 45 “Money,’’ responded the villain, with coarse abrupt- ness. “I sent you five hundred guineas the other day, according GOMIIGdoOoks (C©)