The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 390: what you’re looking at

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

HOPES AND INTRIGUES 373 “ Well, he is, sir,’ responded Dick Melmoth, “ but I am sure I beg pardon for having hinted at anything unpleasant.”’ ‘No matter, no matter, my good fellow,” said Emmerson, with the quickness of nervous excitement. ‘‘ Your master, Coffin — you said he was your master, I think?” ‘Yes, sir, Dan’el Coffin is my master, and a tidy sort of a person he is, notwithstanding his name isn’t a very good one.” “Ah! no matter the name,” interrupted Emmerson, catching greedily at what he saw encouraging in Dick Mel- moth’s remark. ‘‘ You say that your master, Daniel Cofhn, is a good kind of a man? Well, and if I mistake not, you also are a good kind of a person. You would rather do a fellow creature a service than an injury? Yes, yes, I know you would —I read it in your countenance. Especially,” added Kmmerson, his voice sinking to a low whisper and his look assuming an expression of deep and excited meaning, -“if you were to be well paid for any such service ren- dered? ”’ Dick Melmoth now regarded the doomed man with mingled astonishment and mistrust, for it struck him that the awful Sense of his position might have touched his brain. But perceiving nought indicative of mental alienation in his look, Melmoth assumed a cunning air, and whispered, ‘“There’s nothing that Dan’el Coffin would not do for money.” - “Tell him, then, tell him,’’ said Emmerson, with feverish eagerness, “ that I will give him five hundred guineas, yes, five hundred good golden guineas if he will assist me to escape from this dreadful place.”’ ‘Ah! have you really that hope, then?” said Dick Mel- moth. ‘Hope! Yes, to be sure I have hope,’’ returned Emmer- son, sharply. ‘“ It is impossible I can die so soon. No, no, it is impossible. Consider, five hundred guineas, and if that is not enough — But it is a large sum, a very large sum, and a great deal can be done with it. Tell Mr. Coffin all that Tsay.” 5 “ Well, sir, I will, and to-morrow morning when I come in I will let you know what his answer is. But you had better let me shave you now as soon as possible, for the turnkey will be coming back in a minute to let me out of the CORNICLOOL <S (C() mM