The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

THE COTTAGE AGAIN. 135 I have done. I have made his bed upon a thick layer of hay.” “T understand,’ exclaimed Chiffin, “‘ to save the floor from the blood when we draw a knife across his throat or stick a dagger into him, eh? Well, it’s a good precaution. There’s nothing so dangerous as blood-marks, for I’ve heard say they can’t be washed out. But have you ascer- tained who the young spark is? ”’ ‘Suppose he is a lord, should you flinch?’”’ asked the woman. “ Flinch! ’’ repeated the Cannibal, with savage contempt, “why should 1? What the deuce is a lord to me? ”’ ‘To be sure, what indeed?” said the woman. “ Well, then, this young blade is Lord Saxondale.”’ “ Lord Saxondale!’’ exclaimed Chiffin, in astonishment. “Yes,” answered the woman, struck by her companion’s manner, which she was evidently at a loss to comprehend. “Do you know anything of him? Why did you seem so surprised at the mention of his name? ”’ “Only because I once had something to do in connection with that there family,’ replied Chiffin. ‘‘ But that was nineteen or twenty years ago, and then my services was engaged by a chap named Iarefield. However, all that’s gone and done, and if there’s money to be got here to-night, I don’t care what the young fellow’s name is.” By the time this colloquy was ended, Madge Somers and the Cannibal had reached the door of the cottage, and the woman gently lifting the latch, passed into the place, fol- lowed by her male companion. She then shut the door again with equal caution, while the Cannibal, who seemed perfectly familiar with the habitation, at once entered the ground floor room, where the food, wine, and spirits still remained upon the table. The night air had sharpened his appetite, and without a moment’s hesitation he sat down and began making a hearty meal, not forgetting to pay his respects to the brandy-bottle, wine being no favourite beverage with him. He did not take above ten minutes thus to satisfy his appetite, which the idea of the horrible crime he had come thither to perpetrate by no means marred, while the fiery alcohol added, if possible, to the ferocious ruffianism of his mood. ~ Now,” said the woman, who, without taking off her COnnNIECLOOkKS (CO)