The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

THE CRIME 17 lainy than those crimes which had already stamped it with their Cain-brand, Ralph could glean little or nothing from his looks. ‘Well, is the deed done?’’ he immediately asked, for suspense was torturing him. ‘“ Tt is, and well done,’’ answered Chiffin, in the hollow, sepulechral voice that was natural to him. “ Too well done to want doing over again.” ‘‘ Give me the particulars,” said Farefield, now experien- cing strange sensations of mingled hope and terror, joy and alarm, a terrible state of feeling which made the frame glow with a heat and yet shiver with a chill at the same time, as if the veins ran lightning while an ice-snake coiled itself around the body. ‘“‘ Oh, the story is short enough,’’ answered Chiffin, who was making his shabby white hat, with a black crape, turn around on the top of his huge bludgeon, as he lolled negligently in a Windsor chair. ‘“ I and the other chaps met according to appointment at the village down yonder, and, having settled our plans, we dispersed ourselves about in the neighbourhood of the castle, hiding ourselves in such places as were convenient. ‘Three or four days passed before we could do anything, as the baby was only taken out in the carriage along with the old lord and his wife. And, by the bye, isn’t her ladyship a beauty? But of course you know her? ”’ ‘‘T have not seen her for some years,’’ answered Ralph, impatiently. ‘“‘ Never mind such matters as those. ‘Tell me what nearest concerns me.’’ “Well, then, when four or five days had passed, and nothing was done, I began to grow uncomfortable, for I thought that four queer-looking gentlemen like me and my mates lurking about in the neighbourhood might seem suspicious; so I made them tramp off to a distance, while I stayed to do the business by myself.” ‘Ah! that was more politic,” exclaimed Ralph. ‘ But go on.” “Well, as luck would have it,’’ continued the Cannibal, “ the very next day, at about three o’clock in the afternoon, the two nurse-maids came out to walk near the river. The three children were with ’em. One of them carried the baby, the other one carried the next child, and the third little ) ) CoOnnicooolkKs (C(O)