Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 311: what you’re looking at

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

| 294 REYNOLDS’ WORKS “ Humph!” said the marquis, drily. ‘‘ You have fixed your price beforehand? ” ‘Rather so,’ responded Chiffin, with a cunning leer, “because I know the value of the information I am going to give you. Why, sir, I’ve got two letters— But I’m blowed if we can talk here,’’ he added, again affecting to look uneasily around. “ I know old Sol and his wife are pricking up their ears.”’ ‘Then why did you make an appointment for us to meet you here? ” demanded Lord Kagledean. ‘““’Cos why I didn’t know another crib where two genel- men could meet a chap like me without exciting unpleasant notice. Besides, I live here — ”’ “ Ah! you live here? ’’ said the marquis. “ Why, yes, I’ve got a room of my own,” observed Chiffin, ‘‘ and a very tidy sitting apartment itis too. But come, be- fore we go any farther, 1s it all right about the blunt? ” “Tf you mean the money,” rejoined the marquis, “ I have enough about me to satisfy your demand. Have you not already had proofs of my liberality? Depend upon it, I will give you a fair price for your letters.” Chiffin reflected for a few moments. He had been driving at a particular object: namely, to get as much as he could out of the two persons before he consigned them to destruc- tion. His rapacity almost prompted him to be more ex- plicit and eager in his demand, but he feared that if he were to display such greediness, a suspicion would be excited in their minds; for they would naturally argue that if he could transact the money part of the business in the bar- parlour, he could likewise show them the letters in the same place. He accordingly resolved not to risk the two thousand guineas which he was to receive from Lady Saxondale, by any further angling for the two hundred that he sought to obtain of his intended victims. ‘“ Well, then, genelmen,” he said, suddenly rising from his seat, ‘‘ let’s to business.”” Then pretending to look anx- iously over the blind of the window between the parlour. and the bar, he again turned toward them, observing, in a lower tone, ‘‘ I knew they were on the watch. Come along with me.”’ Thus speaking, Chiffin took up a candle, and opening the door, led the way toward the staircase. Gomichoo 6S (Eo)