Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

THE CHAPEL 21 me to understand that you brought any of your companions or friends with you?” ‘“ Nothing of the sort,’’ interrupted Chiffn. ‘ But I will tell your ladyship all about it.” “The murder? Speak of that first. Who has been mur- dered? And what mean you by a double murder? ”’ “TY mean what I say, — that there is two young women lying dead — or at least I left them there — on the river’s bank, both killed with pistol-bullets. I heard the report, and so did two gentlemen that was there at the time.” ‘‘ And you would have me believe,”’ said her ladyship, now fixing her eyes with a still more peculiar look than at first upon the Cannibal, “ that this is not your work? ”’ ‘“Tt’s so like mine that your ladyship can’t very easy believe it isn’t, but it isn’t though, for all that.” ‘““And these women? You say that you have left two gentlemen upon the spot — ”’ ‘“T have got a little tale to tell your ladyship, and then you will see,’ continued Chiffin, “‘ that I am a right staunch, trustworthy kind of a fellow. But first of all you must tell me what you wanted me down here for, and all about it.” “I do not require your services just at present,’ an- swered Lady Saxondale. ‘“ Circumstances have changed. But of course I shall reward you for your trouble, and it may be that in two or three weeks I shall need your aid. I will however write to you again. Here, take this packet; it contains a recompense which I have no doubt will satisfy — you. And now what have you to tell me? ”’ ‘Of course,” replied Chiffin, taking the little parcel, and weighing it for a moment in his hand so as to calculate the probable amount of gold it might contain, ‘‘ your ladyship will consider that what I am going to tell you is worthy of a further reward? ”’ “Go on, go on,” interrupted Lady Saxondale, impa- tiently. ‘“‘ You have already received sufficient proofs that I know how to behave liberally.”’ “ Well, you see, ma’am,”’ resumed the Cannibal, “‘ t’other night two gentlemen came to me at Solomon Patch’s house in Agar ‘Town, and very perlitely introduced themselves as Mr. Gunthorpe and Mr. Deveril — ”’ “ Ah!” ejaculated Lady Saxondale, with a visible start, GoOmicdoo .S Eom