The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. 66 you,” said Sir Francis Knightley; ‘‘because, to tell the truth; we have more hopes in finding out this mendicant from your exertions than from those of the constables.” ‘‘T am, of course, deeply interested in the discovery.” ; ‘‘So we conceive you to be. Think over what plan you im- agine will present you the best chances of success, and rely upon every facility being at once thrown in your way to carry it out.” ‘1 cannot be too grateful.” ‘Never mind about that. We are quite convinced of your in- nocence; but you know, from your language and demeanor, quite enough of the world to be convinced that a man must not only be innocent, but if he would escape censure be must avoid even being suspected.” ‘‘T know well, gentlemen,” said Jem, mournfully, ‘‘ that un- less the real murderer of the unfortunate gentleman who lost his life at the inn be found, I shall, in the minds of many, always be associated with the deed.” ‘‘That is a fact which to you it would be folly to deny. Go, now, and do your best to clear up the affair.” ‘1 will; and with Heaven’s help, I will clear it up, if it cost me my life to do soi” CHAPTER XV. THE sun had sunk upon the village, and the dim uncertain light of twilight was slowly fading away, when Jem sought a lonely-looking cottage, standing not far from the side of the old church, that was furthest from the cluster of houses composing the village. This cottage was that of Dame Strangeways, the sextoness; and Jem’s errand to her was to endeavor to persuade her to lend him the key of the church for one night, in order that he might keep watch there, in case the mendicant should be hiding anywhere about the sacred pile. Dame Strangeways was rather a singular character. She was very retired in her mode of life, and if any of the villagers sought to intrude upon her privacy,.they generally got repulsed with bitterness. It did not seem, therefore, the likeliest thing in the world that she would grant the request of Jem; but at all events, he deter- mined to make it rather than effect any clandestine entry into the church, which he told himself he could still do in the event of her refusal. He tappect at the cottage door, and was answered from within in the loud tones of the sextoness, ‘What now—what now ?” she screamed. . ‘‘ 1 want to speak to you, Dame Strangeways,” said Jem. She opened the door immediately, and as he entered said, ina lower tone,— ‘* Well, and what do you want, murderer of poor travelers in their beds—what do you want, Judas?” ‘It is the simple truth, that | am innocent, What right comicbooks. com