The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

84 THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. own sagacity; and it did attend upon Sam Lewis, and on one or two occasions he disappointed men, business men, who declared he was a fool, and would fail, for he did succeed in doing one or two clever and acceptable things to the magistracy. Any blun- der he might make would pass now as an instance of unavoida- ble failure, when if he failed, nobody else could succeed, and therefore he could not be blamed. In truth, he was one whom some of the more steady and elderly magistrates pronounced to be the model of an officer. However, down came Mr. Samuel Lewis, and he introduced himself to the chief magistrate, that is to say, he who had taken the greatest interest, and had busied himself in the affair the most. He presented a letter of introduction, which the learned magistrate read, and then turning his gaze upon Mr. Lewis, he said: ‘¢ You are an officer of some experience in your business, I be- leve ?” ‘‘T have been an officer for some years, and have had some difficult jobs, and I have succeeded in a good many.” ‘In others failed ?” ‘‘In the same way a man would fall through a bridge when it broke under him.” ‘¢ Because it wasn’t strong enough to bear him ?” ‘‘No,” said the cunning Mr. Lewis, slowly; ‘‘ because my in- formation was too rotten to bear me forward.” ‘¢ Well, well,” said the magistrate, looking hard at the officer, and scarce knowing what to make of the man, though he thought he would not have been posted from London if he had not been capable, and he proceeded,—‘‘ You have heard of the particulars of this affair, I dare say ?” &é have.’ ‘Then you know all I can tell you!” The officer paused, and, after shaking his hat to and fro upon his head for some time, at length he said,— ‘‘The man was pursued— was he not?” “‘ Yes.” ‘¢ And lost?” ‘‘ He was, else you had not been sent for.” ‘**T can understand,” said Mr. Lewis; ‘‘ we don’t do things ip so great a hurry in London. Have the goodness to give me all the information I want, and in the order I ask it. Where was he missed ?” ‘* Somewhere in the churchyard.” ‘‘ That is the last that has been heard or seen of the supposed culprit?” * Yes, it is.” “Very well. The. scent is cold, and I have the greater disad- vantages to struggle with; but I must take it up where it was last lost, and try back. ‘You see ?” 66 Yes.” ‘<I may pick up a trace that may enable me to carry out my birt of the subject, and probably secure the gentleman.” 6 pdee comicbooks. com