Mrs. Bob: A Novel — page 171: what you’re looking at

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

A FIGHT WITH FORTUNE. — 163 to be decided by investigation. Perhaps it may be so. One thing I have learned gives me cause for consid- erable worry, Senator.’’ ‘“Tell me if you care to, Mr. Hooker.’’ “The enemy have got wind of his presence above eround—Heaven alone knows how. When I asked at the door for my friend, what was my surprise to have the servant who recognized me say there had been some one inquiring after the sick old gentleman just before, and pointed him out going down the street, when I recognized, even with a glance at his back the lawyer, Monsieur Merle.”’ At this Senator John puffs out a billow of smoke and exclaims: “Great Scott! do you suppose he can have fallen into the hands of these merciless sharks who are so deep in the mire that they would hesitate at nothing now to gain their end ?”’ ‘‘No, from all that I have heard, I’m of the opin- ion that they had nothing whatever to do with the disappearance of Rudolph Gordon, who climbed out of his window in the night-time, descended a tree and fled, being perhaps out of his mind. I am also positive that the servant, not being warned, and in- fluenced by the suave tongue of Monsieur Merle, told more about the disappearance of his singular charge than was proper, and, as a consequence, they may even now be on his track while we waste time. Such ‘bold plotters can see a way clear if once that old man falls into their power. Oh! if Bob were only here.’’ ‘Who takes my name in vain?’’ laughs the indi- vidual mentioned, coming suddenly upon them. GEomichbooksneo iin