The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

egg ce = a > CS aan eee TD Hee ee a te a te aa a aca car accel ee THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. Chiff alone in a private room ; aud as the ruffian’s countenance was too diabolical to betray any deeper than those crimes which had already stamped it with their Cain-brand, Ralph could glean Little or * Well, is the deed done?” he immediately aaked; for suspenes was torturing him. ‘Tt is—and well done,” answered Chiffin, m the hollow sepulchral voice that was natural to him: “Give me the experi strange sensations of mingled and terror, joy and alarm—e terrible state of feal- ing which made the frame glow with s heat and yet shiver with a chill at the same time, as if the veins the old lord and his wife. And by the her ladyship a beauty? But of course you her P” “T have not seen her for some years,” answered Ralph impatiently. “Never mind euch matters as those: tell me what nesrest concerns me.” “Well then, when four or five days had passed and nothing was done, I began to grow uncomfort- able; for I thought that four queer-looking gentile- | men like me and my mates lurking about in the neighbourhood, might seem suspicious: eo I msde them tramp off to a distance, while I stayed. to do “Well, as luck would have it,” the Cannibal, continued “the very next day, at about three o'clock in the afternoon, the two nurse-|}i maids came out to walk near the river. The three children were with 'em. One of them carried the baby: the other one carried the next child; and the third little brat—the eldest, of course—walked by the side of the maid who was carrying her sister. There was I, hid safe enough in the midst of a clump of trees, watching my opportunity to spring just like a wild beast in one of those Indian jungles that I used to read about when I was at school. Well, the nursemaid carrying the baby came on in front; and the other lagged behind. The very thing that I wanted: nothing could be better! So I waited till the maid with the baby had rounded the clump of trees, if you understand, in such a way that she was hid by them from the view of her com- penion. Then [ sprang ont with a black mask over my face. My eyes! what a squeal the girl gave !— emda as I snatched the child from her, she dropped down just ae if she was shot. Whether she was helled stone dead with fright, or only fell into a’ swoon, I don’t know,” added Chiffin coolly, “and don’t much care. You may depend upon if, I didn’t wait to sea.” " erie eet aieeeeminmmemenmneeesnecemmmanammeincmeend 7 “ Goon, goon,” said Raiph, with feverish im- patience. “Ah! I did go on then, too!” continued the Cannibal, with a grin. “ You should have seen me scud along the bank of the river with the child in my arms—that’s all! I don’t suppose I looked hope | the finishing stroke upon the business where I was, I just poured half-a-dosen drops of that stuff the child’s throat--and by fingo! it was all over with it in a moment.” “Ah!” elowty said Ralph Fairfield, letting the deep breath of suspense escape him. “Then you really have done it ?” “Why, didn’t I tell you go at the very first ?” demanded Chiffin the Cannibal, his hollow tones now filled with a savage growl, as if he thought that he was suspected. “You don’t tésink, do you, that a chap like me would mind making mince-moat of a like that when it’s necessary P”’ “No, no—I did not mean to offend you,” Fare- field hastened to observe. “Why, it’s enough to hurt one’s dignity,” still growled Chiffin, “to think for a mument that one wouldn’t do such a miserable iittle bit of business as that.” “But what became of the body? how did yeu dispose of +? where did you put it?” demanded Ralph, with renewed the mark of a strawberry on its shoulder as plain as if % was a real one—but very small though—thaé had been cat in halves, and one half stuck on te its flesh not so big as a sixpence.” “T am eati ite entasfied [* exelaimaed Fare. field: then, as he the across the garments table to Chiffin, he said, “ You. must dispose of thea» as you think fit. Bat parhape it will be best to bura them——” “ Leave that te me,” answered the fellow, gather: ing up the things end thrusting them down into his capecious pocket. “Any farther orders, Mr, Yare- field—anything more in my little way ?” * Nob at present,” rojrined Ralph. “But jo nut CONNEC MOO SS COMM