The Soldier's Wife — page 159: what you’re looking at

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

140 “Well, all right—TI am glad you say so,” re ' THE SOLDIER'S WIFE, Sy name while talking togethe Lastly, how plied the man. “ You see I can’t ask you to sit. { propose to serve you—that is altogether ano- down, because there is no accommodation. The only use in having brought you here is that we can (alk matters quietly over.” “But who are you? how came you to know me? how came you to know Lucy Lonsdale ? and why were you listening to us at the time?” “The last question had best be answered first,” responded the object. “ it won’t be diffi- cult for you to understand why I don’t show my- self much out of doors in the day time: so what little purchases I have to make—and they are not many—I generally do after dark, That's the reason I was out at the time, and coming along the alley, when I heard you two talking. This house, you see, is in Chancery,” continued the man: “it looks like a Chancery house, doesn’t it? Its an emb'em of one of those blessed institutions of our’s that statesmen, and lords, and wealthy folks’ are always crying up to the skies, But no matter: it’s a lucky thing for me that there 7s such a thing as the Chan- cery Court—or else this house wouldnt have tumbled into ruins, and I shouldnt have known where to lay my head. It’s better tu sleep even within these four walls, and on those rags, than ov a dung-hill in the open air, Well, one night—when | first came to Manchester—as | was crawling along this alley, sinking with fa- tigue, and thinking whether | had not better go and pitch myself into the Irwell, or dash out my brains against a wall,—I saw one of these shutters blowing open with the wind. So | crept into the room, Jaid down on the floor, and slept till morning. Then I ventured out to beg: for | was starving. Some ladies and gentlemen passed by and turned away from me in horror : but some poor factory slaves—men and wo- men,— yes, and young girls too, amongst them,— took compassion on me, clubbed together a do- zen shillings, and so saved me from dying in the street. ‘hen I took possession of this place, I found an old latch key amongst a heap of rags and rubbish ; and it seemed as if by the pos- session of that key, I had got a hold on the house itself. Now you know as much as I con- sider it necessary to tell you of my circum- atances.” “But who are you?’ again inquired Red- burn: “and how came you to be injured in that dreadful manner? Above all, how came you to know me and Lucy Lonsdale? and what do you mean by saying that you can serve me in respect to her ?” “ First and foremost you ask me who I am,” responded the spectre. “I take it for granted we shull have to meet again; and it will be convenient that you should know me by some nuwe. Youcan call me Smith, It’s as good a name as any other; and it comprises perhaps the largest family in the whole country, As to the hurts I have received, they were done by burning—a house catching on fire, or something of that sort. Next, as to how I knew you and Mrs. Lonsdale, it does not exactly matter, Per- hape | am a great anquirer, though I do only creep out, as a general rule, after dark, Be- sides,” added the man, as if catching at an idea, “you and Mra, Lonsdale addressed each other ther thing.” “And after all, it is the main thing,” observed Redburn, somewhat anxious to be gone from the wretched den where he found himself, and the hideous presence in which he stood, ‘“ Leave it to me to manage,” rejoined the individual, who, it appeared, chose to be krown by the not very uncommon name of Smith, “If you receive a letter at your quatters, stating that on a particular day and at a cer- tyin hour, Mrs. Lonsdale may be found at some house the occupants of which are not over particular as to what takes place beneath their roof. * “f understand you,” interjected Redburn, “JT know what sort of house you mean, But is it possible - “Leave it to me, I say,” exclaimed Smith, “If you receive such a letter, I ask, telling you that Lucy ‘Lonsdale is there, I suppose you won't hesitate to fly to the appointment ?” “Not I!” exclaimed Redburn: “and your reward shall be a liberal one. In the mean- lime, although at first I did not intend to give you anything in advance, here are five sove- reigns as an earnest of my good intentions.” “J shail take the money,’ responded the man, “ because there will be fees to pay the people of the house before they will enter into the plot.” Thus speaking, he extended his hand to re- ceive the gold which Captain Redburn had just taken from his purse; and again did the latter recoil with an irresistible sensation of loathing and horror—for the hand which the miserable being thus stretched forth was seamed, and seared in.as frightful a manner as his counte- nance. “Now then I shall take my departure,” said the Captain: but as he issued forth from the room, it was with a lingering misgiving that sume treachery might be yet intended. How- ever, the human monster, who called himself Smith, appeared to have no such purpose in view ; and Gerald Redburn passed out of the dilapidated building in perfect safety. He felt that he breathed far more freely when once | again in the open air; and having threaded the alley, he emerged into the well-lighted and bustling street with a feeling of selfcongratu- lation that he had passed unhurt through an adventure of a most singular and suspicious character. CHAPTER XXXI. THE GUARD-ROOM. Tue next day Frederick Lonsdale was on guard. On these occasions he was vnable to pay a visit to the lodging ; and therefore he remajned in ignorance of the insults to which his wife had been subjected on the preceding evening. war Sergeant Major Langlyy had awakened on the morning of the pardepar day of which we 7, comicbooks.co [ § «