The String of Pearls; or, The Barber of Fleet Street — page 304: what you’re looking at

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

THE STRING OF PEARLS. “ One,’ he said. ‘‘ Some half-dozen of such will be sufficient to carry all that I shall think worth the taking. As for my money, that will be safest about me. Ah, Iwill outwit them yet, I will be off and away—only just in time, Suspicion will take a long time to ripen into certainty, and before it does, the flaming embers of this house will be making the night-sky as fair and magnifi- cent as the most golden sunset of summer. Another box was now opened, and in that, as it was of considerable length, be began to pack swords of a valuable character. He went to the rooms above stairs, which, as the reader is already aware, contained much valuable property, and brought down troops of things, which with complacent looks he carefully placed in the chest. Ever and anon, as ne went through this process, he kept muttering to himself his hopes and fears. What isto hinder me, in some principality of Germany, from purchasing 4 title which shall smother all remembrance of what I now am, and as the Baron Something, I shall commence a new life, for 1am not old ; no—no, I: am not cld—-far from old, although late anxieties have made me look so. I am not so ervous and féarful of slight ‘things as I was, although my imagination has played me some tricks of late: Some. slight noise, that sounded as if in the house, although it was in all probability in the next one, came upon his ears, and with a Jiowl of terror he shrunk down by the side of the box he had been packing. ‘* Help! mercy! What is that ?’’ The noise was not repeated, but for the space of about ten minutes or so, Todd was perfectly incapable of moving except a violent attack of trembling, which kept every limb in motion, and terribly distorted his: countenance, if it might be'called so, | “ What—what was it?” heat length gasped. ‘‘ I thought I heard something, way, Iam sure I heard something—a slight noise, but yet slight noises are to me awfully suggestive of something that may follow.. Am I really getting ‘supersti- tious now ?”’ | He slowly rose and looked fearfully round him. All was still. True, *he had heard a voice, but ‘that was all. . No consequences had resulted from it, and the fit of tremb!ing that had seized him was passing away. He went to the cupboard where he kept that strong stimulant that had so much excited the admiration of Peter. [He did not go through the ceremony of procuring a glass, but placing the neck of the bottle to his throat, he took a ‘draught of the contents which would have been amply sufficient to confound’ the faculties of any ordinary person. Upon Todd, however, it had only a sort of sedative effect, and he gradually recovered his former diabolical coolness. ‘It was nothing,” he said... ‘It was nothing. My fears and my imaginations are beginning now to play the fool with me. If there were nine others, such would be sufficient warnings to me to be off and away.” : He continued the packing of the box which had been temporarily suspended, but ever and anon he would pause, and lifting up one of his huge hands, placed it at his ear to listen more acutely, and when nothing in the shape of alarm reached him he would say with atone of greater calmness and contentment— ‘All is still—all is still... I shall be off and away soon—off and away !” The dusky twilight had crept on while Todd was thus engaged, and he was thinking of going out, when he heard the creaking noise of his shop door open- ing. As he was but in the parlour, he made his way to the» shop at once, and | saw a young man, who spoke with an affected lisp, as he said— ‘«*« Mr. Todd,:can you give my locks.a little twirl? [’m going to a party to- night, and want to look fascinating.”’ «* Allow me,”’ said Todd, as he rapidly passed him and bolted the door. -I am annoyed by adrunken man, so, while | am dressing your hair, I wish to shut him out, or else I might scorch you with the tongs.” : « Oh, certainly. If there’s anything, do you know, Mr. Todd, that I really: dislike more than another, it’s a drunken man.’ ‘‘ There’s only one thing in society,” said Todd, ‘‘ can come near it.—Sit here, | a = 6 FRI OoZwD YTPrenny BPumbers, entitied mece, im ae! Zs @Or22z =e = = —— ae — rie hee Ce CRe Peden Raaeeiie mew ama imtzere stim in, aud . ines, 2 21Ssk. ae = comicbooks.com