Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 353: what you’re looking at

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

300 THE COURT OF LONDON plant to catch the Magsman for some reason or another. I’ll have a conversation with them to-morrow night on the subject, and then pretend to be convinced by their argu- ments that they meant really nothing but what was straight- for’ard and fair. Oh, leave me to deal with them. You play your part well, and we shall get out of this scrape as nice as ninepence.’”’ “Very good,” observed Poll. ‘I'll go up and dress at once.” i ‘““ And mind you disguise yourself as much as possible,”’ said the Beggarman. ‘Never fear,’ was the response. “ Tell the Kuinchin- Grand not to go away, as I shall want him to take me over in the wherry.”’ ‘“ All right! ’’ exclaimed her father; and, opening the door, he stepped into the bar, while his delectable daughter hastened up-stairs to arrange her toilet. In half an hour she descended again into the little parlour; and the Beggarman, observing that she was there, went in to satisfy himself that her disguise was sufficient. He had not the slightest fault to find. Her hair was dyed a deep colour, and was carefully arranged in bands; her complexion was darkened to an olive hue; her very eyebrows and lashes were stained black. She was well dressed, — largely padded, so as to create an artificial fulness and plumpness which she did not naturally possess, — and, in fine, had effected such a complete transformation in her appearance that her own father would not have know her if they had met accidentally in the street, and if he had never seen her accomplish the same change before. “That will do splendidly!’’ exclaimed the ruffian, his countenance expanding into a grin of delight. “ Have you eot the — you know what? ”’ | ‘The phial is here,’ she answered, significantly tapping the wadded bosom of her silk gown. “ Now, help me on with my cloak, and put up my hood in such a way that it sha’n’t tumble my hair. Those people in the public-room mustn’t see that I am going out such a swell at this time of night; neither must they notice that I’m so changed and pranked up. There —.that’s right. Now, is the Kinchin- Grand ready? ”’ ‘“He’s gone down to wait for you at the pier,” answered EONMIE KOOL KS (E(@) m