Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 367: what you’re looking at

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

3090 THE COURT OF LONDON prove a failure? And how was it that the Magsman heard anything about it? ”’ ‘“Tll explain the whole business in a very few words,”’ said the young woman; ‘“ and then I shall be off to bed — for I’m tired, and ill, and disgusted.”’ ‘‘ And why the deuce are you SEUEPERL ’” demanded her father, brutally. ‘Because you’ve managed the whole affair badly,” replied Poll. “ But Pll tell you what has happened. The Kinchin-Grand ferried me over to Execution Dock; and I told him to make his boat fast. and go somewhere in the neighbourhood to amuse himself, but to mind and go down to the wherry every hour to see if I was there waiting for him. Well, I went on to the Mariners’ Arms and played the tragedy heroine to pertiection,’’ continued the young woman, getting into a better humour at the remembrance of her skill in enacting the part to which she alluded. “I inquired amidst a torrent of tears for my ‘ beloved husband,’ — taking very good care, however, to ascertain that he still continued speechless, before I went up into his recom. And when I got there, I found to my annoyance that the officious landlady had provided a nurse to attend upon him. I threw myself upon him, and kissed him, I can assure you, with a very great deal of sincerity; for he is really an un- common handsome young man, and I don’t wonder at Lady Stamford’s taste. He was quite conscious, but unable to move or speak. However, I saw that he was amazed by my caresses, especially as, thanks to my disguise, he could not form the least notion who I was. At last he closed his eyes, as if to collect his ideas and ponder who I could be; and I seized that opportunity to tell the old nurse that he was touched in the brain and had not recog- nized me. But it struck me that the woman eyed me with suspicion; she seemed to have an idea that something was wrong, although she couldn’t perhaps tell what. Ramsey fell asleep, and we sat watching by his side. Several times I suggested that certain things should be done, in the hope of getting the old wretch to leave the room, if only for a moment; but she always found some excuse for sticking at her post. I could have strangled the crone outright,” added Poll, bitterly; ‘“ but I was compelled to be civil to her, and this put me into a still worse humour.” CONNIE OOO KS (E(0)