The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

THE CHANDLER’S SHOP 39 like Cain. Perdition take the whole business!’ added Daniel, with savage earnestness. “But what have you been doing all this time?” asked Dick Melmoth; ‘and how did you manage to escape drowning? ”’ “Oh, the tide carried me ashore a little way lower down than where I jumped in,” responded Coffin; “ and then I cut across to Beechey Manor, — you know the place,” he observed, with a significant glance at Dick Melmoth. ‘ There I’ve been hiding until now; but I got so deuced tired ot living cooped up in a small bedroom, and the two old serv- ants have shown so much uneasiness at my presence, that I could endure it all no longer. So I got this thick coat, this broad-brimmed hat, and that shawl neckerchief of the old fellow, and resolved to come and pay my friend Bill Taggarty a visit. If you two hadn’t been here by accident, I should have got Bill to run down to Fleet Lane and fetch you up to méet me. So now you know all about it.” ‘“ But what are you going to do, and where do you mean to live?’ asked Sally Melmoth. “ Well, I haven’t exactly made up my mind, ”’ returned Coffin. ‘‘ You must continue at the shop, and let people fancy you still believe me to have been drowned. I have got plenty of blunt, that’s one good thing; and it’s fortunate it was all in gold, or else the soaking I enjoyed in the Thames would have spoilt flimsy-notes beyond all redemption. Per- haps I shall stay with Bill Taggarty for a time; he’s all alone in this house — ain’t you, Bill? ”’ “Yes, I’m all alone,’ was the chandler’s response; but it was given with an evident aversion to the proposed so- journ of the Hangman at his house. “Or else I shall go over to Bencull’s crib at the Folly Bridges,” continued the Hangman, not choosing to observe the disinclination of Bill Taggarty to harbour him as a guest. “Hark!” said the chandler, abruptly; ‘ there’s a knock at the street door.’’ ‘“ And rather an impatient one, too,’’ added Daniel Coffin, rising from his seat with evident trepidation. ‘‘ I mustn’t be seen here by anybody, Bill, you know.” ‘Then just step up-stairs along with Sal and Dick,” said Tagearty, opening a door and thus disclosing a flight of CONNICLOO© SS (C(O)