Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 278: what you’re looking at

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

THE PREPARED PITFALL 261 Thus speaking, Chiffin took up the candle from the table, and led the way from the bar, followed by Madge Somers. He ascended to that miserable-looking room up-stairs which has been before described in earlier chapters of this narrative, and placing the candle upon the table, he said, ‘Let us sit down, Madge; we’ve got some business to talk about. But wait a bit till old Solomon has brought up the lush and the glasses, and then we shall be all to ourselves.”’ Madge Somers made no remark, but with her usual im- perturbability sat down, patiently awaiting the promised explanations. While casually casting her eyes around the small and cheerless-looking room, she suddenly observed that a door had been pierced on one side. ‘“T see that Solomon has been making some alterations in his house,’’ she said to the Cannibal. “ Ah! you mean that door,’ he remarked, with a smile of erim and sinister meaning which did not escape the -woman’s notice. ‘‘ You know where it leads to? ”’ “Tt must lead into Solomon’s own bedchamber,’’ said Madge, after a moment’s reflection, during which she passed in review the precise arrangements of the house and the distribution of the rooms, with all of which she was well acquainted. ‘“‘ To be sure! that door on the landing leads into Solomon’s chamber, but what has made him have another door made, communicating from this room? ”’ “Tl tell you all about it presently,’ returned Chiffin, with another peculiar smile, which was about as pleasing as the grin of some horrible monster. At this moment Solomon made his appearance with the liquor that had been ordered, and as he placed the tray upon the table, he threw a significant look at that new door which had been made, then bent his eyes upon Chiffin, next on Madge, and then retreated from the room, closing the outer door behind him. “Now perhaps,’ said Madge Somers, ‘‘ you will begin your explanations, and tell me what you want with me, because I can assure you my time is fully occupied.’’ “ Then I suppose you’ve got plenty of business on hand? ”’ said Chiffin, mixing himself a tumbler of brandy and water. “Yes, you know full well that I am seldom idle. But you seem busy also. By the bye, I thought the last time I saw you, Chiffin, you intended to take a public-house or ~ CONNIE LOOKS (C(O)