Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 312: what you’re looking at

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

THE SNARE 295 “ Shall I send the wine and glasses up, Mr. Chiffin? ”’ asked old Solomon, by way of giving a complexion of fairness to the present proceeeding. Yes, you may as well, and some brandy too, for that matter,’ responded the Cannibal. ‘ Come along, genelmen, this way.” For a moment William Deveril clutched the arm of the marquis, and threw upon him a significant look, — not one of actual fear, for our hero was no craven-hearted being, but one full of suspicion as to the integrity of Chiffin’s intentions. This removal from one room to another had struck him as being strange. The same idea had occurred to the marquis himself, and the look which he threw back upon Deveril imphed the necessity of exercising the utmost eaution. But then it simultaneously occurred to them both that as all the lower part of the house was full of people, it was by no means probable that any foul play could be intended them. They accordingly ascended the stairs, Chiffin the Cannibal leading the way with the light in his hand. That little room which has been so frequently alluded to in former chapters was reached, and as there seemed to be nothing suspicious there, — no place where any murderous confederates of their guide could be concealed in ambush, — the marquis and Deveril did not hesitate to enter it. Still they were on the alert, and kept at a certain distance behind Chiffin, so as to guard against any sudden manifestation of treachery. “This is my room, genelmen,” he said, throwing open that new door which had been constructed; then, as he paused on the threshold, the light which he held in his hand as well as one that was already burning on the table afford- ing them a full view of the interior, he added, ‘‘ You see it’s no great shakes, only just comfortable, and it’s here I’m going to transact my little business in future. Walk in, genelmen, and I will show you these letters at once. We will then settle what they’re worth over the lush that old Sol Patch will bring up in a moment.”’ Despite his villainous-looking countenance, there was a certain degree of frankness and straightforward meaning in this speech of the Cannibal’s, which almost completely reassured the marquis and Deveril. They had moreover GOMIIGDOOKS (C(O)