,"
answered
the
hag
.
"
Give
me
paper
and
pens
.
"
Tidkins
departed
to
fetch
writing
materials
,
food
,
some
strong
liquor
,
and
oil
for
the
old
woman
's
lamp
.
In
five
minutes
he
returned
;
and
,
placing
those
articles
upon
the
table
,
said
,
"
When
will
your
task
be
completed
?
"
"
It
will
take
me
some
hours
,
"
returned
the
hag
:
"
for
I
have
much
to
think
of
—
much
to
write
!
"
And
she
heaved
a
deep
sigh
.
"
This
evening
I
will
visit
you
again
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
.
He
and
Banks
then
fastened
the
huge
door
upon
the
old
woman
,
and
left
the
subterranean
.
When
they
reached
the
street
,
the
undertaker
departed
in
the
direction
of
his
own
house
;
and
the
Resurrection
Man
ascended
to
his
apartment
on
the
first
floor
.
CHAPTER
CCXVIII
.
THE
VEILED
VISITOR
.
Mr.
Tidkins
sate
down
and
smoked
his
pipe
as
calmly
as
if
he
were
not
at
all
afraid
to
be
left
alone
to
the
company
of
the
thoughts
which
the
occupation
was
likely
to
stir
up
within
him
.
For
when
a
man
takes
up
his
pipe
,
all
the
most
important
ideas
in
his
brain
are
certain
to
present
themselves
to
his
contemplation
;
and
think
on
them
he
must
,
willing
or
unwilling
.
But
Tidkins
shrank
not
from
any
of
those
reflections
:
he
was
not
one
of
your
villains
who
are
either
afraid
in
the
dark
,
or
who
loathe
solitude
;
—
what
he
did
he
perpetrated
systematically
,
and
reviewed
coolly
.
He
did
not
have
recourse
to
the
pipe
on
account
of
its
soothing
qualities
—
for
as
long
as
he
made
money
,
he
had
no
cares
;
and
when
he
indulged
in
a
glass
,
it
was
by
no
means
to
drown
remorse
—
because
he
had
no
compunctions
to
stifle
.
"
A
few
months
more
in
this
country
,
and
I
shall
be
all
right
,
"
he
mused
to
himself
:
"
then
off
to
America
—
plunge
into
the
far-west
—
change
my
name
—
buy
land
—
and
live
comfortable
for
the
rest
of
my
days
.
This
business
of
Katherine
Wilmot
must
produce
me
something
handsome
:
—
Gilbert
Vernon
's
affair
is
sure
to
do
so
,
in
one
way
or
the
other
;
—
and
if
any
other
business
worth
taking
,
and
speedily
done
,
comes
in
the
meantime
,
all
the
better
.
That
rascal
Tomlinson
regularly
bilked
me
:
and
yet
the
fellow
did
it
cleverly
!
Bolted
with
the
old
man
—
got
clean
away
.
For
my
part
,
I
wonder
he
did
n't
do
it
long
ago
.
Well
—
perhaps
I
shall
meet
them
both
some
day
in
America
;
for
I
dare
say
they
are
gone
there
.
All
run-a-ways
go
to
America
—
because
there
's
no
fear
of
questions
being
asked
in
the
back-woods
,
and
no
need
of
letters
of
introduction
when
a
chap
has
got
plenty
of
money
in
his
pocket
.
With
what
I
've
got
already
,
and
what
I
hope
to
get
from
the
things
now
in
hand
,
I
shall
stand
a
chance
of
taking
a
few
thousands
with
me
.
But
before
I
do
go
I
must
pay
one
or
two
people
out
:
—
there
's
that
hated
Markham
—
when
he
comes
back
;
then
there
's
the
Rattlesnake
;
and
there
's
Crankey
Jem
,
who
,
they
say
in
the
papers
,
will
have
a
free
pardon
before
the
trial
of
that
young
fool
Holford
comes
on
.
Well
—
I
have
got
something
to
do
,
in
one
way
or
another
,
before
I
leave
England
;
but
I
'm
not
the
man
to
neglect
business
—
either
in
the
pursuit
of
money
or
to
punish
an
enemy
.
Ha
!
that
was
a
knock
at
the
door
!
who
can
come
to
me
at
this
hour
?
"
The
Resurrection
Man
looked
at
his
watch
:
—
the
time
had
passed
rapidly
away
while
he
was
smoking
and
thinking
;
—
and
it
was
now
nearly
an
hour
past
mid-day
.
The
knock
—
which
was
low
and
timid
—
was
repeated
.
"
It
is
a
knock
,
"
said
Tidkins
;
and
he
hastened
down
to
the
street
door
.
He
opened
it
and
beheld
a
lady
,
enveloped
in
a
large
cloak
,
and
wearing
a
black
veil
which
was
so
elaborately
worked
and
so
well
arranged
in
thick
folds
that
it
was
impossible
to
catch
even
the
faintest
glimpse
of
the
countenance
that
it
concealed
.
Tidkins
,
however
,
perceived
at
the
first
glance
that
it
was
no
mean
person
who
had
sought
his
abode
;
for
the
delicate
kid
gloves
were
drawn
on
the
small
hands
with
a
scrupulous
nicety
;
the
foot
which
rested
upon
the
door-step
was
diminutive
to
a
fault
;
and
the
appearance
of
the
lady
,
even
disguised
as
she
was
,
had
something
of
superiority
and
command
which
could
not
be
mistaken
.
"
Does
Mr.
Tidkins
reside
here
?
"
she
said
,
in
a
tremulous
and
half-affrighted
tone
.
"
My
name
's
Tidkins
,
ma'am
—
at
your
service
,
"
answered
the
Resurrection
Man
,
in
as
polite
a
manner
as
he
could
possibly
assume
.
It
seemed
as
if
the
lady
looked
at
him
through
her
veil
for
a
few
moments
,
ere
she
made
a
reply
;
and
she
even
appeared
to
shudder
as
she
made
that
survey
.
And
no
wonder
;
—
for
a
countenance
with
a
more
sinister
expression
never
met
her
eyes
;
and
she
had
moreover
recognised
the
man
's
voice
,
which
she
had
heard
before
.
"
Will
you
step
in
,
ma'am
?
"
said
Tidkins
;
seeing
that
she
hesitated
.
"
I
am
all
alone
;
—
and
if
you
come
to
speak
on
any
particular
business
—
as
of
course
you
do
—
there
'll
be
no
one
to
overhear
us
.
"
For
another
instant
did
Adeline
—
(
there
is
no
necessity
to
affect
mystery
here
)
—
hesitate
ere
she
accepted
this
invitation
:
—
then
she
thought
of
her
torturess
Lydia
—
and
she
boldly
crossed
the
threshold
.
But
when
Tidkins
closed
and
bolted
the
door
behind
her
,
and
she
found
herself
ascending
the
steep
staircase
,
—
when
she
remembered
that
she
was
now
alone
in
that
house
with
a
man
concerning
whom
her
notions
were
of
the
most
appalling
nature
,
—
she
felt
her
legs
tremble
beneath
her
.
Then
again
was
she
compelled
to
encourage
herself
by
rapidly
passing
in
mental
review
the
horrors
of
those
tortures
and
the
extent
of
those
indignities
which
she
endured
at
the
hands
of
Lydia
Hutchinson
!
—
and
her
strength
immediately
revived
.
She
ascended
the
stairs
,
and
entered
the
back
room
,
to
which
the
Resurrection
Man
directed
her
in
language
as
polite
as
he
could
command
.
Then
,
having
placed
a
chair
for
his
mysterious
visitor
near
the
fire
,
he
took
another
at
a
respectful
distance
from
her
—
for
he
knew
that
it
would
be
impolitic
to
alarm
one
who
was
evidently
a
well-bred
lady
,
by
appearing
to
be
too
familiar
.
"
I
dare
say
you
are
surprised
to
see
a
—
a
female
—
alone
and
unprotected
—
visit
your
abode
in
this
—
in
this
unceremonious
manner
?
"
said
Adeline
,
after
a
long
pause
,
but
still
fearfully
embarrassed
.
"
I
am
not
surprised
at
any
thing
,
ma'am
,
in
this
world
,
"
replied
Tidkins
:
"
I
've
seen
too
much
ever
to
wonder
.
Besides
,
it
is
not
the
first
time
that
I
have
had
dealings
with
gentlemen
and
ladies
even
of
the
highest
class
.
But
I
ask
no
impertinent
questions
,
and
make
no
impertinent
remarks
.
One
thing
,
however
,
I
should
like
to
learn
,
ma'am
—
if
it
would
not
be
rude
:
and
that
is
,
how
you
came
to
address
yourself
to
me
for
whatever
business
you
may
have
in
hand
?
"
"
That
I
cannot
explain
,
"
returned
Adeline
:
then
,
after
a
moment
's
thought
,
she
said
,
"
Will
it
not
be
sufficient
for
you
to
know
that
I
obtained
your
address
from
one
of
those
high-born
persons
to
whom
you
ere
now
alluded
?
"
"
Quite
sufficient
,
ma'am
,
"
answered
Tidkins
.
"
In
what
way
can
I
aid
you
?
"
"
I
scarcely
know
how
to
explain
myself
,
"
said
Lady
Ravensworth
.
"
I
require
a
great
service
—
a
terrible
one
;
but
I
am
prepared
to
pay
in
proportion
.
"
"
Do
not
hesitate
with
me
,
ma'am
,
"
observed
Tidkins
,
his
countenance
brightening
up
considerably
at
the
prospect
of
reaping
a
good
harvest
by
means
of
his
new
customer
.
"
Of
course
you
require
something
which
a
lawyer
ca
n't
do
,
or
else
you
'd
go
to
one
:
therefore
what
you
want
is
illegal
,
ma'am
;
and
my
business
,
in
a
word
,
is
to
do
every
thing
which
can
be
done
in
opposition
to
the
law
.
"
"
But
are
you
prepared
to
accomplish
a
deed
which
,
if
detected
—
—
Oh
!
I
cannot
explain
myself
!
No
:
—
let
me
depart
—
I
never
should
have
come
hither
!
"
And
Adeline
was
seized
by
a
sudden
paroxysm
of
remorse
and
alarm
.
"
Calm
yourself
,
ma'am
,
"
said
Tidkins
.
"
If
you
wish
to
go
,
I
cannot
prevent
you
;
but
if
you
really
need
my
aid
—
in
any
way
—
no
matter
what
—
speak
at
your
leisure
.
I
am
not
particular
,
ma'am
,
as
to
what
I
undertake
;
and
do
n't
think
I
mean
to
offend
you
in
what
I
'm
going
to
say
—
it
's
only
to
give
you
confidence
towards
me
,
and
to
afford
you
an
idea
of
what
I
now
and
then
do
for
great
folks
and
others
,
both
male
and
female
.
Suppose
a
lady
has
pawned
or
sold
her
diamonds
to
pay
a
gaming
debt
,
she
wants
a
sham
burglary
got
up
in
the
house
to
cover
the
loss
of
them
:
well
,
ma'am
,
I
'm
the
man
to
break
in
and
carry
off
a
few
trifles
,
besides
forcing
open
the
door
of
the
closet
or
bureau
where
the
casket
of
jewels
ought
to
be
.
Or
perhaps
a
tradesman
who
is
about
to
become
bankrupt
,
wants
the
stock
removed
to
a
place
of
safety
where
he
can
have
it
again
after
a
time
:
there
again
,
ma'am
,
I
'm
the
individual
to
accomplish
the
whole
affair
in
the
night
,
and
give
the
house
the
appearance
of
having
been
robbed
.
Or
else
a
gentleman
insures
his
house
and
furniture
,
and
wants
the
money
:
he
goes
off
into
the
country
—
his
place
is
burnt
to
a
cinder
during
his
absence
—
and
no
one
can
possibly
suspect
him
of
having
had
any
thing
to
do
with
it
.
Besides
,
the
whole
thing
seems
an
accident
—
so
cleverly
do
I
manage
it
.
And
,
to
go
a
little
farther
,
ma'am
—
if
a
lady
should
happen
to
want
to
get
rid
of
a
severe
husband
—
an
illegitimate
child
—
an
extortionate
lover
—
or
a
successful
rival
—
—
"
"
Or
a
bitter
enemy
?
"
added
Lady
Ravensworth
,
hastily
—
for
she
had
been
enabled
to
collect
her
thoughts
and
compose
herself
while
Tidkins
was
thus
expatiating
upon
his
exploits
.
"
Yes
,
ma'am
—
or
a
bitter
enemy
,
"
he
repeated
;
—
"
it
's
all
the
same
to
me
;
for
,
"
—
and
he
lowered
his
voice
as
he
spoke
—
"
I
have
either
the
means
of
imprisoning
them
till
they
're
driven
raving
mad
and
can
be
safely
removed
to
an
asylum
—
or
I
make
shorter
work
of
it
still
!
"
he
added
,
significantly
.
"
Ah
!
you
have
the
means
of
imprisoning
persons
—
of
keeping
them
for
ever
out
of
the
way
—
and
yet
not
go
to
the
last
extreme
?
"
said
Adeline
,
catching
at
this
alternative
.
"
I
have
,
ma'am
,
"
was
the
calm
reply
.
"
But
wherefore
do
you
speak
thus
freely
to
me
?
why
do
you
tell
me
so
much
?
"
demanded
Adeline
,
a
vague
suspicion
entering
her
mind
that
this
fearful
man
knew
her
.
"
I
am
a
complete
stranger
to
you
—
—
"
"
Yes
,
ma'am
:
and
you
may
remain
so
,
if
it
suits
your
purpose
,
"
answered
Tidkins
,
who
divined
the
motive
of
her
observations
.
"
Tell
me
what
you
wish
done
—
pay
me
my
price
—
and
I
shall
ask
you
no
questions
.
And
if
you
think
that
I
am
incautious
in
telling
you
so
much
concerning
myself
,
let
me
assure
you
that
I
am
not
afraid
of
your
being
a
police-spy
.
The
police
cannot
get
hold
of
such
persons
as
yourself
to
entrap
men
like
me
.
I
know
that
you
have
business
to
propose
to
me
:
your
words
and
manner
prove
it
.
Now
,
ma'am
,
answer
me
as
frankly
as
I
have
spoken
to
you
.
You
have
a
bitter
enemy
?
"
"
I
have
indeed
,
"
answered
Adeline
,
reassured
that
she
was
not
known
to
the
Resurrection
Man
:
"
and
that
enemy
is
a
woman
.
"
"
Saving
your
presence
,
ma'am
,
a
woman
is
a
worse
enemy
than
a
man
,
"
said
Tidkins
.
"
And
of
course
you
wish
to
get
your
enemy
out
of
the
way
by
some
means
?
"
"
I
do
,
"
replied
Adeline
,
in
a
low
and
hoarse
tone
—
as
if
she
only
uttered
those
monosyllables
with
a
great
exertion
.
"
There
are
two
ways
,
ma'am
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
,
significantly
:
"
confinement
in
a
dungeon
,
or
—
—
"
"
I
understand
you
,
"
interrupted
Lady
Ravensworth
,
hastily
.
"
Oh
!
I
am
at
a
loss
which
course
to
adopt
—
which
plan
to
decide
upon
!
Heaven
knows
I
shrink
from
the
extreme
one
—
—
and
yet
—
—
"
"
The
dead
tell
no
tales
,
"
observed
Tidkins
,
in
a
low
and
measured
tone
.
Adeline
shuddered
,
and
made
no
reply
.
She
fell
back
in
the
chair
,
and
rapidly
reviewed
in
her
mind
all
the
perils
and
circumstances
of
her
position
.
She
wished
to
rid
herself
of
Lydia
Hutchinson
—
for
ever
!
She
was
moreover
anxious
that
this
object
should
be
effected
in
a
manner
so
mysterious
and
secret
that
she
might
not
afterwards
find
herself
at
the
mercy
of
the
agent
whom
she
employed
in
her
criminal
purpose
.
She
had
,
indeed
,
already
settled
a
plan
to
that
effect
,
ere
she
called
upon
Tidkins
.
During
the
whole
of
the
preceding
night
had
she
pondered
upon
that
terrible
scheme
;
and
so
well
digested
was
it
that
Lydia
might
be
made
away
with
—
murdered
,
in
fine
—
and
yet
Tidkins
would
never
know
whom
he
had
thus
cut
off
,
where
the
deed
was
accomplished
,
nor
by
whom
he
had
been
employed
.
Thus
,
according
to
that
project
,
all
traces
of
the
crime
would
disappear
,
without
the
possibility
of
ever
fixing
it
upon
herself
.
Now
this
idea
was
disturbed
by
the
hint
thrown
out
relative
to
imprisonment
in
a
dungeon
.
Were
such
a
scheme
carried
into
effect
,
Tidkins
must
know
who
his
prisoner
was
,
and
by
whom
he
was
employed
.
A
hundred
chances
might
lead
to
an
exposure
,
or
enable
Lydia
to
effect
her
escape
.
Moreover
,
by
adopting
this
project
,
Adeline
saw
that
she
should
be
placing
herself
at
the
mercy
of
a
ferocious
man
,
who
might
become
an
extortioner
,
and
perpetually
menace
her
by
virtue
of
the
secret
that
would
be
in
his
keeping
.
She
felt
that
she
should
live
in
constant
alarm
lest
Lydia
might
effect
her
release
by
bribery
or
accident
.
But
chiefly
did
she
reason
that
she
had
suffered
so
much
at
the
hand
of
one
who
was
acquainted
with
a
dread
secret
concerning
her
,
that
she
shrank
from
the
idea
of
so
placing
herself
at
the
mercy
of
another
.
All
these
arguments
were
reviewed
by
the
desperate
woman
in
far
less
time
than
we
have
occupied
in
their
narration
.
But
while
she
was
thus
wrapped
up
in
her
awful
reverie
,
Tidkins
,
who
guessed
to
a
certain
extent
what
was
passing
in
her
mind
,
sate
silently
and
patiently
awaiting
her
decision
between
the
two
alternatives
proposed
—
a
dungeon
or
death
!
Had
he
been
able
to
penetrate
with
a
glance
through
the
folds
of
that
dark
veil
,
he
would
have
beholden
a
countenance
livid
white
,
and
distorted
with
the
fell
thoughts
which
occupied
the
mind
of
his
visitor
:
—
but
never
once
during
this
interview
did
he
obtain
a
glimpse
of
her
features
.
"
Mr.
Tidkins
,
"
at
length
said
Adeline
,
in
a
low
tone
and
with
a
visible
shudder
,
"
my
case
is
so
desperate
that
nothing
but
a
desperate
remedy
can
meet
it
.
Were
you
acquainted
with
all
the
particulars
,
you
would
see
the
affair
in
the
same
light
.
Either
my
enemy
must
die
—
or
I
must
commit
suicide
!
Those
are
the
alternatives
.
"
"
Then
let
your
enemy
die
,
"
returned
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
Yes
—
yes
:
it
must
be
so
!
"
exclaimed
Adeline
,
stifling
all
feelings
of
compunction
:
then
taking
from
beneath
her
cloak
a
heavy
bag
,
she
threw
it
upon
the
table
,
the
chink
of
gold
sounding
most
welcome
to
the
ears
of
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
That
bag
contains
a
hundred
sovereigns
,
"
she
continued
:
"
it
is
only
an
earnest
of
what
I
will
give
if
you
consent
to
serve
me
precisely
in
the
manner
which
I
shall
point
out
.
"
"
That
is
a
good
beginning
,
at
all
events
,
"
said
Tidkins
,
his
eyes
sparkling
with
joy
beneath
their
shaggy
brows
.
"
Go
on
,
ma'am
—
I
am
ready
to
obey
you
.
"
"
My
plan
is
this
,
"
continued
Adeline
,
forcing
herself
to
speak
with
calmness
:
—
"
you
will
meet
me
to-night
at
the
hour
and
place
which
I
shall
presently
mention
;
you
will
accompany
me
in
a
vehicle
some
few
miles
;
but
you
must
consent
to
be
blindfolded
as
long
as
it
suits
my
purpose
to
keep
you
so
:
when
the
deed
is
accomplished
,
you
shall
receive
two
hundred
sovereigns
in
addition
to
the
sum
now
lying
before
you
;
and
you
will
return
blindfolded
with
me
to
the
place
where
I
shall
think
fit
to
leave
you
.
Do
you
agree
to
this
?
"
"
I
cannot
have
the
least
objection
,
ma'am
,
"
answered
Tidkins
,
overjoyed
at
the
prospect
of
obtaining
such
an
important
addition
to
the
ill-gotten
gains
already
hoarded
.
"
Where
and
when
shall
I
meet
you
?
"
"
This
evening
,
at
nine
o'clock
—
at
the
corner
of
the
Edgeware
Road
and
Oxford
Street
,
"
replied
Adeline
.
"
I
will
be
punctual
to
the
minute
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
.
Lady
Ravensworth
then
took
her
departure
.
As
soon
as
it
was
dusk
,
Tidkins
filled
a
basket
with
provisions
,
and
repaired
to
the
subterranean
dungeon
where
the
old
hag
was
confined
.
"
How
do
you
get
on
?
"
he
demanded
,
as
he
placed
the
basket
upon
the
table
.
"
Alack
!
I
have
not
half
completed
my
task
,
"
returned
the
old
woman
:
"
my
thoughts
oppress
me
—
my
hand
trembles
—
and
my
sight
is
bad
.
"
"
Then
you
will
have
to
wait
in
this
place
a
few
hours
longer
than
I
expected
,
"
said
Tidkins
.
"
But
that
basket
contains
the
wherewith
to
cheer
you
,
and
you
need
not
expect
to
see
me
again
until
to-morrow
morning
,
or
perhaps
to-morrow
night
.
So
make
yourself
comfortable
—
and
get
on
with
your
work
.
I
shall
keep
my
word
about
the
reward
—
do
you
keep
yours
concerning
the
true
history
and
the
written
proofs
of
Katherine
's
parentage
.
"
"
I
shall
not
deceive
you
—
I
shall
not
deceive
you
,
"
answered
the
hag
.
"
Alack
!
I
am
too
anxious
to
escape
from
this
horrible
den
.
"
"
You
may
leave
it
to-morrow
night
for
certain
,
"
returned
Tidkins
:
"
at
least
,
it
all
depends
on
yourself
.
"
He
then
closed
the
door
,
bolted
it
carefully
,
and
quitted
the
subterranean
.
While
he
was
engaged
in
making
some
little
changes
in
his
toilet
ere
he
sallied
forth
to
his
appointment
with
the
veiled
lady
,
he
thus
mused
upon
a
project
which
he
had
conceived
:
—
"
I
have
more
than
half
a
mind
to
get
the
Buffer
to
dog
that
lady
and
me
,
and
find
out
where
she
takes
me
to
.
And
yet
if
we
go
far
in
a
vehicle
,
the
Buffer
never
could
follow
on
foot
;
and
if
he
took
a
cab
,
it
would
perhaps
be
observed
and
excite
her
suspicions
.
Then
she
might
abandon
the
thing
altogether
;
and
I
should
lose
my
two
hundred
quids
extra
.
No
:
—
I
must
trust
to
circumstances
to
obtain
a
clue
to
all
I
want
to
know
—
who
she
is
,
and
where
she
is
going
to
take
me
.
"
Having
thus
reasoned
against
the
project
which
he
had
for
a
moment
considered
feasible
,
the
Resurrection
Man
armed
himself
with
a
dagger
and
pistols
,
enveloped
himself
in
his
cloak
,
slouched
his
hat
over
his
forbidding
countenance
,
and
then
took
his
departure
.
CHAPTER
CCXIX
.
THE
MURDER
.
It
wanted
five
minutes
to
nine
o'clock
when
Anthony
Tidkins
reached
the
corner
of
Oxford
Street
and
the
Edgeware
Road
.
A
cab
was
standing
a
few
yards
up
the
latter
thoroughfare
;
and
as
the
driver
was
sitting
quietly
on
his
box
,
without
endeavouring
to
catch
a
fare
,
it
instantly
struck
the
Resurrection
Man
that
his
unknown
patroness
might
be
the
occupant
of
the
vehicle
,
and
was
waiting
for
him
.
He
accordingly
approached
the
window
,
and
by
the
reflection
of
a
shop
gas-light
,
perceived
the
veiled
lady
inside
.
"
Is
it
you
?
"
she
said
,
unable
to
distinguish
his
countenance
beneath
his
slouched
hat
.
"
Yes
,
ma'am
.
All
right
,
"
he
cried
to
the
driver
;
and
,
opening
the
door
,
entered
the
cab
.
It
then
moved
rapidly
away
—
the
driver
having
evidently
received
his
instructions
before-hand
.
"
Draw
up
the
window
,
"
said
the
lady
.
Tidkins
obeyed
.
"
You
remember
your
promise
to
be
blindfolded
?
"
continued
Adeline
.
"
I
have
forgotten
nothing
that
passed
between
us
,
ma'am
.
"
He
had
taken
off
his
hat
upon
entering
the
vehicle
;
and
Adeline
now
drew
over
his
head
a
large
flesh-coloured
silk
cap
,
or
bag
,
fitted
with
a
string
that
enabled
her
to
gather
it
in
and
fasten
it
round
his
neck
—
but
not
so
tightly
as
to
impede
the
free
current
of
air
.
"
I
am
sorry
to
be
compelled
to
subject
you
to
any
inconvenience
,
"
she
said
,
loathing
herself
at
the
same
time
for
being
compelled
to
address
this
conciliatory
language
to
such
a
man
—
a
murderer
by
profession
!
"
Do
n't
mention
it
,
ma'am
:
it
's
all
in
the
way
of
business
.
"
A
profound
silence
then
ensued
between
them
.
On
his
part
the
Resurrection
Man
,
who
was
intimately
acquainted
with
London
and
all
its
multitudinous
mazes
,
endeavoured
to
follow
in
his
mind
the
course
which
the
vehicle
was
taking
;
and
for
some
time
he
was
enabled
to
calculate
it
accurately
enough
.
But
it
presently
turned
off
to
the
left
,
and
shortly
afterwards
took
several
windings
,
which
completely
baffled
his
reckoning
.
He
accordingly
abandoned
the
labour
,
and
trusted
to
accident
to
furnish
him
with
the
clue
which
he
desired
.
On
her
side
,
Adeline
was
a
prey
to
the
most
horrible
emotions
.
Now
that
she
had
carried
the
dread
proceedings
up
to
the
point
which
they
had
reached
,
she
recoiled
from
urging
them
to
the
awful
catastrophe
.
Vainly
did
she
endeavour
to
tranquillise
herself
with
the
specious
reasoning
that
she
would
not
become
a
murderess
,
since
her
hands
were
not
to
do
the
deed
,
—
or
that
even
if
that
name
must
attach
itself
to
her
,
she
was
justified
in
adopting
any
means
,
however
extreme
,
to
rid
herself
of
a
remorseless
enemy
:
—
vainly
did
she
thus
argue
:
—
the
crime
she
was
about
to
commit
,
or
to
have
committed
for
her
,
seemed
appalling
!
Often
during
this
long
ride
was
she
on
the
point
of
declaring
to
her
terrible
companion
that
she
would
stop
short
and
abandon
the
murderous
project
at
once
:
and
then
would
come
soul-harrowing
remembrances
of
Lydia
's
tyranny
,
accompanied
by
violent
longings
after
vengeance
.
Thus
did
nearly
three
quarters
of
an
hour
pass
,
when
the
cab
suddenly
halted
.
"
Put
on
your
hat
—
draw
up
your
cloak-collar
—
and
hold
down
your
head
as
you
alight
,
"
said
Adeline
in
a
rapid
whisper
.
The
Resurrection
Man
understood
her
;
and
the
darkness
of
the
night
favoured
the
precautions
which
Lady
Ravensworth
had
suggested
to
prevent
the
driver
,
who
opened
the
door
,
from
observing
that
Tidkins
's
face
was
covered
with
the
flesh-coloured
silk
.
"
Wait
until
our
return
,
"
said
Adeline
:
"
we
may
not
be
back
for
two
,
or
even
three
hours
;
—
but
in
any
case
wait
.
"
And
she
placed
a
piece
of
gold
in
the
man
's
hand
.
She
then
took
the
arm
of
Tidkins
and
hurried
him
across
the
fields
—
for
such
he
could
feel
the
soil
upon
which
he
was
walking
to
be
.
In
this
manner
did
they
proceed
for
upwards
of
half
an
hour
,
when
they
reached
the
fence
surrounding
the
gardens
of
Ravensworth
Hall
.
Adeline
opened
the
wicket
by
means
of
a
key
which
she
had
with
her
,
and
hurried
her
companion
through
the
grounds
to
the
private
door
at
the
southern
extremity
of
the
mansion
.
This
she
also
opened
and
locked
again
when
they
had
entered
.
She
then
conducted
the
Resurrection
Man
up
the
staircase
,
and
finally
into
her
boudoir
.
Guiding
him
to
a
chair
,
she
released
him
from
the
silk
cap
;
but
when
it
was
removed
,
he
could
perceive
nothing
—
for
the
room
was
quite
dark
.
"
My
enemy
is
certain
to
come
hither
shortly
,
"
whispered
Adeline
:
"
it
may
be
directly
—
or
it
may
be
in
an
hour
;
—
still
she
is
sure
to
come
.
I
shall
conceal
you
behind
a
curtain
—
in
case
the
wrong
person
might
happen
to
enter
the
room
by
accident
.
But
when
any
one
comes
in
,
and
you
hear
me
close
the
door
and
say
'
WRETCH
!
'
rush
upon
her
—
seize
her
by
the
throat
—
and
strangle
her
.
Are
you
strong
enough
to
do
this
?
—
for
no
blood
must
be
shed
.
"
"
Trust
to
me
,
ma'am
,
"
returned
Tidkins
.
"
The
woman
—
whoever
she
may
be
—
will
never
speak
again
after
my
fingers
once
grasp
her
neck
.
"
Adeline
then
guided
him
behind
the
curtain
of
her
bed
;
and
she
herself
took
her
post
near
the
door
.
And
now
succeeded
a
most
appalling
interval
of
nearly
twenty
minutes
,
—
appalling
only
to
Adeline
;
for
her
hardened
accomplice
was
thinking
far
more
of
the
additional
sum
he
was
about
to
earn
,
than
of
the
deed
he
was
hired
to
perpetrate
.
But
,
Adeline
—
oh
,
her
thoughts
were
terrible
in
the
extreme
!
Not
that
she
dreaded
the
failure
of
the
deadly
plot
,
and
a
consequent
exposure
of
the
whole
machination
:
—
no
—
her
plans
were
too
well
laid
to
admit
that
contingency
.
But
she
felt
her
mind
harrowing
up
,
as
it
were
,
at
the
blackness
of
the
tragedy
which
was
in
preparation
.
Twenty
minutes
,
we
said
,
elapsed
:
—
twenty
years
of
mental
agony
—
twenty
thousand
of
acute
suffering
,
did
that
interval
appear
to
be
.
At
length
a
step
echoed
in
the
corridor
;
—
nearer
and
nearer
it
came
.
Good
God
!
what
pangs
lacerated
the
heart
of
Lady
Ravensworth
;
—
and
even
then
—
far
as
she
had
gone
—
she
was
on
the
point
of
rushing
forward
,
and
crying
,
"
No
!
no
!
—
spare
—
spare
her
!
"
But
some
demon
whispered
in
her
ear
,
"
Now
is
the
time
for
vengeance
!
"
—
and
she
retained
her
post
—
she
stifled
the
better
feelings
that
had
agitated
within
her
—
she
nerved
herself
to
be
merciless
and
unrelenting
.
She
knew
that
the
step
approaching
was
that
of
Lydia
;
for
Lydia
allowed
none
of
the
other
servants
to
enter
her
mistress
's
own
private
chamber
.
The
reason
of
this
must
be
obvious
to
the
reader
:
—
Lydia
only
repaired
thither
for
the
sake
of
appearances
—
and
not
to
do
the
work
which
it
was
her
duty
to
perform
.
No
—
that
had
been
left
for
Adeline
herself
to
execute
!
And
now
the
handle
of
the
lock
was
agitated
—
the
door
opened
—
and
Lydia
,
bearing
a
light
,
entered
the
room
.
Instantly
Adeline
closed
the
door
violently
—
exclaiming
,
"
Wretch
,
your
time
is
come
!
"
Lydia
started
—
and
dropped
the
light
.
But
in
another
second
the
Resurrection
Man
,
springing
like
a
tiger
from
his
lair
,
rushed
upon
her
from
behind
the
curtain
—
seized
her
throat
with
his
iron
grasp
—
and
threw
her
on
the
floor
as
easily
as
if
she
were
a
child
.
The
light
had
gone
out
—
and
the
fearful
deed
was
consummated
in
the
dark
.
A
low
gurgling
—
a
suffocating
sound
—
and
the
convulsions
of
a
body
in
the
agony
of
death
were
the
terrible
indications
to
Adeline
that
the
work
was
indeed
in
awful
progress
!
Faint
and
sick
at
heart
—
with
whirling
brain
—
and
bright
sparks
flashing
from
her
eyes
—
Lady
Ravensworth
leant
against
the
door
for
support
.
Two
minutes
thus
elapsed
—
the
gurgling
sound
every
instant
growing
fainter
and
fainter
.
Adeline
felt
as
if
her
own
senses
were
leaving
her
—
as
if
she
were
going
mad
.
Suddenly
a
low
,
hoarse
voice
near
her
whispered
,
"
It
's
all
over
!
"
Then
Lady
Ravensworth
was
suddenly
recalled
to
the
consciousness
of
her
perilous
position
,
—
awakened
to
the
necessity
of
carrying
out
all
her
pre-arranged
measures
of
precaution
to
the
end
.
"
We
must
now
dispose
of
the
body
,
"
she
said
,
in
a
low
and
hurried
tone
.
"
You
must
take
it
on
your
back
,
and
carry
it
for
a
short
distance
,
whither
I
will
lead
you
.
But
,
first
—
here
is
a
bag
:
it
contains
two
hundred
and
fifty
sovereigns
—
fifty
more
than
I
promised
you
.
"
The
Resurrection
Man
clutched
the
gold
eagerly
:
—
the
weight
was
sufficient
to
convince
him
that
his
patroness
was
not
deceiving
him
.
While
he
was
hugging
his
ill-earned
gains
,
Adeline
hastily
felt
her
way
to
the
bureau
,
opened
it
,
and
took
forth
her
casket
of
jewels
.
She
left
the
door
of
the
bureau
open
,
and
the
key
in
the
lock
.
The
Resurrection
Man
now
suffered
her
to
replace
the
silk
cap
over
his
head
:
—
what
would
he
not
have
done
for
one
who
paid
so
liberally
!
Then
,
taking
the
body
upon
his
back
,
he
was
led
by
Adeline
from
the
boudoir
.
They
descended
the
stairs
,
and
passed
out
of
the
mansion
by
the
private
door
,
which
Adeline
closed
but
left
the
key
in
the
lock
.
She
conducted
him
through
the
grounds
once
more
,
leaving
the
wicket
open
—
and
proceeded
across
a
field
,
in
one
corner
of
which
was
a
large
deep
pond
.
A
pile
of
stones
was
near
the
brink
.
"
Throw
the
body
upon
the
ground
,
"
said
Adeline
.
The
Resurrection
Man
obeyed
,
and
seated
himself
quietly
by
it
.
Adeline
averted
her
eyes
from
the
pale
countenance
,
on
which
a
faint
stream
of
straggling
moonlight
stole
through
the
darkness
of
the
night
;
—
and
rapidly
did
she
busy
herself
to
secure
her
casket
of
rich
jewels
and
several
huge
stones
about
the
corpse
.
This
she
did
by
means
of
a
strong
cord
,
with
which
she
had
provided
herself
;
for
—
fearful
woman
!
—
she
had
not
omitted
one
single
detail
of
her
horrible
plan
—
nor
did
she
hesitate
to
sacrifice
her
precious
casket
to
aid
in
the
assurance
of
her
own
safety
.
When
this
labour
was
finished
,
—
and
it
did
not
occupy
many
minutes
,
—
Adeline
rolled
the
body
down
the
precipitous
bank
into
the
pond
.
There
was
a
splash
—
a
gurgling
sound
;
and
all
was
still
.
"
By
God
!
"
murmured
the
Resurrection
Man
;
"
this
is
the
cleverest
woman
I
ever
met
in
my
life
.
I
really
quite
admire
her
!
"
The
words
did
not
,
however
,
reach
the
ears
of
Lady
Ravensworth
,
—
or
she
would
have
recoiled
with
abhorrence
from
that
fearful
admiration
which
she
had
excited
in
the
mind
of
such
a
miscreant
—
a
resurrectionist
—
a
murderer
!
"
Every
thing
is
now
finished
,
"
said
Adeline
,
breathing
more
freely
.
"
Let
as
depart
.
"
She
led
her
companion
across
the
fields
:
—
her
delicate
feet
were
wet
with
the
dew
;
—
and
though
she
felt
wearied
—
oh
!
so
wearied
that
she
was
ready
to
sink
,
—
yet
that
woman
—
within
a
few
weeks
of
becoming
a
mother
—
was
armed
with
an
almost
superhuman
energy
,
now
that
it
was
too
late
to
retreat
and
her
enemy
was
no
more
.
When
they
reached
the
cab
,
the
driver
was
sleeping
on
his
box
;
and
before
he
was
well
awake
,
the
Resurrection
Man
had
entered
the
vehicle
.
"
Back
to
the
place
where
you
took
up
my
companion
,
"
said
Adeline
,
as
she
followed
Tidkins
into
the
cab
.
And
now
she
was
journeying
side
by
side
with
one
who
had
just
perpetrated
a
cold-blooded
murder
,
—
she
the
promptress
—
he
the
instrument
!
In
three
quarters
of
an
hour
they
again
stopped
at
the
corner
of
the
Edgeware
Road
,
Adeline
having
removed
the
cap
from
the
Resurrection
Man
's
head
a
few
minutes
previously
.
The
cab
was
dismissed
:
—
Tidkins
had
vainly
looked
to
discover
its
number
.
Adeline
,
by
bribing
the
driver
,
had
provided
against
that
contingency
also
!
"
Any
other
time
,
ma'am
,
"
said
Tidkins
,
"
that
you
require
my
services
—
or
can
recommend
me
to
your
friends
—
—
"
"
Yes
—
certainly
,
"
interrupted
Adeline
.
"
Good
night
.
"
And
she
hastened
rapidly
away
.
"
It
's
no
use
for
me
to
attempt
to
follow
her
,
"
murmured
the
Resurrection
Man
to
himself
:
"
she
is
too
wary
for
that
.
"
He
then
pursued
his
way
homewards
,
well
contented
with
his
night
's
work
.
And
Adeline
regained
admittance
to
her
town-mansion
,
having
so
well
contrived
matters
that
the
housekeeper
never
suspected
she
had
once
quitted
it
during
the
day
or
night
.
Between
three
and
four
o'clock
in
the
morning
the
rain
began
to
pour
down
in
torrents
,
and
continued
until
past
eight
,
—
so
that
Lady
Ravensworth
was
enabled
to
assure
herself
with
the
conviction
that
even
the
very
footsteps
of
herself
and
Anthony
Tidkins
were
effaced
from
the
grounds
belonging
to
the
Hall
,
and
from
the
fields
in
one
of
which
was
the
pond
to
whose
depths
the
corpse
of
the
murdered
victim
had
been
consigned
.
CHAPTER
CCXX
.
THE
EFFECT
OF
THE
ORIENTAL
TOBACCO
.
—
THE
OLD
HAG
'S
PAPERS
.
Scarcely
had
Lady
Ravensworth
risen
from
the
table
,
whereon
stood
the
untasted
morning
meal
,
when
the
housekeeper
of
the
town-mansion
entered
the
room
,
and
informed
her
mistress
that
Quentin
had
just
arrived
on
horseback
from
the
Hall
,
and
requested
an
immediate
audience
of
her
ladyship
.
Adeline
was
not
unprepared
for
some
such
circumstance
as
this
;
she
however
affected
to
believe
that
the
sudden
appearance
of
Quentin
in
town
bore
reference
to
the
illness
of
her
husband
;
and
when
the
valet
entered
the
apartment
,
she
hastened
to
meet
him
,
exclaiming
,
with
well-assumed
anxiety
,
"
Is
any
thing
the
matter
with
your
lord
?
Speak
,
Quentin
—
speak
!
"
"
His
lordship
is
certainly
worse
this
morning
,
my
lady
:
but
—
—
"
"
But
not
dangerously
so
,
Quentin
?
"
cried
Adeline
,
as
if
tortured
by
acute
suspense
and
apprehension
.
"
My
lord
is
far
—
very
far
from
well
,
"
returned
Quentin
:
"
but
that
is
not
precisely
the
object
of
my
coming
to
town
so
early
.
The
truth
is
,
my
lady
,
that
Lydia
Hutchinson
has
decamped
.
"
"
Lydia
gone
!
"
exclaimed
Lady
Ravensworth
.
"
Yes
—
my
lady
.
But
permit
me
to
ask
whether
your
ladyship
brought
your
jewel-casket
to
town
with
you
yesterday
morning
.
"
"
Certainly
not
,
Quentin
:
I
merely
came
for
a
few
hours
—
or
at
least
until
this
morning
—
—
"
"
Then
our
worst
fears
are
confirmed
!
"
ejaculated
the
valet
.
"
Lydia
has
decamped
with
your
ladyship
's
jewel-case
.
"
"
The
ungrateful
wretch
!
"
cried
Adeline
,
feigning
deep
indignation
.
"
Was
she
not
well
treated
at
the
Hall
?
was
I
a
severe
mistress
to
her
?
"
"
She
was
not
a
favorite
with
the
other
dependants
of
your
ladyship
's
household
,
"
observed
Quentin
.
"
And
when
did
this
happen
?
how
did
you
discover
her
flight
?
"
demanded
Lady
Ravensworth
.
"
She
was
not
missed
until
this
morning
,
my
lady
;
although
there
is
every
reason
to
believe
that
she
must
have
taken
her
departure
last
evening
.
She
had
agreed
with
the
housekeeper
to
take
the
first
half
of
the
night
in
watching
by
the
side
of
Lord
Dunstable
's
bed
;
but
as
she
did
not
make
her
appearance
at
the
proper
time
,
it
was
concluded
she
had
gone
to
rest
,
and
another
female
domestic
took
her
place
.
This
morning
,
the
gardener
found
the
wicket
of
the
southern
fence
open
,
and
the
key
in
the
lock
:
this
circumstance
excited
his
suspicions
;
and
,
on
farther
investigation
,
he
also
found
the
key
in
the
lock
of
the
private
door
at
the
same
end
of
the
building
.
He
gave
an
alarm
:
a
search
was
instituted
;
and
,
after
a
time
,
your
ladyship
's
chamber
was
visited
,
when
the
bureau
was
discovered
to
be
open
and
the
casket
of
jewels
was
missed
.
The
servants
were
mustered
;
but
Lydia
had
disappeared
;
and
it
was
subsequently
ascertained
that
her
bed
had
not
been
slept
in
all
night
.
Moreover
,
the
candlestick
which
Lydia
was
in
the
habit
of
using
when
she
waited
upon
your
ladyship
,
was
found
lying
in
the
middle
of
your
ladyship
's
boudoir
,
as
if
it
had
been
hastily
flung
down
—
probably
in
a
moment
of
alarm
.
"
"
And
has
nothing
been
missed
save
my
jewels
?
"
demanded
Adeline
,
whose
plan
had
succeeded
in
all
its
details
precisely
as
she
had
foreseen
.
"
Nothing
—
at
least
so
far
as
we
had
been
enabled
to
ascertain
before
I
left
for
town
,
my
lady
,
"
answered
Quentin
.
"
And
what
is
more
remarkable
still
,
is
that
Lydia
took
none
of
her
own
things
with
her
.
It
seems
as
if
she
had
gone
to
your
ladyship
's
boudoir
,
discovered
the
key
of
the
bureau
,
and
finding
the
jewel-casket
there
,
was
suddenly
impelled
by
the
idea
of
the
theft
;
so
that
she
decamped
that
very
moment
—
for
it
does
not
appear
that
she
even
took
a
shawl
,
or
a
cloak
,
or
a
bonnet
with
her
;
although
,
of
course
,
as
she
had
been
so
short
a
time
in
your
ladyship
's
service
,
the
other
female
servants
scarcely
knew
what
clothes
she
possessed
.
"
"
But
the
keys
of
the
private
door
and
the
wicket
?
"
exclaimed
Adeline
:
"
how
came
she
with
them
?
"
"
They
might
have
been
in
your
ladyship
's
room
—
by
some
accident
,
"
answered
Quentin
,
with
a
little
embarrassment
of
manner
.
"
Yes
—
I
believe
they
were
,
"
said
Adeline
,
blushing
deeply
—
for
she
guessed
the
cause
of
the
valet
's
hesitation
:
he
was
evidently
impressed
with
the
idea
that
his
mistress
had
possessed
herself
of
those
keys
to
favor
her
supposed
amour
with
Colonel
Cholmondeley
.
But
she
willingly
incurred
even
this
suspicion
,
because
,
by
apparently
accounting
for
the
keys
being
in
her
room
,
it
made
the
evidence
stronger
against
Lydia
Hutchinson
.
"
Does
his
lordship
yet
know
of
this
event
?
"
inquired
Adeline
,
after
a
short
pause
.
"
I
communicated
the
fact
to
his
lordship
,
"
answered
Quentin
;
"
but
he
treated
it
with
so
much
indifference
,
that
I
did
not
enter
into
any
details
.
I
shall
now
,
with
your
ladyship
's
permission
,
repair
to
Bow
Street
,
and
lodge
information
of
the
robbery
.
"
Lady
Ravensworth
suffered
the
valet
to
reach
the
door
ere
she
called
him
back
;
for
nothing
was
more
opposed
to
her
plan
than
the
idea
of
giving
any
notoriety
to
the
transaction
,
inasmuch
as
such
a
course
might
afford
Anthony
Tidkins
a
clue
to
the
entire
mystery
of
the
transaction
in
which
he
had
played
so
important
a
part
.
Accordingly
,
as
if
impelled
by
a
second
thought
,
she
said
,
"
Stay
,
Quentin
:
this
step
must
not
be
taken
.
"
"
What
,
my
lady
?
"
cried
the
valet
,
in
astonishment
.
"
I
must
show
leniency
in
this
respect
,
"
was
the
answer
.
"
Leniency
,
my
lady
,
towards
one
who
has
robbed
your
ladyship
of
jewels
worth
,
as
I
understand
,
at
least
two
thousand
pounds
!
"
ejaculated
Quentin
,
his
surprise
increasing
.
"
Yes
—
such
is
my
desire
,
upon
second
thoughts
,
"
she
continued
.
"
My
dear
cousin
Lady
Bounce
is
deeply
interested
—
I
scarcely
know
exactly
why
—
in
this
young
woman
;
and
I
feel
convinced
that
she
would
rather
induce
her
husband
Sir
Cherry
to
repay
me
for
the
loss
of
my
jewels
,
than
see
Lydia
Hutchinson
,
bad
though
she
must
be
,
involved
in
so
serious
a
dilemma
.
I
shall
therefore
feel
obliged
to
you
,
Quentin
,
to
keep
the
affair
as
secret
as
possible
—
at
least
until
I
have
communicated
with
Lady
Bounce
.
"
"
Your
ladyship
's
commands
shall
be
obeyed
,
"
said
the
obsequious
valet
,
with
a
bow
.
"
In
this
case
,
I
may
return
immediately
to
the
Park
.
"
"
Let
the
carriage
be
got
ready
,
and
I
will
myself
hasten
thither
,
"
answered
Adeline
;
"
as
you
say
that
his
lordship
is
somewhat
worse
.
"
Quentin
retired
,
well
persuaded
in
his
own
mind
that
the
leniency
of
his
mistress
was
caused
by
her
fears
lest
the
presumed
fact
of
the
keys
of
the
private
door
and
the
wicket
having
been
kept
in
her
room
might
lead
to
inquiries
calculated
to
bring
to
light
her
supposed
amour
with
Colonel
Cholmondeley
.
Thus
was
it
that
one
of
the
engines
of
Lydia
's
vengeance
,
—
namely
,
the
trick
by
which
she
had
induced
the
Colonel
to
enter
her
mistress
's
boudoir
,
and
the
fact
of
making
the
other
servants
privy
to
that
visit
,
—
now
materially
served
the
purposes
of
Adeline
.
In
a
quarter
of
an
hour
the
carriage
was
ready
;
and
Lady
Ravensworth
was
soon
on
her
way
back
to
the
Hall
.
On
her
arrival
,
she
found
that
the
circumstance
of
Lydia
Hutchinson
's
disappearance
had
yielded
in
interest
to
one
of
a
more
grave
and
absorbing
character
.
Lord
Ravensworth
was
dying
!
She
hastened
to
his
apartment
,
and
found
him
lying
in
bed
—
in
a
state
of
complete
insensibility
—
and
attended
by
Mr.
Graham
,
who
had
sent
off
an
express
to
town
(
by
a
shorter
way
than
the
main
road
by
which
Adeline
had
returned
)
for
eminent
medical
assistance
.
It
appeared
that
about
an
hour
previously
the
nobleman
's
bell
had
rung
violently
;
and
when
the
servants
hurried
to
the
room
,
they
found
their
master
in
a
fit
.
He
had
probably
felt
himself
suddenly
attacked
with
an
alarming
symptom
,
and
staggered
from
his
chair
to
the
bell-rope
,
and
had
then
fallen
upon
the
floor
.
Mr.
Graham
had
been
immediately
summoned
;
and
by
his
orders
Lord
Ravensworth
was
conveyed
to
bed
.
But
he
had
continued
insensible
—
with
his
eyes
closed
;
and
the
only
sign
of
life
was
given
by
his
faint
,
low
breathing
.
It
is
scarcely
necessary
to
state
that
Mr.
Graham
exerted
all
his
skill
on
behalf
of
the
dying
man
.
Adeline
affected
the
deepest
sorrow
at
the
condition
in
which
she
found
her
husband
;
—
but
the
only
grief
which
she
really
experienced
was
caused
by
the
prospect
of
being
shortly
compelled
to
resign
all
control
over
the
broad
lands
of
Ravensworth
,
in
case
her
as
yet
unborn
child
should
prove
a
daughter
.
In
the
course
of
the
day
two
eminent
physicians
arrived
from
London
;
but
the
condition
of
Lord
Ravensworth
was
hopeless
:
nothing
could
arouse
him
from
the
torpor
in
which
he
was
plunged
;
and
in
the
evening
he
breathed
his
last
.
Thus
was
it
that
this
nobleman
had
at
length
accomplished
—
involuntarily
accomplished
—
his
self-destruction
by
the
use
of
the
oriental
tobacco
sent
to
him
by
his
brother
Gilbert
Vernon
!
On
the
first
day
of
February
there
had
been
a
marriage
at
Ravensworth
Hall
:
on
the
sixteenth
there
was
a
funeral
.
How
closely
does
mourning
follow
upon
the
heels
of
rejoicing
,
in
this
world
!
On
the
same
night
when
Lord
Ravensworth
breathed
his
last
,
the
following
scene
occurred
in
London
.
It
was
about
eleven
o'clock
when
the
Resurrection
Man
and
Mr.
Banks
entered
the
cell
in
which
the
old
woman
was
confined
.
"
Is
your
labour
done
?
"
demanded
Tidkins
,
in
a
surly
tone
,
as
if
he
expected
a
farther
delay
in
the
business
.
"
God
be
thanked
!
"
returned
the
foul
hag
;
"
it
is
complete
.
"
And
she
pointed
to
several
sheets
of
paper
,
written
upon
in
a
hand
which
showed
that
the
harridan
had
been
no
contemptible
pen-woman
in
her
younger
days
.
The
Resurrection
Man
greedily
seized
the
manuscript
,
and
began
to
scrutinise
each
consecutive
page
.
As
he
read
,
his
countenance
displayed
grim
signs
of
satisfaction
;
and
when
,
at
the
expiration
of
a
quarter
of
an
hour
,
he
consigned
the
papers
to
his
pocket
,
he
said
,
"
Well
,
by
what
I
have
seen
this
really
looks
like
business
.
"
"
The
old
wessel
has
done
her
dooty
at
last
,
"
observed
Mr.
Banks
,
shaking
his
head
solemnly
;
"
and
what
a
blessed
consolation
it
must
be
for
her
to
know
that
she
has
made
a
friend
of
you
that
's
able
to
protect
her
from
her
enemies
while
she
lives
,
and
of
me
that
'll
bury
her
on
the
newest
and
most
economic
principles
when
she
's
nothing
more
than
a
defunct
old
carkiss
.
"
"
Consolation
,
indeed
!
"
cried
Tidkins
:
then
,
counting
down
ten
sovereigns
upon
the
table
,
he
said
,
"
Here
's
what
I
promised
you
,
old
woman
,
for
the
fulfilment
of
the
first
condition
.
Now
me
and
Banks
will
take
you
home
again
;
and
when
you
give
me
up
the
written
proofs
you
spoke
of
,
you
shall
have
t'other
ten
quids
.
"
"
Alack
!
I
've
earned
these
shining
pieces
well
,
"
muttered
the
hag
,
as
she
wrapped
the
sovereigns
in
a
morsel
of
paper
,
and
concealed
them
under
her
clothes
.
The
Resurrection
Man
now
proceeded
to
blindfold
her
carefully
;
and
the
operation
reminded
him
of
the
process
to
which
he
had
submitted
on
the
preceding
night
,
at
the
hands
of
his
veiled
patroness
.
He
next
helped
the
old
woman
to
put
on
her
cloak
,
the
hood
of
which
he
threw
over
her
bonnet
so
that
a
portion
of
it
concealed
her
face
;
and
Banks
then
led
her
away
from
the
subterranean
,
while
Tidkins
remained
behind
them
for
a
few
moments
to
secure
the
doors
.
The
party
now
proceeded
,
by
the
most
unfrequented
streets
,
through
Globe
Town
into
Bethnal
Green
;
but
it
was
not
until
they
reached
Shoreditch
,
that
the
Resurrection
Man
removed
the
bandage
from
the
old
hag
's
eyes
.
Then
she
gazed
rapidly
around
her
,
to
ascertain
where
she
was
.
"
Ah
!
you
'll
never
guess
where
you
've
been
locked
up
for
the
last
ten
or
twelve
days
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
,
with
a
low
chuckle
.
"
Never
—
as
sure
as
she
's
a
sinful
old
creetur
'
!
"
remarked
Banks
.
The
worthy
trio
then
pursued
their
way
to
Golden
Lane
.
On
their
arrival
at
the
court
,
the
hag
uttered
an
exclamation
of
delight
when
she
beheld
the
filthy
place
of
her
abode
once
more
:
but
her
joy
was
suddenly
changed
into
sadness
as
a
thought
struck
her
;
and
she
exclaimed
,
"
I
wonder
what
has
become
of
the
poor
dear
children
that
are
dependant
on
me
?
"
She
alluded
to
the
juvenile
prostitutes
whom
she
had
tutored
in
the
ways
of
vice
.
Heaving
a
deep
sigh
at
the
reflection
,
she
took
a
key
from
her
pocket
,
and
opened
the
door
of
her
house
.
A
little
delay
occurred
in
obtaining
a
light
;
but
at
length
she
found
a
candle
and
matches
in
a
cupboard
at
the
end
of
the
passage
.
Mr.
Banks
now
officiously
opened
the
door
of
the
old
woman
's
parlour
;
but
this
act
was
followed
by
a
sweeping
,
rustling
noise
—
and
the
undertaker
started
back
,
uttering
a
yell
of
agony
.
The
hag
screamed
too
,
and
nearly
dropped
the
light
;
for
her
large
black
cat
had
flown
at
Banks
as
he
entered
the
room
.
The
fact
was
that
the
poor
animal
had
been
left
in
that
apartment
,
when
the
old
woman
first
set
out
with
the
Resurrection
Man
and
the
undertaker
for
Hounslow
;
and
it
had
gone
mad
through
starvation
.
Tidkins
rushed
forward
the
moment
his
friend
gave
vent
to
that
scream
of
anguish
,
and
caught
the
cat
by
the
neck
and
hind
legs
with
his
powerful
fingers
,
as
it
clung
,
furious
with
rage
,
to
the
breast
of
the
undertaker
,
whose
dingy
shirt
frill
and
front
its
claws
tore
to
rags
.
"
Do
n't
strangle
it
—
do
n't
strangle
it
!
"
cried
the
hag
,
with
unfeigned
anxiety
—
for
the
only
thing
she
loved
in
the
world
was
her
huge
black
cat
.
"
Stand
back
,
old
witch
!
"
exclaimed
Tidkins
:
"
this
beast
is
capable
of
tearing
you
to
pieces
.
"
And
in
spite
of
the
violent
pressure
he
maintained
with
his
fingers
upon
its
throat
,
the
animal
struggled
fearfully
.
"
They
say
the
cussed
wessel
has
nine
lives
,
"
observed
Mr.
Banks
,
dolefully
,
as
he
beheld
the
tattered
state
of
his
linen
and
smarted
with
the
pain
of
the
cat
's
scratches
upon
his
chest
.
"
Do
n't
kill
it
,
I
say
!
"
again
screamed
the
hag
:
"
it
will
be
good
with
me
—
it
will
be
good
with
me
.
"
"
Too
late
to
intercede
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
,
coolly
,
as
he
literally
wrung
the
cat
's
neck
:
then
he
tossed
the
carcass
from
him
upon
the
stairs
.
"
Poor
thing
!
"
murmured
the
old
woman
:
"
poor
thing
!
I
will
bury
it
decently
in
the
yard
to-morrow
morning
.
"
And
she
actually
wiped
away
a
tear
,
—
she
who
felt
no
pity
,
no
compunction
,
no
sympathy
in
favour
of
a
human
soul
!
"
She
'll
bury
it
,
will
she
?
"
muttered
Banks
,
endeavouring
to
smooth
his
linen
:
"
on
economic
principles
,
I
suppose
.
"
The
trio
then
entered
the
parlour
:
but
before
she
could
compose
herself
to
attend
to
business
,
the
old
hag
was
compelled
to
have
recourse
to
her
gin
;
and
fortunately
there
was
some
in
her
bottle
.
Her
two
companions
refreshed
themselves
in
a
similar
manner
;
and
Tidkins
then
said
,
"
Now
for
the
proofs
of
all
you
've
said
in
your
history
.
"
"
Not
all
—
not
all
:
I
never
said
all
,
"
cried
the
hag
;
"
only
of
a
part
.
And
so
,
if
you
will
lay
the
other
ten
sovereigns
on
the
table
,
you
shall
have
the
papers
.
"
The
old
woman
spoke
more
confidently
now
;
for
she
felt
herself
to
be
less
in
the
power
of
her
two
companions
than
she
so
lately
was
.
The
Resurrection
Man
understood
her
,
and
smiled
grimly
,
as
he
counted
the
money
before
her
.
She
then
took
a
pair
of
scissors
,
cut
a
small
hole
in
the
mattress
of
her
bed
,
and
drew
forth
a
pocket-book
,
which
she
handed
to
Tidkins
.
It
was
tied
round
with
a
piece
of
riband
—
once
pink
,
now
faded
to
a
dingy
white
;
and
its
contents
were
several
letters
.
The
Resurrection
Man
glanced
over
their
superscriptions
,
muttering
to
himself
,
"
Well
,
you
have
not
deceived
me
:
I
have
brought
you
to
reason
—
I
thought
I
should
.
Ha
!
what
have
we
here
?
'
To
Mr.
Markham
,
Markham
Place
,
Lower
Holloway
.
'
—
And
here
is
another
to
him
—
and
another
.
—
But
this
next
is
different
.
'
To
the
Marquis
of
Holmesford
,
Holmesford
House
.
'
—
Slap-up
fellow
,
that
—
a
regular
old
rake
:
keeps
a
harem
,
they
say
.
—
And
here
is
another
to
him
.
—
Then
we
have
one
—
two
—
three
,
all
directed
alike
—
to
'
Mrs.
Wilmot
,
'
and
no
address
:
conveyed
by
hand
,
I
suppose
.
And
that
's
all
.
"
With
a
complacent
smile
—
as
complacent
as
a
smile
on
such
a
countenance
could
be
—
the
Resurrection
Man
secured
the
pocket-book
with
its
contents
about
his
person
.
He
and
Banks
then
took
their
leave
of
the
old
woman
.
CHAPTER
CCXXI
.
THE
RETURN
TO
ENGLAND
.
It
was
on
a
beautiful
morning
,
in
the
first
week
of
March
,
that
a
large
war-steamer
passed
Gravesend
,
and
pursued
its
rapid
way
towards
Woolwich
.
She
was
a
splendid
vessel
,
rigged
as
a
frigate
,
and
carrying
twelve
carronades
.
Her
hull
was
entirely
black
,
save
in
respect
to
the
gilding
of
her
figurehead
and
of
her
stern-windows
;
but
her
interior
was
fitted
up
in
a
style
of
costly
magnificence
.
Large
mirrors
,
chaste
carving
,
rich
carpets
,
and
soft
ottomans
gave
to
the
chief
cabin
the
air
of
a
princely
drawing-room
.
On
the
deck
every
thing
denoted
the
nicest
order
and
discipline
.
The
sailors
performed
their
duties
with
that
alacrity
and
skill
which
ever
characterise
men-of-war
's
men
who
are
commanded
by
experienced
officers
;
and
two
marines
,
with
shouldered
firelocks
,
paced
the
quarter-deck
with
measured
steps
.
The
white
sails
were
all
neatly
furled
;
for
the
gallant
vessel
was
now
progressing
by
the
aid
of
that
grand
power
which
has
achieved
such
marvellous
changes
on
the
face
of
the
earth
.
The
tall
chimney
sent
forth
a
volume
of
black
smoke
;
and
the
bosom
of
the
mighty
river
was
agitated
into
high
and
foam-crested
billows
by
the
play
of
the
vast
paddle-wheels
.
From
the
summit
of
the
main-mast
