The little picture had fallen into
Gager's hands, and he now pulled it from his pocket. He himself had never
visited the house in Hertford Street till after the second robbery, and,
in the flesh, had not as yet seen Miss Crabstick; but he had studied her
face carefully, expecting, or at any rate hoping, that he might some day
enjoy the pleasure of personal acquaintance. That pleasure was now about
to come to him, and he prepared himself for it by making himself intimate
with the lines of the lady's face as the sun had portrayed them. There was
even yet some delay, and Mr. Gager more than once testified uneasiness.
"She ain't a-going to get away," said the mistress of the house, "but a
lady as is going to see a gentleman can't jump into her things as a man
does." Gager intimated his acquiescence in all this, and again waited.
"The sooner she comes, the less trouble for her," said Gager to the woman.
"If you'll only make her believe that." At last, when he had been somewhat
over an hour in the house, he was asked to walk upstairs, and then, in a
little sitting-room over the bar, he had the opportunity, so much desired,
of making personal acquaintance with Patience Crabstick.
Pages:
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884