CHAPTER VII
THE HAND AGAIN!
Followed by Auriol, who, in his turn, was followed by Ginger and theSandman, the Tinker directed his steps to Great Windmill Street, wherehe entered a public-house, called the Black Lion. Leaving hisfour-footed attendants with the landlord, with whom he was acquainted,Ginger caused the party to be shown into a private room, and, onentering it, Auriol flung himself into a chair, while the dog-fancierstationed himself near the door.
"Now, what do you want with me?" demanded Auriol.
"You shall learn presently," replied the Tinker; "but first, it may beas vell to state, that a certain pocket-book has been found."
"Ah!" exclaimed Auriol. "You are the villains who beset me in the ruinedhouse in the Vauxhall Road."
"Your pocket-book has been found, I tell you," replied the Tinker, "andfrom it ve have made the most awful diskiveries. Our werry 'air stood onend ven ve first read the shockin' particulars. What a bloodthirstyruffian you must be! Vy, ve finds you've been i' the habit o' makin'avay with a young ooman vonce every ten years. Your last wictim wos in1820--the last but one, in 1810--and the one before her, in 1800."
"Hangin's too good for you!" cried the Sandman; "but if ve peachesyou're sartin to sving."
"I hope that pretty creater I jist see ain't to be the next wictim?"said Ginger.
"Peace!" thundered Auriol. "What do you require?"
"A hundred pound each'll buy our silence," replied the Tinker.
"Ve ought to have double that," said the Sandman, "for screenin' sichatterocious crimes as he has parpetrated. Ve're not werry partic'larourselves, but ve don't commit murder wholesale."
"Ve don't commit murder at all," said Ginger.
"You may fancy," pursued the Tinker, "that ve ain't perfectly acvaintedwith your history, but to prove that ve are, I'll just rub up yourmemory. Did you ever hear tell of a gemman as murdered Doctor Lamb, thefamous halchemist o' Queen Bess's time, and, havin' drank the 'lixirvich the doctor had made for hisself, has lived ever since? Did you everhear tell of such a person, I say?"
Auriol gazed at him in astonishment.
"What idle tale are you inventing?" he said at length.
"It is no idle tale," replied the Tinker boldly. "Ve can bring a vitnessas'll prove the fact--a livin' vitness."
"What witness?" cried Auriol.
"Don't you reckilect the dwarf as used to serve Doctor Lamb?" rejoinedthe Tinker. "He's alive still; and ve calls him Old Parr, on account ofhis great age."
"Where is he?--what has become of him?" demanded Auriol.
"Oh, ve'll perduce him in doo time," replied the Tinker cunningly.
"But tell me where the poor fellow is?" cried Auriol. "Have you seen himsince last night? I sent him to a public-house at Kensington, but he hasdisappeared from it, and I can discover no traces of him."
"He'll turn up somewhere--never fear," rejoined the Tinker. "But now,sir, that ve fairly understands each other, are you agreeable to ourterms? You shall give us an order for the money, and ve'll undertake, onour parts, not to mislest you more."
"The pocket-book must be delivered up to me if I assent," said Auriol,"and the poor dwarf must be found."
"Vy, as to that, I can scarcely promise," replied the Tinker; "there's adifficulty in the case, you see. But the pocket-book'll never be broughtaginst you--you may rest assured o' that."
"I must have it, or you get nothing from me," cried Auriol.
"Here's a bit o' paper as come from the pocket-book," said Ginger."Would you like to hear wot's written upon it? Here are the words: 'Howmany crimes have I to reproach myself with! How many innocents have Idestroyed! And all owing to my fatal compact with----'"
"Give me that paper," cried Auriol, rising, and attempting to snatch itfrom the dog-fancier.
Just as this moment, and while Ginger retreated from Auriol, the doorbehind him was noiselessly opened--a hand was thrust through thechink--and the paper was snatched from his grasp. Before Ginger couldturn round, the door was closed again.
"Halloa! What's that?" he cried. "The paper's gone!"
"The hand again!" cried the Sandman, in alarm. "See who's in thepassage--open the door--quick!"
Ginger cautiously complied, and, peeping forth, said--
"There's no one there. It must be the devil. I'll have nuffin' more todo wi' the matter."
"Poh! poh! don't be so chicken-'arted!" cried the Tinker. "But come whatmay, the gemman shan't stir till he undertakes to pay us three hundredpounds."
"You seek to frighten me in vain, villain," cried Auriol, upon whom therecent occurrence had not been lost. "I have but to stamp my foot, and Ican instantly bring assistance that shall overpower you."
"Don't provoke him," whispered Ginger, plucking the Tinker's sleeve."For my part, I shan't stay any longer. I wouldn't take his money." Andhe quitted the room.
"I'll go and see wot's the matter wi' Ginger," said the Sandman,slinking after him.
The Tinker looked nervously round. He was not proof against hissuperstitious fears.
"Here, take this purse, and trouble me no more!" cried Auriol.
The Tinker's hands clutched the purse mechanically, but he instantlylaid it down again.
"I'm bad enough--but I won't sell myself to the devil," he said.
And he followed his companions.
Left alone, Auriol groaned aloud, and covered his face with his hands.When he looked up, he found the tall man in the black cloak standingbeside him. A demoniacal smile played upon his features.
"You here?" cried Auriol.
"Of course," replied the stranger. "I came to watch over your safety.You were in danger from those men. But you need not concern yourselfmore about them. I have your pocket-book, and the slip of paper thatdropped from it. Here are both. Now let us talk on other matters. Youhave just parted from Ebba, and will see her again this evening."
"Perchance," replied Auriol.
"You will," rejoined the stranger peremptorily. "Remember, your tenyears' limit draws to a close. In a few days it will be at an end; andif you renew it not, you will incur the penalty, and you know it to beterrible. With the means of renewal in your hands, why hesitate?"
"Because I will not sacrifice the girl," replied Auriol.
"You cannot help yourself," cried the stranger scornfully. "I commandyou to bring her to me."
"I persist in my refusal," replied Auriol.
"It is useless to brave my power," said the stranger. "A moon is justborn. When it has attained its first quarter, Ebba shall be mine. Tillthen, farewell."
And as the words were uttered, he passed through the door.