Madame Flirt

but to most tastes would scarcely be called inviting. Bottles of all shapes and sizes loaded the shelves, mingled with jars and vases from China, Delft ware from Hol

inned mockingly above a doorway leading into a little room at the rear, and it was difficult to steer one

lay opened on the floor, and books were piled on the chairs. The apartment was a mixture of a laboratory and lumber room. A f

d swirling and dashing against the stone work never ceased, though it varied in violence according to wind and tide. The ho

elled silk and his skin was the colour of parchment. His eyes, very small and deep-set, were surmounted by heavy brows once black, now of an iron grey. His mouth was of prodigious width, the lips thin and straight and his nose long, narrow and pointed. He w

s, caused him to look up. He saw a slight girlish figure, her cloak pulle

none the more because of their sex. They generally came to sell, not to buy, and most of them kn

e want?"

en nervous at such a rec

How much will you give me f

buy it. Go so

Besides, you're going to bu

. Unconscious of the destiny awaiting her, Lavinia was employing the same tenderness of look, the same captivating patho

ntchance, "you pretty w

u're so kind and always

s in a ghastly grin that gave a s

tongue, hussy. This

u know bett

o the inner room, weighed it, teste

simple value of the gold. 'Tis no

ou take me for a cutpur

e thieves' jargon. Whe

one of her ri

w it's worth five and maybe more. The man who gave it me-I don't care for him you may like to know-isn'

Aye, men are easily fooled

ice. Some of these flighty damsels were haughty and patronising and others were familiar and impudent. The old man disliked both varieties. Lavinia belonged to neither the first nor th

t to yourself that I gave you what you asked, lest m

keep my mouth shut," said

t the same moment a lady cloaked and hooded like hers

Giles. Sally was not so sure about Lavinia. The slim girl was now a woman. She carried herself with an air. She had exchanged her shabby garments for clothes

s not valuable and worth buying. Sometimes her treasures were presents from admirers, sometimes they were the proceeds of highway robberies.

the business which had brought her to him was one that meant priva

ing on the table, took it up and examined it. On the back was gr

I hate her. She's tumbled on her feet-like all cats. But for t

the coffee-room. True he was in a drunken sleep but this would make no difference. Lavinia, Sally decided, was in a fair way to ear

ne clothes and her quality air if not?" Sally ask

tress Salisbury?" broke in the old man impatiently. "Y

t takes my fancy. W

d it me as you came in. A pretty coaxing wench. She'd make

d with passion and her

whipped. 'Tis little more than six months she was a street squaller cadging for pence

the table with such violence

Mountchance, "if you must vent your fury upon

her temper, and leaning back in the chair, her body rigid, she beat a tattoo

a deep breath, probably with the intention of relieving her feelings by shrieking aloud. The ammonia was strong and she inhaled a full dose. She gasped, she coughed, her eyes streamed, the current

much heaving of the bosom and biting of lips she deigned to produce the

e pearls closely and his

low voice. "Such a bit of plunder as this must be s

s. My business is ho

lly thought. Then ensued a long haggle which was s

Rofflash, disguised as a beggar with a black patch over his eye and a dirty red h