In fact, of late days, Clarence Everage had seen but little of Lord Killcrichtoun. From some latent sense of honor or sting of conscience, the poor gentleman had kept out of the way of the wealthy baron. Since Everage had been speculating on the chances of the child’s death or the practicability of his “disappearance,” he could not bring himself to look that child’s father in the face, much less to eat or drink with him, as had for a time been his frequent custom.
But Everage brooded over the possibility of little Lenny’s “disappearance,” as he called it, until, as I said, it tempted, blinded, crazed him.
The vague dream “disappearance” began to shape itself into the very distinct idea, “ABDUCTION.”
Children had been abducted before now, for less reason and with more difficulty than could be the case with this child; for how great a reason, almost how just a cause, he said to himself, had he for abducting Leonard Lyon; and how easily, in the child’s unguarded walks, might he be snatched up and carried off; and how completely in crowded London might he be concealed.
The idea grew and formed itself into a purpose.
CHAPTER XXX.
THE ABDUCTION.
In a jumbled heap of murky building.—Keats.
There was at this time a wretched old hag who, summer and winter, rain and shine, sat under the shadow of St. Mary’s le Strand begging—but not audibly, for to have done so would have broken the municipal laws, and to have drawn the police upon her and consigned her to the work-house.
On the contrary, she was ostensively peddling in a small way. In her talon-like hands she held a bundle of matches, which she silently tendered to every passer-by. The matches were worthless and were not really intended for sale, but only for a blind to the police and a cloak for her begging; and everybody understood this as well as she did; for though she never opened her lips to ask for alms, every fluttering rag about her was a tongue, and every look a voice.
So occasionally a passer-by would drop a half-penny in the hand that offered the matches and then go on his way.