VICTOR MOREDANT OR, THE LOST SHIPS.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 19, 19 November 1874, Page 3

VICTOR MOREDANT OR, THE LOST SHIPS.

TALE OF FIFTY YEARS AGO * CHAPTER IX. SOLOMON LEVI AND rfIS CUSTOMERS — AN OLD FRIEND IN PERIL. The course of our story now leads us away to different scenes— away from quiet country landscapes and the pure, jfj simple beauties of nature to the teeming | city of Glasgow, with its streets oi I noise and bustle and varied scenes ol f human activity, where the pulse of life beats quick, and where many diverse aims are pursued — worthy or unworthy . according to the characters of those who follow them. { The Glasgow of fifty years ago — and \*Jhg£.is the period with which we are — was very different from the 0W °f to-day ; but even then those f|i§M|pntß were in force which have made ?i**jM^jauga city it has now become, and though in milder form i%ri£pfeiaßjtiler proportions, the good and &rimtbQpements, influences, and habits ■n^^^fe manifested in large combinati(^ffl^?|liuman life everywhere, and wmrowraponly amplified, not altered, by^tteelpl^^top 111,311 * of resources . Thereforefitl^fefrtbe Glasgow into which we are risytifaX^go was smaller and quieter that that accumulation of estone and lime, smoke and nfise and enterprise, which at this day exists on both banks of the Clyde, it contained then as now all the passions and emotions which ennoble or •disgrace the kuirian heart, and those with whose character and doings we are now to become acquai£sed #ul -jjot be found people whose wayc>.6l^tr|foge to the men and women di'^'^^resent generation. j^vAr/'' It was wearing ttfwa&ranfti^ on one evening in May when'a^rjoanissu^d forth from a dingy lane nejgr, the river* .and came gliding up one' of the bro*;\i thoroughfares which led towards the^ Trongate. Before he reached tbat central locality he turned along a narrow street which ran eastward, and as tbe shop windows began now to be lighted up, his appearance was revealed for a moment as he moved past. He was dressed in very mean sailor's garb, and looked to be not in very reputable condition. He was a little under tbe average height, but being broadly and strongly built bis stature seemed less than it really was. He had a dark olive complexion, with a skulking hang-dog countenance, whose expression was furtive and sinister. He had not tbe frank, free, fearless look and bearing of a jolly tar, but the aspect rather of a guilt-hunted man, whose self-induced evil fortunes had got to a low ebb, if We could judge from bis dirty, ragged dress and gloomy, almost scowling, countenance — in itself ill-favoured and uninviting — and tbe gliding, stealthy way in which be passed along. He stopped at length opposite a shop whose square windows displayed within a host of miscellaneous articles, strangely mixed and ill-assorted, soft goods and hardware goods, new and second hand, and of any conceivable kind, being huddled and heaped together in most untidy fashion. Indeed, untidiness seemed to characterise the whole establishment for tbe panes of glass through which the light shone were begrimmed with dust which had long been accumulating, all but one in the centre, which seemed to be rubbed up occasionally, in order to give legibility to a card placed inside it, on which was written in large letters. " All kinds of jewellery, new and old, bought, sold, and exchanged." Everything went to show that tbe shop was tbat of a general dealer ; and, as Solomon Le\i was the name, painted in dingy letters above the door, it mign'; have been shrewdly surmised tbat its proprietor was a Jew. Had there been any doubt about it all dubiety must have been set at rest by the appearance of the old man who, at the tinkle of tbe bell on the sailor's entrance, came forth from a small room at the back, and shuffled forward behind the counter, Tabbing together his two lean, longfingered hands. Solomon Levi was" a Jew outwardly," according to all our notions of the typical aspects of that race. Though an old man his hair was black as jet ; he hai the hooked nose, the cunning twinkling eyes, tbe sharp suspicious face j the hard, keen, calculating expression of those money-getting and money-keeping people. And, to make the picture more complete, he wore on bis thin, shrunken bent figure a faded garment which wholly enveloped him, and descended to bis heels. " Veil, who isb it ? Vat can I do for you, my tear skir," be said, in a thin squeaking voice, as be peered through the gloom of the ill-lighted shop, in an effort to see the face and person of his visitor. The latter advanced to the counter till be stood right in front of tbe general dealer, who then recognised bim. "Ha! blish my shoul, Jeff, ish it you ?" was the old man's exclamation, his sharp face suddenly putting on a leering expression. " Yes, it's me, old Sol. I want to talk to you a bit. I want " " Hush ! no bushinesb out here, Jeff j come into de back place> like a good boy. De front shop ish only for customers. Dish way, Jeff; dish way, my tear Jeff."

. \ " Hadn't I better shut [the street door ?" suggested tbe sailor. tl Holy Mcsesb, yesb. Shut it quite ■ closh, Jeff ; den if any von opens it ye shall hear de bell." Tbe door being closed, the Jew led the way, and the sailor followed, into a small apartment at tbe back, where were two chairs and a table, surrounded ■ by a mass of articles, piled almost to tbe ceiling, consisting of old clothes, carpets, 5 pictures, fire-irons, boots and shoes, L books, violins, candlesticks, blankets, and a variety of other things too '. numerous to particularise, and which ? in the closely-packed place sent out a j* disagreeable— almost a foetid — smell sufficient to breed fever and other forms of disease. " Now, my tear, good Jeff, vat have you got to-night," said Sol, gleefully rubbing his hands and looking pleasurably expectant. " I've got nothing. How should I, when I've been loafing about for weeks waiting till Duncan gets his next ship. Fact is, Sol, I'm devilish hard up ; not a shot in ihe locker — right on my beam ends ; and I want a bit of a loan from you till luck comes." 'Twas worth while to notice hotfr tbe Jew's face lengthened out as he listened to bis announcement of bis visitor's errand. Tbe gleeful leer vanished in an instant, and bis lower jaw dropped till bis mouth opened wide as a milldoor. " Blish my sboul," he ejaculated. il Vy, Jeff, you must be dreaming. Me lend you inonish ! Vy, look at me j I'm as poor as yourself" " Oh, don't come tbat style with me. Tbe wonderfullest forecastle yarn ain't nothing to tbat. But it's gammon, and I knows it. Poor ! Why we all know you are as rich as a king." " Upon my shoul, Jeff, it isb a mistake, quite a mishtake," asseverated Sol, with alarmed earnestness. "I am as poor as a church mouse." " Avast there now — stow your jawtackle, or tbe lie will choke you. It' I were to open that there chest in tbe Ncorner I know I should find a big lot <?£ yellow-boys in it." >*' No, no, no ; on my shoul no," screamed Sol, rushing between his visiiW and the box in question, as if in mortal terror lest an attack was lo be made oL\it. " Bab, .don't be alarmed. I aint a pirate. IVs only a small loan I want — five shilmigs will do till I get a job at the barbpur, and Ljl/pav ; you back a^Ej,o^|A^WTOl^|?«^ie^^ou won't «Bj^SjSwiSipW^ Oh', "my stbars, goot bargains IS' exclaimed tbe Jew, turning up tbe Ahite of his eyes. I have losbt by everY one of them, s'help me, if I haven't. IVam too sboft — far too sboft. I give wjj mooch for every ting — I do, irMedl'f ,-\ "Ah!— telltMt^the marines; I knows better. YoWH^ell'the things for ten times what you r {^reW fi Come, now, Sol, be reasonable, an'dUeMd%e the five shillings. I'll pay yotiSb&ck ' with tbe double of it when I relu\m from next voyage." " Ab, but yen may tbat be." "Well, taint be very long now, I guess. I saw tbe captain two days ago, and he expects a ship from Menzies in a month or so." " Von whole month," repeated j Sol. " And vat if you should die before den, with your drinking. My moowisb vould be losht— -all losht !" " Why, you old creater, who's a-gofag to die just now ; I never was more ]o\!s[ than I am now. Whoever rneah# to i kick tbe bucket, I don't." * f <J r 0>; " Veil, and shuppose you .shouldn't: and shuppose you vent on de voy%e^ you might be trowned. Your captain's ships have a strange luck to be losbt. Eb, Jeff?" And the Jew fixed his twinkling eyes on tbe sailor's face with a curiouslysignificant glance. " And if they do, the crew are always lucky enough to be saved," returned the other. " And when we get borne the insurance office makes our pay all right." " Sho I have heard," added Sol, with another meaning look. "Oh, there's no mistake about it. So, if our next ship should happen to founder, your five shillings wiil be as safe as the bank." " Five shillings !— 'ten, you mean. You shaid you would double it" "So I will ; and, besides, I may be able to pick up some curious thing in your way, and let you have it a bargain." " Dat isb. more den you have done yet," grumbled the Jew. " But I shuppose I musbt do it, though it isb not de vay to do bushinesh, Jeff. Only, I am always shoft, dat is vy I am sho poor -—sho very poor." Jeff grinned incredulously, but made no reply, for he saw tbe Jew's fingers fumbling under his long gown and guessed tbat he was about to bringforth the cash of which be was so much in want. Very slowly and with tbe rueful look of one whose heart was rung by tbe effort, Sol brought out a greasy ; leathern bag, and as be opened it with, trembling fingers the chink of silver was heard. He had inserted two of his long fingers to draw forth the coins when the tinkle of the bell at the street door intimated tbat some one bad entered the shop. With a nervous start the Jew closed the bag, thrusting it back into his bosom* " Holy Mosesh, who is it ?" he ejacu-

■, lated in a nervous "whisper, as he lifted aside the corner of the curtain from a , square of glass which gave a view of the front shop. " It's a young girl, and a devilish pretty one too," said Jeff, who peeped over his shoulder. " A vomau, only a voman — vants to buy shomething, I shuppose. Just vait, Jeff, till I skerve her." So saying, the Jew hurried out, leaving- the sailor alone. " What a miserly old skunk he is," muttered the latter. He's as rich as — as — why, a 8 a Jew, of course, and has nobody to leave id too. I've a mind to dive into the hold of that ere box in search of loot, only I haven't time, for he has it double locked. If he hadn't j agreed to fork out the crown, curse me, if I wouldn't have knocked him on the head, I'm so desperate. However, as he means to do it, I'll leave him alone this time." While the sailor was coming to a conclusion of such present moment to the Jew, tbe latter was confronting tbe customer who stood at his counter. As Jeff bad declared, she was an exceedingly pretty girl, plainly, yet very nicely dressed, and though tbe garments she wore were of common material, yet she bad a grave and refined aspect, which seemed naturally to become more expensive habiliments. As Sol approached, be rather wondered to see a young* girl of her appearance at bis counter, for it was generally people of a different stamp who made tbeir appearance there, " She musbt be going to buy," be thought ; " She hasn't the look of von who wants to sell." But tbe Jew was wrong, for tbe girl very cooly, and without tbe least embarrassment, took a ring from one of her fingers and held it towards bim, saying as she did so — " I observe, by a ticket in your window, tbat you buy jewellery. Here is a ring* which I Wish to dispose of." Tbe Jew's eyes glittered under the flash of tbe diamond which fell upon tbem as tbe ring Was banded to him, and his breath was quite taken away by amazement at tbe sight of an article so valuable. He doubted for a moment that bis vision bad deceived bim ; but an instant's inspection showed bim tbat tbe gem was genuine, and that tbe article was worth a very large sum. He turned it round and round, affecting to be examining it very minutely, but in reality he was casting furtive glances at its possessor, to see if she was herself aware of its real worth. How could a girl so plainly dressed- have such a ring to dispose of? Of course sbe had stolen it, for its value was such that one of her rank could not have come by it honestly, and it was not at all likely tbat sbe bad any idea of its intrinsic worth. Sol's cupidity was violently excited. Here was a chance for making a splendid bargain, and be resolved not to miss it. " Veil, now," be slowly observed v dis is a very pretty ring to look at. but of course, my tear young lady, you know dat all is not gold tbat glitterish." " Oh, yes, I know tbat ; but in this instance it is gold tbat glitters, and I want to know what you can give me for tbe ring ?" "Oh, very goot, very goot, it isb gold outside, but it may be brash below." Nay, I know it is not brass below ; it is gold all through," replied tbe girl, he, colour brightening a little. . - \ ') Jou tink sbo ?" ';' fjfejam sure of ify and I daresay so you'if you are in tbe babit of dealing in jewellery." 1 " Ob, I buy many tings like dat, : and sbometimes I am taken in for all my experience. It isb not easby to know de real article. How mooch do you expect for de ring ?" " I expect no more than wbat it is worth/ " Veil, I always give dat, only you sbee I musbt have some profit." " Certainly, I don't expect to receive beyond wbat it is worth to you." v Very goot, very goot, my tear. I tink I might give — yesb— I might give von pound." Tbe girl opened her eyes to their full, and regarded bim for some moments with a steady gaze. " Did you say one pound ?" " Yesh, my tear j dat isb fully as mooch as it is vortb." Tbe girl held out her band to receive it back. Sol thought, or pretended to think, tbat tbe band was held out to receive tbe money. " Here it isb — a nice, bright, new sovereign. I vish I may make my own of it, but I am always very sboft yen I buy from a pretty girl like you." " Thank you • but I will not take tbat for the ring. Please give me it back." " You are not pleased with a sovereign ?" "No — no, dear, no. Give me tbe ring please." " Ah, you vant to drive a very bard bargain. Veil, veil, I have not de heart to take mooch profit from such a beautiful girl,* I will give you five shillings more, if I should lose on it. Dare, dat vill please you." li That will not please me. Give me back tbe ring." " Not please you 1" cried Sol, with apparent amazement. " You are very ill to sbatisfy. It is really as mooch as tbe ring is vdrth." "Very well, if you think so, do not buy it."

"Tell me vat you do vant for it," returned the Jew, keeping the ring firmly in his hand. "Itis no use that I should. The sum you have offered shows me that there is not the slightest chance of you buying it. You either do not know its value, or you wish to impose upon me." " linposhe on you— not vor de vorld, my tear. I never imposhe on nobody. Let me look at de ring again." Tbe cunning* old rascal pretended to make another very minute examination of the article sought to be disposed of, but his eyes were all the while stealthily regarding the girl, who calmly waited the result. He did not know what to make of her. He knew the ring* was worth fifty times the sum be bad offered for it, but did she know it likewise ? It was surely impossible that she did. Yet she evidently bad an idea that it should bring more than twenty-five shillings, and he saw that be must advance in bis offer if be would not lose the magnificent prize. At the same time his cupity would not allow him to give a farthing more than the sum at which^ she could be induced to part with it, and he only wished to know what tbat sum was. " Veil, my tear, I vill stretch a point and make it another half-crown." " We will say no more about it," was the girl's reply. "It is only wasting time, and I have none to spare at present, as I'm going to meet some one at j tbe other side of the Green." " Jusbt shay in a vord vat you vanfc for it,"' returned SoJ, whose reluctance to hand it back was extreme. "It is no use • and, besides, I am in no way anxious to sell it. There is no necessity at present that I should." "Den vy did you come in vitb it if you did not mean to sell it ?" "I did mean to sell it, i^ you hadoffered anything like its value. I know what was paid for it, and I know that at any time it ought to bring little short, of its original price." " Ob, my sthars," exclaimed the Jew, "as if old rings can be shold at firsbt coshfr." " Some rings, I believe, do increase in value," was the cairn reply ; and, ere Solomon Levi was fully x aware of her intention, her hand was stretched over the counter and her fingers had hold of the ring. It was with the utmost reluctance that the Jew's bony fingers were made to relax and release it.; but he saw tbat if be did not give it up she was resolute enough to call in tbe police, and he knew how necessary it was that he should avoid the inspection of the law's officials. Besides, an idea struck him at the moment of a way by which be thought the ring could be secured, and be allowed her to take it. Without speaking another word the girl put it upon the middle finger of her left hand, its flashing light, dazzling Sol's eyes as she did so, and, turninground, sbe quietly left the shop. Tbe Jew rushed frantically into the back room where Jeff had been all the time, and found' him with his face at the little window, from which he had watched all the proceedings. "Holy Mosesh; here is a chance for you, Jeff!," he exclaimed, in wild excitement. " A chance for me ?" • " Yesb. Oh, my sthars ; a rare chance. Did you see dat ring ?" " Ay ; why didn't you buy it ? Is it worth much more than you said ?" " Vorth more— vy, it is a diamond ring. Tink of dat, Jeff— a diamond ring. Oh, my sthars ! she's going to de other shide of de Green, and dere is nobody vith her. Now you sbee your chance, Jeff— rquick and follow hey, and yen she is in de Green take it from her. I will give you ten pounds for it." Jeff sprang to his feet in a moment. " Does she carry it in her pocket ?" he eagerly inquired. "ISo- on de middle finger of her left hand; you can easily get it." c * And you'll give ten pounds for it V " I will — on my shoul I vill." /'Then I'll do it," said tbe sailor, with an oath, as be rushed from the room, bounded across the shop, and was gone. The concoction of tbe crime— from its proposal by the Jew to its acceptance by the sailor — had not occupied a minute, and by the time Jeff emerged from tbe shop the girl had gone no great distance aleng* tbe street. It was now wholly dusk ; most of the lamps were lighted, and by their aid he saw her walking quickly forward. He hurried on till he was but a score of paces behind her, then he followed step by step, keeping her full in view, but keeping carefully out of her sight. Utterly unconscious of being thus followed, the girl moved along with lithe and graceful step, and at -the end of tbe narrow street turned into a thoroughfare leading in the direction of tbe river. Maintaining the same quick pace, she reached tbe end of the bridge, where stood the jail and other buildings, but instead of keeping straight forward and going upon the bridge sbe turned to tbe left, and, crossing the open space, arrived at the entrance to the Green. Here was comparative quietness and solitude. A few citizens, bad come forth to breathe the freshness of the evening air by the river side, and a few could here and there be seen moving slowly by tbe banks and over the level surface of the far-stretching park. But these forms were far distant from each other, and) in the growing darkness, became quickly lost to view. j There was nothing, however, either

in tbe dim light or in the comparative solitude of the place to suggest danger, and tbe girl without hesitation passed within the turnstile and followed tbe broad walk which struck across towards Nelson's Monument. Jeff skulked under tbe shadow of tbe houses till be saw her 1 fairly within tbe enclosure of tbe Green, then be glided stealthily across the open space and was through tbe turnstile and upon her track ere her figure was lost in tbe gloaming. (He looked furtively round in alt directions to make sure that no one was near:- v ' A dark moving form was here and there discernible in tbe dim dis- j tance, but there was no one between j bim and the girl in front beyond her. This was favorable to bis purpose, and be qnidkened his pace to overtake her at tbe Monument, this being, he judged, tbe most suitable spot for tbe deed of robbery which be meditated. Avoiding tbe bare, beaten track of the path, and keeping upon tbe path which edged it, so tbat bis footsteps might not' be beard, he sped forward, j drawing gradually though slowly, near her— the "tall, black mass of the Monument growing more distinct as they approached it, intimating to him tbat the moment of action was nearly come. The girl walked steadily on, never turning round, never seeming to become conscious that her steps were being dogged. Now sbe was close to tbe Monument, and be was within but a few paces of her, and about to springlike a tiger on its prey, when— cursed chance— he caught a glimpse of a human figure on tbe path in front approaching towards them both. With a muttered curse, be turned aside, and ran behind the Monument to conceal himself frcm the view of the person approaching, intending to pounce forth upon the victim when the latter had passed. But he found himself out a little in bis calculation, for the form drawing near was tbat of the person whom the I girl had come to meet. | It was an old woman dressed in a bonnet and shawl, and with a basket on , hep arm — a basket with a handle, in which itinerant hawkers carry their wares for sale. '* Ob, Betty, I was afraid I bad missed you," cried the girl, in an animated tone. " Eh — what — May Blossom — my bonnie lassie, is it you ?" exclaimed tbe little old woman, in pleased surprise. " Just me Betty. 1 said in the morning when you set out 1 would come to meet you. Don't you remember r ' j " Ay, brawly, but I thocbt you were ! only jokin'. Dear me, tae think ye hae come a' this way to meet me." "'Why not; you said you would bring me a bunch of my namesake from a hawthorn bush in the country, and I said 1 would come and meet you for iv. But perhaps you forgot." " Na, my pet, I hae it in my basket ; I pu'ed it frae a hedge ayonfc Ruglen. It's no very weel oot, for its just sune enough iv tbe year yet • but gin ye put it amang water in tbe boose it will flower grandly." And she lifted the towel which co<vered tbe basket, and showed a large bunch of pure white half-blown hawthorn blossom, whose fragrance came forth tbe moment it was uncovered. " Ob, bow beautiful — how lovely !" cried the delighted girl. " And such a delicious smell it has. Oh, you dear, good Betty, bow can I thank you enough for bringing me this ? "Did ever onybody hear the like o' tbat," responded Betty ; "as if it was ony trouble tae me tae break a branch off the hedge as I gaed by. And you sac quid tae me when 1 wasna weel. Oh, my dear lassie, I wad dae anything tae serve. ye." " And this is a treat, to be sure. Give me your basket, Betty; I will carry it." " You ! You carry my basket !" " Yes, to be sure, for you must be tired." " I'll no alloo that at nae rate. I'm prood tae hae ye come sac far tae meet me ; but as for you carryin' my basket, it's no for the like o' you tae dae, May Blossom." The girl laughed merrily, but allowed the old woman to have her way. She therefore turned, and the two began to walk slowly back to Glasgow. They bad scarcely passed the Monument when Jeff moved quickly from behind it, and, coming swiftly after tbem, seized the young girl by the arm, and made a dash at her left hand* on which she wore tbe diamond ring. (To be Continued,")