Jack Harkaway and his Sons Escape from the Brigands of Greece | Page 7

as possible, for he
was not very strong upon his pins.
"Sir, you must not take advantage of my unprotected situation," she
faltered.
"I should be very sorry to, my coy princess," said the gallant.
These words set her heart beating like clockwork.
"He means well," she thought, growing quite easy in her mind.
Meanwhile the ardent young lover, growing bolder by encouragement,
wanted to remove her veil.
"Grant me one favour, my princess," he said. "Let me bask in the
sunshine of your eyes; let me feast my vision upon your rare beauty."

The lady was enraptured at such poetical imagery.
"It sounds like a lovely book," she murmured in ecstasy.
But she would not accede to his request.
She was so filled with joy, so supremely happy, that she feared to break
the enchanting spell by any accident.
"Desist, prince," she said, struggling gently in his embrace,
"I must gaze on that angelic face," said the passionate Adonis.
"Why," exclaimed the lady, "since you know it so well?"
"Know it!" exclaimed the gallant in surprise.
"Yes."
"I have never seen it."
"Yet your letter praises each feature to the skies."
"My letter!"
He was staggered evidently.
"Undoubtedly."
"I sent no letter."
The lady was amazed "If you sent no letter, why are you here?" she
demanded.
"In obedience to yours," responded the gallant.
"My what?"
"Your note--your ever-to-be-treasured missive," gushed the swain.

Now what would have followed in the way of explanations it is
impossible to say, for at the momentous crisis, a voice close by was
heard repeating softly a couplet heard before--
"Dear Marietta, Never had been A sweeter or neater Face or form
seen."
The lady started and screamed, and would have fallen had not the
protecting arm of the gentleman been there to catch her.
But her veil fell aside.
When the lover saw her face, he was staggered, and he nearly let her
fall,
"Marietta!" he exclaimed, "Marietta! Mrs. Harkaway's maid, by all
that's wonderful."
"Oho," screamed the lady, "you're standing on my toe!" saying which
she jerked herself back, and dragging his foot away too, down he went.
"It's Mr. Mole," shrieked the lady; and catching up her pink skirt and
black lace flounces, she fled precipitately along the path, leaving her
admirer scrambling in the most undignified manner upon the gravel
walk.
Poor Mr. Mole.
But oh, poor Marietta; how sadly was she disappointed with her prince.
CHAPTER III.
MR. MOLE--THE THREE DEVILS AND THEIR
DEVILMENT--THE CONTESSA'S JEWELS--AN ALARM.
"Mr. Mole--Mr. Mole!"
It was Harvey's voice.

Now Mr. Mole was convinced at once that Dick was at the bottom of
this comical conspiracy in which he had been made to look so
ridiculous. So he resolved at first not to make any reply.
But Harvey was guided to the spot by information which had been
furnished him concerning Mr. Mole, and soon he appeared in sight.
"Mr. Mole--Mr. Mole!" exclaimed Dick, in grave reproof.
"Help me up, Harvey," said Mole, "and don't be a fool."
"Well, that's polite."
"Quite as polite as you can expect."
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, you know what I mean well enough."
"I'm hanged if I do!" protested Harvey, stoutly.
His manner caught Mr. Mole immediately.
So this led the old gentleman to reflect.
If Dick did not know, it would be as well to keep the adventure to
himself.
"Is it possible, Harvey, that you don't know what has occurred?"
"No."
"You don't know about Marietta?"
"No."
This decided Mole.
"Marietta is here."

"Never!" said Dick, in accents of deep mystery.
"A fact."
"Never! And who the dickens is Marietta when she is at home?"
"Mrs. Harkaway's maid, to be sure."
Dick burst out laughing at this.
"Why, Mr. Mole," he cried, "what a sly old fox you are."
Mr. Mole stared again.
"I don't quite understand what you are driving at, Mr, Harvey," said he.
"Don't you, though?--well, I do, old Slyboots."
"Harvey!"
"Oh, don't you try to come the old soldier over me."
"Sir!" said Mr. Mole, rearing himself up to his full height upon his
timbers, "I don't understand your slangy allusions to the ancient
military."
"Why, it is clear enough that you brought her."
"I what?" almost shrieked Mr. Mole, indignantly.
"Brought her, and your poor wife ought to know of it."
"Sir?" said Mole, "if you are bent on insulting me, I shall leave your
company."
"Go it, Mole," said Dick, laughing until the tears came into his eyes;
"go it. The fact is, you have been sneaking about after that little girl for
a long while past; there can be no doubt about it."

"Harvey, I repudiate your vile insinuations with scorn, The fact is, that
in your anxiety to fix some wickedness never contemplated upon me,
you forget all the most important part