Pagina 184 de 1118

[3] A sort of coin.

During the remainder of this long morning, several strange things

occurred, calculated to infuse suspicion into the already

troubled minds of Lucy and her mother. A mendicant, but not in

rags like others of his kind, and with a dark and sinister

countenance, narrowly observing every object around him, entered

to ask alms. A piece of bread was presented to him, which he

received with ill-dissembled indifference. Then, with a mixture

of impudence and hesitation, he made many enquiries, to which

Agnes endeavoured to return evasive replies. When about to

depart, he pretended to mistake the door, and went through the

one that led to the stairs. They called to him, "Stay, stay!

where are you going, good man? this way." He returned, excusing

himself with an affectation of humility, to which he felt it

difficult to compose his hard and stern features. After him, they

saw pass, from time to time, other strange people.