A Confidential Agent (Volume 2) - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1881. Excerpt: ... "However much I may differ from you upon this matter, Mr. Barlow," said Uncle Stephen very gently, "I am not, Heaven knows, arguing for victory; on the contrary, it will give me great content if the event proves you to be in the right." "No doubt, no doubt, Mr. Durham. I understand, then, that you mean to go to Bleak Street and seek out this--this young person?" "Most certainly I do, to-morrow evening. Unless, indeed, you prefer to take that responsibility off my shoulders. You are a man of business, and more accustomed to deal with practical matters; and it may well be" "Not at all, not at all," interrupted Mr. Barlow with some precipitation. "Your knowledge of human nature especially fits you to unravel a skein so delicate and--oh, dear me!--no, I had much rather leave the matter in your hands, Mr. Durham." CHAPTER XI. TWO LANDLADIES. Bleak Street, Bloomsbury, is not an attractive spot, whether viewed from the side of the comfortable or of the picturesque. It is tolerably wide, but the houses are low and of mean exterior, and very dingy. At what periods the inhabitants covenant to paint their domiciles it is impossible to guess, but that some uniform date is assigned seems certain, since they are all in the same condition. As to A Confidential Agent. II. S cleaning within-doors, there is such an unanimity among all the tenants upon that score as is almost affecting: by tacit consent they appear to have agreed never to do it. The thoroughfare is so far aristocratic that, though it has a large sprinkling of public-houses, it only possesses a few shops, which are all devoted to second-hand furniture. And in these shops dwell the brokers whose office it is to put in executions in the neighbourhood--which is a great convenience. The comparative breadth of th...