isaac dent did indeed feel himself a triumphant man. if such a nature as his could possibly know anything of love, he had something which he called by that name for the handsome girl whom he had deceived, and whose happiness he had wrecked. his powers of loving, however, might have been described as uncertain, dubious, and absolutely unworthy of so high and sacred a name. but there was no doubt at all with regard to his powers of revenge, or as to his cunning and double dealing.
it was the night before his wedding; and the prize—the choice, rich, great prize of the bravest and most beautiful girl in the city—was almost his. will was safe in prison; bet was safe at warrington. one week of happiness with her, and then he would secure for himself a good berth on board a prosperous ship, and sail away, the luckiest fellow in the land.
if dent had a conscience at all, it was a very dull one, and it certainly gave him no trouble some qualms that night. he still possessed seven or eight pounds of the stolen money, and he intended to have a right good time with bet—to spend his ill-gotten wealth freely, and to enjoy himself in a thorough manner for once in his life. he had been to warrington and made all final arrangements; and now, about nine o'clock in the evening, he left his lodgings to fulfill an appointment he had made with granger, who was to meet him and was to have a good time with him at the star and garter.
dent's lodgings were close to the docks; and to go from there to granger's place in sparrow street he generally walked up a very narrow and very disreputable street. he could have gone around, going along castle street and down by lime street; but the other way was a great short cut: and to meet low people, to hear the voices of tipsy men and loud-voiced women gave him no manner of annoyance. at the time of this story there were some courts in liverpool which at night-time were absolutely in the dark. not a single ray of gaslight illuminated them. the doers of evil liked such places; and the courts at nightfall were often full, and sounds the reverse of edifying were apt to proceed from them.
