Page 206 - Child's own book

notwithstanding all that tlie tailor and bis wife could do to pre­
vent jt. Both were heartily frightened at the accident, knowing
it happened in their house ; and there was reason to fear that
if the magistrates happened to hear of it> they would he punished
as murderers. However, the husband found an expedient to get
rid of the corpse : he reflected that there was a Jewish doctor
that lived just by, and having presently contrived a scheme, his
wife and he took tlie corpse, the one by the feet, and the other
by the headland carried it to the physician’s house. They knocked
at tlie door, from which a steep pair of stairs ied to his chamber*
Tlie servant-matd came down, without any light, and opening
the door, asked what they wanted, l* (to up again,” said the
tailor^ you please, and tell your master we have brought
him a man who is very ill, ami wants his advice. Here," said
hr, putting a piece of money into her hand, “ give him that
ln‘fbreh:mri, to convince him that wc do not mean to impose on
him.” While the servant was gone up to acquaint her master
with the welcome news, the tailor and his wife nimbly con*
veved (he hunch-back corpsc to the head of the stairs, and,
leaving it tbere* hurried away.
In tlie mean time, the maid told the doctor (hat a man and
a woman waited for him at the door, desiring he would come
down and look at a sick man whom they had brought with
(hem, and clapping into his hands the money she bad received,
tbc doctor was transported with joy: being paid beforehand, he
thought it was a good patent, and should not be neglected,
** Light! light f* cried he to the maid; “ follow me nimbly" So
saying, without staying for the light, he got to the stair-head
in such haste, that stumbling against the corpse* he gave him
a kick that made him tumble down to the stair-foot ; he had
almoftt fallen himself along with him, “ A light] alig h t!”
cried he to the maid ; **quick! quick ! ” At last the maid came