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diff --git a/old/52056-0.txt b/old/52056-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 6868000..0000000 --- a/old/52056-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,47623 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mysteries of London, Volume 3 (of 4), by -George W. M. Reynolds - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Mysteries of London, Volume 3 (of 4) - -Author: George W. M. Reynolds - -Release Date: May 13, 2016 [EBook #52056] -[Last updated: August 24, 2017] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MYSTERIES OF LONDON, VOL 3 *** - - - - -Produced by Richard Tonsing, Chuck Greif and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from scanned images of public domain -material from the Google Books project.) - - - - - - - - - - THE - MYSTERIES OF LONDON. - - - BY - - GEORGE W. M. REYNOLDS, - - AUTHOR OF "FAUST," "PICKWICK ABROAD," "ROBERT MACAIRE," - "WAGNER: THE WEHR-WOLF," &C., &C. - - WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS - - VOL. III. - - VOL. I. SECOND SERIES. - - LONDON: - - G. VICKERS, 3, CATHERINE STREET, STRAND. - - MDCCCXLVII. - - - - - LONDON: - PRINTED BY J. FAUTLEY, "BONNER HOUSE" PRINTING OFFICE, SEACOAL LANE. - - - - - THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. - - - - - CONTENTS OF VOL. I. - - - CHAPTER I.—The Travelling Carriage 1 - II.—Tom Rain and Old Death 4 - III.—Bow Street 6 - IV.—Esther de Medina 9 - V.—The Appeal of Love 13 - VI.—Dr. Lascelles 15 - VII.—The Beautiful Patient 18 - VIII.—Seven Dials 20 - IX.—A Death-Scene.—Lock's Fields 23 - X.—A Scene at the House of Sir Christopher Blunt 28 - XI.—The Two Thousand Pounds.—Torrens Cottage 30 - XII.—Adelais and Rosamond 33 - XIII.—The Elopement 36 - XIV.—Lady Hatfield and Dr. Lascelles.—Esther de Medina 39 - XV.—The Opiate 42 - XVI.—The Lover and the Uncle 43 - XVII.—The Mysterious Letter.—Jacob 44 - XVIII.—The Lovers 48 - XIX.—Mr. Frank Curtis's Pleasant Adventure 51 - XX.—Happiness.—The Diamond Merchant 55 - XXI.—The Oath 59 - XXII.—The Alarm.—The Letter 61 - XXIII.—Old Death 64 - XXIV.—Castle Street, Long Acre 67 - XXV.—Matilda, the Country-Girl 70 - XXVI.—The Lady's-Maid 73 - XXVII.—London on a Rainy Evening.—A Scene in a Post-Chaise 75 - XXVIII.—Tom Rain's Lodgings in Lock's Fields 77 - XXIX.—The Mysteries of Old Death's Establishment 82 - XXX.—The Store-Rooms 86 - XXXI.—Another Deed of Infamy brought to Light 88 - XXXII.—Rainford in the Subterranean 92 - XXXIII.—Mrs. Martha Slingsby 94 - XXXIV.—The Pious Lady 96 - XXXV.—Mr. Sheepshanks 100 - XXXVI.—The Baronet and his Mistress 102 - XXXVII.—Tom Rain and Jacob 104 - XXXVIII.—The History of Jacob Smith 107 - XXXIX.—Continuation of the History of Jacob Smith 116 - XL.—Conclusion of the History of Jacob Smith 120 - XLI.—Fresh Alarms 126 - XLII.—The Paragraph in the Newspaper 128 - XLIII.—Lord Ellingham and Tom Rainford 131 - XLIV.—Mr. Frank Curtis again 134 - XLV.—Mr. Dykes and his Myrmidons 139 - XLVI.—Explanations 141 - XLVII.—Farther Explanations 144 - XLVIII.—Lord Ellingham and Tom Rain 147 - XLIX.—A Painful Interview 151 - L.—The Lawyer's Office 155 - LI.—Lord Ellingham in the Dungeon 157 - LII.—Lord Ellingham's Exertions 162 - LIII.—The Execution 164 - LIV.—Galvanism 166 - LV.—The Laboratory.—Esther de Medina 167 - LVI.—A History of the Past 172 - LVII.—A Father 185 - LVIII.—The Resuscitated 188 - LIX.—The Jew's Family 194 - LX.—Sir Christopher Blunt's Domestic Hearth 196 - LXI.—Captain O'Blunderbuss 198 - LXII.—Frank's Embarrassments 202 - LXIII.—The Meeting in Battersea Fields 204 - LXIV.—Old Death and his Friend Tidmarsh 206 - LXV.—The Examination 208 - LXVI.—Mrs. Slingsby and the Baronet again 215 - LXVII.—The Marriage.—Rosamond 219 - LXVIII.—Dr. Wagtail.—Rosamond Torrens 222 - LXIX.—Misery and Vice 229 - LXX.—Tim the Snammer 232 - LXXI.—The History of Tim the Snammer 234 - LXXII.—Mr. and Mrs. Curtis 255 - LXXIII.—Captain O'Blunderbuss again 260 - LXXIV.—Three Months after Marriage 264 - LXXV.—The Knight and the Captain 268 - LXXVI.—Tim the Snammer and Josh Pedler out on Business 271 - LXXVII.—The Father and Daughter 273 - LXXVIII.—Retribution 276 - LXXIX.—The Earl of Ellingham and Lady Hatfield again 279 - LXXX.—Mrs. Slingsby and Mrs. Torrens 283 - LXXXI.—Rosamond at Home 288 - LXXXII.—The Forged Cheque 292 - LXXXIII.—The Reward of Crime 295 - LXXXIV.—Old Death's Party 299 - LXXXV.—The History of a Livery Servant 303 - LXXXVI.—Conclusion of the History of a Livery-servant 312 - LXXXVII.—The Blackamoor 322 - LXXXVIII.—Scenes at the Blackamoor's House 326 - LXXXIX.—The Surprise.—Jeffreys and Old Death 331 - XC.—The New Justice of the Peace 334 - XCI.—Captain O'Blunderbuss again.—Another Strange Visitor 337 - XCII.—The Confession 342 - XCIII.—Newgate 344 - XCIV.—"The Stout House." 349 - XCV.—Clarence Villiers and his Aunt 354 - XCVI.—Sir Christopher Blunt a Hero 357 - XCVII.—Carlton House 360 - XCVIII.—An Acquittal and a Sentence 363 - XCVIX.—The Condition of the Working Classes 368 - C.—The Earl of Ellingham and Esther de Medina 371 - CI.—The Blackamoor's Strange Adventure 375 - CII.—A State of Siege 380 - CIII.—The Surprise.—A Change of Scene 384 - CIV.—The Visit.—The Habeas Corpus 389 - CV.—The King's Bench Prison 391 - CVI.—A Farther Insight into the King's Bench 396 - CVII.—A Tale of Sorrow 400 - CVIII.—Conclusion of the Tale of Sorrow 408 - CIX.—The Prisoners 413 - - - - - ILLUSTRATIONS TO VOL. I. - SECOND SERIES. - - - For Woodcut on page 1 see page 5 - For Woodcut on page 9 see page 15 - For Woodcut on page 17 see page 22 - For Woodcut on page 25 see page 31 - For Woodcut on page 33 see page 37 - OLD DEATH page 41 - For Woodcut on page 49 see page 53 - For Woodcut on page 57 see page 60 - For Woodcut on page 65 see page 68 - For Woodcut on page 73 see page 80 - For Woodcut on page 81 see page 86 - For Woodcut on page 89 see page 95 - For Woodcut on page 97 see page 101 - For Woodcut on page 105 see page 111 - JACOB SMITH IN THE - POWER OF SATAN page 113 - For Woodcut on page 121 see page 127 - For Woodcut on page 129 see page 131 - For Woodcut on page 137 see page 141 - For Woodcut on page 145 see page 150 - For Woodcut on page 153 see page 159 - DR. LASCELLES page 161 - For Woodcut on page 169 see page 176 - For Woodcut on page 177 see page 176 - For Woodcut on page 185 see page 189 - For Woodcut on page 193 see page 198 - For Woodcut on page 201 see page 205 - For Woodcut on page 209 see page 210 - For Woodcut on page 217 see page 224 - For Woodcut on page 225 see page 229 - TIM THE SNAMMER page 233 - For Woodcut on page 241 see page 245 - For Woodcut on page 242 see page 255 - For Woodcut on page 257 see page 263 - For Woodcut on page 265 see page 272 - For Woodcut on page 273 see page 274 - For Woodcut on page 281 see page 286 - For Woodcut on page 289 see page 292 - For Woodcut on page 297 see page 300 - For Woodcut on page 305 see page 309 - For Woodcut on page 313 see page 317 - For Woodcut on page 321 see page 323 - For Woodcut on page 329 see page 335 - For Woodcut on page 337 see page 342 - For Woodcut on page 345 see page 348 - For Woodcut on page 353 see page 358 - For Woodcut on page 361 see page 362 - For Woodcut on page 369 see page 372 - For Woodcut on page 377 see page 384 - For Woodcut on page 385 see page 390 - For Woodcut on page 393 see page 396 - For Woodcut on page 401 see page 406 - For Woodcut on page 409 see page 410 - - - - - THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. - - -[Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER I. - THE TRAVELLING-CARRIAGE. - - -It was about nine o'clock in the evening of the 2nd of November, 1826, -that a travelling-carriage stopped, on its way to London, to change -horses at the principal hotel in the little town of Staines. - -The inmates of the vehicle were two ladies:—an elderly domestic in -livery and a female attendant occupied the box. - -The night was clear, fine, and frosty: the moon shone brightly; and the -carriage lamps threw a strong glare to a considerable distance in front -of the vehicle. - -The active ostlers speedily unharnessed the four wearied steeds, and -substituted as many fresh ones in their place: the two postboys leapt -into their saddles; the landlord cried "All right!"—and the carriage -rolled rapidly away from the inn, the horses' shoes striking fire -against the stones. - -"If there be any thing particularly calculated to raise the spirits," -said one lady to the other, a few minutes after the chariot had left the -peaceful town behind, "it is travelling upon such a beauteous night as -this." - -"I am delighted to observe that you _are_ in good spirits this evening, -my dear Lady Hatfield," was the reply. "After passing four long months -at Sir Ralph Walsingham's country seat, London will present fresh -attractions for your ladyship." - -"My dear Miss Mordaunt," returned Lady Hatfield, in a serious tone, "you -are aware that I am indifferent to those formal parties and ceremonial -assemblies which are reckoned amongst the pleasures of the fashionable -world; and I can assure you that had not my uncle purported to return to -London in a few days, my own inclinations would have urged me to prolong -my stay at Walsingham Manor." - -"For my part," said Miss Mordaunt, "I am quite delighted with the idea -of hastening back to the great metropolis. A summer in the country is -only tolerable because each day brings one nearer to the enjoyments of a -winter in town. But really, my dear Lady Hatfield, you are not -reasonable. Rich, young, and beautiful as you are—your own mistress—and -with the handsomest man in England dying to lay his coronet at your -feet——" - -"I shall never marry, Julia," hastily interrupted Lady Hatfield. "Pray -let us change the conversation. A few minutes ago I was in excellent -spirits; and now——" - -She paused—and a deep sigh escaped her bosom. - -"Did I not say that you were quite unreasonable?" exclaimed her -companion. "Here am I—five years older than yourself,—for I do not mind -telling you, my dear friend, that I shall never see thirty again;—and -yet I have not renounced the idea of changing my condition. I know that -I am neither so good-looking nor so wealthy as you;—still I have my -little ambition. Sir Christopher Blunt would deem himself honoured were -I to smile graciously upon him; but my brother, the lieutenant—who, by -the by, expects his captaincy in a few days, thanks to the interest of -your kind uncle Sir Ralph—declares that if ever I marry a mere knight, -he will never speak to me again." - -Lady Hatfield had fallen into a profound reverie, and paid not the -slightest regard to the confidential outpourings of her garrulous -companion. - -Miss Mordaunt, who laboured under the pleasing impression that Lady -Hatfield's silence was occasioned by the deep interest which she took in -the present topic, continued to rattle away with her tongue as fast as -the carriage did with its wheels. - -"I am sure it was a very great act of kindness in you to ask me to spend -the winter with you in London; for as papa is compelled to reside in -Ireland, in consequence of the unsettled state of his tenantry, I should -have been under the necessity of returning to the Emerald Isle, after my -four months' visit with you to Walsingham Manor, had you not taken that -compassion on me. But let us speak of yourself, dear Lady Hatfield. -Without a soul in the world to control your actions—with the means of -procuring every enjoyment—and with Lord Ellingham going mad on your -account——" - -"Julia," said Lady Hatfield, with a start,—"again I beseech you to drop -this subject. And, as you will be my companion for some months to come, -let me now, once for all, enjoin you to abstain from such topics. As you -cannot read the secrets of my heart, pray bear in mind the fact that -many a light word uttered thoughtlessly and with no malicious intent, -may touch a chord that will thrill," she added calmly, but bitterly, "to -the inmost recesses of my soul." - -"Oh! my dear Lady Hatfield," exclaimed Miss Mordaunt, who, in spite of -her loquacity, was a very good-natured person, "I am rejoiced that you -have given me this warning. And how foolish of me not to have -observed—what indeed I now remember—that the topic of Love never was -agreeable to you. To be sure! it was during the sermon upon the felicity -of the wedded state, that you fainted and were taken into the vestry!" - -Lady Hatfield writhed in mental agony; and bitterly at that moment did -she repent the invitation which she had given her thoughtless companion -to pass the winter with her in London. - -The carriage had now reached the little town of Bedfont, which it -traversed without stopping; and continued its rapid way towards -Hounslow. - -But all of a sudden the course of the chariot was checked—as if by an -unexpected impediment in the way; and the horses began to plunge -frightfully. - -At the same time the lady's-maid on the box uttered a dreadful scream. - -Lady Hatfield drew down the window nearest to her: the chaise that -moment came to a full stop; and a stern, but evidently disguised voice -exclaimed, "Keep your horses quiet, you damned fools—and don't mind me! -If you stir till I give you leave, I'll blow out the brains of both of -you." - -"Robbers!" shrieked Miss Mordaunt in a despairing tone: "Oh! what will -become of us?" - -Lady Hatfield looked from the window; and at the same instant a man, -mounted on horseback, with a black mask over his countenance, and a -pistol in each hand, was by the side of the vehicle. - -"Villain!" cried the livery-servant on the box. "But you shall swing for -this!" - -"Perhaps I may," said the highwayman, coolly, though still speaking in a -feigned tone, as is the custom with individuals of his profession upon -such occasions as the one we are describing: "and if you attempt to -move, old fellow, from where you are, an ounce of lead shall tumble you -down from your perch. Beg pardon, ma'am," continued the robber, turning -towards Lady Hatfield, who had shrunk back into the corner of the -carriage the moment the desperado appeared at the window; "sorry to -inconvenience you; but—your purse!" - -Lady Hatfield handed the highwayman her reticule. - -"Good!" said he, perceiving by its weight and a certain jingling sound -which it sent forth, that it contained gold. "But you have a companion, -ma'am—_her_ purse!" - -Miss Mordaunt complied with this demand, and implored the "good -gentleman" not to murder her. - -The highwayman gave no reply; but vouchsafed a most satisfactory proof -of his intended forbearance in that respect, by putting spurs to his -steed, and darting off like an arrow in the direction of Hounslow. - -"Cowardly villains that you are!" ejaculated the livery-servant, hurling -this reproach against the postboys. - -"And what are you, old fool?" cried the postillion who rode the -wheel-horse. "But he'll be nabbed yet." - -"Drive on—drive on!" exclaimed Lady Hatfield from the window. "We are -all frightened—and not hurt." - -"Indeed, my dear," said Miss Mordaunt, as the carriage started off -rapidly once more, "I am seriously hurt—grievously wounded!" - -"You, Julia!" cried her ladyship, in unfeigned surprise. - -"Yes—in pocket," was the answer, implying deep vexation. "All the -remainder of my quarter's allowance——" - -"Oh! compose yourself on that head," interrupted Lady Hatfield. "You -shall not be compelled to acquaint Mr. Mordaunt with your loss." - -This assurance, conveying a promise of pecuniary assistance, materially -tended to tranquillise the mind of Miss Mordaunt; but the event which -had just occurred—apart from the mere robbery of her reticule—awoke the -most painful reflections in the mind of Lady Hatfield. - -"By the by," said Miss Mordaunt, after a short pause—for she never -remained long silent,—"this audacious outrage reminds me of something -your uncle Sir Ralph Walsingham was telling me one day, when you -interrupted him in the middle. I think he informed me that about six or -seven years ago—when you were only eighteen or nineteen—you were staying -at your dear lamented father's country-house, where you were quite -alone—for of course one does not call the servants anybody; when the -mansion was broken into by robbers during the night——" - -"Julia!" exclaimed Lady Hatfield, her whole frame fearfully convulsed by -the powerful though useless efforts which she made to subdue her -agitation: "never, I implore you, again allude to that dreadful event!" - -"Well—I never will," said Miss Mordaunt. "And yet, if one must not speak -of Love—nor yet of marriage—nor yet of midnight burglaries——" - -"Nay—I was wrong to cut you short thus abruptly," remarked Lady -Hatfield, now endeavouring to rob her prayer of the importance with -which her solemn earnestness of manner had invested it: "only, do choose -some more enlivening topic after the fright which we have just -experienced." - -"The first thing to-morrow morning," said Miss Mordaunt, who had not -noticed the full extent of the impression which her allusion to the -burglary of some years back had made upon her companion—for Julia was -too flippant, superficial, and volatile to pay much attention to the -emotions of others,—"the first thing to-morrow morning we must give -information to the Bow Street runners concerning this highway robbery: -secondly, we must write to the landlord at Staines to tell him what a -couple of cowardly fellows he has got in the shape of these -postillions;—and thirdly, you must discharge old Mason, who is evidently -incapable of protecting his mistress, much less her friends." - -"Discharge old Mason!" exclaimed Lady Hatfield: "impossible! How could -he have protected us! He is unarmed—whereas the highwayman flourished -two large pistols, doubtless loaded. But here we are safe at Hounslow!" - -The carriage drew up at the door of the hotel in this town; and the -postillions immediately narrated the particulars of the robbery to the -landlord and his attendant tribe of hangers-on. - -"Well, this is fortunate!" cried the landlord, when the tale was told: -"quite a God-send, as one may say." - -"As how, please, sir?" exclaimed the elder postboy, astonished at the -remark. - -"Why—it happens that Dykes, the famous Bow Street officer, is in the -hotel at this very instant," said the landlord. "John," he added, -turning to a waiter who stood near, "beg Mr. Dykes to step this way." - -"And what's Dykes doing down here?" asked the postboy, when the waiter -had disappeared to execute the commission he had received. - -"He's been investigating a 'cendiary fire," replied an ostler; for the -landlord, disdaining to hold any farther converse with a postillion, had -stepped up to the window to inquire whether the ladies chose to alight. - -Having received a negative answer, accompanied with an intimation that -the sooner the carriage was allowed to proceed the more agreeable it -would be to Lady Hatfield and Miss Mordaunt, the landlord returned -towards the spot where the postillions, the hangers-on of the hotel, and -other loungers were grouped together. - -Mr. Dykes almost immediately afterwards made his appearance in the form -of a tall, stout, heavy, but powerfully built man, shabby-genteel in his -attire, and carrying a strong ash-stick in his hand. - -The particulars of the highway robbery were described to him in a very -few moments. - -"How was the fellow dressed?" asked the officer. - -"A black coat," said the first postboy. - -"No—it wasn't," cried the second. - -"Then what was it?" demanded Mr. Dykes. - -"I don't know—but I'm sure it wasn't a black 'un," was the highly -satisfactory answer. - -"Describe his horse," said Dykes impatiently. - -"Brown—switch tail—standing about fourteen hands——" - -"Nonsense!" ejaculated the second postillion, interrupting his companion -who had volunteered the explanation. "It was a light bay—the moon fell -full upon it—so did the carriage-lights." - -"Come, I see we are only losing time," cried the officer. "Which way did -he go?" - -"He galloped off in this direction," was the reply, which remained -uncontradicted. - -"Then he'll be in London to-night, whichever road he took," said Mr. -Dykes. "If your ladies will give me a cast as far as town, I'll be after -the villain. Perhaps he turned off to the left towards Hatton, and so -over by Hanwell and then Shepherd's Bush; or else he made straight for -Richmond, and so over into Surrey. But, one way or another, he's sure to -be in London by midnight; and ten to one if I don't pounce on him. My -business is done down here; and I may just as well toddle back to-night -as to-morrow morning." - -The substance of these remarks was communicated to Lady Hatfield, who -could not well do otherwise than accord a seat on the box to Mr. Dykes, -Charlotte, the lady's-maid, removing to the interior of the carriage. - -These arrangements having been effected, the vehicle pursued its way; -and shortly after eleven o'clock it drew up at the door of a mansion on -Piccadilly Hill. - -Mr. Dykes, having asked the ladies a few questions, promised to -communicate the result of his efforts to capture the highwayman; and -then took his departure. - -Lady Hatfield and Miss Mordaunt shortly retired to their respective -bed-chambers: the latter to dream of the delights of London—the former -to moisten her pillow with tears; for the recent adventure had awakened -in her mind feelings of the most agonising description. - - - - - CHAPTER II. - TOM RAIN AND OLD DEATH. - - -It was about half-past eight on the following morning, when two -individuals entered a public-house in White Hart Street, Drury Lane. - -One was a man of about thirty years of age, with florid complexion, -light hair, and red whiskers,—yet possessing a countenance which, viewed -as a whole, was very far from disagreeable. His eyes were of a deep -blue, and indicated not only good-humour but a certain generosity of -disposition which was not impaired by an association with many less -amiable qualities—such as a wild recklessness of character, an undaunted -bravery, a love of perilous adventure, and a sad deficiency of principle -on particular points, the nature of which will hereafter transpire. He -was evidently proud of a very fine set of teeth, the brilliancy of which -compensated for the somewhat coarse thickness of his lips; and the -delicate whiteness of his hands showed that he did not earn his -livelihood by any arduous labour. In person he was about the -middle-height—by no means inclined to corpulency—and yet possessing a -well-knit frame, with a muscular power indicative of great physical -strength. His dress partook of the half-sporting, half-rakish -character—consisting of a high chimney-pot kind of hat, with very narrow -brims, a checked blue silk neckerchief, fine linen, a buff waistcoat, -cut-away Newmarket-style of green coat, drab-breeches, and top-boots. -The proper name of this flash gentleman was Thomas Rainford; but his -friends had taken the liberty of docking each word of a syllable; and he -was invariably known as Tom Rain. - -The other individual was an old man, of at least sixty, with white hair, -but eyes of fire glaring from beneath a pair of thick, shaggy grey -brows. He was upwards of six feet in height, and but little bowed by the -weight of years which he bore. Having lost all his teeth, his mouth had -fallen in so as to form a complete angle, the depth of which was -rendered the more remarkable by the extreme prominence of his hooked -nose and his projecting chin. He was as thin as it was possible to be -without having the bones actually protruding through the skin, which -hung upon them like a tanned leather casing. He was dressed in a long -grey surtout coat, reaching below his knees; a pair of shabby black -trousers, very short; and black cloth gaiters fitting loosely over that -description of shoes generally denominated high-lows. On his head he -wore a greasy cap, with a large front: his linen was by no means of the -cleanest; and his appearance altogether was excessively -unprepossessing—if not absolutely revolting. What his real name was, -very few of even his most intimate acquaintances were aware; for his -dreadful emaciation of form had procured for him the frightful pseudonym -of _Old Death_. - -Tom Rain and his hideous companion entered the public-house in White -Hart Street, nodded familiarly to the landlord as they passed by the -bar, and ascended the stairs to a private room on the first floor. - -Having seated themselves at the table, Tom Rain began the conversation. - -"Well, have you considered my proposal?" he asked. - -"I have," replied the old man in a deep sepulchral tone; "but I am -cautious—very cautious, my good friend." - -"So you told me when I saw you three days ago for the first time," -observed Rain impatiently. "But Tullock, the landlord of this place, is -a pal of yours; and he knows me well too. Hasn't he satisfied you about -me?" - -"Well—well, I can't say that he hasn't," answered Old Death. "Still a -cautious man like me never says _yes_ in a hurry. Tullock knew you eight -or nine years ago down in the country; and there's no doubt that you was -then a right sort of blade." - -"And so I am now!" cried Tom Rain, striking the table angrily with his -clenched fist. - -"Softly-softly, my good friend," said Old Death. "We shall agree better -afterwards if we have a good understanding at first. I was going to -observe that for some years Tullock loses sight of you; he comes up to -town, takes this public, and doesn't even remember that there's such a -fellow in existence as yourself until you make your appearance here a -few days back." - -"When he received me with open arms, and introduced me to you," added -Tom Rain. "But go on: what next?" - -"Ah! what next?" replied Old Death, with a horrible chuckle that issued -from his throat as if it come from the depths of a tomb. "Why—you -frankly and candidly told me your intentions and views, I admit;—but you -can't do without me—you can't do without me, my dear boy—and you know -it!" - -Again the hideous old man chuckled in his cavern-like tones. - -"I never denied what you say," answered Tom Rain. "On the contrary, I am -well aware that no one in my line can think of doing business about -London, and making London his head-quarters, without your assistance." - -"To be sure not!" said the old man, evidently pleased by this -compliment. "I've had the monopoly of it all for this thirty years, and -never once got into trouble. But then I do my business with caution—such -caution! I've dealings with all that are worth having dealings with; and -not one of them knows even where I live!" - -"Only let me find a sure and ready-money market for _my_ goods," -exclaimed Tom Rain, "and I'll do more business with you than all the -chaps you speak of put together." - -"Well, I suppose we must come to terms," said Old Death after a short -pause. "Tullock assures me that you were straight-forward when he knew -you in the country, and though time changes men's minds as well as their -faces, I'll take it for granted that you're all right. You remember the -conditions?" - -"Not a word you uttered three days ago has escaped my memory," answered -Rain. - -"Good. When shall you commence business?" - -"I opened my shop last night," replied Tom with a hearty laugh. - -"Nonsense!" cried the old man, fixing a glance of delight upon his new -friend. "You don't mean to say that——In a word, is _this_ yours?" - -As he spoke, Old Death drew from his pocket the morning's newspaper, -pointed to a particular advertisement, and held the journal towards his -companion. - -Tom Rain's countenance was overclouded for a moment; but almost -immediately afterwards it expanded into an expression of mingled -surprise and satisfaction; and snapping his fingers joyfully, he -exclaimed, "Is it possible? could it have been _her_? Oh! this business -is speedily settled!" - -And rising from his seat, he rang the bell violently. - -A pot-boy answered the summons. - -"Pen, ink, and paper, and a messenger to carry a letter," said Tom Rain, -with extraordinary rapidity of utterance. - -The boy disappeared; and Old Death, recovering partially from the -astonishment into which his companion's ejaculations and manner on -reading the advertisement had thrown him, exclaimed, "What the devil are -you after now?" - -"You shall see in a moment," was the reply; "but I don't promise you any -explanation of what you _will_ see," he added with another hearty laugh. - -The boy returned, bringing writing materials, and intimating that he was -willing to be the bearer of the letter. - -Tom Rain told him to wait; then, having hastily written a few lines upon -a sheet of paper, he tossed the note over to Old Death, who read as -follows:— - - "Remember the night of the 27th of October, 1819;—and stop the - inquiries instituted in respect to the little business referred to - by the advertisement in this morning's _Times_." - -"This is past all comprehension," exclaimed the old man, still keeping -his eyes fixed upon the paper. "The note has not even a signature." - -"It does not require one," coolly observed Tom Rain, as he snatched the -letter from his companion, and proceeded to fold it up. - -"And do you hope to crush the business by means of that scrap of -writing?" asked Old Death, evidently perplexed what to think. - -"I don't merely hope—I am certain of accomplishing my object," was the -reply. - -"Now mind you ain't deceiving yourself, Tom," said Old Death. "The man -who has taken up the affair is persevering as a beaver and crafty as a -fox. You may see that he is in earnest by the expedition he must have -made to get the advertisement into this morning's paper. I should have -hardly thought it possible to be done. However, done it is—and, though -it gives no description of the person, yet it offers a good reward for -his apprehension. No one knows what trivial circumstance may afford a -trace; and——" - -"Enough of this, old friend," cried Tom; and handing the letter, now -duly folded, wafered, and directed, to the boy, he said, "Take this to -the address written upon it: see if there's any answer; and I shall wait -here till you come back. Look alive—and you'll earn a crown by the job." - -The boy hastened away to execute the commission which he had received. - -"And so that was your business, Master Tom?" observed Old Death, as soon -as the messenger had disappeared. "Well—you have made a good beginning: -it promises bright things." - -"What! do you fancy that I haven't had plenty of experience down in the -country?" cried Rainford. "Ah! I could tell you a tale or two—but no -matter now." - -"And the little business, Tom," inquired the old man,—"did it turn out -worth the trouble? The advertisement says——" - -"Hark'ee, Master Death," exclaimed Rainford, firmly; "that business does -not regard you. Our compact dates from this morning——" - -"Oh! very good—very good!" interrupted Old Death in a surly tone. "Be it -as you say: but remember—if you _do_ get into any trouble on account of -this, you mustn't expect me to help you out of it." - -"Neither do I," answered Tom. "However, I am a generous chap in my way, -and I don't mind yielding to you in this instance; for you must suppose -that I can see your drift plain enough. The advertisement says '_A purse -containing a Bank-note for fifty pounds and eleven sovereigns, and a -reticule containing a purse in which there were three ten-pound notes -and sixteen sovereigns._' This is accurate enough. The reticule I flung -away: the two purses I kept—and here they are." - -Thus speaking, Tom Rainford threw upon the table the objects last -mentioned. - -Old Death's eyes glared with a kind of savage joy as they caught a -glimpse of the yellow metal and the flimsy paper through the net-work of -the purses. - -"Pretty things—pretty things!" he muttered between his toothless gums. -"I think you'll do well, Tom." - -"And I am sure I shall. But turn the money out on the table: you care -more about the handling of it than I do." - -Old Death "grinned horribly a ghastly smile," and lost no time in -obeying the hint conveyed. - -"Twenty-seven golden boys, and eighty pounds in Bank-notes," said the -hideous man. "The gold is yours—that's part of our conditions: half the -value of the Bank-notes is mine, for the risk and trouble in cashing -them—that's also part and parcel of our conditions. So if I give you -forty sovereigns—forty golden sovereigns, Tom—we shall be square." - -"Just so," carelessly observed Rain. - -Old Death produced a greasy leather bag from a pocket in the breast of -his grey-coat, and counted thence the forty sovereigns on which he had -laid such emphasis. - -Tom Rain thrust the coin into his breeches' pocket without reckoning it; -while his companion first secured the Bank-notes in the greasy bag, and -then threw the two purses into the fire. - -"You're a good fellow, Tom—a generous-hearted fellow—and I'm much -pleased with you," said the old man. "I shall leave you now, as I have -some little trifling matters to attend to in another part of the town. -When you want me, you know where to leave a message." - -"All right," ejaculated Tom Rainford, who did not appear over anxious to -detain his new friend. - -They accordingly separated—Old Death taking his departure, and the other -remaining behind to await the return of his messenger. - -It is necessary to state that when Old Death quitted the public-house, -he was joined a few paces up the street by a sharp-looking, ill-clad -youth of about fifteen, whose pale countenance, bright eyes, and -restless glances denoted mental activity struggling against bad health. - -Approaching the old man, the youth walked by his side without uttering a -syllable. - -"Jacob," said Death, after a brief pause, and sinking his voice to a -whisper, "you saw that swell-looking chap who went into Tullock's with -me just now. Well—I told you to be here this morning at a particular -hour, on purpose that you _might_ see him. He will be useful to me—very -useful. But I must know more of him—and he is not the man to be pumped. -Do you wait here, and watch him. Dog him about—find out where he -goes—where he lives—whether he has a mistress or a wife, or neither——" - -"Or both," added Jacob, with a low chuckle. - -"Yes—any thing that concerns him, in fine," continued Old Death. "I am -going to Toby Bunce's in the Dials, where I shall be for the next three -or four hours if I'm wanted." - -"Very good—I understand," said Jacob; and retracing his steps, he hid -himself in a court which commanded a view of Tullock's public-house. - -Let us now return to Tom Rain, who was waiting for the reappearance of -his messenger. - -It was shortly before ten when the pot-boy once more stood in his -presence. - -"Well?" said Rainford, interrogatively. - -"I seed the lady herself," was the reply; "and I gived her the note. I -thought it was somethink partickler—and so I told the flunkey I'd on'y -deliver it into her hands." - -"And how did she receive it?" asked Tom. - -"I was showed into a parlour and told to wait. In a few minutes the door -opened and in come a lady—such a splendid creatur! I never seed such a -fine 'ooman in my life before. Our bar-gal's nothink to her! So I gived -her the note: she looked at the writing on the outside, but didn't seem -to know it. Then she opened the letter—and, my eye! didn't she give a -start? I thought she'd have fell slap on her face. For a minute or so -she couldn't recover herself: at last she says, '_Tell the writer of -this note that it shall be attended to_;'—and she put half-a-crown into -my hand. That's all." - -"I knew it would be so!" cried Tom Rain in a triumphant tone. "Here's -the five shillings I promised you, my boy; and I don't think you've made -a bad morning's work of it." - -The lad grinned a smile of satisfaction, and withdrew. - -Rainford soon after descended to the bar, conversed for a few minutes -with his friend Tullock, the landlord, and then took his departure—duly -watched by Jacob. - -He had reached the corner of Drury Lane, when he felt himself somewhat -rudely tapped on the shoulder. - -Turning hastily round, he was confronted by a tall stout man, who, -without any ceremonial preface, exclaimed, "You're wanted, my good -fellow." - -"I know I am," replied Tom coolly, as he measured the stranger from head -to foot with a calm but searching glance: "and I'm now on my way to the -place where my presence is required." - -"Just so," said the stout man: "because you are going to favour me with -your company, that I may introduce you to a party who wishes to become -better acquainted with you." - -"Who's the friend you speak of?" asked Tom in an easy, off-hand kind of -manner. - -"Sir Walter Ferguson," was the reply. "So come along." - -With these words, the stout man took Rainford's arm and led him away to -the Police Court in Bow Street. - -Jacob, who was an unsuspected witness of the whole proceeding, -immediately took the shortest way to Seven Dials. - - - - - CHAPTER III. - BOW STREET. - - -The moment Mr. Dykes had lodged his prisoner in one of the cells -attached to the court, he hurried off to Piccadilly Hill, and knocked -loudly at the door of Lady Hatfield's residence. - -Upon explaining the nature of his business to the domestic who answered -the summons, he was admitted into an apartment where Lady Hatfield and -Miss Mordaunt almost immediately joined him. - -Lady Hatfield was the orphan daughter of the Earl and Countess of -Mauleverer. She was an only child: the proud title of Mauleverer had -become extinct with the demise of her father; but the family property -had devolved to her. She was in her twenty-fifth year, and surpassingly -beautiful:—the style of her loveliness was fascinating and -intellectual—rendered the more interesting, too, by the tinge of -melancholy which characterised her countenance. Her eyes were large and -of a deep blue: the soul sate enthroned on her pale and lofty -forehead;—her smile, though always plaintively mournful, denoted -amiability and kindness. In stature she was of the middle height; and, -though in the least degree inclining to _embonpoint_, yet the fulness of -her form marred not its lightness nor its grace. The bust was rounded in -voluptuous luxuriance—and the hips were expanded;—but the waist was -naturally small—the limbs tapered gradually downwards—and her step was -so elastic, while her gait was easy though dignified, that even the most -critical judge of female attractions could not have found it in his -heart to cavil at her symmetry. - -Miss Mordaunt was a lady who had seen thirty-five summers, although she -would have gone into hysterics had any one suggested that such was -really the fact. She was short, thin, and not particularly good-looking; -for her hair was of so decided a red that it would have been a mockery -instead of a compliment to term it auburn: her eyes were grey, and her -nose suspiciously inclining to the species called "pug:"—but her -complexion was good, her teeth well preserved and white, and her hand -very beautifully formed. Thus, when she looked in her glass—which was as -often as she passed near it—she mentally summed up the good and the bad -points of her personal appearance, invariably striking a balance in -favour of the first, and thence arriving at the very logical conclusion -that she should yet succeed in escaping from a condition of single -blessedness. - -It was a little after eleven o'clock when Lady Hatfield and Miss -Mordaunt were informed that Mr. Dykes requested an immediate interview -with them. Some event of that morning's occurrence had already produced -a strange—an almost alarming effect upon Georgiana—such was Lady -Hatfield's Christian name: and in order to regain her spirits—to recover -indeed from a sudden shock which she had received—her ladyship had -proposed an early airing in the carriage. To this Julia, who had some -"shopping to do," readily assented. They had accordingly just completed -their toilette for the purpose, and were now waiting in the drawing-room -for the arrival of the chariot, when the announcement of Mr. Dykes's -name called such an ejaculation of anguish from Lady Hatfield's lips, -that Miss Mordaunt was seriously alarmed. - -But Georgiana,—the expression of whose countenance indicated for an -instant the agony of a heart wounded to its very core,—subdued her -emotions by a violent effort; and then, in answer to her friend's -solicitous inquiries, attributed the temporary agitation she had -experienced to a sudden pain passing through her head. - -It was nevertheless with feelings of mingled terror and repugnance that -Georgiana accompanied Julia to the room where the Bow Street officer -awaited them. - -Her very eye-lids quivered with suspense, when she found herself in the -presence of the celebrated thief-taker. - -"Well, ladies," exclaimed Mr. Dykes, rising from a chair, and making an -awkward bow as they entered, "I've good news for you: the highwayman -is——" - -"Is——" repeated Georgiana, with nervous impatience. - -"Is in custody, my lady; and all I now want——" - -"Who is in custody?" demanded Georgiana, hope for a moment wildly -animating her. - -"The man that robbed you last night, my lady," answered the officer; "or -else I'm dam——beg pardon—very much mistaken." - -"But how do you know he is the same?" exclaimed Lady Hatfield. "Perhaps -you may have erred—your suspicions may have misled you——" - -"Ah! my lady," interrupted Dykes, totally mistaking the cause of -Georgiana's warmth; "you surely ain't going to plead in favour of a chap -that stopped you on the King's highway, and did then and there steal -from your person and from the person of your friend——" - -"Describe the individual whom you have arrested," said Lady Hatfield -abruptly. - -"To a nicety I will," answered the officer, who was now completely in -his element. "About thirty years of age—good complexion—light curly -hair—red whiskers—dark blue eyes—splendid teeth—thick lips——But here's -your carriage come round to the door, my lady; and nothing could -possibly be more convenient. Please not to waste time—as I think we can -get him committed to-day." - -The moment Dykes had begun his description, Lady Georgiana's eyes -expressed the agonising nature of the suspense which she endured; but as -he continued, and his portraiture became the more definite, an ashy -paleness overspread her countenance. - -This agitation on her part was not however perceived by either the Bow -Street officer or Miss Mordaunt; for the former had a habit of fixing -his eyes on the knob of his ash stick when he was engrossed in a -professional topic; and the latter was drinking in with greedy ears the -description of the supposed highwayman, whom she was quite astonished to -hear represented as so very discrepant from her idea of what a midnight -desperado must be. - -The arrival of the carriage was, under the circumstances, quite a relief -to Georgiana; and, without uttering another objection, she allowed Mr. -Dykes to have his own way in the matter. - -That experienced officer rang the bell as coolly as if the house was his -own, and desired that the man-servant and lady's-maid, who were in -attendance on their mistress the preceding night, would prepare to -accompany him to Bow Street. - -Mason and Charlotte speedily obeyed this request, and the chariot, -instead of taking the ladies up Bond Street, conveyed them, the two -servants, and Mr. Dykes, to the police-office. - -On their arrival, Mr. Dykes conducted his witnesses into a private room, -and, after an absence of about five minutes, returned with the -intelligence that the night charges were just disposed of, and that the -prisoner was about to be placed in the dock. - -A shudder passed through Georgiana's frame; but, with a desperate effort -to compose herself, she followed Mr. Dykes into the court, Miss Mordaunt -and the two servants remaining in the private room until they should be -summoned individually to give their testimony. - -As Georgiana was a lady of rank and fortune she was not treated as a -humble witness would have been, but was accommodated with a chair, Mr. -Dykes assuring her, in a confidential whisper, that she need not stand -up to give her evidence. - -The body of the court was crowded with a motley assembly of spectators, -the news that a highwayman was about to be examined having spread like -wildfire throughout the neighbourhood. - -Scarcely was Georgiana seated, when a sensation on the part of the crowd -enabled her to judge that the accused was being brought in; and as Tom -Rain leapt nimbly into the dock, she cast a rapid glance towards him—a -glance in which terror was combined with indescribable disgust and -aversion. - -The accused affected not to notice her, but lounged in a very easy and -familiar fashion over the front of the dock; surveying, first Sir Walter -Ferguson, and then the clerk, with a complacency which would have almost -induced an uninitiated stranger to imagine that _they_ were the -prisoners and _he_ was the magistrate. - -Mr. Dykes, being called upon by Sir Walter to explain the nature of the -charge against the prisoner, declared that, "in consequence of -information which he had received," (the invariable phraseology of old -police-officers,) "he had arrested the accused on suspicion of having -stopped Lady Hatfield's carriage on the preceding evening, and robbed -her ladyship and her ladyship's friend of certain monies specified in an -advertisement which he had caused to be inserted in that morning's -paper." Mr. Dykes further stated that, having searched the prisoner, he -had found upon him a considerable sum in gold; but none of the -Bank-notes stolen. - -Lady Hatfield was then sworn, and she corroborated the officer's -statement relative to the robbery. - -"Has your ladyship any reason to suppose that the prisoner in the dock -is the person by whom your carriage was stopped?" inquired the -magistrate. - -"I feel well convinced, sir," was the reply, delivered, however, in a -tremulous tone, "that the prisoner at the bar is _not_ the man by whom I -was robbed." - -A smile of triumph curled the lips of Tom Rain; but Mr. Dykes surveyed -Georgiana with stupid astonishment. - -"Not the man, my lady!" he ejaculated, at length: "why, last night, your -ladyship could give no description of what the robber was or what he was -not!" - -"Dykes, hold your tongue!" cried the magistrate: "her ladyship is upon -her oath." - -"Your worship," said Georgiana, in a firmer voice than before, "I was so -bewildered last evening—so overcome with terror——" - -"Naturally so, Lady Hatfield," observed the magistrate, with a very -courteous smile, which seemed to say that he would rather believe the -bare word of a member of the aristocracy—especially a lady—than the -oaths of all his officers and runners out together. "In fact," continued -Sir Walter blandly, "you were too much flurried, to use a common -expression, to reply calmly and deliberately to any questions which -Dykes may have put to you last evening." - -"Such was indeed the case, your worship," answered Georgiana. "This -morning, however, I have been enabled to collect my ideas, and to recall -to mind the smallest details of the robbery. The highwayman had a black -mask upon his face; but, by a sudden movement of his horse, as he stood -by the carriage window, the mask slipped aside, and I caught a glimpse -of his countenance by the moonlight." - -"And that countenance?" said the magistrate. - -"Was quite different from the prisoner's," replied Lady Hatfield firmly. - -"Your ladyship did not make that statement when I gave you the -description of the prisoner just now," said Dykes, evidently bewildered -by the nature of Georgiana's testimony. - -"Because you hurried me away, together with my friend and two of my -servants, in a manner so precipitate that I had no time to utter a -word," returned Lady Hatfield. "Moreover, as you had taken the prisoner -into custody, I believed it to be necessary that his case should be -brought beneath the cognizance of his worship." - -Georgiana spoke in a tone apparently so decided and calm, that the -officer knew not how to reply; although in his heart he suspected her -sincerity. - -The magistrate consulted the clerk; and, after the interchange of a few -whispers, Sir Walter said, "I see no reason for detaining the prisoner: -there is evidently some mistake on your part, Dykes." - -"Your worship," exclaimed the officer, "I know not what to think. Can -the prisoner give a good account of himself? He rides into London from -Richmond at six o'clock this morning; puts his horse up at an inn in the -Borough; goes to a coffee-house in another street to have his breakfast, -and leaves a pair of pistols for the waiter to take care of for him; -then walks over to a suspicious public not a hundred miles from this -court; meets there a man that me and my partners have long had our eyes -on; and, when he is searched, has a large sum in gold about his person." - -"Do you hear what the officer says, prisoner?" inquired the magistrate. - -"I do, your worship," answered Tom Rain, coolly; "and I can explain it -all. I come up to London on business, which requires the sum of money -found upon me. I put up my horse where I think fit; and I go elsewhere -to get my breakfast, because I can have it cheaper than at the inn. I -was armed with pistols because I had to travel a lonely road in the -dark; and I left them at the coffee-house because I did not choose to -drag them about with me all day long." - -Mr. Dykes was about to reply, when two decently-dressed men, who had -entered the court a few minutes previously, stepped forward. - -"Please, your worship," said the first, "I have known Mr. Rainford the -last four years; and a more respectable man does not exist. He came up -to London to buy a couple of horses of me; and he was to pay ready -money. My name's Watkins, your worship; and I've kept livery and bait -stables in Great Queen Street, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, for the last -seventeen years." - -"And I, your worship," said the other person, in his turn, "can answer -for Mr. Rainford. If you doubt my respectability, your worship, send one -of your officers round to Compton Street, and see if the name of -Bertinshaw isn't painted up in precious large letters over the best -jeweller's shop——" - -"_And_ pawnbroker's," interrupted Mr. Dykes significantly. - -"Well—and pawnbroker's, too," added Bertinshaw: "I'm not ashamed of the -calling." - -"Then you are both prepared to guarantee the prisoner's appearance at -any future time?" said the magistrate. - -"Certainly, your worship," was the joint reply. - -"To answer any charge that may be brought against him?" continued Sir -Walter. - -The response was again in the affirmative on the part of Watkins and -Bertinshaw. - -The magistrate stated the amount of the recognizances which were to be -entered into, and Tom Rain was desired to stand down from the dock. - -This intimation he obeyed with the same air of calm indifference which -had characterized him throughout the proceedings, and which had only -been for a moment disturbed by the profound astonishment he had -experienced when two men, whom he had never before seen nor even heard -of in his life, stepped forward to give him so excellent a character and -become his bail. But a moment's reflection convinced him that Old Death -was the unseen friend who worked the machinery of this manœuvre. - -While the clerk was filling up the bail-bond, Lady Georgiana retired -from the office, her bosom a prey to feelings of a strangely conflicting -nature,—joy at having passed through an ordeal which she had -dreaded—grief at having stained her soul with the fell crime of -deliberate perjury—and agony at the sad reminiscences which the presence -of Rainford had recalled so forcibly to her mind. - -Miss Mordaunt and the two servants were astonished to hear the -unexpected turn which the proceedings had taken; but their attention was -almost immediately absorbed in the condition of Lady Hatfield, who -scarcely had time to communicate to them the result of her examination -in the court, when a sudden faintness came over her. She had exhausted -all her energies in the endeavour to maintain an air of calmness, and to -reply in a tone of sincerity when in the presence of the magistrate; and -now a reaction took place—her courage gave way—the weight of fearful -reminiscences overpowered her—the glow of excitement which had mantled -her cheeks changed to a death-like pallor—and she fainted in the arms of -her friend. - -Fortunately, Miss Mordaunt had a bottle of volatile salts with her; and -by these means Georgiana was speedily recovered. She was then led to her -carriage; but she did not appear to breathe freely until the vehicle was -some distance from the police-court. - ------ - -[Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - ESTHER DE MEDINA. - - -Let us now return to the interior of the police-office. - -The clerk was drawing up the bail-bond; the two securities were -conversing in whispers with Tom Rain, whom they had affected to greet, -when he descended from the dock, as an old acquaintance; and Mr. Dykes -was leaning gloomily against the partition which separated the -magistrate's desk from the body of the court,—when the entrance of two -persons produced a new sensation amongst the crowd. - -One was an officer of the court: the other was a lady, closely veiled, -and enveloped in a cloak of rich material. - -Her form was tall; and, even though her entire frame was now convulsed -with intense anguish as she passed amidst the gaping throng to the chair -which Lady Hatfield had occupied two or three minutes previously, yet -that excess of grief and terror did not bow her down, nor impair the -graceful dignity of her gait. - -The officer motioned her to seat herself, an intimation which she -evidently accepted with gratitude. - -"What is it, Bingham?" inquired the magistrate of the officer. - -"Please, your worship," was the reply, "it's a serious charge; and the -prosecutor will be here in a moment." - -"Very well," said the magistrate: "I will take it directly." - -"Who is she?" whispered Dykes, accosting his brother officer. - -"Her name is Esther de Medina, she tells me," returned Bingham. - -The question and answer were overheard by Tom Rainford, who was standing -close by the officers; and the announcement of the lady's name produced -a strange and almost electrical effect upon him. - -The devil-me-care recklessness of his manner suddenly disappeared; and a -sentiment of profound commiseration and deep interest, in respect to -Esther de Medina, seemed to occupy his mind. - -He was about to question Mr. Bingham relative to the charge which he had -against her, when the clerk called upon him and his securities to sign -the bond. This ceremony was speedily performed; and Rain's money was -returned to him by Mr. Dykes, who, however, looked at him in a manner -which seemed to say—"I know I am not mistaken in you, although you have -contrived to get off: but I'll have you another time." - -Tom cared nothing for the sinister looks of the Bow Street officer; -neither did he pay much attention to the gold which he now poured back -into his pocket; for all his thoughts appeared to be absorbed in the -presence of the veiled lady. - -"Come along with us," whispered Bertinshaw, "and we'll celebrate your -escape over a bottle of wine at my place." - -"No—not now," replied Tom, hastily: "I mean to stay and hear this case: -it interests me." - -"Will you join us presently?" asked his new friend, who had just now -pretended to be a very old one. - -"Yes, yes," answered Tom: "in an hour or so." - -Bertinshaw and Watkins then took their departure. - -"Now, Bingham," cried the clerk; "what is it?" - -At that moment a gentleman of handsome appearance and middle age entered -the court. - -"Here's the prosecutor who will explain the matter," said the officer. - -The prisoner, suddenly remembering the respect due to the bench, raised -her veil; and, at the same time, she glanced in an eager, inquiring -manner towards the individual who now appeared against her. - -But we must pause to describe her. - -She was not more than eighteen years of age, and surpassingly lovely. -Her complexion was a clear transparent olive, beneath which the delicate -tinge of carnation was not entirely chased away from her cheeks by the -terror and grief that now oppressed her. Her face was of the aquiline -cast—her forehead broad, high, and intelligent; her nose curved, but not -too prominent in shape; her mouth small, with thin vermilion lips, -revealing teeth of pearly whiteness; her chin sweetly rounded; and her -eyes large, black, and brilliant. And never did more splendid orbs of -light mirror the whole power of the soul, or flash brighter glances from -beneath richly-fringed lids. Then her brows were so delicately -pencilled, and so finely arched, that they gave an air of dignity to -that lovely—that fascinating countenance. Her hair, too, was of the -deepest black—a black so intense, that the raven's wing might not have -compared with it. Silken and glossy, the luxuriant mass was parted above -the forehead, and, flowing in two shining bands—one on each side of the -face, for which they appeared to form an ebony frame,—was gathered -behind the ears. - -In stature she was tall, sylph-like, and graceful. Her shoulders had -that fine slope which the Italian masters so much admired, and with -which they were delighted to endow the heroines of their pictures. Her -waist was admirably proportioned, and not rendered too thin by the -unnatural art of tight-lacing. Her hand was of exceeding beauty; her -feet and ankles were in perfect keeping with the exquisite symmetry of -her form; and her gestures were full of dignity and grace. - -She was a Jewess; and, if the most glorious beauty were honoured with a -diadem, then should Esther de Medina have become Queen of the Scattered -Race. - -The moment she raised her veil, all who could catch a glimpse of her -countenance were struck with astonishment at the dazzling loveliness -thus revealed; and even the magistrate felt anxious to learn what -misadventure could have placed so peerless a being within the grasp of -justice. Her crime could scarcely be robbery; for she was well-dressed, -and had the appearance of belonging to even a wealthy family. Besides, -her face—her eyes seemed to denote a conscious purity of soul, in spite -of the painful emotions which her present situation had excited within -her bosom. - -But the person who was most interested—most astonished by the sudden -revelation of that exquisite countenance, was Tom Rain. It was not with -lustful desire that he surveyed her; it was not with any unholy passion: -on the contrary, it was with a sentiment of deep devotion and profound -sympathy. He also manifested extreme curiosity to learn upon what -possible charge Esther de Medina could have been brought thither. - -On her part, she was evidently altogether unacquainted with the person -of Tom Rain; for as she cast a rapid and timid glance around, her eyes -lingered not upon him. - -The middle-aged, handsome-looking man who had just entered the office, -was now desired to state the grounds upon which Esther de Medina was in -custody. - -This witness deposed that his name was Edward Gordon, and that he was a -diamond-merchant, residing in Arundel Street, Strand. On the 31st of -October, at about five o'clock in the evening, a female called upon him -and requested him to purchase of her a diamond ring, which she produced. -He examined it by the light of the lamp burning in the apartment where -he received her; and, finding that it was really a jewel of some value, -he offered her a price which he considered fair. That sum was thirty -guineas. She endeavoured to obtain more; but he did not consider himself -justified in acceding to her wish. Finally, she accepted his proposal, -received the amount, left the ring, and departed. He went out -immediately after, carefully locking the door of the room. Having an -engagement to dine with a friend, he returned home late, and did not -enter that particular room until the following morning; when he -discovered that a set of diamonds, which he remembered to have been -lying in an open case upon the table at the time the female called on -the preceding evening, was missing. He searched vainly in all parts of -the room; and at length came to the fixed conclusion that the female in -question had stolen the diamonds. He gave immediate information to -Bingham, the officer, together with an accurate description of the -suspected person; for she was upwards of twenty minutes with him on the -evening of the 31st, and he had therefore seen enough of her to know her -again. - -"Moreover," added the prosecutor "two clear days only have elapsed since -the interview which took place between us; and I appeal to your worship -whether the countenance of the prisoner, when once seen, can be readily -forgotten; for painful as it is to accuse so young and interesting a -person of such a crime, my duty to society compels me to take this step; -and I have no hesitation in declaring that the prisoner is the female -who sold me the ring." - -A profound sigh escaped from the bosom of Esther; but she uttered not a -word. - -Bingham, the officer, then proved that he called about half an hour -previously upon Mr. Gordon to inform him that he had vainly endeavoured -to discover a clue to the supposed thief. Mr. Gordon was on the point of -going out upon particular business, and the officer, in order not to -detain him, walked a part of the way in his company, so that they might -converse upon the subject of the robbery as they went along. They were -passing through Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, when they met the prisoner at the -bar. Mr. Gordon instantly recognised her, and the officer took her into -custody. She manifested much indignation, and said that there must be -some mistake; but when the nature of the charge was stated to her, she -turned deadly pale, and burst into tears. - -Rainford had listened to these statements with the deepest—the most -intense interest; and his countenance underwent various changes, -especially while Mr. Gordon was giving his evidence. At one moment Tom -exhibited surprise—then indignation,—and, lastly, the most unfeigned -sorrow. - -But suddenly an idea seemed to strike him: for a minute did he reflect -profoundly; and then joy animated his features. - -Hastily quitting the court, he hurried to the coffee-house opposite, -called for writing materials, and penned the following letter:— - - "_Nov. 3, 1826._ - - "MY LORD,—Esther de Medina is at Bow Street, accused of a crime - which is alleged to have been committed at about five o'clock in the - evening of the 31st of October. It is for you to prove her - innocence. Delay not, then, an instant. - - "AN UNKNOWN FRIEND TO ESTHER." - -Throwing a shilling upon the table, Tom Rain hurried away, took a -hackney-coach at the nearest station, and desired to be driven to the -mansion of Lord Ellingham, Pall-mall, West. - -A half-guinea which he slipped into the coachman's hand as he entered -the vehicle, produced the desired effect; for the horses were urged into -a pace the rapidity of which seemed to astonish themselves as a proof of -what they could do if they chose; and, in a very short time, Rainford -leapt out at the door of his lordship's abode. - -The nobleman was fortunately at home; and Tom Rain delivered the letter -to the servant who answered his summons. - -Then, having desired the coachman to wait, as he might have "a fare" -back to Bow Street, Rainford hurried away at his utmost speed, retracing -his steps to the police-office. - -In the meantime, the clerk had taken down the depositions of Mr. Edward -Gordon and Bingham; while the most extraordinary sensation prevailed in -the court. The youth—the loveliness—the modest, yet dignified appearance -of Esther de Medina enlisted all sympathies in her favour; and many a -rude heart then present felt a pang at the idea of believing her to be -guilty. - -She had stood up when the prosecutor was called against her; but when he -reached that point in his evidence which mentioned the loss of his -diamonds, she clasped her hand convulsively together, and, trembling -with agitation, sank into the chair from which she had risen. - -When the depositions were taken down, the magistrate said, "Prisoner, -you have heard the very serious charge made against you: have you any -thing to say in your defence?" - -Then she spoke for the first time since she had entered the court; and -though her words were delivered with impassioned emphasis, the melodious -tones of her voice sounded like a silver bell upon the ears of all -present. - -"Sir, I am innocent—I am innocent!" she exclaimed. "Oh! God knows that I -am innocent!" - -The glance she darted from beneath her darkly fringed lids spoke even -more eloquently than her words; and every feature of her fine -countenance seemed to bear testimony to the truth of her declaration. - -"Would you not do well to send for your friends?" asked the magistrate, -in a kind tone. - -These words seemed to touch her most acutely: they summed up as it were -all the painful features of her most distressing position. - -"Oh! my father—my dear, dear father!" she exclaimed, her countenance -expressing so much bitter—bitter anguish, that there was scarcely an -unmoistened eye in the court. - -"Your worship, I do not wish to prosecute this case—I am sorry I have -gone so far," said the diamond-merchant, wiping away the tears from his -cheeks—for he was really a good-natured man. - -"It is not in my power to stay the proceedings," replied Sir Walter -Ferguson. "The evidence is unfortunately strong against the prisoner. -She would do well to send for her friends. Let the case stand over for -half an hour." - -Esther was accordingly conducted into the magistrate's private room, -where she was visited by the female-searcher, who endeavoured to -persuade her, with as much gentleness as she could command, to mention -the residence of her parents. - -"Alas! my mother has long been dead," was the mournful reply; "and my -poor father—oh! it would break his heart were he to know——" - -She checked herself, and fell into a profound reverie—despair expressed -in her countenance. During the remainder of the half hour which -intervened ere she was led back to the office, she replied only in vague -and unsatisfactory, but not self-inculpating, monosyllables to the -questions addressed to her. - -At length the female-searcher gave her an indirect intimation, that her -punishment on trial would be more lenient if she admitted her guilt and -expressed her contrition. - -"What!" she exclaimed, with a recovering sob; "do you really deem me -culpable of this most heinous charge? My God! have the Christians no -mercy—no compassion? Oh! I should not speak thus to you! But I know that -our race is looked upon with suspicion: we are prejudged, because we are -Jews! And yet," she added, in a different and prouder tone, "there are -as noble sentiments—as generous feelings—as estimable qualities amongst -the members of the scattered tribe, as in the hearts of those Christians -who have persecuted our nation for centuries and centuries!" - -The woman, to whom these words were addressed, was astonished at the -enthusiastic manner in which the beautiful Jewess spoke; for there was -something at that moment sublimely interesting—eloquently commanding -about Esther de Medina, as the rich colour glowed more deeply upon her -cheeks, the blue veins dilated on her proud forehead, and the whole -power of her soul seemed thrown into her magnificent eyes. - -It was at this moment that the usher of the court entered to conduct the -Jewess back into the office. - -Once more she stood in the presence of the magistrate,—now no longer -subdued and crushed with terror; but nerved, as it were by conscious -innocence, to meet the accusation brought against her. - -Tom Rain had returned to the court; and, by mingling with the crowd of -spectators, anxiously watched the countenance of Esther de Medina. - -"Prisoner," said the magistrate, "have you anything now to offer in your -defence? Or have you sent to communicate with your friends relative to -the position in which you are placed?" - -"Sir," answered Esther, her soft and musical tones falling like a -delicious harmony upon the ears, "I have but one word to utter in my -defence; and if I did not speak it when I first stood before you, it was -simply because this terrible accusation, bursting so abruptly upon the -head of an innocent person, stupefied me—deprived me of the power of -collecting my ideas. Neither was it until within a moment of my return -into the court that the fact which I am about to state flashed to my -memory. Sir—I was not in London from two o'clock in the afternoon until -half-past ten o'clock at night, on the 31st of October." - -A gentle—a very gentle smile played upon her vermilion lips as she -uttered these words. - -"And it was during the interval which you name that the prosecutor was -visited by the female whom he believes to have robbed him of his -diamonds?" observed the magistrate. - -"I deny having visited the prosecutor at all," answered Esther, in a -firm but respectful tone. "I never sold him a ring—I never sold an -article of jewellery to a living being. Placed by the honest industry of -my father above want," she continued proudly, "I labour not under the -necessity of parting with my jewellery to obtain money." - -At this moment, a fine, tall, handsome young man, of about six and -twenty years of age, entered the court. He was dressed in an elegant but -unassuming manner: his bearing was lofty, without being proud; and his -fine blue eyes indicated a frank and generous disposition. - -Slightly inclining in acknowledgment of the respect with which the crowd -made way for him to pass, he advanced towards the magistrate, who -instantly recognised him as an acquaintance. - -At the same moment, Esther started with surprise, and murmured the name -of Lord Ellingham. - -To the astonishment of all present—Tom Rain, perhaps, excepted,—the -nobleman shook Esther kindly by the hand, saying, "In the name of -heaven, Miss de Medina, what unfortunate—or rather ridiculous mistake -has brought you hither?" - -Sir Walter Ferguson immediately directed the clerk to read over the -depositions. - -"What!" ejaculated Lord Ellingham, who had scarcely been able to -restrain his indignation during the recital of the previous proceedings: -"the daughter of a respectable and wealthy gentleman to be placed in -such a position as this! But in a moment I will make her innocence -apparent. At the very time when this robbery was alleged to have taken -place—at the hour when the female, for whom this young lady has -evidently been mistaken, called upon the prosecutor—Miss de Medina was -not within six miles of Arundel Street." - -These words produced in the court a sensation which was the more lively -because they seemed to corroborate the prisoner's own defence—a defence -which Lord Ellingham had not heard. - -Mr. Gordon, the prosecutor, looked astounded—and yet not altogether -grieved at the prospect of the prisoner's discharge. - -"Mr. de Medina," continued Lord Ellingham, "has only recently arrived in -London, having retired from an extensive commercial business which he -long carried on at Liverpool. He has become my tenant for a house and -small estate situated at a distance of about seven miles from the -metropolis; and on the 31st of October I accompanied him and his -daughter—the lady now present—on a visit to the property thus leased. We -left London in my own carriage at about two o'clock on the day named; -and it was between ten and eleven at night when we returned. During that -interval of several hours Miss de Medina never quitted her father and -myself." - -A murmur of satisfaction arose on the part of the spectators; but it was -almost immediately interrupted by the entrance of an elderly and -venerable-looking man, whose countenance—of that cast which ever -characterises the sons of the scattered tribe—had once been strikingly -handsome. Though not deficient in an expression of generosity, it -nevertheless exhibited great firmness of disposition; and his keen black -eyes denoted a resolute, unbending, and determined soul. He was upwards -of fifty-five years of age, and was plainly, though neatly, dressed. - -Advancing into the body of the court, he cast a rapid glance around. - -"My father!" exclaimed Esther; and springing forward, she threw herself -into her parent's arms. - -He held her tenderly for a few moments: then, gently disengaging himself -from her embrace, he murmured in her ear, "Oh! Esther—Esther, I can -understand it all! You have brought this upon yourself!" - -But these words were heard only by Lord Ellingham, who had advanced to -shake hands with the Jew. - -That reproach appeared for the moment to be singular and altogether -misplaced, as it was impossible that Esther could have perpetrated the -crime imputed to her: but the nobleman had not leisure to reflect upon -it, for Mr. de Medina now perceived him and accepted the outstretched -hand. - -"I was accidentally passing by the court," said the Jew; "and hearing my -own name mentioned by some loungers outside, paused to listen. Their -conversation induced me to make inquiries; and I learnt all the -particulars of this charge." - -"And some unknown friend of Miss de Medina sent me a hasty note -conveying the unpleasant intelligence," answered Lord Ellingham. "But I -believe that I have fully convinced his worship of your daughter's -innocence." - -These last words were uttered in a louder tone than the former part of -the observation, and were evidently addressed to the magistrate. - -"For my part," said Mr. Gordon, "I am perfectly satisfied that there is -a grievous misunderstanding in this matter. Miss de Medina is evidently -unconnected with it; and yet," he added, as his eyes dwelt upon her -countenance, "never was resemblance so striking! However—I am well -pleased to think that Miss de Medina is _not_ the person by whom I was -plundered; and I most sincerely implore her pardon for the -inconvenience—nay, the ignominy to which she has been subjected." - -Esther turned an appealing glance towards her father, as if to remind -him of some duty which he ought to perform, or to convey some silent -prayer which he could well understand: but he affected not to notice -that rapid but profoundly significant glance. - -The magistrate then declared that the young lady was discharged, without -the slightest stain upon her character. - -Hastily drawing down her thick black veil, Esther de Medina bowed -deferentially to the bench; and passed out of the office, leaning on her -father's arm, and accompanied by the Earl of Ellingham. - -Tom Rain followed her with his eyes until the door closed behind her. - -For a few moments he remained wrapped up in a deep reverie: then, -heaving a profound sigh, he also took his departure. - - - - - CHAPTER V. - THE APPEAL OF LOVE. - - -It was about eight o'clock in the evening of the day on which so many -strange incidents occurred at Bow Street, that Lady Hatfield was -reclining in a melancholy mood upon the sofa in the drawing-room of her -splendid mansion. - -She was dressed in black satin, which set off the beauty of her -complexion to the greatest advantage. - -One of her fair hands drooped over the back of the sofa: the other -listlessly held a book, to the perusal of which she had vainly -endeavoured to settle herself. - -There was a mysterious air of mournfulness about her that contrasted -strangely with the elegance of the apartment, the cheerful blaze of the -fire, the brilliant lustre of the lamps, and the general appearance of -wealth and luxury by which she was surrounded. - -That sorrowful expression, too, was the more unaccountable, inasmuch as -the social position of Georgiana Hatfield seemed to be enviable in the -extreme. Beautiful in person, possessing rank and wealth, and free to -follow her own inclinations, she might have shone the star of -fashion—the centre of that human galaxy whose sphere is the West End of -London. - -Oh! bright—gloriously bright are the planets which move in that heaven -of their own:—and yet how useless is their brilliancy! The planets of -God's own sky are made to bestow their light upon the orbs which without -them would revolve in darkness; but the planets of the sphere of -aristocracy and fashion throw not a single ray upon the millions of -inferior stars which are compelled to circle around them! - -To Lady Hatfield the pleasures and dissipation of the West End were -unwelcome; and she seldom entered into society, save when a refusal -would prove an offence. Up to the age of seventeen or eighteen she had -been remarkable for a happy, joyous, and gay disposition: but a sudden -change came over her at that period of her life; and since then her -habits had grown retired—her disposition mournful. - -But let us return to her, as she lay reclining on the sofa in the -drawing-room. - -The robbery of the preceding night and the events of the morning had -evidently produced a powerful impression upon her mind. At times an -expression of acute anguish distorted her fair countenance for a moment; -and once or twice she compressed her lips forcibly, as if to restrain a -burst of mental agony. - -The time-piece upon the mantel had just proclaimed the hour of eight, -when a domestic entered the room and announced the Earl of Ellingham. - -Georgiana started up—assumed a placid expression of countenance—and -advanced to receive the young nobleman, who, as he took her hand, -respectfully pressed it to his lips. - -"Your ladyship will, I hope, pardon me for intruding at this hour," he -said, as he conducted her back to the sofa, and then took a chair at a -short distance; "but I was not aware of your return to town until an -hour ago, when I perused in the evening paper an account of the outrage -of last night and the investigation at Bow Street this morning. How -annoying it must have been to you, my dear Lady Hatfield, to have gone -through the ordeal of a visit to a police-court!" - -"There is something gloomy and dispiriting in the aspect of these -tribunals which the crimes of the human race have rendered necessary," -observed Georgiana. "The countenances of those persons whom I beheld at -the police-office this morning, had all a certain sinister expression -which I cannot define, but which seemed to proclaim that they never -contemplated aught save the dark side of society." - -"The same idea struck me this day," said Lord Ellingham: "for I also -paid a visit to Bow Street—and scarcely an hour, I should conceive, -after you must have left the office. But enough of this subject: the -words _Bow Street_—_Police_—and _Tribunal_ grate painfully upon the ear -even of the innocent,—that is, if they possess hearts capable of -sorrowing for the woes and crimes of their fellow-creatures. Lady -Hatfield," continued the Earl, drawing his chair a little closer, "it -was to converse upon another topic—yes, another and a more tender -topic—that I have hastened to your presence this evening." - -Georgiana was about to reply;—but the words died upon her quivering -lips—and an oppressive feeling kept her silent. - -"Yes, my dear Lady Hatfield," continued the Earl, drawing his chair -still more nigh,—"I can no longer exist in this state of suspense. -During the whole of last winter I was often in your society: you were -kind enough to permit my visits—and it was impossible to be much with -you, and not learn to love you. You departed suddenly for the country -last July: but I dared not follow—for you had not even informed me of -your intended retirement from London at so early a period. Pardon me if -I say I felt hurt,—yes, _hurt_, Lady Hatfield,—because I loved you! And -yet never—during that interval of four months—has your image been absent -from my mind: and now I am again attracted towards you by a spell -stronger than my powers of resistance. Oh! you must long ago have read -my heart, Georgiana:—say, then—_can_ you, _do_ you love me in return?" - -There was something so sincere—so earnest—and yet so manly in the fluent -language of the Earl of Ellingham,—his fine countenance was lighted up -with so animated an expression of hope and love,—and his eyes bore such -complete testimony to the candour of his speech,—that Georgiana must -have been ungenerous indeed had she heard that appeal with coldness. - -Nor was it so; and the Earl read in the depths of her melting blue orbs -a sentiment reciprocal with his own. - -"My lord—Arthur," she murmured, "you ask me if I _can_ love—if I _do_ -love you:—and, oh! you know not the pang which that question excites in -my heart! Yes," she added hastily, seeing that the Earl was astonished -at her words, "I _do_ love you, Arthur—for you are all that is good, -generous, and handsome! But—my God!—how can I force my lips to utter the -sad avowal——" - -"Speak, Georgiana—speak, I conjure you!" exclaimed Lord Ellingham: "you -alarm me! Oh! keep me not in suspense! You say that you love me——" - -"I never loved until I knew you—I shall never love another," answered -Georgiana, fixing her deep, silently expressive, and intellectual eyes -upon the countenance of the Earl. - -"A thousand thanks for that declaration, my heart's sole joy!" he cried -in an impassioned tone; and, falling on his knees by the side of the -sofa, he threw his arms around her—he clasped her to his breast—his lips -pressed hers for the first time. - -But that joy lasted only for a moment. - -With rebounding heart—and with almost a scream of anguish—Georgiana drew -herself back, and abruptly repulsed her ardent lover: then, covering her -face with her hands, she burst into a flood of tears. - -"My God! what signifies this strange conduct?" ejaculated the Earl, as, -with wounded pride, he retreated a few paces from the weeping lady. - -"Forgive me—forgive me, Arthur!" she wildly cried, turning her streaming -eyes towards him in a beseeching manner. "I am unhappy—very unhappy—and -you should pity me!" - -"Pity _you_!" exclaimed the Earl, again approaching the sofa, and taking -her hand, which she did not attempt to withdraw: "how can _you_ be an -object of pity? Beautiful—beloved by one whose life shall be devoted to -ensure the felicity of yours——" - -"Oh! your generous affection, Arthur, gives me more pain than all the -rest!" cried Georgiana, in a rapid—half-hysterical tone. "As a weak -woman, I have dared to love you—as an imprudent one, I have confessed -that love;—but now," she added, in a slower and firmer tone, while her -vermilion lips quivered with a bitter smile,—"now, as a strong woman—as -a woman restored to a sense of duty—do I make the avowal—and my heart is -ready to break as I thus speak——" - -"Good heavens! relieve me from this cruel—this agonizing suspense!" -passionately exclaimed the Earl. - -"I will—I will," returned Lady Hatfield. "Arthur—dearly, fondly, -devotedly as I love you,—proud as I should be to call you my -husband,—happy, happy as I should feel to link my fate with yours,—alas! -it cannot be:—never—never!" she added with a frantic vehemence that -caused every chord to thrill in the heart of her admirer. - -"Georgiana, is this possible?" he asked, in a faint tone, while a deadly -pallor overspread his countenance. - -"Would that it were _not_!" she murmured, clasping her hands together in -visible anguish of soul. - -"And yet it is incomprehensible!" cried the Earl, starting back, and -even manifesting somewhat of impatience. "You are not a foolish girl who -takes delight in trifling with the sincere attachment of an honest man -who adores her:—you are not a heartless coquette, looking upon her -admirer as a slave whom she is justified to torture. No—no: you yourself -possess a generous soul—you have no sympathy with the frivolous portion -of your sex—you are as strong-minded, as sincere as you are beautiful. -Tell me, then, Georgiana—what signifies this strange contradiction? You -love me—you would be happy and proud to become mine;—and yet—my God!—and -yet you the next moment annihilate every hope in my breast!" - -"Alas! how unpardonable must my conduct seem—how inexplicable my -behaviour!" exclaimed Lady Hatfield, in a tone of despair. "I am not -indeed a heartless coquette—nor a weak frivolous girl:—in the sincerity -of my heart do I speak, Arthur;—and if you be generous you will forgive -me—but I never can be thine!" - -"Then you love another!" cried the Earl, impatiently. - -"Have I not solemnly assured you that I never loved till I knew you—and -shall never, never love again!" she added, with a convulsive sob, as if -her heart were breaking. - -"But perhaps you were betrothed to another in your youth:—peradventure -that _other_ has some sacred pledge—some irrevocable bond——" - -"No—no: I am my own mistress—none can control me!" interrupted -Georgiana, her nervous state of excitement growing each moment more -painful. - -"And your uncle—your friends—your advisers?" said the Earl,—"it is -possible that _they_ have become acquainted with my attachment towards -you—that _they_ have some motive to counsel you against my suit?" - -"On the contrary——But, my God! do not question me thus!" almost shrieked -the unhappy lady. "I shall go mad—I shall go mad!" - -"Oh! there is some dreadful mystery in all this!" cried the Earl; "and I -too shall go mad if it be not explained! Merciful heavens! a terrible -suspicion flashes across my mind. And yet—no—no, it cannot be,—for you -declare that you never loved another! Still—still, what motive, save -_that_, can render you thus resolute not to become mine? Georgiana," he -said, sinking his voice to a low tone, and speaking with a solemn -seriousness which had something even awful in its effect,—"Georgiana, I -conjure you to answer me,—_me_, who am your devoted lover and your -sincerest friend,—as you would reply to your God! Say—if in your giddy -and inexperienced girlhood—ignorant through extreme innocence of the -snare spread for you—and in a moment of weakness—you——" - -"Just heavens! that you should suppose me criminal—guilty!" shrieked -Georgiana, covering her face with her hands. - -"Pardon—pardon!" cried the Earl, again falling on his knees at the feet -of her whom he adored; and, forcibly possessing himself of one of her -hands, he conveyed it to his lips. "Pardon me for the outrageous idea -that I dared to express—forgive the insulting suspicion which for a -moment occupied my mind! Alas! alas! that I should have provoked the -look of indignation which you ere now cast upon me, when I withdrew your -hand from before your eyes! But, ah—now you smile—and I am forgiven!" - -Georgiana _did_ smile—but in a manner so plaintively melancholy, that, -although it implied forgiveness for the injurious suspicion, it still -conveyed no hope! - -There was a long and mournful pause. - -The Earl of Ellingham burned to penetrate the deep mystery in which the -conduct of Lady Hatfield was shrouded; and yet he knew not what other -hypothesis to suggest. - -He had no rival in her affections—her friends offered no objection to -his suit—she was under no pledge to bestow her hand upon any particular -individual—and the evanescent suspicion that she might have once been -frail and was too honourable to bring a polluted person to the -marriage-bed, had been banished beyond the possibility of return:—what, -then, could influence her conduct? - -He knew not how to elicit the truth; and yet his happiness was too -deeply interested to permit him to depart in uncertainty and suspense. - -"Georgiana," he said, at length, and speaking in a tone which showed how -profoundly his feelings were excited,—"I appeal to your sense of justice -whether you have acted candidly and generously in respect to me? -Throughout the whole of last winter you permitted my visits—I will not -say encouraged them, because you have too much delicacy to have done -that. But you were never denied to me; and you gave me not to understand -that my calls were unwelcome, when they began to exceed the usual limits -of mere friendly visits. At length my attentions became marked towards -you,—and you must have read my feelings in my manner—my language—and my -attentions. Alas! why did you permit me to encourage the blossoming of -hopes which are now so cruelly blighted by the unaccountable decision -that you have uttered to-day?" - -"Oh! do not reproach me, Arthur!" exclaimed Georgiana: "and yet I know -that I have acted imprudently. But it was so sweet to be beloved by you, -that I had not courage to destroy the charming vision! At length I took -a decided step—or at least what seemed to me to be so: I departed -suddenly to my uncle's country-seat, without previously intimating my -resolution to you. And remember—no avowal of affection on your part had -then met my ears; and it was impossible that I could have acquainted you -with my proposed departure, even if I had wished so to do—because I did -not _see_ you on the day when I determined to quit London: and had I -_written_ to you then, would you not have thought that my note conveyed -a hint for you to follow me?" - -"Fool—idiot that I was not to have declared my passion months and months -ago!" ejaculated the Earl. "But say, Georgiana—had I solicited your hand -last summer, ere you left London, would those reasons which influence -you now——" - -"Yes—they were in existence then," was the hasty reply. - -"And am I to remain in ignorance of the motives which compel you to -refuse my suit?" asked Lord Ellingham bitterly. "Is there no chance of -their influence ceasing? Oh! give me but a glimpse of hope, and so -powerful is my attachment—so devoted my love——" - -"Merciful heavens!" exclaimed Georgiana wildly,—"am I then to lose such -a man as this?" - -And again she clasped her hands convulsively together. - -"Oh! you love me—you _do_ love me, my angel," cried the Earl; "and yet -you refuse me! What stern fate—what terrible destiny can possibly -separate us! This mystery is appalling!" - -"And a mystery it must remain," said Georgiana, suddenly assuming that -quiet and passive manner which indicated despair. - -"Then farewell, Lady Hatfield," exclaimed the Earl; "and be not -surprised if I must attribute the disappointment—the anguish—the deep -humiliation which I now experience, to some inexplicable caprice of the -female mind. But, madam," he added, drawing himself up haughtily, and -speaking in a tone of offended pride, "the Earl of Ellingham, whose -wealth and rank may enable him to vie with the mightiest peers of -England, will not be made the sport of the whims and wavering fancies of -even the beautiful Lady Hatfield." - -Thus speaking, the nobleman bowed coldly, and advanced towards the door. - -"Oh! this is cruel—this is cruel!" cried Georgiana, throwing herself -hysterically back upon the sofa. - -"No, madam—it is you who are cruel to reject the honourable suit of one -like me without deigning to vouchsafe an explanation," said the Earl, -persisting in his severity of tone and manner against the promptings of -his generous nature, but with the hope of eliciting a satisfactory -reply. - -"Then go, my lord—depart—leave me!" cried Georgiana; "for I never can be -yours!" - -The Earl lingered for a moment: convulsive sobs broke from the lips of -the unhappy Lady Hatfield—but not a word to invite him to remain! - -His pride would not permit him to offer farther entreaty;—and, suffering -cruelly at heart, he rushed from the room. - -In less than a minute Georgiana heard the street-door close; and then, -burying her face in the cushion of the sofa, she gave way unrestrainedly -to all the violence of her grief. - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - DR. LASCELLES. - - -The interview between Lady Hatfield and the Earl of Ellingham was as -long as it was painful: and ten o'clock struck by the thousand churches -of London, as the nobleman quitted the mansion. - -There was such a fierce struggle in his breast between wounded pride and -fervent affection, that his sorrow for the blighted hope of the latter -was rendered less acute by being united with the indignation inspired by -the former. - -In spite of his generous nature, he could not help thinking that he had -been trifled with to some extent; for it naturally seemed preposterous -that Georgiana should refuse him without a candid explanation of the -motives, and when every earthly circumstance appeared favourable to -their union. - -Then, again, he pondered upon the wildness of her grief—the delirious -anguish which she had shown at several stages of their interview—her -solemn avowal of love for him alone—and her voluntary assurance that she -should be happy and proud to call him her husband. He moreover reflected -upon the steadiness of her character—her aversion to the frivolities of -the fashionable world—her apparent candour of disposition—and her total -want of any thing approaching to coquetry;—and he endeavoured to -persuade himself that he had acted harshly by leaving her in anger. - -"Yet what alternative had I?" he asked himself; "and would not any other -man have in the same way cut short an interview of so mysterious and -unsatisfactory—so perplexing and humiliating a nature?" - -Alas! the Earl of Ellingham found himself the very next minute dwelling -with an aching and compassionate heart upon the agonised state in which -he had left the being whom he so tenderly loved:—he thought of her -fascinating beauty—her bewitching manners—her well-cultivated mind—her -amiable disposition;—and then he said within himself, "Oh! if I have -indeed lost _her_, I have lost an angel!" - -He had reached the immediate vicinity of Hatchett's Hotel, when he -turned back with the resolution of seeking another interview with -Georgiana. - -But scarcely had he retraced ten steps of the way, ere he stopped short, -and asked himself what advantage could be gained by such a proceeding? - -"The decision is given," he reasoned: "she can never—_never_ be mine! -Wherefore should I renew _her_ grief and _my_ humiliation—evoke fresh -tears from _her_ eyes, and add sharpness to the sting of _my_ -disappointment? No: it may not be! Some terrible mystery shrouds her -conduct from my penetration;—but shall I, who am defeated in -love, give way to a base sentiment of curiosity? It would be -unmanly—ignoble—cowardly to attempt to extort her secret from _her_,—for -a profound secret she doubtless cherishes—a secret which has this -evening influenced her conduct! And perhaps," he thought, following the -natural channel of his meditations, "that secret is of a nature which a -modest woman could not reveal to one of the opposite sex?" - -This idea, suddenly flashing across his brain, suggested a proceeding -which, after a few minutes of profound reflection, he determined to -adopt. - -Passing rapidly up Dover Street, Lord Ellingham entered Grafton Street, -where he knocked at a door on which was a brass-plate engraved with the -name of DR. LASCELLES. - -The physician was at home; and the nobleman was immediately ushered into -a parlour, where he was shortly joined by the individual whom he sought. - -Dr. Lascelles was a short, thin, sallow-faced man of about fifty. He had -small, restless, sparkling eyes, a prim mouth, and an intelligent though -by no means prepossessing countenance. He was devoted to the art which -he practised, and was reputed the most scientific man of the whole -faculty. His anatomical researches had been prosecuted with an energy -and a perseverance which afforded occupation to half the -resurrection-men in London, and more than once to the doctor's own -personal danger in respect to the law. It was whispered in well-informed -circles that he never hesitated to encounter any peril in order to -possess himself of the corpse of a person who died of an unusual malady. -His devotion to anatomy had materially blunted his feelings and deadened -the kinder sympathies of his nature; but his immense talents, added to a -reputation acquired by several wonderful cures, rendered him the most -fashionable physician of the day. - -Such was the medical gentleman whom Lord Ellingham called to consult. - -"Excuse this late visit, doctor," said the Earl; "but I knew that I -might take the liberty of intruding upon you." - -"The words _early_ and _late_ are not in my vocabulary, so far as they -regard myself," was the reply. "My hours are at the disposal of my -patrons, amongst whom I have the honour to include your lordship." - -"Then, without farther apology, I shall proceed to state the object of -my visit," said the nobleman. - -"Give me your hand—you look dejected—you are very pale—your pulse——" - -"It is not concerning myself altogether that I have to speak," -interrupted the Earl, withdrawing the hand which the doctor had seized: -"I wish to consult you upon a subject intimately affecting my -happiness." - -The physician looked surprised, and drew his chair closer to that in -which the Earl was seated. - -"To tell you the truth," continued Arthur, "I am deeply enamoured of a -lady whose social position, beauty, fortune, and intellect render her in -every way worthy to become my wife." - -"Well—why don't you propose to her?" demanded the physician drily. - -"I have—and am rejected," was the answer, accompanied by a profound -sigh. - -"The devil!" said the physician. "But what can I do for you in the -matter? Surely your lordship does not believe in philtres and -love-draughts?" - -"Ridiculous!" cried the Earl impatiently. "If you will grant me a few -moments, I will explain myself." - -Dr. Lascelles folded his arms, threw himself back in the chair, and -prepared to listen to his young friend's narrative. - -"The lady to whom I am attached," continued the Earl, "is, as I ere now -informed you, in every way worthy of an alliance with me; and she is -moreover deeply attached to me. She has never loved another, and -declares that she never can. No apparent circumstances interfere with -our union; and she has done me the honour to assure me that she should -be alike proud and happy to own me as her husband. She is entirely her -own mistress; and, even if she were not, her friends would present no -barrier to our marriage. Yet she refuses me—and for some mysterious -cause which she will not explain. I have just left her,—left her in a -state of anguish such as I never before witnessed—such as I hope never -to behold again!" - -[Illustration] - -"Perhaps she has been guilty of some weakness which she is afraid you -would discover?" suggested Dr. Lascelles. - -"Oh! no—no," exclaimed Arthur, enthusiastically: "in an unguarded -moment—carried away by a hasty suspicion of the kind—I hinted at that -possibility,—and I soon repented of my rashness! The lady's countenance -flushed with a glow of honest indignation; and, instantly veiling her -blushes with her hand, she burst into tears. I could pledge my -existence, doctor, that she is purity itself." - -"But wherefore do you consult me in the matter?" asked Lascelles. - -"You must admit, doctor," answered Ellingham, "that my position is a -singular one in reference to the lady of whom I speak. What am I to -conjecture? Suspense is terrible; and yet, not for worlds would I again -attempt to extort her secret from her." - -"The motive may be a physical one," said the doctor. - -"That was the idea which ere now struck me, and which has brought me -hither to consult you!" exclaimed the Earl. - -"She may be the prey to some insidious disease which impairs not her -exterior aspect at present," continued Doctor Lascelles; "say, for -instance, a cancer in the breast. Or again, her motive may be a moral -one; inasmuch as she may be aware, from some secret warnings, that she -is in danger of suffering an aberration of reason." - -"And if the lady were a patient of your own, doctor," asked the Earl, -"should you be enabled to judge whether she were menaced by that -dreadful mental malady to which you have alluded?" - -"Decidedly so," replied the physician. - -The Earl rose from his seat, and walked two or three times up and down -the apartment. - -Dr. Lascelles followed him with his eyes; and as he surveyed the strong, -well-knit, but slender and graceful form of the young nobleman, the -votary of science could not help thinking what a splendid skeleton he -would make. - -At length the Earl stopped abruptly opposite the doctor, and said in an -impressive tone, "You will never reveal the particulars of this -interview?" - -"It is scarcely probable," returned Lascelles, with a smile. - -"But you promise me—you pledge your word never to breathe a syllable -which may betray the motive of my present visit or the topic of our -conversation?" persisted the Earl. - -"Never," exclaimed the physician. - -"Then listen," said the Earl, sinking his voice almost to a -whisper;—"the lady of whom I have spoken, is——" - -"Lady Hatfield," observed Lascelles. - -"What! you have guessed——" - -"Simply because every one said last winter that you were dying for her," -interrupted the doctor coolly; "and therefore I presume you have availed -yourself of her ladyship's return to town to place your coronet at her -feet." - -"Yes—I do allude to Georgiana, whose professional attendant you are," -cried the Earl. "And believe me when I solemnly declare that no -sentiment of impertinent curiosity——" - -"Never mind the motives," said the doctor: "let us keep to the facts. I -have known Lady Hatfield for upwards of five years; and I can positively -assure your lordship that there is not the slightest cause, physical or -moral, with which I am acquainted, that can influence her conduct -towards you." - -"Then, what can this mystery be?" exclaimed Arthur, more perplexed than -ever. "My God! must I again fall back upon the hypothesis of a woman's -idle caprice—the theory of her unaccountable whims? Is she the victim of -an idiosyncracy which she cannot control? and must I be made its sport?" - -"Throughout the sphere of my extensive practice," observed Dr. -Lascelles, "I know not a woman less likely to be swayed by idle caprice -or unaccountable whims than Lady Hatfield. Her mind is strong—her -intellect bright and uncharacterised by the slightest eccentricity. I -have, however, frequently observed that her ladyship is the prey to a -secret melancholy—that she has her dark moments, as one may denominate -them; but at those times the vigour of her soul is not subdued to a -degree that would produce so strange a result as a decision affecting -her own happiness. You say she loves you——" - -"I have not a doubt of the sincerity of her attachment!" cried the Earl -emphatically. - -"And yet she will not marry you?" said the doctor. "I cannot comprehend -it." - -"Nor I," observed Arthur, with exceeding bitterness of tone. "My -happiness is at stake. What can I do? Had she explained the motive of -her refusal, and were that motive a strong one,—did it reveal some cause -which would render our union infelicitous,—I might have borne up against -this cruel—cruel disappointment. My love for her would then have been -converted, by admiration of her generous candour, into a permanent -friendship; and we might henceforth have met as brother and sister. But -how can I ever visit her again? how can I meet her? Beautiful and -amiable as she is, I adore her;—and yet I dare not in future trust -myself in her presence! No:—I must crush this love in my heart—stifle -it—subdue it altogether! Oh! fool that I am to talk thus;—as if it were -practicable to forget her—as if it were possible to cease to worship -her! Ere now, as I walked through the streets, I endeavoured to blunt -the keenness of my affection by placing it in contact with the amount of -wrong which I deemed myself to have experienced at her hands. But, -unjustly perhaps as she has treated me—humiliated as I felt and still -feel myself to be—chagrined—disappointed—rejected without -explanation,—oh! all these injuries are absorbed in the immensity of the -love which I bear her!" - -And in a state of extraordinary excitement, Arthur paced the room with -agitated steps. - -The doctor sate musing upon his chair. He had ever been too much devoted -to scientific pursuits to afford leisure for the delights of love; and -though he was married, he had entered the connubial state only through -motives of self-interest. Well aware that ladies prefer a medical -attendant whose propriety of conduct is—or at least appears to -be—guaranteed by marriage, he had one day cast his mental eyes around -the circle of his acquaintance; and his glances were at length fixed -upon a wealthy widow who was one of his patients. Jumping into his cab, -he called upon her, and, in order not to waste time, proposed while he -felt her pulse: she simpered an assent—and, as she could not name the -day, he did it for her while he wrote out a prescription. Then he -pocketed her guinea all the same—not through meanness, but from the -regularity of professional habit; and had she offered him a fee as an -acknowledgment for his loss of time on the morning when they issued from -the church, he would also have taken it. This union was sterile; but the -doctor found that he had obtained an excellent wife, who kept his house -in good order—did the honours of his table to admiration—and never -interrupted him when he was engaged in his study. - -We have only introduced this little episode in the life of Dr. -Lascelles, just to convince our readers that he was not at all the man -to comprehend the vehemence of Lord Ellingham's love. Thus, while the -nobleman was pacing the apartment in the manner described above, and -declaiming in reference to his passion, the physician was meditating -profoundly upon the conduct of Lady Hatfield in refusing so excellent a -match. His mind, habituated to connect every thing as much as possible -with the special sphere of science wherein he moved, soon lost itself in -a field of conjecture as to whether there might not be some physical -cause, carefully concealed even from himself, which would elucidate the -mystery. The result of his meditations was not at all satisfactory to -himself; but he resolved that he would not allow the matter to remain -just where it was. - -This determination he did not, however, communicate to Lord Ellingham, -who took his leave more bewildered than ever as to the motive which -could have possibly induced Lady Hatfield to assure him of her love and -yet refuse him her hand. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - THE BEAUTIFUL PATIENT. - - -Ten minutes had scarcely elapsed since Lord Ellingham took his departure -from the doctor's abode, and the learned gentleman himself was still -pondering on the strange communication which had been made to him, when -a loud and hasty knock at the front-door echoed through the house. - -A servant answered the summons, and in a few moments ushered Tom Rain -into the presence of Dr. Lascelles. - -"Sir," said the visitor, who was painfully excited, "a female—a young -woman in whom I am deeply interested—has taken poison. Come with me this -instant, I implore you." - -Dr. Lascelles snatched up his hat, and followed Rainford without pausing -to ask a single question. A hackney-coach was waiting at the door: the -two individuals leapt in; and the vehicle drove rapidly away. - -The doctor now thought it expedient to make a few inquiries relative to -the case which was about to engage his attention. - -"What poison has the young woman taken?" he asked. - -"Arsenic," was the reply: "for I found the paper which had contained -it." - -"And how long ago?" - -"Ten minutes before I knocked at your door." - -"Has there been any vomiting?" - -"I did not delay a single moment in hastening to fetch you, after the -unhappy creature took the poison; and therefore I am unable to answer -that question." - -The physician remained silent; and in a few minutes the coach stopped at -a house in South Moulton Street. - -The door was opened by a servant-girl; and Rainford led the physician to -a bed-room on the second floor, whither the servant-girl followed them. - -By the light of a candle placed upon a chest of drawers, Dr. Lascelles -beheld a young female of great beauty, and with no other garment on than -her night-dress, writhing in excruciating agonies upon the bed. From the -reply given by the servant-girl to a question put by the doctor, it -appeared that the young lady had been seized with violent vomiting the -moment after Tom Rain had left to procure medical aid; and Lascelles -accordingly proceeded to adopt the usual treatment which is pursued in -such cases.[1] - -In the course of half an hour the patient was pronounced to be out of -danger; and Tom Rain, who had in the meantime manifested the utmost -anxiety and uneasiness, now exhibited a proportionate liveliness of joy. - -"Shall I recover, sir! Oh! tell me—shall I recover?" asked the young -woman in a strange, thrilling, piteous tone, as she fixed her large dark -eyes upon the countenance of the physician. - -"You are in a fair way to survive this mad—this wicked attempt upon your -life," answered Lascelles, in a compassionately reproachful rather than -a severe tone. "But you must be kept quiet—and all sources of mental -irritation must be removed or forgotten as much as possible," he added, -glancing towards Rainford. - -"Oh! sir—do not imagine for a moment that _he_ will upbraid or ill-treat -me!" exclaimed the young woman, darting a fond look towards Tom Rain: -then, drawing a long and heavy respiration, she said in a different and -more subdued tone, "In justice to _him_, doctor, I must assure you that -no harshness on _his_ part urged me to this shocking deed: but——" - -"Yes, my dearest girl," interrupted Rain, rushing to the bed, and taking -one of her hands which he pressed fondly to his lips, "I _did_ upbraid -you—I _did_ speak severely to you——" - -"No—no—not more than I deserved!" cried the young woman: "for I was very -wrong—oh! I was very wrong! But say, Tom, can you forgive me?" - -"He does forgive you—he has forgiven you," exclaimed the physician. "And -now abandon that subject, which is naturally a painful one. To-morrow -morning I shall call and see you early." - -Dr. Lascelles took up his hat to depart, and Rainford followed him into -the passage, where he said in a low but earnest tone, "One word, sir, in -private! Please to step into this room." - -And he conducted the physician into a front apartment, the door of which -he carefully closed. - -"In the first place, sir," began Rainford when they were thus alone -together, "allow me to thank you for your prompt and effectual aid in -this most painful affair;"—and he slipped five guineas into the doctor's -hand. "Secondly, let me implore of you to grant the favour which I am -about to ask." - -"Speak, sir," said Lascelles; "and if your request be not inconsistent -with my honour as a physician and as a gentleman——" - -"Far from it!" exclaimed Rainford. "It is this:—Promise me, on your -solemn word of honour, _as a physician and as a gentleman_, that, when -once your professional visits here have ceased, you will forget that you -ever beheld that young woman who is lying in the next room. Promise me, -I say, in the most binding manner, that should you ever henceforth meet -her, alone or in company, you will not even appear to recognise her, -much less attempt to speak to her, unless you be formally introduced to -her, when you will consider your acquaintance with her to begin only -from the moment of such introduction. Promise me all this, sir, I -implore you—for you know not what vitally important interests may be -compromised by your conduct in this matter." - -"I have not the slightest objection to tranquillise your mind by giving -the pledge which you demand," returned Dr. Lascelles, without a moment's -hesitation. - -"A thousand thanks, sir!" cried Rainford joyfully. "You fully understand -the precise nature of the reserve and silence which I require?" - -"Never to allude in any way to the incident of this night, nor to appear -to recognise elsewhere nor henceforth the young lady whom I have just -seen," said the doctor. "You may rely upon me: the secret shall never -transpire from my lips." - -"Again I express my gratitude," cried Rainford, with undisguised -satisfaction. - -Dr. Lascelles then took his leave; and, as he retraced his way to -Grafton Street, he never once ceased to think of the strange promise -which he had been required to give in respect to the beautiful creature -who had made so resolute an attempt upon her own existence. - -On the following morning, shortly after eight o'clock, the physician's -cab stopped at the door of the house in South Moulton Street; but, to -his surprise, he learnt from the landlady that Mr. and Mrs. Jameson (by -which names Rainford and the young woman had been known at their -lodgings) had taken their departure at seven o'clock, before it was even -light. - -"Had they resided long with you?" inquired the doctor. - -"Only a week, sir," was the answer. "The lady kept herself very quiet, -and seldom went out. When she did, she always had a thick black veil -over her face; and, you may think it strange, sir—but it's true for all -that—which is, sir, that I never once caught a glimpse of her -countenance all the time she was in this house. But the servant-gal says -she was very beautiful—very beautiful indeed! _You_ must, however, be -able to judge whether that report is true or not, sir?" - -"I know little, and think less of those matters, my good woman," said -the doctor hastily; and, returning to his cab, he drove off to visit -another patient. - ------ - -Footnote 1: - - The first great object which we must keep in view, is to promote the - speedy evacuation of the stomach: if the poison itself has not - produced vomiting, from ten to twenty grains of sulphate of zinc must - be given if it can be readily procured; this generally acts as a - powerful emetic. If this, however, cannot be obtained, a mustard - emetic should be administered, and the vomiting promoted by drinking - large quantities of barley water, linseed tea, milk or tepid water: - the two first being of a mucilaginous nature are to be preferred; - tickling the back of the throat with a feather will often cause the - stomach to reject its contents. It frequently happens that this - treatment alone is sufficient for relief in accidents of this nature. - After the stomach has been cleansed by the emetic, &c., as described - above, lime-water, or chalk diffused in water, if it can be procured, - may be given in large quantities. Hahnemann has recommended soap to be - dissolved in water, in the proportion of a pound to four pints, and a - tea-cupful to be given every five or six minutes; this undoubtedly is - the best treatment if lime-water is not at hand. Powdered charcoal may - also be administered with advantage if the other remedies are not - immediately attainable. The above remedies may be used with some - degree of confidence, although their good effects are not sufficiently - certain to establish them as "antidotes."—_Ready Remedies in Cases of - Poisoning, &c. By James Johnson, M.R.C.S._ - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - SEVEN DIALS. - - -There is not in all London a more extraordinary locality than that which -bears the denomination of Seven Dials. - -Situate in the midst of one of the lowest and worst neighbourhoods -throughout the metropolis, and forming a focus where seven streets, -converging towards that point, meet like as many streams flowing into a -common reservoir, the open spot of ground called Seven Dials is a lounge -for all the idle vagabonds and ill-looking persons, men and women, who -occupy the cellars and garrets in the vicinity. - -From the centre of the open space alluded to, the eyes may plunge their -glances down into the circumjacent thoroughfares—narrow, dark, filthy, -and formed by dwellings of an appearance so miserable or so repulsive -that they equally pain the heart and shock the sight. - -If the wanderer amidst the mazes of this vast city were desired to point -out the chosen abode of poverty and crime, taking as his guide the -physical aspect of all the worst neighbourhoods, he would probably -indicate Seven Dials and its branching streets. - -The shops are all of the lowest and dirtiest description; nauseous -odours impregnate the atmosphere. In winter the streets are knee-deep in -mud, save when hardened by the frost; and in summer they are strewed -with the putrefying remnants of vegetables, offal, and filth of every -description. - -Half-naked children paddle about in the mire or wallow on the heaps of -decomposing substances just alluded to,—greedily devouring the parings -of turnips and carrots, sucking the marrow out of the rotting bones, and -rejoicing when they happen to find a mouldy crust, a morsel of putrid -meat, or the maggot-eaten head of a fish. Neglected beings, too, are -they—knowing nothing save blows, curses, and hunger at home, and -learning naught save every corrupt habit and ruinous vice abroad. - -How can we be surprised if such an infancy becomes imbued with those -evil principles which gaols and treadmills only tend afterwards to -confirm, and which give ample promise of occupation for turnkeys, -penal-settlements, and the hangman? - -The Established Church is maintained at an annual expense of several -millions sterling; the clergy belonging to that Church claim the right -of educating and instructing the people;—and yet in no country in the -civilised world is there such an appalling amount of juvenile depravity -as in England! - -For ourselves, we declare—we repeat that our Government, our -Legislature, our Clergy, and our Great Landowners are all guilty of the -blackest turpitude in permitting hundreds of thousands—aye, millions of -children to be neglected in so horrible a manner. If a child be seized -with a malignant, infectious, and dangerous disease, what would be said -of the father who looked on indifferently—who omitted to call in medical -advice—and who beheld, with equal calmness, the furious malady spreading -amongst the rest of his offspring! Should we not denounce—should we not -execrate such a man as a monster deserving of any penalty which our -statutes could inflict? - -_Yes_—a thousand times _yes_! - -By a parity of reasoning, then, do we hold up to abhorrence those men -who seize upon the reins of power merely to gratify their own selfish -ambition; also those men who accept seats in the legislative assemblies, -and fritter away the time of a great nation in their own -party-squabbles,—those men, too, who put on black gowns, preach sermons -as a duty rendered in return for the enjoyment of enormous revenues, and -then declaim against the wickedness of those millions whom they do not -attempt to reform,—and, lastly, those men who wring the sweat from the -poor man's brow to distil pearls for themselves, but who care not for -the welfare of that poor man's offspring! - -Hundreds of thousands of pounds are annually subscribed to further the -objects of foreign missions, the scene of whose labours is in far-off -lands scarcely known to us by name, and amongst a race with whom our -sympathies cannot exist;—but beneath our very eyes—crossing our -paths—constantly displaying their loathsome rags to our view, are small -children innumerable, whose only training is for the prison, the hulks, -and the gallows! - -Talk not to us of christianizing Barbarians in the remote islands of the -South Seas, when the children of so many of our own fellow-countrymen -and country-women are but barbarous Christians at home! - -Let the reader who imagines that we exaggerate the amount of the evil we -denounce,—let him take his stand, any evening, in the midst of Seven -Dials, and well consider the scenes around him. - -It is said that there are Seven Cardinal Sins: at the point where we -would wish our sceptical reader to post himself, he may command a view -of seven streets, each one presenting to his contemplation some new -phase in the common sphere of hideous poverty and terrible -demoralisation. - -Mark the population of that neighbourhood, consisting of seven principal -streets, with all their connecting lanes and alleys—with their dark, -filthy courts, and their murderous-looking nooks and passages! - -Of what does this population consist? - -Men brutalised by drink, or rendered desperate by poverty, and in either -state ready to commit a crime,—women of squalid, wasted, and miserable -appearance, who, being beaten by their husbands and fathers, revenge -themselves upon their children or their little brothers and -sisters,—poor shopkeepers who endeavour to make up for the penury of -their petty dealings by cheating their famished customers,—wretched boys -and girls whose growth is stunted by suffering, whose forms are -attenuated through want, and whose minds are poisoned by the scenes of -vice, dissipation, and immorality which open upon them at their very -birth! - -What hope—what promise for the future do such beings as these hold out? - -In consternation and sorrow, mingled with the most awful misgivings, do -we survey the picture which we are now compelled to draw;—and our -feelings are thus painful because we know this picture to be correct! - -And yet we call our country "MERRY ENGLAND!" - -Merciful Heavens! what a mockery is this name! Can England be merry -while the most hideous poverty is the lot of half her population; while -her workhouses are crowded with miserable beings who must for ever -resign all hope or idea of again enjoying the comforts of "home;" while -the streets are filled with loathsome wretches, clad in filthy rags, -which barely cover them,—shivering with the cold, or fainting beneath -the intolerable heat—and spurned from the doors not only of the rich, -but also of the very officers appointed to relieve distress; while the -poor mother, maddened with the idea of her own destitution and houseless -condition, presses her famishing child to her breast which yields no -milk, and then rushes in desperation to consign the innocent being to -the waters of the nearest stream; while the wretched father stifles his -children that he may hush for ever in their throats the cry of "Bread! -bread!"—that vain and useless cry to which he cannot respond; while -innocent babes and prattling infants bear upon their countenances and -exhibit in their attenuated frames all the traces of the dread and -agonising pangs of a constant gnawing—craving—never satisfied hunger; -and while hundreds annually _die_ around us of starvation and absolute -want? - -Merry England, indeed! What? is England joyous when the shop of the -pawnbroker thrives royally upon the immense interest wrung from the very -vitals of the poor; when the gaols, the hospitals, and the workhouses -are more numerous than the churches; when the hulks are swarming with -convicts pent up in frightful floating dungeons, amidst a fœtid -atmosphere; when the streets throng with unfortunate girls who ask to be -redeemed from an appalling traffic, but who see no avenue of escape from -their loathsome calling; when the voice of starvation, the voice of -crime, the voice of discontent, and the voice of barbarian ignorance -echo up to Heaven, and form such a chorus as could scarcely be expected -to meet the ears beyond the precincts of hell; and when seven-tenths of -the entire population are wretched—oppressed—enslaved—trampled -on—miserable—degraded—demoralised! - -Merry England!!! - -But let us continue the thread of our narrative. - -Two of the thoroughfares which converge to Seven Dials, bear each the -name of Earl Street. - -Passing from High Street, St. Giles's, towards St. Martin's Lane, we -must request the reader to turn with us to the right into that Earl -Street which lies between the Dials and one extremity of Monmouth -Street. - -Half way up Earl Street stood a house of even a darker and more gloomy -appearance than its companions. Its door-way was lower than the level of -the street, and was reached by descending three steps. The windows were -small; and, as many of the panes were broken, the holes were mended with -pieces of dirty paper, or stopped up with old rags. Altogether, there -was something so poverty-stricken, and yet so sinister, about the -appearance of that tottering, dingy, repulsive-looking dwelling, that no -one possessing an article of jewellery about his person, or having gold -in his pocket, would have chosen to venture amongst its inmates. - -And who were those inmates? The neighbours scarcely knew. Certain it -was, however, that over the rickety door of the house were painted the -words—TOBIAS BUNCE, TAILOR; but few were the jobs which Mr. Bunce ever -obtained from the inhabitants in the vicinity; for his manners were too -reserved—too repulsive to gain favour with the class of persons who -might have patronised him. And yet there appeared to be no signs of -absolute poverty in that dwelling. Mrs. Bunce was one of the adjacent -butcher's best customers: a public-house in the Dials was known to be -regularly visited by her for the beer at dinner and supper times; and -pints of gin were occasionally purchased by the same mysterious customer -at the same establishment. She was as averse to gossiping as her -husband; and her neighbours declared that they could not make her out at -all. She always paid ready money for every thing she had; and therefore -the tradespeople were the stanch defenders of the Bunces whenever a word -of suspicion was uttered against them. - -Who, then, were these Bunces? - -Let us step inside their dwelling, and see if we can ascertain. - -It was about eight o'clock in the evening, a few days after the -incidents related in the preceding chapters, that Toby Bunce, his wife, -Old Death, and the lad Jacob sate down to tea in the ground-floor back -room of the house which we have been describing. - -Toby Bunce was a short, thin, pale-faced, sneaking-looking man of about -forty. He was dressed in a suit of very shabby black; and his linen was -not remarkable for cleanliness. His coarse brown hair was suffered to -grow to a considerable length; and, as he seldom treated it to an -acquaintance with the comb, it hung in matted curls over his shoulders. -His nails were equally neglected, and resembled claws terminating with -blackened points. - -His better-half—as Mrs. Bunce indeed was, not only figuratively, but -also literally—was a tall, thin, scraggy, lantern-faced woman, with a -sharp green eye, a vixenish pug-nose, and a querulous voice; for -although she was excessively reserved when she went out "to do her -marketing," she made up for that silence abroad by an extra amount of -garrulity at home. Her age exceeded by a year or two that of her -husband, and, as she was totally devoid of that sentiment which is so -generally ascribed to the sex—we mean vanity—she did not scruple to -acknowledge the above fact. Indeed, she often advanced it as an argument -to prove that she must know better than he, and as a reason for her -assertion and maintenance of petticoat government. But if vanity were -not her failing, avarice was her ruling vice; and to gratify her love -for gold she never hesitated at a crime. - -In this latter respect Mr. Bunce was no better than his spouse—save that -his anxiety to obtain money was not always equalled by his readiness to -face the danger occasionally involved in procuring it. Any act of -turpitude that might be accomplished safely and quietly would find no -moral opponent in the person of Toby Bunce; but when some little daring -or display of firmness was required, he was forced to supply himself -with an artificial energy through the medium of the gin-bottle. - -The room to which we have introduced our readers was furnished with bare -necessaries, and nothing more. A rickety, greasy deal-table; four or -five of the commonest description of rush-bottomed chairs; a long form -to accommodate extra company; an old portable cupboard, fitting into one -of the angles of the apartment; and a shelf to serve as a larder,—these -were the principal articles of the domestic economy. The table was -spread with a varied assortment of crockery, none of the cups matching -with the saucers, and no two cups or no two saucers alike. - -Toby Bunce, having succeeded in inducing the kettle to boil by means of -sundry bits of wood sparingly applied, his wife Betsy made the tea, -while Jacob cut the bread-and-butter. - -"I wonder whether Tom will keep his appointment?" said Old Death, as he -sipped his tea. "It's a full hour past the time that I told him to be -here." - -"And we've been a waiting for him till the fire got so low that it took -a power of wood to make it burn up again," observed Toby Bunce. - -"S'pose it did?" cried his wife. "You know very well that we don't care -about any expense when our best friend Mr. Bones is with us," she added, -glancing towards Old Death; for the Bunces were amongst the very few of -that individual's acquaintances who knew his real name. - -"And yet I should think he would not fail," continued Old Death in a -musing strain. "His conduct seemed straight-forward and right enough the -very first day we agreed to terms; and he even gave me my regulars in a -matter that I'd nothing to do with. But it was well for him that he did -so; or else he'd have been laid up in lavender for want of bail." - -"Bertinshaw and Watkins did it pretty tidy," said Jacob, who was making -prodigious inroads upon the bread-and-butter. - -"Keep your observations to yourself," growled Old Death in a surly tone. -"Remember, I haven't forgot your negligence in losing sight of Tom Rain -the other day, when he left the police-office." - -"It wasn't my fault," returned the lad, his dark eyes flashing angrily. -"I kept lurking about the court after I had been up here to tell you -that Dykes had nabbed Mr. Rainford: I saw him go over to the -coffee-house soon after he was discharged—I followed him when he went in -a coach to Pall Mall—I dogged him back again to Bow Street—and then——" - -"And then when the Jewess's case was over, you saw him come out, and you -lost sight of him," interrupted Old Death angrily. "But never mind," he -added, softening a little: "I will set you to watch him another day when -you've nothing better to do, and we will find out all _I_ want to know -about him." - -"When did you see him last?" inquired Toby Bunce. - -"This morning, at Tullock's; and——" - -Old Death was interrupted by a knock at the street door, to which -summons Jacob hastened to respond. - -In a few moments he returned, accompanied by Tom Rain, who sauntered -into the room, with a complaisant air and the chimney-pot hat stuck on -the right side of his head. - -"So you are come at last, Tom," said Bones, _alias_ Old Death, his -toothless jaws grinning a ghastly satisfaction. "Well, better late than -never. But let me introduce you to my very particular friends Mr. and -Mrs. Bunce; and as they are good friends of mine, they will be good -friends to you. This crib of theirs is convenient in more ways than -one," added the old man significantly; "and you will find it so if you -ever want to lay up for a time until the storm which must menace one -sometimes, blows over." - -"The hint may not prove useless at a pinch," said Tom carelessly, as he -seated himself on the form. "But there's some one present whose name -you've not yet mentioned, old chap?" - -And he glanced towards the sickly lad, who was still occupied with the -edible portion of the repast. - -"Oh! that's my Mercury—my messenger—my confidant—or any thing else you -like to call him," said Bones. "His name Is Jacob Smith, for want of a -better—and he's a perfect treasure in his way. He can scent an officer -two streets off, and would prove the best scout that ever a general -commanding an army could possibly employ. Now you know his -qualifications; and if you ever want to make use of them, he is at your -service." - -"Well, my lad," exclaimed Tom Rain, "your master gives a good character -of you; and mind you continue to deserve it," he added with an ironical -smile. "But what is to be done now, old fellow?" - -This question was addressed to Bones, who accordingly prepared himself -to answer it. - -"There's something to be done to-morrow night, my dear boy," began the -old villain, his dark eyes gleaming from beneath their shaggy, -overhanging brows; "and there's money—much money—to be got. But the -thing is a difficult one, and requires great tact as well as courage." - -"You must suppose beforehand that I am the person to manage it -properly," said Rain; "or I should think you would not have applied to -me." - -"Very true, Tom," returned Old Death, with a sepulchral chuckle: "very -true! The fact is, you're a dashing, genteel-looking, and well-spoken -fellow when you choose; and you can insinuate yourself into the good -graces of the best-born gentlemen in the land. I am sure you can do -this—don't you think you can, Tom?" - -"I should rather fancy I can," replied Rainford, by no means displeased -with the compliment just paid him. "But go on—explain yourself—and we -shall then see what can be done." - -"Listen attentively," said Old Death. "Between Streatham and Norwood -there stands a pretty but lonely house, occupied by a gentleman named -Torrens. He is a widower, and has two daughters. The eldest of these -girls is to be married the day after to-morrow to a certain Mr. Frank -Curtis, the nephew of the wealthy Sir Christopher Blunt. It appears that -Mr. Torrens has fallen into some difficulty through over-speculation in -building houses at Norwood; and Sir Christopher has consented to advance -him five thousand pounds, on condition that this match takes place. For -the girl, it seems, is totally opposed to it: she has another lover whom -_she_ loves—and she hates Mr. Frank Curtis. But the father insists on -sacrificing his daughter, to whom Curtis is greatly attached; and Curtis -possesses influence enough over his uncle Sir Christopher to persuade -him to advance the money." - -"All this is clear enough," said Rain; "and nothing would give me -greater pleasure than to baulk Sir Christopher, Frank Curtis, and the -selfish old father. But I do not see how the business can in any way -benefit us." - -"I will tell you, my dear boy," replied Old Death, with another chuckle -expressive of deep satisfaction. "To-morrow evening Sir Christopher, the -nephew, and Sir Christopher's lawyer will set out for Torrens Cottage, -as the place is called. They will settle all the preliminary business -with the father to-morrow night, so that the marriage may take place the -first thing on the ensuing morning." - -"Well?" said Tom inquiringly, seeing that Old Death paused. - -"And two thousand pounds out of the five will be conveyed from London to -Torrens Cottage to-morrow night," continued Bones: "_unless_," he added -significantly, "something happens to stop the money on its way." - -"But who will have the money about him—Sir Christopher, the nephew, or -the lawyer?" demanded Tom. - -"Ah! that's the point to ascertain," cried Old Death. "You must exercise -your tact in solving this doubt; and your courage will afterwards effect -the rest. Did I not say that the business required alike tact and -courage?" - -"You did indeed," answered Rain; "and I can scarcely see how the deuce -the thing is to be managed. Still two thousand pounds would prove very -welcome. But how came you to learn all this?" - -"The knight's servant, my dear boy, is in my pay," returned Old Death, -with a triumphant grin. "Ah! I have many gentlemen's and noblemen's -domestics devoted to my interests in the same manner; and by their means -I learn a great deal. But to return to our present business. Two -thousand pounds are to be paid down as an earnest of the bargain -to-morrow night; and those two thousand pounds will be much better -appropriated to our uses." - -"I perfectly agree with you, old fellow," said Rain. "Could not the -knight's servant inform you who is likely to take charge of the money?" - -"Impossible!" cried Bones. "He will most probably accompany the party; -and——" - -"How will they go?" demanded Rain, a thought striking him. - -"On horseback," answered Old Death. "Sir Christopher and his nephew have -a great opinion of themselves as riders; and the lawyer, Mr. Howard, is -a sporting character. It is, therefore, sure that they will all go on -horseback." - -"Then leave the rest to me," cried Tom Rain, snapping his fingers. "What -time do they set out?" - -"At six o'clock," was the answer. - -"Good again," observed Tom. "It's as dark then as at midnight this time -of the year. Say no more upon the subject: the thing is just the same as -if it was done—provided your information is correct, and no change takes -place in the plan as at present laid down by these gentlemen. One word, -however;—describe Sir Christopher's servant to me." - -"A short—thin—dapper-made fellow—dark curly hair—face marked with the -small-pox," replied Old Death. "Drab livery, turned up with red. His -name is John Jeffreys." - -"Enough," said Tom. "I shall call at Tullock's to-morrow between two and -three in the afternoon; and if you have any thing fresh to communicate, -you can either leave a note or meet me there. If I neither see nor hear -from you at that time and place, I shall consider that all remains as -you have now represented. You have nothing more to say at present?" - -"Nothing," returned Bones, after a moment's reflection. - -"Won't you take a drop of brandy-and-water, Mr. Rainford—just a _leetle_ -drop?" inquired Toby Bunce, with a deferential glance towards his better -half.. - -"A leetle drop, stupid!—a good big drop, you mean!" cried the shrew. -"Isn't Mr. Rainford a friend of Mr. Bones?—and ain't all Mr. Bones's -friends _our_ friends? I'm sure if Mr. Rainford would drink a—a quar—a -_pint_ of brandy," she added, emphatically defining the quantity she -felt disposed to place at the service of the new acquaintance, "he is -quite welcome." - -"No, thank'ee," said Rainford. "I must be off. The business of to-morrow -night requires consideration; and——" - -He was interrupted by a knock at the street-door; and Toby Bunce -hastened to answer the summons. - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - A DEATH-SCENE.—LOCK'S FIELDS. - - -The room-door was left open; and the inmates could therefore hear every -thing that took place in the passage. - -Toby Bunce opened the street-door cautiously, and said, "Who's there?" - -"In the name of heaven, grant me a night's lodging," exclaimed the -appealing voice of a female: "if not for myself—at least for this poor -dear child!" - -"Toby, shut the door!" screamed the querulous tones of Mrs. Bunce from -the back-room. "We don't want beggars and poor children here." - -"Stay!" cried Tom Rain: "never be hard-hearted!" - -And, hastening to the street-door, he saw, by the light of a shop-window -opposite, the form of a miserable-looking female crouching upon the -steps, and with one arm round the neck of a little boy who was crying -bitterly. - -"Come in, my good woman," said Rainford. "I will pay any expenses that -your presence may entail on the people of the house:—come in, I say." - -But the poor creature fell back insensible. - -"Toby, take care of the child," cried Tom Rain in an authoritative tone; -"while I lift the woman off the steps." - -And, suiting the action to the word, he raised the senseless being in -his arms, and conveyed her into the passage, Toby following with the -little boy, who seemed to be about five or six years old. - -"Surely you're mad, Tom," exclaimed Old Death, advancing from the -back-room, "to bring strangers into this house." - -"I should be a brute to see a dying woman turned away from the door of -this or any other house," said Rainford firmly. "Stand back, and let me -have my way. My purse shall satisfy the Bunces for any trouble this -business may give them." - -"Well, well—be it as you will," growled Old Death: then, in a hasty -whisper to Betsy Bunce, he added, "You had better let him do as he -likes. He is a queer fellow, but very useful—and must not be offended." - -Thus advised, and cheered moreover by Rain's liberal promise of payment, -Mrs. Bunce suddenly exhibited a vast amount of sympathy on behalf of the -poor creature; and, having fetched a candle from the back-room, she -lighted Rainford, who carried the still senseless woman in his arms, up -stairs to a chamber where there was a sordid kind of bed. - -Rainford placed his burden on the miserable pallet, and Betsy Bunce -applied such restoratives as the circumscribed economy of her household -furnished. - -In the meantime Toby had brought the little boy into the chamber; and -the child, hastening towards the bed, exclaimed, "Mamma—dear mamma—speak -to me—why don't you speak to me?" - -The woman opened her eyes languidly; but the moment they encountered the -face of the child, they were lighted up with joy; and snatching the boy -to her breast, she murmured in a faint tone, "I thought I had lost you, -Charles—I dreamt that we were separated! Oh! my head—it seems to split!" - -And she pressed her open palm to her forehead with all the appearance of -intense suffering. - -We must pause a moment to observe that this woman seemed to be about -five-and-thirty years of age; that she was dressed in widow's weeds of -the coarsest materials; and that her entire aspect denoted dreadful -privations and great sufferings, mental as well as physical. The boy was -also attired in mourning garments; and though his little cheeks were -wan, and his form emaciated, still was he a very interesting child. - -"My good woman," said Tom Rain, approaching the bed, "banish all -misgivings relative to the present; for you shall be taken care of." - -Then, turning towards Mrs. Bunce, he directed her to procure food and to -send Jacob for a surgeon. - -"No—no, it's useless," cried the poor woman, alluding to the latter -order. "I feel that I am dying—my last hour is come!" - -The child threw his little arms about her neck, and wept piteously. - -"Oh! my God!" cried the wretched stranger, "who will now take care of -you, my poor dear—dear little Charles! I who have been to you as a -mother——" - -"Yes—you are my mamma—my own mamma," exclaimed the child, his heart -ready to burst, although he scarcely understood the real nature of the -misgivings which oppressed him. - -"Sir," said the woman, after a few moments of profound silence, during -which the sobbings of the boy and the uneasy palpitations of her own -breast were alone heard in the chamber,—"sir," she said, addressing -herself abruptly to Rainford, "you spoke to me kindly—you look kindly -upon me,—and, if I may judge by your countenance, you possess a kind -heart——" - -"Speak, poor woman!" cried Rain, softened almost to tears. "If there is -any thing I can do for you, confide in me—and I swear——" - -"The gratitude of a dying being is all that I can offer you in return -for what I am about to ask," interrupted the woman in a faint, yet -hurried tone—for she seemed to feel that she had not long to live. "Draw -near, sir—there—and now listen attentively. Dreadful privation—exposure -to the cold—sleeping in the fields—and painful wanderings have reduced -me to this state. But I shall die contented—nay, even happy, if I -thought——" - -"I understand you," cried Rain. "You are anxious for the welfare of this -boy? Compose your mind—banish those painful reflections—I swear to -protect him!" - -There was something so earnest and sincere in the manner, the voice, and -the countenance of Rainford, who was a creature of the most generous -impulses, that the dying woman believed him; and her heart bounded with -fervent gratitude. - -Then, making a sign for Rainford to draw nearer to her still, she -collected all her remaining force to utter a few last words; but -physical exhaustion almost completely choked her utterance. - -"This boy," she murmured in a faint and dying voice, "is not mine. Do -not weep, Charles, love—I am not your mamma——although I love you——as if -you was my own child. But the moment you were born——in secret——and -mystery——the nurse brought you to me——all having been so -arranged——and——from that moment I——but, my God! I am dying!——oh! give me -strength to declare that——your mother——is——" - -"Speak, speak!" cried Tom Rain: "breathe but the name of his mother—I -shall catch it—and I declare most solemnly——O God! she is dead!" - -And it was so! Vain were her last, last efforts to give utterance to the -name which trembled upon her tongue: the death-rattle stifled the words -in her throat—her eyes glazed—her countenance settled in inanimation—and -she was no more! - -The little Charles would not believe that she was really dead; to him -she only appeared to sleep;-and this infantine delusion Tom Rain -gradually dissipated, making him aware of his sad bereavement in so -delicate a manner, that a stranger would have believed him to be a -father himself as well as an individual of the most upright and noble -principles. - -[Illustration] - -But if Rainford's morality was in some points of the most indifferent -nature, he nevertheless possessed kind feelings and a generous heart; -and the tears trickled down his cheeks, as he exerted himself to console -the little stranger. - -Children seem to be endowed with an intuitive power of discrimination -between those who would treat them well, and those whose dispositions -are severe and harsh; and Charles speedily acquired confidence in the -good intentions of Rainford. - -At length, when Tom fancied that he had obtained some degree of -influence over the boy's mind, he led him away from the chamber where -the poor woman had breathed her last. - -Old Death had remained in the room below; and Jacob had been sent to -fetch a surgeon, who now arrived, but departed again immediately upon -learning that his services could no longer be rendered available. Toby -and Mrs. Bunce had quitted the chamber of death the moment Rain -ejaculated, "O God! she is dead;"—and thus the child had no leisure to -take particular notice of any one save the individual who manifested so -much kindness towards him. - -Fearing that the repulsive appearance of Old Death might alarm the boy, -and even fill his mind with misgivings relative to the person who now -took charge of him, Rainford stopped in the dark passage down stairs; -and calling Mrs. Bunce from the back-room, he placed five guineas in her -hand, saying, "The burial of that poor creature who has just breathed -her last, must be your care. See that it is performed decently; and if -there are any papers about her person—any proofs of who she is—keep them -for me. Be faithful in this respect—and what I have now given you may be -considered as an earnest of additional recompense." - -Rainford then left the house, leading the boy by the hand. - -Proceeding to the nearest hackney-coach stand, Tom hired one of the -vehicles, and desired to be driven to the Elephant and Castle. - -Previously, however, to entering the vehicle, the thoughtful Tom Rain -purchased some of the very best cakes which a shop in such a -neighbourhood could produce; and, though the little boy kept sobbing as -he repeated to himself, "Mamma is dead,"—for he was too young to -understand that she had denied this maternity with her dying breath,—yet -he ate greedily of the food—for he was famished. - -Rainford said but little to him, beyond a few occasional cheering and -consolatory words, as they rode along, because the heavy rumbling of the -vehicle rendered it difficult to hear what was uttered within. - -In about three-quarters of an hour the coach stopped at the Elephant and -Castle; and Rainford, conducting the boy tenderly by the hand, plunged -into the maze of streets which form a neighbourhood requiring a detailed -description. - -Any one who is acquainted with that part of London, or who, with the map -of the great metropolis before him, takes the trouble to follow us in -this portion of our narrative, will understand us when we state that, -almost immediately behind the Elephant and Castle tavern, there is a -considerable district totally _unexplored_ by thousands and thousands of -persons dwelling in other parts of the English capital. This district is -now bounded on the north by the New Kent Road, on the east by the Kent -or Greenwich Road, on the south by Walworth, and on the west by the -Walworth Road. Built upon a low, damp, and unhealthy soil, the dwellings -of the poor there throng in frightful abundance,—forming narrow streets -half choked up with dirt, miserable alleys where the very air is -stagnant, and dark courts, to enter which seems like going into the -fœtid vault of a church. Many of the streets, that appear to have been -huddled together without any architectural plan, but merely upon a -studied system of crowding together as many hovels as possible, have -their back windows looking upon ditches, the black mire and standing -water of which exhale vapours sufficiently noxious to breed a -pestilence. When the sun shines upon these noisome ditches, their -surface displays a thousand prismatic hues, thrown out by the -decomposing offal and putrid vegetables which have been emptied into -those open sewers. But sewers they cannot be called—for instead of -carrying off the filth of the neighbourhood, those ditches preserve it -stagnant. - -A considerable portion of the district we are describing is known by the -name of Lock's Fields; and the horrible condition of this locality can -only be properly understood by a visit. The pen cannot convey an -adequate idea of the loathsome squalor of that poverty—the heart-rending -proofs of that wretchedness—and the revolting examples of that utter -demoralization, which characterise this section of the metropolis. The -houses for the most part contain each four rooms; every room serving as -the domicile of a separate family. Perhaps one of the members of such a -family may be afflicted with some infectious malady: there he must lie -upon his flock mattress, or his bundle of rags, or his heap of straw, -until he become, through neglect, so offensive as to render one minute -with him intolerable; and yet his relatives—four, five, or even six in -number—are compelled to sleep in the same apartment with him, inhaling -the stench from that mass of putrefaction, hearing his groans, breathing -the steam from his corrupted lungs, and swarming with the myriads of -loathsome animalcule engendered by the filth of the place. In another -room, perhaps, we shall find some old man, living by himself—starving -upon the miserable pittance obtained by picking up bones or rags, doing -an odd job now and then for a neighbour, and filling up the intervals of -such pursuits by begging,—his entire furniture consisting of a cup, a -kettle, and a knife—no chair, no table—but with a heap of rubbish in one -corner for a bed, on which he sleeps with his clothes on. In a third -room there is most likely a family consisting of a man and his wife, who -at night occupy one mattress, and their grown-up sons and daughters who -all pig together upon another. Shame and decency exist not amongst -them—because they could never have known either. They have all been -accustomed from their infancy to each other's nakedness; and, as their -feelings are brutalised by such a mode of existence, they suffer no -scruples to oppose that fearful intercourse which their sensuality -suggests. Thus—for we _must_ speak plainly, as we speak _the truth_—the -very wretchedness of the poor, which compels this family commingling in -one room and as it were in one bed, leads to incest—horrible, revolting -incest! The fourth room in the house which we take for our example of -the dwellings in Lock's Fields, is occupied by the landlord or landlady, -or both; and there is perhaps no more morality nor cleanliness in their -chamber than in either of the others. - -The shops in Lock's Fields are naturally in keeping with the means and -habits of their customers. Beer-shops and public-houses abound: the -lower and the poorer the locality, the greater the number of such -establishments. But who can wonder? Crime requires its stimulants—and -poverty its consolation. Men drink to nerve themselves to perpetrate -misdeeds which are attended with peril: women drink to supply that -artificial flow of spirits necessary to the maintenance of a career of -prostitution;—and the honest poor drink to save themselves from the -access of maddening despair. Children drink also, because they see their -parents drink, and because they have acquired the taste from their -earliest infancy;—and thus beer-shops and public-houses thrive most -gloriously in the most wretched neighbourhoods. - -Lock's Fields abound with small "general shops," where every thing -is sold in the minutest detail—a pennyworth of sugar, a -penny-farthing-worth of tea, a farthing candle, or a quarter of a -pound of bacon for a penny. There are also many eating-houses -where leg-of-beef soup can be procured for five farthings the -bowl. The knackers do a good business with the owners of those -establishments. Tripe-shops are likewise far from rare; and upon -their boards in the open windows, may be seen gory slices of -black-looking liver, tongues and brains in a dish, sheep's heads, -huge cow-heels, chitterlings, piles of horses' flesh and rolls of -boiled offal upon sticks—the two last-mentioned species of article -being intended for cat's-meat,—but the whole heaped pell-mell -together, loathsome to behold, and emitting odours of the most -fœtid and nauseating description. Coal-sheds, where potatoes and -greens may likewise be purchased, abound in Lock's Fields; as do -also pie-shops and that kind of eating-houses where pudding fried -in grease, stocking-pudding, and sop-in-the-pan are displayed in -the windows, to tempt with their succulent appearance the -appetites of hungry men passing to their work, or of half-famished -children wearied of playing in the gutter. - -It is wretched—heart-rending to linger on a description of this kind: -but we must endeavour to make it as complete as possible. The generality -of the inhabitants of Lock's Fields are in a state of barbarian -ignorance. Nine-tenths of the children, even of ten or twelve years old, -are unable to read, and know not who Jesus Christ is, nor that the -Saviour of Mankind suffered upon the cross to save _them_, as well as -the proudest peers or the most brilliant peeresses that shine in the -realms of fashion. Look more closely at the aspect of the population in -Lock's Fields. What care is depicted upon the pale cheek of that -emaciated woman who is hanging the _one_ change of linen upon the -elder-bushes skirting the black ditch behind her dwelling! And yet she -is better off than many of her neighbours—because her family does -possess the _one_ change of linen! Behold that man sitting on the -threshold of his door, smoking his pipe:—his elbows rest upon his -knees—he stares vacantly before him—not even the opiatic influence of -tobacco soothes him. He is thinking of what will become of his wife and -children when he shall be out of work—because the job on which he has -lately been engaged will be finished on the coming Saturday. His wife -comes out to speak to him—and he answers her harshly: his children -approach him, and endeavour to climb up his knees—but he knocks them -away. Yet that man is not brutal by nature: he loves his wife and -children—and was even debating within himself whether he should not soon -turn thief in order to support them, when they thus accosted him and -were repulsed. Let another person insult his wife—let a stranger lay a -finger upon that man's children, and the demon will be raised within his -breast. But he speaks harshly and treats them all brutally, because he -is miserable—because he is dissatisfied with every thing and every -body—because he is reduced to despair. The unfeeling aspect of the cold -world around him—that world which frowns so sternly upon poverty, and -smiles so sweetly upon wealth—has rendered _him_ unfeeling. His hard -fate drives him to the public-house:—talk of the infamy of which that -man is guilty in spending a few pence—the pence which would buy his -children more bread—upon beer or gin,—it is ridiculous! That man _must_ -drink—he _must_ drown his care: thought drives him mad—and from thought -he must therefore fly. But whither can he fly? The rich and the -well-to-do have their theatres and places of amusement: if a penny -tea-garden or a penny theatre be opened in Lock's Fields, or in any -other poor neighbourhood, the magistrates must put it down;—it is a -source of demoralisation—it is a focus of thieves and prostitutes! But -the swell-mob and flash women frequent the Haymarket Theatre—and the -Lyceum—and the Surrey—and the Victoria—aye, and Covent-Garden and Drury -Lane Theatres also. "Oh!" cries the magistrate; "_that_ is very -different!" Yes—every thing in this country is different when the -wealthy or the well-dressed are concerned on one side, and the poor and -the ragged on the other. Then, whither can this pauperised despairing -man in Lock's Fields go to escape the bitterness of his reflections? To -the public-house—or to throw himself into the canal:—those are the only -alternatives! - -Is it not dreadful to think that we have a sovereign and a royal family -on whom the country lavishes money by hundreds of thousands,—whose -merest whims cost sums that would feed and clothe from year to year -_all_ the inhabitants of such a place as Lock's Fields;—that we have -also an hereditary aristocracy and innumerable sleek and comfortable -dignitaries of the Church, who devour the fruits of the earth and throw -the parings and the peelings contemptuously to the poor;—in a word, that -we have an oligarchy feasting upon the fatted calf, and flinging the -offal to the patient, enduring, toiling, oppressed millions,—is it not -dreadful, we ask, to think how much those millions do for Royalty, -Aristocracy, Church, and Landed Interest, and how little—how miserably -little, Royalty, Aristocracy, Church, and Landed Interest do for _them_ -in return? - -But let us go back to Thomas Rainford and the little boy, whom we left -on their way to Lock's Fields—for it was to this district that the -excellent-hearted man was leading his young charge. - -And, as they went along, many were the kind words that Tom Rain uttered -to cheer his artless companion. - -"Come, don't cry, my dear little fellow," he would say: "here is another -cake—and when we get home you shall have something nice for supper. Are -you cold, Charley? Well, you shall soon warm yourself by the side of a -good blazing fire. And to-night you shall sleep in a soft bed; and -to-morrow morning you shall have some new clothes. I am going to take -you where you will find a pretty lady, who will be as kind to you as the -mamma you have just lost. Are you tired, Charley? Well, I'll take you up -and carry you." - -And Tom Rain lifted the poor child in his arms and kissed away the tears -which ran down his cheeks. The boy threw his little arms around the neck -of his kind protector, and said, "Oh! you are as good to me as my dear -papa was." - -"And how long has your papa been dead, Charley?" asked Rainford, -supposing that the child meant by his father the husband of the woman -who had died that evening in Toby Bunce's house. - -"Not very long—but I don't know how long," was the reply. "Oh! stay—I -think I heard mamma say this morning that he died six months ago." - -"And where did you live then, Charley?" - -"At a cottage near a great town—Oh! I remember—Winchester." - -"Winchester!" cried Rainford. "I know all that part of the country -well—or at least I ought to do so," he murmured to himself, with a -profound sigh. "But what made you leave your cottage?" - -"When papa was buried, mamma had no money," replied the child; "and some -naughty people came at last and took away all the things in the cottage, -and turned mamma and me out of doors. And then mamma cried so much—oh! -so much; and we were very often hungry after that—and we sometimes had -no bed to sleep in." - -"Poor little fellow!" cried Rainford, hugging the child closer still to -his breast. "What was your papa's name?" - -"Watts—and my name is Charley Watts," said the boy. - -At this moment Rainford stopped at one of the few decent-looking houses -in Lock's Fields, and knocked at the door, which was immediately opened -by a young and beautiful woman, who appeared overjoyed at his return. - -"I have brought you a present in the shape of this poor little boy," -said Rainford as he entered the house. "If you wish to please me, you -will behave to him as kindly as I shall." - -The young woman took Charley in her arms, and kissed him as a proof that -Tom's request should be attended to; and Rainford, well pleased at that -demonstration, closed the street-door behind him. - - - - - CHAPTER X. - A SCENE AT THE HOUSE OF SIR CHRISTOPHER - BLUNT. - - -On the following afternoon, shortly after four o'clock, three gentlemen -sate, sipping their wine after an early dinner, in a magnificently -furnished room in Jermyn Street. - -The one who occupied the head of the table was a red-faced, stout, -elderly gentleman, with hair of that blueish-black which denotes the use -of an artificial dye, and with large bushy whiskers of a similar tint. -He was dressed in a blue coat with brass buttons, white waistcoat, and -black kerseymere trousers fitting very tight. A massive gold chain -depended from his neck; and on his fingers he wore several rings of -great value. In manner he was authoritative, even to rudeness: for, -being immensely rich, he firmly believed that money constituted an -aristocracy which had a perfect right to command. His pride was the more -excessive too, as he had risen from nothing: that is, he had begun life -as an errand boy in a linen-draper's shop, and had finished his -mercantile career as a warehouseman in Wood Street, where he amassed a -considerable fortune. He had filled the office of Sheriff, but had -vainly endeavoured to procure an aldermanic gown; and, having failed to -persuade the livery-men of Portsoken Ward that he was the very best -person they could possibly choose to represent them in the superior City -Court, he had ever since affected to rejoice at his rejection, and to -look upon all City men and City matters with contempt. In reality, too, -he was dreadfully mortified at the fact of his low origin; but, with -that clumsy duplicity which vulgar minds often employ in such cases, he -pretended to make a boast of his humble beginning, and used the subject -as a means of constantly reminding his friends and acquaintances of what -he had done for himself. While he held the Shrievalty, it fell to his -lot to present an address to the Prince Regent; and on that occasion he -received the honour of knighthood. Such was Sir Christopher Blunt. - -The gentleman who sate at the bottom of the table was Mr. Frank Curtis, -Sir Christopher's nephew. He was a tall, spare, thin, sickly-looking -young man, of three-and-twenty; with long, straight, black hair, large -staring dark eyes, very bad teeth, and a disagreeable, impudent, pert -expression of countenance. He was an orphan, and totally dependent upon -his uncle, who had brought him up to no business, inasmuch as he had -looked upon the young man as his heir. Sir Christopher, however, having -reached his fiftieth year without ever thinking of matrimony, was -suddenly smitten with Miss Julia Mordaunt, Lady Hatfield's friend; and -as Miss Mordaunt belonged to a very ancient though a greatly -impoverished family, Sir Christopher thought that he should gain his -darling wish—namely, obtain standing and consideration in the -fashionable world—by conducting that lady to the hymeneal altar. This -ardent desire he nevertheless kept to himself as much as possible; his -first object being to get rid of his nephew in some way or another. For -Mr. Frank Curtis had acquired considerable influence over his uncle; and -the latter was too much of a moral coward to be able to tell his nephew -boldly and frankly that he proposed "to change his condition." The -passion which Frank had conceived for Miss Adelais Torrens seemed to -furnish the knight with an opportunity to settle the young man, and thus -throw off an influence which impeded his own matrimonial designs: hence -the readiness of Sir Christopher to lend Mr. Torrens five thousand -pounds as an inducement for that gentleman to compel his portionless -daughter to accept Mr. Frank Curtis for a husband. We must add, that -Frank had passed six months on the continent; and this brief sojourn in -France had supplied the staple commodity of his entire conversational -powers. Nor must we forget to observe that he was as arrogant a boaster -as he was in reality a coward; and that he was so afflicted with the -vice of mendaciousness, he could scarcely speak the truth by accident. - -The third gentleman present in Sir Christopher's splendid dining-room, -was Mr. Howard, the knight's solicitor. We need not say more relative to -this individual than that he was about five-and-forty years old, enjoyed -an excellent practice, was considered a fine-looking man by the ladies, -and was noted for his devotion to the Turf. - -The table was spread with a choice dessert and an assortment of the most -exquisite wines, to which the three gentlemen appeared to be doing ample -justice. Sir Christopher drank copiously, because he felt particularly -well pleased at the prospect of getting rid of his nephew, for whom and -the intended bride he had taken and furnished a beautiful house at -Clapham: Frank had frequent recurrence to the bottle, because he felt -nervous and anxious;—and the lawyer stuck fast to the Burgundy, because -he liked it. - -"Take care, Frank, how you fill your glass too often," said Mr. Howard; -"or the young ladies will not find you very agreeable presently." - -"Don't mind me, old fellow," exclaimed Curtis: "I can drink you under -the table any day. Why, when I was in Paris I used to think nothing of a -bottle of brandy with my breakfast. I recollect once betting thirty -napoleons with an old Major of grenadiers at Boulogne——" - -"A drum-major, I suppose, Frank," said the lawyer with a smile. - -"Frank could not so far forget himself as to associate with a -_drum_-major," observed Sir Christopher, in a voice like that of a man -who goes about with a Punch and Judy show. "Thanks to my honest -exertions, I have placed myself—and, in placing myself, have placed -_him_—in a position which you will permit me to call brilliant. You know -I make no secret of what I _was_. I rose from nothing—and I'm proud of -it. And if his gracious Majesty, in acknowledgment of my humble merits, -condescended to bestow upon me the honour of knighthood——" - -"Oh! blow that old story, uncle!" cried the dutiful nephew. "I was -telling you how I laid fifty napoleons with a Colonel of French -engineers that I would drink two bottles of champagne to every one of -his share——" - -"What time will the horses be round at the door?" demanded Howard of the -knight; for the lawyer was anxious to escape the menaced tale. - -"At six o'clock precise," answered Sir Christopher. "I am always -punctual. I learnt punctuality when I was a lad; and I firmly believe it -helped to make me what I am. When I look around and see how I am now -situated, and think of what I was——" - -"Do let me tell you this story," interrupted Frank, re-filling his -glass: "it is a capital one, I can assure you. Well, so the French -Major-General and me, we sate down at table, and spread out the hundred -and fifty napoleons that we had bet. Then we rang the bell, and ordered -three bottles of Burgundy to begin with—two for me, and one for him." - -"Burgundy was it?" said the lawyer, sipping his wine. - -"No—claret, and I told you so," exclaimed Curtis. "But how provoking you -are! Well, so the Lieutenant-General and me, we began to drink the -champagne just as if it was so much water—both of us eyeing the two -hundred napoleons——" - -"Half-past four," said Mr. Howard, looking at his watch, and with -difficulty suppressing a yawn. - -"For I felt sure of winning—and so did he," continued Frank Curtis. -"Well, I soon disposed of my _two_ bottles of Port, and the General -drank his _one_ like a Trojan. To work we went again—two more for me, -and another for him. Then I proposed cigars, because I knew that I could -stand smoking better than him. He agreed; and we puffed away like two -factory-chimnies. At last he showed signs of distress——" - -"Ah! got quite groggy, like a prize-fighter at the fortieth round," -observed Mr. Howard. - -"Exactly," said Frank: "and so by the time I had finished my sixth -bottle of Sherry, and the Field-Marshal had only got half-way through -his third, he was completely sewn up. I pocketed the five hundred -napoleons, as a matter of course—rang the bell to desire the waiter to -take the Admiral off to bed—and then went and did the amiable at an -evening party, where no one could tell that I had ever been drinking at -all." - -"And so you think that a very pleasant adventure, Master Frank?" said -Sir Christopher. "Now, for my part, I leave guzzling and hard-drinking -to those vulgar citizens the other side of Temple Bar. Do you know, -Howard, that I really believe it was the most fortunate day of my life -when I lost the election for Portsoken? If I had become an Alderman——" - -"You would have _looked_ the Alderman to perfection, Sir Christopher," -observed the lawyer. - -"Well—well—I might have been dignified on the bench—or I might not," -said the knight complacently: "that is a mere matter of opinion—although -I _have_ been told by a friend who is not accustomed to flatter, that I -have more sense—sound sense, I mean—in my little finger, than all the -Aldermen and Common Councilmen put together. But it was fortunate for -me—very fortunate—that I escaped from the vulgar contact of those -citizens." - -At this moment a servant entered the room, to announce that a gentleman -desired to speak to Sir Christopher Blunt. - -"Show him up—show him up," cried the knight. "I have no secrets that my -nephew and solicitor may not hear." - -The domestic retired; and in a few minutes he re-appeared, ushering in -Rainford by the name of Captain Sparks. - -Tom was dressed in his usual sporting garb, over which he wore a white -top-coat—an article of attire much in vogue in those days amongst -gentlemen who were accustomed to ride much on horseback. As he walked, -his silver spurs clinked on the heels of his well-polished boots; and in -his right hand he carried a whip. - -"Beg your pardon, gentlemen, for this intrusion," said Tom, as he -entered the room; "but having heard from my very particular friend Mr. -Torrens of the little affair that is to take place to-morrow morning——" - -"Pray sit down, Captain Sparks," interrupted Sir Christopher. "Any -friend of Mr. Torrens is welcome in this house. I do not, however, -remember that he has mentioned your name in my hearing." - -"Very likely not," said Rainford, drawing a chair close to the table. -"The fact is I have been travelling in the north, for my amusement, -during the last two years; and I only returned to town this morning. The -first thing I did was to run down and see my dear friend Torrens: and -you may fancy how surprised and pleased I was to learn what an excellent -match his eldest daughter was about to make." - -"There is the bridegroom, Captain Sparks," said the knight, pompously -waving his hand towards his nephew. - -"Very happy to form your acquaintance, Mr. Curtis," exclaimed Tom, with -a polite bow. - -"Equally delighted to know you, Captain," replied the nephew. "Here's a -clean glass—and there's the bottle. Help yourself." - -"With much pleasure," said Tom, suiting the action to the word. "But I -was about to tell you that Mr. Torrens did me the honour to invite me to -the wedding; and as I was obliged to come back to town to have my -portmanteau sent down to the Cottage, I have made bold to intrude myself -upon you, gentlemen, with the view of joining your party—that is, if you -will permit me." - -"We shall be quite charmed, Captain Sparks," answered Sir Christopher -Blunt. "I need not inquire if you proceed to the Cottage on horseback!" - -"Oh! yes—none of your coaches or carriages for me," returned Tom. "I -have put up my horse at the stables close by in York Street; for my -groom was taken ill a couple of hours ago——" - -"Our horses are also there," interrupted Sir Christopher; "and one of -_my_ grooms," he added ostentatiously, "shall bring round yours when he -fetches ours. But I beg pardon for my rudeness, Captain Sparks:—this -gentleman is Mr. Howard—_my_ solicitor." - -Rainford and the lawyer bowed to each other; the wine went round; and -Tom chuckled inwardly at the success of his stratagem to obtain access -to the knight. - -"You see, Captain Sparks," said Sir Christopher in a dictatorial tone, -"this projected alliance has met with some little opposition on the part -of the young lady herself." - -"So Torrens told me this afternoon," observed Tom coolly. "But the -qualifications of your nephew, Sir Christopher, are doubtless such——" - -"I flatter myself," exclaimed Curtis, pleased with this compliment, -"that I have the knack of making myself agreeable to the women when I -choose. Why, the day that I left Paris, a French Marchioness took -poison, and a Countess went melancholy mad—both without any apparent -cause: but _I_ knew deuced well what was the reason, though." - -"You're a sad fellow, Frank," said the lawyer. - -"Now why should you assert that?" cried the young man, affecting to be -annoyed by the remark. "Did I tell you that any thing particular -occurred between me and those ladies? Suppose the Duchess _did_ have a -little partiality for me—and suppose the Baroness _was_ the least thing -jealous—eh? What then?" - -"Ah! what then, indeed?" said Tom Rain. "Mr. Curtis is too much a man of -honour to betray those fair ones who were weak enough to be beguiled by -his soft nonsense." - -"Egad! you're right," exclaimed Frank, in whose good opinion the -self-styled Captain was rapidly rising. "I would not give a fig for a -fellow that boasts of his conquests. But if any one _might_ boast on -that subject, I think it is your humble servant. What do you say, -Howard? Haven't I told you some queer tales at times?" - -"You have indeed," answered the lawyer drily. - -"Talking of boasting, Captain Sparks," said the knight, who now found -means to thrust in a word, "it is _my_ opinion that the only legitimate -boast is that which a man can make of having risen from nothing. Now I -never attempt to conceal my origin: on the contrary, I glory in it. Why, -sir, I began life without a sixpence, and without a friend: and now look -at me!" - -Tom Rain did look at Sir Christopher, as he was requested to do; and it -struck our friend that there was nothing very particular to admire in -the worthy knight after all. - -"You see me, Captain Sparks?" continued Sir Christopher, in an -authoritative tone. "Well, sir—such as I am now, I made myself." - -"And the more to your credit," said Tom, who could not help thinking -that if the knight's words were to be taken literally, it was a great -pity that he had not made himself a trifle handsomer while he was about -it. - -"Come, Howard, pass the bottle, old fellow," cried Frank Curtis, who -always got disgustingly familiar when he was in his cups—which was so -often that he was seldom out of them: and, as is the case with all -persons who boast of the quantity they can drink, it did not require -much to upset him. "Remember," he added, "we have rather a lonely road -to travel part of the way——" - -"Why—you surely cannot be afraid of robbers, Mr. Curtis?" exclaimed Tom, -bursting out into a merry laugh. - -"I afraid!" ejaculated the young man; "not I! I should think not, -indeed! Why, when I was travelling from Abbeville to Paris in the mail, -we were stopped by three highwaymen in the middle of the night. The -government-courier and myself tackled them in a moment: we were the only -persons in the mail, and the postboy was so frightened that he got off -his seat and hid himself under one of the horses. Well, the poor courier -was soon disabled; but I was not easily done up. Egad! in less than -three minutes I forced the whole five scoundrels to sheer off." - -"Oh! I have no doubt of it," said Tom very quietly. "A powerful and -courageous young gentleman like you must be a match for any five -highwaymen in the world." - -"Come, come now," exclaimed Frank: "I don't say _that_ exactly. But I -will assert this much—that I have no more fears of a robber than I -should have of a child's stopping me on the highway." - -"In that case," observed Mr. Howard, throwing a pocket-book across the -table towards Curtis, "you had better take charge of the money that's to -be paid over to Mr. Torrens presently." - -"Oh! as for _that_——But, never mind," cried Frank, not appearing -particularly to relish the office of treasurer thus forced upon him, yet -unable to decline the trust after his magniloquent vaunting: "I'll keep -the two thousand safe enough, depend upon it." - -Sir Christopher looked at his watch; and, finding that the hour for -departure was approaching, he rang the bell to order the horses. - -Precisely as the clock struck six, the party, attended by John Jeffreys, -with whom Rain had found an opportunity to exchange a word or two, -quitted Jermyn Street, and rode towards Westminster Bridge. - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - THE TWO THOUSAND POUNDS.—TORRENS COTTAGE. - - -The evening was bright, clear, and frosty; and the stars shone -resplendently on the wide arch of heaven. - -Well wrapped up in their great coats, the party of horsemen pursued -their way; and at about seven o'clock they turned from the main-road -near Streatham Common, into a bye-lane leading towards Torrens Cottage, -thus leaving Streatham itself on their right hand. - -Sir Christopher and the lawyer rode about a hundred yards in advance, -Tom Rain and Frank Curtis having stopped at a public-house to procure -cigars. Jeffreys, the groom, was about fifty yards in the rear. - -"You must come and see us, Captain Sparks, after the honeymoon," said -Curtis. "We shall be delighted to make you welcome." - -"I shall avail myself of your kind offer," returned Tom. - -"And you and me will try who can stand his bottle best," continued the -young man. "But what atrocious cigars these are! I remember when I was -in Paris, I was very intimate with a certain foreign Prince who was -staying there—and I don't mind hinting to you that I was a great -favourite with the Princess too. She was a charming woman—a very -charming woman. I never saw such eyes in my life! Well, the Prince was a -great smoker; and he one day gave me a box of his prime cigars—such -cigars! I never smoked such beauties before or since. Poor fellow! he -was killed in a duel shortly afterwards." - -"Killed in a duel!" exclaimed Tom: "what—by you?" - -"Oh! no—I was his second," replied Curtis, who, as usual, invented the -story as he went on. "It seems that an officer of French horse-guards -had been boasting of the favours which he pretended to have received -from the Marchioness; and the Marquis heard of it. He instantly sent for -me, and desired me to carry the grenadier-officer a message. I did so; -and the hostile encounter took place in Boulogne-wood. The -hussar-officer pinked the Count slap through in no time; for it appeared -that he was the best swordsman in all France. Well, of course I was -desperately savage to see my poor friend the Duke knocked off the hooks -in that unceremonious way; and I determined to avenge him. So I -challenged the light-infantry officer on the spot; and we fought for six -hours without either of us getting a scratch or yielding a foot of -ground. Our swords were worn as thin as skewers——" - -"I have no doubt of it," said Tom coolly. "It must have been a splendid -sight." - -"It was indeed," returned Frank. "But at last I obtained a trifling -advantage. The artillery-officer had a cold; and I watched him anxiously -to catch him off his guard when he sneezed. Egad! that was a glorious -idea of mine; and it succeeded too;—for after nine hours' hard fighting, -I ran him through just as a cook spits a joint. You cannot imagine what -a reputation that affair gave me in Paris. Every one was desirous to see -the young Englishman who had killed the best swordsman in France. And, -after all, without boasting, it was a feat to be proud of." - -"Decidedly so," observed Tom. "But you are too brave a man, Mr. Curtis, -to indulge in idle boasts." - -"Of course," cried Frank. "Fellows like you and me, Captain, who know -what swords and pistols mean, are the last to brag of their exploits." - -"Do you carry pistols with you, Mr. Curtis?" asked Tom. - -"Generally—generally," was the reply. "But I did not think it necessary -to take them with me this evening." - -"Well, I did," said Rainford. "And here is one," he added, producing the -weapon from the pocket of his white great-coat. - -"Pray don't hold it near me, Captain!" cried Frank, reining in his horse -with a trepidation most remarkable on the part of a gentleman who had -performed such gallant deeds in resisting highwaymen and as a duellist. - -"Yes—but I shall not only hold it near you," said Tom: "I shall also -fire it—unless you instantly, and without noise, hand me over that -pocket-book which you have about you." - -"Captain Sparks!" ejaculated the trembling young man: "this passes a -joke. Come, now——" - -"I never was more serious in my life," interrupted Rainford sharply. -"Give me the pocket-book; or——" - -And the sharp click of the pistol, as Tom cocked it, sounded like a -death-warrant upon the cowardly boaster's ears. In fact, he sate -paralysed—motionless—speechless upon his horse, at a loss how to act. - -"Come, be quick!" cried Rain, seizing him by the collar of his coat: "I -have no time for any of your nonsense." - -"You—you—can't—mean——" stammered the young man, "that—you——" - -"Yes—I mean that I am a highwayman, if you like to call me so," -interrupted Tom impatiently: "and so give me the pocket-book." - -Curtis obeyed with trembling hand and sinking heart. - -"And now," said Tom, as the sounds of the trampling of a horse announced -that the groom was approaching, "one word of caution! You are going to -drag a young lady into a match most unwelcome to her. Beware how you -accomplish her unhappiness by forcing her to accept as a husband such a -contemptible boaster and arrant liar as you are: beware, I say—or you -will see more than you like of Captain Sparks." - -Having thus spoken, Rainford turned his horse round, and galloped away -with lightning-speed. - -John Jeffreys, whom he passed in the lane, did not of course attempt to -molest him. - -But when the groom overtook Frank Curtis, he said, "Any thing the -matter, sir? I saw the Captain gallop back again like an arrow." - -"Captain!" ejaculated the young man: "he is a robber—a thief—a -gallows-bird!" - -"What do you mean, sir?" asked Jeffreys, affecting profound -astonishment. - -"He has plundered me of two thousand pounds, John," cried Frank, in so -lamentable a tone that the groom could hardly suppress a violent -indication to laugh. - -"Robbed you, sir!" exclaimed Jeffreys. "You're joking, sir: no two men -in England could rob you." - -"We had a desperate tussle for it, John," replied Curtis; "but the -villain knocked me off my horse with the butt-end of his pistol. It was -a cowardly blow—and I was not prepared for it." - -"Most likely not, sir," said the groom drily. "But I thought he must -have used some underhand means, because I know what sort of a customer -you must be." - -"You're right enough there, my man," returned Curtis. "I had got the -better of him at one time; and although he has gone off with the two -thousand pounds, he has carried away with him such a drubbing that he -won't forget in a hurry. But let us ride after my uncle and Mr. -Howard—because he might come back," added Frank, casting a terrified -glance behind him. - -The young gentleman and the servant put spurs to their horses, and in a -quarter of an hour overtook the knight and the lawyer, to whom Frank -related in his own style the adventure which had just occurred. - -"And you mean to say that you surrendered the pocket-book—that you gave -up two thousand pounds?" exclaimed Sir Christopher, in a passion. - -"What could I do?" said Frank. "The scoundrel took the money from me by -main force." - -"He was stronger than the five highwaymen in France," observed the -lawyer quietly. - -"Stronger! I believe you," cried Curtis. "And then he was armed to the -very teeth. Why, when he threw open his green cut-away coat, I could see -by the starlight a belt stuck round with pistols, daggers, and sharp -knives. Or else do you think for a moment that he could have mastered -_me_?" - -"Well, the mischief is done," said the knight in a doleful tone; "and a -pretty figure we shall cut at the Torrens's. I dare swear that the -rascal is no more an acquaintance of the family than he is of the King -of England." - -"It is to be hoped he is not," observed Mr. Howard, who was mightily -pleased to think that he had handed over the money into Frank's keeping -previously to setting out:—"it is to be hoped not—otherwise your nephew, -Sir Christopher, would be marrying into a nice family." - -"Really, Mr. Howard, this is no time for jesting," exclaimed the knight. -"But why didn't you try and stop the Villain, John?" - -"I, sir!" said the groom. "How should I know that he had committed a -robbery when he galloped past me? Besides, if he is such a terrible chap -as Mr. Frank represents him, it would have been useless for me to try my -hand with him." - -"Certainly! John is quite right," observed Mr. Curtis. "If I could do -nothing with him, I'm sure no one else could. He is as strong as a lion; -and, egad! how he did swear! It was quite horrible to hear him. But what -shall we do?" - -"Do, indeed!" ejaculated Sir Christopher. "We shall look like so many -fools when we arrive at the Cottage." - -"But Mr. Torrens will take your cheque, Sir Christopher," remarked the -lawyer. - -"True. We can manage it in that way," said the knight. "Still the cash -would have appeared more business-like on such an occasion. But it is -growing late: let us push on." - -"Yes—let us push on," echoed Frank, casting troubled glances around, and -trembling lest the highwayman should take it into his head to return and -rob the remainder of the party. - -In twenty minutes they reached Torrens Cottage, the inmates of which we -must pause to describe. - -Mr. Torrens was a widower, and had numbered about five-and-fifty years. -He was a tall, thin, dry-looking man, with a very sallow complexion, a -cold grey eye, and a stern expression of countenance. After having long -held a situation in a Government office, he retired with a pension; and -just at the same period a relation died, leaving him a few thousand -pounds. With this sum he bought a beautiful little villa, which he -denominated Torrens Cottage, and the leasehold of some land at Norwood, -where he set busily to work to build a row of houses to be called -Torrens Terrace. He had long made architecture an amateur-study during -his leisure hours; and the moment he was enabled to retire from his -situation in the Ordnance Office, and became possessed of capital, he -resolved to put his numerous architectural theories into practice. But, -as it frequently happens in such matters, he grew embarrassed; and the -works were menaced with stoppage for want of funds, when Mr. Curtis -became enamoured of his eldest daughter, whom he met at the house of -some of Mr. Torrens's relations in London. The bargain, already -described, was soon after struck between Sir Christopher Blunt and Mr. -Torrens, who did not hesitate to sacrifice his daughter's happiness to -his own pecuniary interests. Unfortunately, too, for the young lady, he -did not regard the contemplated union in the light of a sacrifice at -all; inasmuch as he naturally looked upon Frank Curtis as Sir -Christopher's heir, not dreaming that the worthy knight entertained the -remotest idea of perpetrating matrimony. Mr. Torrens therefore -considered that his daughter Adelais was about to form a most eligible -connexion; and, although he was aware that her affections were engaged -in another quarter, he acted upon the belief that parents must know best -how to ensure their children's happiness. - -His two daughters, Adelais and Rosamond, were both charming girls, of -the respective ages of eighteen and sixteen. Their dark clustering -locks, their deep hazel eyes lustrous with liquid light, and their -symmetrical figures filled all beholders with admiration. Adelais was -now pale, melancholy, and drooping; for she loathed the alliance that -was in contemplation for her—loathed it, not only because her heart was -another's, but also because the manners, conversation, and personal -appearance of Frank Curtis were revolting in her estimation. Rosamond -possessed a rich complexion, in which glowed all the innate feelings of -her soul, animating and imparting to every feature of her beautiful face -an additional charm. She was naturally the confidant of her sister, -whose hard fate she deeply deplored; and many were the plans which the -amiable girls had devised and discussed, with a view to overcome their -father's cruel pertinacity in insisting on the sacrifice of Adelais to -Frank Curtis. But each and all of those projects had either failed, or -involved proceedings repugnant to their pure and artless minds. For -instance, they had thought of abandoning the paternal roof, and -endeavouring to seek their livelihood by needlework in some safe -retirement: then Adelais would not permit Rosamond to dare the -misfortunes of the world by flying from a home which she—the younger -sister—had at least no personal motive to desert; and Rosamond on her -side would not allow Adelais to set out alone. Again, a clandestine -marriage between Adelais and her lover was often debated: the young man -urged it himself;—but the daughters dreaded the father's eternal anger; -and thus this project had been abandoned also. To be brief, the dreaded -moment was now at hand; and the seal of misery was about to be set on -the roll of the elder maiden's destinies. - -And who was the lover of Adelais? A handsome, generous-hearted, -honourable young man, occupying a situation in the very Government -office where Mr. Torrens had himself served for many years. But, -although Clarence Villiers was so far provided for, and had every -prospect of rising rapidly on account of his steady habits and assiduous -attention to his employment, yet he was at present only a poor clerk -with ninety pounds a-year; and he had no capital. Mr. Torrens, as we -have seen, required capital; and thus Frank Curtis was preferred to -Clarence Villiers. - -We cannot quit this description without alluding to the ardent affection -which existed between the sisters. Having lost their mother in their -childhood, and their father being almost constantly from home throughout -the day, they were naturally thrown entirely upon each other for -companionship. An illimitable confidence sprang up between them—a -confidence more intimate far than even that which usually subsists -between sisters; because this confidence on the part of Adelais and -Rosamond extended to a mutual outpouring of their most trivial as well -as of their most important thoughts, hopes, or aspirations. Thus, the -reader will cease to be astonished that, when Adelais, in the anguish of -her heart, had contemplated flight from the paternal roof as the only -alternative save a hateful marriage, Rosamond insisted upon accompanying -her. Much as they loved and revered their father, they were both -prepared to sacrifice even filial affection and filial duty for each -other's sake. This feeling may be looked upon as one involving a -grievous fault on their side: it was not, however, the less firmly -rooted in their minds,—for they were all and all to each other! - ------ - -[Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - ADELAIS AND ROSAMOND. - - -Sir Christopher Blunt, Mr. Howard, and Frank Curtis were soon seated in -Mr. Torrens' comfortable parlour, the walls of which were adorned with -an infinite variety of architectural plans set in carved oaken frames. - -A cheerful fire blazed in the grate; wine was placed upon the table; and -the travellers were speedily as much at their ease as they could wish, -or as their host could render them. - -The young ladies were in another apartment, Mr. Torrens having desired -them to remain in the drawing-room while the commercial part of the -projected matrimonial arrangement was being settled in the parlour. - -When the usual complimentary phrases had been exchanged, and Sir -Christopher had observed that the weather was remarkably fine but very -cold—a proposition to which Mr. Torrens entirely assented—for somehow or -another people never _do_ contradict each other when commenting on that -subject;—when, also, a glass or two of wine had been imbibed by each, -the knight inquired whether Mr. Torrens happened to be acquainted with a -Captain Sparks? - -The answer was a negative. - -Sir Christopher then began to relate the adventure of the evening; and, -although he was constantly interrupted by his nephew, who was anxious to -interpolate in the narrative certain saving clauses respecting his own -valour towards the highwayman, the worthy knight nevertheless succeeded -at length in bringing the tale to an end. - -"It is clear," said Mr. Torrens, "that you were first duped and then -robbed by an infamous scoundrel. But have you any notion how he could -have learnt enough of the pending arrangements to be enabled to talk so -familiarly with regard to them, when he first introduced himself to -you?" - -"That puzzles me, my dear sir," returned Sir Christopher. - -"And it is likely to continue to puzzle you, uncle," observed Frank; -"for the whole business defies conjecture. I remember, when I was in -France——" - -"The villain evidently knew that you would leave town with a -considerable sum of money in your possession," said Torrens; "and his -aim was to get it. He did get it too." - -"But not without a deuced good thrashing into the bargain," cried Frank; -"and that's some consolation." - -"I dare say Captain Sparks, as he calls himself, would gladly be -thrashed every hour in the day on the same terms," observed the lawyer. -"But I think that when our little business is concluded, I should do -well to return to London and give information at Bow Street as speedily -as possible." - -"By no means," exclaimed Sir Christopher. "We must keep the tale to -ourselves. If it got into the newspapers, with all the particulars, it -would only make us look ridiculous. We might punish the man; but we -should never get back the money. No—no: let the matter drop—for all our -sakes. Thank heaven," continued the knight, assuming a slower and more -pompous tone, "the loss is paltry—very paltry in my estimation. I shall -not miss the amount, I can assure you." - -"But you have no objection to my giving the scoundrel another good -drubbing, uncle, the first time I meet him again?" inquired Frank -Curtis, with great apparent earnestness. - -"Oh! there can be no objection to that—if the Captain will allow you so -to operate on him," said the lawyer drily. - -"Allow me, indeed! I should like to know how he could prevent it," -exclaimed Frank, affecting deep indignation at the remark. "You should -have seen the struggle we had!" - -"Very likely: but I noticed your great-coat when we came in just now—and -it was not soiled," said Howard. - -"Of course not: I had him down all the time." - -"Then it was a great pity you did not keep him there." - -"Come—come—enough of this fencing," cried Sir Christopher. "Produce the -deeds, Mr. Howard: my friend Torrens will take my cheque for the two -thousand." - -"Oh! certainly," replied the venal father. - -"And to-morrow, let us hope that I shall have to give you another for -three thousand more," added Sir Christopher. "Thank heaven! my cheque is -as good as a Bank-note. But it wasn't twenty years ago, though. Times -have altered since then. And yet, as my friend Howard knows, I am proud -of my humble origin." - -"Yes—yes, uncle," exclaimed Frank: "we all know that perfectly. But -let's to business, and then join the young ladies. I shall make them -laugh with the story of the highwayman. It's the first time in my life I -was ever conquered—ever overcome: and now it hasn't been by fair means. -I remember once, when I was at Montreuil, three French peasants had some -of their nonsense with me; but I just——" - -"Here are the documents, gentlemen," said Mr. Howard. "Frank shall -conclude his story presently." - -The agreements for the loan of the five thousand pounds were then read -over; Mr. Torrens signed them; Sir Christopher Blunt wrote him a cheque -for two thousand on account—the remaining three to be advanced only on -condition that the proposed marriage took place;—and thus terminated the -commercial part of the business. - -The four gentlemen then proceeded to the drawing-room, where the two -young ladies were seated. - -Adelais was excessively pale; and when the odious Mr. Frank Curtis -tripped smirkingly up to her, and, taking her fair hand, pressed it to -his lips,—his breath, heated with wine and rendered offensive by the -fumes of the cigar, steaming upon that delicate skin,—the maiden -recoiled as if from something loathsome. - -Her father, who observed her narrowly, cast upon her a rapid but ireful -glance; and Adelais exerted herself strenuously to recover her -composure. - -Like a victim about to be sacrificed at the altar of some avenging god, -she suffered her admirer to lead her to a seat in a remote part of the -room; and placing himself by her side, Frank Curtis darted a triumphant -look at Howard and Sir Christopher, as much as to say, "Just see how -successfully I am going to play the amiable in this quarter." - -Then, turning towards the lovely Adelais, whose large blue eyes were -bent timidly down, and whose bosom palpitated with a variety of painful -emotions, he observed, in what he considered to be a most endearing -whisper, "Come, my sweet gal, cheer up: there's nothing to be frightened -at in marriage. I know that I'm not quite a lady's man; but we shall get -on better together by and bye. You see, my dear, I've always been used -to manly sports or to seeking adventures where some glory was to be -gained—such as knocking down watchmen, or fighting with highwaymen, or -killing my man in a duel—and things of that kind. But I've no doubt it -will be pleasant enough to be tied to your apron-string—if the string -itself isn't too tight." - -Adelais raised her fine blue eyes, turned them for a moment upon her -admirer, and then again fixed them on the carpet, a profound sigh -escaping her bosom at the same time:—but that glance, so involuntarily -thrown towards her companion, was one of sudden curiosity—as if she were -anxious to discover by the expression of his face whether he were indeed -serious in the insufferable rhodomontade with which he sought to -captivate her. - -"There—that's right, my dear gal," said Curtis, mistaking the motive of -that rapid look which was directed towards him; "don't stand on any -ceremony with me. In a few hours more we shall be husband and wife——" - -Adelais shuddered visibly. - -"Ah! I like this little modesty—it's all very proper on your part," -continued the disgusting young man; "but it will soon wear off—naturally -so." - -The young lady now started indignantly—her countenance became -crimson—and then large tears burst from her eyes. Curtis caught hold of -her hand—but she withdraw it,—she literally snatched it away, as if from -the jaws of a hideous reptile. - -"You needn't think I'm going to eat you, Miss," said Frank in a surly -tone. "But I forgot to tell you what an adventure I had just now with a -couple of highwaymen," he continued in a milder voice. "You see, as me -and my uncle and Howard were coming down the lane, I fell back a -little—just to think of you, my dear, at leisure; when all of a sudden -three chaps jumped over a bank, and pointed their blunderbusses at me. I -didn't care a rap for that; but taking the riding-whip by the thin end, -I knocked down three of them—one after the other—with the handle-part, -you know, and had just made up my mind to tackle the fourth, when my -horse reared and threw me. For a moment I was insensible; and during -that time the fifth scoundrel picked my pocket of the two thousand -pounds which I may call the purchase-money of your own dear pretty -little self." - -"Sir!" exclaimed Adelais, aloud: "is it your intention to insult me?" - -And, without waiting for a reply, but yielding to the tide of anguish -and indignation which now impelled her, she rushed from the room. - -Rosamond, who, while engaged in conversation with her father, Sir -Christopher, and Mr. Howard at the other end of the room, had never -ceased to watch her sister with the most lively interest, now -immediately followed the almost heart-broken girl. - -The moment the sisters had reached their bed-chamber, Adelais threw -herself into Rosamond's arms, exclaiming, "I will never marry him—I will -die sooner!" - -"Has he offended you?" inquired Rosamond, affectionately embracing her -disconsolate sister. "But I need not ask! Your changing countenance—your -anxious looks—your convulsive movements—and then your tears, while he -sate by you——" - -"Oh! my very soul revolts against him!" cried Adelais, emphatically, the -conflicts of agonising emotions painfully expressed on her countenance. -"At first—when he approached me—it required all the exertions of which -my fortitude was capable to subdue the feelings of aversion and -disgust—of bitter woe and heart-felt misery—with which I was -agitated;—but when his coarse language met my ears——Oh! Rosamond!" -exclaimed the distracted maiden, "I must fly—I must avoid this dreadful -fate—or my heart will break!" - -At this moment Mr. Torrens slowly opened the door, and entered the room. - -His countenance wore an expression which gave evidence that anger and -compunction were maintaining a fierce struggle in his breast; but the -former feeling was rapidly obtaining the ascendancy. - -"Rash—disobedient girl," he exclaimed, fixing his stern cold eyes upon -Adelais, who still clung to her younger sister, "what signifies this -folly?" - -"Spare me—spare me, my dearest father!" cried Adelais, suddenly tearing -herself from Rosamond's embrace, and falling on her knees before her -sire: "I cannot marry that horrible man!" - -Mr. Torrens bit his lip almost till the blood came. - -"Listen to me, my dear father," continued the despairing girl, joining -her hands together, while her cheeks were of marble whiteness, -unanimated by a tinge of vital colouring,—"I am your daughter, and must -obey you; but if you persist in saying, '_Receive that man as your -husband_,' it is the same as if you were to utter the word, '_Die!_' Oh! -no—you cannot—you will not sacrifice me in this cruel, cruel manner! -What have I done to offend you, that my unhappiness has become your aim? -Dearest father—relent—I implore you: on my knees, I beseech you to save -me ere it be too late!" - -"Adelais," exclaimed Mr. Torrens, arming himself with that fatal -sophistry which led him to believe that _he_ was the only judge of what -was fitting for his daughter's welfare and happiness,—"Adelais, rise—I -command you!" - -The miserable girl obeyed, but staggered with vacillating and irregular -steps towards a chair, in which she sank, the agony of her soul now -expelling all power of reflection from its seat. - -"I have gone too far to retreat—even if I were so disposed," continued -Mr. Torrens. "Your happiness will be ensured by this union." - -"Her happiness, father!" said Rosamond, reproachfully. "Oh! no—never, -never!" - -"Undutiful girl!" cried the venal parent: "do you league with your -sister against me? I tell you that Adelais is about to become the wife -of a young man who can give her an enviable position in society, and who -at his uncle's death, will inherit an immense fortune. It is true that -Mr. Curtis is somewhat rough in manner and incautious with his tongue; -but perfection exists not in this world. To be brief, this marriage -shall take place—it _must_—I dare not retract." - -"Father, one word more," exclaimed Adelais, suddenly recovering her -power of thought and speech—those powers which anguish had for a few -minutes completely subdued: "you are about to _sell_ your daughter to -that man—he boasted to me that a few thousand pounds were the -purchase-money—and hence my abrupt departure from the room." - -"The phrase was wrong—ill-chosen—coarse," ejaculated Mr. Torrens, -evidently smarting under this announcement: "but we must not judge of -words themselves—we must only look to the motives of him who utters -them. Mr. Curtis is incapable of insulting you——" - -"Oh! you know not how abhorrent is the coarseness of his language!" -cried Adelais, bursting into a torrent of tears. - -"You provoke me beyond the limits of human patience!" ejaculated Mr. -Torrens, stamping his foot with rage. "But no more of this. You know my -will—prepare to obey it. I ask you not to return to the drawing-room -to-night;—to-morrow morning let me hope that you will show yourself a -dutiful daughter towards a father who is anxious only to ensure your -prosperity." - -Mr. Torrens then imprinted a cold kiss upon the fair foreheads of -Adelais and Rosamond, and hastily quitted the apartment. - -For some minutes after the door had closed behind them, the sisters sat -gazing upon each other in the silence of painful and awful reflection. - -Yet beautiful were they in their sorrow; for the unstudied attitudes and -abandonment of limb which such a state of mind produces, gave additional -grace to the just proportions of their forms, and imparted an expression -of the most tender interest to the perfect composition of their -features. - -"Sister," at length said Rosamond, in a soft and mournful tone, as she -approached Adelais, "what will you do?" - -This question suddenly aroused the unhappy young lady to a sense of the -urgent necessity of adopting some decisive measure. - -Winding her arms around Rosamond's neck, she said, "I must fly from my -father's house—I must abandon the paternal dwelling. O heaven! wherefore -am I reduced to so fearful an alternative?" - -"Speak not only of yourself, beloved Adelais," murmured Rosamond -chidingly; "for you know that my fate, as well as my heart, is -inseparably linked with thine." - -"Oh! I doubt not the sincerity of your love for me, dearest sister," -exclaimed Miss Torrens; "but I tremble at the idea of making you the -companion of my flight. Have we not read in books, dear girl, that -London is a dreadful place—abounding in perils of all kinds, and -concealing pit-falls beneath its most pleasant places? Oh! Rosamond, you -are so young—so very young to quit your father's home and venture in -that great city of danger and crime!" - -"But with you as my companion, Adelais, I shall have courage to meet all -those perils of which you speak," responded Rosamond, the tones of her -voice becoming so gentle, so melting, and so persuasive, that never did -she seem so dear—so very dear unto her sister as at this moment. - -And now all hesitation was banished on the part of Adelais:—it was -settled—it was determined—Rosamond should become the companion of her -flight! - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - THE ELOPEMENT. - - -Let us now return to Rainford, whom we left on his way back to London, -after having so triumphantly eased the vain-glorious Mr. Frank Curtis of -the two thousand pounds. - -The highwayman,—for such indeed was the gay, generous-hearted, and brave -Tom Rain,—scarcely condescended to bestow even a chuckle of satisfaction -upon a victory so easily won—an exploit so readily accomplished. - -He would have valued the prize far more, had it been obtained by means -of hard blows and as the result of a desperate encounter; for the love -of adventure was inherent in his disposition—and he had often courted -danger in his life, for the exciting pleasure of freeing himself from -its intricacy. - -Having galloped his good steed to the beginning of the lane, he checked -its celerity, and then proceeded at a moderate pace along the main road -to the public-house where Curtis and himself had stopped to purchase -their cigars about half an hour previously. - -Riding up to the door of the little establishment, the highwayman leapt -from his horse, and threw the reins to a dependant of the place who was -conversing with the postillion of a chaise and pair that had stopped at -the door. - -When Rainford sauntered leisurely up to the bar, with his chimney-pot -hat set rakishly on one side, his white coat comfortably buttoned up, -and his riding-whip in his hand, the landlord instantly recollected him -again, and observed, as he drew the liquor which the highwayman ordered, -"Back to London, sir, to-night?" - -"Yes," replied Tom carelessly: "I just escorted my friend as far as -Torrens Cottage, and shall now get home again." - -These words produced a visible emotion on the part of a tall, handsome, -dark-haired young man, who was also standing at the bar. He was well -protected by a great coat against the cold; and Tom therefore very -naturally concluded that he was the traveller journeying in the -post-chaise outside. - -"Torrens Cottage!" cried the landlord. "Why, I do declare that's the -very ticket. This gentleman here was just making inquiries whether I had -any one that could take a note there in a confidential way." - -The landlord blurted forth this announcement without heeding the -significant coughs and "hems" of the tall young gentleman, who seemed -greatly annoyed that the object of his call at the public-house should -thus be published to the very first stranger who entered the place after -him. - -"You should keep a closer tongue in your head," said Tom Rain. "How do -you know what harm might be done by your stupidity in letting out the -gentleman's business in this kind of way? Fortunately, I am not the kind -of fellow to do mischief; and in this case, it may be, that I can effect -some good." - -"Indeed!" exclaimed the tall young gentleman, his countenance suddenly -exchanging the expression of annoyance which the landlord's garrulity -had excited, for one indicative of hope and joy. - -"Yes—I think so," said Tom. "But we must have a few words in private." - -"Walk into the parlour, gentlemen," cried the landlord. "There's no one -in that room at present." - -Rainford and the tall stranger followed this suggestion; and when the -door was closed behind them, the highwayman said, "If I am not very much -mistaken, you must be the gentleman whom that lying braggart Frank -Curtis is endeavouring to cut out?" - -"My name is Clarence Villiers, sir," was the guarded reply. - -"And you are the lover of Mr. Torrens's eldest daughter," continued -Rainford. "Now do not waste valuable time by reflecting whether you -shall make me your confidant, or not. I am disposed to serve you: tell -me how I can do it." - -"You will excuse me," said Villiers in a polite but somewhat reserved -tone, "if I first request to be informed to whom I have the honour of -speaking." - -"Captain Sparks," was the immediate reply. "I happen to know old Sir -Christopher and his precious nephew; and I rode down with them nearly as -far as the cottage. But I did not accept their invitation to go in—for -particular reasons of my own. You may, however, suppose that I am well -acquainted with all the particulars of this infamous case. Miss Adelais -Torrens loves Mr. Clarence Villiers and hates Mr. Frank Curtis; but Mr. -Frank Curtis is the successful suitor with the mercenary father, because -a certain five thousand pounds——" - -"Enough, Captain Sparks!" ejaculated Villiers. "I see that you do indeed -know all. And will you serve me in this strait?" - -"I will—honour bright!" cried Tom. "There's my hand upon it. Now say -what is to be done. It is already past eight o'clock," he added, after a -hasty reference to a handsome gold watch which he drew from his fob. - -"My object was to obtain an interview with Adelais in some way or -another, and urge her to—to——" - -"Speak plainly, my friend," cried Rain. "To elope with you. Well?—do you -mean every thing that is honourable?" - -"As God is my judge," said the young man solemnly. "I have frequently -urged the dear girl to consent to a clandestine marriage with me; but -the purity of her soul has ever revolted against a course which she -considers to be marked with duplicity." - -"Where would you convey her during the interval that must necessarily -elapse before you can marry her?" asked Rainford. "Because, as she is a -minor, I suppose you could not obtain a special licence without her -father's consent." - -"I have an aunt in London devoted to my interests," answered Clarence; -"and she would receive her with even maternal affection until I should -acquire a legal right to protect her." - -"So far, so good," observed Tom. "And yet a young lady eloping at night -with a young man——remember, I am only speaking for the good of both of -you." - -"I had foreseen that difficulty also," said Villiers hastily. "The fact -is, Adelais and her sister Rosamond are so linked together by the -tenderest bonds of affection, that the one would not move a step -unaccompanied by the other." - -"The devil!" cried Rainford: "two ladies to carry off! That increases -the embarrassment of the business. Now it is very clear that it is -perfectly useless for us to send a messenger down with a note: it would -be intercepted by the father. But if you will sit down and write what -you choose, I will undertake to have it delivered to the young lady -herself." - -"You?" exclaimed Clarence joyfully. - -"Yes: what I promise, I will perform," said Rainford. "Follow my -directions—and all shall go well." - -Clarence rang the bell, ordered writing materials, and in a few minutes -completed a note to his beloved Adelais, which he read to his companion. - -"Seal it," said Tom; "because it may pass through the hands of another -person, after it leaves mine, and before it reaches Miss Torrens." - -This suggestion was instantaneously complied with; and Rainford secured -the letter about his person. - -"Now," he continued, after a moment's reflection, "do you proceed with -the chaise down the lane, and stop as near the cottage as is consistent -with prudence. I shall retrace my way there at once. Fear nothing—but -wait patiently at the place where you pull up, until I make my -appearance." - -Villiers promised to fulfil these instructions; and Rainford, having -taken a temporary leave of him, remounted his horse and galloped towards -Torrens Cottage. - -The highwayman had his plan of proceeding ready digested by the time the -white walls of the building, rendered particularly conspicuous in the -starlight, met his view. - -Alighting from his horse at a distance of about a hundred yards, he tied -the animal to a tree, and then repaired towards the dwelling. - -Having reconnoitred the premises, he speedily discovered the stable; -and, to his infinite joy, a light streamed from one of the windows of -that building. - -Leaping over the palings which separated the kitchen-garden from the -adjacent fields, Tom Rain proceeded to the stable; and there, as he had -anticipated, he found John Jeffreys, the groom, busily employed with his -master's horses. - -John was alone; and his surprise was great, when, upon being tapped on -the shoulder, he turned round and beheld the highwayman. - -"Silence!" said Tom in a whisper; "we have no time to lose in idle -chatter. Here's five guineas for you; and you must get this note -conveyed secretly to Miss Torrens—Adelais, the eldest—you know." - -"It shall be done, sir," replied Jeffreys. "I am already far in the good -graces of the housemaid; the cook is old and deaf; and so there's no -fear of my not being able to succeed." - -"Good. And you will bring me the answer up the lane, where I shall wait -for you." - -"And how can you read it, when you get it?" demanded Jeffreys. "The -night is not quite clear enough for that." - -"The answer will be a verbal one—_yes_ or _no_," replied Tom. - -Jeffreys promised that no delay should occur on his part; and Rainford -retraced his steps to the spot where he had left his horse. - -Many novelists would here pause for the honest but somewhat tedious -purpose of detailing all the reflections which passed through the mind -of Rainford during the mortal half-hour that elapsed ere the sounds of -footsteps upon the hard soil announced the approach of some person. But -as we do not wish either to spin out our narrative with dry material, or -to keep the reader in any unnecessary suspense, we will at once declare -that at the expiration of the aforesaid thirty minutes John Jeffreys -made his appearance at the appointed spot. - -"What news?" demanded Tom impatiently. - -"All right——" - -"And the answer?" - -"Is _yes_." - -"That's well!" exclaimed Rainford. "You may now go back, John. All that -I require of you is done." - -"But I have something to say to _you_, sir," observed the servant. "Just -now, Sir Christopher sent for me up into the parlour to give me some -orders; and I heard Mr. Frank, who is uncommon far gone with -brandy-and-water, making a boast to the lawyer-fellow that he'd walk all -round the grounds to see that every thing is safe. It seems that the -lawyer has been twitting him about his little business with you just now -up the lane, you know; and so Mr. Frank is as bumptious as possible. I -only thought I'd better tell you of this—in case you've any business in -hand that's likely to keep you about the place." - -"I am very much obliged to you, John," said Rainford. "Here's another -five guineas for you—and I shall not forget to speak to Old Death in -your favour. But you had better get back as soon as you can, for fear -you should be missed." - -Jeffreys thanked the highwayman for the additional remuneration, and -returned to the cottage. - -It was now past nine o'clock, and Rainford murmured to himself, "I -wonder how much longer they will be?" - -His horse, which was a high-spirited animal, began to grow impatient of -this long stoppage; and he himself shivered, in spite of the good great -coat, with the nipping chill. - -Another quarter of an hour elapsed; and, to the infinite joy of Tom -Rain, he suddenly beheld two female figures, well muffled in shawls and -furs, emerge from the obscurity at a short distance. - -"All right, ladies," he said, in as loud a voice as he dared use -consistently with prudence. - -Adelais and Rosamond hurried towards him, as affrighted lambs to their -shepherd; and yet, when they were close to him, they seemed unable to -utter a word. - -"Fear not, ladies," exclaimed the highwayman. "I am the friend to whom -Mr. Villiers alluded in his note." - -"Save us, then, sir—save us," said Adelais, in an urgent and imploring -tone; "for Mr. Curtis saw us leave the house: he was in the garden——" - -At that moment the sounds of voices were heard in the direction of the -cottage; and they were evidently approaching. - -"Hasten up the lane, young ladies—hasten, for God's sake!" said Tom -Rain. "Mr. Villiers is there with the post-chaise—and I will remain here -to bar the way." - -Adelais and Rosamond could not even give utterance to the thanks which -their hearts longed to express: terror froze the words that started to -their lips; and, not daring to glance behind them, they hurried up the -lane. - -Tom Rainford now mounted his horse, and took his station in the middle -of the way; for several persons were rapidly approaching from the house. - -In a few moments they were near enough to enable Rainford to catch what -they said. - -"The disobedient—self-willed girls!" exclaimed one, whom Tom was right -in supposing to be Mr. Torrens. - -"But wasn't it fortunate that I twigged them?" said Curtis. "Egad!——" - -"It will be much more fortunate if we overtake them," observed the -lawyer. - -"Bless me!—I'm out of breath," cried Sir Christopher. "I wish John would -come on with the horses. Did you tell him, Frank?" - -"To be sure I did. We cannot fail to overtake them. But, poor things! -suppose that highwayman should fall in with them—and me not there to -defend them!" - -"I think it would be all the same——" - -Howard was interrupted by a sudden ejaculation on the part of Mr. -Torrens, who was a few paces in advance of the others, but who now -abruptly came to a full stop. - -"What is it?" demanded Curtis, shaking from head to foot, in spite of -all the liquor he had imbibed during the day. - -"Some ruffian on horseback—there—don't you see?" exclaimed Mr. Torrens. -"But I am not afraid of him: his presence here is in some way connected -with my daughters." - -And the incensed father rushed furiously towards the highwayman. - -"Stand back!" cried Tom in his clear, stentorian voice; and this command -was followed by the sharp clicking of the two pistols which he cocked. - -"The robber!" exclaimed Frank Curtis, clinging to the coat-tails of Mr. -Torrens, who had retreated a few paces at the ominous sound of the -pistols. "At him, my dear sir—at him! I'm here to help you." - -"Villain—give up the two thousand pounds, and we will let you go—on _my_ -honour as a knight!" ejaculated Sir Christopher, keeping as far remote -as he deemed prudent from the sinister form which, wrapped in the white -great coat, and seated composedly on the tall horse, seemed, amidst the -obscurity of the night, to be a ghost disdaining to touch the earth. - -"I am very much obliged to you for your kindness, Sir Christopher," said -Tom: "but I am not at all in fear of the necessity of purchasing my -liberty at any price whatsoever. I however give you every one due -warning, that the first who tries to pass this way——" - -"Scoundrel! my daughters—where are they?" vociferated Mr. Torrens. - -"That's it—give it him!" cried Frank Curtis. "I'll be at him when you've -done." - -"Go on at once," cried Howard. - -"And why are you standing idle there?" - -"Because it is not my business to interfere." - -"Well done, lawyer!" exclaimed Tom. "No fees can recompense you for an -ounce of lead in the thigh: for if I do fire, I shall only try to -lame—not kill." - -"Mr. Curtis—Sir Christopher—will you not help me to arrest this villain -who beards us to our very faces?" exclaimed Torrens, in a towering -passion. - -And again he rushed forward, while Frank Curtis beat a precipitate -retreat behind his uncle. - -"Stand back! or, by God, I'll fire!" thundered Rainford, suddenly -spurring his horse in such a manner that the length of the animal was -made to block up nearly the entire width of the bye-lane. - -"You dare not murder me!" cried Torrens. "My daughters will escape!"—and -he attempted to pass in front of the horse. - -But by a skilful manœuvre, Rainford baffled him—arrested his -progress—and kept him at bay, using all the time the most desperate -menaces, which he did not, however, entertain the remotest idea of -putting into execution. - -"Mr. Curtis, sir—will you help me?" cried the infuriate father. "My -daughters are escaping before your very eyes—you are losing your -bride——" - -"And you the rest of the money that was to have purchased her," said -Rainford coolly. "Mercenary old man, you are rightly punished." - -With these words, the highwayman suddenly wheeled his horse round, and -disappeared in a moment. - -He had succeeded in barring the way for upwards of ten minutes against -the pursuers of the two fugitive ladies; and he calculated that in less -than half that time they must have reached the post-chaise which -Clarence Villiers had in readiness to receive them. - -Jeffreys had purposely delayed getting the horses out; and even when he -did appear with them, several minutes had elapsed since the highwayman -had left the path free to those who thought fit to avail themselves of -the services of the animals. - -These were only two—Mr. Torrens and Jeffreys himself: the latter -volunteering his aid for the purpose of misleading and embarrassing the -father, rather than of assisting him. - -Frank Curtis affected to be suddenly taken very unwell: Sir Christopher -was really so; and the lawyer, although by no means a coward, did not -see any utility in hazarding his life against such a desperate character -as Captain Sparks (for by that denomination only did he know Tom Rain) -appeared to be. - -Thus, while the knight, his nephew, and the attorney retraced their -steps to the cottage, leading back the horses which had been brought out -for their use, Mr. Torrens and Jeffreys galloped away towards London. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - LADY HATFIELD AND DR. LASCELLES.—ESTHER - DE MEDINA. - - -Two days after the incidents which we have just related, Dr. Lascelles -received a message, at about noon, requesting him to repair immediately -to the dwelling of Lady Hatfield, who was seriously indisposed. - -He obeyed this summons with more than usual alacrity; for ever since -Lord Ellingham had made him his confidant, the curiosity of the worthy -doctor had been strangely piqued by the unaccountable fact that Lady -Hatfield should reject the suit of a man whom she not only professed to -love, but who was in every way worthy of her. - -On his arrival at Lady Hatfield's residence, he was surprised to learn -from Miss Mordaunt that his patient was too unwell to quit her couch; -and when he was introduced into Georgiana's bed-chamber, he found her -labouring under a strong nervous excitement. - -In accordance with the sacred privilege of the physician, he was of -course left alone with her ladyship; and, seating himself by the side of -the bed, he questioned her in the usual manner. - -Georgiana explained her sensations; but, although she alluded to nothing -beyond those physical details which directly came within the province of -the medical man, still Dr. Lascelles had no difficulty in perceiving -that the _mind_, rather than the _body_, was affected. - -"My dear Lady Hatfield," he said, in as gentle and mild a tone as he -could possibly assume, "it is in the power of the physician to -administer certain drugs which may produce temporary composure; and an -opiate will encourage a good night's rest. But you will forgive me for -observing that the condition in which I now find you, is scarcely one to -which medical science will apply successfully—_unless_ seconded by aid -of a more refined and delicate nature." - -"I do not comprehend you, doctor," exclaimed Georgiana, casting upon him -a glance of mingled surprise and uneasiness. - -"I mean, Lady Hatfield," resumed Lascelles, "that you are the prey to -some secret grief—some source of vexation and annoyance, which medical -skill cannot remove. The aid of a refined and delicate nature to which I -refer, is such as can be afforded only by a sincere and confidential -friend. Without for an instant seeking to draw you into any -explanations, it is my duty to assure you that unless your mind be -tranquillised, medicine will not successfully encounter this nervous -irritability—this intense anxiety—this oppressive feeling of coming -evil, without apparent cause—and this sleeplessness at night,—of all -which you complain." - -"I thank you most sincerely for this candour and frankness on your part, -doctor," said Lady Hatfield, after a long pause, during which she -appeared to reflect profoundly. "To deny that I _have_ suffered much in -mind during the last few days, were to practise a useless deception upon -you. But I require no confidant—I need not the solace of friendship. To -your medical skill I trust for, at all events, a partial restoration to -health; and travelling—change of scene—the excitement of visiting -Paris—or some such means of diversion, will effect the rest." - -These last words were, however, accompanied with a deep sigh—as if upon -the lady's soul were forced the sad conviction that happiness and -herself must evermore remain strangers to each other. - -"I should scarcely recommend travelling in the winter time, Lady -Hatfield," observed Doctor Lascelles. "Surely our own city can afford -that constant variety of recreation and those ever-changing scenes of -amusement, which may produce a beneficial effect upon your spirits." - -"I abhor the pleasures of the fashionable world, doctor," said Georgiana -emphatically. "There is something so cold in the ostentation of that -sphere—so chilling in its magnificence—so formal in its pursuits—so -ceremonial, so thoroughly artificial in all its features and -proceedings, that when in the crowded ball-room or the brilliant -_soirée_, I even feel more _alone_ than when in the solitude of my own -chamber." - -"And yet, Lady Hatfield, throughout the extensive circle of your -acquaintance," said the physician, "there must be at least a few endowed -with intellectual qualifications adapted to render them agreeable. The -most pleasant parties, composed of these select, might be given: your -rank—your wealth—your own well-stored mind—and, pardon me, your -beauty,—would ensure to you——" - -"Oh! doctor," exclaimed Georgiana, "I can anticipate the arguments you -are about to use; but, alas! my mind appears to be in that morbid state -which discolours all objects with its own jaundiced thoughts. I speak -thus candidly to you, doctor—because I am aware of your friendship for -me—I know also that the admission I have now made will be regarded by -you as a solemn secret—and perhaps your advice," she added, slowly and -hesitatingly, "might prove beneficial to me. But, no—no," she exclaimed, -her utterance suddenly assuming great rapidity, "it is useless to say -more: advice cannot serve _me_!" - -"There is scarcely a possible case of human vexation, grief, or -annoyance, which cannot be relieved by the solace, or ameliorated by the -counsel, of a friend," observed Doctor Lascelles, dwelling emphatically -upon his words. - -Georgiana played abstractedly with the long, luxuriant hair which -streamed over her shoulders, and spread its shining masses on the white -pillow; but at the same time the snowy night-dress rose and sank rapidly -with the heavings of her bosom. - -"Believe me, Lady Hatfield," continued Doctor Lascelles, after a short -pause, during which he vainly awaited a reply to his former observation, -"I am deeply grieved to find that one who so little deserves the sting -of grief or the presence of misfortune, should suffer from either the -sharpness of the first, or the menaces of the latter. But is it not -possible, my dear lady,—and now, forgive me if I avail myself of the -privilege of a physician to ask this question,—is it not possible, I -say, that you have conjured up phantoms which have no substantial -existence? Remember that there are certain conditions of the mind, when -the imagination becomes a prey to the wildest delusions——" - -"Doctor, I am no monomaniac," said Lady Hatfield abruptly. "But justly, -indeed—oh! most justly and truly did you ere now assert that I little -deserve the sting of grief! If through any crime—any weakness—any -frailty on my part, I had merited the sore displeasure of heaven—at that -time——" - -She checked herself abruptly, and burst into a flood of tears; and for a -few moments her countenance appeared to be the sad index of a breaking -heart. - -"Doctor," she observed at length, "pardon this manifestation of weakness -on my part; but my spirits are so depressed—my mind feels so truly -wretched, that I cannot control these tears. Think no more of what we -have been saying: I wish that we had not said so much! Leave me a -prescription, and visit me again in the course of the day." - -Lascelles wrote out a prescription, and then took his departure, -wondering more than ever what secret cause of grief was nourished in the -bosom of Lady Hatfield. - -That this secret grief was the motive which had induced or compelled her -to refuse the hand of Lord Ellingham, he could not doubt:—that it arose -from no _crime_—_weakness_—nor _frailty_ on her part, he felt assured; -inasmuch as her own words, uttered in a paroxysm of mental anguish and -not in a calm moment when deception might be her aim, proved that -fact;—and that it was associated with any physical ailment, he could -hardly believe. Because, if she were the prey to an insidious disease, -no feeling of shame—no false delicacy could possibly force a woman of -her good sense and naturally powerful mind to keep such a fact from her -physician. What, then, could be that secret and profoundly-rooted cause -of grief? Was it monomania of some novel or very rare kind? The -curiosity of the man of science was keenly whetted: he already began to -suspect that he was destined to discover some new phase in the -constitution of the human mind; and he resolved to adopt all the means -within his reach to solve the mystery. - -This curiosity on his part was by no means of a common, vulgar, or base -nature. Considering the profession and researchful disposition of the -man, it was a legitimate and entirely venial sentiment. It was not that -curiosity which loves to feed itself upon the materials of scandal. It -was purely in connexion with the thirst of knowledge and the passion for -discovery which ever animated him in that sphere of science to which he -was so enthusiastically devoted. - -The doctor was proceeding homewards, when he encountered Lord Ellingham. -The Earl was walking by the side of an elderly gentleman, on whose arm -hung a tall and graceful young lady; but the physician did not -immediately catch a glimpse of her countenance, as it was turned towards -Lord Ellingham, who was speaking at the moment. - -The nobleman shook Lascelles warmly by the hand, and immediately -introduced his companions by the names of Mr. and Miss de Medina. - -The doctor bowed, and then cast a glance at the countenance of the young -lady: but he started as if with a sudden pang,—for in the beautiful -Jewess who now stood before him, he beheld—apparently past all -possibility of error—the same female who a few days previously had -attempted self-destruction in South-Moulton Street. - -But, almost simultaneously with this unexpected conviction, the solemn -promise which he had made to Tom Rainford (whom he only knew on that -occasion by the denomination of Jameson) flashed to the mind of Doctor -Lascelles; and, instantly composing himself, he uttered some observation -of a general nature. - -"I am glad we have thus met, doctor," said Lord Ellingham, who had not -noticed his sudden, but evanescent excitement; "for my friend Mr. de -Medina is a comparative stranger in London, and it is as well," added -the nobleman, with a smile, "that he should become acquainted with the -leading physician of the day." - -"I believe that no one enjoys health so good as to be enabled to -dispense altogether with our assistance," said the physician, bowing in -acknowledgment of the compliment thus paid him. "The most perfect piece -of mechanism must necessarily need repair sometimes." - -"Decidedly so," said Lord Ellingham. "But we will not assert that -physicians are necessary evils, doctor—in the same sense as the lawyers -are." - -"I appeal to Miss de Medina whether his lordship be not, by implication, -too hard upon my profession," exclaimed Lascelles, laughing. - -"His lordship," replied Esther, "was yesterday riding a very -high-spirited horse; and had he been thrown in such a manner as to have -incurred injury, I question whether he would have believed that his -medical attendant was an evil, however necessary." - -"I owe you my profound gratitude for this powerful defence of my -profession, Miss de Medina," said the doctor, who had thus succeeded in -compelling the young lady to speak. - -He then raised his hat and passed on; but he had not proceeded many -paces, when he was overtaken by Lord Ellingham, who had parted from his -companions to have a few minutes' conversation with the doctor. - -"That is a lovely girl to whom your lordship has just introduced me," -said Lascelles. - -"And as good in heart as she is beautiful in person," exclaimed the -nobleman. - -"Ah!" cried the physician, with a sly glance: "is Lady Hatfield already -forgotten?" - -"Far from it!" said Arthur, his tone instantly becoming mournful and his -countenance overclouded. "You cannot think me so fickle—so vacillating, -doctor. No: the image of Georgiana is never absent from my memory. I had -only encountered Mr. de Medina and his daughter a few minutes before we -met you; and, not only am I bound to show them every attention in my -power, as they are tenants of mine and were strongly recommended to me -by mutual friends at Liverpool—but also I am glad to court intellectual -society, wherever it can be found in this city, to distract my mind from -the _one_ topic which so constantly and so painfully engrosses it." - -"Are Mr. de Medina and his daughter such very agreeable companions?" -inquired Lascelles, apparently in quite a casual manner. - -"Mr. de Medina is a well-informed, intelligent, and even erudite man," -answered the Earl. "His daughter is highly accomplished, sensible, and -amiable. I feel an additional interest in them, because they belong to a -race whom it is the fashion to revile and often to despise. It is true -that my acquaintance with Mr. de Medina and his daughter scarcely dates -from a month back; but I have already seen—and if not, I have _heard_ -enough of them, to know that he is the pattern of integrity and the -young lady the personification of every virtue." - -[Illustration] - -The doctor made no reply. Certain was he that he "could a tale unfold" -which would totally undeceive his noble friend relative to the character -of Esther. But his lips were sealed by a solemn vow; and, even if they -were not, there was no necessity to detail how he had been summoned to -attend on the young lady and rescue her from the fate and crime of -suicide,—how he had good cause to know that she was either a wife or a -mistress, but he suspected the latter,—how he had seen that splendid -form stretched half-naked upon the bed, the bosom heaving convulsively -with physical and mental agony, and the exquisitely modelled arms flung -wildly about with excruciating pain,—how the large black eyes had been -fixed imploringly upon him, and the vermillion lips had parted to give -utterance to words demanding from himself the fiat of her life or -death:—there was no necessity, we say, to narrate all this, even if no -vow had bound him to silence, because Lord Ellingham sought not that -lovely Jewess as a wife. - -That Esther de Medina and the lady of South Moulton Street were one and -the same person, the doctor felt convinced. The tones of Esther's voice, -flowing upon the ear with such silver melody,—the two rows of brilliant, -beautiful teeth,—the face—the hair—the eyes,—the configuration of the -form, with its fine but justly proportioned bust and slender waist,—all -were identical! But what chiefly amazed—nay, bewildered the physician, -was the calm indifference with which Esther had met his rapid, searching -glance,—the admirable composure with which she had encountered him—the -firmness, amounting almost to an insolent assurance, with which she had -spoken to him,—never once quailing, nor blushing, nor manifesting the -slightest embarrassment, but actually treating him as a person whom she -saw for the first time, and as if he were totally unacquainted with any -thing that militated against her character;—all this was naturally a -subject of ineffable astonishment and wonder. - -Lord Ellingham accompanied the doctor to Grafton Street; and when they -had entered the house, Dr. Lascelles made him acquainted with Lady -Hatfield's indisposition. - -"She is ill!" ejaculated Arthur, profoundly touched by these tidings: -"and I dare not call even to inquire concerning her!" - -"And wherefore should you not manifest that courtesy?" asked the doctor. - -"I must forget her—I cannot demonstrate any farther interest in her -behalf!" exclaimed the nobleman. "If there really exist reasons which -render it impossible or imprudent for her to change her condition by -marriage, it is useless for us to meet again:—and if she be swayed by -caprice, I cannot suffer myself to be made the sport of her whims." - -"There are the wanton, wilful whims of a coquette," said the doctor, -impressively; "and there are the delusions of the monomaniac—but the -latter are not the less conscientiously believed, although they be -nothing save delusions." - -"Is it possible?" cried Arthur, a sudden ray of hope breaking in upon -him. "Can Georgiana be subject to phantasies of that nature? Oh! then -she can be cured, doctor—and your skill may yet make us happy!" - -"Rest assured, my dear Earl," was the reply, "that all the knowledge -which I possess shall be devoted to that purpose." - -"My eternal gratitude will be due to you, doctor," said the nobleman. -"With your permission I shall return in the evening to learn from you -how your charming patient progresses." - -The physician signified his assent; and Lord Ellingham took his -departure, new hopes animating his soul. - - - - - CHAPTER XV. - THE OPIATE. - - -It was about seven o'clock in the evening when Dr. Lascelles returned to -Lady Hatfield's house on Piccadilly Hill. - -Miss Mordaunt, whom he encountered in the drawing-room, informed him -that Georgiana had become more composed and tranquil since she had taken -the medicine which he had prescribed for her, and that she had requested -to be left alone, as she experienced an inclination to sleep. - -"It is nevertheless necessary that I should see her," said the -physician. - -Julia accordingly hastened to her friend's apartment, and speedily -returned with the information that Lady Hatfield was not yet asleep, and -that the doctor might walk up. - -Lascelles immediately availed himself of this permission; but he -found—as indeed he had fully anticipated—that his patient was rapidly -yielding to the invincible drowsiness produced by the opiatic medicine -which he had prescribed for her. - -He seated himself by the bed-side, asked her a few ordinary questions, -and then suffered her to fall undisturbed into slumber. - -At length she slept profoundly. - -A smile of satisfaction played for a moment upon the lips of the -physician; but it yielded to a sombre cloud which almost immediately -succeeded it—for a powerful struggle now suddenly arose in the breast of -Dr. Lascelles. - -In his ardent devotion to the science which he professed, he longed to -satisfy himself on certain points at present admitting of doubt and -involved in uncertainty: and, on the other hand, he hesitated at the -accomplishment of a deed which he could not help regarding as a gross -abuse of his privileges as a medical man. By virtue of the most sacred -confidence he was admitted to the bed-chamber of his female patient; and -he shrank from exercising that right in an illegitimate way. - -Then, again, he reasoned to himself that if he were enabled to ascertain -beyond all doubt that no physical cause induced Lady Hatfield to shrink -from marriage, he must fall back upon the theory that she had become -subject to certain monomaniac notions which influenced her mind to her -own unhappiness; and he at length persuaded himself that he should be -acting for her best interests, were he to put into execution the project -which he had already formed. - -Such an opinion, operating upon a man who possessed but few of the -delicate and refined feelings of our nature, and who was ever ready to -sacrifice all considerations to the cause of the medical science, -speedily banished hesitation. - -Having convinced himself that Georgiana slept so profoundly that there -was no chance of awaking her, he locked the door, and again approached -the bed. - -And now his sacrilegious hands drew aside the snow-white dress which -covered the sleeping lady's bosom; and the treasures of that -gently-heaving breast were exposed to his view. But not a sensual -thought was thereby excited in his mind: cold and passionless, he -surveyed the beauteous spectacle only as a sculptor might measure the -proportions of a marble Venus or Diana the huntress. - -And not a trace of cancer was there: no unseemly mark, nor mole, nor -scar, nor wound disfigured the glowing orbs that, rising from a broad -and ample chest, swelled laterally over the upper part of the arms. - -Yet wherefore did Dr. Lascelles abruptly start? and why did his -countenance suddenly assume an expression of surprise—or rather of -mingled doubt and astonishment—as his glances wandered over the fair -bust thus exposed to his view? - -Carefully and cautiously refastening the strings of the night-dress, he -now assumed the air of a man who had discovered some clue to a mystery -hitherto profoundly veiled; and unhesitatingly did he resolve to clear -up all his doubts and all his newly-awakened suspicions. - - * * * * * - -Five minutes afterwards Dr. Lascelles left the room, Lady Hatfield still -remaining buried in a deep slumber. - -His countenance expressed surprise mingled with sorrow; and, -cold—phlegmatic though his disposition was, he could not help murmuring -to himself, "Is it possible?" - -Having just looked into the drawing-room, to take leave of Miss -Mordaunt, and state that his patient was progressing as favourably as -could be expected, Dr. Lascelles returned home. - -Lord Ellingham was waiting for him; and this interview the physician now -dreaded. - -"Are your tidings favourable, doctor?" was the nobleman's hasty and -anxious inquiry. - -"I regret, my dear Earl," answered Lascelles, "that I should have -encouraged hopes——" - -"Which are doomed to experience disappointment," added Arthur bitterly. -"Oh! I might have anticipated this—unfortunate being that I am! But how -have you ascertained that your ideas of this morning are unfounded? How -have you convinced yourself that Georgiana is _not_ a prey to those -mental eccentricities which your skill might reach? Has she revealed to -you her motive for refusing—for rejecting me,—_me_ whom she professes to -love?" - -"She has revealed nothing, my lord," replied the doctor solemnly. "But I -have satisfied myself that monomania and Lady Hatfield are total -strangers to each other." - -"Then must I abandon all hope!" exclaimed the Earl; "for it is evident -that I am the victim of a ridiculous caprice. And yet," he added, a -sudden thought striking him, "I will see her once again. She is ill—she -is suffering—perhaps she will be pleased to behold me—and who knows——" - -"Not this evening, my lord—not this evening!" cried the doctor, stopping -the nobleman who had seized his hat and was darting towards the door. -"Lady Hatfield sleeps—and she must not be disturbed." - -But Lord Ellingham was too full of his new idea to pay any attention to -the physician; and he rushed from the house. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI. - THE LOVER AND THE UNCLE. - - -A few minutes brought Arthur to the residence of Lady Hatfield; and his -hand was already upon the knocker, when a sudden idea struck him—and he -asked himself, "How can I demand admission to the bed-chamber of -Georgiana?" - -The madness of his project now being evident to him, he mournfully -turned away, when the door suddenly opened, and a tall, stout, -fine-looking man, dressed as a country squire, issued from the house. - -Lord Ellingham immediately recognised Sir Ralph Walsingham, Georgiana's -uncle, with whom he was well acquainted. The baronet also perceived the -Earl; and they shook each other cordially by the hand. - -"Were you about to call?" inquired Sir Ralph. - -"I was," answered Lord Ellingham. "Hearing of Lady Hatfield's illness——" - -"She is better—much better," interrupted the baronet. "I have just left -her; and she has not long awoke from a profound and refreshing slumber." - -"I am delighted to hear these tidings," said the nobleman. - -The servant, seeing that Sir Ralph had stopped to converse with the -Earl, still kept the door open; and, as Arthur had admitted that he was -about to call, there was now no alternative save for him to leave his -card. - -The baronet then took his arm; and they walked away together. - -"Georgiana is a singular being," observed Sir Ralph; "and although she -is my niece, yet there are times when I hardly know what to make of her. -She is too intellectual—too steady—to be capricious; and still——" - -"My dear Sir Ralph," interrupted the Earl, "you have touched upon the -very topic concerning which I longed to speak the moment I met you. Will -you accompany me to my abode, and favour me for a short period with your -attention to what I am so anxious to confide to you?" - -"With pleasure," was the reply. "But I have already learnt from -Georgiana's lips the principal fact to which your lordship doubtless -alludes; and it was indeed for the purpose of introducing the subject -that I ere now made the remark relative to the occasional -incomprehensibility of her character. Let us not, however, continue the -discourse in the public street." - -The nobleman and the baronet speedily reached the mansion of the former -in Pall-Mall West; and when they were seated in an elegantly furnished -apartment, with a bottle of claret before them, they renewed the -conversation. - -"Georgiana," said the baronet, "has informed me that your lordship has -honoured her by the offer of your hand; and I need hardly assure you how -rejoiced I should feel to welcome as a relative one whom I already -esteem as a friend. But—to my inexpressible surprise—I find that—that——" - -"That she has refused me," exclaimed the Earl;—"refused me without -assigning any reason." - -"I cannot think how it is to be accounted for," continued the baronet; -"but Georgiana has invariably manifested a repugnance to the topic of -marriage whenever I have urged it upon her. Of course, as her uncle—and -double her age, my lord—I can give her advice just as if I were her -father; and for some years past I have recommended her to consider well -the propriety of obtaining a legal protector, her natural ones being no -more. But all my reasoning has proved unavailing; and if your lordship -cannot persuade my obstinate niece," he added, with a sly laugh, "then -no one must hope to do so." - -"I will frankly admit to you," said the Earl, "that my happiness depends -on your niece's decision. I am no hero of romance—but I entertain so -sincere, so ardent an affection for Lady Hatfield, that my life will be -embittered by a perseverance in her refusal to allow me to call her -mine." - -"She will not persist in this folly—she cannot," exclaimed Sir Ralph -emphatically. "It is a mere whim—a caprice; and indeed I have often -thought that her disposition has somewhat altered ever since a dreadful -fright which she sustained six or seven years ago——" - -"Ah!" said the Earl. "What was the nature of the incident to which you -allude?" - -"I must tell your lordship," returned the baronet,—"unless, indeed, you -are already acquainted with the fact,—that Hampshire was for three or -four years—between 1818 and 1821 or 22—the scene of the exploits of a -celebrated highwayman——" - -"You allude to the Black Mask, no doubt?" interrupted Lord Ellingham -interrogatively. - -"Precisely so," answered the baronet. "The Black Mask—as the villain was -called—was one of the most desperate robbers that ever infested the -highways. He would stop the stage-coach as readily as he would a single -traveller on horseback; and such was his valour as well as his -extraordinary skill, that he defied all attempts to capture him." - -"I remember reading his exploits at the time," said the Earl. "The most -conflicting accounts were reported concerning him. Some declared he was -an old man—others that he was quite young; but I believe that all agreed -in ascribing to him a more forbearing disposition than usually -characterises persons of his class." - -"I will even go so far as to assert that there was something chivalrous -in his character," exclaimed the baronet. "He invariably assured -travellers whom he stopped, that he should be grieved to harm them; but -that if they provoked him by resistance, he would not hesitate to punish -them severely. If he fell in with a carriage containing ladies, he never -attempted to rifle them of their jewellery and trinkets, but contented -himself with simply demanding their purses. Those being surrendered, he -would gallop away. I never heard of any unnecessary violence—nor of any -act of cruelty which he perpetrated. Neither did I ever meet a soul who -could give anything like a credible description of his countenance. The -invariable black mask which concealed his features, and from the use of -which he derived his name, seemed a portion of himself; and although -gossips did now and then tell strange tales about his appearance, they -were all too contradictory to allow a scintillation of the real truth to -transpire." - -"But in what manner was the Black Mask connected with the fright which -Lady Hatfield experienced some years ago?" asked the Earl impatiently. - -"You are perhaps aware that the late Earl and Countess of Mauleverer -possessed a country-seat between Winchester and New Alresford—not very -far distant from Walsingham Manor, my own rural abode," said Sir Ralph. -"It must have been seven years ago that Georgiana, who always preferred -Mauleverer Lodge to the town-mansion—even during the London season,—was -staying alone there—I mean so far alone, that at the time there were no -other persons at the Lodge save the servants. Well, one night the Black -Mask broke into the place—the only time he was ever known to commit a -burglary—and such was the fright which Georgiana experienced, that for -weeks and months afterwards her family frequently trembled lest her -reason had received a shock." - -"It must indeed have been an alarming situation for a young lady—alone, -as it were, in a spacious and secluded country dwelling——" - -"And Georgiana was but eighteen, I think, at the time," interrupted Sir -Ralph Walsingham. "She certainly experienced a dreadful fright; and -although, thank God! her reason is as unimpaired as ever it was, still -we cannot say that the sudden shock might not have produced some strange -effect which may probably account for the otherwise inexplicable -whimsicality—for I can denominate it nothing else——" - -"Oh! I thank you, my dear Sir Ralph, for this explanation," cried Lord -Ellingham, in the joy of reviving hope. "Yes—I see it all: your niece -experienced a shock which has produced a species of idiosyncratic effect -upon her; but the constant kindness—the unwearied attention of one who -loves her, and whom she loves in return, will restore her mind to its -vigorous and healthy condition. To-morrow will I visit her again:—Oh! -how unkind—how ungenerous of me to remain away so long!" - -There was a pause, during which Arthur gave way to all the bright -allurements of the pleasing vision which he now conjured up to his -imagination. - -At length Sir Ralph Walsingham felt the silence to be irksome and -awkward; and he ventured to break it. - -"We were talking just now, my lord," he said, "of the famous highwayman -known as the Black Mask. He disappeared from Hampshire very suddenly; -and the old women declared that his time being out, he was carried off -by the Devil, who had protected him against all the devices and snares -imagined by the authorities to capture him." - -"And perhaps the highwayman who robbed Lady Hatfield the other day," -observed Lord Ellingham, "may be the very one who rendered himself so -notorious in Hampshire a few years ago?" - -"Your lordship judges by the fact that the scoundrel who stopped my -niece near Hounslow wore a black mask," said the baronet; "but the -generality of robbers on the high roads adopt that mode of disguise. -Thank heaven! public depredators of the kind are becoming very scarce in -this country!" - -In such conversation did the nobleman and the baronet while away the -time until eleven o'clock, when the latter took his leave, and Arthur -retired to his chamber to dream of the charming but incomprehensible -lady who had obtained such empire over his soul. - - - - - CHAPTER XVII. - THE MYSTERIOUS LETTER.—JACOB. - - -On the same evening that the interview between the Earl of Ellingham and -Sir Ralph Walsingham took place, as narrated in the preceding chapter, -the following scene occurred at the house of Toby Bunce in Earl Street, -Seven Dials. - -Mrs. Bunce was alone in the dirty, dingy back room, which could not be -said to be lighted, but merely redeemed from total darkness, by the -solitary candle that stood on the table; and she was busily employed in -lighting the fire. - -Having succeeded in this object, she placed the kettle on the grate to -boil; and then took from a cupboard a bottle half full of gin, two -common blue mugs, a broken basin containing a little lump sugar, and a -couple of pewter spoons, all of which articles she ranged around the -brass candle-stick with a view to make as good a show as possible. - -Then she seated herself by the fire, and consulted an old silver-watch -which she drew from her pocket, and which was in reality the property of -her husband, whom she would not however trust with it under any -consideration. - -"Eight o'clock," she said aloud in a musing tone. "He can't be very long -now; and Toby won't be in till ten. If he is, I'll send him out -again—with a flea in his ear," she added, chuckling at the idea of her -supremacy in her own domestic sphere. "I wonder who'd be ruled by a -feller like Toby? Not me, indeed! I should think not. But I wish old -Bones would come," she continued, with a glance of satisfaction at the -table. "Every thing does look so comfortable; and I've put 'em in such a -manner that the light falls on 'em all at once. Toby never would have -thought of that. It's only us women that know what tidiness is." - -Tidiness indeed! The windows were dingy with dirt—the walls were -begrimed with smoke and dust—the floor was as black as the deck of a -collier—and the cob-webs hung like filthy rags in the corners of the -room. - -Scarcely had Mrs. Bunce completed her survey of the place and its -arrangements, when a low knock summoned her to the street-door; and in a -few moments she returned, accompanied by Old Death. - -The hideous man was very cold; and, seating himself as near the fire as -possible without actually burning his knees, he said, "Now, Betsy my -dear, brew me a mug of something cheering as soon as possible." - -"That I will, Ben," returned Mrs. Bunce, in as pleasant a tone of voice -as she could assume; then she bustled about with great alacrity until -the steaming liquid was duly compounded, and Old Death had expressed his -satisfaction by means of a short grunt after the first sip. - -"Is it nice, Ben?" asked Mrs. Bunce endearingly. - -"Very. Now make yourself some, Betsy; and sit down quietly, for we must -have a talk about you know what. Business has prevented me from -attending to it before; but now that I have got an evening to spare—and -Toby is out of the way——" - -"Oh! you know very well, Ben," interrupted Mrs. Bunce, "that I can -always manage _him_ as I like. He's such a fool, and so completely under -my thumb, that I shouldn't even mind telling him I'd been your mistress -for years before I was his wife." - -"Keep your tongue quiet, Betsy—keep your tongue quiet," exclaimed Old -Death, with a hyena-like growl. "Never provoke irritation unnecessarily. -But let's to business. Jacob is out on the watch after Tom Rain; and I -told the lad to come up here before ten. And now about this letter," he -continued drawing one from his pocket-book: "it proves, you see, that -the child is well-born—and if the address had only been written on the -outside, we might make a good thing of the matter." - -"Just so," observed Mrs. Bunce. "When Mr. Rainford called this afternoon -he was so particular in asking me whether I had found any papers about -the woman's clothes; but I declared I had not—and he was quite -satisfied. He paid me, too, very handsome for the funeral expenses and -all my trouble. If he was to know about that letter, Ben?" - -"How can he know?" exclaimed Old Death impatiently. "Now what I think," -he continued in a milder tone, "is just this:—the woman Watts was -reduced to such a desperate state of poverty, that she wrote this letter -to the mother of the boy Charles——" - -"Why, of course," interrupted Mrs. Bunce. "She says as much _in_ the -letter." - -"Will you listen to me?" growled Old Death angrily: "you don't know what -I was going to observe." - -"Don't be cross, Ben: I won't stop you again," said the woman in a -coaxing tone. - -"Mind you don't, then," ejaculated Bones, allowing himself to be -pacified. "Well, this Sarah Watts wrote that letter, as I was saying, -with the intention of sending it, no doubt, either by post or by an -acquaintance to the lady in London. I think that is plain enough. Then, -when she had finished writing it, something evidently made her change -her mind, and resolve on coming up to London herself. This is also -plain; because, if it wasn't so, why did the letter never go—and why did -she come to London?" - -"How well you do talk, Ben," said Mrs. Bunce. - -"I talk to the point, I hope," observed Old Death. "Now how stands the -matter? Here is a very important letter, wanting two main things to -render it completely valuable to us. The first thing it wants is the -name of the place from which it would have been dated, had it ever been -sent: and the second thing it wants is the name of the lady to whom it -was intended to be sent. In a word, it wants the address of the writer -and the address of the lady to whom it was written, and who is the -mother of that boy Charles." - -"What good would it do you to have the address of the writer, since she -is dead and buried?" asked Mrs. Bunce. - -"Because I could then visit the place where the woman was when she wrote -this letter," replied Old Death. "I could make inquiries concerning the -late Sarah Watts; and I know too well how to put two and two together -not to arrive at some certainty in the long run." - -"To be sure!" ejaculated Mrs. Bunce. "How clever you are, dear Ben." - -"I don't know about being clever, Betsy my dear," returned the hideous -old man; "but _this_ I do think—that I'm rather wide awake." - -And then he chuckled so heartily, while his toothless jaws wagged up and -down so horribly, that he appeared to be a corpse under a process of -galvanism; for if a dead body could be made to utter sounds, they would -not be more sepulchral than those which now emanated from the throat of -Old Death. - -Mrs. Bunce considered it to be her duty to chuckle also; and her -querulous tones seemed a humble accompaniment to the guttural sounds -which we have attempted to describe. - -At length the chuckling ceased on both sides; and Mrs. Bunce replenished -the mugs with hot gin-and-water. - -"But even as it is," suddenly observed Old Death, after a hasty glance -at the letter, which he now slowly folded up and returned to his greasy -pocket-book,—"but even as it is, we may still make something of the -business. If we could only find a clue to the mother of that boy, it -would be a fortune in itself. I tell you what we must do!" he exclaimed -emphatically. - -"What?" asked his ancient mistress. - -"Get that boy into our own keeping," replied Bones, with a sly smile; -"and then we can pump him of all he may happen to know concerning the -deceased Sarah Watts." - -"Excellent!" cried Mrs. Bunce, clapping her hands, "But how will you -find out where Mr. Rainford lives?" - -"Jacob is after him. For several reasons I want to know as much as I can -about that strange fellow. The very day that I made the bargain with him -about smashing all the flimsies he might bring me, he wrote an -extraordinary note to the very lady whom he had robbed the night before; -and he made her go into the witness-box at Bow Street and deliberately -perjure herself to serve him. Then he starts off to Pall Mall, when the -Jewess prisoner was brought up, and delivers a note at the house of Lord -Ellingham; and Lord Ellingham comes straight down to the Police-Court -and swears black and blue that the Jewess is innocent." - -"And was she?" asked Mrs. Bunce. - -"That's more than I can say," answered Old Death; "seeing that I know -nothing at all about the affair. Well, these two strange things, showing -an extraordinary influence on the part of Rainford over Lady Hatfield on -the one side, and Lord Ellingham on the other, have quite puzzled me. He -is an enigma that I must solve." - -"Does not Tullock know all about him?" demanded Mrs. Bunce. - -"Tullock knows only that Tom took to the road some years ago, down in -the country; for Tullock then did at Winchester just what I do now in -London: only," added Bones, with a knowing glance and a compressed smile -of the lips which puckered up his hideous face into one unvaried mass of -wrinkles,—"only, my dear Betsy, Tullock never had the connexion which I -have. He had no correspondent at Hamburg to whom he could send over the -notes that are stolen, and stopped at the Bank: he had no well-contrived -places to receive goods—places," continued Old Death, emphatically, -"which have baffled the police for thirty years, and will baffle them as -long again——if I live." - -"And why should you not, dear?" said Mrs. Bunce coaxingly. - -"Because I cannot expect it," replied Old Death abruptly. "However—you -know what I have done for myself, and in what way I manage my business. -You only, Betsy dear, are acquainted with my secrets." - -"And you are as safe with me as if I was deaf and dumb and unable to -write," rejoined the woman. - -"I know that—I know that," said Bones, hastily: then in a slower tone he -added significantly, "Because if there was a smash, we should all go -together, Betsy." - -"Lor! Ben—don't talk in that way—don't!" cried Mrs. Bunce. "Let's -see—what were we saying? Oh! you was telling me about Mr. Rainford." - -"I was only observing that Tullock lost sight of him for some years, and -knows nothing that happened to him till he turned up in London the other -day." - -"I don't suppose Rainford is his proper name?" observed the woman -inquiringly. - -"Tullock never told me," answered Bones; "and as he and Tom are thick -together, I can't ask him too many questions. The fact is, Rainford will -prove the most useful man I ever had in my service, as I may call it; -and I must not risk offending him. See how neatly he did that job the -other night—how beautifully he came off with the two thousand!" - -"And it never got into the papers either," observed Mrs. Bunce. - -"Not a bit of it!" cried Old Death, with another chuckle. "Tom -calculated all that beforehand—or he never would have been fool enough -to go so quietly and introduce himself as Captain Sparks to the very -people he meant to rob. Ha! ha! clear-headed fellow, that Tom! He first -ascertained the precise character of all the parties concerned; and he -knew that he might plunder them with impunity. Sir Christopher and Mr. -Torrens were sure not to talk about it, for fear of the whole -disgraceful story about the purchase of the daughter coming out. Frank -Curtis is a cowardly boaster, who would not like it to be known that a -single highwayman had mastered him;—the lawyer was sure to speak or hold -his tongue, just as his rich client Sir Christopher ordered him;—and -Jeffreys was safe. Tom weighed all this, and boldly introduced himself -to them without the least attempt at disguising his person. Oh! It was -capitally managed—and Tom is a valuable fellow!" - -Mr. Bones seldom spoke so long at a time; but he was carried away by his -enthusiastic admiration of Tom Rainford; and he accordingly talked -himself so effectually out of breath, that a fit of coughing supervened, -and he was nearly choked. - -Betsy, however, slapped him on the back; and the old man gradually -recovered himself—but not before his fierce-looking eyes were dimmed -with the scalding rheum which overflowed them. - -"You are afraid to offend Mr. Rainford," said Mrs. Bunce, after a pause, -"and yet you think of taking away that boy from him." - -"Pshaw!" cried Old Death, whom the coughing-fit had put into a bad -humour; "do you think I should steal the child and then tell him of it?" - -"Of course not," said Mrs. Bunce. "I am a fool." - -"You are indeed, Betsy," rejoined Old Death. "And yet you are the -_least_ foolish woman I ever knew; or else I never should have made you -my confidant as I have done. And now I tell you, Betsy, that I have many -great schemes in my head; and I shall require your assistance. In the -first place we must get hold of that boy Charley somehow or -another—provided we can find out Rainford's abode, which I think is -scarcely doubtful. Then we must act upon all the information we can -glean from the child, and find out who his mother really is. In the next -place I must ascertain all I can concerning this Jewess—this Esther de -Medina. If she _did_ steal the diamonds, she is the cleverest female -thief in all England—for she has managed to get clean off with her -prize; and such a woman would be invaluable to me. Besides, if she -pursues the same game—supposing that she has really begun it—she will -want my assistance to dispose of the property; and she will gladly -listen to my overtures. Such a beautiful creature as I understand she -is, could insinuate herself anywhere, and rob the best houses in London. -Ah! Betsy, I must not sleep over these matters. But, hark! That's -Jacob's knock!" - -"Poor Jacob!" cried Mrs. Bunce, with a subdued sigh: "If he only knew——" - -"Silence, woman!" cried Bones in a furious manner. "Go to the door." - -Mrs. Bunce was frightened by the vehemence of Old Death's manner, and -hastened to obey his command. - -In a few moments she returned, followed by Jacob, who seemed sinking -with fatigue. - -"Well," said Old Death impatiently, "what news?" - -"Give me something to eat first—for I am famished," cried Jacob, -throwing himself upon a chair. - -"Not a morsel, till you tell me what you have done!" exclaimed Bones -angrily, as he rose from his seat. - -"I will _not_ speak a word on that subject before I have had food," said -Jacob, his bright eyes flashing fire, and a hectic glow appearing on his -pale cheeks. "You make me wander about all day on your business, without -a penny in my pocket to buy a piece of bread——" - -"Because he who has to earn his supper works all the better for it," -ejaculated Bones, his lips quivering with rage. "Now speak, Jacob—or, by -God——" - -"You sha'n't bully me in this way," cried the lad, bursting into tears, -and yet with all the evidences of intense passion working upon his -countenance. "By what right do you treat me like a dog? You fling me a -bone when you choose—and you think I will lick your hand like a spaniel. -I tell you once for all, I won't put up with it any longer." - -"You won't, Jacob—you won't, eh?" said Old Death, in a very low tone; -but at the same time he dealt the lad such a sudden and severe box on -the ears, that the poor youth was hurled heavily from his chair on the -hard floor. - -But, springing up in a moment, he flew like a tiger at Old Death, whose -small amount of strength was exhausted by the effort which it had -required on the part of so aged a man to deal such a blow; and Jacob -would have mastered him in another instant, had not Mrs. Bunce -interfered. - -With a loud scream, she precipitated herself on the lad; and, seizing -him in her bony arms, forced him back into his seat, saying—"There, -Jacob—for God's sake be quiet; and I'll give you something nice -directly." - -The lad made no reply, but darted a look of vindictive hate towards Old -Death, who had sunk back exhausted on the chair which he had ere now -quitted. - -Then Mrs. Bunce hastened to the cupboard and produced a loaf and the -remains of a cold joint, which she placed before Jacob, who, enraged as -he was at the treatment he had just received, could not help wondering -within himself how Toby's wife had become so liberal as to place the -viands without reserve at his disposal. - -The woman seemed to penetrate his thoughts; for she said, "Eat as much -as you like, Jacob: don't be afraid. I sha'n't mind if you eat -it—_nearly_ all." - -The lad smothered his resentment so far as not to permit it to interfere -with his appetite; and he devoured his supper without once glancing -towards Old Death, who on his side appeared unable to recover from the -surprise into which Jacob's unusually rebellious conduct had thrown him. - -A profound silence reigned in that room for several minutes. - -At length Jacob made an end of his meal; and then Old Death spoke. - -"And so this is the reward," he said, "which I receive for all my -kindness towards you. Without me, what would have become of you? -Deserted by your parents—a foundling—a miserable infant, abandoned to -the tender mercies of the workhouse authorities——" - -"Would that I had died _then_!" interrupted Jacob emphatically. "You -make a boast of having taken care of me—of having reared me—such a -rearing as it has been!—and yet I wish you had left me to perish on the -workhouse steps where, you say, you found me. I have tried to be -obedient to you—I have done all I could to please you; but do you ever -utter a kind word to me? Even when I succeed in doing your bidding, what -reward is mine? Blows—reproaches—sorry meals, few and far between——" - -"Well, well, Jacob—I think I have not _quite_ done my duty towards you," -said Old Death, who in reality could have murdered the boy at that -moment, but who was compelled to adopt a conciliatory tone and manner in -order to retain so useful an auxiliary in his service: "but let us say -no more about it—and things shall be better in future. Instead of having -no regular place of abode and sleeping in lodging-houses, you shall have -half-a-crown a week, Jacob, to hire a little room for yourself." - -"There—Jacob; only think of that!" cried Mrs. Bunce, in a tone -expressive of high approval of this munificence on the part of Old -Death. - -"And you shall have threepence every day for your dinner, Jacob," -continued Bones, "in addition to your breakfast and tea which you always -get here." - -"But will you keep to that arrangement?" asked the lad, considerably -softened by this prospect, which was far brighter than any he had as yet -beheld. - -"I will—I will," replied Old Death. "And if you have brought me any good -news to-night, I'll give you ten shillings—ten whole shillings, Jacob—to -buy some nice clothes and shoes in Monmouth Street." - -"Put down the money!" cried Jacob, now completely won back to the -interests of the crafty old villain who knew so well how to curb the -evanescent spirit of his miserable slave. - -"I will," said Bones; and he laid four half-crowns upon the table. - -"That's right!" exclaimed Jacob, his eyes glistening with delight at the -prospect of fingering such a treasure: then he glanced rapidly at his -ragged apparel, with a smile on his lip that expressed his conviction of -shortly being able to procure a more comfortable attire. - -"Go on," said Old Death. "What have you done?" - -"When Mr. Rainford went away from here this afternoon," returned Jacob, -"I followed him at a good distance—but not so far off that I stood a -chance of losing sight of him. Well, first he went to Tullock's; and -there he stayed some little time. Then he walked into an eating-house in -the Strand; and at that place he stopped about a couple of hours—while I -walked up and down on the other side of the way. At length he came out, -with another gentleman——" - -"What was he like?" demanded Old Death. - -"A fine—tall—handsome man—with dark hair and eyes," responded Jacob. - -"I don't know him," said Bones. "Never mind;—go on with your story, and -let it be as short as possible." - -"Well," continued the lad, "this gentleman and Mr. Rainford walked -together as far as Bridge Street, Blackfriars: and there they parted. -The gentleman went into a house in Bridge Street—and Mr. Rainford -crossed the bridge. It was now getting dusk; and I was obliged to keep -closer to him. But he seldom turned round—and when he did, I took good -care he should not see me. So, on he went till he came to the Elephant -and Castle; and close by there he suddenly met a lady with a dark veil -over her face, and holding a little boy by the hand. They stood and -talked for a moment just opposite a shop-window which was lighted up; -and I saw well enough that the little boy was the very same that was -brought here the other night by the woman who was buried so quietly this -morning." - -"Then we know that the boy is still in _his_ care!" ejaculated Old -Death, exchanging significant glances with Mrs. Bunce. "Go on, Jacob. I -can see that the ten shillings will be yours." - -"Yes—that they will!" cried the lad, apparently having forgotten the -blow which he had recently received. "Well, so I knew the boy at once, -though he is much changed—nicely dressed, and already quite plump and -rosy. Mr. Rainford patted him on the face, and the boy laughed and -seemed so happy! Then Mr. Rainford gave the lady his arm; and they -walked a little way down the road till they came to a jeweller's shop, -where they stopped to look in at the window. Mr. Rainford pointed out -some article to the lady; and they went into the shop, the lady still -holding the little boy carefully by the hand. The moment they were safe -inside, I watched them through the window; and I saw Mr. Rainford -looking at a pair of ear-rings. In a few moments he handed them to the -lady. She lifted up her veil to examine them; and I knew her again in a -moment. But who do you think she was?" - -Old Death shook his head. - -"No—I don't think you ever could guess," cried Jacob. - -"Then who is she?" demanded Bones impatiently. - -"The Jewess who was accused of stealing the diamonds at Bow Street the -other day," answered Jacob. - -"Esther de Medina!" cried Old Death. "The very person we were speaking -about just now!" he added, exchanging another glance with Mrs. Bunce. -"But go on, Jacob—go on." - -"I was rather surprised at that discovery," continued Jacob; "because I -thought it so odd that both Mr. Rainford and the Jewess should have been -had up on the very same day at Bow Street, on different charges, and -that both should have got off." - -"It is strange—very strange!" murmured Old Death. "But did you find out -Tom Rain's address? That is the chief thing _I_ want to know." - -"Don't be in a hurry," said Jacob: "let me tell my story in my own way. -Well, so the Jewess seemed to like the ear-rings; and she gave Mr. -Rainford such a sweet smile—Oh! what a sweet smile—as he pulled out his -purse and paid for them. I don't know how it was—but it really went to -my heart to think that such a beautiful lady should——" - -"Never mind what you felt, Jacob," interrupted Old Death abruptly. "Make -an end of your story." - -"Well, the ear-rings were put into a nice little box, with some wool to -keep them from rubbing; and the lady drew down her veil again, before -she left the shop." - -"Now, Jacob—tell me the truth," said Old Death: "did either Tom Rain or -the Jewess take any little thing—at a moment, you know, when the -jeweller's back was turned——" - -"No—not a thing!" cried the lad emphatically. "I can swear they did -not." - -"You are quite sure?" observed Old Death. - -"As sure as that I'm here; for I never took my eyes off them from the -moment they entered the shop till they came out," responded Jacob. "And -when they did come out, I was very near being seen by Mr. Rainford—for I -was then in front of them; and I had only just time to slip into the -shade of the wall between the windows of the jeweller's shop and the -next one. Then I heard Mr. Rainford say to the Jewess, '_Now this little -present is in part a recompense for the diamonds which I made you give -up_.'—The lady said something in a low tone; but I could not catch -it—and they went on, the little boy with them." - -"Then she did steal the diamonds!" exclaimed Old Death. "But how could -such a man as Lord Ellingham feel any interest in her? and how could he -have been induced to perjure himself to save her?" - -"Isn't it strange?" said Mrs. Bunce. - -"I'm all in the dark at present," returned Bones. "But go on, Jacob." - -"They walked on till they came to a street on the left-hand side; and -into that street they turned. I never lost sight of them once; but two -or three times I thought Mr. Rainford would have twigged me. He did not, -though; and I at last traced them to a house in Lock's Fields——" - -"Lock's Fields—eh?" cried Old Death. "Can they possibly be living -there?" - -"They are," returned Jacob; "and I can take you over to the very street -and the very house any time you like." - -"Well done!" ejaculated Bones, indulging in another long and hearty -chuckle, which was echoed by Mrs. Bunce; and then they both rubbed their -hands gleefully to think that they had made such important discoveries -through the medium of Jacob. - -Fresh supplies of grog were brewed; and the lad was not only permitted -to consign the four half-crowns to his pocket, but was also regaled with -an occasional sip of gin-and-water from Mrs. Bunce's own mug. - -The return of Toby at ten o'clock prevented any further conversation on -the interesting topics which had previously been discussed; for Mrs. -Bunce's husband was not admitted to the entire confidence of his spouse -and of Mr. Benjamin Bones, alias Old Death. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - THE LOVERS. - - -It was noon; and Lady Hatfield sate alone in her drawing-room. - -She felt herself so much better, and Dr. Lascelles had that morning so -earnestly recommended her to quit the bed-chamber and seek the change of -scene which even a removal from one apartment to another ever -affords—especially to an invalid, that she had not hesitated to follow -her own inclination and his advice, both of which were fully of accord. - -Her uncle, Sir Ralph Walsingham, was announced shortly after Lady -Hatfield had descended to the drawing-room. - -"My dear Georgiana," exclaimed the honest and kind-hearted man, as he -entered the apartment, "I am delighted to find you here. But why are you -alone? Where is Miss Mordaunt?" - -"In the parlour below," replied Lady Hatfield. "Julia has a visitor," -she added with an arch smile, in spite of the melancholy which still -oppressed her mind. - -"A visitor!" ejaculated the baronet. "Sir Christopher Blunt, I'll be -bound!" - -"You have guessed rightly, my dear uncle. But how——" - -"How should I know anything about it?" interrupted Sir Ralph. "Surely, -Georgiana, you must be too well acquainted with your friend's -disposition to suppose that she could have possibly held her tongue -relative to the presumed attachment of the worthy knight? Why, all the -time she was at the Manor, did she not absolutely hurl Sir Christopher's -name at every soul whom she could engage in conversation? Was it not -'Sir Christopher had told her _this_ last season,' and 'Sir Christopher -had assured her _that_?' and did she not go much farther than merely to -hint that Sir Christopher was dying for her? For my part, I was sick of -Sir Christopher's name. But now I suppose he has come to lay his title -and fortune at her feet, as the newspapers say: or else what could -possibly signify a visit at so unseemly an hour as mid-day?" - -[Illustration] - -"It will be an excellent match for Julia," remarked Georgiana, by way of -saying something. "She is not one of those who believe that marriage -should be only a convention of hearts, and not of worldly interests." - -And as Lady Hatfield made this observation, a profound sigh escaped her -bosom. - -"What means that sigh, niece?" demanded the baronet. "Are you envious of -Miss Mordaunt's worldly-mindedness? I am convinced you are not. By the -way, I met Lord Ellingham last evening——" - -"His lordship left his card," said Lady Hatfield, casting down her eyes, -while her bosom again rose and fell with a long and painfully-drawn -sigh. - -"Georgiana," exclaimed Sir Ralph, seating himself by the side of his -niece, and taking her hand in a kind manner, "your conduct towards that -young Earl is not just—is not generous—is not rational." - -"Oh! my dear uncle," cried Lady Hatfield, starting wildly, "for heaven's -sake renew not the discussion of last evening!" - -"Pardon me, my dear niece," said Sir Ralph, affectionately but firmly, -"if I give you pain by referring to the topic of that discussion. I am -your nearest relation—I am a widower, and childless: you know that my -property is extensive—and my fond hope has ever been, since the death of -your aunt Lady Walsingham, that you would marry, and that your children -should inherit those estates and that fortune which I can bequeath to -whomsoever I will. But you refuse to accept the hand of a man who is -every way worthy of you—you reject an alliance which, in every human -probability, would be blessed by a progeny to whom my wealth and yours -may alike descend. Nay—interrupt me not, dear Georgiana: I am old enough -to be your father—I love you as if you were my daughter—and I have your -welfare deeply at heart. To speak frankly, I had a long conversation -last evening with Lord Ellingham——" - -Georgiana's attention was for an instant broken by a wild start of -despair. - -"My God! what signifies this grief, Georgiana?" asked her uncle. "I -thought to give you pleasure by the assurance I was about to -disclose,—an assurance which conveys to you the unalterable fidelity of -the Earl's affection—his readiness to bury in oblivion any little whim -or caprice which induced you to subject him to the humiliation of a -refusal the other day—his determination to study your happiness so -entirely that any cloud of melancholy, or unknown and unfounded -presentiment—any morbid feeling, in a word—which hangs upon your mind, -shall speedily be dissipated. Such are his generous intentions—such are -his tender aspirations, Georgiana:—can you reject his suit again?" - -This appeal, made to the unhappy lady by an individual who, though only -related to her by the fact of having married her mother's sister, had -still ever manifested towards her the sincerest affection and -friendship,—this appeal, we say, came with such overwhelming force upon -the mind of Georgiana, that she knew not how to answer it. - -"You consent, Georgiana—you consent!" exclaimed Sir Ralph, entirely -mistaking the cause of her profound silence; and, starting up, he rushed -from the room before her lips could give utterance to a syllable that -might have the effect of stopping him. - -"Merciful God! what does he mean to do?" cried Georgiana, clasping her -hands together, while a species of spasmodic shuddering came over her -entire frame. - -Hasty footsteps approached the door. - -Wildly did the unhappy lady glance around her—with the terrified and -imploring air of one whom the officers of justice were about to fetch to -the scaffold. - -The door flew open: Georgiana averted her eyes;—but at the next moment -her hands were grasped in those of another, and warm lips were pressed -upon each fair hand of hers—and for a single instant there streamed -through her whole being the electric warmth of ineffable delight, hope, -and love! - -She sank back upon the sofa whence she had risen: her eyes, which for a -moment had seemed to lose the faculty of sight, were involuntarily -turned toward the Earl of Ellingham, who was kneeling at her feet;—and -simultaneously her uncle's voice, sounding like the knell of destiny -upon her ears, exclaimed, "I told you she had consented, Ellingham: be -happy—for Georgiana is yours!" - -The door of the apartment was then closed hastily; and Lady Hatfield now -knew that she was alone with her lover. - -"Oh! my dearest Georgiana," murmured Arthur, still pressing the lady's -hands in his own, "how happy have you at length made me—and how can I -ever express the joy which animates me at this moment! My heart dances -wildly with joy and gratitude; and all the anguish which I have lately -experienced, is forgotten—as if it never had been. Indeed, my beloved -one, it is for me to implore your pardon—for I should not have remained -absent from you so long. But now that we are re-united, and your -indisposition has passed,——now that your mind has recovered its -naturally healthy tone,—there is nothing, my Georgiana, to interrupt the -free course of our felicity." - -Lady Hatfield was seized with a certain involuntary horror, which -completely stupefied her, as these impassioned exclamations fell upon -her ears: and vainly—vainly did she endeavour to reply. - -Arthur rose, and seating himself by her side on the sofa, passed his arm -around her slender waist, and drawing her gently towards him, said in a -subdued tone, "From this day forth, beloved Georgiana, you must have no -secrets unknown to me. Confide in me as your best and sincerest -friend—and the tenderest sympathy shall flow from my heart to solace you -in those moments of melancholy which no mortal, however prosperously -placed, can hope altogether to avoid. In the society of a husband who -will never cease to love you—whose constant care shall be to ensure your -felicity—and whose unwearied attention shall be devoted to the promotion -of your happiness, your life will be spent in an atmosphere into which a -cloud shall seldom intrude. Oh! what pictures of perfect bliss present -themselves to my imagination!" - -The enamoured nobleman pressed the fair one closer to his breast, as he -thus poured forth his soul with all the ardour of his sincere and -devoted love; and she—in spite of herself,—bewildered, stupefied, -intoxicated as she was by the suddenness with which this scene had been -brought about,—she gazed with mingled rapture and surprise upon that -handsome countenance which the glow of inward passion and ineffable joy -now rendered still more expressive. - -She felt as if the hysterical shriek, which for some moments past had -threatened to burst from her lips, were subdued—stifled by some unknown -power, whose influence was strangely sweet and consoling:—her soul -almost sickened in the bliss of that love by which she was surrounded, -and to which her woman's heart could not do otherwise than respond. - -Then, again, she felt as if she must start from his arms—reject his -love—dash down that chalice of honied happiness from which they both -were drinking deep draughts—and proclaim to him that it was all a -hideous mistake—that she had never consented to receive him as her -husband—that her uncle had committed a fearful error—and that they must -separate, never, never again to meet! - -But at the very moment when she was about to do all this, Arthur drew -her nearer to him;—his breath, sweet as that of flowers, fell on her -burning cheek—his hand pressed hers—she found herself linked to him in -heart by a spell which no mortal courage could at such a moment have -broken—then she caught herself looking into his fine eyes, and reading -the thrilling language of love that was written there—and in another -moment their lips met in one long and delicious kiss. - -"Sweet Georgiana, I adore you!" murmured Arthur, his glances speaking -more eloquently than his words. "And now there breathes not a happier -man on the earth's wide surface than I. Say, Georgiana—say, does not -that happiness which I myself experience impart pleasure to you? Could -you now do aught to torture my soul again with the agony of -suspense—with the despair of baffled hope? Believe me, my dearest angel, -that if destiny, in its malignant spite, were now to separate us—if -to-morrow I came and found you gone, or here but cold and altered,—in a -word, if any impediment were to arise to the accomplishment of our -union, I should not survive the blow! As a distracted maniac should I be -borne to a mad-cell—or, if my reason were left me, my grave would be -stained with a suicide's blood!" - -Georgiana was appalled by this terrible announcement; and in the agony -of feeling which it excited within her, she cast a glance of profound -tenderness upon the Earl, unwittingly pressing his hand at the same -time. - -"Oh! now I know that you entertain the same sentiments as myself," he -cried, mistaking those convulsive movements on her part for the tender -evidences of love: "now I know that your heart beats in unison with -mine. Oh! thrice happy day—the happiest that I ever yet have known. And -happier does it seem, too, because it has dissipated so much previous -anxiety—healed so much acutely-felt pain. Yes—dearest Georgiana—I am -almost glad that you rejected my suit the other day; for the wretched -feelings of the interval have, by contrast, made the present moment -indescribably sweet. And shall I tell you, my beloved one, that I am now -acquainted with the nature of that secret——" - -"That secret!" cried Georgiana, with a cold shudder—which Ellingham did -not perceive, for at the moment he pressed her fondly towards him. - -"Yes, dearest," he continued: "I know all the power which that secret -influence must occasionally have over you: and, believe me when I -declare that—instead of being any longer annoyed at the fact of that -circumstance having induced you to refuse my hand the other day—I deeply -sympathise with you! And if I now allude to that event—that incident -which years ago, at your late father's country-residence in Hampshire——" - -A short convulsive sob burst from Georgiana's breast. - -"Oh! pardon me—pardon me, beloved one!" cried the Earl, again imprinting -a kiss upon her lips: "I know that I was wrong to allude to an event -which you can never entirely forget. But if I mentioned it ere now—it -was for the first and the last time—and merely to convince you that he, -whom you will soon receive as your husband, is aware of that secret -influence which holds a sway over your mind; and that he implores you to -forget it—to abandon yourself only to the thoughts of that happiness -which our love and our brilliant social position must ensure us. And -now, my dearest Georgiana, no more on that head: never again let the -topic enter into our discourse—never let us allude to it, even by a -single syllable!" - -"Oh! generous—excellent-hearted—noble-minded man," exclaimed Georgiana; -"and is your love for me indeed so strong as this?" - -"Can you doubt it, dearest?" said the Earl. "If so—tell me how I can -prove its sincerity?" - -"Have you not given me a proof the most convincing that man can give to -woman?" asked Lady Hatfield, concealing her blushing countenance on -Arthur's breast. "Are you not content to receive as your wife one who——" - -"No more—no more!" exclaimed the Earl, tenderly hushing her words with -kisses. "Have we not agreed never again to allude to that topic?" - -"But one word, Arthur," said Georgiana: "only one word! Who could have -acquainted you——" - -"Your uncle, dearest," answered Lord Ellingham;—"that excellent man who -has been mainly instrumental in procuring me the happiness which I now -enjoy!" - -"My uncle!" murmured Lady Hatfield, her soul subdued with astonishment -of the most overwhelming nature. - -But the Earl's ears caught not the repetition of his answer; neither did -he notice the effect which it produced upon Georgiana;—for her head was -pillowed upon his breast—his hand clasped hers—her fine form leant -against him—and he had no thought save of the pure but intoxicating -happiness which he now enjoyed. - -Oh, Love! thou art the sweetest charm of life—the dearest solace in this -sphere of trial and vicissitude—the sentiment that, shining on us as a -star, adds the most refulgent brightness to our lot. Ambition never -imparted consolation to the breaking spirit, and places no curb on the -wild passions and insatiable vices which too often dominate the human -heart. Wealth makes its possessor envied, but also encourages the daring -of the robber, or sharpens the knife of the murderer who seeks to grasp -it. Honours engender hatred in the breasts of those who once were -friends. Pleasure is bought by gold, and must be paid for over and over -again by the health. Genius is a consuming fire: like the spur to the -gallant steed, it urges its votary on, but draws the life-blood in the -act. Glory is the eruption of the volcano—bright, majestic, and -resplendent to gaze upon—yet bearing death in its halo. But thou, O -Love! art the star which beams brighter as the gloom of this cold and -selfish world becomes darker:—thou art the sunshine of the soul—teaching -man to emulate the gentleness, the resignation, and the holy devotion of -woman—and raising woman but one remove from the nature of angels! - - - - - CHAPTER XIX. - MR. FRANK CURTIS'S PLEASANT ADVENTURE. - - -About half an hour previous to the visit of Lord Ellingham, Mr. Frank -Curtis was lounging along Piccadilly with a swell-mob kind of ease and a -Bagnigge Wells' independence, when a young female, of good figure and -pretty face, attracted his notice. - -As he was proceeding in one way, and she in another, they passed each -other; and, Mr. Curtis having nothing to do, it struck him that he would -endeavour to scrape an acquaintance with the young person alluded to. - -He accordingly turned round—hesitated for a moment how to devise an -excuse for addressing himself to her—and then, drawing forth his own -white cambric pocket-handkerchief, hurried after the object of his -interest. - -"I beg your pardon, Miss," he said, tapping her gently upon the -shoulder; "but I think you dropped this handkerchief." - -The young female immediately replied in the negative; but a smile played -upon her lips, and her blue eyes assumed an arch expression, implying -that she fully saw through the young man's trick, which was indeed -transparent enough. - -"I really thought it was yours, Miss," exclaimed Curtis, by no means -abashed. "But if it isn't—why, I must keep it till I find the -owner—that's all." - -"I rather think it is with the owner now, sir," answered the young -woman. - -"Well, my dear," said Frank, "I see you suspect my stratagem. But you -are such a sweet pretty creature, that I was resolved to introduce -myself to you. Now don't be angry, my love: I mean all I assert—and if -you will only tell me where and when I can see you again, I'm sure you -won't be sorry to make my acquaintance." - -"Upon my word!" cried the young woman, in that dubious manner which -might have meant disgust, or which might be taken as encouragement. - -Mr. Curtis, strong in his self-conceit, adopted the latter view, and -became more pressing in his attentions. - -"Now do let me see you again, there's a dear," he exclaimed, continuing -to walk by her side. "If you'll only agree to meet me this evening, I'll -take you to the play—and I'll buy you a gold chain. Money is no object -to me, my love: a man with ten thousand a-year—_and_ a peerage in the -perspective—may indulge his little fancies, I hope." - -These falsehoods, conveyed by implication, were uttered in such a tone -of assurance, that the young woman was evidently dazzled by their -splendour; and she threw a rapid, but encouraging glance towards the -mendacious Frank. - -"Come, now—will you meet me again?" he demanded. "I _was_ going over to -stay a few days with the Prime Minister of France early next month; and -I _had_ promised to pass my Christmas with his Holiness the Pope at -Rome:—but if you was only kind, now—why, there's no saying that I might -not send excuses to both of them, and stay in London for the pleasure of -seeing you." - -"But you men are such gay deceivers," said the young female. - -"Well—we may be—sometimes!" ejaculated Frank, rather looking upon the -imputation as a compliment than a reproach. "But you're too pretty for a -man to find it in his heart to deceive you, my dear. In one word, where -shall you be at seven o'clock this evening?" - -"I _did_ think of calling upon a friend which is lady's-maid in a family -living in Conduit Street," replied the young woman. - -"And if your friend is a lady's-maid, my dear," said Frank, "what may -you be?" - -"The same, sir," was the answer. - -"The very thing!" cried Curtis. "If there's one class of young ladies -that I like more than another, it is the ladies'-maids. Why, my dear, -when I left Paris—where I stayed some time with the Archbishop of that -city,—for his Grace and I are as thick as two thieves—the ladies'-maids -held a meeting, and appointed a committee to draw up an address -expressive of regret and all that sort of thing at my going away. They -did, upon my honour! But let us come to the point, my dear. Shall you be -in Conduit Street this evening at about seven?" - -"I think it's very likely, sir," was the answer. "But you must not go -with me any farther now—for I live at the house with the bay-windows -there." - -"But whose service are you in, my dear?" asked Frank. - -"In Lady Georgiana Hatfield's," replied the young woman. - -"Indeed!" cried Curtis. "I've heard an uncle of mine speak of her -ladyship, I think. But this is a great nuisance, though." - -"What is?" asked Charlotte, whom our readers may remember to have been -mentioned at the opening of this tale. - -"Why—that you and me must separate just at the moment that we are -getting so friendly together—and without a single kiss, either." - -Charlotte giggled—but said nothing. - -"You will really be in Conduit Street this evening, my dear?" urged -Frank Curtis, after a brief pause. - -"I think I shall be able to get out," responded Charlotte. "But her -ladyship is an invalid; and Miss Mordaunt—her friend, or companion, or -whatever she is—may want me to dress her for some ball or party; and so -I cannot promise for sure." - -"But you will try?" - -"Yes," murmured the young woman; and she hurried on to the front-door of -Lady Hatfield's house. - -Curtis stopped at a short distance and watched her as she tripped along, -her pretty feet and ankles peering from beneath the folds of her dress. - -Now it happened that at the very moment when Charlotte was about to ring -the bell, the front-door opened, and a livery-servant issued forth, -doubtless upon some errand. After exchanging a word or two with -Charlotte, he passed on, and the young woman entered the house. But ere -she closed the door she turned a sly glance upon Frank Curtis, who, the -instant he saw the livery-servant make his appearance, sauntered very -leisurely along in the most innocent-looking manner in the world. - -The livery-servant was now out of sight—and the pretty face of the -lady's-maid lingered at the door which she kept ajar. - -Curtis looked hastily around; and, the coast being tolerably clear at -the moment, he darted up to the entrance. - -Charlotte had merely remained on the threshold to give him a parting -glance of intelligence for the purpose of assuring him of the sincerity -of her promise that she would endeavour to meet him in the evening,—for -the young lady was of an intriguing disposition, and flattered herself -that she had captivated some very great, or at all events some very -wealthy person:—but, when she saw him thus precipitately rush towards -the entrance, she drew back and endeavoured to shut the door. - -Frank was, however, too quick for her: and he fairly thrust himself into -the hall, closing the street-door behind him. - -"For God's sake, go away, sir," said Charlotte imploringly. - -"Not till I have had one kiss—just one," cried Frank; and he threw his -arms round the lady's-maid's neck. - -"Oh! do let me go, sir—the servants will come—and I shall be ruined," -she murmured, vainly struggling with the young man, who not only -considered the adventure a capital joke, but was also excited by his -present contact with a pretty girl. - -He glued his lips to hers, and pressed her closely to him, when a loud -double-knock suddenly echoed through the hall. - -"Good heavens! what shall I do?" exclaimed Charlotte, in a tone of -despair: then, in another moment, she recovered her presence of mind, -and throwing open a side-door, said in a rapid and earnest tone, "Go in -there, sir—and, if any one comes, pray invent some excuse for your being -here—but don't compromise me." - -Curtis darted into the parlour with which the side-door communicated: -the lady's-maid hurried away: and old Mason speedily made his appearance -to answer the summons conveyed by the double-knock. - -"Is Miss Mordaunt at home?" inquired a voice which Curtis, who was -listening anxiously on the inner side of the parlour door, immediately -recognised to be that of his worthy uncle. - -"Yes, Sir Christopher—Miss Mordaunt is at home," replied Mason. "Please -to walk in, sir. This way, sir—Miss Mordaunt is with Lady Hatfield in -the drawing-room." - -"I wish to see Miss Mordaunt alone, if you please," said Sir -Christopher. "Give my compliments, and if Miss Mordaunt will accord me a -few minutes—upon some little matter of a private nature——" - -"Certainly, Sir Christopher," responded the domestic. "Have the goodness -to step into this room, sir." - -And Frank Curtis—now as miserable as he was insolent and exulting a few -moments previously, when embracing Charlotte in the hall—heard the -footsteps of Mason and his uncle approaching the very door at which he -was listening. - -Not a moment was to be lost. He was too much confused—too much -bewildered to think of meeting the embarrassment of his position with a -good face and a bold excuse: and concealment instantly suggested itself -to his coward-mind. - -A cheerful fire was burning in the grate; and near it was drawn a sofa, -the cushion of which had rich fringes that hung all round, and drooped -nearly to the carpet. To thrust himself beneath this friendly sofa was -the work of an instant with Frank Curtis; and so rapidly was the -manœuvre executed, that the fringes had even ceased to rustle, when Sir -Christopher Blunt stalked pompously into the apartment. - -Mason withdrew to deliver the knight's message to Miss Mordaunt; and in -the meantime the knight himself paced the room in somewhat an agitated -manner. - -At length he walked straight up to a handsome mirror, and looking fully -at his image as it was reflected in the glass, began to apostrophise -himself. - -"Sir Christopher Blunt—Sir Christopher Blunt," he exclaimed aloud, in a -solemn tone, "what is it that you are about to do? Are you taking a -wise, or an imprudent step? Are you, in a word, about to ensure your own -happiness, or—or—to make a damned old fool of yourself?" - -Frank Curtis was astounded at this language which came from the lips of -his uncle. Despite of his fears and the unpleasant predicament in which -he found himself, he was on the point of yielding to his natural -propensity for mischief and blurting forth an affirmative response to -the latter portion of the knight's self-interrogation, when the door -opened and a lady entered the room. - -Curtis accordingly held his peace, and his breath too as much as he -could; for his curiosity was now so intense as to master even his fears. - -"Miss Mordaunt," said the knight, suddenly turning away from the glass -and advancing as jauntily as his massive frame would permit, to meet the -lady, "I have to apologise for this early visit——" - -"Oh! no apology, Sir Christopher," exclaimed Julia, in a most affable -manner. "Pray be seated." - -"Allow me," said the knight; and taking her hand, he led her to the very -sofa beneath which his nephew lay concealed. Then, seating himself at a -respectful distance from her—but also on the sofa, he continued thus:—"I -hope, Miss Mordaunt, that I shall not offend you with what I am -going—that is, with what I am about—I mean, with what I am on the point -of——" - -"Very intelligible, all this!" thought Frank Curtis to himself. - -"Sir Christopher Blunt is incapable of offending a lady—especially a -young one," observed Miss Julia, blushing in the most approved style on -such interesting occasions—for she could anticipate what was coming. - -"Sir Christopher Blunt thanks you for that compliment, Miss Mordaunt," -said the knight pompously, and encouraged also by the lady's tone and -manner. "Yes—I am indeed incapable of giving offence wilfully; although -there _are_ certain vulgar people east of Temple Bar who pretend that I -treat them cavalierly. And, thank heaven! Miss Mordaunt, I was _not_ -elected Alderman of Portsoken; for I never could have put up with all -the filthy guzzling and swilling—excuse the expressions, ma'am—that seem -inseparable from City affairs. You know, perhaps, Miss Mordaunt, that my -origin was humble—I may say that it was nothing at all. But I glory in -that fact: it is my boast—my pride." - -"True merit is sure to force its way in the world, Sir Christopher," -observed Julia, with a smile which, displaying her white teeth, quite -enchanted the amorous knight. - -"Again I thank you for the good opinion of me implied by that remark," -he said, edging himself a little closer to the lady. "My large -fortune—for large it notoriously is, Miss Mordaunt—has all been acquired -by my own honest industry; and the title which I have the honour to -bear, was bestowed upon me by a gracious Prince in approbation of my -conduct as a public officer." - -"You occupy an enviable position in society, Sir Christopher," said -Julia. - -"Do you really think so, Miss?" asked the knight, endeavouring to assume -a soft and plaintive tone, but with as little success as if he were a -boatswain labouring under a severe cold: "do you really think so?"—and -again he edged himself nearer to his companion. "Ah! my dear Miss -Mordaunt, how happy should I be to lay my fortune—my title—my all, at -the feet of some charming lady, who, like yourself, would not despise -the man that has risen by his own honest exertions to I may say -affluence and honour." - -Miss Mordaunt cast down her eyes and worked herself up into a most -interesting state of blushing excitement; while Sir Christopher boldly -took her hand and pressed it to his lips. - -The knight's foot was thrust some little way under the sofa; and as he -wore blucher boots, it was not difficult to stick a pin into the calf of -his leg, if any one had felt so disposed. Such an idea certainly struck -his dutiful nephew at that instant; for Mr. Frank Curtis now fully -comprehended the object of his uncle's visit to Miss Julia Mordaunt; and -the matrimonial designs of the said uncle foreboded any thing but -essential benefit to himself. Then—although he was not the brightest -young man in existence—the selfish motive of Sir Christopher, in -agreeing to _purchase_ Mr. Torrens's elder daughter as his (Frank's) -wife, flashed upon his mind; and in an instant he comprehended the -entire policy of Sir Christopher as well as the reader already -understands it, with regard to the recent matrimonial speculation, which -Tom Rainford had so materially aided to render abortive. - -We digressed just at the point where Sir Christopher was venturesome -enough to press the hand of Miss Mordaunt to his lips. - -"Oh! Sir Christopher," murmured the lady, apparently quite abashed, and -forgetting, most probably in the agitation of the moment, to withdraw -her fair fingers. - -"Julia, my love—for so you must now permit me to call you," exclaimed -the enamoured knight, "will my suit be rejected? can you receive it -favourably? At this moment you see before you a man whom it is in your -power to render happy or miserable for life. And, ah! dear me—what a -dreadful dream I had last night! It was that dream which made me come to -you so early to-day, to know your decision. For whether it was your -image, my beloved Julia—or the cold roast pig that I eat for supper, I'm -sure I can't say; but true it is that——Oh!" screamed the knight, in a -fit of agony. - -"My dear Sir Christopher, what—what _is_ the matter?" asked Miss -Mordaunt, alarmed by the sudden ejaculation, which was accompanied by an -equally sudden start. - -"Oh! nothing—nothing," said the knight, endeavouring to compose himself: -"a sudden twitch in the leg—just like the pricking of a pin—but it is -nothing—a mere sensation! I was going to tell you, my dear Julia, about -that horrid dream——" - -"Pray, Sir Christopher, don't tell me any thing about horrid dreams," -exclaimed Miss Mordaunt: "you will frighten me out of my wits." - -"Well, dearest, I will not. But you have not told me yet whether I may -consider that this fair hand which I now press to my lips——Oh!" - -And again the knight started violently. - -"What _is_ the matter, Sir Christopher?" asked Julia earnestly. - -"Really—I can't make it out—I don't know—but this is the second time -that the same sensation has seized me in the left leg," stammered the -knight: "just for all the world like the pricking of a pin. And yet of -course it cannot be that. But pray, pardon these unpleasant -interruptions, Julia; and relieve me from suspense at once. Say—tell me, -dearest one—will you, will you consent to be mine?" - -"Oh! Sir Christopher, what do you ask?" murmured Miss Mordaunt, as if -there were any thing extraordinary or unexpected in the question. - -"What do I ask?" repeated the enamoured knight: "I ask you to bestow -upon me this fair hand." - -"How can I refuse you, Sir Christopher?" sighed the lady. "You are so -killing!" - -"Am I, dearest!" ejaculated the knight; and, encouraged more than ever -by this assurance, he boldly kissed his companion. But almost -immediately a cry of agony burst from his lips; and, starting up from -the sofa, he exclaimed, "My leg! my leg! the—the devil's in it—and -that's the fact!" - -The fact was however somewhat different; for Mr. Frank Curtis, having -very quietly and deliberately taken his breast-pin from the frill of his -shirt, was amusing himself with the very pleasant pastime of thrusting -the point into his uncle's leg. - -On the third occasion of the application of the aforesaid breast-pin, -Sir Christopher started up and danced about the room, while Miss -Mordaunt, who was most anxious to bring the delicate topic of discourse -to such a point that she might satisfy herself as to the very day on -which she was to change her condition, endeavoured to her utmost to -console him. - -Convinced that the pain he experienced could be nothing more than some -sudden but very galling spasmodic attack, neither Sir Christopher nor -Julia entertained the least thought of looking beneath the sofa: they -therefore re-seated themselves upon it, and continued their tender -discourse. - -"And when shall it be?" asked Sir Christopher, taking it for granted -that it _was_ to be. - -"Whenever—that is—so soon—I mean—when you choose," murmured Miss -Mordaunt. "But you will communicate your intentions to my brother, who -obtained his captaincy a few days ago, and whom I _must_ consult." - -"And why consult him?" asked Sir Christopher, a misgiving entering his -mind. - -"Oh! he might—I do not say that he will—but he _might_ object," answered -Miss Mordaunt. - -"Then perhaps you wish me to state my views to my nephew also," said the -knight somewhat testily: "as _he_ might also object." - -"But a nephew, Sir Christopher," urged the lady,—"a nephew is not a -brother." - -"Very true," replied Blunt, as if some grand truth had just been made -apparent to him. "And yet it appears, Julia," he added, in a coaxing -tone, "that we have each a relation to whom we would rather not mention -the matter—until after it was over." - -"Oh! you killing man—what would you have me understand by that remark?" -cried Miss Mordaunt. - -"Simply that we should——" - -"Should what, dear Sir Christopher?" - -"Should be married privately—or run away to Gretna Green," answered the -knight. "And now the truth is out." - -"Oh! naughty—naughty man!" exclaimed Julia, casting on her swain one of -her most bewitching smiles: but at the same time she imagined to herself -all the excitement attending a run-a-way match to Gretna—the rapidity of -travelling—the bustle that would be excited at the way-side inns—the -sensation that must arise in the fashionable world—the paragraphs in the -newspapers—the _éclat_ attached to such a proceeding—and the importance -with which her reappearance in town, after the union, would be -attended:—of all this she thought—and the knight's proposal was -therefore most welcome to her; for, while she contemplated the agreeable -side of the picture, she never once reflected on the ridicule and -absurdity that must attach themselves to such a step on the part of two -persons of the respective ages of Sir Christopher Blunt and herself. - -"Well, dearest, what are you thinking of?" asked the knight. - -"Of what you were saying, dear Sir Christopher," murmured the lady in a -languishing tone. - -"Then, how shall it be! a private marriage—or Gretna?" - -"The arrangements for a private marriage might be suspected," sighed -Julia, casting down her eyes and managing a blush, which was respectable -enough, seeing that it scarcely came voluntarily to her aid. - -"Just my opinion!" ejaculated Sir Christopher. "I would not have that -prying nephew of mine, Frank Curtis—the young scapegrace—getting a hint -of it beforehand, for any money." - -"Nor would I wish my brother to know of it until it is all over, dear -Sir Christopher," returned Julia. - -"Then be it Gretna!" exclaimed the knight. "And now when shall it take -place?" - -"I could not say to-day, Sir Christopher—but to-morrow—to-morrow——" -murmured the lady in a faint tone, as if quite overpowered by the -importance of the step she was about to take, but which she would -willingly have taken long before, had the proposal been made to -her:—"to-morrow," she added, "I shall be prepared—to——" - -"I understand you, my angel," interrupted the knight; and this time he -caught the lady fairly in his arms and subjected her to a process of -hearty kissing. - -Mr. Frank Curtis had in the meantime restored his breast-pin to the -frill of his shirt; for, since the conversation had turned upon a -regular elopement, the matter had become far too serious for him to -trifle with. He suddenly found himself menaced with something bordering -on total disinheritance in respect to his uncle's property; for, even if -this projected union should yield no issue, still the lady might obtain -so much influence over the knight as to induce him to will all his -fortune to herself. Frank was therefore in rather an unpleasant state of -mind, as well as being in an uneasy predicament under the sofa. He -nevertheless saw that cunning must be met with cunning; and he now lay -as quiet as a mouse, in order to avoid detection. But he vowed seriously -that the moment he should escape from the kind of prison in which he -found himself, he would not let the grass grow under his feet ere he -adopted measures to defeat the matrimonial scheme of Sir Christopher -Blunt and Miss Julia Mordaunt. - -At length, to his unspeakable relief, the knight took his leave of Miss -Mordaunt, after having settled the hour and place where they were to -meet on the following evening. - -Sir Christopher being gone, Julia also left the room; and poor -Charlotte, who had been on the tenter-hooks of suspense and alarm ever -since Frank Curtis had first entered the house, now hurried to the -parlour, wondering how he could possibly have managed to avoid an -exposure. - -But when she entered the room, and perceived no one, she was more -astonished still. - -Her surprise was not, however, of long duration; for Curtis, having -peeped through the fringe and ascertained who the new-comer was, -suddenly emerged from his hiding-place. - -"Oh! dear me, sir," exclaimed the young woman, "what a fright I have -been in, to be sure!" - -"And what a pickle I have been in!" cried Frank sulkily. - -"You cannot say that it was my fault, sir," observed Charlotte -reproachfully. - -"Nor more I do, my dear," answered Curtis, warming himself into a better -humour by means of a kiss or two on the lady's-maid's red lips. "But, I -say, my dear," he continued, after a few moments' dalliance of that -sort, "you _must_ come to meet me this evening; because, independent of -my desire to chat with you and all that sort of thing, you can be of -service to me." - -"Lor'! sir," cried Charlotte, astonished at this intimation. - -"Indeed you can: but I must not stay to explain myself now," returned -Curtis. "Here, my dear—take these five guineas as an earnest of what I -will do for you; and mind and be punctual in Conduit Street at seven -o'clock this evening." - -"I shall not fail, sir," replied Charlotte. - -"And in the meantime," added Frank, "watch Miss Mordaunt well. Don't ask -me any questions now—I will tell you all about it this evening. But mind -you watch her; and if possible, get into conversation with her. Should -she ask you to do her any service—no matter of what kind—promise her -that you will; and leave the rest to me. Do you hear?" - -"Yes, sir—and I will do as you tell me," was the answer. - -"Well, then—that's right," said Curtis. "And now let me see if I can't -slip out without running plump up against one of your liveried flunkeys -here." - -"Wait an instant," cried Charlotte; and she disappeared from the room, -closing the door carefully behind her. - -In a few moments she returned, with the welcome tidings that the coast -was clear; and Frank Curtis succeeded in quitting Lady Hatfield's house -without being perceived by any one save the faithful Charlotte. - - - - - CHAPTER XX. - HAPPINESS.—THE DIAMOND-MERCHANT. - - -When Lord Ellingham took his leave of Lady Hatfield, the latter hurried -to her bed-chamber; and, locking the door behind her, sate down in an -arm-chair near the fire to ponder unconstrainedly upon the conversation -of the previous hour. - -And that hour—what changes had it worked in respect to the mind and -prospects of this patrician lady! - -"Oh! how generous and noble-hearted is my Arthur!" she mused inwardly: -"how boundless is his love for me! But is it possible that I am really -to become his wife? or am I the sport of a wild and delusive dream? -No—it is all true: I am awake—I see the various objects around me—there -is no confusion in my brain. Yes—it _is_ all true; and he will marry -me—he will make me his wife—in spite of——But let me avoid thinking of -the past! The future is now bright and glorious before me. My own -Arthur—whom I love so fondly, and who alone has ever possessed and will -possess my heart,—my own noble, generous Arthur has surmounted all -prejudice—flung aside all disgust—and has promised to make me happy! Oh! -not in the wildest of my dreams could I have imagined so much bliss. The -clouds which have so long hung heavily around the star of my destiny, -have been suddenly dispersed by one who views my heart aright—who -understands me—who knows my sad history, but recognises my -innocence—who, in a word, rises superior to all the prejudices which -shackle the world. Oh! dearest—dearest Arthur! how can I ever reward you -adequately for this generosity on your part? All the love which I bear -you—all the adoration I feel for you—all the devotion I shall manifest -towards you, will not repay the immense debt that I owe you! It is true -that I possess great wealth—that the services of my father to the State -induced his Majesty to create me a Peeress in my own right—and that I -have some pretensions to beauty:—all this is true—but it is not -sufficient to induce my noble-hearted Arthur to make me the partner of -his bed. No: for he himself is rich far beyond his desires—he also owns -a proud and ancient name—and England has daughters far lovelier than I. -But he loves me for myself—apart from all selfish considerations: and, -Oh! what bliss to be thus loved!" - -Lady Hatfield sank her head upon her fair hand, and gave way to the new -and ineffable bliss which had so suddenly enveloped her in its halo. - -At length another idea struck her. - -"But my uncle—how could _he_ have known my secret?" she exclaimed aloud. -"And how did he discover it? Oh! he must have been aware of it from the -very first! The good—the kind-hearted man—never to have even appeared -to——" - -Georgiana's reverie was interrupted by a hasty knock at her door. - -She rose, unlocked it, and gave admission to her friend Julia. - -"My dear Lady Hatfield," exclaimed Miss Mordaunt, her entire countenance -illuminated with joy, "congratulate me. It is all settled!" - -"That you are to become Lady Blunt?" asked Georgiana, smiling. - -"Yes, my dearest friend—Lady Blunt! How well it sounds! only think of -'_Lady Blunt_' upon a card—printed, for instance, in the old English -letter—or German text—or whatever it is. And then—'_Lady Blunt's -carriage!_'—and all that sort of thing! Really I am so happy—I don't -know whether to dance or sing—or both!" - -"I am delighted to see you so happy, my dear Julia," said Lady Hatfield; -"and most sincerely do I congratulate you. But have you acted prudently -to accept Sir Christopher without communicating his proposal to your -relations?" - -"I think that I am quite old enough to manage my own affairs in this -respect at least," answered Julia, laughing: "and yet—after all—I am not -so very old—only just thirty. Still it is high time to settle one-self -in life. But for the present, my dear Lady Hatfield, I must implore you -to keep my engagement a profound secret—for reasons which I will explain -in a few days——" - -"I shall keep your secret, Julia, without seeking to learn your motives -until you may choose to communicate them," replied Georgiana. "And now I -am about to surprise you in respect to myself. Lord Ellingham has been -here this morning." - -"So I heard from old Mason just now," said Miss Mordaunt. "But you knew -he would call, my dear friend, after leaving his card last night. And—if -you speak candidly—you will confess that you _hoped_ he would." - -"I _did_ hope he would call, Julia," answered Georgiana; "but I could -_not_ imagine that our interview would have terminated——However," she -added, checking herself, and smiling joyously, "you must now -congratulate me; for in a few weeks I shall become the Countess of -Ellingham." - -"I do indeed congratulate you, my dearest Lady Hatfield," replied Miss -Mordaunt. "But upon my word, wonders will never cease. Here were you -only a few days ago rejecting the Earl in opposition to every thing like -common sense—and certainly against the wishes of your very best -friends——" - -"Let us not talk of the past, Julia," interrupted Georgiana. "The future -opens so brightly before me, that I am almost dazzled by its brilliancy. -And I am happy—supremely happy—Oh! almost too happy!" - -As she uttered these words, Georgiana threw herself into the arm-chair -which she had quitted for the purpose of giving admission to Miss -Mordaunt; and never did the beauty of her soul-speaking countenance -shine to greater advantage than at that moment. - -And no wonder that even her friend, whose volatile disposition seldom -permitted her mind to settle its attention on subjects concerning -another, was struck by the loveliness of Lady Hatfield on this -occasion:—no wonder, we say, that Julia gazed with admiration for a long -time on that beauteous woman: for happiness seemed to have invested her -with new charms. - -Her cheeks—lately so pale with mental anxiety and partial -indisposition—were now tinged with a warm carnation hue:—joy flashed -from her large liquid eyes, usually of so mild though lustrous a -languor;—and smiles played upon those rosy lips which were wont to -remain apart with serious expression. - - * * * * * - -The Earl of Ellingham, upon taking leave of Georgiana that morning,—but, -be it well understood, with the promise of returning to pass an hour or -two in the evening,—experienced that kind of heart-felt happiness which -requires a vent by means of imparting the fact of its existence to a -friend. - -To the abode of Dr. Lascelles was the Earl accordingly hastening, when -he was suddenly accosted by a gentleman; who addressed him by name, and -whom in another moment he remembered to be Mr. Gordon, the -diamond-merchant. - -"I beg your lordship's pardon for thus stopping you," said that -individual: "but I thought you might be gratified to learn that the -jewels which I lost so mysteriously, have been restored to me." - -"Indeed!" exclaimed Arthur. "I am rejoiced to hear these tidings. And -now, I presume, you are fully convinced that Miss Esther de Medina was -entirely innocent of the theft so ridiculously imputed to her." - -"On the contrary, my lord," answered the diamond-merchant: "I am more -than ever certain that Miss de Medina was the person who took them." - -"Mr. Gordon," exclaimed the Earl indignantly, "I should have thought -that, after the investigation which took place at the office in Bow -Street, you would not have clung to an opinion so dishonourable—so -unjust towards an innocent young lady. Moreover, sir, I should have -conceived that my testimony to that young lady's character would have -dispelled any doubts which had still hung on your mind." - -"That your lordship gave such testimony conscientiously, I cannot for an -instant question," was the firm but respectful answer. "At the same time -that your lordship was and is still deceived in that young lady, I am -confident." - -[Illustration] - -"Perhaps, sir," observed the Earl coldly, "you will have no objection to -communicate the reasons which have thus induced you to change your -opinion; for, if I remember rightly, you yourself declared, in the -public office, that you were satisfied there was some grievous mistake, -and that Miss de Medina was innocent of the deed imputed to her at -first." - -"I admit, my lord," replied the diamond-merchant, "that I was staggered -by the singularity of the turn given to the proceedings when your -lordship appeared to speak in Miss de Medina's defence. But listen, my -lord, to the subsequent events which revived all my suspicions. Upon -leaving the Police-Court I returned home, but was scarcely able to -attend to my business, so bewildered was I by the occurrences of the -morning, and so annoyed was I also at the loss which I had so -mysteriously experienced. It was probably four o'clock in the afternoon, -when a lady was announced; and the moment she raised her veil, I -recognised Miss de Medina. You may conceive, my lord, how surprised I -was by this visit: but much greater was my astonishment, when she said -to me, without a single word of preface, '_Sir, what is the value of the -diamonds which you have lost?_'—'_Six hundred pounds_,' was my -answer.—Miss de Medina immediately drew forth a small packet from her -dress, and counted six Bank-notes, each of a hundred pounds, and which -she placed before me on the table,—'_Here is the amount, sir_,' she -said; and I offered her a receipt, which she however declined. For a few -moments she lingered—as if anxious to say something more: then, suddenly -turning away, she abruptly quitted the house." - -"Extraordinary!" cried the Earl of Ellingham. "And yet——" - -"One instant, my lord," interrupted Mr. Gordon: "the most mysterious -part of the whole transaction is yet to be revealed to you. Not ten -minutes had elapsed from the moment of Miss de Medina's departure, when -a person, whom I remembered to have seen in the court, was announced. I -do not know whether your lordship observed at the office a man of florid -complexion—light curly hair—red whiskers—and dressed in a sporting -suit——" - -"I not only observed him," replied the Earl; "but from the description -subsequently given by one of my servants, whom I questioned after my -return home from the police-office, I have every reason to believe that -the individual whom you describe was the bearer of a letter which had -induced me to hasten to Bow Street to give my testimony in proof of Miss -de Medina's innocence." - -"And does your lordship know that man?" inquired the diamond-merchant. - -"I never saw him, to my knowledge, until that day, when the attention he -appeared to devote to the proceedings attracted my notice—although he -was in the midst of the crowd congregated near the door. But please to -continue your own narrative." - -"This individual, my lord, of whom we have been speaking," returned Mr. -Gordon, "was the person introduced to my office a few minutes after the -departure of Miss de Medina. He seated himself in a free and easy, -off-hand manner, and said, '_I think I can give you some little -information concerning the diamonds which you have lost._'—'_Indeed!_' I -exclaimed: and, anxious to hear what he was about to state, I said -nothing relative to the visit of Miss de Medina and the payment of the -amount at which the lost jewels were valued.—'_Yes_,' he continued: and, -with the utmost coolness, he produced a pistol from one pocket and a -small parcel, wrapped up in brown paper, from the other.—'_What is the -meaning of this strange conduct?_' I demanded, glancing towards the -weapon which the man held in his hand.—'_Oh! it is soon explained_,' he -said. '_This pistol is merely to defend myself in case you should take -it into your head to give me into the charge of a constable on suspicion -of being connected with the person who stole your property: and as for -the parcel, open it, and see what it contains._'—Thus speaking, he -tossed the packet across the table to me, crossed his legs, and began to -hum a tune. I opened the parcel; and to my surprise perceived the -diamonds which I had lost.—'_Is the set complete?_' asked the -man.—'_Quite perfect_,' I replied in the most unfeigned astonishment at -the singularity of the whole proceedings. '_But how does it happen_,' I -continued,'_that you have come to restore them to me, when a quarter of -an hour has scarcely elapsed since Miss de Medina herself called and -paid me six hundred pounds at which they are valued?_'—It now appeared -to be the man's turn to be surprised: but, in another moment, he -exclaimed,'_Oh! I understand it all._'—'_What do you understand?_' said -I: '_for I must candidly confess that I understand nothing of the whole -transaction, which is one involved in the deepest mystery_.'—'_So let it -remain_, he cried abruptly: '_and now mark me_,' he added in a slower -and more impressive tone; '_beware how you ever utter a word derogatory -to the honour of Esther de Medina_.' And he quitted the apartment, -leaving me in possession of my jewels and of the six hundred pounds -also." - -"This narrative is so singular, Mr. Gordon," said the Earl of Ellingham, -"that were you not a respectable merchant, and that you can have no -possible interest in amusing me with a fiction, I should not believe the -portion which relates to Miss de Medina." - -"I declare before my Maker," ejaculated the diamond-merchant solemnly, -"that I have not exaggerated one tittle of my history. I have even more -to state. The restoration of my property convinced me that I had no -right to retain the money which Miss de Medina had paid to me as a -recompense for its loss. I therefore determined to give it back to her. -But I was unacquainted with her residence. Then I recollected that your -lordship had stated that Mr. de Medina had become your tenant for a -house and small estate about seven miles from London. I immediately -repaired to your lordship's residence in Pall Mall to inquire the -address of Mr. de Medina; but you were not at home. Your valet, however, -furnished me with the information I required; and on the following -morning I proceeded to Finchley. I called at the house to which I had -been directed, and learnt that Mr. de Medina and his daughter did not -intend to settle there until the Spring; but from the servant in charge -of the premises I ascertained where Mr. de Medina resided in town. I -accordingly returned to London, and forthwith repaired to Great Ormond -Street, where I obtained an interview with Miss de Medina. Her father -was out—a circumstance which, on the occasion, appeared to give her -pleasure; because she asked the servant who announced me, whether Mr. de -Medina were in his study; and on receiving a reply to the effect that he -had gone out a few minutes previous to my arrival, she was evidently -relieved of some anxiety. I communicated the nature of my business; but -when I mentioned the particulars of the visit I had received from the -light-haired gentleman, her countenance suddenly assumed so singular an -expression that I can scarcely define its meaning. It was not alarm -alone—nor surprise—nor shame—nor sorrow, which her looks denoted; but a -feeling composed of all those sentiments blended together. Then, when I -explained to her that this man had restored my lost diamonds, her -countenance suddenly assumed an expression of joy. I handed her the six -hundred pounds, which she received; and then—as on the occasion of her -visit to me the preceding evening—she seemed anxious to make some -remark, to which she could not, however, give utterance. The silence -became awkward—and I took my leave. Your lordship now knows all." - -"And can you for one moment imagine that Esther de Medina was the person -who stole your diamonds?" exclaimed Lord Ellingham: "or that she was in -any way connected with that man who restored them to you?" - -"My belief is that she parted with them in some way to that man," -answered Mr. Gordon; "and that her father most probably gave her the -money to recompense me for my loss; but that when she paid it, she was -unaware that the man had the intention of restoring the jewels." - -Lord Ellingham made no answer: for there suddenly flashed upon his mind -a reminiscence which staggered him. - -The reader will recollect that when Mr. de Medina encountered his -daughter at the police-court, he said to her, "_Oh! Esther—Esther, I can -understand it all. You have brought this upon yourself!_" These words -were overheard at the time by Lord Ellingham: but they had since escaped -his memory—or else failed to make any very deep impression upon him,—his -own mind, since that day, having been a prey to much acute anxiety, -suspense, and conflicting feelings, on account of Lady Hatfield. - -But now, when he recalled those words, and considered them in all their -significance,—when he pondered upon the tale which he had just heard -from the lips of the diamond-merchant,—when he remembered that the man -who had restored those jewels was doubtless the same who had conveyed to -Pall Mall the letter which so mysteriously urged him to hasten to the -police-court and give his testimony in Esther's defence,—he began to -share Mr. Gordon's belief that there must be some connexion between that -florid, light-haired man and Miss de Medina. - -At the same time, Lord Ellingham was convinced that Esther had _not_ -stolen the diamonds; or that, if she had, Mr. Gordon had mistaken the -hour of the day, if not the day itself, on which such theft was -committed. Because Arthur remembered, beyond all possibility of error, -that from two o'clock on the afternoon until near eleven o'clock at -night, on the day specified by the diamond-merchant, Esther was engaged -in visiting the house which her father had hired from him (Lord -Ellingham), and which was situate about a mile beyond Finchley. Arthur -himself accompanied Mr. de Medina and Esther on that occasion; and -Esther was never absent from his sight, save perhaps for a few minutes -at a time, during the interval above named. - -There was a profound mystery somewhere: and though the Earl was not -characterised by any feeling of impertinent curiosity, yet he longed to -clear up the doubts and misgivings which had at length arisen in his -mind. He entertained the greatest respect for Mr. de Medina, and—until -now—the same sentiment towards Esther, whom he had hitherto looked upon -as a model of purity, amiability, and innocence. He therefore felt -grieved—vexed—disappointed—annoyed, for the honour of the human race, -and especially for the credit of the female sex, to think it possible -that he had been so grossly deceived in that beautiful Jewess. - -He walked slowly along, the diamond-merchant by his side. - -"Well, my lord," said the latter, at length breaking the protracted -silence, "what is your opinion now?" - -"I confess that I am bewildered," was the reply. "But I shall not judge -hastily. In the meantime, I pray you so far to suspend your opinion upon -the subject as to avoid the utterance of aught prejudicial to Miss de -Medina's character; and if I succeed in fathoming this mystery, the fact -of that young lady's guilt or innocence shall be duly communicated to -you." - -The diamond-merchant bowed respectfully, and departed in another -direction; while Lord Ellingham continued his way towards Grafton -Street. - - - - - CHAPTER XXI. - THE OATH. - - -Dr. Lascelles was at home, and immediately granted an audience to the -Earl of Ellingham. - -Popular physicians are potentates in their way, and access to them, save -on matters of professional business, is frequently difficult. - -But the doctor had taken a greater fancy to the young nobleman than he -was ever known to entertain for any of his acquaintances; and he -therefore received him as one who did not encroach on his very valuable -time. - -"Well," said the physician, as the Earl made his appearance in the -professional reception-room, "something new about Lady Hatfield, I'll be -bound?" - -"You are right, my dear doctor," answered the lover: "and I am the -happiest of men." - -"I am charmed to hear it," said Lascelles, casting a glance of -curiosity, not unmingled with surprise, towards the Earl. - -"Yes, doctor," cried the latter, his handsome countenance irradiated -with the lustre of complete felicity, "the beautiful Georgiana has -consented to become my wife." - -"Your wife!" ejaculated the physician. - -"And wherefore not?" asked the Earl, astonished at the tone and manner -of his friend. "Do you think that I will allow what must be considered a -misfortune to stand in the way of my happiness?" - -"Certainly—if you can rise superior to a prejudice which influences the -generality of the world," said the physician, thrown off his guard by -Lord Ellingham's last observation. "I do not see——" - -"Ah! then you also know all?" ejaculated the Earl. "But let us not dwell -on this topic. Suffice it that I have heard from Sir Ralph Walsingham -enough to convince me that his niece is to be commiserated in a certain -respect; and I have had a full explanation with her on the subject. In a -few weeks she will be Lady Ellingham; and it shall be my duty—as it will -also prove my delight—to make her so completely happy that she shall -forget the incident which has had so powerful an effect upon her mind." - -"I sincerely wish you all possible felicity, my dear Earl," said the -doctor, shaking the young nobleman warmly by the hand. - -"A thousand thanks, doctor," exclaimed Arthur, cordially returning the -pressure. "But how became you acquainted with that incident in -Georgiana's life which has exercised such influence over her? I thought -you told me yesterday that she had not entered into any explanations -with you?" - -"Neither had she—nor has she, my dear lord," observed the physician, who -seemed slightly surprised, if not puzzled, by the observations of his -young friend. "But—as you yourself ere now said—let us not dwell on that -topic;—it is of too delicate a nature." - -"It _is_ delicate, my dear doctor," responded the Earl. "But as I am my -own master, and labour not under the necessity of consulting my -relatives as to those proceedings which are connected with my interest -or happiness——" - -"Oh! certainly," said the doctor. "You love Lady Hatfield—and she loves -you in return. It is quite natural. I have known many such cases—more, -perhaps, than you could imagine." - -"I do not doubt you," replied the Earl. "But I will not longer intrude -on your valuable time," he added, smiling; "for I know that you are not -in the habit of receiving visits of a merely friendly nature at this -period of the day." - -"To you only am I accessible on such terms," replied the physician. - -The Earl then took his leave, and was about to return home, when he -bethought himself of the strange communication he had received from Mr. -Gordon, the diamond-merchant; and, as the weather was fine and frosty, -he determined to walk as far as the residence of Mr. de Medina in Great -Ormond Street. - -On his arrival at that gentleman's house, he found the servant standing -at the front-door in the act of receiving some articles from a -tradesman's boy; and this trivial fact is only recorded, inasmuch as it -explains the reason how Lord Ellingham ascended to the drawing-room -without being duly announced. He considered himself to be on terms of -sufficient intimacy with Mr. de Medina to take such a liberty; and when -the domestic made a movement to conduct him up stairs, Arthur desired -him in a condescending manner not to take the trouble, as he knew the -way. - -Accordingly, the Earl proceeded to the drawing-room, where he did not, -however, find Mr. de Medina and his daughter, although, from the -statement of the servant, he had expected to meet them there. - -The floor was spread with a thick, rich Turkey carpet, on which his -footsteps fell noiselessly. He was about to seat himself, when voices in -the adjoining apartment, which was only separated from the drawing-room -by folding-doors, met his ears. - -"Esther," said Mr. de Medina, speaking in an earnest and solemn tone, -"this is the third anniversary of that dreadful day which——" - -"Oh! do not refer more than is necessary to that sad event, dear -father!" exclaimed the Jewess, in an imploring voice. - -"Heaven knows, my child," responded her sire, "that—if you feel as I -do——" - -"I do—I do, dearest father!" cried Esther. - -"Yes:—but not all the degradation—the infamy—the shame——" - -"All—all, father,—even as acutely as yourself!" she said, in a voice -denoting the most intense anguish. - -"And yet, undutiful girl that you are," exclaimed Mr. de Medina, "you -persist in seeing that lost—abandoned——" - -The sudden rattling of a carriage in the street drowned the remainder of -this sentence. - -"Oh! my dearest father, forgive me!" cried Esther in a tone of the most -earnest appeal. "You cannot imagine the extent of my love—my boundless -love—for that unfortunate——" - -"Unfortunate!" repeated Mr. de Medina angrily: "no—no! Say that most -wretched—guilty—criminal——" - -"My God! use not such harsh terms!" almost shrieked the beautiful -Jewess; and the Earl of Ellingham could judge by the sound that she fell -upon her knees as she spoke. - -"Yes—Esther—on your knees implore my forgiveness for your oft-repeated -disobedience!" exclaimed Mr. de Medina. "Consider, undutiful—ungrateful -girl—of the position—the scandalous, disgraceful position in which you -were placed a few days ago. That ring which was sold to the -diamond-merchant——" - -"Pardon me, dearest father—oh! pardon me!" cried the young lady, her -voice becoming wildly hysterical. - -Again a vehicle rolled along the street; and of the Jew's reply all that -the Earl could distinguish were the words——"those diamonds, Esther—the -theft of those diamonds! Oh! my God—I shall yet go mad with the dreadful -thought!" - -"Oh! this is cruel—most cruel, after all I have suffered!" cried Esther. -"Wherefore revive those terrible reproaches now? Say—speak, father—what -do you require of me? wherefore this conversation?" - -"Again I must remind you," answered Mr. de Medina solemnly, "that this -is the third anniversary of that day——" - -"I know it—I know it? Oh! how can I ever forget it?" said Esther in a -tone of the most painful emotion. - -"And now," continued Mr. de Medina, apparently but little moved by his -daughter's grief,—"now must you swear, Esther—upon that book which -contains the principles of our creed—that you will never, under any -circumstances——" - -Mr. de Medina here sank his voice to so low a tone, that the Earl could -only catch a few disjointed phrases, such as these—"renew your connexion -with——acknowledge that——such infamy and disgrace——honoured -name——family——seduced my daughter——robbed her of her purity——although -the world may not suspect——degradation on yourself——discard you for -ever——Thomas Rainford——" - -"I swear!" said Esther, in a tone which led the Earl to imagine that she -took the proscribed oath with a dreadful shudder. - -"And now rise," exclaimed Mr. de Medina. "It is over." - -These words suddenly awoke the Earl to a consciousness of his position: -and his face became scarlet as the thought flashed upon his mind that he -had been playing the part of an eaves-dropper. He despised himself for -having listened to the dialogue between Mr. de Medina and his daughter: -but his attention had been so completely rivetted to this -strange—mysterious—and exciting conversation, that he had unwittingly -remained a hearer. An invisible spell had nailed him as it were to the -spot—had forced him to linger and drink in that discourse which, alas! -appeared to speak so eloquently to the discredit of her whose character -he had so warmly defended two hours before! - -And now, suddenly awaking—as we said—to a sense of his position, he -perceived that a subterfuge could alone save him from the imputation of -being an eaves-dropper: and to that subterfuge was this really -noble-minded peer compelled to stoop. - -Hastily stepping to the drawing-room door, he opened it and closed it -again with unusual violence, so that the sound might fall upon the ears -of Mr. de Medina and Esther, and induce them to believe that he had only -just entered the room. - -The stratagem succeeded; for Mr. de Medina immediately made his -appearance from the inner apartment, and welcomed the Earl with his -wonted calmness of manner. - -In reply to Arthur's polite inquiries relative to Miss de Medina, the -father replied that his daughter was somewhat indisposed, and hoped the -Earl would excuse her absence. - -A quarter of an hour passed in conversation of no particular interest to -the reader; and Lord Ellingham then took his leave. - -When he found himself once more in the open street, he could scarcely -believe that he was not the sport of some wild and delusive dream. Had -he heard aright? or had his ears beguiled him? Was it true that all -those reproaches had been levelled by an angry father at the head of a -daughter who did not attempt to deny her guilt, but who was compelled to -implore that outraged parent's forgiveness? Had he not prescribed to her -an oath which seemed to imply, in plain terms,—although the Earl had -caught but detached portions,—that Esther had been seduced—robbed of her -purity,—and that the villain was one Thomas Rainford? Had not that oath -been administered for the purpose of binding her to break off her -connexion with this Thomas Rainford? And did not Mr. de Medina assure -her that, though the world might not suspect it, yet she had not the -less brought degradation on herself? In fine—did not the angry father -threaten to discard her for ever, unless she swore to obey his -injunctions? - -In what other way could the blanks in the terms of the oath—as Ellingham -had gathered them by means of the few but significant disjointed -passages thereof,—in what other way could those blanks be filled up than -in the manner above detailed? - -"It is too apparent!" thought the Earl within himself: "and Esther is an -abandoned—lost—degraded girl! And yet how deceptive is her -appearance—how delusive her demeanour! Purity seems to be expressed in -every glance:—innocence characterises every word she utters! Merciful -heavens! what must I think of the female sex after such a discovery as -this? And yet, let me not judge harshly of the whole, because _one_ is -frail. My own Georgiana is quite different from that artful hypocrite, -Esther de Medina. Georgiana conceals not a tainted soul beneath a chaste -exterior: she is purity in mind as well as in appearance. And, after -all, Esther _did_ steal the diamonds: her father upbraided her with the -theft! He even alluded to the ring which she sold to Mr. Gordon. Yes—it -is indeed too apparent: she is utterly depraved! But that name of -_Thomas Rainford_—surely I have heard it before?" - -The Earl strove to recollect himself. - -"Oh! I remember now!" he thought at the expiration of a few moments: "it -was Thomas Rainford who was accused of robbing my Georgiana on the -highway! How strange is this coincidence! And yet it was _not_ that man -who plundered her—for she proved his innocence of at least this -imputation. But it was doubtless Rainford who sent me the letter -desiring me to appear in the defence of Esther; and it must also have -been he who restored the diamonds to the merchant! That Esther stole -those diamonds is clear—for her father accused her of it. At least such -is the inference that must be drawn from his words. But that Gordon was -wrong as to the day, or the hour of the day on which the theft was -committed, is also clear; inasmuch as Esther was at Finchley at the time -stated! Still Gordon was so positive—and, when he appeared to prosecute -the Jewess at the police-office, so short a time had elapsed—only a few -hours, indeed—since the act was perpetrated, that it is difficult to -believe how he could have mistaken the date! There is a mystery yet -attending on this affair;—but that its elucidation would establish -Esther's innocence, cannot for a moment be believed!" - -Such was the train of thought into which the Earl of Ellingham was -naturally led by the dialogue he had overheard between the Jew and his -daughter. - -He was sincerely grieved to be forced to come to the conviction that -Esther de Medina was a lost and ruined girl, instead of the pure and -artless being he had previously believed her to be. Although his -affections were undividedly Georgiana's, yet he had entertained a -sentiment of friendship for the Jewess; and he was pained and shocked to -think that he had ever experienced any interest—even the slightest—in a -female so utterly unworthy his notice. For the father he still felt -respect, which was also now blended with profound commiseration; for he -beheld in him an honest and honourable man, who was cursed with a -daughter characterised by bad passions and evil propensities. - -The Earl was well aware that Mr. de Medina was a very rich man: he could -not therefore suppose that necessity had induced Esther either to -dispose of the ring or to steal the jewels. What, then, could he -conclude? That she required funds to support a worthless, abandoned, and -lost man—her paramour! Hence the sale of the ring—hence the theft of the -diamonds. - -Arthur now remembered his promise to Mr. Gordon to make him acquainted -with any particulars which he might discover relative to that business. -But how could he fulfil his pledge? He shrank from the contemplation of -the circumstance which had made him acquainted with Esther's guilt: he -felt annoyed and vexed with himself for having allowed his curiosity so -far to dominate his honourable principles as to render him an -eaves-dropper. He would not therefore aggravate his offence by imparting -its results to another; and, with an endeavour to banish the subject -from his memory and turn his attention to more pleasurable topics, he -hastily pursued his way homeward. - - - - - CHAPTER XXII. - THE ALARM.—THE LETTER. - - -In the meantime Esther de Medina had retired to her own apartment, -immediately after the strange, painful, and exciting scene which had -taken place with her father. - -Seating herself upon a sofa, she burst into a violent flood of tears. - -The delicate tinge of carnation which usually appeared beneath the -clear, transparent olive hue of her complexion, was now chased away; and -she was pale—very pale. - -Her grief was evidently intense: anguish overwhelmed her spirit. - -Oh, Esther! if thou art indeed a guilty—frail—fallen being, the eye -cannot refuse a tear of pity to thy lost condition! - -No:—for never has even the enamoured poet in his dreams conceived a form -and face more perfect than nature had bestowed upon her. There appeared, -too, such a virgin freshness about that charming creature who was just -bursting into womanhood,—such a halo of innocence seemed to surround -her,—so much modesty, so much propriety characterised her slightest -attitudes and her most unimportant words, that to contemplate her for a -few minutes and yet retain the stubborn conviction that she was a -wanton, amounted almost to an impossibility. - -And now—to behold her plunged in grief—alone with her own wretched -thoughts, and weeping,—who could believe that the lips, on which purity -appeared to dwell, had ever been pressed by those of the seducer,—that -the sylph-like form, whose sweeping, undulating outlines were so -gracefully set forth by the mournfulness of her attitude, had ever -unveiled its beauties on the bed of illicit love,—that the rude hand of -licentiousness had ever disturbed the treasures of the bosom so -carefully concealed:—who could believe all this? - -Nevertheless, says the reader, appearances are so completely against -her—the evidences of her guilt seem so damning—that, alas! there is not -a hope of her innocence! - -But let us continue the thread of our narrative. - -For half an hour did Esther remain absorbed in the most profound -affliction—a prey to thoughts and reminiscences of a very painful -nature. - -At length she rose abruptly, and evidently strove to conquer her grief. - -She wiped away the tears from her fine black eyes, and advanced towards -the window, from behind the curtains of which she gazed into the street -with the view of directing her thoughts into some new channel. - -Suddenly an idea struck her; and she hastened to her writing-desk, at -which she sate down and began to pen a letter. - -While she was thus engaged, the crystal drops ever and anon started from -her eyes, and trembled on the jetty fringes, the glossy darkness of -which no oriental dye could have enhanced. - -In the midst of her occupation—the progress of which was marked by many -an ill-subdued sob—a female servant entered the room to acquaint Miss de -Medina that her father had just received a letter on some business that -required his immediate attention, and that she was not to expect him -home to dinner. - -The domestic then withdrew; and Esther finished her letter, which she -folded and concealed in her bosom. - -It was now five o'clock; and she descended to the dining-room;—but she -had no appetite—and the ceremony of the repast, to which she was -compelled to sit down alone, was by no means calculated to enliven her -spirits. - -Quitting the table as soon as possible, she returned to her chamber, put -on her bonnet and shawl, and hurried into the fresh air, which she hoped -would have an exhilarating influence upon her. - -Esther drew her veil closely over her face, and proceeded to Southampton -Row, where she entered a shop at which the local post-office was -stationed. - -The woman who stood behind the counter appeared to recognise her, and -immediately handed her a letter which was addressed simply to "_A. B. -C., Post-Office, Southampton Row. To be left till called for._" - -Miss de Medina purchased a few articles of fancy stationery—evidently -with the view to recompense the shopkeeper for the trouble of receiving -her letters, and not because she required the things; and while the -woman was occupied in making up the parcel, Esther proceeded to read the -communication just placed in her hands. - -For this purpose she raised her veil, and approached the light which -burnt near the window. - -The letter was short: but its contents drew tears from the eyes of the -beautiful Jewess. - -Scarcely had she terminated the perusal, when she was startled by -hearing a voice at the door distinctly exclaim, "There she is, by -heaven!" - -Instinctively glancing in that direction, she beheld a very pale-faced -lad of apparently fifteen or sixteen gazing intently upon her from the -immediate vicinity of the threshold of the shop; and close behind -him—with his eyes also fixed upon her—stood a very tall, thin, old man -of most repulsive aspect. - -The instant Esther looked towards them, the old man laid his hand on the -lad's shoulder and hurried him away; and Esther—somewhat alarmed by the -incident—took up the little parcel of stationery, wished the woman a -courteous "good evening," and quitted the shop. - -When she again found herself in the street, she drew down her veil, and -hastened towards the nearest hackney-coach stand. - -A vehicle speedily drew alongside of the kerb-stone for her -accommodation; and as she was stepping into it, she distinctly beheld, -through the folds of her veil, the tall old man and the pale lad -entering another vehicle at a little distance. - -She could not be mistaken—for the shops sent forth a flood of light -which rendered the forms of those two persons plainly visible. - -The coachman had to repeat his inquiry whither he was to drive, ere -Esther could recover her presence of mind sufficiently to reply. - -"To the nearest post-office in Holborn," she at length said. - -"Why, Lord bless you, ma'am—there's one close by here—not ten yards -off," answered the Jarvey, who was an honest fellow in his way. - -"Never mind," said Esther. "I wish to be taken to another." - -The man urged no farther objection, but mounted his box and drove -away—quietly settling in his own mind that his "fare" was either mad or -tipsy, he neither knew nor cared which. - -Miss de Medina could not shake off an oppressive suspicion which had -forced itself upon her. She fancied that she was watched;—and, for the -simple reason that she knew nothing of the old man and the lad, her -uneasiness increased into actual alarm. - -This feeling was enhanced, too, when her quick ears caught the rumbling -sound of another vehicle behind: and she began to blame herself for -having ventured abroad at such an hour. - -Then she reasoned with herself that no harm could possibly happen to her -in the midst of a densely populated city, and while people were walking -about in all directions:—but still, in spite of this attempt at -self-assurance, the pale countenance of the lad and the sinister looks -of the old man haunted her like spirits of evil. - -But in a few minutes the hackney-coach entered Holborn; and the blaze of -light—the bustle—the throng of vehicles—the crowd of foot-passengers—and -the animated appearance of the whole scene, dispelled nearly all her -alarms. - -The vehicle draw up nearly at the corner of Fetter Lane; and Esther -alighted. - -Another hackney-coach stopped simultaneously at a short distance; and -her eyes were immediately directed towards it. - -"Here's the post-office, ma'am," said the driver of the vehicle which -she had hired. - -Miss de Medina started—recollected herself—and hastened to thrust into -the letter-box the epistle which she had written ere she left home. - -The address on that epistle was—"_T. R., No. 5, Brandon Street, Lock's -Fields._" - -This superscription was caught by the sharp eyes of the pale-faced boy, -who had stolen—quick as thought—up to the shop-window, and now stood by -Esther's side as she dropped the letter into the box. - -When Esther turned hastily to regain the vehicle, she beheld the lad -retreating with strange speed from the spot. - -"What can this mean?" she thought within herself. "Who is it that is -thus watching my movements?" - -And, seriously alarmed, she hurried back to the coach, giving orders to -be driven direct to Great Ormond Street. - -Away went the vehicle again; and the noise of crowded Holborn prevented -the Jewess from judging by sounds whether the other hackney-coach was -following——for that she was watched, she had no longer any doubt. - -Suddenly a suspicion struck her like an icy chill. Could her father have -employed spies to dog her—to mark her movements? Circumstances, on the -one hand, suggested the probability of such an occurrence; while, on the -other, the character of her parent was of a nature repugnant to such a -proceeding. He was stern and severe, but strictly honourable; and Esther -knew that he was not a man likely to adopt underhand measures. - -Then wherefore was she watched? and why had the lad crept close up to -her as she put the letter into the box? - -The coach had turned up Gray's Inn Lane, which thoroughfare was more -quiet than Holborn; and Esther could hear no sounds of a second vehicle. - -Our readers are probably aware that the generality of hackney-coaches -have, or rather _had_ (for they are nearly extinct at the present day) a -little window behind, covered with a sort of flap made of the same -material as the lining. - -Esther turned round and raised the flap to assure herself that there was -really no vehicle following the one in which she was. But at the same -instant a face disappeared as if it had suddenly sunk into the earth; -but not before the Jewess had recognised the pale features and dark eyes -of the lad. - -A faint cry escaped her lips; and she fell back on the seat, a prey to -vague but serious alarm. - -In a few moments she recovered her self-possession, and again -endeavoured to dispel her fears by arguing that no harm could possibly -befall her—that, if any outrage were intended, her screams would -speedily bring hundreds to her rescue—and that after all no real cause -for apprehension might exist. - -She arrived without accident in Great Ormond Street; and when she -alighted at her own door, the lad who had terrified her was no longer to -be seen. - -Her father had not yet returned; and she was therefore again left to the -companionship of her own thoughts. But when she was seated by the -cheerful fire in the drawing-room, and with the bright lamp burning on -the table, she smiled at those alarms which had ere now oppressed her. - -The entire adventure now wore quite another aspect in her imagination. -The old man and the boy were probably thieves who prowled about to -pursue their avocation where they could: she had most likely been -mistaken in the idea that they had entered a hackney-coach in -Southampton Row simultaneously with herself; but they had followed her -vehicle on foot; and when she stepped out to post her letter, the lad -had taken that opportunity of creeping close up to her to pick her -pocket. Having failed by the suddenness with which she had turned round, -he had afterwards got up behind the coach to dog her to the end of her -journey, with the hope of still succeeding in his predatory design; but -when she had looked through the back-window, he had disappeared. - -Such was the explanation which she now arranged in her mind for her own -satisfaction. But, then, what could mean the words uttered at the door -of the shop in Southampton Row—"There she is, by heaven!" - -Fancy again came to her aid to set this point at rest:—she had most -probably been watched by the old man and the lad before she was aware of -the fact; and they had lost sight of her; but when they passed the shop -her presence there had elicited the ejaculation from the youth. - -Such was the manner in which Esther tranquillised herself relative to -the little occurrence that had so much alarmed her:—whether her -conjectures were well-founded, or not, the reader may judge by what we -are about to relate. - -No sooner had she posted her letter in Holborn, than Jacob, who had -managed to get sight of its superscription, darted back to the second -hackney-coach which had stopped near the top of Fetter Lane, and leaping -in, said to Old Death, who was inside, "The letter is addressed to '_T. -R., No. 5, Brandon Street, Lock's Fields_.'" - -"And that is Tom Rain's place," ejaculated Bones. "Well—do you follow -her—get up behind the coach—and meet me at Bunce's presently." - -Away started Jacob; and when he was gone, Old Death alighted from the -vehicle which he had hired in Southampton Row to follow Esther, -dismissed it, and walked boldly into the shop where that young lady had -posted her letter. - -A lad was in attendance behind the counter. - -"My boy," said Old Death, in as pleasant a tone as he could assume, "I -just this minute dropped a letter into the box; and I remember that I -have made a mistake in a particular circumstance mentioned in its -contents." - -"You can't have it back again," replied the boy. "It's against the -rules." - -"Well, I know it is," said Old Death coaxingly. "But it's of the -greatest consequence to me to alter a particular part of it; and, if -you'll oblige me, here's half-a-crown for your trouble." - -Thus speaking, he displayed the proffered coin. - -Now half-a-crown was a great temptation to a lad who only earned -eighteen-pence a week in addition to his food: moreover, the master of -the shop was absent at the moment, and not very likely to return in a -hurry—for the boy knew he was with a party of friends at a neighbouring -public-house:—and thus Old Death's silver argument was effectual. - -"Well—I s'pose I must," said the youth. "But don't tell any body about -it, though. What's the address?" - -"_T. R., No. 5, Brandon Street, Lock's Fields._" - -The boy unlocked the letter-box, selected the particular epistle, and -handed it to Old Death, who threw the half-crown on the counter, and -marched off with the letter. - -He could not restrain his curiosity until he reached Seven Dials or any -other place which he was in the habit of frequenting, and accordingly -turned into a public-house in the neighbourhood. There he ordered some -refreshment, seated himself in a corner of the parlour, and carefully -opened the letter in such a way that it might be re-sealed without -exciting a suspicion of having ever been tampered with. - -He then read the contents, which ran as follow:— - - "I sit down in anguish of heart to pen a few lines to you—to you - whom I love so sincerely, but whom I must never see more. My father - has just made me take a terrible oath to that effect; and so - determined was his manner—so resolute was he—so stern—so - severe—(alas! that I should be compelled to say so!)—that I dared - not refuse to obey his command. And yet you know that I am as - devotedly attached to you as ever:—all I have suffered—all I have - undergone on your account, must convince you of my unchanged, - unchangeable affection. Do not, then, think ill of me on account of - the oath which my father wrested—tore from me! My God! how my heart - palpitates, as I write these lines! Oh! If you knew the state of my - mind you would pity me! I am wretched:—heaven send that you are more - happy than I! Alas! cannot you take compassion upon me—upon _me_, - your own tender Esther—and quit the path which you are pursuing? It - is not too late to do so—it is never too late. All might yet be - well: my father would forget the past—and we should be re-united. - Think of this—ponder well upon it—and remember how much happiness - will be wrecked for ever, if you persist in a course which I tremble - to reflect upon. To be connected with a highwayman is dreadful! - Pardon me—forgive me for speaking thus plainly;—but you know how - sincerely I love you—and if I write that terrible word - '_highwayman_,' it is merely to fix your thoughts the more seriously - on that point. What must be the end of this course of life? Public - infamy—or perhaps a scaffold! Again I say, forgive me for writing - thus:—I scarcely know what I commit to paper—there are moments when - my brain reels as I contemplate the subject of my letter. - - "I can write no more. Perhaps I shall find a note from you at the - post office in Southampton Row: I hope so—and I also hope that I may - discover in it some cause of satisfaction to myself. Adieu—dearest, - adieu. - - "ESTHER." - -The contents of this letter sadly puzzled Old Death. They were quite -different from what he had expected to find them; but without waiting to -reflect upon their nature, he obtained a piece of sealing-wax from the -waiter, and so cleverly closed the letter again that even a clerk in the -General Post-Office could not have told it had been opened. - -He then retraced his way to the shop in Holborn where it was originally -posted, and threw it back into the box. - -This being done, he bent his way towards Toby Bunce's house in Earl -Street, Seven Dials. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII. - OLD DEATH. - - -When Bones reached the place whither he had bent his steps, he learnt to -his satisfaction that Toby Bunce had been sent out by his wife on some -errand which would keep him at least an hour away. He accordingly -followed Mrs. Bunce into the back room, and explained to her all that -had occurred. - -Having stated how he and Jacob had followed Esther in the hackney-coach -from Southampton Row to Holborn, he said—"When Jacob first pointed her -out to me as she was reading a letter in a shop, I felt sure he must be -mistaken; for I could not conceive why she should be up at that part of -the town, since from what Jacob discovered last night, I thought she was -certainly living with Tom Rain in Lock's Fields. However, I determined -to follow her; and when she got down at a shop in Holborn, I told Jacob -to jump out and get another good look at her, if possible. But, instead -of going into the shop, she merely stopped there to post a letter; and -Jacob was quick enough to catch sight of the address. Well, when he came -back to me, and told me what that address was, I desired him to follow -her directly; for I thought that if she was writing to Tom Rain, it was -clear she didn't live with him, and therefore it was as well to find out -where she does live." - -"To be sure," said Mrs. Bunce approvingly. - -"Then it struck me," continued Old Death, "that if I could only get -sight of the contents of that letter which she had posted to Tom Rain, -it might open some farther clue to the nature of their connexion. And I -did get the letter——" - -"Oh! you clever fellow!" interrupted Betsy, shaking her head with mock -gravity. "But what did the letter say?" - -"Why, it was a regular sermon," answered Old Death. "It talked about how -much she loved him—all she had done and suffered on his account—and a -lot of gammon of that kind. She told him how her father had made her -take an oath not to see him any more, and how unhappy she was. Then she -begged of him to repent and leave a course of life that is sure to end -at Tuck-up Fair." - -"Did she use them words?" demanded Mrs. Bunce. - -"No, you fool!" cried Old Death. "She writes quite like a lady, and in a -beautiful hand too! But, after having said all I have told you, she let -him know that she shuddered at the idea of being connected with a -highwayman: and she begged his pardon for calling him so." - -"A pleasant letter for Tom to receive!" observed Mrs. Bunce. - -"Very. And she drops a hint," continued Old Death, "that if he will give -up his business, there is a chance of her father forgiving Tom for what -is past, and of their being _re-united_—that's the very word." - -"Do you think they are married, then?" asked the woman. - -"I should say not," replied Bones; "because she talks of being -_connected_ with a highwayman—and that's not a word a wife uses to her -husband. Besides, the whole letter didn't look like one written by a -wife—but rather a mistress. And then it ends by saying that she hopes to -find a letter from him at the post-office in Southampton Row." - -"Find a letter—when?" asked Mrs. Bunce. - -"Why, to-day—this evening, I suppose," said Old Death. "She had -evidently written _her_ letter _before_ she went to the post-office in -Southampton Row, where she _did_ find one from him—because she was -reading a note when Jacob first twigged her. And it was singular enough -that we were just talking of her at that very identical moment." - -"Then the letter you read wasn't an answer to the one she received in -Southampton Row?" said Mrs. Bunce. - -"Of course not, stupid!" cried Old Death. "We followed her straight down -to Holborn, and she never stopped or went in any where to write an -answer. The letter I read was already written—written too in the -afternoon, most likely just before she came out to go to Southampton -Row. And another reason that made me anxious to get hold of her letter -to Tom Rain, was that she didn't post it at the office where she -received _his_, but took the trouble to go down to Holborn to put it -into another box." - -[Illustration] - -"I wonder why she did that?" said Mrs. Bunce. - -"Oh! most likely to avoid exciting any suspicion or curiosity at the -office in Southampton Row. Then there's another thing that puzzles -me:—she was with Tom Rain last night—Jacob saw them together, and -followed them home to Lock's Fields; and she is away from him -to-day—writes to him this afternoon—and hopes to find a letter from him -when she goes to Southampton Row this evening. One would think, by this, -that they have been in the habit of corresponding together, and that the -place in Southampton Row is where he directs his letters to her. So it's -pretty clear that they don't live together for good and all. But what -perplexes me most is the sermon that she wrote him. It's plain she stole -the diamonds, from what Jacob overheard Tom say to her when he gave her -the ear-rings last night; and yet she doesn't reproach herself a bit in -the letter to him. She only tries to convert Rainford; and, to read that -letter, one would think she was as innocent of a theft or such-like -thing as a child unborn." - -"Oh! I dare say she wrote the letter for some object or another which we -can't see," observed Mrs. Bunce. - -"I scarcely think so," returned Bones: "there was so much seriousness -about it." - -"But she's a precious deep one, depend on it," said Betsy. "Look how she -got off about the diamonds. And, after all, perhaps her father had been -talking her over; and so, if she wrote to Tom Rain in a serious way, the -humour won't last very long." - -"Well—we shall see," exclaimed Old Death. "I should like to secure her -in my interests." - -"What did you do with the letter she wrote to Tom Rain?" asked Mrs. -Bunce. - -"Put it back into the post," was the reply. "Fancy if Esther and Tom -_did_ get together again, and, on comparing notes, he found that the -letter from her had miscarried, he might suspect a trick somewhere, and -fix foul play on me. No—no: it was more prudent to let the note go, -since I had gathered its contents." - -"Well—perhaps it was," said Mrs. Bunce. "One thing is very clear, Ben——" - -"What's that, Betsy?" - -"Why—that since Esther isn't any longer with Mr. Rainford in the Fields, -it will be much easier to get the little boy away." - -"I thought of that just now," said Old Death: then, after a pause, he -added, "And I'll tell you what's to be done. The boy most be got into -our power to-morrow night." - -"To-morrow night!" repeated Mrs. Bunce. - -"Yes—to-morrow night," returned Bones emphatically. "I'll trump up -something to get Tom out of the way; and me, Toby, and Jacob, will go -over and kidnap the child. If we don't do it quick, the Jewess will be -getting spooney on Tom again and going back to live with him in spite of -her oath to her father; and then we may not find such another chance for -some time to come." - -Mrs. Bunce smiled an approval of this scheme, and was about to offer a -comment, when a knock summoned her to the front-door. - -She shortly returned to the back-room, followed by Jacob. - -"What news?" demanded Old Death. - -"I found out where the Jewess lives," was the lad's answer; and he named -the address in Great Ormond Street. - -"Good!" exclaimed Bones. "That shows why she has her letters sent to -Southampton Row;—it is close by; and as she's known in the -neighbourhood, she posts her answers at another place. But give Jacob -his supper—and brew me some grog, Betsy." - -While Mrs. Bunce was busily employed in executing these orders, another -knock at the front-door was heard. Jacob hastened to answer it, and -returned with a letter directed to "MR. TOBY BUNCE;" but which, having a -peculiar mark placed somewhere amidst the writing, was instantly -discovered by Old Death to be intended for himself. - -He accordingly opened it, and read as follows:— - - "Tim put on the tats yesterday and went out a durry-nakin on the - shallows, gadding the hoof. He buzzed a bloak and a shakester of a - yack and a skin. His jomen Mutton-Face Sal, with her moll-sack - queering a raclan, stalled. A cross-cove, who had his regulars, - tipped the office '_Cop Busy!_' and Tim twigged that a pig was - marking. So he speeled to the crib, while his jomen shoved her trunk - too. To-day Tim sent the yack to church and christen; but the - churchman came to it through poll, as Tim's shaler had slummed on - him a sprat and an alderman last week. So Tim didn't fight cocum - enough, and was grabbed. The skin had three finnips and a foont, - which I've got at the padding-ken, T's 23, where I'll cop them to - you for edging the gaff. A fly kidden-gonnoff will leave this flim. - - "TWENTY-FIVE." - -Old Death having read this singular composition to himself, threw it -into the fire. - -He then sate pondering for a few moments upon the course which he should -pursue under the circumstances just made known to him. - -And while he is thus engaged in meditation, we will lay before our -readers a translation of the slang document:— - - "Tim dressed himself in rags yesterday, and went out disguised as a - beggar half-naked and without shoes or stockings. He robbed a - gentleman and a lady of a watch and a purse. His mistress - Mutton-Face Sal, with her reticule, and looking like a respectable - female, was on the look-out close at hand. A confederate-thief, who - went shares with Tim, suddenly gave the alarm, so that Tim might - hand him over the plunder; and Tim saw that a person was watching - him. So he hurried off home, while his woman got off safely also. - To-day Tim sent the watch to have the works taken out and put in - another case and to get the maker's name altered; but the - watch-maker informed against him through spite, because Tim's - mistress had passed off on him (the watch-maker) a bad sixpence and - half-crown last week. So Tim wasn't wary enough, and was taken into - custody. The purse had three five-pound notes and a sovereign in it, - which I have got at Thompson's lodging-house, No. 23, where I will - hand them over to you if you will try and get Tim off. A sharp - boy-thief will leave this letter." - -The signature "TWENTY-FIVE" indicated the number attached to the -writer's name in Old Death's private list of those thieves who were -accustomed to do business with him. - -"Any thing new?" inquired Mrs. Bunce, handing him a glass of hot -gin-and-water. - -"Nothing particular," was the reply. "Only Tim the Snammer[2] got -himself into a scrape. But I shall go and see about it directly." - -"Tim isn't on your list—is he?" demanded Mrs. Bunce. - -"No: but Josh Pedler—that's Number Twenty-five—has got Tim's money, and -will hand it over to me. So——" - -A loud knock at the door interrupted Old Death's observation. - -Jacob was sent to answer the summons; and in a few moments Tom Rain -walked jauntily into the room. - -"Well, my prince of fences," he exclaimed, addressing Old Death, as he -cast himself unceremoniously into a chair, and stretched out his legs in -a free and independent manner, "any thing new in the wind?" - -"Yes—a trifling job—for to-morrow night, Tom," answered Bones. "But -you'll be making your fortune at this rate?" he added, with one of his -hideous chuckles. - -"The sooner, the better," cried the highwayman. - -"And then you'd be able to retire from business—marry—and settle -yourself comfortably," said Old Death, with apparent indifference of -manner, but in reality watching Rainford's countenance attentively as he -uttered the word "_marry_." - -"Oh! as for settling," exclaimed Tom, laughing, "I am not the chap to -bury myself in a cottage in Wales or Devonshire. I don't like that sort -of thing. Business and bustle suit me best." - -"But what do you say to marriage, Tom? A good-looking fellow like you -might do something in that line to great advantage," observed Old Death. - -"That's my own affair," returned the highwayman hastily. - -"By-the-bye, what have you done with the boy that was thrown on your -hands t'other night?" asked Old Death. - -"I am taking care of him, to be sure," was the answer. "If I abandon -him, he must go to the workhouse. But what is the little job you were -talking about?" - -"A worthy citizen and his wife will pass over Shooter's Hill to-morrow -night, at about eleven o'clock, in a yellow post-chaise," replied Bones, -inventing the tale as he went on. "The cit will have enough in his -pocket-book to make it worth while to ease him of it; and the postboy -will stop when he's ordered to do so. They were to have gone to-night; -but something has happened to put off their journey till to-morrow." - -"Good," said Tom. "The business shall be done. Any thing else to -communicate to-night?" - -"Nothing," was the answer. - -"Won't you stay and take a drop of something warm, Mr. Rainford?" asked -Betsy Bunce, in her most winning way. - -"No, thank 'ee," returned Tom. "I must be off. Good night." - -And the highwayman took his departure. - -When the front-door was closed behind him, Old Death said, with a -chuckle, "Well, he'll be out of the way to-morrow night; and we shall -get hold of the boy. But I shall now just step up to Castle Street, and -see what's going on at twenty-three." - -"Shall you come back here to-night?" asked Mrs. Bunce. - -"I can't say. It's now nine o'clock; and if I do, it will be by ten. -Jacob, my boy, you needn't wait unless you like." - -Old Death then left the house. - ------ - -Footnote 2: - - Snammer—a thief. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIV. - CASTLE STREET, LONG ACRE. - - -To the north of Long Acre runs Castle Street—for many years notorious as -a nest of thieves, prostitutes, and juvenile vagabonds of the most -degraded description. - -At the period of which we are writing, a person, of the name of -Thompson, owned—and probably still possesses—the lodging-houses numbered -23, 24, and 25 in Castle Street. This individual resided in Mint Street, -Borough, where he had similar houses, in addition to others in -Buckeridge Street, St. Giles's. - -The houses in Buckeridge Street would make up one hundred beds; and -those in Castle Street sixty. - -At lodging-houses of this description the rooms are filled with low -truckle-beds, each having a straw mattress, two coarse sheets, a -blanket, and a rug. The price of half a bed is threepence; and it need -scarcely be observed that men, women, and children sleep together in -these filthy receptacles without the slightest regard to decency or -modesty. Sometimes, when the lodging-houses are particularly crowded, -three persons will share one bed;—or motives of economy frequently -compel a poor family thus to herd together. It is by no means an -uncommon occurrence for a grown-up girl to sleep with her father and -mother, or with her brothers:—a poor married couple will even share -their bed with a male friend;—and no shame is known! - -Who can define where the shades of doubtful honesty and confirmed -roguery meet and blend in these low lodging-houses? The labouring man is -in nightly company with the habitual thief—his wife and his as yet -uncorrupted daughter are forced to associate with the lowest -prostitutes. How long will that wife remain faithful—that daughter -taint-less? The very children who breathe that infected atmosphere soon -become lost, and triumph in their degradation! - -The principal frequenters and patrons of these low lodging-houses are -regular customers, and consist of thieves, prostitutes, beggars, -coiners, burglars, and hawkers. The casual lodgers are labouring men and -their families whom poverty compels to sleep in such horrible places. - -The hawkers make a great deal of money. They can buy steel-pens for -9_d._ a gross, pocket-books for 3_d._ each, snuff-boxes for 6_d._ each, -and penknives for 4½_d._ each. On every article they can gain one -hundred per cent. Many of these hawkers consider nine or ten shillings -to be only a reasonable, and by no means a good, day's work. - -Some of the women who frequent the lodging-houses in Castle Street and -elsewhere, and who have no children of their own, hire infants for 4_d._ -or 6_d._ a day, and obtain in the shape of alms at least four or five -shillings a day each. Females of this class care not whether their -husbands or lovers work or remain idle; for they boast that they can -keep them—and keep them well, too. Some of these women knit caps in the -streets; and they make more money than those who merely trust to the -children accompanying them as the motive of charitable persons' -compassion.[3] - -In the low lodging-houses of Castle Street, and wherever else they may -be found, the most frightful dissipation as well as the most appalling -immorality prevails. Drunkenness is the presiding genius of these dens. - -And how much has STRONG DRINK to answer for? - -It is strong drink that helps to fill the gaols—the hulks—the asylums -for the wretched, the diseased, and the insane. It is strong drink that -calls forth so many sighs and such bitter tears—shortens -existence—perpetuates family disease—and fosters maladies of all species -and of all kinds. Strong drink often places the criminal in the -condemned cell, and reduces the beautiful girl to barter her charms for -bread. Strong drink strews the land with old rags and bleaching bones. - -Let Temperance and Moderation be the guides of all:—for what are the -results of Intemperance and habitual Drunkenness? Behold them in all the -poor and low neighbourhoods of London! And if you ask, reader, by what -signs you are to recognise them, we will tell you:—by the leaden -eyes—the tottering steps—the shaking limbs—the haggard countenances—the -feverish brows—the parched lips—the dry and furred tongue—the hot and -pestilential breath—and the tremulous voices, of the confirmed votaries -of strong drink. Apoplexy—palsy—delirium tremens—enlarged liver—ossified -heart—impaired digestion—yellow jaundice—cancerous stomach—and -dropsy,—all these attend upon strong drink. And the hideous catalogue of -evils includes, also, broken limbs—fearful accidents and gushing -wounds,—as well as many of those hereditary maladies which are handed -down from father unto son! - -In an earlier chapter we ridiculed the phrase of "Merry England." Oh! is -it merry to see so much misery—so much crime—so much oppression—so much -sorrow—so much absence of sympathy? If all this be joyous, then, of a -surety, is England the merriest country, and London the merriest city, -on the face of the earth. If a man can find music in the cries that -issue from our crowded prisons and the wails that flow from our -barbarous workhouses, then may he dance long and heartily to that -melody—for it never ceases. If poverty can excite felicitous sensations -within him, heaven knows he need never be sad. If crime can bring smiles -to his lips, his countenance need never wear a melancholy aspect. And if -he can slake his thirst in the heart-wrung tears of human agony, he need -never step out of his way to look for a fountain or a spring! - -In this light, England is indeed merry; for the observer of human -nature, as he walks through the crowded streets of London, is -jostled and hemmed in by all the gaunt and hideous forms -that bear the denominations and wear the characteristics of -Crime—Poverty—Disease—Sorrow—and Despair! - -Old Death knocked at the door of No. 23, Castle Street, and was -instantly admitted by a tall, pale, and rather handsome girl, who -exclaimed, "Ah! my fine fellow—I thought you would come." - -"Is it you, Mutton-Face?" said Bones, with a grim smile. - -"Me—and no one else," answered the girl. "But walk in." - -Old Death accepted the invitation, and followed Mutton-Face Sal into a -room where about two dozen persons, male and female, were crowded round -a large fire. - -One was a young man, of the name of Quin, and who obtained a handsome -income by means of imposture. He was accustomed to appear in the streets -as a wretched-looking, deplorable old man, bent double with age and -infirmity, supporting himself on a stick, and crawling along in a -painful manner at the slowest possible rate. He used to swallow a dose -of some strong acid every morning to make himself look ghastly pale; and -he succeeded so well in counterfeiting an aspect of the most lamentable -nature, that he seldom returned to Castle Street at night with less than -ten shillings in his pocket. He had now thrown off his disguise, and was -whiling away the time, after a good supper, with a quart of egg-hot. - -Next to him sate a young woman, stout, florid, and rather good-looking. -She was in her stays and petticoat, having very quietly taken off her -gown to mend a rent; and she experienced not the slightest shame at thus -exposing all the upper part of her person to the mixed society present. -Neither did they appear to think there was any thing at all remarkable -in her conduct. How, indeed, could it be otherwise?—since she would -presently undress herself entirely in that very room—and before all her -companions, who would do the same—male and female—when the hour arrived -to repair to the beds ranged along the wall. This girl was known as Jane -Cummins, and was the mistress of the impostor Quin. - -Farther on was a fellow who was sitting upright enough in his chair -then, but who appeared daily in the streets as a bent cripple. He was -accustomed to go about imitating a cuckoo, by which avocation he made a -good living. He invariably got drunk every night. - -Next to this impostor was a little deformity who was tied round the body -to his chair. He had no legs, and was dragged about the streets of a day -in a kind of cart drawn by two beautiful dogs, and having a banner -unfurled behind him. The woman in charge of No. 23 paid him the greatest -attention—put him to bed at night—helped him to rise in the -morning—carried him out to his vehicle—strapped him in—and saw him safe -off on his excursion about the metropolis. He usually returned at four -to his dinner, and did not go out afterwards. His "earnings" were on the -average ten shillings a-day. - -A woman of about thirty, dressed in widow's weeds, and far advanced in -the family way, sate next to the little deformity. She had never been -married, but was possessed of five children, who were now playing in one -corner of the room. She was accustomed to take her stand in some public -thoroughfare, with her children drawn up in a row; and this game she had -carried on, at the time of which we are writing, for four years—rather a -long period of widowhood. She disliked fine weather, because the hearts -of the charitable are more easily touched by the spectacle of a -"destitute family" standing in the midst of a pouring rain or on the -snow; and she reckoned that in bad weather she could earn eight or nine -shillings a-day. Every Saturday night she took her station in some poor -neighbourhood—such as Church Street (Bethnal Green), Leather Lane, -Lambeth Marsh, High Street (St. Giles's), or Clare Market; and on those -occasions she often obtained as much as fifteen shillings. But then, as -she very justly observed, Sunday was a day of rest; and so it was indeed -to her—for she was in the habit of getting so awfully drunk every -Saturday night, after her return home to Castle Street, that she was -compelled to lie in bed all the next day until three or four o'clock, -when she rose to a good dinner. She always kept herself and children -remarkably neat and clean—not from any principle, but as a matter of -calculation. Charitable people thought she was a good mother, and a -deserving though distressed woman; and alms poured in upon her. When -questioned by any individual who relieved her, she would reply that "her -husband was a bricklayer who had fallen off a ladder and killed himself -six weeks ago;" or that "he was an honest, hard-working man whose career -was suddenly cut short by his being run over by a gentleman's carriage:" -or some such tale. - -Next to her sate a young woman who was wont to take her stand in the -evening, after dusk, close by the entrance to Somerset House. In the -summer she would hold a few flowers in her hand: in the winter, laces -and bobbins; and her invariable cry was "Oh! pray, dear sir"——or "dear -lady," as the case might be——"pray do assist me: I have only this moment -come out of the hospital, and have nowhere to sleep." By these means she -realized her five shillings in three or four hours, and hastened back to -Castle Street to spend them with a worthless fellow—her paramour. - -Another individual whom we must mention, was an elderly man, who in his -youth had been apprenticed to a chemist. He obtained his living by -displaying a fearfully ulcerated arm, having himself originally produced -the sores by means of corrosive acids and by the juices of various -plants—such as the ranunculus acris and sceleratus, the sponge-laurel, -euphorbium, arum maculatum, &c. He regularly revived and aggravated the -ulcers every time they began to heal, and his arm was really shocking to -contemplate. He would take his stand before a window, and, raising his -shirt-sleeve, display the ulcers, so that the ladies or gentlemen at the -casement sent him out a sixpence or a shilling as much for the purpose -of getting rid of so loathsome a spectacle as through motives of -charity. It was this man's boast that three hours in a fashionable -street or square would produce him seven or eight shillings. - -Another impostor present on this occasion was a man of about forty, who -was a perfect adept in disguising his person, and who feigned a -different malady for every change in his attire and outward appearance. -At one time he was suffering from ophthalmia, produced by the -application of irritants—such as snuff, pepper, tobacco, blue vitriol, -salt, alum, &c. At another he would actually produce blindness for a -time by the application of belladonna, henbane, or sponge-laurel; and -then he was led about by a little boy. Again, he would appear as a -miserable creature afflicted with a horrible jaundice—the yellow colour -being produced by a dye. He was also perfect in the counterfeit of -spasmodic complaints, paralysis, and convulsions. His earnings were -usually considerable: but on one occasion, "when things were very bad," -he obtained admission into a hospital as an epileptic patient; and so -well did he assume the dreadful attacks at particular intervals, that he -remained in the institution for several weeks. - -Lying on one of the beds, in a filthy state of intoxication, was a -miserable object who was accustomed to go about the streets on his hands -and knees, holding iron grapnels. His spine was bent upwards—rounded -like that of a cat in a passion; and his legs were moreover deformed. -His supine position was no counterfeit: he could not walk on his feet -like other human beings. Thus far he certainly was an object of -compassion: but in his character he was a worthless fellow—abusive, -insolent, drunken, and addicted to thieving. - -Sitting on another bed, and so far gone in liquor that he could scarcely -hold the pipe he was smoking, sate a man about forty years of age, named -Barlow. He had been a clergyman and was now a begging-letter impostor. -He possessed an excellent address, and was most plausible in his speech -as he was fluent with his pen; but the moment he obtained any money, he -was never sober until it was spent. He had travelled all over -England—knew every nobleman's or gentleman's country seat—and had -carried on an excellent business by means of his begging-letters.[4] - -A labouring man, his wife, and daughter were amongst this precious -company. The girl was about fifteen, and tolerably good-looking. The -family had been three days in that lodging-house; and she already -laughed at the obscene jest and applauded the licentious song. - -Two or three hawkers—a couple of juvenile thieves—and some young girls, -confirmed prostitutes, made up the amount of the precious company into -whose presence Mutton-Face Sal had conducted Old Death. - -Those who were acquainted with him saluted him respectfully; for he was -a great man—a very great man—amongst persons of a particular class. - -"Who is that horrible old wretch?" asked the labourer's daughter, in a -whisper to Jane Cummins. - -"The richest fence in London," returned the other in the same low tone -of voice. - -"And what's a _fence_, Miss?" - -"A fence, you fool, is a buyer of stolen goods, as the beaks call it. -That old covey is rolling in riches—shabby and mean as you see him. He -has been at it, they tell me, upwards of thirty years, and has never got -his-self lumbered yet. But the best of it is, no one knows where his -stores are: no one even knows where he lives. He has certain houses of -call; but the cunningest Bow Street Officer can't find out his abode." - -"What do you mean by _lumbered_?" asked the girl, whose name was -Matilda. - -"Put into quod, to be sure. But how green you are. We must teach you -what's what, I see that. Here—help me to put on my gown—it's mended now. -Thank'ee. Now come with me to the window, and I'll tell you what a happy -kind of life I lead—and how you may do the same if you like." - -But even as she uttered these words, Jane Cummins heaved a sigh—although -she strove hard to subdue it. - -The girl walked aside with her; and they continued their conversation in -whispers at the window. - -"I'm afraid our Tilda'll get no good here," said the labourer, in a low -tone, to his wife, as he glanced uneasily towards his daughter. - -"Nonsense, you fool!" returned the woman. "You can't get no work—and we -must starve if we don't do something. Our gal can keep us, if she -will—and she must too. Sooner or later it will come to _that_ with -her—and as well now as ever." - -The poor labourer sighed: he would have remained honest, and kept his -wife and daughter so, if he could; but want and houseless wanderings in -the cold street stared him in the face—and he resigned himself to the -bitter destiny that was thus forced upon him and his family! - -In the mean time Old Death had taken a seat near the fire, and was deep -in a whispered conversation with Mutton-Face Sal. - -"Where's Josh Pedler?" he asked. - -"He'll be in shortly," was the answer. "He's only gone out to fetch -something for his supper." - -"And so Tim the Snammer is lumbered?" said Old Death. - -"Yes: he's in Clerkenwell. But you'll get him off when he goes up again -'afore the beak on Saturday—won't you, old chap?—now, won't you?" - -"I don't know—I don't know. He isn't one of my men: he never would give -me a turn. His name doesn't appear against a number on my list." - -"But he will give you all his business in future, if you'll get him off -this time—just this time," said the girl coaxingly. - -"We shall see what Josh has to tell me—I never promise in a hurry," -returned Old Death. "Besides, it's not the rule to assist a man that -goes to others to do his business. Tim gets his notes changed at old -Isaacs[5]—or at Milberry's[6]—or at Mrs. Davis's[7]—or at -Rayner's[8]—or——" - -And as Old Death enumerated his competitors, telling them off on his -fingers slowly, one after the other, his jealousy arose to such a pitch -that the workings of his countenance became absolutely frightful. - -"Now, what's the use of going on like this?" said Sal. "I tell you that -Tim shan't have no more to do with them people, if you'll only get him -off this time. None of them can do it as sure as you; and if you only -tell me it shall be done, why—it's as good as done." - -At this moment the door opened, and a tall, rather good-looking, but -rakish and shabbily-dressed man, of about five-and-twenty, made his -appearance. - -"Here's Josh!" cried the girl. - -The thief and Old Death exchanged greetings; and the latter proposed to -adjourn to a public-house in the neighbourhood to talk over the -business. Thither the two men, accompanied by Mutton-Face Sal, -accordingly repaired; and Bones suffered himself to be persuaded to -receive the three five-pound notes and the sovereign, mentioned in the -flash letter, as the price of his endeavours to procure the discharge of -Tim the Snammer. - -The old man then took his departure, and Josh Pedler returned with Sal -to the lodging-house. - ------ - -Footnote 3: - - A police-serjeant, from whom we have obtained much valuable - information relative to the poverty, mendicity, immorality, and crime - in London, one day informed us that he knew of two sisters, both - single women, who were confined at about the same time, and who took - it by turns to go out with the children. They passed the babies off as - twins, and made upon an average seven shillings a day by this - imposture. The money was spent in riotous living and debauchery, in - the evening, along with their flash men, who existed in complete - idleness, living, however, far better than many a poor tradesman. One - evening, the police-serjeant above alluded to had occasion to visit - the room which the sisters occupied at one of Thompson's houses in - Castle Street (a robbery having been committed in the dwelling), and - he found the two young women and their paramours at supper. On the - table were a baked shoulder of mutton and potatoes, two quarts of - porter, and a bottle of gin. One of the sisters is at the present - moment a prostitute in Fleet Street. - -Footnote 4: - - All the characters just depicted are real ones. Some of them are still - about town. - -Footnote 5: - - A notorious fence living in Liquorpond Street. - -Footnote 6: - - A flash public-house at the corner of Laurence Lane, St. Giles's. - -Footnote 7: - - A fence living in Belson Street. - -Footnote 8: - - A stick-maker, and a noted fence, living in Coach and Horses Yard, - Drury Lane. - - - - - CHAPTER XXV. - MATILDA, THE COUNTRY-GIRL. - - -In the meantime Jane Cummins had been using all her eloquence for the -purpose of inducing Matilda Briggs, the poor labourer's daughter, to -become as bad as herself. - -"You don't know what a pleasant life we lead," she repeated, when she -had drawn the girl aside to the window. "Quin—my man—earns lots of -money—and we know how to spend it. To-night we'd a roast loin of pork -and apple-sauce for supper at a slap-up eating-house: then we'd some -rum-and-water: and then we came home here. Look how Quin's enjoying -himself with that egg-hot. Isn't he a capital fellow to be able to get -so much money—and all so easy too? and don't you think I'm happy to have -nothing to do but to help him spend it?" - -Again the young woman struggled fruitlessly to keep down a sigh; for—in -reality—she loathed, she abhorred the life which she was leading. - -"And what do you suppose will become of you and your father and mother?" -she continued. "Why—if it wasn't for that good-natured fellow Josh -Pedler you'd have all been turned out last night into the streets. And -when the woman came in just now to collect the three-pences, didn't he -take and pay for you and the old people? And didn't he give you all the -grub you had to-day?" - -"Why do you speak so much about _him_?" asked the country-girl. - -"Oh! I don't know—only because he seems to have taken a fancy to you," -returned Jane Cummins. "And I tell you what it is—you may become his -jomen if you like." - -"His what?" said Matilda, blushing—for she half understood the meaning -of the word. - -"Why—his wife, over the left, if you choose," was the answer. "But what -a fool you are! You're not so innocent as you pretend to be. Come—tell -me—have you ever had a lover?" - -"Never," replied the girl. - -"Then it's high time you should. The truth is, Josh told me to sound -you," she added in a mysterious manner; "and if you only say the word, -we'll have a wedding here to-night. Josh has got plenty of money at this -moment. He found a purse the day before yesterday——" - -"Where?" inquired the country-girl. - -"In a gentleman's pocket, at the theatre," returned Jane coolly; "and he -talks of setting up a mint——" - -"A mint! what with?" asked Matilda. - -"With Queen's metal, to be sure," responded the other; "and I think he's -a very thriving young fellow. You'd be as happy as a princess along with -him;—and wouldn't he come out strong to-night with the lush, if you was -to say _yes_." - -"But my father—my mother——" murmured the girl hesitatingly. - -"Oh! leave them to me!" said Jane Cummins. "Go and sit down again—I'll -manage the old woman—and she can manage the old man herself." - -Matilda returned to her seat; and Quin, who could pretty well guess what -his mistress had been about, handed the country-girl the quart-pot of -egg-flip. She declined to partake of it; but he pressed her hard—and she -drank a few drops. - -"Oh! that's nothink—a mere taste!" cried Quin. "Take another sip. Come." - -And she did as she was desired. - -"Lord bless the girl—she's quite afraid of it!" said Quin. "But you must -and shall have a good draught." - -Resistance was vain: Quin held the pewter-pot to her lips, and forced -her to imbibe a considerable quantity. - -He then passed the measure to her mother, who did not require any -entreaty to drink; and the labourer himself was not one likely to refuse -good liquor when it was offered to him. - -Quin thus got upon very pleasant terms with the poor family; and, making -Briggs sit next to him, he began to chatter away in a familiar style, -not forgetting to hand round the quart-pot at short intervals. - -Meantime Jane Cummins had drawn Mrs. Briggs aside, and made certain -representations to her—the result of which was that Matilda should that -very night become the mistress of Josh Pedler. The arrangement was, -however, to be kept quiet until Josh should return, for fear that he -might have altered his mind since he spoke to Jane on the subject in the -morning. - -At length Pedler came back, accompanied by Mutton-Face Sal; and, as he -entered the room, he exclaimed, "Well, pals, it's all right! Old Death -has took it in hand—and so Tim is as good as out. I've ordered round a -gallon of gin-punch to make merry in consequence." - -This announcement was received with loud cheers. - -"Come you here, Josh," cried Jane Cummins: "I want to say a word to -you." - -"Well—what is it?" demanded the thief. - -"Oh! nothing bad," she replied, with a significant look at her paramour -Quin, who laughed heartily—as if an excellent piece of fun were in -preparation. - -Jane then whispered a few words in Josh Pedler's ears: the man did not, -however, wait to hear all she had to say; but, bursting away from her, -caught Matilda Briggs in his arms, and, giving her three or four hearty -smacks with his lips, shouted, "A wedding, pals! a wedding!" - -"A wedding!" repeated those who were only now let into the meaning of -all the mysterious whispering that had been going on—first between Jane -and Matilda—then between Jane and Mrs. Briggs—afterwards between Mrs. -Briggs and her husband—and lastly between Jane and Josh Pedler:—"a -wedding!" they cried: "hooray!" - -"Yes—a wedding, in right good earnest!" exclaimed Josh. "But where's -that drunken old file Barlow?" - -"He's fallen asleep on his bed," observed Mutton-Face Sal. - -"Then rouse him—and be damned to him!" cried Pedler. - -Sal approached the bed, and speedily awoke the parson, who was at first -mighty wroth at what he considered to be a very great liberty: but when -he was informed that his services were required to perform a matrimonial -ceremony—that he was to have five shillings for the job—and that a -gallon of gin-punch was expected immediately, he uttered a tremendous -oath by way of expressing his joy, and leapt up with as much alacrity as -the fumes of liquor, which still influenced his brain, would permit him -to display. - -A circle was then formed, in the midst of which Josh Pedler, Matilda -Briggs, and the begging-letter-impostor parson took their station. One -of the hawkers produced a common brass ring, which he handed to Barlow, -over whose person Quin threw a sheet by way of surplice, while another -individual gave him an obscene book. - -The greatest excitement now prevailed amongst the rogues and loose women -present: and even Matilda herself entered into the spirit of the -proceeding—for she was excited with the liquor which Quin had forced -upon her. Her poor father alone experienced a qualm of conscience:—but -he dared not utter a word calculated to betray his scruples or manifest -his regrets—for his wife, of whom he stood in dread, cordially approved -of the arrangement. - -The drunken parson now commenced the ceremony; and assuming, as well as -he could, the seriousness of former days, he recited the following slang -chant:—[9] - - "I, parish prig and bouncing ben, - Do here, within this padding-ken, - Josh Pedler—if thou wilt agree— - Cop that young shaler unto thee. - To her a fancy bloak be thou:— - Tip mauleys—she's thy jomen now." - -Barlow made the bride and bridegroom join hands, and then continued -thus:— - - "When thou art out upon the cross, - May she be faithful to thy doss. - If things go rough, and traps are nigh, - May she upon the nose be fly." - -The company then repeated in chorus the last line; after which display -of their vocal powers, the ceremony was continued by the parson in the -following words:— - - "If you should pinch a lob—or plan - A sneezer, or a randlesman— - Or work the bulls and couters rum— - Or go the jump and speel the drum— - Or turn shop-bouncer at a pinch,— - Should you do this and get the clinch, - May she, while thou art lumbered, be - Still true and faithful, Josh, to thee." - -The parson paused for few moments, and concluded with this distich:— - - "Be witness, all, to what is said:— - And with this fawney ye are wed!" - -Barlow handed Josh the ring, which the thief placed on the girl's -finger, and then gave her a hearty kiss. - -The spectators immediately set up a shout of acclamation; and at that -instant the gin-punch made its appearance. - -A scene of debauchery—noise—quarrelling—and ribaldry now followed. The -parson was voted into the chair, which was constituted by the foot of -one of the beds; and the punch went rapidly round in pewter-pots. - -The bowl was soon emptied; whereupon Josh Pedler sent to the -public-house and ordered another. The little deformity, without legs, -sang a filthy song: even the man with the curved spine, and who went -about on grapnels, forgot his wonted ill-humour and insolence, and -joined in the mirth. - -The woman, who had charge of the house, was summoned; and, for a -consideration of seven shillings and sixpence, she agreed to provide a -separate room for the accommodation of the "happy couple." This amount -was duly paid; and the woman was made drunk into the bargain for her -trouble. - -At length some one proposed a dance; to which the parson objected, and -moved "another bowl of punch" as an amendment. Jane Cummins, however, -put an end to the argument by undressing herself, and performing sundry -saltatory evolutions in a complete state of nudity—an example which was -very speedily followed by Mutton-Face Sal, whose grief for the loss of -her paramour, Tim the Snammer, was temporarily drowned in punch. Even -the woman in widow's weeds was about to adopt the same course; but she -was too tipsy to accomplish her purpose, and, on rising from her chair, -fell on one of the beds and into a profound sleep at the same time. - -The noise, confusion, and disgusting licentiousness of the scene -increased to an extraordinary degree; but Josh Pedler led Matilda -away—or rather carried her; for the unfortunate girl was now in a -complete state of intoxication. - - * * * * * - -Revolting as the contemplation of such a scene as that just described -must be to the rightly-constituted mind, it was nevertheless requisite -to introduce it into such a work as the present. - -Its details prove how necessary it is to establish in the great -metropolis cheap and well-conducted lodging-houses for the use of poor -but honest families. - -This cannot be done by private speculators, because an efficient -management could only be secured by legislative enactment. - -The Government, then, should direct its attention to this very important -subject. - -A poor man is compelled to quit his native town or village in the -provinces, and comes to London to seek for work. He is accompanied by -his wife and daughter. Penury compels him to fix upon the cheapest -lodging he can find; and a cheap lodging-house cannot be a respectable -one. Its landlord and landlady have neither the time nor the means—even -if they possess the inclination—to discriminate between the various -applicants for admission:—on the contrary, they are well aware that the -worst characters are most likely to prove their best customers. Their -only consideration is to make their establishment answer; and so long as -their lodgers pay for the accommodation they seek, no questions can be -asked. - -To such a den, therefore, is the poor man forced to take his wife and -his daughter. The obscene language which falls upon this young girl's -ears—the fact of being compelled to lay aside her garments in the -presence of several males, who unconcernedly undress themselves before -her—the debauchery of the day—the licentiousness of the night,—to all -these elements of ruin is she immediately exposed. A veil drops -suddenly, as it were, from before her eyes; and she finds herself hemmed -in by moral corruption—surrounded by temptation—excited by new -desires—and encouraged to go astray by her companions. How can she leave -that sink of impurity, otherwise than impure? how can she quit that -abode of infamy, otherwise than infamous? Many a high-born lady has -succumbed to the seducer under circumstances less venial,—under -influences admitting a far less amount of extenuation! - -Were the Government, with the consent of the Legislature, to establish -lodging-houses for poor but honest persons, an immense benefit would be -conferred upon that class, and the fearful progress of immorality would -receive a check at least in one point. The respectability of such -institutions might be ensured by placing trustworthy married couples at -their head, and applying a system of rules which would enforce regular -hours, exclude ardent spirits, and only permit a moderate quantity of -beer to be brought in for the use of each individual, and likewise -empower magistrates to punish those who might be brought before them -charged with breaking the regulations, or otherwise subverting the -wholesome discipline enjoined. - -Thieves, prostitutes, and bad characters would not attempt to obtain -admission to establishments if this description:—no more than a person -enjoying a competency would endeavour to become the inmate of a -workhouse. Scenes of debauchery and unbounded license alone suit -abandoned males and females;—and thus every guarantee would exist for -the respectable management of those institutions which would save the -honest poor from the low lodging-houses of London.[10] - ------ - -Footnote 9: - - The following is a glossary which will enable the reader to comprehend - the flash terms used in the thieves' marriage-service:— - - _Parish prig_, clergyman. - _Bouncing ben_, learned man. - _Padding-ken_, lodging-house. - _Cop_, make over. - _Shaler_, girl—young lady. - _Fancy bloak_, paramour—fancy man. - _Tip mauleys_, shake hands. - _Jomen_, paramour—fancy girl. - _On the cross_, out thieving. - _Doss_, bed. - _Traps_, constables. - _Upon the nose_, on the watch. - _Fly_, alert. - _Pinch a lob_, rob a till. - _Plan_, steal. - _Sneezer_, snuff-box. - _Randlesman_, a silk pocket handkerchief. - _Work the bulls_, pass bad 5_s._ pieces (a favourite specie with - coiners in those days). - _Couters_, sovereigns. - _Rum_, bad—spurious. - _Go the jump_, steal into a room through a window. - _Speel the drum_, run away with stolen property. - _Shop-bouncer_, shop-lifter. - _Get the clinch_, be locked up in gaol. - _Lumbered_, imprisoned. - _Fawney_, ring. -Footnote 10: - - When Mr. Mills was instructed to draw up his "Report on Prison - Discipline," he obtained the necessary information and evidence from a - variety of sources. One of the witnesses whom he examined was - Inspector Titterton of the Metropolitan Police Force. This intelligent - officer deposed as follows:—"St Giles's abounds with low - lodging-houses. The most notorious are kept by Grout. He is a rich - man, and has elegant private houses at Hampstead, and the lowest sort - of lodging-houses in every part of London. He generally visits these - dens daily;—keeps his horse and gig. Price of these houses, as all - others, threepence or fourpence a night in a room with a score or two - of other people. Men and women sleep together anyhow. A man and woman - may have a place screened off, which they call a room, for eightpence - a night; but they are seldom so delicate. These houses are brothels. - Grout is the monopolist of low lodging-houses. The St. Giles's - prostitutes commit many robberies upon drunken countrymen whom they - entice to those places, and either bully or _hocus_ them. The last is - to stupify them with opium or laudanum in their drink. Girls club, and - keep a man between them. Inspector has known instances of girls - robbing men even of their clothes. In one case the victim had been - deprived absolutely of his shirt, because it was a good one: this man - the inspector carried home in a policeman's great coat. At the census - Grout returned that 140 persons slept in one of his houses in Laurence - Lane. His ground landlord is Nugee, the great tailor. The - lodging-houses in St. Giles's are like rabbit-burrows: not an inch of - ground is lost; and there are stairs and passages, innumerable. While - Grout is thus the landlord of hundreds and hundreds of thieves, - vagrants, and prostitutes, he lets his beautiful Hampstead villas to - genteel and fashionable families." - - We have already shown that Thompson was (and perhaps is still) a - lodging-house proprietor in a considerable way of business. A person - named Southgate is also eminent in the same line. He possesses houses - which make up altogether 309 beds. These houses are as follow:—Nos. 2, - 3, 4, 8, and 9, Charles Street, Long Acre; seven houses on Saffron - Hill; five in Mitre Court, St. John Street, Clerkenwell; No. 11, New - Court, Cow Cross, Smithfield; and two in Turnmill Street, Clerkenwell. - These last are exclusively occupied by Italian boys and their masters. - A man named Elliott has also lodging-houses in Charles Street: namely, - Nos. 23, 24, and 45. In Shorts' Gardens, a person called "Lucky Dick" - has Nos. 8 and 9. - - An officer whom Mr. Mills examined, deposed thus:—"To return to - lodging-houses, there are cheap ones in all towns; most of them have - two sorts of kitchens. The labourers and hawkers live in a better - room, and pay fourpence a night for their bed, halfpenny for coals, - halfpenny for the use of plates and hot water, and a halfpenny for the - cooking apparatus. Regular beggars, the low sort of cadger fellows, - live in the other kitchen, and pay a halfpenny for coals, and have - nothing found them. The beggars go on very bad at night in the - lodging-houses. They can make 5_s._ a day in the country by begging, - let alone what they make by thieving. They never think of work, unless - they can contrive to carry something in hopes of an opportunity to - slip off with it." - - And it is in such dens as these that honest poverty must seek shelter - and a bed! - -[Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XXVI. - THE LADY'S-MAID. - - -In the meantime Mr. Frank Curtis had met the buxom Charlotte, according -to appointment, in Conduit Street. - -The youthful lady's-maid, who had not numbered quite nineteen years, but -who concealed a warm temperament and a disposition ripe for wanton -mischief, beneath a staid and serious demeanour, when in the presence of -her mistress or of those in whose eyes it was prudent to be looked upon -as "a very prudent and steady young woman,"—the youthful lady's-maid, we -say, walked quietly along the street, and pretended not to notice Mr. -Curtis, who was leaning against a lamp-post, smoking a cigar. - -But the light of the lamp fell upon her pretty countenance; and he, -having immediately recognised her, stretched out his hand and caught her -by the shawl, saying, "Well, Miss—do you mean to pretend you didn't see -me?" - -"Lor'! you there now!" exclaimed Charlotte, affecting to be quite -surprised at this encounter. - -"Just as if you thought I shouldn't come!" cried Frank, laughing. "But -take my arm, my dear; and though this very arm has often supported -duchesses—and marchionesses—and even on one occasion the young and -beautiful queen of the Red-Skin Indians,—yet I don't know that it was -ever more agreeably pressed than by your pretty little fingers." - -"How fine you do talk!" said Charlotte, by no means displeased with the -compliment. "But where are you going?" - -"Oh! I'll show you, my dear," returned Frank, as he led her along. "And -now tell me—has anything happened in respect to you know what?" - -"Yes—a great deal," answered Charlotte. "But here I am walking with a -gentleman whose very name I don't even know! Isn't it odd?" - -"Very, my dear. I will, however, soon satisfy you on that head. My name -is _Mr. Curtis_ to the world—but _Frank_ to you; and some day or another -I hope to be Baron Dumplington. But what was it that you had to tell -me?" - -"Something about Miss Mordaunt," replied the girl, who firmly believed -the Dumplington story and entertained a proportionate amount of respect -towards the young gentleman who was heir to so honourable and -distinguished a title. - -"Come—out with it, my dear," exclaimed Frank. "Business first, and love -afterwards—as my dear lamented friend the Prince of Cochin-China used to -say when we were intimate together in Paris, before he hung himself for -love in his garters." - -"Did he, though?" cried the lady's-maid. "How shocking!" - -"Shocking enough, my dear. But pray tell me what you have to say about -Miss Mordaunt." - -"Why, sir," resumed Charlotte, "this evening when I was dressing her for -dinner, she began to sound me about how I liked my place in Lady -Hatfield's service, and whether I should be glad to better myself. So, -keeping in mind what you had told me to do, I seemed to fall in to all -she asked me, and gave her to understand that I shouldn't object to -better myself. Then she began to simper and smile, and at last let out -plump that she was going to run away with a gentleman—but she didn't say -who—to-morrow night." - -"That gentleman, my dear, is an uncle of mine," said Curtis. - -"I'll be bound, then, it's the same Sir Christopher Blunt——" - -"The very same, my dear. But go on: you speak almost as well as I did -when I was in Parliament—or as my uncle the Earl of Dumplington." - -"Do I, though? Well," continued Charlotte, "and so Miss Mordaunt told me -how she couldn't think of travelling alone with the gentleman, and that -she must have a lady's-maid——" - -"And you agreed to go with her?" cried Frank. - -"I did," answered Charlotte; "and we settled and arranged every thing -quite comfortable." - -"Did she tell you where she is to meet my uncle to-morrow night?" -inquired Frank. - -"No: but she told me to mind and be ready to leave in the evening at -about seven o'clock," returned Charlotte. - -"Well—fortunately I _do_ know where they are to meet—and that's close by -the turnpike at Islington Green," said Frank. "She's to go up in a -hackney-coach, and be there punctual at eight o'clock; and the old chap -is to have the post-chaise and four in readiness. Doesn't he already -fancy himself tearing along the great north road, as if the devil was -after him! And so nice too did he arrange his plans with his Julia, that -there's to be a supper prepared for them at St. Alban's—and off again! -Egad! he's settled it pleasant enough: but I'll be even with him!" - -"What do you intend to do?" asked Charlotte. - -Curtis did not immediately reply; but, after a few moments' -consideration, he abruptly exclaimed, "Can you trust any female friend -of yours in this business?" - -"Well—I don't know—unless it is my own sister Alice, which is a very -nice girl, and will do any thing I tell her," was the reply. - -"The very thing!" ejaculated Frank. "Is she out at service?" - -"No—she's at home with mother," answered Charlotte. - -"And will she just consent to take a short ride in a post-chaise and -four along with you, if I give her a five-pound note?" demanded Frank. - -"To be sure she will," returned Charlotte, who, with the quickness of -female perception, began to comprehend Mr. Curtis's design. - -"Then I'll tell you how we must contrive it," said Frank. "It's of the -greatest consequence to me, my dear, to prevent this marriage: and if I -can only expose my stupid old uncle, I shall fairly laugh him out of it. -Now, don't you think you could manage to pass yourself off as his Julia, -and get your sister to play the part of yourself, as far as St. Alban's? -and I would be there with three or four friends of mine—all jolly -dogs—ready to receive Sir Christopher and you girls. You might cover -your face well with a thick veil; and as he will be sure to hurry you -into the post-chaise the moment you get down from the hackney-coach just -beyond the turnpike on the Green, you needn't speak a word. Then you can -pretend to be so overcome with fear and anxiety——" - -"Oh! leave all that to me!" exclaimed Charlotte, who relished the joke -amazingly. "But what shall I do about my place at Lady Hatfield's?" -"Deuce take your place, my dear!" cried Frank. "I'll secure beautiful -lodgings for you in some nice, quiet, retired street at the West End, -and you shall be as happy as the day's long. We'll have such fun -together—and I'll take you to plays and all kinds of amusements. Lord -bless you! I think no more of a cool thousand or two than I should of -blowing out a chap's brains if he was to insult you." - -"Oh! dear me, don't talk so horrid!" exclaimed Charlotte, laughing. "And -you really will do all you say—if I help you in this business?" - -"Yes—and much more," returned Frank. "And now the only thing to manage, -is to prevent Miss Mordaunt keeping the appointment by herself. Oh! I -have it!" he exclaimed, after a minute's reflection. "I can imitate my -uncle's handwriting to a _t_. He writes just as if he had a skewer -instead of a pen—and so do I, for that matter. So I'll just tip Miss -Julia a note to-morrow afternoon about four, as if it came from Sir -Christopher; and I'll tell her in it that the elopement must be -postponed until the next night. Egad! this is a stroke of policy that -beats hollow any thing my cousin the Duke of Dumplington ever did." - -"I thought he was your uncle, sir?" remarked Charlotte. - -"I meant my uncle, love," replied Frank: "but it's all the same. The -Marquis of Dumplington is my relation—and that's enough. And now, my -sweet creature, that we have settled all this business—suppose we -adjourn to a nice quiet place that I know——" - -"But I must see my sister to-night and tell her all that there is to be -done," interrupted Charlotte. - -The fact is that the pretty lady's-maid had kept the appointment given -her by Frank Curtis, with the full intention of abandoning her person to -him; for she was alike wanton in her passions and mercenary in her -disposition; and the five guineas which he had given her in the morning -had stimulated her with the desire of making farther inroads upon his -purse. Nay—she had even hoped that he would fulfil the sort of promise -he had given her at their previous interview, and, in plain terms, -establish her as his mistress in a comfortable manner. But the intrigue -just concocted for the purpose of defeating the matrimonial design of -Miss Mordaunt and Sir Christopher Blunt, had engendered new ideas in the -breast of the lady's-maid; and she resolved that her intimacy with Mr. -Curtis should progress no farther for the present. - -The young man, who at this moment cared much more for the success of his -scheme against his uncle than for the attractions of Miss Charlotte -Styles, willingly allowed her to repair at once to the abode of her -mother for the purpose of tutoring Alice how to play the part which that -younger sister was to enact in the great drama planned by Mr. Curtis. - -Charlotte accordingly separated from Frank, with a promise to write to -him if any thing should go wrong; but with an understanding, on the -other hand, that her silence was to be construed by him into a proof -that all was progressing favourably to his views. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVII. - LONDON ON A RAINY EVENING.—A SCENE IN A - POST-CHAISE. - - -London has a strange appearance on those evenings—so peculiar to our -climate—when a cold, drizzling, mist-like rain is falling. The lustre of -the gaslights in the shops is seen dimly, as if through a gauze; and the -lamps in the streets have an air as though they struggled to preserve -themselves from total extinction. Clogs and pattens create a confused -rattling on the pavement; and to a bird's-eye view, such crowded -thoroughfares as Cheapside, Fleet Street, the Strand, and Holborn, must -appear to have their _trottoirs_ arched with umbrellas. - -Then aristocracy seems to urge the horses of its carriage more quickly -on, as it whisks to the club, the Parliament, or the dinner-party:—the -member of the middle class buttons his taglioni or his great-coat over -his chest;—the individual of a humbler sphere tries to make his scanty -tweed cover as much of his person as it will;—and poverty wraps its rags -around its shaking limbs, apparently forgetful that in drawing them over -one place they leave another bare. - -In the entrances of courts and covered alleys and in deep doorways the -"daughters of pleasure" (oh! the frightful misnomer!) collect and huddle -together in their flaunting attire, the pattering of the rain rendering -their poor thin shoes as pulpy as brown paper, and splashing over their -stockings—and thus aiding ardent spirits and nights of dissipation to -plant the seeds of consumption more deeply in their constitutions. - -The drivers of cabs and omnibuses thrust their heads as far into their -hats—or else push their hats as far down on their heads—as possible; -and, shrugging up their shoulders, sit with rounded backs and faces bent -downward, on their vehicles;—while the conductors or omnibus-cads, in -their oil-skin coats, seem to find consolation for the unpleasantness of -the weather in the fact that they can speedily fill their vehicles -without the usual exercise of the lungs or gymnastic movements of the -arm. - -And, on a rainy evening such as we are attempting to describe, what -business—what bustle prevail in front of the Angel Inn at Islington! -Omnibus after omnibus comes up, from every direction, discharging and -receiving their animated freight with wonderful rapidity. The red-nosed -man at the booking-office seems to have something better to do than -merely lounge at the threshold, with his right shoulder leaning against -the door-post off which it has worn the paint in one particular spot: -for inquiries now multiply thickly upon him. Indeed, we are afraid that -that last share of "a quartern and two outs" which he took with the -Elephant and Castle six o'clock cad, has somewhat obfuscated his ideas: -for he thrusts an elderly lady with a bandbox into a Chelsea, although -she particularly requested to be placed in a Bank omnibus; and he has -sent that tall lady with her three children and a baby over to -Kennington, in spite of her thrice repeated anxiety to repair to Sloane -Square. - -What a paddling and stamping of feet, and pattering of clogs, and -collision of umbrellas there are in every direction,—up the New Road, -and down the City Road,—along St. John Street and Goswell Street -Road,—and also up towards the Green! The most addle-pated writer may -find some food for his pen, if he only take his stand at the Angel -door—with a cigar in his mouth, too, if he like—on a rainy evening. - -Does he wish to see how a party of pleasure may be spoiled by a change -in the weather? Let him study that little procession of a family who -have passed the day at Copenhagen House, and are now returning home, -wet—cold—uncomfortable—and sulky: the husband dragging the chaise, in -which two children are squalling—a lubberly boy of eight or nine pushing -behind—and the wife, with a baby on one arm, and holding up her gown -with the left hand, paddling miserably through the rain, and venting her -ill-humour on her husband by declaring that "it was all his fault—she -knew how it would be—she had begged and prayed of him to come home an -hour before—but he _would_ stay to have that other glass of -gin-and-water!" - -If our moralist, whom we station at the door of the Angel, be an admirer -of pretty feet and ankles, he may now gratify his taste in that respect; -for, of a surety, those who have good ones raise their dresses above the -swell of the leg. Ah! ladies—it is really too bad of you:—we almost -suspect that you care little for the rain, since it enables you to -display those attractions! - -The policeman, with his oil-skin cape, emerges from the public-house -close by, drawing the back of his hand across his lips, just for all the -world as if he had been taking "something short" to keep the cold -out:—and very likely he has, too—for we are sure that the most rigid -disciplinarian of an inspector or serjeant would not quarrel with him -for so doing on such an unpleasant evening. The apple-stall woman puts -up an umbrella, and maintains her seat on the low basket turned bottom -upwards; for she dares not absent herself from her post, for fear of the -hungry urchins that are prowling about. - -Within the door-way of the Angel a knot of young gentlemen, in -pea-coats, and with sticks in their hands, are smoking cigars. They are -not waiting for the omnibuses, but are merely collected there because -the bustle of the scene amuses them, and they like to "look at the -gals." Listen a moment to their conversation:—they are talking about -some favourite actress at an adjacent theatre—and, to hear their astute -observations, one would think that they must at least be the -dramatic-critics of the newspapers assembled there. Or else, perhaps, -their discourse turns on politics; and, then, one would be apt to -imagine that they were Under-Secretaries of State in disguise, so -profound are their remarks! They call the Minister of the day by his -surname without any titular adjunct; and one of them, no doubt wiser -than the rest, shakes his head solemnly, and very kindly prophesies the -said Minister's approaching downfall. Then the conversation flies off at -a tangent to some less important subject; and they most probably proceed -to comment upon the "excellent lark" they had the other night at -such-and-such a place. Presently one of them proposes a "go of whiskey" -each; and they accordingly adjourn to the public room of the Angel, -where, what with the goes of whiskey and the going of their tongues, -they create so much noise that the old gentleman at the next table -flings down the last Sunday's paper in despair, before he has read -through the third murder. - -Well, reader, it was on such a rainy evening as this that two grand -events in our history were to take place:—we mean the affair of Sir -Christopher Blunt on the one hand, and the project of Old Death to -kidnap Charley Watts on the other. - -It is our intention, however, to proceed with the former little business -in this chapter. - -At a quarter to eight o'clock a post-chaise and four passed through the -turnpike at Islington, and drew up in the lower road, alongside the -enclosure of the Green. - -The right-hand window was then lowered; and a head, enveloped in a fur -travelling-cap, with lappets over the ears and tying under the chin, was -protruded forth. - -This head—which belonged to Sir Christopher Blunt—looked anxiously up -and down the thoroughfare, and was then withdrawn again. - -But the worthy knight's patience was not tested to any great extent; for -in a few minutes after his arrival at the appointed spot, and before the -clock had struck eight, a hackney-coach rattled up to the place where -the chaise was waiting. - -Sir Christopher threw open the door of the chaise, kicked down the -steps, and leaped out with the agility of a small elephant; and in a few -moments he very gallantly handed two females, well muffled up in cloaks, -boas, and veils, from the hackney-coach. - -"Dearest Julia!" he murmured to the taller of the two, as he assisted -her to ascend into the post-chaise. - -An expressive squeeze of the hand was the reply to this affectionate -apostrophe on the part of the knight. - -The shorter female, whom Sir Christopher concluded to be his fair one's -attendant,—inasmuch as Miss Mordaunt had informed him by note in the -morning that she had secured a faithful maid to accompany her,—was also -handed into the post-chaise: the knight followed—and the vehicle hurried -away like wildfire. - -Sir Christopher and the female whom he believed to be Miss Mordaunt, -sate on the back seat, and the other young lady occupied the seat facing -them. - -For some time there was a dead silence inside the chaise; but at the -expiration of about ten minutes, Sir Christopher began to fidget like a -gentleman at a public dinner, who, though "unaccustomed to public -speaking," nevertheless experiences a nervous anxiety to address the -audience. - -"My dear Julia—ahem!" began the knight: "I hope you—you don't feel cold, -dear?" - -The female thus addressed threw her arms round Sir Christopher's neck, -and clasped him so fondly that, what with the tightness of the embrace -and the contact of the fur in which she was enveloped, he might have -been pardoned had he fancied for a moment that he was being hugged by a -bear. - -"Oh! dearest Julia—how happy I am!" exclaimed Sir Christopher, nearly -suffocated by this display of fondness. "And you, Julia—are you happy, -my love?" - -"Quite—too happy!" murmured his companion. - -"And yet—methinks your voice sounds strange, Julia," said the knight. -"What—what _is_ the matter with you?" - -"Only this, Sir Christopher—that I am not Miss Mordaunt——" - -"Not Miss Mordaunt!" ejaculated the knight, preparing to throw down the -window and order the postillions to stop. - -"No—not Miss Mordaunt," was the answer: "but one who loves you as -well—or better—and is, I flatter myself, six times as good-looking." - -"Then who are you, in the name of heaven?" cried the knight, so -completely bewildered that he knew not how to act. - -Charlotte—for it was she—threw back her veil, and, by the light of the -shops which they were just passing in the outskirts, Sir Christopher -recognised Lady Hatfield's dependant, whom he had seen on two or three -occasions when he had called on Miss Mordaunt in Piccadilly. - -"And who is your companion?" he demanded hastily. - -"My sister Alice—at your service," replied Charlotte. "But listen to me -for one moment, Sir Christopher!" - -"Well—for one moment, then," said the knight, so strangely perplexed and -annoyed that he could take no decisive step. - -"Miss Mordaunt never loved you, Sir Christopher," continued the wily -Charlotte. - -"Never loved me! Then why did she tell me so?" - -"Only to laugh at you. It was all planned between her and your nephew -Mr. Frank Curtis——" - -"The devil!" ejaculated the knight. "Go on." - -"They determined to make themselves merry at your expense, and yourself -ridiculous at the same time." - -"By heaven! I will be revenged!" cried the hero of this pleasant -adventure, slapping his thigh emphatically with his open palm. - -"They accordingly hired me and my sister to personate Miss Mordaunt and -a lady's-maid," proceeded Charlotte; "and we were to carry on the deceit -till we got to St. Alban's, where Mr. Frank Curtis and a party of his -friends are already waiting to receive you." - -"The villain!" shouted Sir Christopher, completely deceived by this -plausible tale. - -"But I always admired you, sir," continued Charlotte; "and I was -resolved not to be made a party to carry out the trick to the end. I -should have written to you—or called to explain it: but I feared you -might not believe me;—and so I thought it best to let matters go as far -as they have gone now, just to convince you that what I say is perfectly -true." - -"Oh! I believe it all:—It is too clear—too apparent!" exclaimed the -knight. "That scoundrel Frank—I'll discard him—I'll stop his -allowance—I'll never speak to him again! To get a party of friends to -meet us at St. Alban's—eh? Just where I'd sent word to have a good -supper in readiness!" - -"Miss Mordaunt told him all that, sir," observed Charlotte, who had kept -one of her arms round the knight's neck, and had gradually approached -her countenance so closely to his that her breath now fanned his cheek. - -"Yes—I understand it all!" cried Sir Christopher. "I have been grossly -deceived—vilely treated—basely served! But I am not the man to put up -with it. At the same time, Miss," he added, in a softening tone, "you -are a very good girl to have saved me from cutting so ridiculous a -figure at St. Alban's!" - -"I have only done my duty, sir," murmured Charlotte, with a profound -sigh; and—of course by accident—her cheek touched that of the knight. - -"A good girl—a very good girl!" repeated Sir Christopher: "as good as -you are pretty—for you _are_ pretty—and I've often remarked it." - -The arm thrown around Sir Christopher's neck pressed him gently. - -"And I really do not know how to reward you sufficiently, my dear girl," -he added, new ideas entering his mind. - -Again the arm pressed him tenderly. - -Sir Christopher could resist the exciting contiguity no longer; and he -fairly kissed the cheek that was so close to his lips. - -Charlotte sighed again, but did not withdraw her face. - -"Really this is very ridiculous!" exclaimed the knight. "Here we are, -galloping along like lightning—and without any particular object that I -know of. Upon my word, I have a great mind—a very great mind to revenge -myself on both Miss Mordaunt and Master Frank at one and the same time!" - -"In what way, Sir Christopher!" asked Charlotte, in a languidly -murmuring tone. - -"By marrying _you_, my dear," was the emphatic response. - -"Oh! Sir Christopher—is it possible—such happiness!" sighed Charlotte, -again embracing him in the most tender manner. - -"It is so possible, my dear," answered the knight, "that if you consent -to have me, the horses' heads need not be turned back again towards -London." - -"How can I refuse you, dear Sir Christopher?" exclaimed Charlotte;—"I, -who always thought what a fine-looking—handsome—kind—genteel—fashionable -man you was from the first time I ever saw you!" - -"I'm sure I always heard sister speak in the highest terms of you, sir," -said Alice, now taking up her cue. - -"Well, then, my dear—what is to hinder us from being happy?" cried Sir -Christopher. - -With these words, he pulled down the window, ordered the postillions to -stop, and gave them directions to change their route in such a manner as -to avoid St. Alban's. - -The vehicle then whisked along with renewed speed; and while Sir -Christopher felt wonderfully elated at the idea of punishing his nephew -and avenging himself on Miss Mordaunt by showing her that she was not -the only female in the world to whom he was compelled to address -himself,—Charlotte, on the other hand, rejoiced at the success of a -scheme which had been suggested by the part she was originally engaged -to play in this pleasant drama, and which, as the reader will now -perceive, was the motive that prevented her from extending her intimacy -with Mr. Frank Curtis on the previous evening. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVIII. - TOM RAIN'S LODGINGS IN LOCK'S FIELDS. - - -Nearly opposite to the house where Tom Rain lived, in Brandon Street, -Lock's Fields, there was a boozing-ken, well known to Old Death; and -shortly after nine o'clock on the same evening which marked the events -related in the preceding chapter, that cunning fence, accompanied by -Toby Bunce and the lad Jacob, were introduced by the landlord into a -front room on the first-floor of the said flash establishment. - -Jacob was ordered to station himself at the window and watch for Tom -Rain to take his departure on the expedition devised for him by Old -Death; while Bones himself and his acolyte Toby seated themselves -opposite a cheerful fire, to discuss hot gin-and-water until the hour -should arrive for putting into execution the scheme that had brought -them thither. - -Although the rain was falling with a mist-like density, and no -gas-company had been enterprising enough to lay down pipes in such a -neighbourhood as Lock's Fields,—so that there were neither stars nor -lamps to light the street,—still the eagle-eyes of Jacob could -distinguish sufficient of the scene without, to quiet any fear lest the -movements of Tom Rain should escape him. Old Death moreover stimulated -his energies by means of a sip of hot grog; and the lad remained as -motionless at the window and as earnestly intent on his object as a cat -watching near the hole into which a mouse has escaped. - -"Well," said Old Death, as he sipped his liquor complacently, "I suppose -we shall have no difficulty in managing this little job by-and-by? Jacob -watched all day long in Great Ormond Street, until we joined him to come -over here; and the Jewess never stirred out once—did she, Jacob?" - -"No—not once," was the answer. - -"But you knew that she was at home?" - -"Yes: because I saw her at the window for a moment, every now and then," -replied the lad, speaking without averting his eyes from the street. - -"Good!" exclaimed Old Death. "It is not at all likely that she has come -over to Tom's lodgings this evening, or that she will come—'specially -after the long sermon she wrote——" - -Bones checked himself; for he was not in the habit of being -communicative with Toby Bunce; and Toby, on his side, never sought to -pry into the motives or designs of the old fence by whom he was made so -complete a tool. - -"Who is there in the house besides Mr. Rainford and the boy?" asked -Toby, after a pause. - -"Only the old widow woman that keeps it," responded Mr. Benjamin Bones. - -"There!" cried Jacob, suddenly: "the door opens—and Mr. Rainford comes -out! He's gone." - -"All right!" said Old Death. "I suppose he's going for his horse, -wherever he keeps it." - -"I could see by the light in the passage, when the door was opened, that -he had his white coat on and his great riding-whip in his hand," -remarked Jacob. "It was a woman that held the candle—because I could -just catch a glimpse of her shadow, and that's all." - -"You don't think it was the Jewess?" asked Bones. - -"I couldn't say, because the shadow wasn't plain enough," returned -Jacob. "But it's hardly probable that she could have got over here -before us, even if she was coming to Mr. Rainford's lodgings to-night." - -"Well said, Jacob," observed Old Death. "You're getting a knowing -lad—you are; and now you shall have a glass of grog to yourself." - -"What! a _whole_ glass?" ejaculated Toby Bunce, in astonishment at this -unwonted liberality on the part of Old Death. - -"Yes—a whole glass—a sixpenny glass," responded Bones; and, having -summoned the landlord, he gave the requisite order. - -The liquor was brought for Jacob's express behoof; and Old Death drew -forth the money to pay for it. But, as he did so, a paper with writing -upon it fell upon the floor, unperceived by any one save Jacob. - -The lad instantly drew a chair near the fire, and as he seated himself, -placed his foot upon the paper, which, being somewhat dingy in hue, he -took to be a bank-note. - -The landlord withdrew; and the conversation was resumed between Old -Death and Toby Bunce. - -"I hope Betsy will have something nice for supper when we get back -again," remarked the latter. - -"She's sure to do that," replied Old Death. "You ought to be very fond -of your wife, Toby—for she's very fond of you." - -"D'ye think she is, Mr. Bones?" exclaimed Bunce. - -"I'm sure of it. Doesn't she take great care of you?" - -"Rather too much," was the reply, which came from the bottom of Toby's -heart: then, perceiving that he had uttered something which seemed to -imply that he had dared to form an opinion for himself, he hastened to -add, "Not but what it's very kind of her to keep the money—and my watch -too—and every thing else in her own care, because I know I'm an old -fool——" - -"No—you're not a fool, Toby," interrupted Bones; "but you want looking -after. Ah! it was a blessed day for you when I recommended you to marry -that virtuous—well-conducted—pattern-woman, as one may say, who is now -your wife. I had no interest but your good—and hers——" - -"I'm well aware of that, Mr. Bones," cried Toby: "and you've been an -excellent friend to us. I'm sure Betsy respects you as if you was her——" -Toby was about to say "father," but he remembered that Old Death did not -like to be reminded of his age, and so he substituted "brother." - -"Well—well," said Bones: "I've no doubt of what you tell me; and so long -as you're happy together, that's every thing." - -Toby smothered a sigh with a deep draught of gin-and-water;—Old Death -poked the fire; and Jacob availed himself of the opportunity to stoop -down and pick up the paper, which he dexterously conveyed to his pocket, -unperceived by either of his companions. But a sudden disappointment -seized upon him—for he could feel that it was too stiff for a bank-note, -and was moreover folded like a letter. - -The time passed away; and at length Old Death, after consulting his -watch, declared it to be close upon eleven o'clock. - -There were no lights visible in the house opposite; and it was therefore -determined to commence operations without farther delay. - -"Before we leave here," said Old Death, "remember what you are to do. -Jacob and you, Toby, will put on your masks, rush in, shut the door, and -make the old widow secure. Then you, Jacob, will come out and fetch me. -It won't do for the woman to see me at all, because I'm so tall that if -she described me to Tom Rain when he comes back, he would know who it -was directly; but as there's nothing particular about either of you, he -can't make you out from description." - -"We'll take care, Mr. Bunce, how the thing is managed," said Toby. - -The trio then quitted the public-house; and, while Toby and Jacob -crossed to the other side of the street, Old Death walked a little way -on. - -The coast was quite clear, and a profound silence reigned throughout the -neighbourhood. - -Toby Bunce and the lad stopped at the door of the widow's house, slipped -on their black masks, and knocked. In a few moments the door was opened -by the widow herself. Quick as lightning, the candle was knocked from -her hand, and the scream that half-burst from her lips was arrested by a -large plaster which Toby instantaneously clapped upon her mouth. The -poor woman fainted through excess of terror, and was borne into the -nearest room, where Jacob hastened to strike a light. - -Having succeeded thus far, Toby remained in charge of the landlady, -while Jacob hastened to fetch Old Death. - -In a few moments the lad returned with that individual; and the -front-door was again carefully closed. - -The widow continued in a swoon; and Toby did not give himself any -trouble to recover her. - -"Do you remain here," said Old Death, addressing himself to his myrmidon -Bunce; "and if the woman revives and attempts to struggle or any -nonsense of that kind, give her a knock on the head just to quiet -her—but no more." - -"All right," returned Toby, rejoiced to find that he had only a female -to deal with. - -Old Death then took the light, and, followed by Jacob, cautiously -ascended the stairs. - -They entered the front-room on the first-floor. It was a parlour, very -neatly furnished: but no one was there. - -"The boy must be in the back chamber," murmured Old Death; and thither -they proceeded. - -Having opened the door as noiselessly as possible, they advanced slowly -into the room; but scarcely had the candle shed its light upon the bed, -when they beheld the boy—the object of their enterprise—cradled on the -bare and beautifully modelled arm of a female also wrapped in slumber, -and whose coal-black hair spread itself over the white pillow, and -partially concealed her glowing bust. - -"The Jewess!" whispered Jacob, in a rapid, concentrated tone. - -Old Death instantly shaded the light with his hand, and retreated from -the room, followed by the lad. - -But at that moment a loud knock at the front-door was heard; and -simultaneously a piercing shriek burst from the apartment below, where -Toby Bunce had been left in charge of the landlady. - -Old Death muttered a terrible curse, extinguished the light, and -hastened down stairs as noiselessly as possible—Jacob following with -equal caution. - -"The back way," murmured Old Death: "but first go and help Toby, who is -in some trouble or another with the landlady." - -Jacob darted into the front-room; and as it was quite dark, he stumbled -over a chair. - -The struggle between Toby and the landlady, who had succeeded in getting -off the plaster, was now renewed; and, releasing her throat from the -suffocating grasp which her assailant had upon it, she screamed for help -a second time. - -The knocking at the front-door was redoubled; and in a few moments a -light gleamed from the head of the stairs. - -"Perdition!" murmured old Death: "it is the Jewess!" - -Then, rushing into the front room, he exclaimed, "Come off this moment!" -and he was about to beat a retreat by the back way, when the house-door -was forced in with a vigorous push. - -"What the devil is doing here?" cried the well-known voice of Tom Rain, -as he banged the door behind him and drew the bolt. "Who was screaming? -What——" - -"Oh! Tom—is that you?" exclaimed a melodious, though excited voice on -the stairs; "there are thieves—murderers in the house!" - -And the half-naked lady, with her coal-black hair floating around her -shoulders and over her bosom, suddenly appeared at the turning of the -narrow staircase, holding a candle. - -The light illumed the small passage below, and showed Tom Rain, standing -with his back against the front-door, and with a pistol in each hand. - -A third scream burst from the parlour. - -Rainford rushed in; and, encountering Toby and Jacob, dragged them—or -rather hurled them, as if they were two children in his grasp, into the -passage. - -There the light revealed to him their countenances—for their masks had -been torn away in the struggle with the landlady; and Rainford was for a -few moments so astounded at the recognition of Old Death's agents or -confederates, that he was unable to utter a word. - -"The villains!—the murderers!—the assassins!" cried the landlady, -rushing forward, with her hair all in disorder, her garments torn to -rags, and the blood streaming from her nose. "Shall I go and fetch a -constable, Mr. Rainford?" - -"No, I thank'ee," returned Tom: "leave me to manage these scoundrels. -Here, my love," he continued, addressing himself to the Jewess, who had -remained half-way up the stairs, "give me that light, and do you retire -to your room. I must speak to these rascals in private. My good woman," -he added, turning once more to the landlady, "have the kindness to go up -stairs and keep my wife company; and fear nothing—now that I am here." - -The two women hastened to obey these injunctions; and Rainford, provided -with the candle, made an imperative sign for Toby Bunce and Jacob to -precede him into the room from which he had dragged them a few minutes -previously. - -"Answer me directly," said Tom, in a stern—resolute manner, as he closed -the door behind him, and deliberately drew forth the pistols which he -had thrust into the pockets of his white great-coat when he first -entered the parlour to rescue the landlady,—"answer me directly—either -one of you, I care not which:—what brought you here?" - -"Jacob knows best, Mr. Rainford," replied Bunce, eyeing the pistols -askance. - -"No—I don't," said the lad, in a sulky tone. - -"You are game to your employer, I have no doubt, Jacob," ejaculated -Rainford. "And now, Toby Bunce, answer for yourself—or, by God! I'll -shoot you through the head! In short, what brought you here?" - -At this moment there was a low knock at the room-door, against which Tom -Rain was leaning. - -"Who's there?" demanded the highwayman. - -"Me," replied the sepulchral, hollow voice of Old Death. - -"Ah! the plot thickens," said Tom; and, opening the door, he gave -admittance to Mr. Benjamin Bones. - -"It's all a mistake, Tom—it's the wrong house!" exclaimed Old Death. -"You don't know how annoyed I am—you don't indeed!" - -"Well—I confess I do not," said the highwayman coolly; "and it will take -you a long time to persuade me that you are speaking the truth. If it -was the wrong house, why didn't these people of yours tell me so when I -first questioned them?" - -"Because I saw you would not believe me," cried Jacob hastily. - -"And I was so flurried by them barkers," added Toby, pointing to the -pistols. - -"I'm not such a fool as you take me to be," observed Tom Rain. "Without -being able to fathom your intentions, I can smell treachery as easy as I -could gunpowder. How did you find out that I lived here? You must have -had me dogged and watched, Old Death. And perhaps the very job you sent -me after to-night, was a mere subterfuge to get me out of the way? -Fortunately I did not wait for the yellow chaise, because I picked up -something better the moment I reached Blackheath; and I thought I had -done quite enough for one evening's work—so I returned without delay. -Lucky it was that I did so. But am I to have an explanation of this -affair?—or do you mean us to break with each other for good and all?" - -"What can I say—what can I do to prove to you that this is all a -mistake?" cried Old Death, sadly perplexed between the fear of complete -detection and the dread of losing the valuable services of the -highwayman. - -"I will tell you," answered Tom, after a few moments' consideration. -"Let these two followers of yours go their ways—and you and me will have -a little discourse in private." - -A sudden misgiving—a horrible suspicion flashed to the mind of Old -Death. Could Rainford mean to murder him? - -"Why do you hesitate?" demanded the highwayman, penetrating his -thoughts. "Do you suppose for an instant that I intend you any harm? -Why, you miserable old wretch," he added, with a proud contempt which -rendered him strikingly handsome for the moment, "I would sooner blow -out my own brains than defile my hands by laying them violently on such -a piece of withered carrion as you are—unless you give me ample cause." - -Old Death's lips quivered with rage; but, subduing his emotions as well -as he was able, he made a sign for Toby Bunce and Jacob to depart. - -This hint was obeyed; and in a few moments Bones was alone in the room -with the highwayman. - -"What is it you require of me?" asked the old man, in a tremulous -voice—for there was something in Rainford's tone and gesture which -alarmed him. - -"I will explain myself to you," said Tom. "When we first knew each -other, you boasted that all your transactions were conducted with so -much caution, that none with whom you had dealings even knew where you -lived. Was it not so?" - -"Very likely—very likely," returned Old Death. "But what of that?" - -"Simply that as it suited you to keep your place of abode secret -from me, so did I wish that my residence should remain unknown to -you," answered Rainford, "Now, mark me, Mr. Bones—or whatever the -devil your name may be:—you shall have no advantage over me. -Hitherto our compact has been fairly kept; but at length I find you -practising falsely towards me. You need not interrupt me with vows -and protestations—because I shall not believe you. But I tell you -what you will do—and this night, too." - -"What?" groaned Old Death. - -"You will place us on even ground—you will give me the same advantage -that you have gained over me: in a word, you will take me straight to -the place where you live, and you will show me your stores where you -keep all the property you receive or purchase from those who are in -league with you." - -"I—I have no stores," said Old Death; "and, as for my lodging—I—I have -no settled place. I sleep sometimes in one crib—sometimes in another——" - -"All lies!" ejaculated Tom, in a determined tone. "You have enormous -dealings with all the housebreakers and thieves in London; you have said -as much to me—and you have boasted that they are ignorant of your -residence. Now then, you _have_ a residence—and I swear that before I am -six hours older, I will know so much about _you_, that you shall never -dare to practise any treachery towards _me_." - -"What treachery could I practise against you, Tom?" asked Old Death in a -conciliatory tone. - -"I will tell you," replied Rainford. "You boast that for thirty years -you have monopolised the business of fence to all the people worth -dealing with in London; and, during that time, you have never got into a -scrape. But how could you have enjoyed so wonderful a safety—so -uninterrupted a security, unless you now and then sacrificed—yes, -_sacrificed_—an accomplice or two?" - -"I!" ejaculated Old Death, starting in spite of himself. - -"Yes—_you_," rejoined Rainford, fixing his eyes sternly and searchingly -on the ancient villain's hideous countenance. "Do you think that I am -unacquainted with your real character? do you suppose that I was at a -loss to understand you, even the very first moment we ever met? That -flippancy of manner—that off-handedness—that reckless indifference, -which characterise me, are a species of mask from behind which I can -penetrate into the deepest recesses of the hearts of others. I know you -as well as you know yourself—or nearly so. At all events, I know enough -to render me cautious and wary; and, by the living God! you shall never -have an opportunity of selling me to save yourself!" - -"Tom—my dear Tom!" exclaimed Old Death, now actually frightened by the -other's manner, and astonished at his words; "you cannot think of such a -thing seriously!" - -"So seriously do I think of it," replied Rainford, "that I will drag you -into the pit, if I am destined to fall. So now, without another word, -prepare to reveal to me all the mysteries in which you have for thirty -years enveloped yourself." - -"And if I refuse?" said Old Death, doggedly. - -Rainford deliberately cocked his pistol. - -"You have inveigled me into a snare—you have sent away those who might -protect me—and now you seek an excuse to murder me!" exclaimed Old -Death, his voice sounding like ringing metal. - -"Did I not say ere now that I would not harm you, unless you gave me -just cause?" demanded Rainford. "And think you that your refusal to -comply with my present wish does not constitute such just cause? You -have discovered my lodging, which it does not suit me to leave on that -account:—you may also have found out that I am not _alone_ here——" - -"I know that a certain Jewess is your mistress," said Old Death, with a -savage leer—for all the vindictive passions of his nature were aroused -by the conduct of the individual who dared to coerce him—_him_, who had -never been coerced before! - -"A certain Jewess!" repeated Rainford, surveying Old Death with a -singular expression of countenance. - -"Yes—Esther de Medina," added Bones. - -"Esther de Medina is as pure and innocent as the babe that is unborn!" -cried the highwayman, with impassioned emphasis. - -"Then she must be your wife," said Old Death. - -"Liar!" thundered Tom Rain, rushing forward and seizing the ancient -villain by the throat: then, as if ashamed of the sudden transport of -rage into which he had suffered himself to be betrayed, he withdrew his -hand, and said in a more quiet but still determined manner, "Mention not -the name of Esther de Medina with disrespect—or I warn you that my -vengeance—yes, _my_ vengeance—will be terrible! And now prepare to lead -me to your place of abode—for I am wearied of this long parley." - -He again drew forth one of his pistols, which he had consigned to his -pocket when he rushed on the old man in the way just described. - -"You'll repent this, Mr. Rainford," said Old Death, endeavouring to -impress the highwayman with vague and undefined alarms. - -[Illustration] - -"You see how evil your nature is, since you can threaten me thus," cried -Tom. "But I care little for your menaces. I have but two alternatives to -choose between:—one is to blow your brains out at once—the other is to -get you as much into my power as you have got me into yours. Either way -will answer my purpose. So now make up your mind which it shall be. The -people in Lock's Fields wouldn't take much notice if they heard a pistol -fired; and there's a pretty deep ditch at the bottom of the yard behind -the house." - -Old Death shuddered; for there was something awfully determined in the -highwayman's manner. - -"Well—and if I take you to a certain place," he said, "how do I know -that you will not split upon me?" - -"Trust to me as I shall _then_ trust to you," ejaculated Rainford. -"Shall we not continue to be necessary to each other? And on my part, I -shall at least experience more confidence, since I shall know that you -cannot ruin me without bringing destruction on yourself!" - -"Be it as you say," growled Old Death; and, fixing his greasy cap upon -his head, he prepared to depart. - -"One moment—while I say a word up stairs," said Rainford; and, hastily -quitting the room, he locked the door behind him. - -Scarcely a minute elapsed ere he returned—to the great relief of the old -man, who had begun to entertain serious misgivings at being made a -prisoner. - -"There are marks of dirty boots upon the carpet in the bed-room above," -said Tom, confronting Bones, and fixing upon him a searching look. "What -were you doing there?" - -"I was not there——" began Old Death, quailing beneath that glance. - -"Damnable liar!" cried Rainford. "I have half a mind——But, no," he -added, checking himself: "time will show what your purpose was in -invading this house; and I shall know how to punish any treachery on -your part. And now mark me! You will lead the way—and I shall follow -you. Avoid great thoroughfares——" - -"Had we not better take a coach?" asked Old Death. - -"No—we will walk, be it to the other end of London," replied the -highwayman resolutely. "I shall follow close behind you:—beware how you -attempt to address yourself to a soul whom you may meet—beware also how -you trifle with me. But stay—I will have a guarantee for your good -faith. Give me your pocket-book!" - -"My pocket-book!" ejaculated Old Death, with something approaching a -shudder. - -"Yes—your pocket-book," replied Rain. "I know that it contains -Bank-notes, and memoranda of value or utility to you; and I will retain -it in this house, until we return from the expedition on which we are -about to set forth. Come—quick! I have no time for idle delays!" - -"My pocket-book!" repeated Old Death, with increasing dismay. - -"Do I not speak plain enough?" demanded the highwayman. "If I cannot -make myself intelligible by words, I may by deeds: so permit me to help -myself to the article I require. It will not be the first time I shall -have rifled a pocket," he added, with a merry laugh. - -"Do you know that you are treating me in a manner that I never -experienced before?" said Old Death, his hideous countenance convulsed -with rage. - -"I can very well believe what you state," returned Tom Rain coolly. -"Hitherto you have had to deal with men whom you got completely into -your power—whose lives hung on a thread which you could snap without -endangering yourself—who were mere puppets in your hands, and did not -dare say their names were their own. Oh! I am well aware how you have -played the tyrant—the griping, avaricious, grinding miser—the cruel, -relentless despot! But now,—_now_, Mr. Bones, you have another sort of -person to deal with,—a man who will be even with you anywhere and -everywhere,—and who will never let you gain an advantage over him -without acquiring one in return." - -"Who are you," demanded Old Death, in strange bewilderment, "that talk -to me thus?" - -"Why—Thomas Rainford, to be sure!" cried the highwayman, laughing—yet -with a certain chuckling irony that sounded ominously on the old fence's -ears. "And I need not tell you," he continued after a few moments' -pause, "that I am rather a desperate character, who would as soon shoot -you in the open street—aye, or in the midst of a crowd, too—if you -attempted any treachery towards me, as I would ease a gentleman of his -purse upon the lonely road. But we are wasting time: give me your -pocket-book." - -Old Death's courage had gradually oozed away during this strange -colloquy; and he now mechanically obeyed the command so imperiously -addressed to him. - -But suddenly recollecting himself, as he was about to hand the -pocket-book to the highwayman, he said, "There is one letter here—just -one letter—which I should like to keep about my own person." - -"Well—take that one letter," returned Tom; "and beware how you endeavour -to secrete any thing else." - -Old Death's hand trembled as he unfastened the clasp of the greasy old -pocket-book; and, when he had opened it, he sighed deeply, as his eyes -alighted first on a roll of Bank-notes. Then he turned the papers -over—one after another; and clouds gathered thickly and more thickly -upon his countenance. - -"This is strange—very strange!" he muttered, as he fumbled about with -the letters and memoranda. - -"What is strange?" demanded Rainford. - -"That I cannot find the letter I want," returned Old Death, with -increasing agitation. "Surely I cannot have lost it? And yet—I remember -now—I was referring to it this afternoon—and——Oh! yes—I recollect—I put -it into my pocket——" - -But the search in his pockets was vain: the letter was nowhere to be -found. - -"Come—there's enough of delay and such-like nonsense," exclaimed the -highwayman, snatching the pocket-book from his hand. - -Again Rainford quitted the room, locking the door behind him; and in a -couple of minutes he returned, saying, "Your pocket-book is safe where -no one will meddle with it till we come back. It is now past eleven: let -us set off. Come—you go first!" - -Old Death led the way, and Tom Rain followed, the latter conveying some -pleasant intimation, as he closed the front-door behind him, about an -ounce of lead in the other's back if he showed the slightest sign of -treachery. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIX. - THE MYSTERIES OF OLD DEATH'S ESTABLISHMENT. - - -From the back of the Sessions House on Clerkenwell Green, towards -Smithfield Market, runs a thoroughfare the upper portion of which is -known by the name of Turnmill Street, and the lower part as Cow-Cross -Street. - -Numerous rag-shops and marine-stores here meet the eye,—establishments -where the thief in a small way may obtain a ready sale for the proceeds -of his roguery. It is really curious to stand for a few moments and -observe the miscellaneous assortment of articles crammed together in the -dingy windows of these places,—as if they were receptacles for all the -rags that misery could spare, and all the rubbish which domestic -neatness throws into the street. - -Some of the old clothes-shops in the thoroughfare which we are -describing, are strikingly characteristic of the neighbourhood; for you -cannot gaze a minute upon the silk handkerchiefs, the bonnets, the -shirts, the gowns, the coats, the trousers, and the waistcoats, and -other articles hanging outside the windows, or suspended to nails stuck -into the walls, without being able to form a pretty accurate computation -of the proportion which has been stolen, and that which has been -obtained by legitimate purchase. - -The women lounging at the doors in Turnmill and Cow-Cross Streets are of -dissipated, dirty, and loathsome appearance: nor have the men any -advantage over them in these respects. - -Take a duchess from the saloons of fashion,—a duchess in her satin or -velvet, with her feathers and her diamonds, her refined manners, her -elegant demeanour, her polished discourse, and her civilising -influence,—and place her by the side of one of those degraded women in -Turnmill Street,—a woman with hoarse voice, revolting manners, incrusted -with dirt, clothed in the meanest apparel, if not in absolute rags, and -interlarding her conversation with oaths and obscenities,—place those -two specimens of the female sex together,—and how astounding is the -contrast! - -But the duchess has no more claim to praise for the polish—the -fascinations—the exquisite refinement which characterise her, than the -poor woman of Turnmill Street deserves to be blamed for the degradation -and repulsiveness in which she is steeped to the very crown of her head. - -Had the two been changed at their birth, she who is now the duchess -would have become the dissipated, loathsome, ragged wretch of Turnmill -Street; and the babe who has grown to be this ragged wretch, would have -sprung up into the splendid lady with the ducal coronet on her brow. - -The rich and the high-born do not reflect upon this fact:—they fancy -that their very aristocracy is innate as it is hereditary, and that the -poor are naturally degraded, vicious, and immoral. Oh! the terrible -error—the fearful mistake! For, after all, many a proud peer is in -reality the son of his reputed father's groom or footman; and many a -dazzling beauty owes her being to her mother's illicit amours with a -butler or a page! - -The young Prince of Wales, if he live, will doubtless become one of the -most polished gentlemen in the universe:—but had he been stolen at his -birth, and brought up by poor people, he would even now be running -bare-footed in the streets—groping in the gutters for halfpence—gnawing -cabbage-stalks and turnip-parings—thieving pudding from cooks'-shops and -bacon from cheesemongers' windows—easing old gentlemen of their -handkerchiefs—and familiar with all the horrible vocabulary of the slang -language! - -No credit, then, to the aristocracy—no blame to the poor! Neither can -help being what they are. The influences of the sphere of refinement -must have a tendency to refine: the miseries of the poor must produce -degradation, immorality, and recklessness. - -Ah! my Lord Duke—how ineffable is your contempt for yon poor trembling -wretch who now stands in the dock at the Old Bailey, before his judge! -Your Grace never did a dishonourable action—your Grace has never -committed even a crime so genteel as forgery! But has your Grace ever -known what starvation is? has your Grace wandered for hours, like a -madman, through the streets of a city teeming with all the luxuries of -the earth, while a wife and children were weeping for bread in a -cheerless garret up some filthy court? No—your Grace has never been -placed in such a position; or, believe me, you would probably have -purloined a loaf of bread or filched a handkerchief or a purse—even as -did that poor trembling wretch in the dock, whose guilt has filled your -Grace with so much disgust! - -And you, too, my Lady Duchess—how closely your Grace wraps that elegant, -warm shawl around your form, lest its mere hem should happen to touch -the garments of that poor unfortunate girl who is passing just at the -moment when your Grace is stepping from the Opera-door into the splendid -equipage which is to whirl your Grace to your palace-home! Oh! I well -understand the loathing—the disgust which the menaced contact with that -wretched creature excites in the bosom of your Grace. But—ah! does she -deserve no pity—no sympathy, as well as such sovereign contempt—such -boundless aversion? The entire sex is not outraged by her fall;—and -consider, my lady Duchess—had you been a poor man's daughter and so -hemmed in by miseries of all kinds from your very birth until the age of -womanhood, that emancipation from such incessant privations were a very -paradise, even though purchased by a crime,—thinkest thou, my lady, that -thy virtue would have been stronger than that of the poor wretch who -seems to insult you by even breathing the same air that surrounds your -aristocracy? - -Merciful heavens! how unjust the upper classes are to the lower! The -great lord and the haughty lady blame where they should pity—turn away -with loathing where they should commiserate—proclaim as innate -wickedness that social aspect which is the inevitable result of poverty -and oppression—denounce as inveterately depraved those unhappy beings -who never were taught nor had a chance to be good! - -The infamy of the upper class towards the lower in this country, is -immense. A landowner gives his labourer eight shillings a-week, and -says, "Go and live comfortably—be neat and clean—attend divine worship -on the Sabbath—educate your children—let them read good books—keep them -tidy in their appearance—and avoid debt!" Then when this landowner finds -the family naked and starving—the man frequenting the public-house in -despair, instead of the church in holy gratitude—the wife a slattern and -a gin-drinker—the children incipient prostitutes and thieves,—when he -sees all this, he raises his hands, exclaiming, "Oh! the inveterate, -innate wickedness of the working classes!" - -The aristocracy and the landowners of this country are, as a whole, -the most cruel and heartless set of legalised robbers that ever preyed -upon the vitals of suffering millions:—they are now what the French -aristocrats and landlords were previously to the Revolution of -1796;—and solemnly—solemnly do we declare our belief that the -despotic—tyrannical—remorseless oligarchy which usurps the right of -domination, is hurrying the United Kingdom to a similar catastrophe! - -But to continue our narrative. - -The mist-like rain was still falling, and midnight had struck some time, -when Old Death, closely followed by Tom Rain, merged from Cow-Cross -Street, and stopped at the entrance to a narrow court in Turnmill -Street. - -Casting a glance around, to assure himself that Rainford was at his -heels, Old Death plunged into the court; and Tom, fancying that the -ancient fence meant to elude him, sprang after him and caught him by the -skirt of his grey coat. - -"No noise," whispered Bones. "Here we are." - -Thus speaking, he opened a side-door in the court with a key which he -took from his pocket, and, hurrying Tom Rain with him, closed the door -carefully again behind them. - -The place into which the highwayman was introduced, was as dark as -pitch; and, not choosing to be led into an ambuscade, Rainford said, -"One moment, my worthy friend! If you have no means of obtaining a -light, I will very soon get those means from some public-house——" - -While he was yet speaking Old Death procured a light from a tinder-box; -and a candle, which stood ready on a low shelf near the door, soon -diffused sufficient lustre around to enable the highwayman to observe -what kind of place he had been introduced into. It was a small, -dingy-looking room, without a vestige of furniture in it, and having the -entrance to a narrow staircase on one side, and a second door, facing -that by which he and Old Death had entered, on the other. - -When a thief arrived at this place with any stolen property, he pulled a -wire the handle of which hung against the wall in the court: a bell rang -within—the outer door opened by unseen means, and the thief closed it -behind him on entering the little room. He then tapped at the inner or -second door which we have noticed, and which had a hatch in it that -immediately drew up: no one appeared—but the thief threw in his bundle -or parcel. The hatch then closed. In a few moments—or according to the -time required for the inspection of the goods—the hatch was raised -again, but merely high enough to admit the passage of a small piece of -paper, whereon was marked the highest price that would be given for the -articles offered for sale. If the paper were immediately returned by the -thief, the money was thrust forth; the door in the court opened again by -invisible means, the thief departed, and the door was closed behind him: -if, however, he did not return the paper, it was considered that he -would not accept the amount proffered, and the bundle was restored to -him through the hatch. - -"Thus, you perceive," said Old Death, whom Rainford compelled to reveal -the mysterious use of the hatch in the inner door, "no one is seen by -those who come here to dispose of their property." - -"And who manages this business for you?" demanded the highwayman; "for -it is clear that you cannot be here—there—and every where at one and the -same time." - -"I have a faithful and trustworthy man who has been in my service for -many—many years," answered Old Death. - -"But the people who have dealings at this place must know that it is -your establishment?" said Rainford. - -"Quite the contrary!" exclaimed Bones, with a grim smile. "This -fencing-crib is called _Tidmarsh's_—and none of the flash men in London -know that I have the least connexion with it. It takes its name from my -managing man. When I have business to do that I must transact in person, -I meet my friends at public-houses and patter-cribs—and my very intimate -ones, such as you, at Bunce's. But come up stairs." - -Old Death led the way to an indifferently furnished room, where a man as -well stricken in years and as repulsively ugly as himself, though -apparently not near so tall, was in bed. - -"It's only me, Tidmarsh," said Old Death. - -"Only you!" growled the man, sitting up in bed, and staring suspiciously -at Rainford. - -"Me and a friend—a very particular friend, Tiddy," added Bones. "Indeed, -it's Mr. Rainford." - -"Oh! that's different!" said Tidmarsh, in a more conciliatory tone. -"Your fame, sir, has reached me even in this crib. Take some rum, sir." - -And he pointed to a bottle and glasses standing on a table. - -"Well—I don't mind if I do—just to keep out the damp, and drink your -health, Mr. Tidmarsh," cried Rainford, in his usual merry, off-hand -strain; and, suiting the action to his words, he took a small dram. - -Old Death followed his example; and Mr. Tidmarsh suffered himself to be -prevailed upon to imbibe a like quantum. - -"Now, go to sleep, Tiddy," said Bones, in a patronising manner. "We -shan't disturb you any more." - -Mr. Tidmarsh gave a species of grunt by way of assent to the -recommendation offered, and threw himself back upon his pillow. - -Old Death conducted Rainford into the adjoining rooms on the same -storey, and then to the upper chambers; but they were all quite empty! -Their walls were black with dirt—the ceilings seemed as if they had -originally been painted of a sombre hue—the window-panes were so grimed -that it was evident they could admit but a feeble light even in the -broad day—the floors sent up clouds of dust as the feet trod upon -them—and dense masses of cob-webs actually rounded off all the corners. -There was, moreover, an earthy, infected smell in those rooms, which -would have made a weak stomach heave with nausea. - -Tom Rain was quite surprised to find all the chambers empty. He had -expected to be introduced into warehouses teeming with the produce of -three-parts of all the roguery committed in the great metropolis: but -not even so much as an old rag met his eyes. Indeed, the rooms appeared -as if they had not been tenanted, or even scarcely entered, for -many—many years. - -"This may be your reception-house," he said, in a jocular manner; "but -it certainly does not contain your stores." - -"All the goods are sent away as soon as they are received," replied Old -Death. - -"And where are they sent to?" demanded Rain. - -"To the small dealers—and some to the continent," answered Bones, eyeing -him askance. - -"Well and good," observed the highwayman coolly. "But you have not a -hundred errand-boys to distribute the bundles and parcels about: neither -are there vessels sailing for Holland and France every hour in the day." - -"What—what do you mean, Tom?" asked Old Death. - -"I mean that you are trying to deceive me," exclaimed the highwayman, -sternly. "But, look you! we are alone in this house—for I consider your -old man down stairs as nobody; and, by God! if you attempt any of your -nonsense with me, I'll fell you with the butt-end of this pistol." - -"What would you have me do?" said Old Death, trembling at the determined -manner in which his companion spoke. - -"I would have you show me where you keep your stores," was the resolute -answer. "And now—delay not—or it will be the worse for you." - -Old Death still hesitated for a moment; but, seeing that Rainford -stamped his foot impatiently and raised his pistol in a menacing manner, -he disposed himself to do with a good grace what he could not avoid. - -Raising the candle high up so as to light the way thoroughly, he -retraced his steps down the narrow, precipitous, and broken staircase, -Tom Rain following close behind. - -Having reached the little room on the ground-floor, and which we have -already described as the place where stolen property was purchased, Old -Death opened the door containing the hatch, and led Rainford into a -small back chamber, having the air of an office. Its furniture consisted -of a desk, a high stool, and one of those large, old-fashioned eight-day -clocks, which used to be seen in the kitchens of genteel houses, and the -wall-nut cases of which were as big as coffins. On the desk were writing -materials, and a huge ledger, especially dirty, as if it had been well -thumbed by hands not too intimately acquainted with soap. - -"This is Tidmarsh's crib, I suppose?" said Rainford inquiringly. - -Old Death nodded an affirmative. - -The highwayman opened the book, in which the entries of each day's -transactions were regularly made. We shall quote a specimen of these -accounts, prefacing the extract with the necessary explanation that the -numbers prefixed to some of the memoranda were those which tallied with -the names of the thieves, burglars, or prostitutes entered in Old -Death's books, as was stated on a previous occasion:— - - _No._ 31. Two belchers, a cream-fancy, a randlesman, and a blue - billy; three wedge-feeders, a yack, and a dee. £1 15_s._ - - _A Stranger—looked like a shallow cove._ Roll of snow, six snooze - cases, three narps, and a blood-red fancy. 8_s._ - - _A Stranger—looked like a spunk fencer._ Green king's-man, - water's-man, yellow-fancy, and yellow-man; pair of kicksters, a - fan, and a dummie. 13_s._ 6_d._ - - _No._ 4. A cat, six pair of shakester's crabs, and a cule. 12_s._ - - _No._ 53. Yack and onions. £1 12_s._ 6_d._ - - _A Stranger—looked like a snow-dropper._ Twelve mill-togs. 6_s._ - - _A Stranger—looked like a peterman._ Busy-sack, redge-yack, six - wedge-feeders, and togs in busy-sack. £2 15_s._ - - _A Stranger—looked like a mushroom-faker._ Lily benjamin. 3_s._ - 6_d._ - - _A Stranger—looked like a crocus._ To smash three double finnips. - £12 10_s._ 6_d._ - - _A stranger—looked like a high-fly._ Redge-fawney. 8_s._ 6_d._ - - _Lunan._ To smash a single finnip. £2 2_s._ 6_d._[11] - -"Quite a secret police-book, this," observed Tom Rain, after he had -gained an insight into its contents. - -Old Death smiled grimly. - -"But do you mean to say," continued Rainford, "that these persons who -are noted by means of numbers—for I can understand the meaning of all -that—do not know that this is your crib?" - -"Not they!" replied Bones. "I tell you that they call it _Tidmarsh's_: -and I may add that not one out of one hundred who come here, even know -old Tidmarsh by sight." - -"And how does he recognise these fellows who are denoted by the -numbers?" asked Tom Rain. - -Old Death pointed to a small hole, not larger than a pea, in the -wood-work which separated the two rooms; and this hole was covered with -a little moveable piece of wood on the inner side—that is, in the office -where Tidmarsh was accustomed to sit. - -"Things begin to grow a little plainer," said Rainford. "And now, my -worthy old fence, to the store-rooms and to your own special residence." - -This command was significantly backed by the motion of Rainford's right -hand towards the pocket where he had deposited the pistol with which he -had ere now menaced his companion. - -Mr. Benjamin Bones swallowed a profound sigh—for it went to his heart to -think that he was compelled to yield to the coercion of one whom he had -marked out for a slave, but who had become a master. - -But as he took up the candle from the desk whereon he had placed it to -enable the highwayman to examine his memorandum-book, a gleam of -horrible satisfaction shot athwart his countenance—as if some idea of a -consolatory nature had suddenly struck him. - -Tom Rain whistled a tune with an air of the most perfect indifference: -but that abrupt change in Old Death's features—that scintillation of -delight, momentary as its expression was, had not escaped the notice of -the highwayman. - -The ancient fence now approached the clock, which was ticking in a -gloomy, monotonous manner; and, as he laid his hand upon the key which -opened the door of the case, he turned sharply towards Rainford, saying, -"You persist in going farther to-night?" - -"Yes—such is my determination," answered Tom. - -Old Death opened the clock, and touched some secret spring inside. This -was immediately followed by the noise of wheels, accompanied by a -peculiar sound as of a windlass turning rapidly; and in a few moments -Rainford perceived that the entire clock itself was moving slowly along -the wall, revealing by degrees an aperture in the floor. - -In about a minute the working of the machinery ceased—the clock-case was -once more stationary—and in the place where it first stood was an -opening cut in the boards, large enough to admit the passage of even a -moderately stout man. - -"Shall I go first?" asked Old Death, with a sardonic smile, which seemed -to indicate his opinion that Rainford would not venture to follow him. - -But if such were really his idea, he was disappointed; for the -highwayman said in the coolest manner possible, "By all means, old chap. -And make haste about it—for the night is passing away, and as yet I have -seen scarcely anything." - -Old Death made no answer, but began to descend an iron ladder, to which -the aperture led; and as he gradually went down the steps, he held up -the candle in one hand, and with the other supported himself by means of -a rope hung for the purpose. - -Tom Rain unhesitatingly followed him; and when he reached the bottom of -the ladder, he found himself in a long, narrow, vaulted passage, -apparently stretching far underground, but to the end of which it was -impossible for the eye to penetrate, so feeble and flickering was the -light afforded by the candle. - -"Wait an instant while I close the entrance," said Old Death: "it is a -precaution I never neglect." - -"Quite right," observed Tom coolly; and while he affected to be -leisurely whistling a tune, he was in reality keeping a most careful -watch upon his companion's movements. - -Old Death pulled a thick wire which hung down from the top of the vault, -and the mechanism of the clock was again set in motion, until the -clock-case itself had resumed its usual station over the entrance to the -vaulted subterranean. - ------ - -Footnote 11: - - The ensuing glossary will explain these otherwise enigmatical - entries:— - - _Belcher_—close striped handkerchief. - _Cream fancy_—any pattern of handkerchief on a white ground. - _Randlesman_—green handkerchief, with white spots. - _Blue billy_—blue ground handkerchief, with white spots. - _Wedge-feeders_—silver spoons. - _Yack_—watch. - _Dee_—pocket-book of small size. - _Shallow cove_—a fellow dressed in a Guernsey jacket, and looking - like a sailor. - _Roll of snow_—piece of Irish linen. - _Snooze-cases_—pillow-cases. - _Narps_—calico shirts. - _Blood-red fancy_—handkerchief all red. - _Spunk fencer_—match-seller. - _Green King's-man_—handkerchief of any pattern on a green ground. - _Watersman_—sky-coloured handkerchief. - _Yellow fancy_—yellow handkerchief, with white spots. - _Yellow-man_—handkerchief all yellow. - _Kicksters_—trousers. - _Fan_—waistcoat. - _Dummie_—pocket-book of large size. - _Cat_—muff. - _Shakesters' crabs_—ladies' shoes. - _Cule_—reticule. - _Yack and onions_—watch and seals. - _Snow-dropper_—one who steals linen from hedges or drying grounds. - _Mill togs_—linen shirts. - _Peterman_—a robber who cuts trunks from the back of carriages. - _Busy-sack_—carpet bag. - _Redge yack_—gold watch. - _Togs_—clothes. - _Mushroom faker_—a man who goes about ostensibly to buy old - umbrellas, but really to thieve. - _Lily benjamin_—white upper coat. - _Crocus_—an itinerant quack doctor. - _Smash_—change. - _Double finnips_—ten-pound notes. - _Highfly_—genteel begging-letter impostor. - _Redge fawney_—gold ring. - _Lunan_—common woman. - _Single finnip_—five-pound note. - - - - - CHAPTER XXX. - THE STORE-ROOMS. - - -The reader has already seen and heard enough to be fully aware that -Thomas Rainford was a man of undaunted courage: nor did he now tremble -when he found himself immured, as it were, in that subterranean, along -with a character so full of cunning and malignity as Old Death. - -Although completely ignorant of the dark and gloomy locality to which he -had been brought, and well aware that his companion was quite capable of -the foulest treachery, the highwayman followed the old fence with so -firm a step, and whistled away in a manner indicative of such utter -recklessness of danger, that his guide was himself astonished at so much -daring. - -But Rainford was keenly observant of all the movements of his companion; -and, resolutely as he walked, he was nevertheless careful in following -as precisely as possible in the steps of Old Death, so that he might not -be entrapped by any pitfall in that gloomy place. - -On his part, Old Death proceeded at a somewhat rapid pace, shading the -light with his hand so as to protect it from the strong current of air -which rushed through the passage. - -This passage, or long subterranean vault, was about ten feet wide and -six high. It was walled and arched with rough stone, and paved with huge -flags. The masonry at the sides and overhead was green with the damp; -and, even by the fitful light of the candle, Rainford could perceive -that this strange place must have been in existence for many—many years. - -Here and there he observed little niches in the wall; and in one there -was the remnant of an image of the Saviour on the cross. It instantly -flashed to the mind of the highwayman that this sinister-looking -subterranean had once been connected with some monastic establishment; -and his imagination suggested that he was probably treading on the very -place where the victims of ancient Popish tyranny had been confined and -left to perish through famine. - -Old Death and Tom Rain had proceeded about sixty yards, as well as the -latter could guess, along the vaulted passage, when the former suddenly -stopped, and the highwayman perceived that their farther progress was -barred by a huge door, studded with iron knobs. - -"You are now about to enter my sanctuary—as I may call it," said Old -Death, turning abruptly round on Rainford; "and again I ask you what -guarantee I have that you will not betray me?" - -"The same security which I have that you will not prove treacherous to -me," answered Tom. - -Old Death hesitated for a few moments, as if he were about to make -another observation: but, yielding to a second thought, which most -probably showed him the inutility of farther remonstrance, he proceeded -to unbar the massive door. - -It opened inwards, and led to a spiral flight of stone steps, up which -the two men mounted, Rainford having previously secured the door, which -had huge bolts on each side. - -Having ascended some forty steps, Old Death, who went first, placed the -candle in a niche, and pushed up a trap-door, which immediately admitted -a strong current of air: but the precaution observed in respect to the -light, prevented it from being extinguished. - -"I ought to have brought a lantern with me, by rights," murmured Old -Death. "But come along." - -"You go on first," said Rainford; "and I'll take care of the candle." - -"No—give it to me," replied Bones hastily; and he extended his hand to -grasp it. - -But Rainford hit him a hard blow on the wrist with the butt-end of his -pistol, and then seized the candle. - -"What did you do that for?" demanded Old Death savagely. - -"Because I suspect you of treachery," returned the highwayman, in a -severe tone. "But, remember—I am well armed—and, at the least appearance -of evil intent on your part, I fire!" - -"You are wrong, Tom—my dear fellow," said Old Death, coaxingly, as he -still lingered at the top of the steps. - -"Well—I may be; and I shall be glad to find that I am," exclaimed Tom: -"and now lead on." - -Old Death ascended the few remaining steps; and Rainford followed with -his pistol in one hand and the candle in the other. - -They were now in a small room furnished as a bed-chamber; and when Old -Death had let down the trap-door again, he unrolled and spread a small -carpet over it. - -"This is your residence?" said Rainford inquiringly. - -The old man nodded a grim assent. - -"And your store-rooms are in this house?—for I can perfectly well -understand that _we have come into another house_—and, by the direction -of the subterranean, I should say it must be in Red Lion Street." - -"You know London well," said Old Death. - -"I do," replied Rainford. - -"Although you lived so long in the country," added Bones. - -"Right again, old fellow!" exclaimed Tom, "And now for a farther insight -into the mysteries of your abode." - -With these words the highwayman approached a door on one side of the -room; but Old Death, hastily advancing towards another door, said, "This -way, Tom—this way: there is nothing in that quarter—worth seeing." - -But the ancient fence seemed agitated; and this was not lost upon his -companion. - -"Well, as you choose," observed the latter, resuming his careless, -off-hand manner. "Lead on." - -Bones had already opened the door; and he now conducted the highwayman -into a spacious apartment, surrounded by shelves, whereon were ranged an -assortment of articles of the most miscellaneous description. - -Clothes and china-ware—candlesticks, plated and silver, all carefully -wrapped up in paper—piles of silk pocket-handkerchiefs, and heaps of -linen garments—carpet-bags and portmanteaus—every species of -haberdashery—silk dresses and cotton gowns—velvet pelisses and shawls of -all gradations of value—muffs, tippets, and boas—ladies' shoes and -gentlemen's boots—looking-glasses and candelabra—lamps and -pictures—tea-urns and costly vases—meerschaum-pipes and -dressing-cases—immense quantities of cutlery—piles of printing -paper—saddles and bridles,—in short, an infinite variety of articles, to -detail which would occupy whole pages. - -"Your magazine is crowded, old fellow," said Rainford, who, even while -surveying the curious place in which he found himself, did not the less -keep a strict watch upon his companion. - -"Are you satisfied now?" demanded Old Death. - -"Not quite," answered Rainford. "You must have another room where you -keep your jewellery and all those kinds of things?" - -"What kind of things?" asked Bones sharply. - -"Oh! things that require to be packed away with caution, to be sure," -replied Tom Rain. - -For an instant the old man cast upon him a glance of searching inquiry, -as if to penetrate into the most secret profundities of his soul; but -the highwayman affected to be very intent in his contemplation of a -picture, and the countenance of the fence grew more composed. - -"Well," said Rainford, after a few moments' pause, "there's no use in -delaying the matter. I _must_ and _will_ make myself acquainted with -every nook of this place." - -Old Death moved towards a door facing the one by which they entered the -apartment; and Rainford was conducted into a smaller room, but fitted up -with shelves like the first. - -On those shelves were several boxes, of various dimensions, and numerous -jewel-cases wrapped up in paper. - -"Watches and plate, I suppose?" said Rainford, pointing to the boxes. - -"Something in that way, Tom," replied Old Death. "Would you like to see -any of them?" - -"No, thank'ee," was the answer. "I am not particularly curious in that -respect." - -Then, as he appeared to glance casually round the room, his eyes dwelt -for an instant upon an iron safe let into the wall. - -"Well—have you seen enough?" asked Old Death. "It's getting very late." - -"It must be early, you mean," replied the highwayman, with a smile. "But -still there is time for the business that I have in hand," he added, his -manner suddenly changing to seriousness. - -Old Death glanced towards him uneasily. Indeed, for some time the fence -had been suspecting that Rainford had an ulterior object in view, -independent of the mere wish to become acquainted with his abode; and -vague alarms now filled his mind. What could the highwayman mean? Was he -other than he seemed? Did he intend to betray him? - -All these ideas rushed rapidly through the imagination of the horrible -old man; and, though _he_ had formed a plan whereby to avenge himself on -_the only individual who had ever yet dared to coerce him_, he trembled -lest he should be unable to put it into execution. He knew that Rainford -was a man of dauntless bravery, and believed him to be a desperate one; -and now he found himself completely in this formidable person's power. -Not that Old Death lacked courage himself: and he certainly was not -deficient in treachery. But he wanted the strength—the physical strength -to maintain a deadly struggle with the highwayman, if it should come to -_that_! - -Thus was it that for the first time, perhaps, the hardened miscreant -trembled for his life. - -To throw open the window and call for assistance, in case of danger, was -to invite the entrance of persons who would discover all the mysteries -of his abode; and death were an alternative scarcely more frightful! - -"Yes—there is time enough for the business that I have on hand!" -repeated Rainford, his countenance assuming so stern—so determined an -expression, that Old Death trembled with a colder shudder than before. - -"What do you mean?—what is that—that——" stammered Old Death. - -"Sit down—there—on that seat!" thundered the highwayman, pointing -imperiously to a chair. "Sit down, I say—or, by heaven! this pistol——" - -"Well—I will—I will, Tom," said Bones, perceiving the deadly weapon -levelled point-blank at his heart: and he sank into the chair -accordingly. "But do tell me—if I have offended you—if——" - -"Hold your tongue!" ejaculated Rainford, in so authoritative a manner -that the ancient villain's powers of utterance were suddenly paralysed. -"And now mark me," continued the highwayman: "I have a certain task to -perform, which nothing save a superior physical strength on your part -can prevent. But, in the first place it is necessary that I should bind -you—that I should render you incapable of molesting me." - -Old Death was unable to reply: but he stared with vacant terror on the -individual whose proceedings were alike so mysterious and so alarming. - -Rainford took a coil of rope from a bale of goods that stood upon the -table, and with extraordinary rapidity proceeded to fasten Old Death's -arms and legs to the chair, uttering terrible menaces the whole time -that this operation lasted; while the appalling state of the aged -fence's mind was indicated only by low moans and convulsive movements of -uneasiness. - -Having made fast the end of the rope to the iron bars of the fire-place, -in such a manner that Old Death could not shift the chair beyond the -length of the tether thus formed, Rainford leant himself against the -table and proceeded to address his prisoner. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXI. - ANOTHER DEED OF INFAMY BROUGHT TO LIGHT. - - -The scene was now a striking one. - -In that small chamber—the shutters of which were securely closed,—by the -light of a dimly-burning candle, two men of criminal avocations but of -entirely discrepant characters, were seated opposite to each other,—one -fastened, pinioned to a large arm-chair—the other placed in a determined -attitude against the heavy oaken table. - -Fear and vague alarms rendered the always repulsive countenance of Old -Death now truly hideous; while excitement and a certain air of bold -triumph invested the features of the highwayman with an expression which -made him appear perfectly, though sternly handsome. - -The gleaming eyes of Old Death flickered in sparkles beneath his shaggy, -overhanging brows—for fierce, ferocious malignity mingled with the -terrors that oppressed him;—while Rainford surveyed him with combined -abhorrence and contempt. - -"Thirty years and ten months have elapsed," said the highwayman sternly, -"since one Benjamin Bones sold his half-sister Octavia to a nobleman who -purchased the prize of her virtue for gold!" - -For a few moments a dead silence ensued, after these words had fallen -from the lips of Rainford: but, when that interval was past, a wild—a -savage—a, hyena-like howl, expressive of mingled rage and astonishment, -burst from the lips of Old Death. - -"Silence, miscreant!" exclaimed the highwayman, in a tone and with a -manner of terrible earnestness. "Ah! I have doubtless surprised you by -this announcement—this denunciation of a secret that you little deemed -to be known to me!" - -"My God! who are you?—how came you to learn that secret?" demanded the -old fence, writhing in the agony of suspense and wild excitement. - -"I will tell you who I am presently," was the answer: "and you will also -see wherefore I have compelled you to conduct me hither this night." - -"Then you _had_ another motive, besides the mere wish to become -acquainted with my abode?" said Old Death, perceiving that he had been -over-reached in this respect—as indeed he had for the last half-hour -suspected. - -"Fool!" ejaculated Rainford, contemptuously: "of what use was it to me -to know where you lived, or to visit your secret repositories of -plunder, unless I had some essentially important motive? The fact of -your having discovered my abode gave me in truth but little -uneasiness—for I could have moved elsewhere in a few hours. That fact, -however, furnished me with an apparent excuse to force you to conduct me -to _your_ den; for I knew that were I to acquaint you with my real -object in coming here, you would have risked every thing to prevent it!" - -"Again I say, who _are_ you?" demanded Old Death, a kind of -superstitious awe now taking possession of him. - -"Listen to me," said Rainford. "Nearly thirty-one years have elapsed -since you sold your half-sister Octavia Manners for the gold which laid -the foundation of the immense fortune you have amassed. Yes—this -atrocious deed was perpetrated; and one of England's proudest peers was -the purchaser of that young creature's virtue—for she was but sixteen, -old man, when her ruin was effected through your vile agency! She was -sold to the embrace of a man old enough to be her father—aye, even her -grandfather;—and the affection which she entertained for a deserving -youth in her own sphere of life, was blighted—crushed! She died of a -broken heart—leaving behind her a male child whom _you_ swore to -protect!" - -Old Death seemed to recoil from this averment as from a hideous spectre -suddenly starting up before him; for, in spite of his confirmed -wickedness, the present topic had awakened painful reminiscences and -compunctious feelings within him. - -"Yes," continued Rainford, fixing his eyes reproachfully upon the old -fence; "she forgave you on her death-bed—forgave you the wrong that you -did her,—forgave you, because you promised to make amends for your -conduct towards her by your behaviour to the babe whom she left to your -charge." - -"And who can say that I did not fulfil my promise?" demanded Old Death, -trembling in suspense at what might be the nature of the reply which -Rainford would give. - -"Who can say that you did not fulfil your promise?" repeated the -highwayman, in a slow—deliberate—bitter tone, while his eyes appeared to -send daggers to the heart of the old man bound helplessly in the chair. -"There is damning evidence against you in that respect!" - -"Where?—how?" ejaculated Old Death. - -"You shall soon learn," replied Rainford. "The nobleman who had -_purchased_ your half-sister, provided liberally for the support of her -child—_their_ child—and gave a large sum to be used for the offspring of -that sad connexion. But you——" - -"I—I did my duty—towards the child," stammered Old Death, "till—it -died——" - -"Liar!" thundered Rainford, advancing in an appallingly menacing manner -towards the helpless, captive wretch. "You sold the child to a tribe of -gipsies——" - -"Mercy! mercy!" groaned Old Death. "Do not kill me, Tom—do not hurt me! -I am in your power—spare me!" - -Rainford had raised his pistol as if to dash the butt-end against the -forehead of the old man: but, mastering his passion, he consigned the -weapon to his pocket—for he was afraid to trust his hand with it while -his excitement was so terrible. - -"Mercy, indeed!" exclaimed Rainford in a tone of bitter hatred, not -unmingled with contempt: "what mercy did you show towards that hapless -child? When Octavia Manners was on her death-bed, that nobleman to whom -you sold her virtue, visited her—implored her forgiveness—and placed in -your hands a thousand guineas to ensure a provision for the boy." - -[Illustration] - -"My God!" ejaculated Old Death, a terrible suspicion now flashing like -lightning to his mind: "how can you know all this?—even if——you, -yourself——" - -"Yes—_I_ am the son of that nobleman and your half-sister Octavia!" -cried Rainford, placing himself in front of Old Death, on whom he gazed -with eyes flashing fire from beneath sternly contracted brows. - -"Spare me—spare me!" murmured the wretched man, hanging down his -head—for the glances of his injured nephew seemed to scorch and sear his -very heart's core. - -"Look up—look up!" thundered the highwayman; "and meet the gaze of him -whom, when a child, you sold to gipsies—sold, that you might grasp all -the gold which was supplied to you for my benefit! Yes—you sold me to -strangers—even making a profit of me by the very way in which you rid -yourself of my presence in your dwelling! Had it not been for your -treachery—your vile avarice in this respect, I might have grown up to be -an honest man. But, no—no," added Rainford bitterly—and a tear trembled -on his eye-lash,—"had you kept me with you, I should have been -worse—aye, a myriad, myriad times worse than I even now am!" - -At the imperious command of the highwayman, Old Death had raised his -head; and Rainford then beheld a countenance so fearfully distorted with -varied emotions, that he felt he was already partially avenged in having -been able to produce such a powerful effect on that aged—that inveterate -sinner. - -"What do you mean to do to me, Tom?" asked the hideous old fence, now -more than ever trembling for his life. - -"Not to harm your person," replied the highwayman scornfully: -"especially," he added, in a tone of bitter sarcasm, "as you and I can -boast of kinship. But I am wearied of the life I am leading—and my aim -is to settle in some foreign clime, where the evil reputation of my -deeds in this may not follow me. There are times when I abhor -myself—happy, reckless, and indifferent as I usually seem;—for my career -has been marked with many a deed at which I blush—all robber, plunderer -that I am! And this discourse, which has turned upon the foul crime -perpetrated against the honour and happiness of my mother—Oh! it has -reminded me of _one_ act in _my_ life that presses sorely—God knows how -heavily upon my conscience!" - -Rainford walked thrice up and down the room, apparently oblivious of the -presence of Old Death, who had never before seen him exhibit so much -painful emotion. - -"But regrets are useless—save as they prepare our minds for a better -course of life," exclaimed Rainford, abruptly starting from his reverie: -then, again confronting Old Death, he said, "And now comes the moment of -punishment for all your misdeeds towards me!" - -The fence groaned audibly. - -"Fear not for your life," continued the highwayman: "I am no -murderer:—my hands were never stained with blood—neither shall they be -now! But, in regaining that which is my own—and with interest—aye, -compound interest, too—I shall teach a heartless, grasping wretch a -lesson that may render him more cautious in future how he sacrifices -every human tie at the shrine of avarice! For even amongst such as -you—such as I—such as the veriest wretches whose villany has helped to -fill these stores,—the claims of kinship—the bonds of relationship have -a recognition and a name. Many and many a man who is noted for his -misdeeds—or who has even shed the blood of a fellow-creature—would -respect the vow which he pledged to rear his dead sister's child. But -you—_you_ ruthlessly thrust away the helpless infant,—you cast off the -offspring of that connexion which your own fearful thirst for gold had -brought about! Now, then, shall I punish you through the medium of that -passion which prompted you to sell my mother to the nobleman, and myself -to the gipsy!" - -With these words Rainford advanced close up to his prisoner, and said in -a short, commanding manner, "The key of that safe—where is it?" - -"The key?" repeated Old Death, his countenance becoming ghastly white. - -"Yes—the key!" cried the highwayman; and he thrust his hands into the -pockets of his captive's grey coat. - -"No—no: you shall not have my gold!" howled the fence, agitating -convulsively on his chair. - -"Keep quiet!" thundered Rain; "or I shall do you a mischief yet! Keep -quiet, I say.—Ah! here is the key! And now roll about, and rave, and -foam as you will—I care not!" - -"Villain! what are you doing?" exclaimed Old Death, his eyes glaring -with ferocious hate—with infernal spite—with blood-thirsty -malignity,—glaring, indeed, like those of a famished tiger caught in the -snare of the hunter, and beholding a stately deer at a little distance: -"what are you doing? You are going to rob me—to plunder me—after all I -have done for you—all the good things I have put in your way! But I will -be revenged yet—I will send you to the scaffold—I will wreak a terrific -vengeance on your head. Keep off, I say—touch not that safe! Damnation -light upon you!—perdition seize you! Oh! Tom—dear Tom—don't rob -me—don't! You'll drive me to despair—I shall die of grief—and you will -be my murderer Tom—do listen to me! Ah! he opens the safe—the wretch—the -villain!" - -Thus did Old Death menace and pray—coax and moan by turns; but at last -his voice swelled into a howl of fiend-like rage, which rose like the -wailing of a damned soul upon the silence of that early morning-hour. - -But Rainford seemed indifferent alike to his earnest beseechings and his -paroxysms of fury. - -That last, ferocious outburst of rage had completely exhausted the old -man; and gasping as if under the influence of strangulation, he fell -back in the seat to which he was fastened by the strong cords. But his -convulsive motions—his hollow, flashing eyes—his parched lips—and the -quivering of his hands, denoted how acutely—how keenly he felt the work -of depredation that was in progress. - -For Rainford had opened the safe, and was now busily engaged in -examining the various drawers, and also sundry pocket-books which he -found therein. The former contained hoards of gold coins, and the latter -were filled with Bank-notes, making an aggregate of immense value. - -The highwayman secured about his person a sum of five thousand pounds, -murmuring to himself, "This is sufficient to enable me to become an -honest man: I will not leave the old villain penniless." - -He then searched the safe for any private papers that might be deposited -there; and in a drawer which he had well-nigh overlooked, he found a -small leather case containing a roll of letters, tied round with a piece -of riband so faded that it was impossible to determine what its colour -might have originally been. A single glance at these documents awakened -such emotions of mingled pleasure and pain within his breast, that he -determined to possess himself of them; and replacing them in the leather -case, he secured them about his person with even more care than he had -bestowed on the Bank-notes. - -Having thus rifled the safe of as much as he chose to take away, he -closed the iron door, locked it, and placing the key on the table, said -to Old Death, "I am now about to take my departure from this house. Is -there any one living here besides yourself?" - -The fence only stared at him in a fierce and sombre manner; for the -brain of the old man had become a chaos of wild and terrible thoughts at -the contemplation of the daring robbery which was thus practised on -_him_—the patron of robbers! - -Indeed, the incidents of this eventful night were sufficient to level -the powers of a mind stronger even than that of Old Death,—for those -incidents had followed each other in such rapid, whirlwind-like -succession, and were all so hostile to his interests, that he felt as if -he were the victim of a hideous nightmare composed of all the most -frightful images that the terrors of a guilty conscience can possibly -conjure up during the long dark nights of winter. - -The failure of his expedition to Lock's Fields—the exposure of his -treachery to Tom Rain—the discomfiture he had undergone in the presence -of Toby Bunce and the lad Jacob—the coercion exercised to force him to -discover the secrets of his receiving-house and the mysteries of his -store-rooms and dwelling-house—the discovery of his deeply injured -nephew in the highwayman, and the revival of the history of his villany -in reference to one long since dead,—and, lastly, the robbery of his -money and papers,—all these events, occurring with such consecutive -rapidity that they appeared to form but one single dreadful blow, were -sufficient to paralyse the energies of the old villain. - -"Is there any one living in _this_ house besides yourself?" repeated -Rainford. "It is for your own good that I ask; for I shall leave you -bound in this chair—but, if you are really alone here, I will hasten to -drop your friend Tidmarsh a hint, that he may come presently and release -you, by which arrangement I shall get as long a start of you as I -require." - -"There is no one here but myself," at length replied Old Death, aroused -from his torpor by the words thus addressed to him. - -"Then good bye," said Tom; and, taking up the candle, he quitted the -room, heedless of the prisoner's intercession to be released from his -captivity. - -On gaining the bed-chamber situate above the spiral staircase leading to -the subterranean passage, the highwayman remembered two circumstances -which made him pause ere he raised the trap-door. - -In the first place he recalled to mind the anxiety of Old Death to -prevent him from securing the candle at the moment when they were about -to emerge from the secret avenue; and it struck Rainford that the old -man had intended to have extinguished the light as if by accident—but -whether for motives of treachery, or merely to avoid the discovery of -something that the fence wished to be concealed, Tom was at a loss to -conjecture. - -Secondly, Rainford remembered that Old Death had manifested considerable -uneasiness when he had approached the first of the two doors opening -from that bed-chamber; and he now thought it probable that the fence had -been desirous of extinguishing the light in order to prevent Rainford -from observing that there were two doors in that room. - -"At all events," said Tom to himself, "let us see where this other door -leads to." - -It was unlocked—as he had expected to find it; because, had it been -otherwise, Old Death would not have manifested so much anxiety when he -had approached it on their entrance into the bed-chamber. - -Proceeding with caution—so as not to incur the risk of having his light -extinguished, and equally to avoid any sudden surprise in case the house -might really have other occupants besides Old Death—Rainford entered a -spacious room which seemed to be fitted up as a chemical laboratory. On -a large oaken table were galvanic batteries, and an infinite variety of -electrical apparatus as well as the articles on which experiments are -usually made with the subtle fluid,—such as pieces of glass, amber, -sulphur, wax, silk, cotton, loaf sugar, phials containing a variety of -oils, metallic oxides, several common stones, metallic ores, the metals -and semi-metals, &c. Leyden jars, batteries, electrophori, -electrometers, discharging rods, &c., were also crowded together on the -table. In a large earthen pan under the table were the flayed carcasses -of several rabbits, frogs, and such vermin as rats and mice, all of -which appeared to have been only very recently stripped of their -skins—for they emitted no putrid smell, and the blood was still oozing -from them. - -On a shelf were plaster of Paris casts of upwards of fifty heads of men -and monkeys. On the base of some of the heads there were inscriptions in -black letters, stating the originals from which the casts were made; -and, with a rapid glance, the highwayman read the principal ones, which -were these:— - - ARTHUR THISTLEWOOD. - _Executed for High Treason, 1820._ - - DAVID HOGGART. - _Executed for Murder, 1821._ - - GEORGE BARRINGTON. - _The Notorious Pickpocket—died 1811._ - - HENRY FAUNTLEROY. - _Executed for Forgery, Nov., 1824._ - - JOHN THURTELL. - _Executed for Murder, 1824._ - - WILLIAM PROBERT. - _Executed for Horse-stealing, 1825._ - -There were casts from the heads of several other celebrated criminals; -but we need enumerate no more. - -Intrepid—dauntless—bold as Tom Rain was, he nevertheless experienced a -cold shuddering as he surveyed the objects ranged upon that long shelf; -for this thought forced itself upon him—"_I wonder whether a cast of_ MY -_head will ever be there!_" - -In order to chase these gloomy reflections from his mind, Rainford -turned away from the contemplation of the shelf and its sinister -contents. A cupboard-door stood partially open in one corner of the -room; and he hastened to inspect the recess. - -But what pen can depict his horror—what language can describe his -astonishment, when upon a shelf within that cupboard he beheld four -human heads staring out at him with eyes wide open but perfectly -motionless, and on the pupils of which the rays of the candle flashed -with extraordinary brilliancy! - -For an instant the highwayman felt afraid:—in what description of place -was he? what meant that ghastly spectacle? - -But, conquering his terrors, of which indeed in another moment he was -ashamed, he approached nearer: and the idea struck him that he beheld -admirable models in wax. Still the flesh was so closely resembling that -of the dead—the appearance of the countenances and of the crown of the -heads, which were all closely shaven, was so natural, that he extended -his hand and touched the cheek of one of those appalling objects. - -Great God! it was indeed human flesh,—icy cold, and producing a -sensation which the touch of naught beside _can_ produce! - -In spite of himself, Rainford cast a shuddering glance around him: then, -once more ashamed of his weakness, he resumed his inspection of the -heads. - -They were evidently prepared for preservation; for an odour of strong -spices emanated from them, and the eyes, fitted into the sockets, were -of glass. Hence the strange brilliancy produced by the reflection of the -candle. - -The highwayman was still absorbed in the contemplation of these -frightful objects, when a door at the farther end of the room slowly -opened; and a man, enveloped in a loose dressing-gown, and holding a -lamp in his hand, appeared on the threshold. - -But the instant he beheld Rainford, he uttered an ejaculation of -surprise and alarm—hastily retreated—and barred and bolted the door -behind him. - -He had, however, been long enough in the room for Rainford to obtain a -full view of his countenance; and it was with profound astonishment that -the highwayman had recognised Dr. Lascelles! - -"What!" he thought: "that respectable physician in league with Old -Death?" - -And he stood for some moments gazing vacantly at the door by which the -doctor had entered and also so abruptly disappeared again. - -Then it suddenly struck him that the physician might discover the state -of bondage in which Benjamin Bones had been left; and not only would the -immediate release of the old fence follow, but an active pursuit be -probably instituted by both individuals after himself. - -He accordingly determined to beat a retreat as speedily as possible. Not -that he was afraid of encountering Old Death and the doctor; but he knew -not what principles of danger the establishment possessed, and which -might be turned against himself. He had seen quite enough of the house -in Turnmill Street and of that where he now was (in Red Lion Street) to -be well aware that they were no ordinary places of abode; and he was -also sufficiently well acquainted with the character of Old Death to -feel conscious that no mercy was to be expected at his hands, should he -fall completely into his power. - -It is, therefore, no disparagement to the heroism of the highwayman to -state that he was now anxious to effect his exit from the strange place -wherein he found himself; and it naturally struck him that there must be -a more speedy and convenient avenue of egress than the subterranean. He -readily comprehended that the underground passage was used as a medium -of transferring goods from the house in Turnmill Street to the -store-rooms of the establishment in Red Lion Street; and that it might -also serve, at a pinch of need, as an avenue of escape for Old Death -from his own bed-room. - -But that the subterranean was the only means of ingress and egress in -respect to the house in Red Lion Street, Tom could not for an instant -suppose; as a dwelling without a door, or with a door that was never -opened, would soon become an object of suspicion in the neighbourhood. - -Judging by the direction of the subterranean passage, the highwayman was -enabled to conclude that the room in which he now found himself was at -the back of the house, and that the one where he had left Old Death was -in the front, as was also that into which Dr. Lascelles had retreated; -and he was moreover convinced that these apartments were all on a first -or upper storey, but decidedly not on the ground-floor. - -Now as the laboratory, Old Death's bed-chamber and the larger store-room -formed the suite at the back of the house, and there was no flight of -stairs connecting them with the ground-floor, it was clear to Rainford -that the means of communication with that ground-floor must be from the -front part of the house; and into the rooms looking on the street he did -not choose to penetrate, because he might there encounter the doctor and -Old Death. He therefore came to the conclusion that he must escape by -the back part of the house, or else dare the subterranean. - -All these calculations, which have occupied us some time to record, were -made and summed up in a few moments by Tom Rain. - -Nor did he now hesitate what course to adopt. - -Placing the candle upon the table, he hastened to throw up a window; -but, to his annoyance, he found it securely barred:—and his hand assured -him that the bars could not be removed by mere physical strength. - -He had not time nor implements to attempt to force a way through this -difficulty; and the only alternative appeared to be the subterranean. - -Resuming possession of the candle, he returned into Old Death's -bed-room—drew away the carpet—raised the trap-door—and commenced the -descent of the spiral staircase, closing the trap after him and bolting -it inside. - -But scarcely had he proceeded ten steps downwards, when his foot -suddenly slipped; and, in the attempt which he made to recover himself, -the light went out. - -At the same instant he heard heavy steps treading upon the trap-door -overhead, and then the hum of voices—but whose he could not -distinguish—in the room which he had just left. - -"Now, Tom Rain, look alive, old fellow!" he murmured in self-encouraging -apostrophe; and, with a resolute step, he hastened rapidly down the -spiral staircase, amidst a darkness so intense that it was all but -_felt_! - - - - - CHAPTER XXXII. - RAINFORD IN THE SUBTERRANEAN. - - -Tom Rain reached the bottom of the stairs in perfect safety; and, as he -had carefully noted the geography of the subterranean when he traversed -it an hour previously with Old Death, he experienced but little -difficulty in threading his path along it, even amidst the black -darkness through which he literally seemed to be pushing his way. - -In a few minutes his progress was stopped by a wall, which his extended -arms encountered; and he now knew that he had reached the extremity -communicating with the house in Turnmill Street. - -Having succeeded in grasping the wire which, passing through the top of -the vault, was connected with the mechanism of the clock overhead, he -pulled it vigorously. - -But the machinery moved not! - -Then, for the first time during this eventful night, the highwayman -became appalled at the dangers on which he had entered. - -Again he tugged at the wire; it snapped short close by the roof, and the -long piece thus broken off, fell at his feet. - -"Damnation!" cried Rainford; and he stamped impatiently on the cold, -damp stones. - -Suddenly it struck him that there might be one wire to move the clock -over the opening at the head of the iron ladder, and another wire to -move it away from that opening. - -He accordingly began to feel with his hands for this second wire the -existence of which was suggested by his imagination; but at the end of a -minute he was compelled to admit to himself that it did indeed exist -only in imagination. - -No such second wire was to be found! - -He then hastily ascended the ladder, and endeavoured to hurl the clock -from off the opening which it covered: but the huge machine was as -solidly fixed there as if it had formed a portion of the vaulted roof -itself. - -Escape seemed to grow every moment more hopeless; and now came the -appalling thought that Old Death and the Doctor would soon have had -sufficient time to repair from the house in Red Lion Street to that in -Turnmill Street, and thus secure against him the avenue covered by the -clock—even if it were not sufficiently secure already! - -What was he to do? - -Again and again he tried to force away the heavy clock: but there it -stood, immoveable—and when he paused to reflect, its steady, monotonous -ticking fell ominously upon his ears. - -At length it struck him that he would retrace his way to the other -extremity—force up the trap-door leading to Old Death's bed-chamber—and, -with a pistol in each hand, dare every thing. - -But what if that trap-door were secured on the other side? - -No:—he remembered to have observed that there was not a bolt nor a bar -to break the level of its upper surface as it fitted in flush with the -floor. - -Encouraged by the scintillation of hope that thus gleamed in upon him, -Rainford hurried back to the other end of the subterranean—ascended the -spiral staircase—grasped his pistols—and listened attentively. - -All was still in the room above:—not the murmur of a voice—nor the -creaking of a footstep! - -He then slowly and carefully drew back the bolt of the trap-door, and -tried to raise it. - -But it moved not! - -He applied additional force, under the impression that some heavy piece -of furniture might have been dragged over the trap: but still it was as -motionless as the thick, solid, substantial flooring in which it was -set. - -Rainford returned the pistols to his pockets, so that nothing might -impede the application of all his strength to the task on which his -liberty depended: but no—the door moved not! - -The highwayman bit his under lip almost till the blood started forth—for -he felt that his calmness was abandoning him. - -Then how bitterly did he repent the course which he had adopted after -his interruption in the laboratory by the appearance of Doctor -Lascelles. Instead of trusting himself to that hideous subterranean, he -should have essayed an escape by means of the front rooms of the house. - -Regrets were, however, useless:—he must act—and not waste time in -self-reproach! - -Yes: he must act—if he would not die in that dreadful place, where the -vindictiveness of Old Death would be sure to leave him! - -To act!—oh! how easy to think of acting!—But how _was_ he to put his -thought into execution? - -A stone pavement beneath—stone walls on either side—a stone ceiling -overhead—at one end an avenue closed by a huge clock—at the other a -trap-door evidently secured on the outside,—these were the -obstacles—these were the barriers against which he had to contend. - -And what were the implements within his power? - -His two hands—a clasp-knife—and a pair of pistols! - -Quick as lightning the idea flashed across him that the iron ladder at -the other extremity of the subterranean was moveable, and that it would -serve him as a battering-ram. - -Rejoiced at this thought, he once more retraced his way along the -vaulted passage, and eagerly grasped the ladder. - -His conjecture was right: it merely hooked on to two iron rings fixed -into the masonry just below the aperture covered by the clock; and, -heavy though it was, yet Rainford now bore it as easily as if it were of -wood—for renewed hope had rendered him strong and bold as a lion. - -It was, however, somewhat difficult to drag the iron ladder up the -spiral staircase; but in a few minutes this portion of the task was -accomplished; and Rainford now prepared to assault the secret entrance -to Old Death's dwelling. - -Placing himself in such a position that he might deal a vigorous blow -upwards with his ponderous engine, and then be able to seize his pistols -the instant they might be required, he went to work with a stout arm and -a still stouter heart. - -Once—twice—thrice—and up swung the ladder:—that single blow was -sufficient—and the trap-door burst from its setting. - -Quick as thought, Rainford seized his pistols, and thrusting up the -trap, ascended the last few steps of the spiral staircase. - -Throwing back the carpet which had been replaced over the trap-door, he -found, to his infinite surprise, that there was no resistance to his -egress from that subterranean where, at one time, it seemed probable -that he was destined to find a tomb; and, gazing rapidly around the -room, he neither perceived Old Death nor the Doctor—nor indeed a single -living soul. - -Recovering all his wonted calmness, he proceeded to examine the -trap-door, for the purpose of ascertaining how it had been secured -against him: and, on a close inspection, he observed a spring-bolt let -into the side of the trap-door in such a way that, when the trap was -closed, it neither appeared above nor below it. This bolt was either -held back within the wood, or made to fly into a hole made to receive it -in the beam against which the trap-door closed, by means of two screws -that could easily be pressed inwards. But the force of Rainford's -battering-ram had unsettled this artfully-contrived piece of mechanism. - -It was clear that some one had secured the trap-door; because even if -the spring-bolt had flown into its socket by accident, still the carpet -could not have spread out of its own accord. Moreover, when Rainford had -retreated to the subterranean, he had heard footsteps and voices in Old -Death's room. It therefore struck him that those who had so secured the -trap-door, had departed to protect the avenue of escape in Turnmill -Street, in the confidence that the said trap-door was too strong to be -forced. - -Nevertheless, it was necessary to guard against the possibility of an -ambuscade; and Tom held his pistols in a manner calculated to render -them instantaneously available. - -He determined to proceed by way of the laboratory; but, on trying the -door, he found it locked. - -Without an instant's hesitation he forced it open with one vigorously -applied blow of his foot: but here again he encountered no resistance. - -Passing through the laboratory, he tried the door by which he had seen -Dr. Lascelles appear and disappear again so abruptly; and this time he -was spared the necessity of violent exertion,—for the door was not -locked. - -He now entered a passage leading to a flight of stairs; down which he -hastened, and reached a kind of hall, from whence the street-door -opened. - -But he did not immediately issue forth. He experienced an invincible -curiosity to ascertain if Old Death had in reality been released from -the state of bondage in which he had left him; and, forgetting the -terrible dangers whence he had escaped with so much difficulty, he -re-ascended the staircase. - -The appearance of this part of the house was dirty and neglected. -Indeed, it afforded no evidence that the tenement was inhabited at all; -but conveyed quite the contrary impression. The fan-light above the -front-door was boarded over; and thus the hall itself was nearly dark, -the only light it enjoyed being admitted through the ill-closed joints -of the boarding just mentioned. The paper was falling away from the -walls of the staircase; and dust and dirt had accumulated wherever the -hand touched or the eye could penetrate. - -On regaining the landing on the first-floor, Tom Rain tried a door -opposite to that by which he had issued from the laboratory; but it was -locked. He forced it open, and found himself, as he suspected he should, -in the very room where he had left Old Death; for that apartment had two -doors. - -And, to his ineffable surprise, Old Death was still there,—still sitting -in the chair to which he had been fastened with a strong cord;—and that -cord had not been removed. - -The head of the fence was bent forward, and hung—or rather drooped, upon -his breast. - -The highwayman was alarmed, and hastened towards him. - -But the moment he caught a glimpse of his features, he started back -horror-stricken,—and stupefied as it were by the hideous spectacle that -presented itself to his view. - -For the old man's countenance was fearfully distorted, and nearly -black—the eyes protruded from their sockets, and seemed staring on -vacancy—and the under jaw had fallen. - -"Holy God! he is dead!" ejaculated Rainford at length: "and I—I have -killed him!" - -At that instant the door leading from the inner apartment was slowly and -cautiously opened; and the highwayman, yielding to a natural impulse, -turned and fled abruptly by the one communicating with the passage, and -which he had forced open a few moments previously. - -This movement on his part was so sudden and so quickly executed, that he -did not perceive the person who was entering the room; but whether that -person observed him, or not, he was unaware. - -Descending the stairs three or four at a time, the highwayman quitted -the house by the front door, and did not breathe freely until he had -closed it behind him and found himself at length in the open street. - -Dauntless—daring as he was, the idea that he had caused, though -unintentionally, the death of the old fence, prostrated for a time the -powers of a naturally vigorous mind; and horror threw all his thoughts -into chaotic confusion. - -He did not even pause a moment to examine, as well as the darkness of -the hour would have permitted him, the outward appearance of the house -which he had just left; but hurried away as quickly as he could go from -the vicinity of a place where he had seen and undergone so much in such -an incredibly short space of time. - -For it was about one o'clock when he and Old Death had entered the house -in Turnmill Street; and Saint Paul's proclaimed the hour of three as -Rainford crossed Smithfield Market. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIII. - MRS. MARTHA SLINGSBY. - - -The reader who is acquainted with the West End of the great metropolis -of the British Empire, cannot have failed to notice the air of gloomy -grandeur which characterises the aristocratic mansions of Old Burlington -Street. - -The dingy brick-fronts—the massive doors, all of a sombre colour—the -windows, darkened by heavy hangings—and the dead silence which seems to -prevail within, produce upon the passer-by a strange and almost -melancholy effect. - -There is nothing bustling—nothing cheerful in that street: on the -brightest day of summer its aspect is cold—mournful—prison-like. - -It seems to be the last refuge of the aristocracy of the old -school,—that aristocracy which still clings to all its ancient -prejudices, its haughty notions, its exclusive pride,—an aristocracy -which finds its influence each day narrowing into a smaller compass, in -proportion as that of the masses expands around it. - -And God grant that every thing in the shape of hereditary aristocracy -may shortly expire altogether—crushed by the weight of new interests and -modern civilisation! - -In one of those gloomy-looking houses of Old Burlington Street dwelt -Mrs. Slingsby—a lady of about forty-two, but who, enhancing by art a -natural conservation of beauty truly miraculous in a female of her age, -seemed at least five or six years younger. - -Her hair was very dark; and as she wore the sweetest French caps that -Parisian fashion could suggest, she was invested with that air which -bewilders the common observer between its admirable coquettishness and -its matronly sedateness. - -Her complexion was clear and delicate; and a careful but regular use of -cosmetics concealed those incipient wrinkles which appeared at the -corners of the eye-lids. Her teeth were perfect, white, and even; and -her figure, though upon a large scale, was maintained in fine symmetry -by the skill of her dress-maker. She had naturally a splendid bust; and -as she usually wore very high dresses, she was the better enabled to -maintain its appearance of youthful firmness in spite of the prominent -expansion it had experienced as the lady herself increased in years. - -Mrs. Martha Slingsby was the aunt of Mr. Clarence Villiers, the lover of -Adelais Torrens. When very young, she was sacrificed by her parents to a -gentleman double her age, and who had acquired a fortune while he lost -his health in India. Shortly after this union, circumstances compelled -Mr. Slingsby to return to Calcutta; and his youthful wife accompanied -him. There they remained about eight years, at the expiration of which -period Mr. Slingsby died of a broken heart, his immense wealth having -been suddenly and entirely swept away by the failure of a great -mercantile and banking establishment in the Anglo-Indian capital. Mrs. -Slingsby, however, found a friend in the person of Sir Henry Courtenay—a -baronet who had long held a high office in the Council of India, and who -was about to return to England, having relinquished the cares of -employment in the public service. He was upwards of fifty at that -period—a widower—but having a family of young children. The moment that -the misfortunes of Mrs. Slingsby were reported to him by a mutual -friend, Sir Henry proposed to her that she should enter his family to -supply, as far as possible, the attentions of the mother whom the -children had lost. This offer was gratefully accepted; and Mrs. -Slingsby, who had no offspring of her own, returned to England with the -baronet. - -For some years after her arrival in London, she remained in the family -of Sir Henry Courtenay,—where she appeared to be treated as a near -relation, and not as a dependant. But when the boys and girls were old -enough to be placed at school, she removed to the house in Old -Burlington Street, in which we now find her. Rumour declared that she -was enabled to take so handsome an establishment, in consequence of the -sudden and unexpected recovery of a portion of that fortune which was -supposed to have been irretrievably swallowed up in the failure of the -bank at Calcutta, and the loss of which had broken her husband's heart. -At all events, she paid her way regularly—and was famed for her numerous -charities. Calumny had never assailed her; for she was so regular in her -religious duties—so retired in her mode of life—so ready to assist the -deserving poor—so constant in her donations to all humane and -philanthropic institutions—and so zealous a patroness of Missionary and -Bible Societies, that her neighbours looked upon her as a very pattern -of Christian virtue. - -Between herself and the Courtenay family the most sincere attachment -appeared to exist. Whenever the young gentlemen and the young ladies -returned home for the holidays, they invariably passed a week with her -whom they almost looked upon as a mother; and Sir Henry himself, in -speaking of her to his friends, seemed to take a delight in eulogising -the manner in which she had performed her duty towards his children. The -consequence was that his relations and acquaintances echoed these -praises elsewhere; and Mrs. Martha Slingsby was quoted at the West End -as the perfect model of a good and excellent woman. - -Thus, at the age of forty-two, Mrs. Slingsby had escaped that ordeal -through which so many beautiful widows are doomed to pass: we mean, the -whisperings of calumny. Not a breath had ever sullied her fame;—not a -hint had ever been dropped to her disparagement. Scandal seemed to avoid -her threshold as an evil spirit is supposed to recoil from the vicinity -of the temple of worship. - -We must observe that Sir Henry Courtenay was now close upon -sixty-three—thirteen years having elapsed since Mrs. Slingsby had -entered his family in India. He was nevertheless a fine man, on whose -brow time seemed to sit lightly, considering how great a portion of his -mortal career was already run. It is true that he wore false teeth and -false hair; but art had rendered those substitutes so natural in -appearance, that few suspected they were really false. Elegant in his -manners—endowed with a mind which had treasured up the richest stores of -intellectual wealth—fascinating in his conversation—and evincing in his -attire the taste of a polished gentleman, Sir Henry Courtenay was one of -the brightest stars of the fashionable world—a favourite at Court—and -welcome in every gay circle. - -It was about three o'clock in the afternoon of that day which followed -the events related in the few preceding chapters, that Mrs. Martha -Slingsby was seated in her elegantly furnished drawing-room, revising -the list of her usual Christmas donations to the humane, philanthropic, -and religious Societies. - -Adelais and Rosamond Torrens were seated one on each side of her, and -aiding their kind friend in her pious task. - -Rosamond held in her hand a memorandum-book from which she read the -names of the various associations alluded to;—Mrs. Slingsby had a -cash-box open before her;—and Adelais made entries, according to this -lady's dictation, in another memorandum-book. - -The two beautiful girls appeared to be the daughters of the elegant and -handsome woman who sate between them; and there was so much sweetness in -the countenances of all three—so much animation, and so much -modesty—that a painter would have been rejoiced to depict the group as -Charity dictating to Benevolence and Mercy. - -"Proceed, dear Rosamond," said Mrs. Slingsby, when Adelais had finished -a note in her memorandum-book. - -"_The Orphan Children's Free-School Association_, madam," read the young -maiden thus addressed; "and last year you gave ten guineas." - -"This Christmas I shall subscribe fifteen, my loves," observed Mrs. -Slingsby, in a mild and silvery tone of voice. "There is no duty so -sweet—so holy as to contribute to the religious instruction of those -poor creatures who are deprived of their natural protectors. Besides, -the committee have manifested the most praiseworthy readiness to attend -to any suggestions which I may deem it right to offer. For instance, it -was the custom until lately to have three multiplication-table lessons -to only one Bible-reading; and this, you must admit, my loves, was very -indiscreet—I will not use a harsher term. But, in consequence of my -recommendation, the dear children have now _three_ Bible-readings to -_one_ multiplication-table lesson. Have you written down _fifteen -guineas_, my dear?" she inquired, turning towards Adelais. - -A reply was given in the affirmative; and Mrs. Slingsby wrapped the -amount up in an elegant sheet of rose-coloured paper, and, having noted -in pencil the contents of the little packet, added it to several others -which were ranged before her on the table. - -Rosamond then read the next item. - -"_The Poor Authors' Assistance Fund_; and last year you gave five -guineas, madam." - -"And this year I shall only send two, my loves," said Mrs. Slingsby. -"Authors and journalists are ruining the country, both politically and -morally, as fast as they can. They are writing _for_ the people, and -_against_ the aristocracy; and this, my loves, is a crying abomination. -Heaven forgive me for speaking in such harsh terms—so inconsistent with -pious meekness and Christian forbearance; but it would disturb the -patience of a saint to behold the attacks made by these men upon our -blessed Constitution—our holy Church, and its most necessary union with -the State—the prerogatives of our monarch—the rights of the upper -classes—the privileges of wealth—and all those institutions which were -perfected by the wisdom of our ancestors. Do you understand me, my -loves?" - -"Oh! quite, madam," answered Adelais, who already began to look upon -liberal-minded authors and journalists as a set of incarnate fiends -banded against every thing worth preserving in society. - -"Besides, my dear girls," added Mrs. Slingsby, "the _Poor Authors' -Assistance Fund_ does not publish a Report of its proceedings nor a list -of those who subscribe to it; and, under all circumstances, I think that -I should be acting more consistently with my duties as a Christian and -as an Englishwoman devoted to the blessed institutions of her happy -country, to decline any donation whatever to a Society encouraging -infidels and republicans. So you may draw a pen through the name, -Rosamond, love. There!—now my conscience is at rest. Which is the next -item?" - -"_The Distressed Milliners' Friends Society_, madam," was the answer. - -"That is another Association from which I must withdraw my patronage," -observed Mrs. Slingsby, her countenance losing its serene placidity in -an air of severity. "You are too young and too pure-minded to understand -my motives, dear girls; but when I tell you that most of these -distressed milliners are very naughty women, you will perceive the -justice of my conduct. And then they endeavour to make their penury an -excuse for their turpitude! Oh! how wicked—how sinful is human nature, -my loves! Erase that name also, dear Rosamond. And now what is the -next?" - -"_The South-Sea Island Bible-Circulating Society_, madam; and last year -you gave twenty guineas." - -"That is indeed a blessed institution!" exclaimed Mrs. Slingsby, turning -her eyes piously upward; "and it is to this Society's rooms that we are -going in the evening to hear that estimable man, Mr. Joshua Sheepshanks, -give an account of the mission from which he has just returned. I shall -increase my donation by five guineas in this instance." - -Adelais accordingly wrote down thirty-five guineas, which sum was duly -wrapped up in rose-coloured paper and added to the other packets. - -Rosamond then read the next item in her memorandum-book. - -"_The Naked Savages General Clothing Association_; and last year——" - -"Pardon me, dearest girl," said Mrs. Slingsby, "I cannot support that -Society any longer. There is in its title a word most offensive to the -ears of decency; and I do not know how I could have ever been prevailed -upon to lend it the countenance of my name and the aid of my purse. -Besides, I do not think the object of the institution is useful; for in -India one sees the natives of the lower orders in the country districts, -going about in a state bordering on nudity, and one gets so accustomed -to it that it produces no disagreeable effect whatever. The name of the -Association is decidedly indelicate; but there is nothing repulsive in -the fact of savages going about in a state of nudity. You may strike out -the item, Rosamond love." - -"I have done so, madam. The next is, _The_——" - -Rosamond was interrupted by a loud knock at the front-door, which -resounded through the house. - -In a few moments Sir Henry Courtenay was announced. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIV. - THE PIOUS LADY. - - -The baronet entered the room with a smiling countenance and a graceful -salutation. - -"Pray be seated, ladies," he exclaimed, addressing himself to Adelais -and Rosamond, who had risen from their chairs. "My dear Mrs. Slingsby, I -need not inquire concerning your health—for you look quite charming this -morning." - -"You know, Sir Henry, that I am not pleased by flattery," said the lady -in a reproachful tone. - -"A thousand pardons, my dear madam," returned the baronet. "But you must -remember that we have now been acquainted for some years—that our -friendship is not only of yesterday's date—and that if I venture on a -little freedom with you, it is as a brother might address himself to a -sister for whom he has the highest esteem. Yes, ladies," he added, -turning towards Adelais and Rosamond, "this excellent woman—this almost -angel, as I may denominate her—was a mother to my children; and _that_ -is a circumstance which I can never forget." - -"You attach more importance than is necessary, Sir Henry, to the mere -performance of a duty," observed Mrs. Slingsby, in a calm and modest -manner. - -Adelais and Rosamond exchanged glances, which seemed to say, "Admirable -woman! we already love her as much as if she were our maternal parent!" - -"But I am afraid that I am interrupting an occupation of more value than -my idle chit-chat can possibly prove to be?" exclaimed Sir Henry, who -surveyed Rosamond with an ill-concealed admiration. "Some useful or -pious labour was engaging you, young ladies, no doubt;—for, in the -society of Mrs. Slingsby, not a moment is likely to be passed without -producing a benefit to at least some section of the great human family." - -"The anniversary of that holy day on which the Saviour of Mankind -suffered on the cross, is approaching, Sir Henry," observed Mrs. -Slingsby, in a tone and manner suiting the solemnity of her remark; "and -you know that I am in the habit of forwarding my mite at this season of -the year to those humane, religious, or philanthropic institutions which -deserve support." - -"I never forget any of those pious duties which you have taken upon -yourself, my dear madam," said the baronet. "And, indeed, the object of -my present visit is——But the act of charity of which I am desirous to -make you the instrument," he added, glancing towards the young ladies, -"involves details of so painful a nature, that——" - -"I understand you, Sir Henry," interrupted Mrs. Slingsby; "and this -consideration for the feelings of those who are not accustomed to look -upon the dark side of the world's picture, is worthy of your generous -disposition. Adelais, my love—Rosamond, dearest—pray retire for a short -period." - -[Illustration] - -This request was conveyed in a manner so affectionate and with such -witching softness, that the maidens to whom it was addressed, could not -help embracing their kind friend ere they left the room. - -The moment the door had closed behind them, Sir Henry drew his chair -close to that of Mrs. Slingsby, and, placing his arm round her waist, -imprinted a kiss of burning desire upon her lips. - -"Martha, you are really surprisingly beautiful to-day," he whispered in -her ear. - -"Do you think so, Henry?" she murmured, her eyes lighting up with the -excitement of that contiguity. "And yet I have fancied that your -behaviour has been somewhat cold towards me of late." - -"Do not entertain such a suspicion, my dearest creature!" exclaimed the -baronet, plunging his hand into the bosom of this pious lady's dress. -"Had either of us a right to complain, I think it would be myself; -for——" - -"Oh! do not reproach me, Henry!" she murmured, abandoning herself to his -lustful toyings. "But ever since the difficulty I experienced in -producing that last miscarriage, I have been so frightened lest——" - -"Nonsense, Martha! do not alarm yourself without a cause," interrupted -the baronet. "Even if it did come to _that_, the matter could be easily -arranged. A few weeks' retirement into the country, on some charitable -mission—ha! ha!" - -"True!" said the frail fair one. "But the chances of detection—oh! I -shudder when I think of it! Consider how admirably we have hitherto -managed——" - -"And how completely the world is deceived in regard to us," added the -baronet, laughing. "There is nothing like a religious demeanour to throw -dust in people's eyes. Were a syllable of scandal breathed against you, -you have the patrons of all those humbugging Societies to defend you. -But what are you going to do with yourself this evening? Can you not -devote a few hours to me?" - -"I wish I could, Henry," returned the lady; "but it is impossible! A -dreadful bore named Sheepshanks is going to entertain the devout with -his nonsense; and it would seem so odd—so very odd if I were not -present." - -"It is now upwards of three weeks since we slept together," said the -baronet, in a tone of reproach. - -"Yes—but you know that I cannot pretend too often to pass the entire -night by the sick-bed of some poor woman," returned Mrs. Slingsby. "And -now, dearest Henry, I have a favour to ask of you." - -"Name it," said the baronet, in a low murmur—for his passions were -furiously excited by his voluptuous toyings with his mistress. - -"You must write me a check for a thousand pounds," replied the lady, -winding her arms round his neck, and then literally glueing her lips to -his. - -"Oh! you are becoming very extravagant, Martha," said the baronet. "But -I suppose I must yield——" - -"You are a dear, generous fellow," murmured the lady, as she suffered -herself to be led to the sofa. - - * * * * * - -A quarter of an hour afterwards, Mrs. Slingsby rang the bell; and a -sleek, comfortable-looking footman answered the summons. - -The lady was then sitting, in her usual quiet, placid manner, in a chair -near the table; and the baronet was placed at a respectful distance from -her. - -"Bring up luncheon, James," said Mrs. Slingsby. "Sir Henry, you will -take a glass of champagne? I know you are somewhat partial to it. But a -decanter of water for me, James." - -"Yes, madam;"—and the domestic withdrew. - -In a short time he returned, bearing a tray, which he placed on the -table, and then retired again. - -Having paid their respects to the cold viands placed before them, the -lady and gentleman did honour to the champagne, both drinking out of the -same glass, the servant having only brought up one of the description -suited to that particular wine. - -When the collation was ended, Mrs. Slingsby drank a tumbler of water to -take away the smell of the champagne from her mouth; but she did not -appear to relish the limpid beverage quite so well as the rich juice of -Epernay. - -The baronet then wrote the lady a cheque on his banker for a thousand -pounds; and, having made a certain little appointment with her for a -particular evening in the ensuing week, and at a place of _rendezvous_ -as convenient as it was safe, he took his departure. - -Immediately after Sir Henry had left the abode of Mrs. Slingsby, that -lady's housekeeper sought the presence of her mistress, and was -forthwith admitted to the private interview which she desired. - -"What is it, Magdalen?" inquired Mrs. Slingsby, when the housekeeper -stood in her presence. - -"I'm sorry, ma'am, to have any thing unpleasant for such ears as yours," -was the answer; "but I am convinced that scullion-girl is in the -family-way." - -"Magdalen!" ejaculated the pious lady, horrified at the mere idea. "Oh! -do not utter any thing so uncharitable!" - -"I am sure of it, ma'am, I repeat," persisted the housekeeper. "In fact -I've had my suspicions about it for a long—long time; and now I'm -certain." - -"Magdalen," said Mrs. Slingsby, in a tone of profound solemnity, "this -is a dreadful occurrence to take place in a house which, I may safely -assert, has never yet been tainted with the breath of scandal—at least -so long as I have occupied it. Are you sure that your conjecture is -right?" - -"I would take my salvation oath that it is, ma'am," responded the -housekeeper. - -"That expression on your part is incorrect, Magdalen," observed Mrs. -Slingsby, in a tone of mild reproach. "But I of course believe all you -tell me relative to that miserable—degraded girl. Let her be sent from -the house this minute, Magdalen—this very minute! Pay her any wages that -may be due to her, and inform her that her box shall be sent after her -to her parents, with a note acquainting them of the reason for her -abrupt discharge." - -"She has no parents, ma'am—she is an orphan." - -"But she has friends, no doubt?" said Mrs. Slingsby, inquiringly. - -"No, ma'am: I took her from the workhouse, on the recommendation of -lady—a friend of yours, ma'am—who visits them kind of places on a -Sunday, distributing hymn-books." - -"Disagreeable as the duty is, it must nevertheless be performed, -Magdalen. And that duty, so incumbent upon us, is to turn the lost girl -into the street. Pay her the wages——" - -"She has nothing to receive, ma'am. I advanced her money to buy herself -decent clothes——" - -"Then let her go away without any money—since she has none to receive," -interrupted Mrs. Slingsby. "To give her a single shilling, were to -encourage her in that shameless career of profligacy whereon she has -already so far entered." - -"Your orders shall be obeyed, ma'am," replied Magdalen; and she withdrew -to execute them—for she had a spite against the poor scullery-girl, who -had been intriguing with one of this over-particular housekeeper's own -lovers. - -Shortly after this little occurrence which we have just related, Mr. -Clarence Villiers made his appearance in Old Burlington Street. - -He found his aunt alone in the drawing-room; and, the moment he had paid -his respects to her, he inquired for his much-beloved Adelais and her -sister. - -"They are safe and well, Clarence," answered Mrs. Slingsby. "But before -I summon them, it will be necessary that we should have a little -conversation relative to the proper and prudent course now to be -adopted. Sit down, Clarence, and grant me your attention." - -The young man obeyed, and prepared to listen with all the patience he -could call to his aid; for much as he respected and really loved his -aunt—whom he looked upon as a pattern of moral excellence and virtue—he -nevertheless experienced the anxiety of a lover to find himself in the -presence of Adelais. - -"I shall not detain you long, Clarence," resumed Mrs. Slingsby: "and it -is for your good that I am about to speak. In the first place, I feel it -due to myself to explain to you that, in receiving those young ladies -into my house the other evening—and at so late an hour—I was influenced -solely by that affection which I entertain towards you, and by my -conviction of your thorough integrity of purpose." - -"The mere fact of my bringing those almost friendless girls to seek an -asylum with you, dear aunt," said Clarence, "must prove to you how -careful I was of their reputation." - -"And it was to assist your upright views that I received them without a -moment's hesitation," added Mrs. Slingsby. "You know that if I had the -means, you should long ago have been put in possession of a sufficient -fortune to have enabled you to compete with Mr. Francis Curtis in -bidding with the mercenary Mr. Torrens for his daughter. But—although my -income is sufficient for my wants, and, thank heaven! for a few little -purposes of charity——" - -"My dear aunt!" interrupted Villiers; "wherefore renew an explanation so -unnecessary?" - -"Because I would not have you suppose, Clarence, that I would for an -instant sanction any underhand proceedings in respect to your union with -Miss Torrens, had it been possible to have ensured that aim by means of -her father's consent. But," continued Mrs. Slingsby, "I conceive that -there are so many extenuating features in the case, that I cannot regret -having granted an asylum to that dear girl and her sister, and in thus -securing them alike from the perils of London, and from the pursuit of -their father." - -"Your kindness towards them will render their hearts as grateful as mine -is," exclaimed the young man warmly. - -"During the few days that my house has become their home," continued -Mrs. Slingsby, "they have endeared themselves to me by their -affectionate dispositions—their tranquil habits—their readiness to -please—and a thousand amiable qualities; and therefore—for their own -sakes, as well as yours—I am ready to do all in my power to serve them. -But should Mr. Torrens happen to discover their abode, conceive the -scandal that would be created—the observations that would be excited!" - -"My dear aunt, I would not for worlds compromise you in any way!" -ejaculated Clarence. "But still——" - -"Do not fear that I am anxious to rid myself of their charming company," -added Mrs. Slingsby. "I am only desirous that you yourself should adopt -due caution, so as to avoid being followed hither by any one who might -be employed by Mr. Torrens to watch you." - -"No imprudence on my part shall mar the success of my plans," returned -Clarence. "The banns have been published at St. George's once -already—and next Sunday will be the second time! It is scarcely probable -that Mr. Torrens will become aware of this circumstance; and he -certainly would not, without any previous hint, conjecture that the -preliminaries for our union had been adopted in so fashionable a church -as that in Hanover Square," added Clarence, with a smile. "Let two more -Sundays pass without the abode of my Adelais being discovered, and she -will then become indissolubly mine!" - -"Have you seen any more of your kind friend, who so generously took your -part the other evening?" inquired Mrs. Slingsby, after a pause. - -"Captain Sparks!" exclaimed Clarence. "Not since I met him, as I before -informed you, at a tavern in the Strand——" - -"Avoid taverns, my dear nephew!" interrupted Mrs. Slingsby, a cloud -overspreading her countenance; "for—by all I have ever heard or read -concerning them—they are fearful sinks of iniquity." - -"Oh! not the respectable taverns, aunt," replied Villiers. "I had -purchased a very handsome pair of pistols to present to the Captain as a -token of my esteem; and then I recollected that I was totally -unacquainted with his address. I flew to the great army-agents at -Charing Cross; but there was no such name as Captain Sparks in the List. -Well—I thought he might be in the Navy, and off I went to the Admiralty; -but no Captain Sparks! I therefore considered it fortunate when I -accidentally met him in a tavern which I entered to procure some -refreshment. He positively refused to accept the pistols—declaring that -he had done nothing more than I should have done for him under similar -circumstances. But I thought there was something singular in the merry -laugh which burst from his lips, when I proffered the case containing -the pistols. However, he is an excellent-hearted fellow—and I shall -always hold myself his debtor. We walked together, on that occasion, as -far as my own lodgings in Bridge Street, and he entertained me with a -perfect fund of anecdote all the time. Indeed, I am as much pleased with -him, as I feel myself under an obligation to him." - -"Gratitude is a rare virtue in this world," remarked Mrs. Slingsby, who -seldom lost an opportunity of letting drop a moral maxim. "And now," she -continued, with a smile, "having taxed your patience to such an extent, -I must give you the well-merited reward. My kind and generous friend, -Sir Henry Courtenay, has advanced me a certain sum of money, one half of -which I require for charitable purposes of my own; but the other I place -at your disposal, to enable you to hire and furnish a suitable dwelling -to receive your bride. Take this cheque, and to-morrow you can bring me -my moiety." - -"Oh! my dear aunt, have you borrowed of your friends to assist me?" -exclaimed Clarence, overwhelmed by so much apparent generosity. - -"Not entirely to assist you, my dear nephew," was the calm reply; "but -partly, as you perceive, for myself. However,—say no more about the -trifle which I present to you; and reward me by making a good use of -it." - -Clarence embraced his relative: Adelais and Rosamond were then summoned; -and the lovers were soon happy in each other's society. - -We must now afford the reader some explanation relative to Mrs. -Slingsby's behaviour towards her nephew: and, in so doing, we shall -throw additional light upon the character of this lady. - -She was of a crafty—calculating disposition, and seldom performed any -act, however trivial, without a selfish motive. The fact was that she -had a very difficult part to play. Devoured with raging desires, she was -compelled to adopt a calm, modest, and reserved exterior, and to conceal -her debauchery beneath the cloak of religion. Sir Henry Courtenay was -necessary to her in more ways than one: necessary as a lover—and -necessary as a treasurer, for she was totally dependent upon him in a -pecuniary sense. The report relative to the recovery of a portion of her -late husband's fortune, was a mere fabrication to account for her -comfortable mode of life. Still she considered her position to be so -dangerous, that she was compelled to fortify it by all possible means. -She really loved her nephew—for it often occurs that women of her -description are capable of a strong attachment of this nature:—but even -had she entertained no regard for him at all, she would have pretended -to do so—because he was necessary to her. He was a means by which she -could constantly trumpet forth her "charitable deeds," while she herself -appeared unconscious that they ever transpired. Taking good care that he -should know all she did in the cause of religion or humanity, she led -him to believe in a great many things which she did not do; and the -consequence was that Clarence was never wearied of repeating, wherever -he went, those praises which he conscientiously considered to be his -aunt's due. - -Now, when a near _relation_ corroborates the statements made by -_friends_, those statements receive a weight which places them beyond -the pale of disbelief. Thus the world read Mrs. Slingsby's character as -Clarence himself read it and reported it; and with such an amount of -testimony in her favour, she could defy scandal. Even the most -maliciously-inclined dared not venture a shake of the head, nor a shrug -of the shoulder; for "surely her own nephew must know whether she were -as good as she was represented? Relations seldom praise each other -behind their backs; and when a dashing young fellow, like Clarence, was -so enthusiastic in praise of his aunt, it was that he was thoroughly -convinced of the sterling merit of her character?" Such would have been -the arguments opposed to any detractive observations that scandal might -dare to let drop concerning Mrs. Slingsby. - -The lady, finding her nephew so necessary to her interests, naturally -sought not only to maintain the most complete deception relative to -herself in his mind, but also to attach him towards her by substantial -acts of kindness. Thus she had readily consented to receive Adelais and -Rosamond into her house, to oblige Clarence; and she now, with the same -interested motive, made him a handsome pecuniary present. She let him -know that she had been compelled to borrow the money (in advance of her -imaginary income), to enhance the value of the gift, and also that the -natural impression should arise in his mind—"Excellent aunt! she -embarrasses herself to benefit me!" - -The reader now fully understands how complete a mistress of -duplicity—hypocrisy—and deceit was the widow of Old Burlington Street. -Beneath that calm and placid demeanour—under that veil of sanctity—raged -the most ardent lusts, and agitated the most selfish feelings. She was a -living—walking—breathing lie. Her existence was one immense falsehood; -and yet so well did she maintain the semblance of even the sternest -virtue, that her real character was known only to two persons—Sir Henry -Courtenay, and another whom it is not at present necessary to name. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXV. - MR. SHEEPSHANKS. - - -In a large room, on a first-floor in St. Martin's Lane, some three or -four hundred persons, male and female, were assembled. - -At one end of the apartment was a raised platform, in the middle of -which stood a capacious arm-chair behind a desk; and on the said -platform several sleek, oily, comfortable-looking gentlemen, all dressed -in black, and wearing white cravats with no shirt-collars, were grouped -together in conversation. - -The body of the room was occupied by chairs for the accommodation of -those who had "front-seat tickets," and forms for those who possessed -"back-seat tickets." - -It is a remarkable fact that the votaries of the Established Church -invariably create social distinctions in the very places instituted to -propagate or maintain their creed. Thus every church belonging to the -"Establishment" has its pews for the rich and its pauper-seats; and in -the assembly-rooms of the religious associations the same distinction is -drawn between aristocracy and democracy. And these lines of demarcation -are traced by men practising—or rather pretending to practise—a religion -which proclaims that all are equal in the eyes of God! - -Oh! the vile hypocrisy of these canting psalm-singers! - -The room to which we have introduced our readers, was well lighted with -wax-candles, and had two cheerful fires blazing away in the grates. - -The atmosphere was warm—there were no unpleasant draughts—and the floor -was covered with a thick drugget;—for your religious people are mightily -fond of comfort; and comfort was certainly studied at the offices of the -_South Sea Islands Bible-Circulating Society_. - -In the second row of the "front-seat ticket" department, sate Mrs. -Slingsby and the Misses Torrens. The two latter had their veils -carefully drawn over their faces; for Mrs. Slingsby had insisted upon -their accompanying her to this "pious and soul-refreshing -entertainment," as they had not previously stirred out of doors from the -moment they had taken up their abode with her. - -At a quarter-past six o'clock, two ushers, bearing white wands, passed -up the room, preceding a short, stout, brandy-faced gentleman, who tried -to look as demure and humble as he could, but who could not, however, -subdue that consciousness of importance which seems to say, "Ah! now I -am causing a sensation!" - -And a sensation, too, he produced, sure enough; for the gentlemen began -clapping their hands and stamping on the floor, while the ladies waved -their handkerchiefs as if he were some victorious general who had just -defeated a French army of a hundred thousand men. - -Upon reaching the platform, the brandy-faced gentleman shook hands with -the sleek and oily individuals before alluded to; and the "sensation" -became more exciting on the part of the spectators, as if it were a very -clever thing indeed to shake hands in public. - -Then the brandy-faced man stepped a few paces back, and pretended to -enter into very earnest conversation with some leading member of the -Committee, while another member moved, in a drawling sing-song tone, -"that their respected President, Mr. Jonathan Pugwash, do take the -chair." - -This proposal was received with renewed applause; and the brandy-faced -gentleman (for he it was who delighted in the euphonious name of -Pugwash) started as if quite astonished that such an honour should have -been destined for him. He then proceeded to establish himself in the -large arm-chair before mentioned; and in a voice which sounded as if he -were talking inside a barrel, called upon "their respected friend, the -Reverend Malachi Sawkins, to open the meeting with prayer." - -Mr. Sawkins—a very demure-looking man indeed—proceeded to drawl out a -long extempore prayer, in the course of which he led his audience to -infer that heaven favoured that particular Society more than all others; -and when he had concluded, the chairman rose to explain the object of -the extraordinary assembly that evening, although the said object was -already well known to every individual present—aye, and to every soul -who, passing up or down St. Martin's Lane, might choose to stop and -peruse the enormous bills placarded at the entrance. - -Mr. Jonathan Pugwash commenced by expressing his thanks for the high -honour done him by selecting him to preside over that meeting—an honour -the more distinguished, inasmuch as it had been perfectly unexpected on -his part. [_This was completely false, it having been settled in -Committee three days previously that he was to preside on this occasion; -but your zealots do not mind a white lie at times._] He was well aware -of his own unworthiness (_Cries of "No! no!"_): yes—he _was_ an unworthy -vessel—but he hoped the Lord would sustain him in the onerous duty -thrust upon him. (_"Amen!" in a hollow, sepulchral tone from the Rev. -Malachi Sawkins._) He thanked the ladies and gentlemen—or he should -rather say his Christian sisters and brethren present, for the kind—the -handsome—the feeling manner in which they had contradicted his expressed -belief of his own unworthiness. (_Cheers, and "Go it, Pugwash!" from a -drunken gentleman in a remote corner of the room._) He need scarcely -inform the highly respectable and influential meeting then and there -assembled, that the object of such assembly on that occasion was to hear -certain accounts of the progress of the good cause, from the lips of a -revered brother (_cheers_) who had just returned (_renewed -cheers_) from a long (_more cheering_)—arduous (_prolonged -cheering_)—and most perilous (_vociferous cheering_)—mission -to the islands of the South Seas (_tremendous cheering, -mingled with "Bravo!" from the drunken gentleman in the remote -corner._) He need scarcely say that he alluded to their -dear—venerated—respected—highly-prized—gifted—talented—persevering -friend, Mr. Sheepshanks! (_Cheers._) With these few observations, he -would introduce Mr. Sheepshanks to the meeting. (_Prolonged cheering._) - -The chairman sate down in an awful state of perspiration; but, in -another moment he rose again; for a little door at the back of the -platform had just been opened by one of the ushers—and behold! Joshua -Sheepshanks appeared before the enraptured spectators. - -It would be impossible to describe the enthusiasm which now prevailed in -the room. The cheering was tremendous—the waving of the ladies' -handkerchiefs created a perfect gale of chill air—and the drunken -gentleman in the corner shouted so vociferously that one old lady who -sate near him would certainly have fainted (as she subsequently -observed) if another old lady next to her had not happened, "by the -merest accident in the whole world," to have a small flask of cognac in -her muff, and most charitably to place the said flask at her disposal. - -Mr. Sheepshanks was a tall, thin, sallow-faced man, with black hair -combed sleekly over his forehead, and sharp, piercing grey eyes, which -seldom settled anywhere—but when they did, it happened (singularly -enough!) that they were sure to fix themselves on the prettiest faces in -the room. - -Order being restored, Mr. Sheepshanks rose to address the audience. -Having expressed his gratitude for the truly Christian reception he had -received, he entered upon the subject so dear to all who had the good -cause at heart. He stated that in the year 1823 the Committee of the -Society had determined to send a missionary to some of the South Sea -Islands to pave the way for the effectual carrying out of the objects of -the Association. A sum of five hundred pounds was voted for the purpose; -and he (Mr. Sheepshanks) had offered himself as a willing sacrifice to -the good cause, although, as he perfectly well knew, at the risk of -being roasted and eaten by the savages amongst whom he was to venture. -Understanding that a French ship was to sail for the South Seas, from -Cherbourg, on an exploring expedition, he had repaired to that port, and -had taken a passage in the vessel alluded to. In due time, and after -experiencing tremendous weather, the ship touched at the Cape of Good -Hope, and thence proceeded towards the southern islands. "It was on the -14th of March, 1824," continued Mr. Sheepshanks, "that we anchored off -the beautiful island of Squizzle-o-Koo; and I fell on my knees on the -deck, to return thanks to that Providence which had at length brought me -within sight of the scene of my labours. A refreshing influence came -over me; and my heart leapt, like a porpoise on the wide waters, at the -cheering thought that I was about to render myself useful amongst the -benighted savages so near at hand. A boat was lowered; and the captain, -the third mate, the purser, and myself were rowed ashore. I was provided -with my Bible; the captain and the mate took with them quantities of -looking-glasses, buttons, and toys; and the ungodly purser armed himself -with a bottle of rum." - -An awful groan burst from the Rev. Mr. Sawkins, whereat Mr. Pugwash, who -had fallen asleep, woke up. - -"Yes—dear Christian friends," exclaimed Mr. Sheepshanks; "a bottle of -rum!" - -"And no fool he!" cried the drunken gentleman in the corner. - -"Order! order!" vociferated Mr. Pugwash, rubbing his eyes. - -At this crisis, a gentleman of foreign appearance, well-dressed, and -adorned with a pair of very fierce moustachios, advanced from the body -of the room towards the platform; but at every three steps he took, he -paused for a few moments to examine Mr. Sheepshanks with strict scrutiny -by the aid of an eye-glass. At first he seemed uncertain relative to -some idea which had entered his head; but the nearer he approached the -platform, and the more closely he examined Mr. Sheepshanks, the fainter -became his doubts and the stronger his suspicions. - -At last—just as the missionary was about to resume the history of his -adventures in respect to the island of Squizzle-o-Koo—the foreign -stranger leaped upon the platform, confronted the pious gentleman, and -said in an ironical tone, "How you do, Monsieur Shipshang? me vare much -delight to see you dis vonce again." - -Mr. Sheepshanks seemed confounded at the sudden apparition of the -foreign gentleman: but, speedily recovering his self-possession, he -said, "Really, sir, you have the advantage of me. But if you will step -into the private office—behind there—for a short time, I——" - -"Oh! yes—you really have de advantage on me, Monsieur Shipshang," -interrupted the foreigner; "but you no get it again, do you see? How do -Madame Shipshang, and de little Shipshang as was born at my house?" - -"This gentleman, sir," said the Reverend Mr. Sawkins, addressing the -foreigner in a tone of awful solemnity, and pointing towards Mr. -Sheepshanks, "is not married and has no children. His life is devoted to -celibacy and good works." - -"Good works!" ejaculated the Frenchman: "den vot for he come and swindle -me——" - -"Oh!" groaned the Reverend Mr. Sawkins, holding up his hands in horror -at the supposed baseness of the imputation against the most savoury -vessel of the whole Society. - -"Oh!" reverberated in a long echoing groan throughout the room; for, as -the reader may suppose, this strange scene had excited a powerful -sensation amongst all present. - -"Ah! it all vare well," exclaimed the Frenchman, indignant at the awful -groaning with which his words were received; "but let dis fellow -Shipshang look me in de face, and——" - -"Call in a constable!" roared Mr. Pugwash, the chairman. - -"Give the Frenchman fair play!" cried several voices. - -"Dat is all me do ask of de British public," said the Frenchman. - -But while he turned to address those words to the audience, Mr. -Sheepshanks disappeared with remarkable abruptness by the private door -at the back of the platform. - -"Where's our reverend brother?" demanded Mr. Pugwash, looking anxiously -around. - -"I am afraid he must be taken ill," returned Mr. Sawkins. "I will go and -see." - -And this reverend gentleman followed the pious missionary. - -The Frenchman then proceeded to acquaint the audience that he kept an -hotel at Cherbourg, where Mr. Sheepshanks arrived at the beginning of -the year 1823; that the reverend gentleman continued to reside with him -for upwards of ten months, spending money as profusely as if he -possessed the purse of Fortunatus; that at the expiration of that period -Mr. Sheepshanks departed, but returned at the end of a month, -accompanied by a lady whom he represented to be his wife, and who -presented him with a pledge of her affection some eleven months -afterwards; that Mr. Sheepshanks and the lady, with the child, continued -to honour the hotel with their presence until the middle of the year -1826, when they suddenly evaporated, leaving behind them a heavy bill -unpaid and a portmanteau full of stones and straw; that business had -brought the Frenchman to London, and curiosity had induced him to enter -that assembly upon reading the placard, wherein the euphonious name of -Sheepshanks prominently figured, at the door. - -This narrative produced, as may be supposed, an extraordinary sensation -amongst the saints gathered together on this occasion. - -And no wonder! Was it, then, all a fabrication relative to Mr. -Sheepshanks' visit to the South Sea Islands? Had he never proceeded -farther than Cherbourg? were the funds of the Society lavished in -riotous living and on a mistress? was it the better to carry out the -deception that he had pretended to sail in a French ship, instead of an -English one? was he, in a word, an unmitigated impostor? and were all -the members of the Society his dupes? - -These opinions seemed to be confirmed, when the Reverend Mr. Sawkins -came back with the astounding intelligence that Mr. Sheepshanks was -nowhere to be found in any part of the Society's offices. - -Mrs. Slingsby was overwhelmed with grief, and her two fair companions -with astonishment; and as they rode home in a hackney-coach, the pious -widow never ceased from dilating on the tremendous injury which the -"good cause" would receive from the exposure of the flagrant turpitude -of Mr. Sheepshanks. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVI. - THE BARONET AND HIS MISTRESS. - - -On the following day—at about twelve o'clock, and somewhat to the -surprise of Mrs. Slingsby, who did not expect to see him so soon -again—Sir Henry Courtenay paid the lady a visit. - -She happened to be alone when he was announced; and there was a -constraint—amounting almost to an embarrassment—in his manner which she -immediately perceived, and which alarmed her. - -"Has any thing happened, Henry?" she inquired anxiously, as he took a -seat at some distance from her. - -"Nothing, Martha—nothing," answered the baronet. "But I wish to have -some very particular conversation with you." - -"I am all attention," she said, her suspense increasing. - -"Now do not be frightened," exclaimed Sir Henry. "Nothing has happened -to annoy either you or me; but what I am about to propose to you, is -rather of an embarrassing nature—and——" - -"Then pray be quick and let me know what brings you hither this -morning," said the lady, somewhat impatiently. - -"Have patience!" cried the baronet. "The fact is I have taken a fancy in -a certain quarter—and, though I have striven hard to wrestle against it, -it is every hour growing more powerful than my opposition." - -"What _do_ you mean? what _can_ you mean?" asked the widow, completely -bewildered. - -"Why do you receive into your house two young ladies of a beauty so -ravishing——" - -"Henry! is it possible?" exclaimed Mrs. Slingsby, a light suddenly -breaking in upon her mind. - -"It is very possible that I should feel an unconquerable—an invincible -passion for Rosamond Torrens," added the baronet, growing bolder now -that the ice was fairly broken. - -"And you tell me this to my face!" murmured the widow, in a hollow tone, -while her countenance became purple with a rage which she dared not -suffer to explode. - -"It is expressly to you that I am compelled to make the avowal," was the -deliberate reply; "since it is at your hands that I expect assistance." - -"At my hands!" almost shrieked the widow. - -"Beware how you alarm the house!" said the baronet. "You will do much -better to listen to me attentively." - -"Proceed," gasped Mrs. Slingsby. - -"You are well aware that there are certain natures which cannot master -their inclinations, however strenuously they may endeavour to do so," -resumed Sir Henry Courtenay, drawing his chair closer to that on which -his mistress was seated. "You yourself are of such a disposition—and I -am not less so. It would have been impossible for you to remain chaste: -your passions are of that ardour which must be gratified—or they would -consume you." - -"Wherefore this strange expatiation upon my failings?" inquired the -widow bitterly. - -"Simply to prove an extenuation for myself," was the response. "I have -seen Rosamond but three times, and have not spoken a dozen words to her; -and yet I am maddened with desire—devoured with cravings which the -possession of her can alone assuage. I again assure you that I have -essayed to conquer these feelings, for my sake—for hers—but principally -for _yours_,—and all in vain! I do not love you the less—I shall not -neglect you on her account. And, as a woman of the world," he added, -fixing his eyes in a penetrating manner upon her countenance, as if to -read the impression his words made on her mind,—"as a woman of the -world, I repeat, you cannot imagine that it is possible for me always to -remain faithful to you!" - -"At least you are candid with me," observed the widow, her tone -expressing bitter irony. - -"That is the great merit of my present avowal," said the baronet calmly. -"But how foolish you are to manifest so much annoyance. You are well -aware that I cannot subdue my feelings, nor control my passions more -than yourself; and it will be better for you to assist me——" - -"Assist you in debauching that young girl—the sister of her whom my -nephew is to marry!" ejaculated Mrs. Slingsby. - -"Listen, Martha," exclaimed Sir Henry. "I have formed this sudden -caprice—or whim—or whatever you may choose to term it; and I will spare -no money and no trouble to accomplish my purpose. A man with twenty -thousand a-year can afford a trifle to gratify his wishes in this or any -other respect." - -"But the idea is perfectly insane!" cried the widow. "Even if I were to -consent to aid you in your purpose, the result must inevitably involve a -fearful exposure." - -"Not at all," replied the baronet. "The means are easy, and can be -rendered perfectly secure. I gave you a thousand pounds yesterday—the -largest sum you have ever yet had from me at one time; and I will -present you with a cheque for _two_ thousand more the day that Rosamond -becomes mine." - -"You would not marry her?" exclaimed Mrs. Slingsby, in a tone of -unconcealed alarm. - -"Yes—rather than not possess her," replied the baronet. - -"Oh! this is truly absurd!" said the widow. "What! so powerful an -attachment towards a young girl whom you have only seen three times!" - -"Strange as it may appear, it is nevertheless a fact!" cried Sir Henry. -"But there is a wide difference between the feelings I entertain towards -you and her. You are necessary to me, to a certain extent—because you -are an agreeable companion as well as a desirable woman. She is a mere -child—but a very beautiful one; and, moreover, the sudden fancy I have -taken for her is so strong that I cannot resist it. You see that my -resolution is fixed. With or without your aid, I prosecute my purpose." - -"If you are really so determined——" - -"I am," said the baronet. - -"Then I must assist you in this dangerous—difficult proceeding," added -Mrs. Slingsby, somewhat consoled by the idea of the two thousand pounds -that were to find their way into her purse as the price of her services. -"But when I reflect on the matter, I behold a thousand perils from which -I recoil. Were an exposure to take place, the entire fabric of—of——" - -"Hypocrisy," suggested the baronet. "You and I need not mince words -together." - -"Well—hypocrisy," continued the lady, "would be thrown down—and I should -stand revealed to the world in the most dreadful colours. Then, the real -nature of _our_ connexion would be instantly perceived——" - -"But all these terrible evils are to be avoided by prudence," -interrupted the baronet. "I am not more anxious for exposure than -yourself; nor should I wish to compromise you. Our amour has existed for -years—and the world suspects it not, even in the most distant manner:—we -will contrive to retain the veil over it until the end." - -"Then how do you wish me to proceed?" inquired the widow, with a cold -shudder, as she thought of the perils attending the undertaking. - -"By operating on the mind—by modelling the imagination of that young -girl to suit my purpose," answered Sir Henry. "With a woman of the world -like you, this is an easy task. Insinuate certain notions into her -bosom—inflame her—excite her——" - -"This is more difficult than you imagine," interrupted Mrs. Slingsby: -"because she and her sister are constantly together." - -"Devise a means to employ Adelais in one room for two or three hours at -a time, while you have Rosamond with you in another," said Sir Henry. -"If you enter on the task with a good will, you will find it easy -enough." - -"But in ten days Adelais will become the wife of Clarence; and the -sisters, accompanied by him, will repair to Torrens Cottage to throw -themselves at the feet of the incensed father. Rosamond will then quit -my house altogether." - -"Ten days are sufficient to imbue her now innocent mind with such new -sensations—such voluptuous thoughts—such eager desires, that her -surrender will be easy and certain," persisted the atrocious villain, -who thus calmly reasoned on the means of undermining so much virtue. - -"I do not think so," observed Mrs. Slingsby. "If I proceed too rapidly, -I shall alarm her, instead of inflaming her imagination. Besides, you -judge the world by what you yourself are, and by what you know of me. -But, frail and guilty as I am, Henry," she added in an impressive tone, -"believe me when I declare my conviction that more virtue is to be found -in woman than you would be inclined to suspect." - -Sir Henry laughed heartily at this observation; then, rising from his -seat, he took up his hat, saying, "At all events, dearest Martha, act so -that I may present you with the cheque as soon as possible." - -He kissed her, and departed from the house, chuckling at the success of -his endeavour to make his mistress the instrument of his diabolical -design against the pure—the beautiful—the unsuspecting Rosamond. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVII. - TOM RAIN AND JACOB. - - -It was Saturday evening; and Rainford was proceeding up Gray's Inn Lane, -wrapped in his white great coat, and with a woollen "comforter" reaching -up almost to his nose, when he suddenly felt some one pull him by the -sleeve. - -He turned round, and, by the light of a lamp, beheld the lad Jacob. - -"Well, you young rascal!" exclaimed Tom—but with an anger more affected -than real, for he was not a man to cherish vindictive feelings towards -an enemy so utterly unworthy his resentment as that pale, weak, and -sickly boy: "I wonder you have the face to accost me, after joining in -that abominable scheme to intrude upon the privacy of my dwelling three -or four nights ago." - -"I hope you will forgive me, Mr. Rainford," said the lad: "for you -_must_ know," added he emphatically, "it wasn't altogether my fault. I -was bound to obey the man who gave me food. But do you know, sir, what -has become of _him_? Oh! Mr. Rainford—I am well aware that he _did_ -deserve punishment at your hands; but—pray forgive me—I hope——" - -"You hope that I did not kill him?" said the highwayman in a deep, -hollow-toned voice. "Why—do you suppose that I am a likely person to -commit murder—intentionally?" - -"Oh! no—no," replied the boy. "And yet——" - -"And yet what?" asked Rainford. - -"And yet it is so strange that he should never have been seen at any of -his usual haunts," added Jacob. - -"Come along with me," said Rainford abruptly. "We cannot stand talking -in the street—and I want to have some conversation with you. But do you -know any place close at hand—any public-house, I mean—where we could -have a private room for an hour or so?" - -"Yes, sir," replied Jacob, after a moment's reflection. "This way." - -He turned abruptly down into a narrow, dark, dirty thoroughfare, called -Baldwin's Gardens, and conducted the highwayman into a low public-house, -where, upon inquiry, they were immediately accommodated, with a private -room on the second floor. - -Rainford ordered the fire to be lighted and a bottle of wine to be -brought up; and when these instructions were complied with, he renewed -the conversation with Jacob. - -"And so nothing has been heard of Old Death?" he said, in as tranquil a -manner as he could assume. - -"Nothing," replied Jacob. "A man named Josh Pedler called at Bunce's -this morning early, and wanted to see Mr. Bones, on account of a thief, -known as Tim the Snammer, who was to go up before the magistrate to-day; -and it appears that Mr. Bones had promised to get him off. Pedler was in -a dreadful way when he heard that we hadn't seen any thing of the old -man for two or three days; and he swore that it was all a hoax, and that -Bones wanted to stick to the money that had been paid him, and shirk the -job. Then comes a girl about an hour afterwards; and she said she was -Tim the Snammer's wife—Mutton-faced Sal they call her;—and a deuce of a -rumpus she made also." - -"Do you know a person called Tidmarsh?" demanded Rainford, after a few -moments' reflection—for he was anxious to learn if the boy were -acquainted with the establishments in Turnmill and Red Lion Streets. - -"I know him by name very well—and that's all," replied Jacob. "He is a -fence, and lives somewhere in Clerkenwell. But pray tell me, Mr. -Rainford, if you know what has become of the old man." - -"I can tell you nothing about him, my boy," said the highwayman. "Surely -he was not so very kind to you——" - -"He kind! Oh! no—far from that!" cried Jacob, in a tone of evident -sincerity. "But I was so dependant on him, that—unless I turn thief -again—as I once was——" - -He stopped short, and burst into tears. - -"My poor lad," said Tom Rain, affected by this ebullition of grief on -the part of the wretched boy, "if you are afraid of wanting bread, you -may banish those alarms—at least for the present." - -And he threw a handful of sovereigns upon the table. - -"Are these for me?" cried Jacob, scarcely able to believe his eyes. - -"Yes—every one of them," answered the highwayman. "But on this -condition—that you tell me how Old Death discovered my _late_ abode in -Lock's Fields, and what was his object in entering it along with you and -that sneaking fellow, Toby Bunce." - -"I will tell you all—everything I know, Mr. Rainford," exclaimed Jacob. -"But," he added slowly, "you will find that I do not deserve this -kindness at your hands." - -"I can scarcely blame you for obeying the person on whom you were -dependant," said the highwayman. "Come—gather up the money, and make -haste with your information." - -As Jacob secured the gold about his person, his dark eyes were lighted -up, and his cheeks were flushed with a glow of animation. - -"I can tell you much more than you suppose, Mr. Rainford," he resumed in -a few moments; "and if I begin at the proper place, what I have to say -will go farther back than the affair the other night in Lock's Fields." - -"Then begin with the beginning, Jacob," said Tom, lighting a cigar. -"There—drink another glass of wine; and now fire away. But mind and tell -me nothing save the truth; for I shall soon see if you are deceiving -me." - -"I won't deceive you, Mr. Rainford," cried the boy; "and will soon -convince you that I am in earnest. Besides, it is my interest to make a -friend of you—even if it wasn't my inclination. And now to begin. You -remember the morning you was had up at Bow Street? Well—Old Death had -told me to watch you when you came out of Tullock's—to dog you about—to -find out where you lived and any thing else I could glean concerning -you." - -"What was that for?" demanded Tom. - -"He did not tell me _then_," answered Jacob; "but I have ascertained -since—and you will be able to guess by and bye. Well, I _did_ follow you -that morning—I saw you nabbed by Dykes, the runner—and I went up to -Bunce's to tell Old Death what had happened. Then he cut off to Watkins -and Bertinshaw, who came and bailed you. I was ordered to watch about -the police-court, and see where you went to; and I followed you to Pall -Mall—then I dogged you back again—and when the Jewess's case was over, I -lost sight of you somehow or another." - -[Illustration] - -"And you duly made your report to Old Death?" said Tom inquiringly. - -"Of course," replied Jacob. "Two or three days afterwards I was set to -watch you again, when you left Bunce's one afternoon; and I followed you -down to an eating-house in the Strand. You stayed there about two hours; -and at length you came out with a tall, handsome young gentleman——" - -"Ah! I recollect!" cried the highwayman: "it was Clarence Villiers. But -go on, my boy." - -"I only mention all these little things to convince you that I am -telling the exact truth," said Jacob. "Well—from the Strand I followed -you and the gentleman as far as Bridge Street, Blackfriars, where you -parted. I dogged you, Mr. Rainford, over to the Elephant and Castle -Tavern, where you met a lady and the little boy——" - -"Yes—Charley Watts!" ejaculated the highwayman, gradually becoming more -interested in Jacob Smith's narrative, because each successive step -thereof afforded fresh evidence of its truth. - -"You joined the lady and the little boy," continued Jacob; "and when you -all stopped for a short time at the window of a jeweller's shop, the -lady lifted up her veil—and I knew her again." - -"Ah!" cried Tom, with a sudden start. - -"Yes, sir,—I recognised Miss Esther de Medina——But are you angry, sir? -have I said anything to offend you?" - -"No—no, Jacob," returned the highwayman, the cloud which had gathered -upon his countenance suddenly disappearing. "Go on, my boy." - -"Then I saw you take the lady and the little boy into the shop, and you -bought a pair of ear-rings, which you gave to the lady; and as you came -out again, I heard you say to her, '_This present is a kind of -recompense for the diamonds which I made you give up_,'—or something to -the same meaning." - -"Yes—I remember that I did make use of those or similar words!" cried -Rainford. "But how the deuce did it happen that I never once caught a -glimpse of you?" - -"Oh! sir—I acted with so much caution," replied the lad; "and then you -did not suspect that you was watched." - -"True!" said Tom thoughtfully. "And of course you reported all this to -Old Death?" - -"I followed you on to Lock's Fields, and then returned to Seven Dials, -where I told Mr. Bones and Mrs. Bunce all I had seen and heard." - -"And what did they say? Tell me every thing, Jacob," exclaimed the -highwayman. - -"They seemed very much surprised to think that you and Miss Esther were -intimate together——" - -Jacob suddenly paused—for again did a dark cloud overspread Tom Rain's -countenance. - -"Go on, Jacob," he said, observing that the lad was alarmed. "I am -subject to a sudden pain——but it is nothing at all. Go on, I say. You -were telling me that Old Death and that disgusting woman, Mrs. Bunce, -were very much astonished at a certain circumstance. Well—and what did -they say?" - -"They asked me whether either you, sir, or the lady took any little -thing—when the jeweller's back was turned," replied Jacob, timidly; "but -I assured them that you did not." - -A scornful smile curled the highwayman's lips and then he puffed away -violently at his cigar—apparently wrapped in deep reflection. - -"Shall I tell you any more, sir?" asked Jacob, when a few minutes of -profound silence had elapsed. - -"Yes, my boy: go on!" cried Tom, turning towards him again. - -"The very next night," resumed Jacob, "Mr. Bones and me were walking -down Southampton Row, Russell Square, you know—when I observed Miss -Esther de Medina in a shop——" - -"Where there was a post-office?" ejaculated the highwayman, hastily. - -"Just so, sir. And she was reading a letter," continued Jacob. "Then me -and Old Death followed her down to another post-office—it was in -Holborn—where she posted a letter which she had with her. I crept close -up to her and saw the address on it just before she dropped it into the -box." - -"And what was that address?" demanded Rainford. - -"_T. R., No. 5, Brandon Street, Lock's Fields_," was the answer. - -"And you of course told _that_ to Old Death?" - -"Yes—and he desired me to follow the lady to see where she lived; which -I did, and traced her to Great Ormond Street. Then I went back to -Bunce's, and acquainted Mr. Bones with this fact also. He was very much -pleased; and soon afterwards you came in. He then told you about going -to Shooter's Hill to stop a tradesman and his wife; but I afterwards -found out that it was only a gag to get you out of the way next night." - -"Ah! I thought as much!" cried Rainford. "And now, I suppose, we come to -the visit which Mr. Bones, Toby Bunce, and yourself paid to my -lodgings?" - -"Exactly so," said Jacob. "Early the next morning I was ordered by Old -Death to post myself all day long in Great Ormond Street, and see that -Miss Esther didn't go out. I kept watch, and saw her several times at -the window just for a moment: so I knew she was at home. In the evening -Old Death and Mr. Bunce came and fetched me, and we went over to a -public-house opposite your lodgings in Brandon Street. On the way I -learnt what they meant to do; for it was to carry off the boy——" - -"Poor little Charley Watts!" ejaculated Rainford, totally unprepared for -this announcement. "But what harm had he done to them? or what could -they want with him?" - -"I don't exactly know, sir," replied Jacob. "Indeed, I don't think Toby -Bunce knew himself. But I can't help thinking that it was somehow or -another connected with a certain letter which Old Death let fall, and -which I picked up and kept. It bears the signature of _Sarah Watts_——" - -"The poor woman who died at Bunce's house!" cried the highwayman. "Where -is that letter?" - -"Here, sir," answered Jacob; and with these words he produced the -document from his pocket, and handed it to Tom Rain. - -The highwayman hastened to peruse it with the greatest interest and -attention; but he was evidently disappointed when he perceived that it -afforded no clue to the person to whom it was originally intended to be -sent. - -"I shall keep this letter, Jacob," he said, after some minutes of -profound reflection. - -"Do so, Mr. Rainford," returned the lad. "And now you see that I am -acting sincerely with you." - -"Quite," remarked the highwayman, in an absent manner; for he suddenly -remembered the circumstance of Old Death declaring that he had lost a -particular letter on the memorable night which was marked with so many -strange occurrences. "Yes, Jacob," he continued, after a long pause, -"you are right. It must have been in connexion with this letter that the -old man wanted to carry off the boy. Perhaps he had discovered some clue -to unravel the mystery of Charley's birth, and meant to turn the secret -to his own advantage? But, if so, he must have had some better trace -than this letter, which certainly says a great deal, and yet leaves the -one grand point—_who Charley's mother really is_—in complete darkness! -However," added Tom, who had been musing aloud, rather than addressing -his remarks to Jacob, "time will perhaps clear up all." - -"You see, sir," continued Jacob, "I was set to watch in Great Ormond -Street to find out whether Miss Esther went over to you——" - -"To _me_!" ejaculated Rainford, as if taken by surprise. "But—go on, my -boy—go on!" - -And as I knew that she was at home when Old Death and Toby Bunce came to -join me there," pursued the lad, "we of course thought it was all right. -You may, therefore, judge how Old Death and me were surprised, when we -went up into the bed-room at your lodgings——" - -"Enough of that, Jacob!" cried Rainford, starting uneasily. "And now -tell me why Old Death seemed so anxious all along to find out every -thing he could about me?" - -"Lord! sir, can't you guess?" exclaimed the boy. "He knew that you could -be useful to him, and he wanted to get you completely into his power. By -knowing all that concerned you, he——" - -"I understand, Jacob," again interrupted the highwayman; "and it is just -as I suspected. You are a good lad for telling me all this—and I will -not leave you to want—in case," he added hastily, "your old master -should not happen to turn up again. But I do not think I shall stay many -days in London, Jacob. However, I will see you again shortly—and we will -have a talk together about what is best to be done for you. One word, by -the bye—do you know how this letter which you gave me, happened to fall -into Old Death's hands?" - -"Not all, sir—unless Mrs. Bunce found it about the poor woman who died -the other night at her house." - -"That is what I suspect," observed Rainford. "Indeed, it must have been -so. The deceitful woman!—after my paying her so handsomely, to keep back -the document! But it has found its way to my pocket at last, in spite of -her and Old Death. And now, Jacob, tell me about yourself. How long have -you been in the service of Mr. Benjamin Bones?" - -"I wish you had time sir," said the boy, "to listen to my story: it -would be a relief to me to tell it—for I already feel towards you as I -never felt to any one before. Indeed, I was sorry to be employed against -you in any way: but I couldn't help myself. I remember the evening that -I watched you over to Lock's Fields:—I was so moved—I hardly can -describe how—at seeing that little boy Charley with you; for I thought -how good you were towards him, and what an excellent heart you must -have,—and when I got back to Bunce's, I couldn't pluck up courage to -tell Old Death any thing about you, for fear he might mean you some -injury. However," added Jacob, wiping his eyes, "he _did_ get it all out -of me at last——" - -"Never mind, my lad," interrupted Rainford, moved by Jacob's contrition: -"all you have told me this evening has fully atoned for the mischief you -previously did me. Besides, as I before said, you were forced to obey -your master. And now," he added, after referring to his handsome gold -repeater, "I don't mind if I sit another hour with you here; and while I -smoke my cigar, you shall tell me the history of your life." - -"I will, sir," exclaimed the boy, eagerly. "But I warn you beforehand it -is a long one—that is, if I tell it as I should like to do." - -"Tell it in your own way, my boy," cried Rainford; "and never mind the -length." - -The highwayman settled himself in a comfortable manner in his chair; and -Jacob proceeded to relate the history of his life. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVIII. - THE HISTORY OF JACOB SMITH. - - -"My earliest recollections are associated with the occupation of playing -all day long in the streets, in company with other infants. This was in -Upper Whitecross Street, St. Luke's; where I and those other children -lived with a woman, who pretended to keep a boarding-school at which she -received children to live with her altogether for one shilling and -eightpence a-week each: but she used to turn us all out early in the -morning with a piece of hard mouldy bread to nibble for our breakfast, -and fetch us home again when it grew dusk in the evening. She would then -give us each another piece of bread for supper, and we went to bed. But -what a bed! A few old sacks thrown over a heap of straw in a little room -about six feet long by four and a half in width, served upwards of a -dozen children as a sleeping-room. There we used to cry ourselves to -rest, famished with insufficiency of food—and awake again in the morning -to undergo fresh privations. - -"I said there were about twelve of us under the care of this Mother -Maggs—as she was called. They chiefly belonged to very poor parents, who -were engaged all day long at work, and were therefore glad to get rid of -their children, who would otherwise only be an encumbrance to them. Some -few were, however, the illegitimate offspring of poor servant-girls in -place; but nearly all had parents who came to see them from time to time -and perhaps gave them a few pence. I was not, however, so fortunate as -the rest; for no one ever came to see me—at least that I was aware -of—until I was about nine years old; and I heard that the twenty-pence -a-week allowed for my board and lodging, was left regularly for Mother -Maggs at the neighbouring chandler's shop every Saturday morning. Mother -Maggs seemed to think that I had really no friends—for, though she -bullied us all pretty well, she bullied _me_ ten thousand times more -than the rest. - -"The habit of turning a dozen little children, some of whom were only -just able to walk, into the street in the way I have described, was not -likely to be always unattended with disagreeable consequences. Sometimes -a child was run over, and either severely wounded or killed. In the -latter case, no Coroner's Inquest ever sate on the body: the exposure of -Mother Maggs's neglect towards us, would have drawn the attention of the -parochial authorities towards her. But when a death happened in that -way, the old woman used to put the body into a sack and carry it some -distance into the country, where she would sink it in a pond or ditch. -Often, however, the corpse of a dead child has been allowed to remain in -our room till it was quite putrid, Mother Maggs not having time or -inclination to remove it before. And, on those occasions, we _who were -alive in that room_ were so frightened to be with the dead body in the -dark, that we shrieked and screamed till the noise reached the old -woman's ears in the public-house next door; and so savage was she at -being disturbed in her gin and her gossip, that she has half murdered us -by way of making us hold our tongues! - -"Sometimes a child was lost; and if the parents, on being informed of -it, expressed regret or anger, Mother Maggs would take some trouble to -find it again: if not, she did not put herself out of the way respecting -the matter. In addition to her boarding-house for children, she let out -lodgings to persons of either sex; and, as she was not particular so -long as she got paid, her house was nothing more or less than a common -brothel. She was always saying she had no time to do any thing which -ought to be done: and if being all day in the public-house was a -necessary duty, she certainly had no time for other purposes. Though not -often tipsy, she was never actually sober—but in a constant state of -muzziness. Liquor did not improve her temper: on the contrary it made -her irritable—sometimes ferocious; and I have seen her fight with other -women until her face was covered with long seams made by the -finger-nails, and pouring with blood. - -"You cannot suppose that _all_ these things which I have just told you -or that I am going to tell you directly, in connexion with Mother -Maggs's establishment, were noticed or understood by me when I was quite -a child there: but you must remember that I stayed at that den until I -was nine, and in the course of those years all I saw made a deep -impression on my mind; and what was then dark and unintelligible to me, -has since been made clear and plain by experience and by reflection on -those scenes and circumstances. - -"You will wonder how my wretched companions and myself managed to live, -since we only had a piece of bread each, night and morning. We kept body -and soul together in a variety of ways, chiefly feeding, like swine, -upon all the offal and remnants of vegetables, cooked or raw, that we -found in the street. There was a dust-bin in the court where Mother -Maggs's house was in Whitecross Street; and every day, just upon one -o'clock, we used to crowd round it, waiting till the neighbours came to -empty their potato-peelings or the refuse of their meals into that -general receptacle. Then we would greedily appropriate to our use the -scraps which not even the very poorest of the poor chose to eat. The -potato-peelings (most poor families skin their potatoes after they are -boiled) were quite a dainty to us: the heads and bones of fish and -such-like refuse were also welcome to our empty stomachs. Then we were -accustomed to go prowling about the street to snatch a slice of raw -bacon or a bit of cheese from the board in front of a butter-shop; or -steal a turnip or a carrot from an old woman's stall; or else lay -unlawful hands upon the horses' flesh in the cats'-meat shops. This last -article of food was much fancied by us. It was comparatively easy to -steal; and when we did get such a prize as a large lump of carrion, with -a stick thrust through it, we felt as happy for the time being as if we -had found a treasure. Then we used to conceal ourselves in some dark -court, and take a bite round—each in his turn—until it was all gone. I -am afraid I disgust you with these details; but you desired me to tell -my story in my own way—and I want you to understand the dreadful mode of -life which thousands of poor children lead in the wealthiest city in the -world. I am sure, when I have thought of it all since, and when I see -little boys and girls paddling in that neglected manner about the -streets, my blood runs cold at the idea that while some human beings are -riding in their carriages and living in palaces, others are prowling in -the low neighbourhoods, happy if they can steal a lump of putrid -carrion! - -"You may next ask what we did for clothes—it being very clear that -Mother Maggs could not supply us with wearing apparel out of -twenty-pence a-week. Well—the fact is we scarcely had any clothes on at -all. As for a cap or shoes and stockings, I declare solemnly I never -wore any one of those articles from the earliest period of my -recollection until I was nine years old. A little ragged frock, and that -was all: yes, that was all—summer or winter! But where did even the -ragged frock come from? I really hardly know: I am at a loss to say -exactly how we did get even that one garment each. Sometimes a child -would be taken away by its parents, who might, perhaps, bring it some -decent clothing: then the cast-off rags in this case would fall to the -lot of the most ragged of those who were left behind. Now and then a -slop-seller in the neighbourhood would give one of us some old frock -which was useless to himself: and occasionally we would steal one, when -we could. You may ask me why we did not steal shoes also? So we did, if -an opportunity served: but then we could do without shoes, and the -eldest of the lot of us was on those occasions commissioned to sell the -plunder at a rag-shop, to afford means to buy a little better food than -usually fell in our way. These occurrences were, however, rare—so rare, -that they constituted perfect holidays in the hideous monotony of our -famished lives;—for the shopkeepers in poor neighbourhoods are -constantly on the alert to watch the movements of the juvenile prowlers. - -"The ages of the children under the care of Mother Maggs averaged from -three to ten; and the eldest of course bullied the youngest, while Mrs. -Maggs bullied us all. Misery did not make us little ones friendly -together. On the contrary, we fought, quarrelled, and ill-treated each -other as much as we could. I must relate to you one anecdote—although I -now shudder when I think of it, and have often since shed tears of -repentance. There was one boy, named Tib Tucker, about eight years old, -who used to behave in a more merciless manner towards me than the rest -did. He would take away my bread from me whenever he caught me eating it -apart and alone; and he laid to me many thefts on Mother Maggs's -cupboard which he himself committed. These false reports got me many and -many a good beating from the enraged hag; and, in a word, this boy's -tyranny became so insufferable, that I was resolved to adopt some -desperate measure to put an end to it. I was then but little more than -six years old: a fiendish instinct of revenge, however, urged me to act. -I secreted a pin about my rags; and one day when Tib Tucker was trying -to take away the morsel of mouldy bread which Mother Maggs had just -given me, I suddenly thrust the pin into his right eye. He screamed in -dreadful agony, and brought down Mother Maggs into the court. I had not -run away—terror, or rather horror at what I had done, nailed me to the -spot. The bully's tale was soon told. I expected to be half murdered by -the dreadful woman: but, to my surprise, she suddenly took my -part—declared that I had shown a proper spirit—and consoled Tib Tucker -with the assurance that if he would only permit me to operate on the -other eye in the same manner, he would prove a perfect fortune to his -parents. 'There's nothing like a blind child to draw alms,' she said: -'but one eye's no good—you should be blind of both.'—I remember her -words as well as if they had only been uttered yesterday; and, the more -so, as they seemed to be prophetic—as I shall explain presently. - -"The terrible vengeance which I had taken upon my persecutor, who lost -his eye in consequence, not only awed him in future, but made me feared -by all the rest; and my existence grew somewhat less wretched—at least -in reference to the treatment I experienced from my companions. Mother -Maggs also seemed to change towards me—whether through fear, or -admiration at what she termed '_my spirit_,' I cannot say. I was less -bullied by her—but not a whit better fed. - -"About six weeks after the incident which I have related, the parents of -Tib Tucker returned to London from the country where they had been -harvesting. They passed the evening with Mother Maggs, and great -quantities of gin were sent for from the public-house. This I afterwards -learnt from my companions; for, as to myself, I kept out of the way -through fear of being punished by the boy's parents for the vengeance -which I had wreaked upon him. When it was quite dark, I returned to the -house, and stole up to the miserable garret where my companions were -already huddled together on the straw and old sacks. Tib Tucker was -amongst them; for I heard him talking about a promise his parents had -made to take him with them into the country, where they were going again -in a few days. One of the eldest girls—for, I forgot to say, Mother -Maggs's juvenile boarders were of both sexes—asked him what his parents -had said about the accident. He replied that they had laughed at it, and -had declared that they would turn it to some good account. Scarcely had -he thus spoken, when the door opened, and Mother Maggs appeared, with a -candle in her hand. Ordering Tib Tucker to get up and follow her, she -added that his father and mother had a little treat in store for him, -and had meant him all along to sit up to supper. Tib was overjoyed at -these news, and made haste to accompany Mother Maggs to a lower room -where she had left his parents; and we, in our miserable dark garret, -envied the boy who had a good supper in view. - -"I remember—Oh! well do I remember, how I cried that night, to think -that no friends ever came to see me, and that indeed I was ignorant -whether my parents were alive or not. I had often asked Mother Maggs -whether she knew my father and mother; but I invariably received a cuff -by way of reply—and therefore at length grew tired of putting the -question. There were, however, times when my wretched—forlorn—abandoned -condition almost broke my heart; for, young as I was, I knew that there -were boys and girls in the world much better off than myself! - -"While Tib Tucker was absent, the other children began to discourse -amongst themselves, saying how lucky he was to come in for a good -supper: and then they set to work to guess what the meal was likely to -consist of. But all on a sudden a dreadful shriek echoed through the -house, and startled us in our miserable garret. There we lay—crouching -and huddling nearer to each other, holding our breath, not daring to -utter a word, and filled with vague alarms, as if some dreadful danger -hung over us. At length sleep came to my relief. When I awoke in the -morning and ran down into the court, the first object that met my view -was the wretched boy Tib Tucker, being led away by his parents—_for he -was now blind of both eyes!_ - -"I was so frightened, that I ran into the street, where I wandered about -all day—forgetting even the pangs of hunger. I had suddenly conceived -such a dreadful terror of Mother Maggs, that I had not dared to present -myself at her room-door to obtain my usual morsel of bread, along with -the rest. It was a very rainy day, and yet I remember that I roved and -roved about the whole neighbourhood, at one time crying bitterly—at -another stupified, though still moving about like a sleep-walker. When -the evening came on, I was so tired and hungry that I was forced to -retrace my way to the horrible den, which I only discovered again with -the greatest difficulty. Mother Maggs did not take any notice of my -absence from the morning distribution of bread, but gave me my evening -ration along with the rest; and once more did I return to the straw and -filth of the close garret. - -"Months and years passed—and I reached the age of nine. The last few -months opened my eyes to more wickedness than I had as yet known or -dreamt of. I just now told you that Mrs. Maggs's juvenile boarders -consisted of boys and girls; and I believe you understood that we all -huddled together in the same garret. It was a regular pig-sty, in which -we wallowed like swine: and like that of brutes also was the conduct of -the eldest boys and girls. If the other rooms in the house were used as -a brothel by grown-up persons, no stew could be more atrocious than our -garret. The girls were more precocious than the boys, and the latter -were corrupted by the former. Mere children of nine and ten practised -the vices of their elders. But, my God! let me draw a veil over this -dreadful scene. Oh! sir—I have seen much—gone through much; but the mere -thought of the horrible licentiousness—the beastliness—the monstrous -depravity that took place there, even now makes my blood run cold in my -veins! - -"And can you wonder that such should be the case? Not one of all us -children had ever been taught what virtue was; and all that we knew of -crime was that it was something which a constable took you up for. We -had not the least notion of the Saviour—none of us had ever heard that -the Son of God died for the sins of the world. I had once seen a Bible, -because I stole one from a book-stall; and the eldest girl, who went to -sell it, gathered from what was said by the person who bought it, that -it _was_ a Bible. But even if I had previously known that the book was -called a Bible, I should not the less have stolen it; because I could -not read, and no one had ever told me at that time what the Bible really -was. We had all heard of the name of God, and used it pretty often -too—for oaths were familiar to us even when we could only lisp them: but -we knew not who God was, and had no one to tell us—even if we had wished -to learn. You may think it strange that there should be children of even -ten years old in London who are completely ignorant of every thing -concerning religion; but I can assure you that I have met with youths -and girls of fifteen or sixteen who were equally in the dark in that -respect. - -"I was nine years old when Mother Maggs one day fetched me out of the -street where I was playing in the gutter with my companions, and took me -into her own room, where I saw Mr. Bones for the first time—I mean the -first time as far as my recollection is concerned. He looked at me a -long time; and then turning to the old woman, said, 'I don't think you -have taken the very best care of him.'—'Yes, I have,' she answered, 'He -has had his bellyfull every day of his life: bread-and-butter for -breakfast and supper; potatoes for dinner on week days, with may-be a -bit of pudding or so now and then; and always a good dinner on a Sunday. -Haven't you, Jacob, dear?'—and, as she asked me this question, she gave -a terrific frown, unseen by Old Death, and the meaning of which I well -understood. So I muttered a 'yes;' and she seemed satisfied.—'But I am -going to take him away all the same, Mrs. Maggs,' said Mr. Bones; -'because he is of an age now to be useful to me.'—'I hope you will -recommend me where you can,' cried Mother Maggs. 'I do all I can to make -the poor little dears happy; and if Jacob is so shabby just the very day -you drop down upon us, like, it's only because his new frock is in the -suds; and as for shoes and stockings, it makes boys hardy to go without -them.'—I do not remember that Old Death made any answer to these -observations; because the portion of the dialogue which I have just -detailed, produced so deep an impression on my mind—young as I was—that -had it been continued, I should most probably have recollected the rest. -But _this_ I cannot forget—that when Old Death told me to follow him, -and Mother Maggs took me in her arms to embrace me at parting, I -screamed with affright—for the spectacle of the blind boy instantly -recurred to my memory! - -"Old Death took me to a shop in Whitecross Street, and bought me a -complete suit of clothes—shabby and mean, it is true; but royal robes -compared to the rags I now threw off. And how great was my -astonishment—how wild was my delight, when I was actually supplied with -a pair of stockings and shoes! Never before—never since, have I known -such perfect joy as I felt at that minute. Sight restored to the blind -could not be more welcome than were those articles. Not that I required -them—for my feet were inured to nakedness, and to walk even on the -pointed flints:—but I experienced an indescribable sensation of mingled -pride and satisfaction which made me supremely happy. My joy was, -however, somewhat rudely interrupted by a hard blow on the head which -Old Death bestowed upon me, because I dared to laugh in the fulness of -my poor heart; and then I burst into tears. He cursed me for a -'snivelling fool,' and ordered me to put on the cap which he had also -bought me, and make haste to accompany him. The cap was another article -of clothing till then quite strange to me; and once more my tears were -succeeded by smiles! - -"At length the purchases were complete; and I followed Old Death from -the shop. But I walked as if I was tipsy. The cap seemed to be quite a -weight on my head; and the shoes threatened every moment to trip me up. -I have never worn skates,—but I can fancy how a person must feel when he -puts them on for the first time; and I imagine that my awkwardness in -stockings and shoes was something of the same kind. Near the point where -Upper Whitecross Street joins Old Street Road, I beheld my late -companions huddled together at the mouth of a passage belonging to a -pawnbroker's shop. They did not know me, till I called some of them by -name; and then they could not believe their eyes. I must have seemed a -kind of prince to them. They instantly overwhelmed me with questions—but -Old Death looked back and called me in a cross tone, and I hurried away. -I declare solemnly that the tears started from my eyes as I thus -separated from the companions of all my infant misery; and though I knew -not whether my own fate was about to be improved, still my heart was -smitten with the idea that I was leaving them behind to their -wretchedness—their rags—their starvation—and their fœtid den at Mother -Maggs's house. Never until that instant had I experienced the least -sympathy in their behalf: but then—at that moment—I felt as if I could -have remained with them, and loved them! - -"Mr. Bones conducted me to some public-house—I can't recollect where it -was, but I think it must have been in Brick Lane, St. Luke's,—and there -he ordered bread and cheese and ale. What a glorious dinner did I make -that day! Never had I tasted any thing so delicious before! The cheese -was so nice—the bread so white and new,—and the ale—it was good beyond -all description. At least, so the food and drink then appeared to me: -and what was better still, was that I was allowed to eat as much as I -chose! When we had ended our meal, Old Death began to talk very -seriously to me—for we were alone in the room together. He gave me to -understand that he had found me, when quite a baby, lying on the steps -of a workhouse—that he had taken me to some good, kind woman whom he -knew, and who had treated me well—that afterwards he had been obliged to -place me, when I was three years old, with Mother Maggs—_and that I -therefore owed every thing to him_. I naturally believed at the time -that I was under the deepest obligations to him; and then he proceeded -to inform me that I might be useful to him in certain ways, and that if -I did all he told me and was a good boy, he would never desert me. I of -course listened with as much respect as it was in my power or nature to -show; and, though I did not quite understand all he said to me, I was -nevertheless impressed with the conviction that he had a right to do -what he chose with me, and that I was bound to obey him. - -"We remained some time at the public-house—indeed, if I remember right, -until it was dusk; because Old Death had a great deal to say to me, and -as I was so very young and so miserably ignorant, it was not an easy -matter for him to make me understand his meaning. But there can be no -doubt that he laboured to convince me of the right which certain -privileged persons had to prey upon others who were not so -privileged;—or, in plainer terms, that whenever I could obtain a -handkerchief, a purse, or any thing else worth taking, and in such a -manner that there was no chance of my being detected, I was perfectly -justified in availing myself of the opportunity. My morals had not been -so carefully attended to, as to excite any repulsive feelings at this -species of reasoning: on the contrary, having from my infancy practised -the art of pilfering pudding from cooks'-shops, bits of bacon from -cheesemongers' windows, carrots and turnips from old women's stalls, and -lumps of tripe or carrion from the boards of cats'-meat establishments, -I was well prepared to go a step farther. There can be no doubt that Old -Death was all along aware of the real nature of Mother Maggs's house and -of the manner in which she reared the children entrusted to her. A man -of his experience could not help knowing all this; and it was not -probable that he was deceived by the lying statements she made to him -relative to the manner in which I had been treated—although he took, as -far as I recollect, no notice of her words. In fact, he had -intentionally placed me in a position to learn everything that was -bad—to fulfil an apprenticeship of petty vice, that I might enter on a -career of crime, whereof the profits were to be his own! - -"Taking me now in a somewhat kind manner by the hand, he led me down to -St. Paul's Churchyard. Although having hitherto lived within a mile of -that place, I had never been there before. It is true that from the -garret windows of Mother Maggs's dwelling, I had sometimes seen the huge -dark dome surmounted by the cross which shone like gold on a bright, -sunny day; but I had never thought of asking what it was—nor had I any -notion that it was so near. Often, too, in the silence of the night, -when cold and hunger kept me awake in that hideous den, had the deep but -glorious sound of the mighty bell, booming through the air, and -proclaiming the hour, fallen on my ears: but still I had never thought -of inquiring which clock it was that struck so loud and was so tediously -long in striking. Thus, when I entered Saint Paul's Churchyard for the -first time, in company with Old Death, I was struck with amazement to -find myself at the foot, as it were, of that tremendous giant of -architecture. Just at that moment, too, the mighty bell began to strike -six; and I started—for, young as I was, that well-known sound, though -never heard so near before, re-awakened a thousand conflicting thoughts -within me. All the misery and wretchedness I had endured at Mother -Maggs's house rushed to my mind; and again I shed tears as I reflected -on the poor children whom I had left behind me _there_! - -"Oh! Mr. Rainford—if any kind and benevolent person had taken me then -under his protection and care, and taught me to do good and practise -virtue, as Old Death was teaching me to do evil and practise vice, I -feel—yes, I feel that I should not have been unworthy such humane -attention! - -"But let me not interrupt the thread of my narrative more than I can -help. Mr. Bones kept me by the hand, and walked slowly—very slowly -through the churchyard, pointing out to me the beautiful shops, and -telling me that if I was a good boy and only did what he told me, I -should soon be rich enough to be able to walk into those shops and treat -myself to jewellery, or fine clothes, or anything else I might fancy. -This assurance gave me the most heart-felt joy; and I already began to -determine in my mind what I should buy when the happy period of such -affluence might arrive. All on a sudden my gay reverie was interrupted -by Old Death, who, dragging me hastily to the entrance of a passage -leading into Paternoster Row, pointed to an elderly gentleman standing -at a shop-window at the corner where this passage joined St. Paul's -Churchyard. 'Do you see his handkerchief peeping out of his -coat-pocket?' demanded Old Death hastily.—'Yes,' I replied.—'Then go and -get it, and I will give you sixpence, if you bring it to me, without the -old fellow perceiving that you have taken it.'—Sixpence! It was an -inexhaustible treasure, such as I had often heard of, seldom seen, and -never touched. Without a moment's hesitation I proceeded to execute the -task. It was winter-time; and though the evening was dark, yet the -shop-windows were brilliantly lighted. This was against me—but on the -other hand, the place was crowded with people passing both ways, and -this circumstance was in my favour. Old Death stood watching me at the -entrance of the passage—no doubt ready to glide away in case of me being -detected. But my skill in cribbing victuals and other little articles in -Upper Whitecross Street had been so well practised, that it only -required to apply the same art to another and rather more difficult -branch of thieving, to be completely successful. And this success far -exceeded Old Death's expectations; for when I returned to him in the -passage, I was enabled to place in his hands not only the old -gentleman's pocket-handkerchief, but also his gold snuff-box. - -"You may suppose that Mr. Bones was well-pleased with me; and he -testified his approval of my conduct by placing a shilling in my hand. I -could scarcely believe that I was indeed the possessor of such a sum; -and I immediately made up my mind to ease as many old gentlemen as -possible of their handkerchiefs and snuff-boxes, as long as a deed so -simple was so generously rewarded. - -"Old Death now conducted me to Drury Lane, and showing me a -public-house, said, 'Jacob, though a young boy, you are a very good and -clever boy, and I think I can trust you. If you assure me that you will -do just as I tell you, I will give you a treat.'—I gave him the -assurance he required.—'Well, then, walk boldly into that public-house; -run up stairs, just as if you had been there a hundred times before; and -go straight into the large concert-room that you will come to. You will -have to pay a penny for going in. Then sit down at a table, call for -bread and cheese and a glass of ale—of the nice ale that you like so -much, you know; and enjoy yourself. You will find several other young -lads there, who will no doubt speak to you; and you may talk to them as -much as you like. I shall come into the room presently; but don't come -near me; and don't tell any one there that you know me. I have my -reasons; and if you do all I tell you, you shall often have a treat to a -concert and such like places. When you see me going away, you can follow -me at a little distance. Now do you understand?'—I assured him that I -did; and I then walked into the public-house as bold as if I had been a -grown-up person and a constant customer. I had money in my pocket, and -for the first time in my life felt that confidence which the possession -of coin produces. - -"The concert-room was speedily reached: my shilling was changed to pay -the entrance fee; and I entered the place of amusement. It was—or had I -not better say, it _is_ a very large room; for it was at the _Mogul_, in -Drury Lane, to which I had now introduced myself. The place was crowded; -and the music and singing were going on. I was quite delighted, and, -seating myself at a table near some other boys, all older than I was -then, I told the waiter to bring me bread and cheese and a glass of ale. -'Better say a pint, old feller,' observed one of the boys to me: 'and -I'll help you to drink it.'—I threw down the eleven-pence, saying, -'Bring bread and cheese and ale for all this.'—I remember that the -waiter looked at me for a moment in a strange way, before he gathered up -the money; but he said nothing, and hurried off. In a few minutes he -returned with a pot of ale, bread and cheese, and several glasses. I was -already on friendly terms with the boys at the same table; and we now -got quite intimate over the ale. They soon let me know that they were -all _prigs_; and I answered 'Yes' to every question they put to me about -my own pursuits. Presently I saw Old Death walk slowly up the room: but -I pretended to be looking quite another way. - -"The conversation which I had on this occasion with the boys at the -penny-concert, completed what was no doubt Old Death's design in sending -me there: namely, to render me as familiar as possible with that class -of lads at whose hands I was to receive my initiation into the career of -roguery to which I was destined. The ale excited me to such a degree -that I was even then ready to obey any one who would suggest a deed by -which money could be obtained; for I saw that money was the key to all -kinds of enjoyment. Presently Old Death walked slowly out of the room; -and two or three minutes afterwards I followed him, having told my new -companions that I should be sure to meet them again there next night. In -the street I joined Old Death, who asked me how I liked all I had seen? -You can guess what my answer was. 'Well,' said he, 'it is for you to get -a handkerchief and a snuff-box, or any thing of that kind, every day; -and then you shall have money to go to concerts, and to buy nice ale, -and to enjoy yourself along with those pleasant boys that you met -there.'—I was delighted with this prospect; and I thought Old Death the -kindest gentleman in the world, in spite of the box on the ears he had -given me at the slopseller's shop in the morning. But all this time, -remember, I did not know either his real or his nick-name; nor did I -trouble myself about such matters. - -"He now conducted me to Castle Street, Long Acre, and putting sixpence -into my hand, pointed to a particular house. 'Go and knock at that -door,' he said, 'and ask for a bed. You will have to pay two-pence for -it. The fourpence left is to buy your breakfast in the morning, which -the woman of the house will give you for that money. If the people you -meet there ask you any questions, say as little as possible, and don't -speak a word about me. If you do, I shall be sure to know it, and I will -never see you again. Be a good boy; and at nine o'clock to-morrow -morning, meet me at the corner of this street.'—I promised to mind all -he told me; and he hurried away, while I gained admittance into one of -those filthy lodging-houses that swarm in Castle Street.[12] - -"At this place, where I procured the half of a bed, my companion being a -young girl of thirteen, who had already been a prostitute eighteen -months, I received further lessons in the school of vice. In the morning -I obtained a cup of coffee and a couple of rounds of thick -bread-and-butter for my fourpence: having disposed of which, I hastened -to my appointment with Old Death. He was waiting for me at the corner of -the street, and asked me a great many questions about the people I had -seen at the lodging-house. I satisfied him as far as I could; but, -through some lingering feeling of shame, I did not tell him that a -prostitute had been my bed-fellow. He desired me to follow him at a -considerable distance, but to mind and not lose sight of him. He then -led me for a long walk all about the West-end of London,—proceeding -slowly, so that I might have an opportunity of looking at the shops and -obtaining some knowledge of the position of the different streets: in a -word, that I might be able to find my way about by myself another time. -At about one o'clock we went into a public-house, where we had something -to eat and drink, and rested for two or three hours. Then we set out on -our wanderings again, and at about seven o'clock in the evening, we came -to a halt in St. Giles's, where Old Death gave me money to enter a -penny-theatre. I had not practised my hand at stealing any thing all day -long; because he had not instructed me to do so. Neither, from that -moment, did he ever put my abilities in that way to the test in his -presence: so I suppose that the little affair in St. Paul's Churchyard -was merely an experiment made to enable him to judge whether I had any -_talent_ in the art of _conveyancing_, or not. In fact, he had tried me -to ascertain whether I could be made useful; and, finding that I could, -his object was now to introduce me to scenes and places where my morals -might become confirmed in iniquity, or where there was a sphere for the -exercise of my abilities. - -[Illustration] - -"I need not therefore dwell on this part of my story; for in a few days -the use which Old Death calculated to make of me was fully explained. I -was to thieve where I could and when I could, and every evening I was to -meet my employer at some place that he would appoint, and hand him over -the articles so stolen; when he was to give me enough money for the -following day's expenses. I was, moreover, charged to enlist in the same -service as many boys as I could; and now for the first time I learnt -that my hitherto unknown protector was named Mr. Benjamin Bones, and my -companions soon informed me that he was a famous _fence_, usually -bearing the denomination of 'Old Death.' I must not forget to state that -my employer counselled me never to allude to him in any manner, unless -it was in the way of enlistment, as just now mentioned. He said, 'It -will perhaps happen, Jacob, that a constable or a Bow Street runner may -catch hold of you sometimes; but do not breathe a word about me, and I -will always get you out of the scrape. If, on the other hand, you -confess that you are employed by me, or that you are in my service, it -will do you no good, and I should cast you off for ever. Indeed, I -should leave you to rot in prison; whereas, hold your tongue, whatever -may happen, and you will find me your best friend.' - -"I promised to obey him; and now, behold me at the tender age of nine, -the companion of the worst juvenile pickpockets, and a pickpocket -myself! No link had we to bind us to society: the world was our -harvest-field, in which we considered that we had a right to glean; and -whenever a member of our fraternity got 'into trouble,' we clubbed -together to maintain him well in prison. If he was condemned to -punishment, he and ourselves looked upon it as a piece of _bad luck_—and -that was all. I found that my companions were as reckless and -improvident as could be,—ever fulfilling the old adage, '_Light come, -light go_.' They used to play at 'pitch and toss,' or skittles, the -stakes varying, according to their means at the moment, from a halfpenny -to a sovereign. I was not often enabled to join in these sports; because -Old Death kept me rather short, and he had obtained such an astonishing -influence over me that I dared not attempt to deceive him. Sometimes I -thought of appropriating a portion of a '_day's work_' to my own private -use; but his image haunted me like a ghost—and I could not do it. He -constantly told me that he had the means of ascertaining every robbery -that was committed, and who perpetrated it, and that if I attempted to -play him any tricks, I should be sure to be found out. I believed -him—for he occasionally gave me proofs of the most extraordinary -knowledge of all that was passing. He would say, for instance, 'Your -friend Such-a-one filched a snuff-box and a pocket-book yesterday in -Regent Street: he gave _his_ employer the book, and pawned the box on -his own account. Now, mark me,' Old Death would add, 'that boy will get -into trouble soon, and no one will help him out of it again.'—And this -prophecy would come true. I was therefore alarmed at the mere idea of -deceiving Old Death—or rather, attempting to deceive him; and, though my -companions often jeered me and urged me to '_set up on my own account_,' -I lacked the moral courage to break with Mr. Benjamin Bones. - -"I was very expert in the art of pickpocketing, and seldom had to -disappoint Old Death when I met him in the evening. If I did, he gave me -my money all the same: I suppose I was too useful to him to be lost; and -perhaps he knew that I always did my best. He allowed me three shillings -and sixpence for each day's expenses; and this money was usually laid -out in the way I will now explain:— - - _Breakfast._—Pint of coffee, 2_d._; loaf of bread, 2_d._; 0_s._ 5_d._ - butter, 1_d._ - - _Dinner._—Beef, 3_d._; potatoes, 1_d._; bread, 1_d._; beer, 0 7 - 2_d._ - - _Tea._—Half-pint tea, 1½_d._; toast, 3_d._ 0 4½ - - _Supper._—Leg of beef, 3_d._; bread, 1_d._; potatoes, 0 7 - 1_d._; beer, 2_d._ - - Gin and water, 1_s._; bed, 4_d._ 1 4 - - —— —— - - 3 3½ - -—leaving me 2½_d._ a day for any casual expense. This allowance of 3_s._ -6_d._ may perhaps seem rather liberal; but it was seldom that my -_earnings_ during the day were not of sufficient value to produce Old -Death at least fifteen or twenty shillings—and often a great deal more. - -"There are various grades, or classes, of juvenile thieves.[13] The most -aristocratic amongst them are those who have been admitted into the -fraternity of swell-moabites, or who have taken a hand in housebreaking. -The next class, on the descending scale, is the pickpocket who dives -only for purses, watches, pocket-books, or snuff-boxes, but who would -scorn to touch a handkerchief. The third section consists of those who -dive for any thing they can get, and whose chief game _does_ consist of -handkerchiefs. The fourth division comprises shop-sneaks and -area-sneaks: the former enter a shop slily, or crawl in on their hands -and knees, to rob the tills; the latter get down area-steps and enter -kitchens, whence they walk off with any thing they can lay their hands -on. This same section also includes the shop-bouncer, who boldly enters -a shop, and, while affecting to bargain for goods, purloins some article -easily abstracted. The fifth division is made up of thieves who prowl -about shop-doors; or who break the glass in shop-windows, to abstract -the goods; or who rob mercers by introducing a bent wire through the -holes of the shutter-bolts, and draw out lace, silk, or ribands. The -sixth, and last division or grade, consists of the very lowest -description of thieves—such as pudding-snammers, who loiter about -cooks'-shops, and when customers are issuing forth with plates of meat -and pudding, or pudding alone (as is often the case), pounce on the -eatables and run away with them before the persons robbed have even time -to recover from their astonishment. These miserable thieves sell all -they cannot eat, to other boys, and thus manage to get a few halfpence -to pay for a lodging. I mention all these circumstances to you, sir, -because I do not believe that you can have ever found yourself in a -position to have seen what I am now relating.[14] - -"On one occasion a certain robbery in which I was concerned, made some -noise; and the Bow Street runners got a pretty accurate description of -me. This I learnt from Old Death, who advised me to go up into the Holy -Land—which I need scarcely tell you is St. Giles's—and remain quiet -there for a few days until the thing was pretty well blown over. I -followed this advice, which was very welcome to me; because Mr. Bones -gave me plenty of money to make myself comfortable, and I was not -expected to do any '_work_' for at least a week. I happened to take up -my quarters at a lodging-house in Lawrence Lane, and found it chiefly -used by the very lowest Irish. Never did I see such a set as they were! -Filth, misery, and drunkenness were familiar enough to me, heaven -knows!—but there I saw such filth, so much misery, and yet such constant -and such horrible drunkenness, that I was perfectly shocked—and it -required something strong to shock _me_, Mr. Rainford! The house was a -brothel; and the daughters of the man who kept it were their own -father's best customers. The most dreadful debauchery prevailed there. -Old women used to bring young boys, and old men young girls—mere -children,—to that beastly stew. I have seen a dozen men and women all -dancing together stark naked in the largest room in that house; and some -of them brothers and sisters![15] On another occasion I saw an Irish -wake in the same place: the corpse, which was that of a prostitute, was -laid upon the floor, with candles placed round it: and the friends and -relatives of the deceased woman all got so awfully drunk that they -commenced a dreadful battle, tumbling about in all directions over the -dead body! - -"I stayed at this lodging-house in St. Giles's about a week, and never -went out except of an evening for about an hour, when I looked in at -Milberry's—the flash public-house in Lawrence Lane. Were you ever there, -sir? No. Well—it is worth your while just to give a look in any time you -are passing. The public room is fitted up with fine tables and high-back -partitions. Fronting the door is a large black board, whereon the -following inscription may be read:— - - My pipe I can't afford to give, - If by my trade I wish to live; - My liquor's proof, my measure's just: - Excuse me, sir, I _cannot_ trust. - - 'To prevent MISTAKES all liquors to be paid for on delivery!' - -"As soon as the little affair, which had driven me up into St. Giles's, -was blown over, I returned to my old haunts, and fell in again with my -old companions. I was now ten years old, and was considered so cunning -and clever that Old Death began to employ me in other ways besides -thieving. If he required to know any thing concerning a particular -party, he would set me to dog and watch him, or to make inquiries about -him. Sometimes I was sent to the flash public-houses frequented by -gentlemen's servants who were accustomed to arrange with the cracksmen -for burglaries in their master's houses—or '_put up cracks_,' as they -are called. These public-houses are principally at the West End:—the -most famous are in Duke Street (Manchester Square), and Portland Street. -There I got into conversation with the servants, or merely acted the -part of a listener; and all the information I could glean was of course -conveyed to Mr. Bones, who no doubt knew how to turn it to his greatest -advantage. - -"I was also a visitor to every flash-house in London, at different -times, and on various errands for Old Death. The more his business -increased, the more necessary did I become to him; and at that period he -was not so near and stingy as he since became. Whenever I succeeded in -any difficult undertaking, he would reward me with something like -liberality; and I don't know whether I actually liked him—but it is -certain that he exercised an immense power over my mind. I was, in my -turn, much looked up to by my companions: they considered me Old Death's -lieutenant; and moreover I was so skilful as a pickpocket, that no one -could excel, and few equal me. I had all the qualifications necessary -for the art—a light tread, a delicate sense of touch, and firm nerves. -For I was then strong and healthy: now I am sickly—wasted—and have -within me the seeds of an incurable malady! I used at that time to wear -shoes of a very light make—as indeed do nearly all professional -pickpockets. It is very easy for one who is any thing of an acute -observer, to recognise juvenile pickpockets in the street. Their -countenances wear an affected determination of purpose, and they always -seem to be walking forward, as if bent on some urgent object of -business. They never stop in the street, save to '_work_.' If they wish -to confer with their pals, or if they meet a friend, they dive into some -low public-house, or court, or alley. A knowing pickpocket never loiters -about in the street; because that is the very first thing that draws -suspicions glances towards lads. I have read—(and how I came to be able -to read, I shall presently tell you)—in the newspapers that many people -have a notion that pickpockets use instruments in easing gentlemen or -ladies of their purses or other articles of value: but the only -instrument I ever knew a pickpocket to use, or used myself, is a good -pair of small scissors, which will either rip a pocket up or cut it off -in a twinkling. - -"I do believe that London thieves[16] are the very worst in the whole -world. Their profligacy commences so early; and there is every thing to -harden them. Imprisonment raises them into heroes amongst their -companions. Only fancy a boy of twelve or thirteen, perhaps,—or even -younger,—placed behind huge massive bars which ten elephants could not -pull down! He of course thinks that he must be a very clever fellow, or -at least a very important one, that the law is compelled to adopt such -wonderful precautions to restrain him. He believes that society must -entertain a marvellous dread of his abilities. That boy, too, is the -superior in the eyes of the whole fraternity of thieves, whose -punishment is the heaviest. A lad who has been tried at the Old Bailey, -thinks much more of himself than one who has only passed through the -ordeal of the sessions. The very pomp of justice,—the idea that all -those judges and barristers in their gowns and wigs should be assembled -for the sake of a boy,—that the Old Bailey street should be crowded with -policemen,—that newspaper reporters should be anxious to take -notes,—that spectators should pay shillings to obtain sittings in the -court,—in a word, the whole ceremony and circumstance of the criminal -tribunals actually tend to imbue juvenile thieves with a feeling of -self-importance. Now, might not this very feeling be acted upon to a -good and beneficial purpose,—to the advancement of industry and honest -emulation? I think so; but society never seems to adopt really useful -measures to _reform_—it contents itself with _punishing_. You may be -surprised to hear such reflections come from my lips: but who is better -able to judge than one who has passed through the entire ordeal?" - -Here Jacob paused, and then inquired if he were wearying Tom Rain with -his narrative. - -"So far from your doing so, my good fellow," replied the highwayman, -"that although I have several things to attend to, I mean to stop and -hear you to the end. Come, drink a glass of wine. There! now you will be -the better able to proceed. I will light another cigar—for I fancy that -I can attend more earnestly while smoking." - -Rainford once more settled himself in a comfortable posture; and the lad -pursued his narrative in the following manner. - ------ - -Footnote 12: - - Although our aim is to render the "History of Jacob Smith" a regular - and connected narrative of the initiation of a neglected child in the - ways of vice and the career of crime, there are necessarily many - phases in the history of juvenile iniquity which cannot be introduced - into the text, as it would be impossible that the boy who is telling - his story could have gone through all the scenes alluded to. We must, - therefore, farther illustrate our aim by means of a few notes, derived - from authentic sources: and this course we are the more inclined to - pursue, inasmuch as we hope that the episode formed by the "History of - Jacob Smith" may have the effect of directing public attention more - seriously than ever to the awful nature and extent of juvenile - depravity in this metropolis. Mr. Miles, in his "Report to the House - of Lords on Poverty, Mendicity, and Crime," places on record the - following observations:— - - "The women and the girls in these districts live with their men as - long as they can agree together, or until one or the other be - imprisoned or transported. The very children are prostitutes, living - with their "fancy lads;" and it is difficult to say which are the most - degraded, the men or the women, the girls or the boys. It is thus that - I suppose crime is more engendered in low neighbourhoods, where the - poorest and the most idle congregate: and I now beg to continue my - remarks upon the second head, namely, the neglect of parents. The - various pursuits of these parents call them from home during the - greater portion of the day, and their children are left to play and - idle in the streets, associating with other lads of more experience - than themselves, until, seeing and hearing how easy it is to steal, - they commence their career of crime, unchecked on the one hand and - applauded on the other. There are some parents who turn their children - out every morning to provide for themselves, not caring by what means - they procure a subsistence, so that the expense of feeding them does - not abstract from their means of procuring gin or beer. Other parents - require their children to bring home a specified sum every night, to - obtain which they must beg or thieve. Others hire out their children - to beggars, for 3_d._ a day (a cripple is considered worth 6_d._); and - many women hire children in arms about the same age, to pass them off - in the public thoroughfares as twins. Groups of these young neglected - vagabonds herd together, and theft becomes their study; even if a - child was well disposed, it is not probable that he could escape the - contagion of such bad example. There is a _community of children_, who - live and are separated from persons more advanced in years. Moreover, - there is so rapid and so certain a communication among them all over - the metropolis, that if they discover any of their slang or flash - words to be known out of their circle, they will substitute another, - which in the course of a day or two will be adopted by the fraternity. - There are lodging-houses exclusively for their accommodation, - public-houses which are chiefly supported by their custom, and the - landlords of both sorts of establishments are ever ready to purchase - any plunder they may bring. With this neglect of parents on the one - hand, and the faculties to crime on the other hand, can it be expected - that these children can resist temptation? The wonder would be if a - boy was honest. My conclusion, therefore, is, that the neglect of - parents in these low neighbourhoods renders them _nurseries_ of crime. - The number of boys in London who live by plunder is very—very - considerable: and thus society is maintaining them at a great expense, - either in the shape of prison expenses, or by the value of the - property they steal, especially when it is considered that the - receivers never give one quarter the value: and there is not a boy - thief who, on the average, does not expend 5_s._ per diem." - -Footnote 13: - - In the First Series of the "MYSTERIES OF LONDON," Vol. II. ch. CXCII., - there is a detailed account of an association denominated "The Forty - Thieves." Soon after the Weekly Number containing that chapter - appeared, we were inundated with letters, chiefly expressing - unqualified disbelief of the astonishing particulars recorded in - respect to the Forty Thieves. We answered all those which contained - the real names and addresses of the writers, assuring them that the - details related were strictly true, and that we actually possessed a - printed copy of the regulations by which the Forty Thieves were - governed. Still, most of our correspondents were sceptical. It was - therefore with a feeling almost bordering on satisfaction that we saw - in the _Morning Chronicle_, a few weeks ago, a report of a police-case - in which the prisoner who figured before the magistrate was described - as "belonging to an association denominated the 'Forty Thieves,' and - whose head-quarters were in the Mint, Southwark." We take this - opportunity of assuring our readers that of what they find recorded in - the "MYSTERIES OF LONDON," far—far more is based on fact than they - might at first suspect. - -Footnote 14: - - Mr. Miles, in his Report (from which we have previously quoted) says, - "In considering the subject of juvenile delinquency, it is requisite - to take into account the various causes which compel them to be - vicious; and though we must condemn, still we must regret that no - efficient means have been adopted to prevent this lamentable evil. - Young thieves have often confessed to me, that their first attempts at - stealing commenced at apple stalls, and that having acquired - confidence by a few successful adventures, they have gradually - progressed in crime, allured by others, and in their turn alluring. - They find companions to cheer them and instruct them, girls to share - their booty and applaud them, and every facility to sell their daily - booty. There is, moreover, a kind of lottery adventure in each day's - life; and as these excitements are attainable at so easy a rate, is it - strange that these children are fascinated with and abandon themselves - to crime? Imprisonment to a young urchin who steals and has no other - means of subsistence is no punishment; for it is indifferent to him - where he exists, so long as he has food and raiment. It is in prison - that boys form acquaintances, more mischievous than themselves. Many - lads have owned to me that they had learned more in a gaol than out of - one. I once asked a lad if there was any school where boys were taught - to pick pockets? Upon which he significantly observed, 'No occasion - for one, sir: the best school for that sort of thing is HERE!' - alluding to the prison in which I saw him." - -Footnote 15: - - We cannot allow the readers to attribute to _our_ imagination a fact - so disgusting as this. We received the information from a - police-officer who was an eye-witness of such a scene, and from whom - (as stated in a previous note in this Series) we have gleaned many - remarkable facts relative to the lowest orders. - -Footnote 16: - - Mr. Miles's Report says, "London thieves have no sense of moral - degradation; they are corrupt to the core; they are strangers to - virtue and character, even by name; for many of them are the children - of thieves or of exceedingly dissolute people, consequently they can - have no contrition; they are in a state of predatory existence, - without any knowledge of social duty; they may lament detection, - because it is an inconvenience, but they will not repent their crime; - in gaol they will ponder on the past, curse their 'evil stars,' and - look forward with anxiety to the moment of their release; but their - minds and habits are not constituted for repentance. Mr. Chesterton, - of the House of Correction, informed me that he considers reformation - among juvenile offenders to be utterly hopeless; he observed, that - 'boys brought up in a low neighbourhood have no chance of being - honest, because on leaving a gaol they return to their old haunts, and - follow the example of their parents or associates.' Lieutenant Tracy, - of the Westminster Bridewell, has pointed out to me lads who live - constantly in gaols. - - "Captain Kincaid, of the City Bridewell, informed me that one-half of - the number under his lock on the day that I inspected the prison (June - the 9th) had been more than once committed, many of them several - times, especially the boys. Mr. Teague, of the Giltspur-street - Compter, is of opinion that young thieves are mostly incorrigible—that - nothing will reform them; an opinion which, he says, he has formed - from the experience of many years. Mr. Capper, of the Home Office, - stated, in his evidence, that out of 300 juvenile convicts, on board - the hulk _Euryalus_, the eldest of whom was not 17, 133 had been - committed more than once; and an experienced burglar told me that - young thieves cannot and will not reform. 'The only thing, sir,' he - remarked, 'that may save them is transportation, as it removes them - from evil companions.' - - "The young thief is a nucleus of mischief. A young pickpocket, named - Stuart, aged 13, informed me that his parents daily sent him into the - streets to 'look about,' that is, to plunder whatever he could lay his - hands upon; that his principal associates were three young thieves - with whom he 'worked,' or robbed; that when he was 10 years old he - stood at a horse's head while his companion stole a great coat from - the gig; that he got sixpence for his share of the plunder; that he - had committed many robberies because he was made to do it; and that he - lived entirely by plunder. Mr. Chesterton states, in his evidence - before the select committee of the House of Commons in answer to query - 474, 'Some of the parents lead their children into evil courses. It is - no uncommon thing, when we are listening to the conversation between - the prisoners and their parents, to hear a conversation that shows at - once the boy's situation; but the old thieves are in the habit of - bringing in with them young inexperienced lads. Whenever the elder - thieves are recommitted, they are frequently recommitted with - another.' He also observes (522) that 'the elder thieves are - continually corrupting young lads, and bringing them into prison.' - - "I am informed that Captain Brenton considers the total number of - juvenile offenders within the bills of mortality to be 12,000. Dr. - Lushington, I believe, computed the number still higher; and from the - evidence above quoted it is evident that each elder offender is daily - spreading the mischief far and wide. - - "There is a youthful population in the metropolis devoted to crime, - trained to it from infancy, adhering to it from education and - circumstances, whose connections prevent the possibility of - reformation, and whom no punishment can deter; a race '_sui generis_,' - different from the rest of society, not only in thoughts, habits, and - manners, but even in appearance; possessing, moreover, a language - exclusively their own. There are lodging-houses kept by old thieves - where juvenile offenders herd together, and their constant intercourse - tends to complete corruption. It is in these hotbeds of vice that they - revel in the fruits of their plunder; and though extremely young, they - live with girls, indulging in every kind of debauchery." - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIX. - CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORY OF JACOB - SMITH. - - -"I now come to an important event in my life—in fact, that portion of it -which will account for this sickly condition of health in which you see -me. Old Death one evening took me with him to supper at a place where he -had never introduced me before. This was Bunce's in Earl Street, Seven -Dials. Mrs. Bunce immediately seemed to take a great fancy to me—made me -sit next to her—and, in spite of her meanness, helped me to the best of -every thing on table. It was a very good supper; for Old Death, who -provided it, had declared that he meant to launch out for once. But I -suppose it was only to put me into such a good humour that I was the -more likely to fall into the scheme which he had in view. This was not, -however, the reason of Mrs. Bunce's kindness; because since then she has -often treated me in a manner that has made me forget many a sorrow. It -is true that these likings only take her by fits and starts—and she has -not unfrequently used me cruelly enough. I can scarcely make that woman -out, as far as I am concerned; and there are moments when I think a -great deal of any kind words she has ever uttered to me, or any kind -treatment she has ever shown me. - -"But I am wandering from the subject which I had entered upon. You -remember that I was telling you about the supper at Bunce's house. Well, -after the things were cleared away, and the grog was going round pretty -fast,—I used to drink then as much as a man, although little more than -ten years old;—Old Death began to talk a great deal about the money that -might be made by a clever lad like me being able to get admittance into -the houses of rich people. He went on to say that I should begin to -think of doing business that would leave me more time to amuse myself, -and be also less dangerous than going about the streets picking pockets. -I assured him that I was heartily sick and tired of the life I was -leading, and that I wished I was old enough to be a housebreaker. 'For,' -said I, 'a cracksman does have some time which he can call his own. If -he does only one job a week, he is satisfied: but I am obliged to gad -about all day to get the means of living on the next. Besides,' said I, -'I am of course running a thousand times more risks by doing so many -jobs each day, than I should if I only did one or two a -week.'[17]—'Everybody must have his apprenticeship,' returned Old Death, -'and you have now served yours. I agree with you that it is high time -for you to be doing something better; and I have a plan ready chalked -out for you.'—Mrs. Bunce mixed me another glass of grog: I produced my -short pipe, and blew a cloud while Old Death explained his scheme. At -first I did not much relish it: but he backed it with so many arguments, -that I agreed to try it. - -"And, sure enough, at six o'clock one morning—a few days afterwards—a -boy, black as a devil, with soot-bag over his shoulder, and brush and -scraper in his hand, was making the round of Bloomsbury Square, bawling, -'_Sweep!_' as lustily as he could. That boy was myself. Presently a -garret-window opened, and a female voice called me to stop. I obeyed. In -a few minutes down came the cook to the front door, and I was desired to -walk in and operate on the kitchen-chimney. The cook was a fat, -middle-aged, good-natured body, and asked me a great many questions -about myself,—how long I had been a sweep—how it happened that I became -one—whether I had any father or mother—and a host of such queries; to -all of which I replied in the most sorrowful manner possible. I assured -her that I had been a sweep from infancy—that I had swept a chimney when -I was only five years old—that I had no parents—that my master beat me -cruelly—and that I had had nothing to eat since the morning before. The -good creature shed tears at my narrative; and, when I had swept the -chimney—which I did in a manner that scarcely bore out the assertion of -my long experience—she gave me a quantity of broken victuals in addition -to the money earned. I then took my departure, having very quietly -deposited half-a-dozen silver forks and spoons in my soot-bag, while her -back was turned. - -"This business I carried on successfully enough for some months; till at -last Old Death told me that he had seen several paragraphs in the -papers, warning people against thefts committed by sweeps. I therefore -gave up the employment, and once more took refuge in St. Giles's. But my -health was seriously injured by the occupation I had just renounced; and -from that time I have always been ailing and sickly. Although I had -seldom turned sweep more than twice a week, and an hour after each -robbery that I thus committed was as clean again as if I had never been -near a chimney in my life,—yet the seeds of disease were planted in me, -and I feel the effects here—here—in my chest! - -"The life that I led when I gave up the chimney-sweep business, did not -certainly tend to improve my health. I hired a room in St. Giles's, and -took a girl into keeping—I being then eleven, and she thirteen. Of all -profligate creatures, Peggy Wilkins was the worst. The moment she awoke -in the morning, she must have her half-quartern of gin; and then she -would go on drinking at short intervals all day long. If I attempted to -stop the supplies, she would fly into the most dreadful passions, break -every thing she could lay her hands on, or else throw the domestic -articles at my head. When tipsy, she would loll half naked out of the -window, and chaff the people passing in the street. In the evening she -went to the penny concerts or penny theatres,[18] and generally came -home so gloriously drunk that the entire house, much less our little -room, would scarcely hold her. You may wonder why I continued to live -with her: but the fact is, I liked her in spite of her outrageous -conduct, and as I was sometimes very dull and low, her noisy, rackety -disposition positively helped to put me into good spirits. She knew -nothing of my connexion with Old Death; but she was aware that I was -laying hid in St. Giles's in consequence of having robbed houses -disguised as a sweep; and she used to laugh heartily when I told her -several amusing anecdotes relative to that portion of my career. - -"One night—after having lived about a month in idleness in the Holy -Land—I was compelled by the falling short of supplies, to call at -Bunce's in Seven Dials, for the purpose of seeing Old Death. After -waiting there a short time, he came in; and I immediately noticed that -his face was more serious than usual,—a certain sign that he had -something new on hand. I did not, however, venture to ask any questions; -for I still stood in the greatest awe of him, and knew that his -disposition was irritable and easy to be provoked. At length he said to -Mrs. Bunce, 'Give that lad a good strong glass of grog: he's shivering -with cold.'—I was not, but I took the grog, because I never refused -spirits at that time. When Old Death thought I was primed enough to -embrace any new plan with eagerness, he said, 'Jacob, I have something -for you to do that I am convinced will yield a good harvest.'—I -instantly became all attention.—'There's a widow lady,' he continued, -'living at the West End, in a swell street; and, by all I can learn, she -is very well off. She is also very charitable, and belongs to a number -of what's called Religious Societies; and I am sure you could get into -her house as easy as possible. The chimney-sweep business has well-nigh -blown over, if not quite; and it's high time to begin a new dodge.'—He -then explained his plan; and I agreed to adopt it. - -"When I got back to my lodging in St Giles's, I found Peggy sitting in -company with a young fellow of about fifteen, drinking raw spirits. She -had not expected me home so early, and was for a moment quite taken -aback. But soon recovering herself, she put a good face on the matter, -and introduced the young chap as her brother; saying that she had not -seen him for many years before that evening, when she had met him by -accident. I pretended to believe her; but the moment he was gone, I gave -her a good beating and overwhelmed her with reproaches. She showed less -spirit than I had expected, and did not attempt to return the blows; -neither did she treat me with sulkiness or ill-humour. - -"On the following evening, at about nine o'clock, I very quietly laid -myself down on the door-steps of a house in Old Burlington Street. I was -in such rags and tatters as to be almost naked; and having pricked my -feet, with a pointed bit of wood, in several places, they were almost -covered with blood, as if chapped with the cold and cut by the sharp -stones. This was in the depth of winter; and my appearance was most -miserable. Presently a carriage drove up to the house, and a fine, tall, -elderly gentleman got out. I was crouched up close by the threshold of -the door, and I purposely let him tread on one of my naked feet. Then I -began to sob as if with pain; and he now observed me for the first time. -He muttered an oath; but at that instant the front-door opened, and his -manner changed directly. He spoke kindly to me, and put half-a-crown -into my hand. A lady was crossing the hall while the door stood open and -this gentleman was still speaking to me; and she immediately turned to -ascertain what was the matter. 'Here's a poor, wretched creature,' said -the gentleman, 'who was so huddled up against the door, that I did not -observe him; and I am afraid I trod on his leg somewhat heavily.'—The -lady instantly spoke in the most compassionate terms, and desired that I -might be brought into the house. The man-servant raised me, for I -affected to be unable to walk; and the lady said, 'Poor boy, he is -paralysed with the cold!'—When I was moved into the hall, and placed in -a chair, the state of my feet was observed; and this increased the -compassion I had already excited. She ordered the servant to take me -into the kitchen, and give me a good supper, while I warmed myself by -the fire. - -"All these commands were immediately executed; shoes and stockings were -also supplied me; and in the course of an hour the lady herself came -down to speak to me. She asked me who I was. I told her a long and -piteous tale, already prepared for the occasion,—how I had been -apprenticed to a tradesman at Liverpool, and had undergone the most -dreadful treatment because I refused to work on the Lord's Day and -insisted on my right to go to church; how the cruelty of my master had -increased to such an extent, that I was obliged to run away; how I had -wandered about the country for the last two months, subsisting on -charity, but often half-starved; how I had that morning found my way to -London, and had been obliged to sell my shoes for a penny to buy a roll, -which was all I had eaten during thirty-six hours: but that I had an -aunt who was housekeeper to a certain Bishop, and that I knew she would -do all she could for me. The lady seemed to eye me suspiciously until I -spoke of the aunt and the Bishop; and then her countenance instantly -changed in my favour. 'Well, my poor lad,' she said, 'you shall remain -here to-night; and the first thing to-morrow morning, one of my servants -shall take a message from you to your aunt.'—I of course expressed my -gratitude for this kindness; but the lady assured me that she required -no thanks, as heaven rewarded her for what she did towards her suffering -fellow-creatures. I really thought that there was something very much -like what I and my usual associates were accustomed to call '_gammon_' -in all this; and then I actually reproached myself for the idea, and -began to repent of imposing on so much virtue and goodness. - -"When I was well warmed with the cheerful fire and plentiful supper, the -housekeeper of this lady conducted me to a little room on the top -storey, and having wished me a 'good night,' retired, locking the door -behind her. But this did not give me much uneasiness; for beneath my -rags I had concealed the necessary means to counteract such a -precaution. Accordingly, about an hour after I had heard the servants -withdraw to their bed-rooms, which were on the same floor as the one -where I was placed,—and when I thought the house was all quiet,—I took -off the lock of the door by means of a little turn-screw, and crept -carefully down stairs. Just at that minute the clock struck eleven. My -intention was to visit the drawing-room first; but when I reached the -door, I perceived there were lights within. I listened, and heard the -gentleman and lady talking together. 'Oh! ho,' thought I, 'I shall have -time to inspect the lady's bed-room first, and perhaps secure her -jewels.'—So, naturally conceiving that this chamber must be the one -immediately over the drawing-room, I retraced my way up stairs, and -entered the front apartment on the second floor. A rush-light was -burning in the room; but no one was there. I lost no time in commencing -my search in all the cupboards; but I found nothing except clothes. -There was, however, a mahogany press which was fast locked. I drew forth -a small skeleton key, and was about to use it, when I was alarmed by -footsteps in the passage. In another moment I was safely concealed under -the bed. - -"Some one almost immediately afterwards entered the room, and only -closed the door without shutting it. I dared not move even to peep from -beneath the drapery that hung round the bed to the floor: but I could -tell by the rustling of silk and the unlacing of stays, that the person -in the room was undressing herself—and I felt satisfied it was the lady -of the house. I was now seriously alarmed. She was evidently going to -bed; and my only chance of escaping from the chamber was when she should -be asleep. But might I not disturb her? My situation was very -unpleasant—and a prison seemed to open before my eyes. - -"In about a quarter of an hour the lady stepped into bed. How I longed -to catch the first sound that should convince me she was asleep! But she -was not dreaming of closing her eyes yet awhile; for scarcely had she -laid herself down, when the door was gently opened—then carefully closed -again—and _another person_, evidently without shoes or boots on, came -into the room. They said a few words to each other; and to my -astonishment I found that the gentleman who had arrived in his carriage -(which of course had been sent away) was going to pass an hour in -company with the charitable lady. 'Well,' thought I, 'this is the way in -which heaven rewards her for all she does towards her suffering -fellow-creatures!' - -"The gentleman undressed himself, and got into bed. Nearly two hours, -instead of an hour, passed away—very pleasantly, it seemed, for the lady -and gentleman, and very much to my amusement. I was now no longer under -any alarm on account of myself—for I had learnt a secret which placed -the lady in my power. Well, the gentleman got up at last and dressed -himself; and the lady went down stairs with him to bolt the street-door -after him. Their movements were so cautious, that I could plainly -perceive the servants must have fancied that the gentleman had gone away -long before, and that this care was taken to avoid disturbing them with -any noise likely to excite suspicion. - -"The moment the lady had left the room with her lover, I thought of -beating a retreat. But should I go empty-handed? No: and yet I had not -time to force open the mahogany press, which I believed must contain her -jewels, before she would come back, as she had gone down in her -night-clothes. I therefore resolved to stay where I was, and accomplish -my purpose when she was asleep; because if matters did come to the worst -and she should awake, she dared not expose me. So I laid quiet; and she -came back in a few minutes, shivering with the cold—for I could hear her -teeth actually chatter. Half an hour afterwards she was fast asleep—as I -could tell by her deep and regular breathing. The rush-light still burnt -in the room; and I crept carefully from beneath the bed. Yes—she was -sleeping; and, though not a young woman, she appeared very beautiful. -But I had not a minute to lose: my skeleton key was again at work—the -bolt of the lock flew back—and the door of the press moved on its -hinges. Move! yes—and creak, too, most awfully; so that the lady started -up in bed, and uttered a faint scream. I instantly rushed up to her, -saying in a low but determined tone, 'Madam, not a word—or I betray you -and your lover!'—By the feeble light of the candle, I saw that she -became as red as crimson.—'Yes, madam,' I continued, 'your tricks are -known to me; and I have been all the while concealed under this -bed.'—'You!' she exclaimed: 'why, surely you are the poor boy that I -received into the house this evening?'—'To be sure I am, ma'am,' was my -answer; 'and, being troubled with a habit of sleep-walking, I found my -way to this room.'—'But what were you doing at the bureau?'—'Merely -examining it in my sleep, ma'am.'—'This is ridiculous,' she said -impatiently. 'I understand what you are; but I will treat you well on -condition that you do not mention to a soul what you have been a witness -of this night.'—'I have no interest in gossiping, ma'am.'—'And were you -to do so, I can deny all you may state,' added the lady, who was -dreadfully excited and nervous, as you may suppose. 'But if you follow -my directions, I will reward you well.'—I readily gave a promise to that -effect. She then took a reticule from a chair by the side of the bed, -and drawing out her purse, emptied its contents into my hands. At a -rapid glance I saw there could not be less than fifteen or sixteen -sovereigns, besides a little silver. She then took from her bag a -Bank-note for twenty pounds, which she also gave me. - -"I secured the money about my person, and she asked me whether I was -satisfied? I said, 'Perfectly.'——'Then stand aside for a few moments, -and I will show you how to act.'——I stepped behind the curtain, while -she rose and put on a dressing-gown; having done which, she took the -rush-light in her hand and desired me to follow her as noiseless as -possible. We went down into the kitchen, where she told me to take all -the cold victuals there were in the larder; and she gave me a napkin to -wrap them up in. There happened to be a silver spoon in one of the -dishes—left there most probably by accident. This she also desired me to -take; and you may be sure I did not refuse. These arrangements being -made, she led me to the front door, and having reminded me of my promise -not to talk about a certain affair, let me out of the house. I have no -doubt that there was a great deal said next morning in Old Burlington -Street, about the ungrateful lad who was taken in as an object of -charity, and who decamped in the middle of the night with the contents -of the larder and a silver spoon into the bargain." - -"But you have not mentioned the name of this lady, Jacob?" interrupted -Tom Rain. - -"I did not think it was worth while, sir—as she used me very well——" - -"Still I have a very particular reason for wishing to be informed on -that head," said the highwayman. - -"Oh! if that's the case, I shall not hesitate," replied Jacob. "The name -of that lady was Mrs. Slingsby." - -"I thought so from the very first moment you began to speak of her!" -cried Tom. "And the name of the gentleman—did you learn _that_?" - -"Yes, sir," answered the lad: "I heard the servants talking about him, -when I was in the kitchen. His name was—let me see?—Oh! yes—I -remember—Sir Henry Courtenay." - -"Thank you, Jacob," exclaimed Tom: then, in a low, musing tone, he said, -"Poor Clarence! you are woefully deceived in your saint of an aunt!" - -"Shall I continue my story, Mr. Rainford?" asked Jacob. "It will not -last much longer now." - -"By all means go on, my boy. I would sit here till day-light, sooner -than miss the end." - -Thus encouraged, Jacob continued in the following manner. - ------ - -Footnote 17: - - Every juvenile delinquent is as anxious to rise in his "profession" as - the military or naval officer, or the member of any other hierarchy. - But with the votaries of crime the apex of promotion is—the gibbet! - Mr. Miles says, "I have questioned many boys of shrewd understanding - concerning their opinions, and the opinions of their associates, as to - their ultimate fate (for all thieves are fatalists). They look upon - their inevitable doom to be either sooner or later transportation or - the drop! It is difficult to imagine a state of more gloomy - wretchedness and more despairingly horrible than the self-conviction - of condign punishment, without one gleam of hope to clear the - melancholy perspective. Punishments and whippings are therefore - useless, for the mind is prepared to endure more, and every - imprisonment is only looked upon as another step in the ladder of - their sad destiny. The lad is hopeless, consequently reckless in his - conduct,—hardened to the present, and irreclaimable as to the future. - It is not by prison discipline that reformation can be effected: the - temptations, the facilities, and the love of idleness are too - alluring. Crowds of young thieves will wait round a prison-gate, to - hail a companion on the morning of his liberation, and to carry him - off to treat him and regale him for the day. I have asked boys under - sentence of transportation if they thought they _could_ reform, if - returned again upon society, and the general reply has been, 'No.' - Their reasons for that conclusion I give in their own words:—'If we - were to be free to-morrow, we must go to our old haunts and our old - companions, for where else _can_ we go? If we try to be honest we - cannot, for our 'pals' (associates) would torment us to return; in - short, we should only have to come back here at last, but we are now - going to another country, where we hope to be honest men.' - - "I have, moreover, questioned many lads as to what method they would - adopt to prevent other boys from falling into crime, and their remarks - have been, 'Stop playing in the streets, for a pocket is soon picked, - and there are many who show others how to do it;—and the next thing is - to stop those cursed receivers; for if a receiver knows a boy to have - dealt with him, (that is, to have sold him property,) he will make him - go out to thieve; he will never let him rest; and even should we get - into employment, he will teaze us till he makes us rob the master, or - will tell of us to the police.' These remarks prove the boys to be - good judges of their own cases; so, like a skilful physician, they - know where to apply the remedy; and as I feel convinced that many of - these urchins possess every requisite to be good and useful members of - society, so am I certain that their reformation, in a majority of - cases, is as practicable, under proper means, as their ultimate ruin - is now certain, under the present system." - -Footnote 18: - - Mr. Brandon, in his Preface to Mr. Miles's Report, makes the following - observations, which are too important to need any apology for their - quotation:— - - "If a religious fanatic brings a Bill into the House for the 'better - observance of the Sabbath,' whose comforts are to be abridged? Why, - the poor man's and those of the middling classes; for it is the - stage-coaches and omnibuses that are to be prohibited from making - their appearance, while the streets may be thronged with carriages; - and though the labourer is not permitted to purchase his necessary - food on that sacred day, unable to have accomplished it before from - not having received his wages till too late the preceding night, yet - the fishmonger may keep the turbot cool that is to grace his - lordship's Sunday table, and send it home on the very day, just in - time to be prepared for dinner. - - "Penny theatres, too, are decried and suppressed, while the larger - ones are permitted—the reason assigned being that the company who - frequent the former render the step necessary, but the delinquency - does not arise from cheap exhibitions—it is from the inefficiency of - the law to restrain the audience; for in the plays themselves there is - no improper language used. Holland, a notorious thief, in his - examination, said he had heard bad language at those places before the - curtain drew up, _but never any thing indecent on the stage_. This is - a damning proof where the fault lies; if the laws were such as to - restrain vice, and those properly administered, it would effectually - prevent the improper conduct of the loose individuals, and preclude - the necessity of reducing the pleasures of the poor; pockets are - picked every night at the royal theatres, and scenes of the worst - description carried on in the lobbies; yet it never entered into the - cranium of the wiseacres that if the theatres were shut up, these - abominations would be effectually eradicated. It is highly gratifying - to witness the order and pleasure with which cheap diversions are - conducted on the continent, even so close to us as Boulogne and - Calais, where may be seen the lowest classes enjoying themselves in - dancing and visiting the various public gardens, the entrance to which - is a fee equivalent to our penny. Another proof of the difference with - which our laws are administered according to the parties affected, is - manifest in the proceedings against the various houses for play in the - metropolis, the clubs of the aristocracy and the 'little goes,' little - hells, &c. of the poor." - - - - - CHAPTER XL. - CONCLUSION OF THE HISTORY OF JACOB SMITH. - - -"On my return to Earl Street, Seven Dials, which was at about three -o'clock in the morning, I found Old Death and Mrs. Bunce sitting up for -me, Toby having gone to bed. I related the adventures which I had met -with, but said not a word about the intrigue of the lady and the -baronet; for I could not help thinking that the kind treatment I had in -the first instance received from Mrs. Slingsby, deserved the reward of -secresy on that head. Old Death _very kindly_ permitted me to retain -five pounds out of the money which I myself had obtained; and I hurried -back to my lodging in St. Giles's. Peggy was in bed and fast asleep; and -I lay down by her side without awaking her. - -"When I again opened my eyes, the sun was shining in the brightness of a -frosty air even through the dingy panes of my window; and I started up. -Peggy had already risen; and I supposed she had gone out to get things -for breakfast. But something like a suspicion arose in my mind—and I -felt uneasy. I searched the pockets of the ragged pair of trousers I had -purposely worn on the previous night, and the five sovereigns were gone. -Now I was really alarmed: Peggy had certainly decamped. A farther search -showed me that she had even carried off the few little articles of -decent wearing apparel that I had, leaving me only the miserable rags in -which I had appeared at Mrs. Slingsby's house. Yes—Peggy had run away -with all I possessed that was worth the taking; and now the question -naturally rose in my mind—'_Will she betray me?_' I thought her conduct -was so suspicious, that I determined not to give her a chance if I could -help it; particularly as I remembered the manner in which she took the -beating I gave her, and which now made me think that she had resolved on -being revenged. So I dressed myself in my tatters as quick as I could, -and got away from the house. But at the end of the street I met a -certain Mr. Dykes—the Bow Street runner, whom you happen to know, Mr. -Rainford—and though I endeavoured to dive into a narrow court, he -pounced upon me in a twinkling. - -"In less than an hour I stood in the felons' dock at the police-court, -Bow Street, charged with a robbery committed by me in Bloomsbury Square, -in the disguise of a sweep. I was remanded for a week, and sent in the -meantime to Clerkenwell Prison. There I was placed in No. 12, Reception -Yard, where Mrs. Bunce, who pretended to be my aunt in order to get -admittance to me, visited me in the afternoon. She told me that Mr. -Bones could not possibly come to see me, but that he would do all he -could for me if I remained staunch and did not mention his name in any -way—not even to my fellow-prisoners. 'We are afraid that you will be -committed for trial,' said Mrs. Bunce; 'but all shall be done that can -be done to buy off the witnesses. If that won't succeed, such evidence -of former good character shall be given, that your sentence will be a -light one; and in the meantime you shall have as much money as you want -to live gloriously in prison. Mr. Bones has sent you up a sovereign for -the present, and I will bring you a good suit of clothes to-morrow, so -that you may go up swell before the beak next time. Be staunch, Jacob; -and Mr. Bones will never desert you. But if you only mention his name to -a soul in an improper way, he'll leave you to your fate, and you'll be -transported.'—Mrs. Bunce impressed all this on my mind; but I assured -her it was unnecessary, as I knew that I should not better my own plight -in any very considerable degree by nosing against Bones, whereas he -might be useful to me if I behaved well in the matter. She went away -satisfied; and I spent the rest of the day in jollification with my -fellow-prisoners, amongst whom my money raised me to the rank of a -hero.[19] - -"That night I slept in the Receiving Ward; and next morning I was taken -to the bathing-room, a new suit of clothes having been already sent in -to me by Mrs. Bunce. But I found that I was to bathe in the same water -which had already served to wash the filthy bodies of several trampers -who had also been sent to prison the day before on a charge of robbery; -and I knew that when they entered they were covered with vermin. I -therefore gave the turnkey half-a-crown to allow me to dispense with the -bath, put on my new clothes, and was turned into the Felons' Yard. There -I found persons, who had committed all degrees of crime, huddled -together as if there was no difference in the charges against them. A -boy who had stolen a pound of potatoes, value _one penny_—myself, who -had stolen plate in a dwelling-house—a _gentleman_, who had wounded -another in a duel and could not get bail, but who was a very superior -person—a burglar—a coiner—and a man charged with _murder_, were all in -one room together! It did not strike me then—but it has often struck me -since—how wrong it was to put that boy who had stolen potatoes, along -with a burglar, a coiner, and a practised thief as I was,—how unjust it -was to put the gentleman with any of us,—and how shocking it was to put -a murderer along with prisoners whose hands were not at least stained -with blood. And what were the consequences? The boy, who had merely -stolen the potatoes because his mother was ill and starving, and who had -never done any thing wrong before, was entirely corrupted by the coiner, -and made up his mind to turn prig the moment he got out;—the gentleman -was worked up to such a pitch of excitement, by being in such society, -that he was removed to the infirmary, and died of brain fever, as I -afterwards heard;—the burglar helped the murderer to escape, and got -safely away with him! - -[Illustration] - -"Our amusements in gaol were chiefly gambling and drinking. Money -procured as much liquor as we could consume; and with such I was well -supplied. Cards and dice were not allowed, it is true; but we used to -play with bits of wood cut and marked like dominoes, or by chalking the -table into a draught-board, or by tossing halfpence. Then there was such -fighting, quarrelling, and bad language, that nothing could equal the -place! In the upper, or sleeping ward, things were much worse: the -prisoners robbed each other. The very first night the duellist-gentleman -was there, he lost his purse containing several sovereigns; and when he -threatened to complain, he was quietly informed by the burglar and the -murderer that if he did, he would be hung up to the bars of the window -with his own handkerchief the very next night, and his end would be -attributed to suicide.[20] - -"At the end of the week I was had up to Bow Street once more; and the -evidence was so conclusive against me, that I was committed to Newgate -for trial. This I had expected, and cared but little for, as Mrs. Bunce -at each visit which she paid me at Clerkenwell Prison, assured me that -Mr. Bones would do all he could for me. And he kept his word—but more, I -suppose, for his own sake than mine. What a dreadful place I found -Newgate to be! Hardened as I was—acquainted with all degrees of -debauchery—and familiar with vice, I declare solemnly that I shrank from -the scenes I there witnessed. Fighting, quarrelling, gambling, thieving, -drinking, obscene talking, bullying, and corrupting each other,—all -those took place to a great degree in the Clerkenwell Prison; but in -Newgate they were carried out to an extent dreadful to think of, and -associated with other crimes impossible to mention.[21] - -"I now seemed to awake, for the first time, from a long dream of -wickedness, and to become aware of the frightful precipice on which I -stood. My eyes were suddenly opened—and I shuddered. A man was hanged at -the debtors' door, while I was in Newgate: and I saw him pass from the -condemned cell to the kitchen, which is just within the debtors' door. I -experienced a sudden revulsion of feeling, and took a solemn oath within -my own breast that I would never thieve again. But as I knew nothing of -religion, and could not read or write, I was not likely to reform very -rapidly nor very completely. I still laughed and joked with my -fellow-prisoners, and appeared to enter into most of their fun, though I -really began to loathe them. But when the chaplain visited us, and the -other boys jeered and mocked him, I stood by and dwelt on every word of -gentle remonstrance that fell from his lips. Next Sunday I paid great -attention to his sermon, while pretending to be asleep: for if I had -been caught actually lending a patient ear to his discourse, my -fellow-prisoners would have led me no peace afterwards. I understood but -little—very little of that sermon: still I gleaned some notion of the -existence of a Saviour a belief in whom was the stepping-stone to -virtue. I also heard the happiness of heaven explained for the first -time: but I must confess that I was greatly puzzled when the chaplain -declared that the man who was hanged for a dreadful murder on the -preceding Monday, had gone to that place of joy, because he had repented -in his last moments—for I thought to myself, 'Well, then, a human being -is quite safe in leading as terrible a life as he chooses, as long as he -repents at the end.' And, again, I was bewildered when I heard the -clergyman say these words, which made so great an impression on me that -I have never forgotten them, and never shall:—'_As I stood with that -penitent man on the drop, last Monday morning_, I ENVIED HIM HIS FATE, -_because I knew that his soul was about to ascend to heaven_!'[22] - -"The day of my trial came; and I was placed in the dock before the -Common Serjeant of London. The clerk of the Court asked me, '_How will -you be tried—by God and your country?_'—I knew not what reply to make, -and was actually on the point of saying 'that I would rather not be -tried at all this time, since it seemed to be left to my own choice; and -that I would faithfully promise never to thieve again,'—when the turnkey -who had charge of me, whispered in my ear, 'You damned young fool, why -don't you speak? Say '_By God and my country_,' damn you.'—I did as I -was directed; and the trial commenced. The charge against me was fully -proved; and a verdict of _Guilty_ was recorded. The Common-Serjeant -asked if I had ever been convicted before. The keeper of Newgate, who -was present, said I had not. The counsel who had been retained for me by -Old Death, then requested to be allowed to call witnesses to character. -This was permitted; and three or four tradesmen, who I well knew were -Old Death's friends, got up one after the other, and swore that I had -been in their service (each one of course giving different periods of -time), and that I was an honest, hard-working, and industrious lad, -until I fell into bad company and got into trouble. Dykes, the runner, -was then questioned about me; and he said that I was not known as a -thief—although he knew the contrary perfectly well. But Old Death had -kept his word, and had not spared his gold. My offence was, however, a -grave one—robbing in a dwelling-house; and there were two or three other -indictments of the same kind against me, though the prosecutors did not -come forward. Old Death had made it right with _them_ too. I was -accordingly condemned to seven years' transportation, with a hint that -this sentence would be commuted to two years' imprisonment at the hulks. - -"I was but little more than eleven when my career of crime was thus -interrupted; and I was glad that it _was_ so interrupted—for I resolved -that it should not be renewed when I regained my liberty. This was -scarcely a resolution produced by moral considerations, but by fear; and -it therefore required strengthening. Whether it was, or not, I shall -soon inform you. - -"A few days after the sessions terminated, I was removed with several -other boys to the _Euryalus_ Convict-Hulk at Woolwich. This vessel has -three decks: the upper is appropriated to lads convicted the first time, -the second to the next grade of juvenile criminals, and the third, or -lowest, to the worst kind of offenders. I was assigned to the upper -deck, where there were about sixty of us. On being received on board we -were first sent to the wash-house, where we were bathed and well -cleansed; and we then received the suit of dark grey that denotes the -felon. Our employment was to make clothes for the entire establishment: -that is, shirts, jackets, waistcoats, and trousers. The person who -taught us was a convict-boy, who had been a tailor: the cutters-out -belonged to the second deck, and visited our department as often as -their services were required. - -"We were divided into sections, each having at its head a boy selected -as the chief on account of his good conduct when in prison. I will -describe the routine of the day—taking the period when the summer -regulations are in force. At five o'clock in the morning all hands were -called, the ports were opened, the hammocks were lowered and lashed up, -and we washed ourselves for chapel. At half-past five the signal was -given for prayers; and we went to the chapel in sections, or divisions, -taking our seats in profound silence. The morning hymn was sung: the -schoolmaster read the prayers; and we returned to our wards on the upper -deck. There we stood in ranks till six o'clock, when breakfast was -served. The steward of the ship superintended the giving out of the -provisions, and saw that each boy had his fair allowance of bread and -gruel. This being done, the steward ordered each rank, one after the -other, to approach the tables, hold up the bread, say grace, and then -sit down and eat. At half-past six, we were marshalled on the -quarter-deck, in divisions; and the officers of the hulk were then -prepared to hear any complaints or receive any reports that might have -to be submitted to them. Such complaints were noted down for after -investigation. Some of the boys were kept above to wash the -quarter-deck, and the remainder were sent down to cleanse their own -deck. At eight o'clock we were all set to work at tailoring, a strict -silence being preserved. At nine o'clock the report upon the complaints -was received from the commander of the hulk, and the punishments awarded -were made known:—such as a good thrashing with a cane, stopping the -dinner, or solitary confinement on bread and water. At twelve o'clock -the dinners were served out, the steward superintending. The -quartermasters and guards were also present, to see that one boy's -allowance was not taken from him by another. From half-past twelve to -half-past one we were allowed to take air and exercise on the -quarter-deck, but without making any noise. At half-past one we were -marched down again to our work. At two, a section of one-third of us was -sent into the chapel, where we were taught reading and writing by the -schoolmaster. At five we left off work or schooling, cleaned the wards, -and then washed ourselves. This being done, supper was served out; and -we went on the quarter-deck again for air and exercise till seven, when -we were once more marched to the chapel for evening prayers and the -catechism. At eight o'clock we returned to our own deck, where the -signal was given for getting out the hammocks and slinging them up. At -nine profound silence was ordered; and the whole ship was then as quiet -as if there was not a soul on board,—this deep tranquillity being only -broken by the striking of the bell and the cry of '_All's well!_' every -half-hour. - -"Such was the life led on board the _Euryalus_ convict-hulk. But I was -happier—much happier there than I had ever been before. The schoolmaster -was an excellent man, and took a delight in teaching those who were -anxious to learn. I was of this number, and my improvement was rapid. I -quite won his regard, and he devoted unusual pains to instruct me; so -that at the end of a year he obtained leave for me to give up the making -of clothes and assist him as an usher. This was an employment that -pleased me greatly, and allowed me plenty of time to read the books lent -me by the worthy schoolmaster. So fond was I of reading, that I used to -take a book with me on the quarter-deck at those times devoted to air -and exercise; and sitting apart from the others, I would remain buried -in study until it was time to go below again. I examined how books were -written and how I was accustomed to speak: that is—I compared the -language of those books with my own; and I was shocked to find how -wretchedly ignorant I had hitherto been in respect to grammar. This -ignorance I strove hard—oh! very hard to surmount; and the good -schoolmaster assisted me to the utmost of his power. I read and studied -the Bible with avidity; and the more I became acquainted with it, the -more fixed grow my determination to avoid a relapse into the ways of -crime when I should be released. - -"During the two years that I passed at the hulk, Mrs. Bunce came very -often to see me, passing herself off as my aunt; but relations were not -allowed to speak to us except in the presence of a guard, and so the -name of Old Death was never mentioned by either of us. But Mrs. Bunce -used to tell me that 'my _uncle_ would give me a home when my time was -up;' and I supposed by this, that she meant her husband Toby. I knew -that Old Death was the person who had directed these assurances to be -given me; and often and often did I lay awake of a night, deliberating -within myself what I should do when I was set free, to earn an honest -livelihood and avoid the hateful necessity of returning to the service -of Mr. Benjamin Bones. - -"At length the day of liberation came—and I had no plan of proceedings -settled. My clothes were given to me, and a shilling was put into my -hand by the steward. The old schoolmaster was absent at the time; and I -was sorry that I had not an opportunity of thanking him for all his -kindness and imploring his advice how to proceed. It struck me that I -would appeal to the commander of the hulk. I did so, and solicited him -to counsel me how to get an honest livelihood. He burst out laughing in -my face, exclaiming, 'I suppose you think I am to be deceived by your -humbug, and that I shall put my hand into my pocket and give you -half-a-guinea to see your way with. No such thing, my lad! I used to do -so when I was first here; but those I assisted in that way were always -the first to come back again.'—And he turned on his heel, leaving me -quite astounded at the reception my sincerity of behaviour had -experienced. But a few moments' reflection showed me that I could -scarcely blame him for his conduct; and I quitted the ship in tears. - -"The moment I stepped from the boat that landed me in Woolwich, I met -Mrs. Bunce. She threw her arms round my neck, and called me her '_dear -Jacob_,' in such a loving manner that one would really have believed her -to be my aunt, or even my mother if she had chosen to represent herself -so. Then, pointing to a public-house at a little distance, she said, -'Your good and kind friend Mr. Bones is there; and he will be so -delighted to see you. He has ordered a nice steak and some good ale, and -we mean to let you enjoy yourself.'—The idea of having such a glorious -repast after being kept on short commons on board the _Euryalus_, made -my mouth water; but then I remembered all the influence Old Death had -been accustomed to exercise over me—and I knew that if I once again -entered within its range, I should never have the moral courage to -withdraw from it. So my mind was made up; and suddenly darting down a -bye-street, I was beyond Mrs. Bunce's view in a twinkling. I heard her -shrill, screaming voice call after me; but I heeded it not—and hurried -onward, as if escaping from a wild beast. - -"Presently I relaxed my speed, and at length entered a public-house, -where I called for a pint of beer. Two or three soldiers and as many -young women were sitting at another table, drinking, and indulging at -the same time in the most filthy discourse. Suddenly one of the females -started up, advanced towards me, and, after considering me for a few -moments, exclaimed with a terrible oath, 'Well, I thought it must be my -old fancy cove Jacob:'—and she offered to embrace me. I however repulsed -her with loathing; for in the miserable, tattered, sickly wretch before -me, I had already recognised Peggy Wilkins. She seemed ashamed of -herself for a minute; then, recovering her impudence, she said, 'Damn -and blast you for a sulky, snivelling hound! Who the devil are you that -you can't treat me civilly? Do you think I don't know all that's -happened to you? Why, you've only this moment left the hulks—and you -can't deny it.'—The soldiers, hearing this, demanded if it was true; -and, without waiting for my answer, thrust me out of the place. I had -reached the end of the street, when I recollected that I had not -received the change for my shilling, which I had tendered in payment of -the beer. I therefore went back to ask for it; but the pot-boy who had -served me, swore that I never gave him a shilling at all; and the -landlord evidently believed that I was a vagabond endeavouring to -swindle his servant. So I was kicked out—penniless! - -"I was for some time before I could muster up courage to adopt any plan -for my support. Indeed, I sate down in a retired nook and cried -bitterly. I even regretted having left the hulk, so miserable did I -feel. At last hunger compelled me to act; and I entered a shop to -inquire if a boy was wanted. The man behind the counter said he did not -require the assistance of a lad, but that a neighbour of his would -probably hire me. I went to the place pointed out to me, and, having -explained my business, was asked for testimonials of good character. I -candidly confessed that I had just been discharged from the _Euryalus_, -but that I thought the schoolmaster on board would recommend me. The man -flew into a dreadful passion, and rushing round from behind the counter, -would have kicked me out of the shop, if I had not run away of my own -accord. - -"I am sure that I tried twenty different shops that day in Woolwich. At -some I explained my position—at others I carefully concealed the fact of -my late ignominious punishment. But character—character—character! where -was it? Even for a starving lad who only asked a fair trial—who promised -to work from sunrise to sunset, and to be content with a morsel of bread -to eat and a cellar to sleep in, as a recompense for his toils,—even to -one who offered so much and required so little in return, _character_ -was necessary! Night came—I was famishing and in despair. At length a -charitable baker gave me a roll; and my hunger was appeased. It struck -me that the tradesmen at Woolwich were perhaps more cautious than people -elsewhere how they engaged the services of young lads, in consequence of -that place being a station for the convict-hulks; and I therefore -resolved to try my luck in another quarter. I set out for Greenwich, -which I reached at midnight, and slept till morning in a shed near some -houses that were being built. Cold, famished, and dispirited did I -awake; and with a sinking heart I commenced my rounds. Before noon I had -called at a hundred shops, public-houses, or taverns, without success. -Few required the service of boys; and those people who did, demanded -references. I begged a piece of bread of a baker, and then set off for -London. - -"So slow did I walk, and so often was I compelled to rest, that it was -evening before I reached the Blackfriars Road. There, again, did I -endeavour to procure honest employment—but in vain! I remember that when -one shopkeeper—an old man—listened to me with more attention than the -rest, I burst into tears and implored—besought—prayed him to receive me -into his service, if it was only _to save me from becoming a thief_! I -did not tell him I had already been one. But he shook his head, saying -sorrowfully, 'If you have already thought of turning thief, your morals -must be more than half corrupted.'—He gave me a few halfpence, and I -went away. - -"I balanced for some minutes between the cravings of my stomach and the -fatigue of my limbs—that is, whether I should spend those halfpence in -food or on a bed. I decided in favour of the food, and having satisfied -my hunger, crept into a timber-yard on the bank of the Thames, and slept -there till morning. I awoke at sunrise, and crossed Blackfriars Bridge. -My limbs shivered with ague, and my clothes were damp with the dews of -night. I knew not what to do—which way to turn. Hope had deserted me. -There was I, a poor—wretched—houseless—friendless—starving being, -anxious to remain honest, yet impelled by circumstances towards a -relapse into the career of vice. I prayed as I went along the -streets,—yes, I prayed to God to save me from that dreadful—that last -resource. But no succour came. All day long did I rove about: night -arrived again—and for twenty-four hours I had eaten nothing. I dragged -myself back to the timber yard; but there was a great dog prowling -about—and I dared not enter. I sought shelter elsewhere, for the rain -began to descend in torrents; but I was wet through before I could even -find the entrance of a court to screen me. I never slept a wink that -night: I was afraid to lie down on the cold stones—they were so chill. -Morning came again—and I was now so weak that I could hardly put one -foot before another. I was moreover starving—yes, _starving_! I passed a -baker's shop and saw the nice hot bread smoking in the windows, and I -went in to implore a stale crust. But I was ordered out; and then the -idea struck me that in a few minutes I might obtain money to buy a good -breakfast—not only bread, but meat and tea! That was by picking a -pocket! The idea, however, assumed a horrible aspect a moment -afterwards—and I recoiled from it. No: I would sooner plunge into the -river and end my woes there—than steal again! - -"To the river's brink I hurried—dragging myself slowly no more—but -running, yes—absolutely running fast to terminate my wretchedness by -suicide. It was near Westminster Bridge that I was on the point of -throwing myself into the Thames, when my collar was suddenly grasped -from behind, and I was drawn back. I turned—and saw Old Death! - -"Then I uttered a scream, and struggled dreadfully to get away, that I -might still accomplish my purpose; but he held me tight, saying, 'Silly -boy! why do you fly from life, since it may yet have many pleasures for -you?'—'No!' I cried: 'I will never become a thief again!'—'And I will -never ask you to do so,' he replied. 'But come with me, and let us talk -over your prospects.'—'Prospects!' I repeated in a hysterical manner; -and then I followed him mechanically to an early breakfast-house close -by. He ordered a plentiful meal; and I ate ravenously. The food and hot -coffee cheered me; and I began to feel grateful to Bones for having -supplied the means to appease the hunger that was devouring me. -Moreover, one looks with quite a different eye upon suicide after a good -meal; and I could not do otherwise than regard him as the saviour of my -life. I was therefore already prepared to listen to him with attention; -and when he proposed that we should repair to Bunce's, where we could -converse without fear of being overheard, I willingly agreed to -accompany him. But during our walk to Seven Dials, I constantly repeated -within my own breast the most solemn vows not to yield to any threats or -representations—menaces or coaxings—to induce me to become a thief -again! - -"When we reached the house in Earl Street, Mrs. Bunce received me with -more kindness than I had expected to meet at her hands, after the trick -I had played her a few days before at Woolwich. But she did not treat me -thus without a motive; for when once she and Old Death got me between -them, they endeavoured to the utmost of their power to persuade me to -resume my old avocations. I was faithful to my vow, and assured them -that they might kill me sooner than I would again do any thing to risk -imprisonment in that horrible Newgate. It was not the hulk I so much -dreaded—nor yet transportation, because I knew nothing of it; but I -shrunk from the mere idea of going through the ordeal of Newgate a -second time. Old Death saw that I was not to be moved—at least then; and -he gave up the point. 'But,' said he, 'you must do something to get a -living: you can't starve; and _we_ won't maintain you in idleness. If -you like, I'll take you into my service to run on errands, look after -people that I want to learn any thing about and make yourself useful in -that way; and I'll give you a shilling a-day.'—I agreed—for I could not -starve. - -"Now, of course it is as plain to you as it was even then to me, that -Old Death was playing a deep game with me. I was the cleverest thief -that ever served him; and he had received ample—ample proofs that he -could trust me. He knew that he was safe with me. I was therefore too -useful a person to lose; and he thought that by throwing me again -amongst my old companions, and keeping me on very short allowance, the -disagreeable impressions of gaol would soon wear away, and I should -relapse into my old habits. He was quite mistaken. I don't pretend that -any particular idea of virtue made a great change in me; but I had been -in Newgate—_and there I had seen a man going out to be hanged_; and I -thought that if I got into that dreadful gaol _a second time_, I should -become hardened, _and that I also should go out some day to be hanged_! -So I resisted all temptation—and lived as well as I could on the -shilling a day, without increasing my means by theft or villany. - -"This mode of life on my part did not suit Old Death. A few weeks -passed, and when he found that I was resolved not to return to my former -ways, he stopped my allowance altogether. I was now steeped to the very -lips in wretchedness and misery: but somehow or another I managed to get -a crust here and there just to keep body and soul together—although I -oftener slept in the open air than in a bed. Mrs. Bunce showed me a -little kindness now and then, but quite unknown to Old Death; and, to my -surprise, she did not urge the necessity of my returning to the career -of theft. For several weeks I saw nothing of Mr. Bones; but at last he -fished me out in some low place, and told me I might return into his -service if I liked, and that he should pay me according to the use I -proved myself to be to him. To glean information for him—run on -errands—dog and watch persons—or even loiter about in police-courts to -hear what cases came up before the magistrates,—these were my chief -duties; and badly enough they were paid. But I was now permitted to get -my breakfast and tea regularly at the Bunces'; and that was something. -As for my lodging, if I got together a few pence to enable me to hire a -bed, or a part of a bed, in one of those low houses that I have already -described to you, I was contented,—for I always had this consolation, -that I could walk about the streets without being afraid of meeting a -Bow-Street runner." - -Jacob paused—for his tale was told. - -"Well, my boy," said Tom Rain, "you have gone through much, and seen -enough to form a good stock of experience. I commend your resolution -never to put yourself within reach of the law again; for that's just my -determination also. You have got money in your pocket now; and I will do -something more for you before I leave England." - -"Ah! Mr. Rainford," exclaimed Jacob, much affected, "how I wish that I -had met with such a friend as you earlier in life! And how I wish, too, -that I could go with you—wherever you are going—and be your servant—your -slave!" - -"Well—well, Jacob, we will talk of that another time," said Tom. "Rest -assured I will not desert you. Call at Tullock's on Monday evening, and -you will either see me there or find a note from me." - -Jacob was overjoyed at the species of promise thus held out to him; and, -as it was now midnight, Rainford intimated his intention of taking his -departure from the public-house where he had passed the evening with the -poor lad. - -When they had issued from the door, the highwayman bade Jacob "Good -night;" and they separated—pursuing different roads. - -In fact, Jacob went towards Leather Lane, while Tom Rainford repaired in -the direction of the lodgings which he at present occupied in Gray's Inn -Lane—he having removed to that locality from his former abode in Lock's -Fields. - ------ - -Footnote 19: - - The discipline of criminal prisons was particularly lax at the time of - which Jacob Smith is supposed to be speaking. - -Footnote 20: - - This dreadful state of things continued in the New Prison, - Clerkenwell, up to the year 1838. - -Footnote 21: - - The Report of the Prison Inspectors of the Home District contains - these observations upon the state of Newgate:—"The association of - prisoners of all ages, and every shade of guilt, in one indiscriminate - mass, is a frightful feature in the system which prevails here; the - first in magnitude, and the most pernicious in effect. In this prison - we find that the young and the old—the inexperienced and the practical - offender—the criminal who is smitten with a conviction of his guilt, - and the hardened villain whom scarcely any penal discipline can - subdue, are congregated together, with an utter disregard to all moral - distinctions, the interest of the prisoners, or the welfare of the - community. In such a state of things, can it be a matter of wonder - that the effects should be such as have been described? Every other - evil is aggravated by this; and it would be worse than idle to attempt - a remedy for the rest, while this demoralising intermixture of - criminals of all ages and degrees of guilt is suffered to frustrate - the very ends of Prison discipline, and to give tenfold violence to - all their mischievous inclinations, and passions, upon which it is - incessantly operating, and which is the design of justice to - discourage and repress. Apart from higher considerations, sound policy - demands that such a system should be instantly rectified, for so long - as it continues, society is nursing a moral pestilence in its bosom, - and maintaining an institution in which are forged those weapons that - are destined to be wielded with fatal dexterity against the community - itself. Every device by which the fences of property may be overcome - is here framed, and divulged to ready agents. Every fraudulent - artifice, every successful trick, every ingenious mode of - over-reaching the cautious, or of plundering the unguarded, is - perfected here, and communicated to those who had not hitherto been - initiated in the mysteries of crime. - - "But the most distressing circumstance connected with this system, is - the cruel indifference with which it regards the condition and - necessities of those on whom the extreme penalty of the law is doomed - to fall. Prisoners actually awaiting the execution of the awful - sentence of death are placed, by the evil influence of companionship, - in the most unfavourable circumstances for self-reflection. Religion - and humanity combine to point out the imperative necessity of - providing men, brought by the sentence of the law to the verge of - eternity, with the means of spiritual improvement and consolation; but - the system of Prison Discipline in Newgate practically defeats every - such merciful design. No human authority has a right thus to trifle - with the eternal interests of a dying criminal. Against this serious - evil the chaplain has repeatedly and loudly protested; and it is in - evidence that the unhappy victims themselves have earnestly implored - the officers to deliver them from a situation in which it was - impossible for them to devote the few remaining hours that the law - allowed them to reflection and prayer. The companions in guilt of - these wretched men become further hardened by the influence of this - association. The indulgence of thoughtless apathy, unfeeling mirth, or - revolting ribaldry, are productive of incalculable mischief to the - minds of those who are subjected to their influence. The prisoner who - witnesses with levity or indifference the last moments of a culprit in - Newgate, comes forth a greater villain than when he went in. In him - the evil principle has done its work, and the very exhibition of - terror which justice designed for the reclaiming of the survivors, by - a perversion of moral influence, irremediably hardens the heart which - it was intended to soften and amend. If human ingenuity were tasked to - devise means by which the most profligate of men might be rendered - abandoned to the last degree of moral infamy, nothing more effectual - could be invented than the system now actually in operation within the - walls of the first metropolitan prison in England!" - -Footnote 22: - - Fact. - - - - - CHAPTER XLI. - FRESH ALARMS. - - -Rainford was within twenty yards of the house in which he dwelt, when a -woman jostled him somewhat violently as she endeavoured to pass him -while pursuing the same direction. - -There was no excuse for this rudeness on her part, inasmuch as the -pavement was wide in that particular spot, and no other person was on -the footway. - -"I beg your pardon, sir," said the female; "I'm sure——But, bless me!" -she cried, in a shrill, unmistakeable voice,—"if it isn't Mr. Rainford!" - -"Ah! Mrs. Bunce," returned the highwayman; "what are you doing in this -neighbourhood so late?" - -"I'm going to pass the night with a relation of mine that's ill, and -which lives at the top of the Lane," answered Mrs. Bunce. "But, Oh! Mr. -Rainford, what a shocking thing this is about poor dear Mr. Bones!" - -"What?" ejaculated Tom, with a kind of guilty start. - -"Why, sir—he's dead, poor man!" sobbed Mrs. Bunce: "dead and buried, -sir!" - -"Dead—and buried!" repeated the highwayman mechanically. "And how came -you to know this?" - -"His friend Mr. Tidmarsh came and told me and Toby about it this blessed -morning; and in the afternoon we all followed the poor old gentleman to -the grave in Clerkenwell churchyard." - -"His death was sudden, then?" said Tom, anxious to glean how far the -woman might be informed relative to the particulars of the event which -she was deploring. - -"Mr. Tidmarsh isn't given to gossiping, sir," replied Mrs. Bunce; "and -he said very little about it. It was quite enough for us to know that -the poor dear old gentleman is gone—and without having made any Will -either: so me and Toby are thrown as you may say on the wide world, -without a friend to help us." - -"But Mr. Bones was rich—very rich—was he not?" demanded Tom, who felt -particularly uncomfortable at this confirmation of his worst fears—for -he to some extent looked upon himself as the cause of the old fence's -sudden death. - -"Rich, God bless ye! Ah! as rich as a King!" exclaimed Mrs. Bunce. "But -no one knows where he kept his money—unless it is that Tidmarsh." - -"And where did he die?" asked Rainford. - -"At Tidmarsh's own place in Turnmill Street, Clerkenwell," was the -answer. "Poor old man! But you must have seen him only a short time -before he went off, Mr. Rainford," she added, as if recollecting the -fact: "for it was on that very night when he took Toby and Jacob over -with him to a house in Lock's Fields, and which turned out to be where -you lived. You know he stayed with you while Jacob and Toby went away. -Poor old man! he's a great loss—a very great loss!" - -"Were you so dependent on him, then?" asked Rainford. - -"Yes, almost entirely, as I may say," was the reply. "And then there's -poor Jacob, too: what in the world he'll do, I'm sure I can't say—for me -and Toby can't afford to keep him now that our best friend's gone. But -good night, Mr. Rainford: I must go on to my cousin's—for it's very -late, and _she_, may be, will pop off the hooks before I get to her." - -"Good night," returned Tom, slackening his pace so as to allow the woman -to proceed as far a-head of him as possible ere he entered his own -dwelling, which was now close at hand. - -In a few moments the form of Mrs. Bunce was lost in the darkness of the -night. - -Rainford was now convinced that Old Death was indeed no more—that no -prompt assistance had resuscitated him, even if the vital spark were not -extinct at the moment when he saw him for the last time, bound to the -chair, at the house in Red Lion Street. Yes—it was clear enough—too -clear: Benjamin Bones was dead—and Tidmarsh had pounced upon all his -property. - -"Well—let him enjoy it," thought Rainford within himself. "I have enough -for my purposes, and do not wish to dispute the inheritance with -him—even if I had the right or the power. And yet—and yet," he mused, -with a feeling like a contraction of the heart, "I would give ten years -of my own life so that I had not been the instrument of abridging his! -But it's too late to repent or regret. Repent, did I say? I have nothing -to repent of. I did not do this deed wilfully: it was not murder. And as -for any share that I had in the matter at all, _that_ does not seem to -be suspected. Oh! I can understand Master Tidmarsh's proceedings! It was -no doubt he who entered the room just at the moment when I discovered -that Old Death was dead. Of course he would say nothing about finding -him tied in a chair, or of me having been with him that night: a word on -these heads would have excited suspicions—led to inquiries—Coroner's -inquest—and all that sort of thing. Then some relation might have turned -up, claimed the property, and cut Tidmarsh out. Yes—yes; it is plain -enough—and Tidmarsh is a prudent as well as a lucky fellow! But what -_could_ the laboratory in that house mean? what were those pickled human -heads kept in the cupboard for? and why was Dr. Lascelles familiar with -that den?" - -Even in the midst of his musings, Rainford did not hazard a conjecture -to account for the mysteries just enumerated. They indeed appeared -unaccountable. - -The highwayman walked some distance past the door of his lodgings, to -convince himself that he was not watched by Mrs. Bunce; and having -assured himself on that head,—at least so far as he could judge in the -darkness of the night,—he turned back and entered his dwelling. - -The next day was the Sabbath; and Rainford was sitting, after breakfast, -reading a Sunday paper in the neat parlour of his lodgings. - -On the other side of the fire sate a young—beautiful—and dark-eyed -woman—in all the rich flush of Jewish beauty,—the softly sweeping -outline and symmetrical undulations of her form being developed, rather -than concealed, by the loose morning wrapper which she wore; while the -ray of the frosty morning's sun glanced on the glossy surface of her -raven hair. - -Little Charley Watts, nicely dressed, and with his rosy countenance -wearing the smiles of happy innocence, was seated on a footstool near -Tom Rain, looking at a picture-book, but every now and then glancing -affectionately towards those whom he had already learnt to love as if -they were his parents. - -"Do the advertisements tell you when the next ship will sail from -Liverpool for New York, Tom?" inquired the lady. - -"Next Friday, my love," answered Rainford. "We will therefore leave -London on Thursday." - -"Four more days," remarked his female companion. "Oh! how glad I shall -be when we are out of sight of England! And yet," she added, with a -profound sigh, "I can scarcely bear the thought of parting—perhaps for -ever——" - -"You must not give way to those mournful reflections," interrupted Tom, -in a kind tone. "Remember that we are going to a country where my -personal safety will not be endangered,—where we shall not be obliged to -shift our lodgings half-a-dozen times in a fortnight,—and where, too, we -need not start at every knock that comes to the door. We shall be as -happy as the day is long; and, with the money which I now have at my -disposal, I may embark in some honest pursuit and earn myself a good -name." - -"The money will be at the New York banker's before we reach America, I -suppose?" said the lady, inquiringly. - -"To be sure," replied Tom; "since I paid it all into the hands of the -London agent two days ago. Have you taken care of the receipt, or -acknowledgment?" - -"I locked it up in the little iron box, together with all your other -papers," was the answer. - -"And those documents that I brought home with me the other night—or -rather morning——" - -"All safe, dear Tom. But really when you allude to that dreadful night, -you make me shudder. Oh! how long—how long did those weary hours seem, -until you returned! When you came up into the bed-room and told me that -you were going away with that dreadful man Bones—that the time had at -length come—that opportunity had at last served your purposes——" - -"Well, my dear girl—I recollect all that took place," interrupted Tom, -laughing. "You begged me not to go with him—you said you had your -misgivings: but I was resolved—for such an occasion might not have -occurred again. Did I not tell you beforehand, when we were down in the -country, that if I came up to London and purposely threw myself in the -way of Old Death, accident would be sure sooner or later to enable me to -wrench from his grasp that gold of which he had plundered me? And have -not my words come true? You must not reproach me now, dear girl, at all -events—for the danger is over." - -"Yes—and the dreadful man is dead!" exclaimed the Jewess, in a tone -which expressed a thanksgiving so unequivocally that a cloud for a -moment gathered on Rainford's brow. - -"He is dead—and can molest us no more," he observed, in a serious tone. -"But I could have wished——However," he added, abruptly, "let us avoid -that subject: it is not altogether an agreeable one. And now, to return -to our intended departure for America, I am somewhat at a loss how to -act in respect to that letter, which I obtained last night from Jacob -Smith, and which so deeply regards——" - -He paused, and glanced significantly towards Charley. - -"What can you do in the matter, Tom?" said his beautiful companion. "The -letter is too ambiguous——" - -"Scarcely ambiguous—but deficient in certain points of information," -interrupted Rainford. - -"Which is equally mortifying," added the Jewess. "You cannot risk your -safety by remaining in England to investigate the affair—even if we had -not gone so far in our arrangements for departure——" - -"Certainly not," replied Tom: "but I was thinking that I would entrust -the letter to my friend Clarence Villiers; and who knows but that some -accident may sooner or later throw him into the way of sifting the -mystery to the very bottom?" - -"Your project is an excellent one," answered the Jewess. "But are you -sure that he does not suspect——" - -"Suspect what I really am!" ejaculated the highwayman, with that blithe, -merry laugh of his which showed his fine white teeth to such advantage. -"Not he! He does not know Sir Christopher Blunt—nor the lawyer Howard; -and his acquaintance with that consummate fool Frank Curtis was always -slight, and not likely to be improved by all that has occurred: for -Frank _must_ suspect that Clarence had something to do with the -elopement of Old Torrens's daughters. So, all things considered, -Clarence cannot have heard of the little affair by which Sir Christopher -lost his two thousand pounds." - -"Then you will entrust Mr. Villiers with the letter?" said the lady, -inquiringly. - -"Yes: I will call upon him this evening," responded Tom; "for I have a -little hint to give him relative to a certain aunt of his——" - -At this moment there was a knock at the front-door of the house; and the -servant presently made her appearance to inform Rainford that a young -man named Jacob Smith wished to speak to him. - -Tom's brow darkened—as the thought flashed across him that the lad had -dogged him on the preceding night. But instantly recovering his -self-possession, he desired the Jewess and Charley to retire to another -room, while he received the visitor. - -When Jacob entered the parlour, Rainford looked sternly at him, but said -nothing. - -"I know what _is_—what _must be_ passing in your mind, sir," said Jacob -hastily; "but you wrong me—that is, if you think I found out your -address by any underhand means of my own." - -"Sit down, my boy," cried Tom frankly: "I am sorry if I suspected you -even for an instant. But what has brought you here this morning? and -how——" - -"I will explain all in a few moments, Mr. Rainford," said Jacob. "Two -hours ago—at about eight o'clock—I went up to Bunce's, just to see if -they had heard any thing of Old Death; and, to my surprise, I learnt -that he was buried yesterday." - -"So I have already heard. But go on." - -"You know I told you last night that yesterday morning two or three -people called in Earl Street to inquire about Old Death, as he had -promised to get a thief off at the police-court? Well—at that time, it -seems, neither Mrs. Bunce or Toby knew what had become of Mr. Bones: but -just afterwards, as I'm told, and when I had gone away from the house, -up goes old Tidmarsh, the fence, with the news that Mr. Bones was dead, -and that the funeral was going to take place in a couple of hours. Quick -work, wasn't it, sir? So Toby Bunce and his wife went to the funeral; -and now it's certain what has really become of Old Death. Tidmarsh told -them he died suddenly three or four days ago at _his_ house—of apoplexy. -I'm sure he didn't look much like an apoplectic man." - -"The best part of all this I learnt last night, soon after I left you," -said Rainford. - -"And I only heard it when I went up to Bunce's this morning," remarked -Jacob. "Well, sir—when Mrs. Bunce had told me this, she said, '_Jacob, I -want you to do a particular favour for me, and I will give you a -sovereign_.'—I asked her what it was. '_I'm pretty sure_,' she says, -'_that Mr. Rainford lives somewhere in Gray's Inn Lane, between -Liquorpond Street and Calthorpe Street, on the same side of the way as -those streets; and you must find out where it is, became I want -particularly to know_.'—So I promised her I would; and I of course took -good care not to say that I had seen you last night. But I was -determined to give you notice of Mrs. Bunce's desire to have you -watched; and I have been knocking at every door in the neighbourhood, -asking if such a gentleman as yourself lived there. In describing you, -however, I did not mention any name." - -"That was right, Jacob," said Tom; "because I am not known as Rainford -here. But what the devil can that old wretch want with me? Has she -inherited Old Death's scheming disposition? or does his vengeance pursue -me, even from the tomb?" - -These last words were totally unintelligible to Jacob, who knew not that -the highwayman had had any share in the death of Mr. Benjamin Bones. - -"Of course, sir," remarked the lad, after a pause, "I shall go to Mrs. -Bunce this evening and assure her that no such person as yourself lives -in this neighbourhood. I hope you are not offended with me for hunting -after you?" - -"Far from it, Jacob," returned Tom: "for I am sure I can trust _you_. At -the same time, you must be cautious how you act, so as not to let Mrs. -Bunce imagine that you are playing _her_ false. Try and find out what -she wants with me, and meet me at Tullock's to-morrow evening, between -seven and eight. No—not at Tullock's either—because that woman knows I -am in the habit of going there: but come to me at the public-house in -Baldwin's Buildings where we were last night. Remember—to-morrow -evening, at about half-past seven." - -"I shall not fail, sir," responded Jacob: and he then took his -departure. - -The moment he was gone, Rainford hastened up stairs to the bed-room, -whither the Jewess and little Charley had retired; and closing the door, -he said, "My dear girl, we must be off directly. That horrid woman Mrs. -Bunce, of whom I have spoken to you, is after me—and I am afraid for no -good." - -"Off!" exclaimed the lady: "what—to Liverpool at once?" - -"No: but to another lodging—or to a tavern rather—for it will be -difficult to obtain apartments on a Sunday. I must stay in town for a -day or two longer—or at least till I have seen Villiers. Come—pack up -your things, my love—and let us be gone." - -"Are you afraid of that lad who has just been?" demanded the Jewess. - -"Not a whit! He is staunch to the backbone—I will swear to it! But _he_ -might be followed—or he might commit himself somehow or another, and -betray me involuntarily. By-the-bye," ejaculated Tom, after an instant's -pause, "I tell you what we will do! We will return to Lock's Fields. It -is clear that Mrs. Bunce has found out that we are _not_ living there -now—otherwise she would not have set this Jacob to watch me, which she -has done; and she would never suspect that we have gone back to our old -quarters. So look alive, my love; and pack up the things, while I settle -with our landlady here and send for a coach." - -Tom Rain's directions were speedily obeyed; and by mid-day the Jewess, -Charley, and himself were once more located in Lock's Fields. - - - - - CHAPTER XLII. - THE PARAGRAPH IN THE NEWSPAPER. - - -Having partaken of a good dinner and imbibed a glass or two of wine, Tom -Rain returned to the perusal of the Sunday newspaper, which he had -brought with him to his old lodgings; for the highwayman loved a -newspaper dearly—especially the police reports and Old Bailey trials. - -But as his eye glanced down a column principally devoted to "Fashionable -Intelligence," he was struck with mingled horror and astonishment by the -ensuing announcement:— - - "It is rumoured that the young and wealthy Earl of Ellingham will - shortly lead to the hymeneal altar, the beautiful and accomplished - Lady Hatfield. Her ladyship is a peeress in her own right, that - distinction having been conferred upon her in consequence of the - eminent services of her ladyship's deceased father." - -Tom Rain was absolutely stupefied by this paragraph:—so stupefied, -indeed, that he sate gazing upon it in a species of vacant -wonderment,—not starting, nor uttering any ejaculation—so that neither -the Jewess nor Charley Watts, who were both in the room, noticed his -emotion. - -At length he recovered himself, and read and reread the paragraph until -he could have repeated it by heart. - -The shades of evening were gathering fast over this hemisphere; and he -had therefore now a good excuse for going out—for that announcement in -the Sunday paper had produced such an effect upon him that he felt he -could not rest until he had performed a duty—an imperious but most -painful duty! - -[Illustration] - -Having hastily arranged his toilette in the bed-room up stairs, and put -on a dark upper coat and a large woollen "comforter," he sallied -forth—but not without having previously kissed both the Jewess and -little Charley. - -At the nearest coach-stand he entered a hack-vehicle, and ordered the -driver to take him to the residence of Lady Hatfield, in Piccadilly. - -But ere the coach arrived quite opposite the front door of the fair -patrician's abode, Rainford alighted, and dismissed the vehicle. - -Then he advanced to the house:—but it was with the step of a man who -would rather—oh! a thousand times rather—have fled in any other -direction. - -His hand was on the knocker, and he hesitated,—yes, he hesitated; and -that hand trembled. - -It must have been some powerful cause that could have made the -gallant—dauntless—almost hair-brained Tom Rain manifest so much emotion. - -But at length the summons was given; and a livery-servant opened the -door. - -To Rainford's inquiry whether Lady Hatfield were at home, an affirmative -answer was given. - -"Say to your mistress," returned the highwayman, "that a person wishes -to speak to her upon very particular business—and do me the favour to -show me to a room where I can see her ladyship alone." - -The servant hesitated a moment—for the excited tone in which the request -was made somewhat surprised him. But remembering that it was not his -business to question his lady's visitors, he conducted Rainford into a -parlour where a fire was burning in the grate; and, having lighted the -candles, the domestic retired to deliver to Lady Hatfield the message -which he had received. - -The few minutes which elapsed ere the door of that room again opened, -seemed like an age to Tom Rain. He first sate down: then he rose again -and stood before the fire in a state of extraordinary nervousness. In -fact, he appeared perfectly unmanned. - -We can conceive the feelings of appalling doubt—hope mingled with -terrific fear—and agonising suspense, that must be experienced by an -individual accused of a capital crime, and awaiting in the dock the -return of the jury in whose hands are his life and death. - -Such was the state of Tom Rain during the five mortal minutes that -elapsed ere the door again opened. - -At length it _did_ open—and, though he had his back turned towards it, -yet the rustling of silk and a light, airy tread convinced him that the -lady of the house was now in that room. - -He turned: the light streamed full upon his countenance—for he had laid -aside his hat and woollen comforter; and Lady Hatfield—for it was -she—uttered a faint scream as her eyes met his. - -"Pardon this intrusion—fear me not _now_, my lady!" exclaimed Rainford -hastily: "but grant me five minutes' attention, I implore you—not for -_my_ sake—for _yours_!" - -Georgiana had started back, and had become pale as death when she -recognised the highwayman: but even while he was yet speaking, she -recovered herself sufficiently to approach the spot where he was -standing. - -Then, without sitting down—but leaning her arm upon the mantelpiece, as -if for support—she said in a hoarse and hollow tone, "My God! what would -you with me?" - -"Lady Hatfield," returned Rainford, in a mournful and even solemn tone, -"forget the _past_—if you can—for a few minutes——" - -"Forget the past!" repealed Georgiana hysterically, her whole frame -convulsed with horror. "Oh! terrible man, wherefore have you come -hither? have you not injured me enough? what do you now seek?—_my -life?_" - -And, as she uttered these last words, the syllables seemed to hiss -between her set teeth—and her bosom heaved and fell rapidly with -spasmodic palpitation. - -"Listen to me, madam—I implore you!" exclaimed Rainford, cruelly -perplexed and deeply touched by the agonising emotions which his -presence occasioned. "I know that the sight of me must be -abhorrent—loathsome to you; but it will be your fault if our interview -is protracted beyond the few minutes which I ask you to grant me." - -"Speak, sir—speak quickly!" cried Georgiana hysterically. "But mark me, -sir," she added in a firmer and more resolute tone, while her usually -placid glances seemed to glare with deadly hatred against the -highwayman,—"mark me," she repeated—"if your intention be to coerce me -again to commit a crime for your sake, you will not succeed. But a few -days have elapsed since the stain of perjury—rank, abhorrent perjury—was -fastened on my soul—and to save _you_! Oh! that I could have been so -weak as to yield to your insolent command to swear to that which was -false—atrociously, vilely false, at the bar of justice! And now proceed, -sir, with the business which has brought you hither!" - -"Lady Hatfield—I cannot, I dare not explain myself, while you labour -under this dreadful excitement!" said Rainford, himself painfully -excited. "Calm yourself, I implore you—for what I have to say most -nearly concerns your interests." - -"_My_ interests!" repeated Georgiana in a sorrowful voice. "But -proceed—go on, sir:—I _will_ be calm." - -"I observed in a newspaper of this day's date," continued Rainford, -"that your ladyship is about to become the wife of the Earl of -Ellingham." - -Lady Hatfield gazed upon the highwayman in that vacant manner which left -it doubtful whether she were the prey to feelings of surprise—terror—or -despair. - -"And if that rumour be true, my lady," added Rainford, after a moment's -pause, "I would have you reflect on the propriety of this matrimonial -connexion." - -"My God! he assumes a right to dictate to me!" almost shrieked -Georgiana, as she sank back upon a sofa, clasping her hands together in -the excess of her mental anguish. - -"No—my lady—not to dictate!" said Rainford. "I have not a shadow of a -right to do that: it were the height of madness—the height of -presumption—an insolence beyond all parallel on my part—in fact a deed -so monstrously inconsistent with even common sense——" - -"That you are surprised I should have entertained the idea?" added -Georgiana, with an irony and bitterness which seemed lent her by -despair. - -"My God! I foresaw all the terrors of this interview!" exclaimed -Rainford with feverish impatience. - -"Then wherefore did you come?" demanded Georgiana. "Is it to expose -me—to persecute _me_ who have never offended _you_, but who have -suffered so deeply—deeply——" - -"Madam, I came to perform a painful duty," interrupted the highwayman; -"and the sooner I accomplish it the better. Oh! you know not—you will -not give me credit for the ineffable pity—the profound commiseration -which I feel for you,—as well as the loathing—the abhorrence—the -shame—the disgust in which I hold myself:—but I cannot recall the past. -Would to God that I could!" - -"Then you mean me no harm?" exclaimed Georgiana eagerly. - -"Mean you harm, madam!" repeated Rainford enthusiastically: "merciful -heavens! if to mitigate one single pang of the many—many with which your -breast must throb, poor innocent sufferer that you are—a sufferer -through my detestable crime,—if to relieve you of any portion of the -load that weighs upon your mind—were that portion no heavier than a -hair,—if to do this my life would suffice, I would lay it down, madam, -at your feet! Think you that I glory in what I have done? No—no: bad as -I am—criminal as I am—robber, plunderer as I am, and as you know me to -be,—yet I have feelings—aye, and a conscience too! And, often—often, my -lady, when the smile is upon my lip, that conscience is gnawing my -heart's core—for I think of _you_! And all this is true as God's own -justice is true,—true as that you are an innocent and a noble lady, and -that I am a despicable villain!" - -And Tom Rain—the gallant, dashing, almost hair-brained Tom Rain—burst -into tears. - -Georgiana gazed upon him in astonishment—in profound astonishment; and -she was softened towards that bold and desperate man who wept on her -account! - -"But wherefore have you sought me this evening?" she said, in a milder -and more gentle tone than she had yet used during this remarkable—this -solemnly interesting meeting. - -"It is not to demand your pardon, madam," returned Rainford, dashing -away the tears from his manly countenance; "because _that_ you can never -give! It is not to assert any presumed right to dictate to you in -respect to your marriage, because _that_ were adding the most flagrant -cruelty to the most atrocious wrong. But it is to inform your ladyship -that if you contract this marriage with the Earl of Ellingham, you wed -one who is——" - -"Who is what?" gasped Georgiana, almost suffocating. - -Rainford paused for a few moments: it required these few moments to -enable him to conquer emotions of so terrible a nature that they almost -choked his powers of utterance:—then, bending down until his very lips -touched Georgiana's ear, and his hair mingled with hers, he whispered a -few words in a faint and scarcely audible tone. - -But she heard them plainly—oh! far too plainly: and when he withdrew his -face from its proximity to her head, and glanced upon her countenance, -he saw, with feelings awfully shocked, that she sate mute—motionless—the -image of despair. - -Alas! she spoke not—she looked neither to the right nor to the left: her -eyes seemed to be fixed upon the face of the highwayman;—and yet she saw -him not—she was gazing on vacancy. - -This dreadful state of stupefaction—the paralysis of despair—lasted for -upwards of three minutes,—a perfect age alike to her who endured, and to -him who beheld it. - -Then suddenly burst from Lady Hatfield's lips a long—loud—piercing -scream,—a scream so appalling that the very house appeared to shake with -the vibration of the air which was cut by that shriek as by a keen-edged -sword. - -"Merciful God! the whole place will be alarmed!" ejaculated the -highwayman. "Compose yourself, madam——" - -But vainly did he thus address himself to the unhappy Georgiana: she had -fallen back insensible upon the sofa. - -The door opened abruptly; but Tom Rain was rooted to the spot where he -stood gazing on the motionless form of that wretched lady,—stood gazing -too in horrified amazement at the effect which his whispered words had -produced. - -The scream to which Lady Hatfield had given vent in the paroxysm of her -ineffable anguish, had reached the ears not only of the domestics in the -kitchen but also of the company in the drawing-room—for there were -guests that evening at Georgiana's residence. - -Thus, when the door burst open, a crowd of persons poured in,—Lord -Ellingham, Dr. Lascelles, Sir Ralph Walsingham, three or four ladies, -and all the servants. - -Miss Mordaunt, we should observe, was no longer an inmate of Lady -Hatfield's abode—for reasons that will be explained hereafter. - -Lord Ellingham was the foremost of the crowd; and the first object that -met his eyes, as he rushed into the room, was his Georgiana stretched -senseless on the sofa. He saw a man standing near, but did not pause to -cast a second glance upon him: the state in which he found his beloved -engrossed all his thoughts. - -He raised her in his arms—the ladies produced their smelling-bottles—the -female servants hastened to fetch water, vinegar, and anything else that -struck them as useful under the circumstances—and Dr. Lascelles, who -_had_ recognised Tom Rain, though without appearing to do so, -professionally superintended all the means resorted to for the purpose -of restoring suspended animation,—while the highwayman still looked on -with a kind of mechanical attention. - -At length Georgiana opened her eyes slowly; but the moment they caught a -glimpse of Lord Ellingham's countenance, a faint cry escaped her -lips—and she covered her face with her hands as if to shut out some -terrible object from her view. - -"Georgiana, dearest—'tis I," murmured Arthur in her ear. - -But a dreadful shudder seemed to convulse her entire frame. - -"Some one has terrified her—alarmed her!" exclaimed the Earl, colouring -with anger; and as he glanced rapidly around, his eyes met those of the -highwayman. - -At that moment Dr. Lascelles desired that Lady Hatfield should be -supported to her own chamber; and this suggestion was immediately -followed by the female friends and servants, the physician accompanying -them. - - - - - CHAPTER XLIII. - LORD ELLINGHAM AND TOM RAINFORD. - - -Lord Ellingham and Sir Ralph Walsingham remained behind in the -apartment, where Rainford also still was. - -"Sir," said the nobleman, advancing towards the highwayman, "you will -perhaps be kind enough to explain the cause of her ladyship's -emotion?—for the scream which reached our ears, and the condition in -which we found her, denote something more serious than sudden -indisposition. This gentleman, sir," added the Earl, indicating Sir -Ralph Walsingham with a glance, "is Lady Hatfield's uncle: you therefore -need not hesitate to address yourself to _him_—even should you decline -to vouchsafe an explanation to me, who am a total stranger to you." - -"Yes, my lord—for I know you well by sight—we _are_ total strangers to -each other," replied Rainford in a singularly mournful tone. "And yet——" - -But he stopped short, seized his hat, and was about to hasten from the -room, when the Earl caught him somewhat rudely by the arm, saying,—"Mr. -Rainford—for such I believe to be your name—we cannot part with you -thus! A lady—dear, very dear to me, and who indeed will shortly be my -wife,—dear also to Sir Ralph Walsingham, who is now present,—that lady -has been alarmed—terrified in some manner, by you; and we must insist -upon an explanation." - -"My lord," returned Tom Rain in a tone of deep emotion, as he gazed with -peculiar—almost scrutinising attention upon the Earl's countenance,—"no -other man on earth would thus have dared to stop me with impunity. As -for explanations," he continued, his voice suddenly assuming a little of -its usual reckless indifference, "I have none to give." - -And again he moved towards the door. - -But Lord Ellingham hastened to place his back against it in a determined -manner: while Rainford, as if discouraged and daunted, fell back a few -paces. - -"Mr. Rainford," exclaimed the Earl, "this matter cannot pass off thus. I -insist upon an explanation; or I shall consider it to be my duty to -detain you until Lady Hatfield be sufficiently recovered to declare the -nature of the treatment she has experienced at your hands. Moreover, -sir," added the nobleman, observing that Rainford's lip blanched and -quivered nervously, "you are to a certain degree an object of suspicion -in my eyes. A variety of circumstances have combined to prove to me that -you were implicated, to some degree, in the theft of diamonds which -lately caused so much embarrassment at the police-court." - -"My lord, that business does not regard you," replied the highwayman. -"The diamonds were restored to their lawful owner; and—more than -_that_—I even ascertained from Mr. Gordon's own lips that they were paid -for, before their restoration, by one who——But let me depart, my lord, I -say!" ejaculated Tom, his manner suddenly changing from nervous -trepidation to the excitement of impatience. - -"You must remain here, sir," said Arthur coldly, "until we ascertain -whether it be Lady Hatfield's pleasure that your detention should assume -a more serious aspect." - -"Allow me to pass, my dear Earl," exclaimed Sir Ralph; "and I will -hasten to ascertain how my niece is now, and what her intentions are -with respect to this person." - -Rainford paced the room in an agitated manner, while Lord Ellingham -afforded egress to the baronet, and then resumed his position of -sentinel with his back placed against the door. - -"My lord," at length said the highwayman, advancing close up to the -Earl, and speaking in a low, oppressed tone, "you will find that her -ladyship has no complaint to make against me. Permit me to take my -departure; and again I tell you that of no other living soul would I -solicit as a favour what I would command by force." - -"I cannot allow you to leave this room—at least until the return of Sir -Ralph Walsingham," answered the Earl. "Lady Hatfield must have been -insulted or menaced by you in some way——" - -"I take God to witness that I neither insulted nor menaced her!" -interrupted Rainford, warmly. - -"If your liberty be endangered," said the nobleman, "it is well worth a -falsehood to attempt to avert the peril." - -"My God! this from _him_!" muttered Rainford bitterly to himself, as he -once more turned round to pace the room: then, at the expiration of a -minute, he said in a calmer tone, "Well, my lord—I am content to wait -until the decision of her ladyship is made known in respect to me. And -since it appears that we shall have a few moments more of each other's -society, permit me to ask,—your lordship having just now alluded to a -certain transaction at a police-court,—permit me to ask, I say, whether -you really believe that Miss Esther de Medina was innocent or guilty of -the charge imputed to her?" - -"This is rather a singular question—coming from _you_, Mr. Rainford!" -exclaimed the Earl; "and before I answer it, allow me to ask whether it -was not you who left a certain letter at my house, desiring me to repair -to the police-office on that occasion?" - -"I will not deny the fact, my lord," replied Rainford. "Indeed, I did -not particularly study concealment respecting it—else would I not have -afforded your lordship's servants an opportunity of describing to you -the personal appearance of the individual who left that letter. But if -your lordship entertains even the shadow of a suspicion injurious to the -character of Miss de Medina, you are wrong—you are in error!—yes—as -grievously in error as ever mistaken man could be. Besides, my lord," -added Rainford hastily, "you are well aware that the _alibi_ which your -lordship proved was correct." - -"And how knew you that Miss de Medina was with her father and myself at -Finchley on the very day, and at the very hour, when the diamonds were -alleged to have been taken?" demanded the Earl. - -"It would be useless to pretend that accident gave me the information," -answered Tom Rain. "But think not that _she_ employed _me_ as an agent -or as a messenger to obtain the intervention of your lordship——" - -"Mr. Rainford," said the Earl haughtily, "I dislike the present -conversation. I have the highest opinion of Mr. de Medina, and should be -sorry to think ill of any one connected with him. But I must candidly -confess that there is so much mystery respecting the character of his -daughter—a mystery, too, existing on account of yourself, for which -reason alone do I condescend to discuss with _you_ any affair relating -to Mr. de Medina or his family——" - -"Lord Ellingham," interrupted Rainford in a hasty and impetuous tone, -"Esther de Medina is the very personification of innocence and virtue! -As God is my judge, she was ignorant of my interference in her behalf on -that day when she was accused of a deed from which her pure soul would -recoil with horror:—she knew not even that I was in the court——" - -"And yet you were there, Mr. Rainford," exclaimed the Earl: "for I -noticed you—although at the time I knew not who you were." - -"But Miss de Medina was _not_ aware of my presence," rejoined Rainford -emphatically; "_for she does not know me by sight_!" - -A smile of incredulity curled the nobleman's lip—for the oath which Mr. -de Medina had administered to his daughter, and in which her connexion -with Rainford was so emphatically mentioned, was uppermost in his mind. -But he dared not allude to that circumstance; although he would have -been truly rejoiced to receive the conviction that Esther was indeed far -different from what he was at present compelled to believe her to be. - -"Your lordship said ere now," resumed Tom Rain, "that you noticed me in -the court, although at the time you knew not who I was. Those were your -words. Does your lordship now know who I am?" - -"I cannot boast of a very intimate acquaintance with you or your -affairs, Mr. Rainford," returned the nobleman with a hauteur bordering -on contempt; "and what I do know of you is so little in your favour that -you see I am detaining you here on the suspicion that your visit to Lady -Hatfield was for no good purpose. In fact, the first I ever heard of you -was in reference to the charge on account of which you yourself figured -at Bow Street some short time since,—a charge of which, I am bound to -say, you were honourably acquitted, Lady Hatfield having satisfactorily -proved that you were not the person who robbed her on the highway." - -"Thus far, my lord," said Rainford, "you have no just ground to speak -disparagingly of my character." - -"Certainly not. But then comes the affair of the diamonds; and I do not -hesitate to inform you that Mr. Gordon related to me all the particulars -of your interview with him, when you called to restore the jewels, and -when he made you aware of the fact that Miss de Medina had already been -to pay him the full value thereof." - -"Ah! Mr. Gordon was thus communicative?" observed Rainford. - -"Yes—and not sparing of his aspersions against the character of Miss de -Medina," returned the Earl. "But I defended her, Mr. Rainford—I defended -her _then_——" - -"And wherefore should you not defend her now, my lord?" demanded the -highwayman. "Oh! were I to reveal to you by what wondrous combination of -circumstances——But, no! I dare not. And yet, my lord," he added in an -earnest, solemn tone, "you are an upright—a generous-hearted man; and I -appeal to your good feelings—I implore you not to trust to outward -appearances. As there is a God above, Esther de Medina is innocent of -every thing—any thing that scandal or misconception may have imputed to -her. Again you smile incredulously—and yet mournfully, my lord! Ah! I -can assure you, that Esther is innocent—oh! believe her to be innocent!" - -At this moment footsteps were heard approaching the door, which Lord -Ellingham accordingly opened; and Sir Ralph Walsingham re-appeared. - -"How is Georgiana now?" inquired the nobleman hastily. - -"My niece is ill—very ill," returned the baronet. - -"Ill!" ejaculated Arthur. "Ah! villain—this is your work!" he cried, -rushing towards the highwayman. - -"Keep off!" thundered Rainford: "you know not whom you would strike!" - -"No—touch him not!" cried Sir Ralph, catching the Earl by the arm, and -holding him back. "I have seen my niece—Dr. Lascelles is now alone with -her: she is more composed—though very far from well;—and she begs that -this person may be allowed to depart without the slightest molestation." - -"Her ladyship shall be obeyed, Sir Ralph," returned the nobleman. "Mr. -Rainford, you have heard the message that has been sent relative to -yourself." - -Having thus spoken, Arthur turned aside;—for a strange misgiving—a vague -suspicion—no, not a suspicion either,—but a feeling of dissatisfaction -had stolen into his mind. If Rainford had alarmed or insulted Lady -Hatfield, wherefore should she allow him to go unpunished? Was it not -more probable that he had brought her some evil tidings? But how could -there exist any connexion, however remote or slight, between that man of -equivocal character and Georgiana Hatfield? What business could possibly -bring them together, and produce so strange—so powerful an impression -upon _her_? - -All these ideas rushed to the Earl's mind in rapid and bewildering -succession; and the reader need not be astonished if we repeat that a -sentiment of dissatisfaction—almost amounting to a vague suspicion, but -of what he knew not—had suddenly taken a firm hold of his imagination. - -Who was this Rainford, after all? Was he other than he seemed? Could he -be in any way connected with that narrative of the Black Mask which the -Earl supposed to have partially affected his Georgiana's mind, and which -he looked upon as the cause of that apparent fickleness or caprice which -had first led her to refuse his proffered hand? The more he involved -himself in conjecture, the deeper did he plunge into a labyrinth which -grew darker and more bewildering at every step. - -When he turned round again towards the place where he had left Rainford -standing, that individual was gone; and the noblemen was alone with Sir -Ralph Walsingham. - -"You have seen Georgiana?" said Arthur, advancing towards the baronet -and grasping his hand with the convulsive violence of deep emotion. - -"I have, my dear Earl; and she appears as if she had received some -severe shock," was the reply. - -"What, in the name of God! does all this mean?" exclaimed the nobleman, -with wildness in his tone. - -"I know not—I cannot comprehend it," answered the uncle, as much -bewildered as the lover. - -"But did you not question your niece? did she offer no explanation? did -she not state the cause of her emotion—that piercing scream—that -fainting—that movement of horror when she recovered?" demanded the Earl, -impatiently. - -"I questioned her; but, perceiving that it only augmented her agitation, -I did not press a painful interrogatory," replied Sir Ralph. "When I -informed her that you had detained that man, whom I heard you address by -the name of Rainford, and whom I therefore supposed to have been the -person suspected of robbing my niece,—when I informed her that you had -detained him, I say, she was greatly excited, and desired me to hasten -and request you to allow him to depart immediately, as she had no cause -of complaint against him." - -"Strange!—most strange!" murmured the Earl. - -"Have patience, my dear Arthur," said Sir Ralph. "To-morrow Georgiana -will be better; and then she will doubtless explain——" - -"To-morrow—to-morrow!" repeated the nobleman impatiently. "Oh! what -suspense—what terrible suspense! Ah! Sir Ralph, you know not how -wretchedly will pass the weary hours of this night! If I could but see -her—only for a moment! Would it be indiscreet? Dear Sir Ralph, have pity -upon me, and ask Lascelles to come and speak to me." - -The baronet, who was a kind-hearted man, instantly departed to execute -this commission; and in a few minutes he returned, accompanied by the -physician. - -To the latter the Earl repeated the same question which he had already -addressed to Sir Ralph Walsingham:—"What, in the name of God! does all -this mean?" - -And the Doctor gave almost a similar reply:—"I know not—I cannot -understand it." - -But there was less sincerity in this answer as given by Lascelles than -there was in the same response as uttered from the heart by the frank -and honest baronet:—for the physician _had_ his suspicions relative to -the mysterious connexion which now appeared to subsist between Lady -Hatfield and the individual whose visit had caused so much painful -excitement. - -"That villain Rainford! I am sorry even now that I suffered him to -escape!" ejaculated the Earl, scarcely knowing how to act or speak. - -"Rainford!" cried the physician. "Why, that is the name of the man who -was taken up on suspicion of having robbed her ladyship near Hounslow!" - -"And that was Thomas Rainford who was here ere now!" returned Arthur, -with bitter emphasis, as if he hated the name. - -"Rainford!" repeated the physician, in astonishment. "I thought that -man's name was Jameson?" - -The reader will remember that such was the denomination under which the -highwayman passed when residing in South Moulton Street. - -"What! do you know him?" demanded the Earl, gazing upon the doctor with -unfeigned surprise. - -"I once attended a patient at his abode," was the laconic reply: for -Lascelles remembered the solemn promise which he had made to Tom Rain on -that occasion. - -"And where did he live?" inquired Arthur, eagerly. "I may wish to see -that man again." - -"Where he lived then, he does not live now," returned the physician; -"for he moved away the very next day after I was called in; and whither -he went to, the people of the house knew not." - -"I believe him to be a man of bad character," observed Arthur hastily. -"But enough of him—at least for the present. Doctor, can I be permitted -to see Lady Hatfield for a few minutes?" - -"Impossible for to-night, my dear Earl," replied the physician. "Her -ladyship is in a state of nervous agitation—feverish excitement, -indeed,—and must not be disturbed. Her maids are now with her, and she -is about to retire to rest. To-morrow, my dear Ellingham, you shall see -her—that is, provided she is more composed." - -"Then must I submit to this weary night of suspense!" exclaimed the -young nobleman. "But to-morrow, Doctor, I may see her. You have promised -that I shall see her to-morrow! My visit will be somewhat early. Will it -be indiscreet if I call at eleven?" - -"Call at eleven, then," returned the physician, smiling at his friend's -impatience. "But I think I ought to administer a composing draught to -you." - -The Earl and Sir Ralph Walsingham shook hands with Dr. Lascelles, and -took their departure. The other guests had already gone; but the -physician remained behind to see his fair patient once more ere he -returned home. - -When Lascelles found himself alone in the apartment which the young -nobleman and the baronet had just left, he fell into a train of -reflection which, like the Earl's state of mind, was strangely -characterised by perplexity. Were the Doctor's thoughts put into words, -they would assume as nearly as possible the ensuing shape:— - -"Well, this is an evening of unpleasant adventure! That Jameson, or -Rainford, or whatever his name is, has brought confusion and dismay into -the house. Perplexities increase rapidly. I remember all that Ellingham -said to me the day that he called to inform me that he was the happiest -of men, and that her ladyship had accepted him. He declared then that he -knew all—that he would never allow what must be considered a misfortune -to stand in the way of his happiness—and so on. I also remember -complimenting him on his moral courage in rising superior to a common -prejudice; and then we dropped the conversation because we agreed that -it was a delicate subject. And so it was, too: a devilish delicate -subject! And I had found out the grand secret by stealth! Ah! the -effects of that opiate were powerful, and she has never suspected that I -_did_ find out the secret. But Ellingham scarcely seems to have his wits -about him; or else he _must_ suspect the object of this Rainford's -visit. It's as clear as day-light! Rainford is the man—and now he wants -to extort money from her ladyship. But Ellingham cannot put two and two -together as I can:"—and the physician rubbed his hands complacently, -little suspecting that his sapient conjecture relative to the object of -the highwayman's visit was totally wrong, as the reader is aware.—"This -Rainford is an extraordinary character; and I do believe that he really -robbed her ladyship, but that she did not dare say so in the -police-court. He has the cut of a dashing fellow who would as soon rifle -a pocket as drink a bumper of wine. Curse him, for having intruded on -the mysteries of my laboratory! Oh! if Ellingham only knew what I know -about the beautiful Esther de Medina—the charming Jewess! What deceivers -some women are! To look on Esther, one would think she was purity -itself? And yet——" - -The physician's reverie was interrupted by the entrance of a female -servant, who came to inform him that Lady Hatfield had retired to her -bed, and that the Doctor might now visit her again. He accordingly -repaired to her chamber, and having prescribed some composing medicine, -took his departure, without once alluding to the incidents of the -evening; for he was anxious that Georgiana's mind should remain as free -from causes of excitement and agitation as possible. - - - - - CHAPTER XLIV. - MR. FRANK CURTIS AGAIN. - - -In the meantime, Thomas Rainford had quitted the abode of Lady Hatfield -with a heavy heart: for the duty which he had felt himself called upon -to perform, in making a particular statement to Georgiana, had -pained—acutely pained his generous soul. - -He had not proceeded many yards from that lady's dwelling, when he -suddenly encountered Mr. Frank Curtis; and as at that precise moment the -glare of a lamp streamed full upon Rainford's countenance, he was -immediately recognised by that impertinent young gentleman. - -"Ah! Captain Sparks!" ejaculated Frank: "so we meet again, do we? Well, -it's very fortunate that I did _not_ accept my friend the Duke's -invitation to his select dinner-party; or else I should have missed this -pleasure. Now what is to prevent me from collaring you, my fine fellow, -and raising a hue and cry?" - -"_Fear_, Mr. Curtis—_fear_ will prevent you," returned Tom Rain, -recovering all his wonted presence of mind: and, taking the young man's -arm, he said, "Walk a little way with me. I want to have a few minutes' -chat with you. Here—put your hand on my great coat pocket: that's right! -Now you can feel a pistol inside—eh? Well its companion is in the other -pocket; and you must know enough of me already, to be fully aware that -any treachery on your part would meet with its reward; for I would shoot -you in the open street, if you attempted to place my liberty in danger." - -"I'm sure I—I don't want to injure you, Captain Sparks," stammered -Frank, trembling from head to foot as he walked along, arm-in-arm with -the highwayman. "I always took you for a capital fellow—and I should -very much like to drink a bottle of wine with you. What do you say? -Shall we go into the _Gloucester_, or _Hatchett's_——" - -"Neither one nor the other, Mr. Curtis," interrupted Rainford. "I thank -you for your civility all the same." - -"Oh! it's nothing, Captain. I learnt politeness in France, where, to be -sure, I had excellent—I may say peculiar advantages. The King was very -much attached to me—and as for the ladies of the Court—Oh! don't ask me -to speak about them, Captain Sparks!" - -"Indeed I will not," returned Tom drily. "I want you to let me know how -your uncle gets on. Does he still remember that pleasant little -adventure—ha! ha!"—and the highwayman's merry laugh denoted that his -spirits were reviving once more. - -"Sir Christopher! Oh! the old fool—don't talk to me about him!" -ejaculated Frank Curtis. "I have done with my uncle—I shall cut him—I -can never speak to him again, Captain Sparks. He has disgraced -himself—disgraced his family, which was a very ancient one——" - -"I always thought Sir Christopher made a boast of having risen from -nothing?" said Tom ironically. - -"Ah! so he did. But that was only a part of his system of gammoning -people," continued Frank. "His family was originally the celebrated -Blondevilles of France: about three thousand years ago they settled in -Scotland, and their name was corrupted to _Blundevil_;—then a branch -came to England about fifteen hundred years ago, and in process of time -they spelt their name with a _t_—_Bluntevil_. At last the _e_ was left -out, and it became _Bluntvil_; and God only knows why, but three hundred -and seventy-seven years ago, come next Michaelmas, the _vil_ was -dropped, and the name settled down into simple _Blunt_. So you see, -Captain, that Sir Christopher is of a good family after all." - -"Why don't you try and get a situation in the Herald's College?" -demanded Rainford. "You would be able to find pedigrees for all the -Browns, Jones's, Thompsons, and Smiths in the country." - -"Come—come, Captain Sparks," exclaimed Frank: "this observation isn't -fair on your part. I may have my faults—I know I have; but I don't shoot -with the long bow. I hate that kind of thing!" - -"But let us return to the subject of your uncle Sir Christopher," said -Tom. "What has he been doing?" - -"Run away with a lady's-maid—gone to Gretna with Lady Hatfield's female -servant Charlotte!" cried Frank, with great bitterness of tone. "The -damned old fool!—but I'll cut him—cut him dead—and that's some -consolation." - -"Gone to Gretna with Lady Hatfield's maid!" exclaimed Rainford. - -"Maid, indeed! I hope he'll find her so!" said Curtis. "The hussey! But -I'll be even with her yet!" - -"And when did this happen?" inquired Tom. - -"Oh! only a few days ago. They are not come back yet. I dare say Sir -Christopher already repents his bargain. But I'll cut him!" - -"I'm afraid if you cut his acquaintance, he'll cut off your supplies," -observed Rainford jocosely. - -"And what does that matter?" ejaculated Frank. "Do you think there are -no rich women in London that would be glad to have a decent-looking -fellow like myself. Egad! I've already got introduced to a widow as -wealthy as if her late husband had been a Nabob. It's true that she's -blest with five pledges of the said late husband's affection; but then -she's got five thousand a-year—and one five is a good set-off against -the other, Captain Sparks. Rather so—eh? old fellow?" - -"Well, I think it is," returned the highwayman. "But how did all this -happen about Sir Christopher and the lady's-maid?" - -"I'll tell you," answered Curtis. "You see, Sir Christopher was going to -run away with Miss Mordaunt, Lady Hatfield's friend, and I found it out -in one of my clever ways. So I resolved to baulk Sir Christopher; and I -bribed this lady's-maid Charlotte—in fact, I gave her five hundred -pounds and a gold watch, the hussey!—to go to the appointment, get into -the carriage, personate Miss Julia Mordaunt, and keep up the farce until -they got to St. Alban's, where me and a parcel of my friends were to be -at the inn to receive them. That was to be the joke." - -"And how did the joke turn so completely against yourself?" asked Tom. - -"Why, me and my friends waited—and waited—and waited at the infernal -hotel at St. Alban's; and no Sir Christopher—no Charlotte came. We had a -glorious supper, and made a regular night of it. All next day we -waited—and waited again; but no Sir Christopher—no Charlotte. '_What the -devil can this mean?_' thought I to myself. So I came up to London, -leaving my friends at the inn at St. Alban's in pawn for the bill—for -somehow or another none of us had money enough about us to settle it. -Well, when I came back to town, I went home: that is, you know, to my -uncle's house in Jermyn Street; and there I found a letter that had just -come for me by the post. It was written from some town a good way north, -and was from Sir Christopher. I began to think something was wrong; and -sure enough there was! For, when I opened the letter, I found that my -silly old uncle had written to thank me for throwing in his way a -delightful and most amiable woman, who had consented to take his name -and share his fortune. The letter went on to say that they were then -pretty far on their road to Gretna, and that as they should stop at St. -Alban's _as they came back_, I might be there, if I chose, to have the -pleasure of handing my _aunt_ out of the carriage. That was all said to -irritate me, you know, Captain Sparks; and most likely that vixen -Charlotte made Sir Christopher write the letter just to annoy me. But -I'll cut them both dead; and we shall see what my precious _aunt_—for -such she is by this time, I suppose—will say _then_!" - -"This is really a very pleasant little adventure," cried Tom Rain. "But -I think you carried your joke too far, Mr. Curtis; and so it has -recoiled on yourself. Have you seen Mr. Torrens lately?" - -"Not I!" exclaimed Curtis. "But don't you confess, Captain, that you -carried matters a trifle too far that night? Never mind the two thousand -pounds: I'm glad my old hunks of an uncle has lost _that_! But I allude -to the affair of helping the gals to run away. I suppose you were in -league with Villiers all the time?" - -"What makes you think that Villiers had any thing to do with the -matter?" inquired Rainford. - -"Simply because I don't imagine you carried off the gals for your own -sake. However," continued Frank, "I care but little about the matter -now. I certainly liked Adelais very much at the time; but there are -plenty of others in the world quite as handsome. Besides, I now see -through all Sir Christopher's trickery in wanting me to marry Miss -Torrens in such a deuce of a hurry, and in giving me a separate -establishment. The old bird wanted to commit matrimony himself; and I -should have been poked off with a few paltry hundreds a-year." - -"And so you will now," said Tom. "Or matters may be even worse, after -the trick you endeavoured to play upon your uncle." - -"Not a bit of it!" cried Frank. "Had old Blunt's scheme succeeded, I -should have been married to a portionless gal, and forced to live on -whatever he chose to give me. Now that his project has failed, I am free -and unshackled, and can secure myself a position by marriage. I might -even look as high as my friend the Duke's niece; but she is horribly -ill-tempered, and so I think of making an offer of my heart and hand—I -_can_ do the thing well if I like, you know, Captain—to Mrs. Goldberry, -the widow I spoke of just now." - -"The name sounds well, I confess," observed Tom. "But did your uncle -never—I mean, did he not instruct his lawyer to adopt any proceedings -about that little affair of the two thousand pounds?" - -"Not he, Captain!" exclaimed Frank Curtis. "As far as my uncle is -concerned, you may rest quite satisfied that he will never take any -notice of the business: and Howard wouldn't act without his -instructions." - -They had now reached Charing Cross; and Tom Rain, having had quite -enough of Mr. Curtis's company, signified his desire that they should -separate. - -"You won't pass an hour with me over a bottle of wine?" said the young -man. "I really should like to have a chat with such a gallant, dashing -fellow as you are, Captain; for you're quite after my own heart—barring -the——" - -"The highway business—eh?" cried Tom, laughing. "Why, you cannot for a -minute suppose that it is my regular profession, Mr. Curtis? No such a -thing! I merely eased you of the two thousand pounds for the joke of -it—just as you played off your tricks on Sir Christopher." - -"You talk about easing me, Captain," returned Frank; "but I can assure -you that you're the first man that ever got the better of me. Don't -fancy for a moment that I—I'm a coward, Captain Sparks——" - -"Far from it, my dear sir," exclaimed Tom. "I know you to be as brave as -you are straight-forward in your conversation. So good night—and pray -take care not to follow me; for I've an awkward habit of turning round -and knocking on the head any one that I imagine to be watching me." - -With these words the highwayman hurried off up the Strand: and Frank -Curtis entered a cigar shop, muttering to himself, "Damn the fellow! I -almost think he meant that for insolence. Egad! if he _did_, the next -time I meet him——" - -But the valiant young gentleman did not precisely make up his mind what -he should do, in the case supposed: and any resentment which he -experienced, speedily evaporated with the soothing influence of a -cheroot. - -Meantime Tom Rain pursued his way along the Strand and Fleet Street, and -repaired to the lodgings of Mr. Clarence Villiers in Bridge Street. - -That gentleman was at home, and received his visitor in a very friendly -manner. - -"You are most welcome, Captain Sparks," he said; "and the more so if you -intend to pass an hour or two with me; for my aunt is so very particular -that she _would_ take the girls to church with her this evening; but of -course I did not offer to accompany them, as I could not wear a veil -over my face, you know," he added, laughing; "and were I recognised by -Mr. Torrens or any of his friends, attention would be immediately -directed to any ladies who might happen to be in my company. So I shall -not visit Old Burlington Street this evening; and if you will bear me -company over a bottle of wine——" - -"I cannot possibly remain many minutes," interrupted Rainford. "In fact -I am going to leave England very shortly——" - -"Leave England!" ejaculated Clarence. "I am truly sorry to hear that -announcement—just as we begin to get friendly together." - -"Circumstances compel me to take this step," answered Rainford; "and my -time for preparation is short. I have called to-night upon business—for, -in a word, you can do me a service, perhaps, if you will." - -"As if there were any doubt relative to my inclination, provided I have -the power," exclaimed Clarence, who was busily employed in decanting a -bottle of port-wine: then, having placed upon the table two glasses, -which he filled, he said, "You know, Captain Sparks, that I am under the -greatest obligation to you. Through your kind—your generous -intervention, Adelais will be mine. The banns were published at St. -George's, Hanover Square, a second time to-day; and to-morrow week we -shall be united. The bridal breakfast will take place at my aunt's: -shall we not have the pleasure of your company? Pray, do not refuse me." - -"It is impossible—much as I should rejoice at being the witness of that -union which no severe or mercenary father will be able to subvert," said -Rainford in a feeling tone. "My affairs compel me to leave this -country—at least for a time; and for that reason I am anxious to place -in your hands a certain document, the mystery of which some accident -might probably lead you to clear up." - -Rainford then produced the letter which had been found about the person -of the deceased Sarah Watts, and which he now requested Villiers to -peruse. - -"You observe that there is no address to indicate the name of the lady -to whom that letter was written," continued the highwayman, when -Clarence had read it with attention. "The child to whom it refers is now -in my care: accident threw him in my way—and his adopted mother, who was -the writer of that letter, is no more." - -[Illustration] - -"Will the child accompany you?" asked Villiers. - -"He will. But I will write to you the moment I reach America—to which -country I am going—and let you know my address, or at all events through -what channel a letter will come direct to me. Then, should you have made -any discovery—which is however scarcely to be expected—still, as a wise -precaution, I have adopted this step——" - -"You are right, Captain," said Villiers; "and I shall not forget the -trust you have now confided to me. Should anything transpire respecting -this matter, I will not fail to communicate with you. But will you not -pass one evening with me in the society of my aunt and the two young -ladies, who will all be delighted to receive you? Mrs. Slingsby is a -most amiable and excellent woman——" - -"A little of a saint—is she not?" exclaimed the highwayman drily. - -"She is certainly of a religious turn of mind—indeed, I may say, -enthusiastically so," answered Villiers. "But she is extremely -charitable—and her benevolence embraces a very wide circle." - -"I believe she is a handsome woman, too!" observed Tom Rain. - -"She is possessed of personal as well as mental attractions, Captain -Sparks," responded Villiers seriously. "But, when in her society, you -would think of her only as the pious—benevolent—and compassionate woman, -whose heart is ever ready to sympathise with the woes of her fellow -creatures." - -"To speak candidly, Mr. Villiers," said Rainford, "I am no friend to the -_saints_. It may be a prejudice on my part—but I can't help it. Excuse -me for my frankness—I beg of you to take it in good part: still I always -think that the stillest water runs deepest; and I would not——" - -"Remember, Captain Sparks," interrupted Villiers, somewhat warmly, "that -you are speaking of my aunt, who is a most worthy and estimable woman. -Deeply as I am indebted to you—much as I am inclined to esteem -you—yet——" - -"I understand you, my dear Mr. Villiers," cried Tom: "you cannot permit -me to breathe even a suspicion against Mrs. Slingsby in your presence. -Well—I know that it is most ungracious on my part: still, as I was more -or less instrumental in inducing those too artless, confiding young -ladies to quit their father's home—to abandon the paternal dwelling——" - -"Good heavens! what do you mean?" ejaculated Clarence, now seriously -alarmed. "I see that there is something at the bottom of all this! -Captain Sparks, I implore you to explain yourself. You are evidently -well-intentioned—you have shown the greatest friendship for me—I -reciprocate the feeling most cordially: fear not, then, to speak." - -"My dear Villiers," answered the highwayman, "how can I enter upon -particulars the narration of which would be most painful for you to -hear? And yet I should not be acting consistently with my duty towards -those young ladies—no, nor towards yourself who are about to make one of -them your wife——" - -"Hesitate not: speak freely!" exclaimed Clarence, seeing that his -companion paused. "Should the breath of scandal have wafted to your ear -anything prejudicial to the character of my aunt, I cannot blame your -motive in confiding the fact to me. And I the more earnestly solicit you -to be frank and candid—that is, to act consistently with your nature, -which is all frankness and candour,—and reveal to me the cause of this -distrust—this want of confidence relative to Mrs. Slingsby,—because I -have no doubt of being able to convince you that you have been misled." - -"And should I succeed in convincing _you_ to the contrary?" asked -Rainford. - -"Then I should say that you had indeed performed the part of a friend," -replied Villiers emphatically. "Although I know beforehand that such a -result is impossible—yet, for your complete satisfaction, do I declare -that should you prove my aunt to be in any way an unsuitable guardian -for that dear girl Adelais, and her sister, I shall conceive it to be my -duty immediately to seek for them another home—yes, another home—even -for the few days that remain to be passed ere I shall acquire a right to -protect Adelais as her husband and Rosamond as her brother." - -"You have spoken well and wisely, Villiers," said Rainford; "but I do -not recommend any extreme measure, which might only irritate your aunt, -and perhaps lead to the forced restoration of the young ladies to their -father before you can have obtained the right you speak of. I merely -wish you to be on your guard——" - -"But the grounds of your suspicion, Captain?" cried Clarence -impatiently. "Pardon my interruption—and pity my suspense." - -"I do both," returned the highwayman. "And now remember that I am no -mischief-maker between relations or friends; and were it not for the -peculiar circumstances of this case, in which two innocent young ladies -are concerned, I should never have thought it worth while to utter a -word of any thing I know injurious to Mrs. Slingsby's character—no, not -even to unmask the most disgusting hypocrisy," added Rainford warmly. - -"Do you still allude to my aunt?" demanded Clarence, colouring with -indignation. - -"I do. But start not—I am not seeking a quarrel with you, Villiers—and -you promised to listen patiently." - -"To no other living being should I have listened so patiently as I have -already done to you," said Clarence. "But pray let us hasten to dispose -of so disagreeable a topic in one way or the other." - -"I am most anxious to do so," continued the highwayman. "Do you know Sir -Henry Courtenay?" - -"Certainly: he is my aunt's best friend." - -"And her lover," added Rainford coolly. - -Villiers started from his seat, exclaiming, "Captain Sparks! you presume -upon the obligation which I owe you, to calumniate——" - -"Then good evening, Mr. Villiers," interrupted the highwayman. "If this -is the fair and impartial hearing which you promised to give me,—if this -is the manner in which you treat one who has not—cannot have an improper -motive in offering you wise counsel——" - -"Stay, my dear friend—stay!" exclaimed Clarence, actually thrusting -Rainford back into his seat; "and pray forgive my impetuosity. But this -accusation—so sudden—so unexpected—so very strange——" - -"And yet it is substantially true," added Rainford emphatically: "and it -is proper that you should know it. For my part, I am not the man to blame -Mrs. Slingsby for having a lover—nor yet the lover for having her as his -mistress: it's human nature both ways. But when I know that she has been -entrusted by you with the guardianship of two young ladies of tender age -and spotless innocence, and one of whom is so very, very dear to you, I -consider it necessary for you to be enlightened as to her true -character. I've no doubt that you must feel deeply this communication: -but it is better for you to learn that your aunt is something that she -ought not to be, than to find out when it is too late that your wife or -her sister have been corrupted by bad example." - -Clarence paced the room in an agitated manner: then, at the expiration -of a few minutes, he turned suddenly, exclaiming, "Not for a moment, -Captain Sparks, do I suspect you of any sinister object: but you will -pardon me for soliciting the proof of this charge which, if -substantiated, must so completely and so painfully change my opinion of -a relative whom I have until now vaunted as the pattern of virtue and -propriety." - -"The mode of proving the charge may be left to yourself," replied the -highwayman. "Did you ever hear the circumstance of your aunt's house -being robbed by a boy to whom she gave a night's lodging, some four or -five years ago?" - -"Certainly," exclaimed Villiers. "I recollect the incident well. Mrs. -Slingsby herself communicated it to me. The ungrateful young villain——" - -"I know that boy," interrupted Tom Rain drily; "and I am convinced that -he told me the truth when he declared that, during the night—or rather -the portion of the night, which he passed in Mrs. Slingsby's house, -accident made him a witness to a scene which leaves no doubt as to the -fact that Sir Henry Courtenay and Mrs. Slingsby are as intimate as man -and wife together." - -"And would you receive the testimony of a thief——" - -"When well corroborated," added the highwayman. - -"But how happened it that you should have any connexion with this lad, -Captain Sparks!" demanded Clarence, in a cold and suspicions tone. - -"Suppose that the boy has repented of his errors—that he has merited my -interest by a service which accident enabled him to render me—that he -related to me his entire history, in which this incident is -comprised—and that, on questioning him closely, I learnt that the -occurrence took place at the residence of your aunt?" - -"I am bewildered—amazed—grieved—profoundly grieved!" ejaculated -Villiers. "To suppose for an instant that this kind and affectionate -relative—who has always been so good to me, and through whose bounty I -am enabled to prepare and fit up a suitable dwelling for the reception -of my beloved Adelais,—to think that this much-respected and -long-revered woman should conceal the greatest profligacy beneath the -mask of charity and religion—oh! it is a cruel blow!" - -"Again I say that the mode of proving the charge may be left to -yourself," observed Rainford. "Seek an opportunity to be alone with Mrs. -Slingsby—make some pointed allusion to the incident—and mark how she -receives it." - -"I will call at my aunt's residence to-morrow morning early—the very -first thing," exclaimed Villiers. "The whole affair is most serious; -and, now that I can at length contemplate it with something bordering on -calmness, I am bound to confess——But let us quit the topic," he added, -in a tone of deep vexation, in spite of his asserted self-possession. - -"And you bear me no ill-will for the course I have pursued?" said -Rainford. - -"Far from it. You have acted in a most friendly manner—whatever the -result may be!" cried Villiers, grasping the highwayman's hand most -cordially. - -"I have performed a very painful duty," rejoined Tom: "and now I must -take my leave of you—perhaps for a long, long time—if not for ever." - -"Farewell," said Clarence; "and may prosperity attend you in another -clime." - -"Farewell," replied Rainford; "and may you be happy with your Adelais." - -The highwayman then hurried from the room, considerably affected by this -parting from one for whom he already experienced a most sincere regard. - -Nor was Villiers unmoved by this farewell scene; for, on his side, he -was particularly attached to the individual who had not only rendered -him so essential a service on that memorable night which first made them -acquainted with each other, but whose apparent frankness of disposition -and manliness of character were well calculated to engage the good -opinion of the confiding, warm-hearted, and unsuspecting Clarence. - - - - - CHAPTER XLV. - MR. DYKES AND HIS MYRMIDONS. - - -It was midnight; and profound silence reigned throughout the region of -Lock's Fields. - -But suddenly that silence was broken by the tread of several persons, -who emerged from a bye-alley in the immediate vicinity of Brandon -Street. - -At the corner of this street they paused to hold a hasty conference. - -They were six in number—five men and a woman. - -"This is the street," said the woman. - -"Oh! this is it, Mrs. Bunce—eh?" returned Mr. Dykes, the Bow Street -officer, rubbing his nose with the knob of his stout ash-stick, while -his countenance, on which the bright moon-beams played, showed an -expression of calm determination. - -"Yes: and that's the house—there: the ninth on t'other side of the way," -added Mrs. Bunce. - -"Well—now we don't want you no more, ma'am," said Dykes; "'cos women is -all very well in their place; and darling creatur's they are too. But -when a grab is to be made, they're best at home, a-bed and asleep. So -good night to you, ma'am." - -"Good night, gentlemen all," responded Mrs. Bunce; and she hurried away. - -"Now, Bingham and you fellers," said Mr. Dykes, "we must mind what we're -up to; for we shan't catch a weasel asleep. You, Bingham, take one of -the runners and get round to the back of the house. Me and t'other chaps -will make the entry in front. But we shan't stir a peg for one quarter -of an hour; and by that time you'll be at your post." - -"All right," returned Mr. Bingham; and this individual accordingly moved -off, followed by one of the subordinate runners. - -In the meantime, Tom Rainford was sleeping, not dreaming of danger, in -the arms of the beautiful Jewess. - -Charley Watts was cradled in a little bed made up for him in the warmest -corner of the room. - -A light burnt in the apartment, where naught was heard save the slow, -regular breathing of the sleepers. - -The clear, transparent olive complexion of the beautiful Jewess -contrasted strongly with the florid countenance of the highwayman; and -the commingling of the raven hair of the one with the light, almost -yellow locks of the other, produced a strange effect, as the marked -discrepancy of hues was set off by the snowy whiteness of the pillow. By -the feeble light of the candle, it appeared as if ebony and gold were -blending on a white ground. - -But, hark! what is that sound which breaks on the silence of the -chamber?—and wherefore does the highwayman start from his sleep? - -He awakes—and listens. - -The Jewess also awakes—and also listens,—one of her beautifully modelled -arms thrown around the neck of him whom she loved so fondly. - -"Some one is trying the back-door," whispered Rainford at length; and he -leapt from the bed. - -In less than a minute he had thrown on his clothes; and grasping his -pistols, he hastened to the window. - -But at the same instant the back-door was forced in;—more violently, no -doubt, than Bingham and his co-operator had intended; and the sound was -too unequivocal to permit Tom Rain to doubt the meaning of the -disturbance. - -Returning to the bed, he said in a hurried but solemn and deeply -impressive tone, "Dearest, I am betrayed. If I escape, you shall soon -hear from me: if I am captured, I charge you—by all the love I bear for -you—by all the love you bear for me—not to attempt to visit me in -prison! Farewell—dearest, dearest girl!" - -He embraced her fondly—affectionately,—oh! most lovingly; while she -sobbed as if her heart would break. - -Then in a moment he tore himself away:—footsteps—many footsteps were -already ascending—nay, rushing up—the stairs. - -He darted from the room, sprang up a ladder which stood on the -landing—pushed up a trap-door—and in another moment was on the roof of -the house. - -The officers were close upon him. Dykes and his two men had effected an -entry by the front-door of the house almost at the same moment that -Bingham and his follower had broken in at the back; and the entire -_posse_ reached the landing just at the moment that the trap-door fell -down heavily into its place. - -"He has escaped by the roof!" cried Dykes. "Bingham, my boy, take a -couple of chaps, and watch the backs of the houses: he can't get away by -the front—it's too high for him to leap into the street. Me and t'other -chap will after him to the tilings." - -Thus saying, Dykes ascended the ladder as quickly as his unwieldly form -would permit. The trap-door was easily raised, as it only fastened -inside; and the portly body of the Bow Street officer, who possessed -more courage than alacrity, was forced through the small aperture. The -operation was slow and difficult; but at last Mr. Dykes stood on a -narrow ledge which ran along the whole row of houses, and from which the -roof rose obliquely behind. This ledge was only protected by a parapet -about two feet high; and the officer felt his position to be any thing -but a safe one. - -But he was not the man to shrink from danger. - -"Come along, you feller," he cried out to his follower, who speedily -emerged from the opening. "You cut along that way, and I'll go this." - -And they proceeded in different directions on the roof of the house. - -The moon shone brightly, but Thomas Rainford was not to be seen. - -Suddenly an exclamation of triumph burst from the yard at the back of -one of the adjacent houses. - -"Holloa?" vociferated Dykes, from the eminence on which he stood. - -"We've got him, fast enough," returned Bingham. - -A piercing shriek from a window that had been thrown open, denoted the -anguish of the Jewess, whose ears had caught these words. - -Mr. Dykes and his attendant subordinate now retraced their way to the -trap-door, through the aperture of which they once more forced -themselves; and when they had regained the landing Dykes said, "Now you -go and join my partner Bingham, 'cos this Rainford is a desperate -feller, and the more there is to guard him the better." - -The man accordingly took his departure, and Mr. Dykes knocked gently at -the door of the bed-room. - -"Who is there?" asked a voice within,—a voice soft and melodious, but -now expressive of the most intense anguish. - -"Beg pardon, ma'am," said Dykes; "but I must do my duty; and if so be -you'll have the kindness to dress yourself, I should like to examine the -boxes and cupboards, and such like—just for form's sake, and that's -all." - -"Must you thus add to the grief which is already——" - -The plaintive voice was interrupted by a violent fit of sobbing, with -the mournful sounds of which the crying of the little boy now -commingled. - -"I don't want to annoy you, ma'am," returned Dykes. - -"I should hope not, indeed!" exclaimed the landlady, who, having been -alarmed by the disturbance, had got up and dressed herself, and was now -ascending the stairs. "But what is it all about? and why do you break -into a respectable house in this way? I don't suppose you're thieves—or -else——" - -"I am an officer, ma'am," exclaimed Dykes, drawing himself up with -offended dignity, as the candle which the landlady carried in her hand -lighted the landing-place:—"I am an officer, ma'am—and my partners have -just taken one Thomas Rainford, a highwayman——" - -"A highwayman!" ejaculated the widow, who had never suspected the -character of her lodger, and who was a prudent woman that never troubled -herself about other people's business so long as her rent was regularly -paid. - -"Yes—a highwayman," added Dykes. "But I've no time to stand palavering. -I b'lieve there's a lady in this room here; and as I must overhaul the -place—as the case is a serious one—you'll do well to step in and let me -do the job quietly. I don't want to annoy her: the law isn't at -loggerheads with her—and so she's nothing to fear. As for me, I'm as -gentle as a lamb when a lady's concerned." - -The widow urged the afflicted girl within the room to open the door; and -as the latter had by this time dressed herself, the request was complied -with. - -But the Jewess wore a deep black veil over her head, when the officer -and the landlady entered the bed-chamber; and, taking Charley in her -arms, she seated herself in a chair near the bed, whispering a few words -of consolation to the little boy even amidst the terrible violence of -her own grief. - -As for Charles, he knew that something wrong was occurring; but he was -too young to comprehend the real nature of the appearances which -terrified him. - -Dykes just opened a cupboard, plunged his hands into a trunk, and turned -out the contents of a carpet-bag: but he did not prosecute his search -any farther; for he was too much experienced in the ways of robbers and -rogues to suppose for a moment that he should find on the premises any -portion of the money stolen from Sir Christopher Blunt,—this being the -charge on which Rainford was arrested. - -The search, such as it was, was merely for form's sake; because the -magistrate was sure to inquire whether the prisoner's lodgings had been -carefully examined; and this superficial glance at the contents of the -boxes would enable Mr. Dykes to give an affirmative answer without any -very great deviation from the actual truth. - -He accordingly quitted the room within a minute after entering it; but -he turned on the landing just to beg "the dear young lady not to take on -too much," and also to assure the mistress of the house that she should -be recompensed for the injury done to her abode by the violent entry -effected by himself and his companions.[23] - -We must leave the landlady to console—or endeavour to console the -unhappy Jewess,—and accompany Mr. Dykes, who passed out of the house by -the back way, and stepped over two or three low fences which separated -the yards of the respective dwellings, until he reached that one where -Tom Rain was in the custody of Bingham and the subordinate runners. - -It appeared that the gallant highwayman, finding how hotly he was -pursued when he was escaping by means of the trap-door, and dreading -lest the whole neighbourhood should be alarmed ere he could possibly get -away, had resolved on the dangerous expedient of sliding down from the -roof to the back of the buildings, by means of the perpendicular leaden -water-pipe. But when he was half-way down in his perilous descent, he -missed his hold, and fell upon the stone pavement of the yard beneath. -He endeavoured to get up and escape—but could not: his right ankle was -sprained, almost to dislocation; and in a few minutes he was discovered -and captured by the detachment under the orders of Bingham. - -He heard the piercing scream which followed the announcement of his -arrest by this officer; and that scream—oh! it went to thy generous -heart, Tom Rain! - -But he uttered not a word: he offered no resistance, although he had his -pistols about him. He not only shrank from the idea of shedding human -blood: but he was also well aware that his case was now too desperate to -be benefited by even desperate means. For, even if he slew all the -officers, he could not drag himself away ere the neighbours would -collect and capture him. - -And by this time, the whole line of houses was awake with bustle and -excitement. Light after light appeared at the different casements: -windows were thrown up; and the rumour spread like wildfire, that a -famous highwayman had just been arrested. - -The reader may well conceive the nature of the sensation which now -prevailed all along the back of Brandon Street;—but in one room there -was a beauteous woman convulsed with torturing—maddening anguish,—for -deep was her love for thee, Tom Rain! - -"Now, then," cried Dykes, as he made his appearance in the yard, where -the highwayman was sitting on an inverted wash-tub, surrounded by the -runners, to whom he had surrendered his pistols;—"now, then lads—let's -off with him to quod. How d'ye do, Mr. Rainford! Don't want to crow over -a gentleman in trouble—but thought I should have you some day or -another." Then, stooping down, he whispered in Tom's ear, "I was -obleeged to give a look in at the crib up there just now; but I only -stayed a moment, and shan't trouble the poor lady any more. She had a -veil over her face—and so I don't know who she is: that is, you see, I -_shan't_ know, if I'm asked any questions by the beak:—but of course I'm -aware it's the handsome Jewess that did the diamond business." - -"You are mistaken—you are mistaken," said Rainford, emphatically. "But, -if you showed her any civility, I sincerely thank you——" - -"Lord bless you! Mr. Rainford—I wouldn't do any thing to annoy you for -the world. I can't help admiring a brave man—and you're one. The poor -dear lady will be troubled no more by us; and it's nothing to me who she -is, or who she is not. The law don't want _her_, at all events." - -"One word more," said Tom. "Who has done this business for me?" - -"A lawyer named Howard," was the answer. "But I can't say no more——" - -"Then what is the charge against me?" asked Tom, a considerable load -already removed from his mind. - -"Sir Christopher Blunt's little business—that's all," replied Dykes. -"But come along: we must be off to Horsemonger." - -Mr. Dykes and Mr. Bingham politely offered Rainford their arms; and the -procession passed through the house, in the yard belonging to which the -capture had been made. The occupants of that dwelling—men, women, and -children, all in their night-dresses—crowded on the stairs to catch a -glimpse of the "terrible highwayman," whose good looking appearance -excited the sympathy of the female portion of the spectators. - -Half an hour afterwards Tom Rain was lodged in a cell in the criminal -department of Horsemonger Lane Gaol;—but his heart was lighter than the -reader might possibly suppose—for he was relieved of the first and most -natural fear that had assailed him: namely, that it was on account of -Benjamin Bones's death that he was pursued! - -"If I must be hanged," he thought within himself, "I would rather it -should be for highway robbery than aught else!—But, O Tamar! Tamar! what -is to become of _thee_?" - -And, as he sate on the humble pallet in the darkness of his solitary -cell, he buried his face in his manacled hands. - -In another moment a moonbeam penetrated through the barred window; and -in that silver ray glistened the tears which trickled between his -fingers. - -And yet it was not for himself he wept:—thou wast no coward—but thou -hadst a generous heart, Tom Rain! - ------ - -Footnote 23: - - We should observe that at the time of which we are writing, it was by - no means unusual for Bow Street officers to be employed in the pursuit - or capture of desperate characters in Surrey, although this county was - not strictly within their district. - - - - - CHAPTER XLVI. - EXPLANATIONS. - - -At eleven o'clock on the following day, Lord Ellingham, who had passed a -sleepless and wretched night, called at the house of Lady Hatfield, and -was immediately conducted to the drawing-room, where Georgiana was alone -in readiness to receive him. - -She was dressed in a morning garb, and, though very—very pale, looked -surpassingly lovely. - -"My dear friend," she said, extending her hand, which, as he offered to -press it with rapture to his lips, she gently but still resolutely -withdrew,—"my dear friend—for such henceforth must I call you——" - -"Georgiana!" he exclaimed, starting back: "what means this coolness?" - -"Be seated, Arthur—and listen to me attentively," she said in a -plaintive and sweetly touching tone. "I am not very well—my nerves are -not strong to-day—and you must not manifest any impatience towards me. -Indeed, I ought to have postponed this interview: but I considered it to -be my duty—a paramount duty owing alike to yourself and to me—to enter -into as early an explanation as possible." - -"This preface forebodes nothing favourable to my happiness," murmured -the Earl, as he sank into a seat to which Georgiana pointed—but which -was not by her side! - -"Arthur," she continued, with difficulty maintaining sufficient control -over her emotions to enable her to speak calmly and collectedly, "you -know not how much I love you—how dearly I am devoted to you. For your -sake, and to bear the name of your wife, I could consent to become a -mendicant—a wanderer on the face of the earth,—renounce -fortune—rank—society—all, in fine, that we women are generally deemed to -hold so dear,—yes, all this could I do for your sake, so that you were -my companion! Then, conceive how hard it is for me—oh! how very hard, my -well-beloved Arthur, to be compelled to say that henceforth we must know -each other only as friends!" - -"Merciful heavens!" ejaculated the Earl, uncertain whether the imagined -capriciousness of his Georgiana was about to assert its tantalizing -influence again, or whether any thing of a more serious nature, and -connected with the incidents of the preceding evening, was about to -present an insuperable bar to his happiness. - -"Yes—Arthur," continued Georgiana, in an impressive tone, "henceforth we -must be but as brother and sister to each other. And as a dear, fond, -affectionate sister will I ever be to you; for your generosity would -have made me your wife in spite of——But you cannot wish me to refer to -_that_! And yet it _is_ that one sad episode in my life which now -asserts an inexorable influence over the conduct which we must _both_ -pursue. It is that event, which you—in the noble candour, in the warm -liberality of your admirable disposition——" - -"You praise me too highly, Georgiana," exclaimed the Earl. "I loved -you—I love you dearly; and in spite of all that you now say, hope is not -quenched within me. But, my God! when will this painful suspense pass? -When shall I behold you no longer a prey to an influence——" - -"Alas! that influence must endure for ever!" murmured Lady Hatfield, -tears now trembling upon her eye-lashes. - -"No—no!" cried the Earl with impassioned energy. "When, but a few days -ago, we entered into explanations with each other—when I informed you -that I was aware of the nature of that secret influence which tyrannised -over you,—did I not assure you that, as a loving husband, I would so -completely study your happiness——" - -"Oh! yes," interrupted Georgiana; "and did I not declare that you had -given me a proof of affection such as man seldom gave unto woman? -Believe me—believe me," she added earnestly, "I felt all that there was -great—generous—and noble in your conduct: for, knowing that secret—that -sad, that fatal secret—you banished all prejudice—discarded even those -scruples which the most high-minded of men so often entertain under such -circumstances——" - -"Dearest Georgiana!" exclaimed the Earl; "you attach far too much -importance to the secret of which you speak. What man that truly loves a -virtuous—beautiful—accomplished—and amiable woman, would allow himself -to be swayed——" - -"Ah! every heart is not so generous as yours!" interrupted Georgiana. -"You recognise the complete innocence of my soul——" - -"I cannot believe that you would be guilty of the wanton cruelty of -inflicting these tortures upon me, Georgiana," said the Earl, "were it -not for that strange—that almost morbid state of mind which is at times -produced by the recollection of a serious fright which you experienced -some years ago, and from the effects of which you have not completely -recovered. But, after all, wherefore do you praise me so -highly—wherefore do you thank me so much for the simple fact of not -allowing the knowledge of this occasional access of morbid feeling to -weigh with me——" - -"Arthur!" almost shrieked Georgiana, losing all control over herself; -"then, you know not the secret—the dreadful secret——" - -"Yes: have I not proved to you that I know it?" exclaimed the Earl, -surprised and grieved at the strange manner of Lady Hatfield. "Your -uncle put me in possession of the facts: and what is there in them, -after all? It is a mere adventure which one would now tell only as a -Christmas tale—or to amuse children,—had it not produced so serious an -influence upon your nerves, and——" - -"Arthur! Arthur! is this a cruel pleasantry?" demanded Georgiana -hysterically; "or have we misunderstood each other all along?" - -"You know that I am incapable of turning to ridicule or making a jest of -any thing that regards you, Georgiana," returned the Earl. "And as for -any misunderstanding between us, there is none. Our explanation the -other day was full—complete—satisfactory——" - -"No—no," cried Lady Hatfield, painfully excited. "I see that I am -mistaken—that you have learnt a bare fact——" - -"Yes: and since we are now conversing on the topic," said the Earl, "let -us enter fully into it and then abandon it for ever. I see that you -attach much importance to this subject—and that, when we are united, -there may be no necessity ever to recur——" - -"If ever we are united!" repeated Georgiana, clasping her hands in -anguish of heart. - -"Yes, my well-beloved," continued the Earl. "And now listen to me. About -seven years ago you were staying alone at Mauleverer Lodge in -Hampshire——" - -"Oh! the fatal time—the fatal place!" cried Georgiana hysterically; and -though she would have given worlds to cut short the conversation, she -had not the power—for her mind was agitated like the ocean in a storm. - -"You were staying alone at Mauleverer Lodge," proceeded Arthur, not -observing the extent of her emotion; "you were alone, save in respect to -the servants: but you had no relation—no friend there at the moment. And -one night—a man broke in——" - -"A man—with a black mask——" murmured Georgiana, almost wringing her -hands. - -"And bearing the denomination, too, of the _Black Mask_," continued Lord -Ellingham;—"this man broke into the house—and——" - -"And—merciful heavens! Spare me the recital of the rest!" shrieked Lady -Hatfield, covering her face with her hands. - -"Good God! do not thus give way to a reminiscence which, though painful, -should no longer exercise any influence over a strong mind!" said the -Earl, in a kind and soothing tone, as he approached and seated himself -next to Georgiana. "Consider, my dearly beloved—my angel—my intended -wife!—reflect, I implore you, upon the childishness of this behavior!" - -"Childishness!" repeated Georgiana, with a convulsive shudder. - -"Pardon the expression," said the Earl; "but I would reason with you—I -would endeavour to persuade you that an occurrence which is past and -gone, and which happens frequently in other houses, should not thus -paralyse all the naturally fine energies of your soul. What, in the name -of heaven! can it matter now, if a robber broke into a dwelling some six -or seven years ago? Your uncle told me that for some months fears were -entertained for your reason: but——Oh! my Georgiana, I do implore you -now—now that we are once again touching on this painful—most painful -theme—to exercise more command over yourself. You praise me—you thank -me, because I am willing to espouse one whose reason was shocked long -years ago;—for that is your secret, after all, Georgiana—dearest -Georgiana;—and you perceive that I know it!" - -"My God! how have we misunderstood each other!" murmured the unhappy -lady:—"my secret—he knows it _not_!" - -But the Earl could not catch the sense of the words which she thus -whispered to herself; and, with the fond hope of consoling her—for the -events of the preceding evening were for the time banished from his -memory—he took her hand, pressed it to his lips, and began to utter -syllables of tenderness and love. - -Then, how terrible was his surprise—how acute the anguish which filled -his soul, when Georgiana, suddenly starting from the half-embrace in -which he was already enfolding her, exclaimed in a tone indicative of -the most exquisite mental agony, "No—Arthur—no: you are not acquainted -with my secret—and _now_, never, never will you learn it! We have -misunderstood each other—and I consented the other day to become your -wife, while labouring under a dreadful—oh! a dreadful error! But heaven -has interposed to prevent the consummation of _your_ misery—and _mine_! -And now," she added, with the calmness of despair, "let us separate, -Arthur—and henceforth be unto each other but brother and sister;—for -your wife I cannot become!" - -"Georgiana, this is cruelty the most refined—the most wanton!" exclaimed -the Earl. "Am I again to pass through all the phases of -suspense—uncertainty—mystery—and doubt?—and will you in a few days -repent of all you have said, and recall this stern decision? But—much as -I love you—deeply as I am attached to you—I cannot—cannot endure a -treatment——" - -"Pardon me—forgive me!" cried Georgiana; "but you do not comprehend me! -My reason is not unhinged,—I am subject to no whims—no caprice, Arthur! -A fatal mistake on my part alone induced me the other day to consent to -become your wife. That error has now been cleared up—our conversation of -this morning has convinced me of the tremendous misunderstanding that -had nearly wrecked all _your_ happiness! But, even had it not, there was -_another_ reason which would imperatively command us to think no more of -each other in the same light as we so lately did!" - -"Ah! you allude, perchance, to the incident of last evening!" exclaimed -Lord Ellingham. "Permit me, then, to ask the object of that Rainford's -visit? Did he insult you? did he attempt to extort money from you? If -so——" - -"No—no!" cried Georgiana, in whose bosom the mere mention of the -highwayman's name appeared to excite the most agonising feelings. "I -sent down a message to that effect last night. He did not insult me—he -did not come to injure me——" - -"But his presence excited you most painfully, Georgiana!" interrupted -the Earl; "and it has also revived in your imagination——Oh! I understand -it all!" he cried, suddenly interrupting himself: "this Rainford is the -Black Mask—the noted highwayman of Hampshire!" - -Lady Hatfield cast upon the young nobleman a look expressive of so much -mental suffering, that he was deeply touched—profoundly affected: and -yet he knew not how to administer consolation. - -"Georgiana," he at length said, in as calm and collected a tone as he -could assume, though his heart was in reality rent by the most painful -emotions, "there is some terrible mystery in all this! I begin to -believe—as you yourself ere now endeavoured to persuade me—that your -reason is in no way affected—that you are not subject to mere whims and -caprices. No—the cause of your grief—your anguish—your horror at the -reminiscence of that event in Hampshire,—an anguish and a horror cruelly -revived last night by the presence of that Rainford, who is doubtless -identical with the Black Mask,—an anguish and a horror perpetuated, too, -until now," continued Arthur, more emphatically,—"the cause of all this -is far—far more serious than I had at first imagined. You say that you -cannot become my wife—and that you have laboured under a -misapprehension: you wish us to look upon each other as brother and -sister. And yet you do love me well enough to become my wife—did not -some terrible and fearfully mysterious obstacle stand in the way. Oh! if -you really love me—then pity me, and tell me this dreadful secret which -weighs upon your mind! Unless, indeed——" - -And he paused abruptly, as an awful suspicion rushed into his brain. - -Georgiana only turned her head aside, and sobbed convulsively. - -"Unless, indeed," continued the Earl, after a few moments' silence, "it -would bring a blush to your cheek to enlighten me; and I cannot—cannot -ask you to humiliate yourself in my presence!" - -"Arthur, I _dare_ not become your wife!" exclaimed Georgiana, suddenly -falling upon her knees before him; "and if you demand the reason—as, -after all that has passed between us, you have a right—I will confess——" - -"Georgiana, no more!" cried the Earl, hastening to raise her. "Not for -worlds would I bring a blush to your cheek." Then, in a different—more -serious—and very mournful tone, he added, "Henceforth we will be to each -other as sister and brother." - -With these words he touched her hand lightly with his lips, and was -about to hurry from the room; when, animated by a sudden thought, -Georgiana held him back, saying in a hollow, thick tone of voice, -"Whatever suspicion you now entertain—you do not believe that I—_was -guilty_?" she added, as if the very words were choking her. - -"No, much injured woman!" cried the young nobleman warmly. "A light has -broken in upon my mind—and I understand it all." - -"Yes—for a pure soul dwells in a tainted body," murmured Lady Hatfield; -"and if I have said this much—and you can well believe how painful to my -feelings the mere necessity of making such an assertion must be,—but in -making it, I am influenced only by the hope—the earnest hope of removing -from your mind—the mind of one whom I so much respect—so highly -esteem——" - -"Say no more, my dearest _sister_!" interrupted the Earl emphatically; -"for as a sister do I now look upon you—and as a _brother_," he added -sternly, "will I avenge you. For _that_ was I ere now hurrying away so -abruptly!" - -"Avenge me!" repeated Georgiana, looking wildly on the young nobleman's -countenance, which wore a calm but determined expression. - -"Yes, Georgiana," replied the Earl: "wrongs so deep as yours demand a -deadly vengeance. And who so fit to become the instrument of that -vengeance, than he whom those wrongs which _you_ have sustained so -cruelly redound upon? But for that incarnate fiend Rainford, would you -not already—yes, already have been my loved and loving wife? Am I not, -then, also wronged by him? Have I not something to avenge?" he demanded -bitterly. "And to consummate this vengeance, Georgiana, I—your _brother_ -henceforth—will forget my proud title—cast aside the remembrance of my -elevated rank;—and, dressed in mean attire, I will visit the noisome -dens—the foul courts—the low neighbourhoods of London, until I discover -that miscreant Rainford. Then will I—still forgetting the proud title -and the elevated rank—dare him to meet me in a duel, from which at least -but one shall depart alive, and wherein both may haply fall! I will not -yield him up to the hangman, Georgiana," continued the Earl, fearfully -excited; "because in his last moments he might confess his crimes, and -include amongst them the foul wrong he has inflicted on thee, my sister! -But I will descend to make myself his equal—I will place myself on a -level with that black-hearted ruffian——" - -"Hold! hold!" screamed Georgiana, suddenly recovering the powers of -utterance which had been paralyzed by this tremendous explosion of -generous indignation on the part of that proudly-born noble who -proclaimed himself her champion. "Hold! hold! Arthur—you know not whom -you calumniate—whom you would provoke to the duel of death!" - -"Yes—too well I know the miscreant!" cried the Earl furiously. - -"No—no—you know him not!" screamed Georgiana wildly. - -"This is childish—silly!" said the Earl impatiently. "Was it not -Rainford who——" - -"Yes—yes: but this Rainford——" - -"Is a fiend, with a heart so black——" - -"Hold! hold! again I say," ejaculated Lady Hatfield, clasping her hands -in despair. "That Thomas Rainford whom you would make the victim of your -vengeance, is——" - -"Is what?" demanded the Earl hastily. - -"Is—is——" - -"Who? in the name of heaven!" - -"YOUR BROTHER!" was the hysterical reply. - - - - - CHAPTER XLVII. - FARTHER EXPLANATIONS. - - -"My brother!" repeated the Earl of Ellingham, with a wild glance and a -sudden start, indicative of the most painful surprise. "My brother! -Georgiana!—oh! no—impossible! 'Tis true that my father——but no——that -child died——" - -"I can give you no particulars—offer you no evidence in this most -strange and mysterious matter," said Lady Hatfield, endeavouring to -subdue the excitement produced in her much-agitated mind by the -preceding scene. "All that I know is—all that _he_ told me was that -secret which I have now revealed to you! Thus, Arthur, you perceive -that—independent of the _other_ reason which would prevent _me_ from -becoming yours, and _you_ from receiving me as your wife——" - -"But wherefore did you not mention this at first—at the commencement of -our conversation this morning?" demanded the nobleman, utterly -bewildered by the revelation that had been made to him, and scarcely -knowing whether to regard it as a substantial fact or a miserable -fiction. - -"Because Rainford himself appeared to tell it to me as a profound -secret," observed Georgiana. "Not that he desired me to consider it as -such: but his manner—and then the nature of the revelation itself, which -could not be gratifying to your feelings—oh! I scarcely know what I am -saying, Arthur—but I would have spared your feelings, had you not -compelled me to make that revelation, to prevent the mad—the insane -designs of vengeance which you had formed——" - -"I understand you, Georgiana," interrupted the Earl: "and deeply—oh! -deeply do I feel your generous consideration on that point. But there is -one question that I wish to ask you—a question——" - -"Speak, Arthur! This is the day of mutual outpourings of confidence," -said Lady Hatfield: "and, remember—we are henceforth to stand in the -light of brother and sister to each other!" - -"The question I would ask is relative to the robbery that was -perpetrated on you and Miss Mordaunt a short time back near Hounslow," -continued the Earl. "Was that highwayman——" - -"He was—he was!" exclaimed Georgiana, once more painfully excited. "But -do not look coldly on me, Arthur—do not despise me for that dreadful -crime of perjury which I committed to save him. He wrote me an imperious -note, commanding me to stop all proceedings instituted in reference to -that matter. What did such a note imply? It was a menace—a dreadful -menace,—a threat to expose me, if I did not obey his mandate! Consider, -Arthur—oh! consider how I was placed—my reputation at stake—my fame in -the hands of one who——But can you wonder that I preferred the dread -alternative of perjury to the danger of disgrace and infamy which seemed -to impend over my head?" - -"Alas! I cannot blame you, poor, suffering woman?" ejaculated the Earl -in a tone of deep commiseration. "We never know how we should act until -we find ourselves placed in circumstances of difficulty and -embarrassment; and then—then even the most rigid integrity often yields! -But let us sit down quietly, Georgiana, for a short half-hour—compose -ourselves, if we can—collect our scattered thoughts—and converse -together as sister and brother. For I will now communicate to you the -little I know concerning the birth of Thomas Rainford—if he indeed be -the offspring of that amour——" - -[Illustration] - -Arthur ceased, and passed his hand over his brow as if to calm the -warfare of thoughts and conjectures which agitated his brain. - -Georgiana seated herself on the sofa, and the Earl at length took a -chair near her. - -He then continued in the following manner:— - -"My father, the late Earl, was married twice: his first matrimonial -connexion was formed when he was thirty; and this union was unproductive -of issue. Lady Ellingham, as I have heard, was a woman devotedly -attached to the dissipation of a fashionable life. She seemed to exist -only to shine in the gay assemblies of the West End; and, as she had no -children, and her husband was immersed in politics, she possessed no -ties to bind her to her own fireside. She played deeply—for play was -very fashionable then amongst ladies, and is even now to a considerable -extent. Her extravagances were great, and she made rapid inroads upon my -father's fortune. By the time he was forty he found himself involved in -debts; and moreover, rumour began to be so busy with the name of his -wife, imputing to her the most shameless infidelity, that he determined -to separate from her. I should not allude to this circumstance—I would -not for a moment revive statements prejudicial to the memory of a woman -who has long ago gone to render an account of her deeds to her -Maker—were it not that respect for the name of my lamented father -renders me anxious to discover any extenuation which offers itself for -his subsequent conduct. Well, a separation was resolved upon: a certain -income was settled upon Lady Ellingham; the estate was put 'to nurse,' -as the law-phrase has it; and my father, who was a proud man, retired to -a small property which he possessed in Ireland, ostensibly for the -purpose of giving up the cares of public life, but in reality to conceal -the necessity of retrenching his expenditure. Ten years passed away: and -when my father was upwards of fifty, he returned to London, his estates -having in the meantime been relieved of all their incumbrances. Lady -Ellingham was still living: but the smallness of her income and the -impaired condition of her health, forced her to dwell in the strictest -retirement. She had moreover become a devotee, and manifested no desire -to return into the dazzling scenes of fashionable life. - -"I am now speaking of about thirty-one years ago; when I was not born. -It was at that period that my father encountered a young and very -beautiful girl, named Octavia Manners. She was the half-sister of a -marine-store dealer, who bore the disagreeable appellation of Benjamin -Bones. By all I have heard, Octavia must have been a charming creature; -and her manners, acquirements, and conversation were far superior to her -humble condition in life. I cannot give you any details respecting the -way in which my father became acquainted with her: suffice it to say -that he grew deeply attached to her, and his visits were encouraged by -her brother. But, alas! from all that I have heard, I have grounds—oh! -too strong grounds to believe that those visits were most unwelcome to -Octavia; for she was beloved by a young man in her own sphere of life, -and whom she loved in return. And it is now that I would palliate—as far -as possible—the conduct of my sire, while I am bound to admit that his -proceedings in respect to that unhappy girl were most unworthy the noble -and the man. My heart aches, too, as I utter these words: but I am -telling you a history, the truth of which must not be disguised nor in -any way misrepresented. But some allowance—some little excuse may be -found for a man who was separated from a wife whom he had not seen for -many years, and to whom there were positively no moral ties, although -the legal ones still existed, to bind his fidelity. He was devotedly -attached to a young and beautiful girl who unfortunately could not -return his love, and who did not even seem flattered by his visits, as -so many maidens in her sphere would have been. No—she shrank from his -addresses, and implored him not to persecute her! - -"But he persisted in his visits; and the first sad result was that the -young man to whom Octavia's faith was plighted, would not believe that -she discouraged the attentions of the nobleman who condescended to -appear at that humble dwelling. I cannot of course inform you, although -we may both imagine, how the young man reproached Octavia, and how she -defended herself: but it is certain that he suddenly quitted the -neighbourhood, leaving behind him a note declaring that he should never -see the unhappy girl again. Alas! that I should now be compelled to -recite the tale of my father's guilt—my father's crime! His love for -Octavia knew no bounds—he was determined to risk all—every thing——" - -"Spare your feelings, Arthur—dear Arthur!" exclaimed Lady Hatfield; "for -I can fully appreciate the grief which this revival of such a subject -must cause you!" - -"Octavia, then, was purchased—purchased with gold—my father's gold, -Georgiana;—and the deed of—dare I call it aught save _infamy_?—was -consummated!" said the Earl, in a low and subdued tone, as if he were -overcome by the enormity of his sire's guilt—that guilt which, with a -venial filial affection, he had vainly endeavoured to palliate. -"Yes—'twas done," he continued sadly; "and the vile half-brother sold -the honour of that young and already too deeply afflicted girl. Too -deeply afflicted, I say, because she had lost him on whom the -affections of her youthful heart were set. The very day after her -disgrace—her ruin, she fled from her brother's house; and for several -months no trace was discovered of her. It was feared she had committed -suicide; and my father was almost distracted. At that precise period -his wife died, having ended as a devotee that life of which so much of -the early portion was passed in dissipation and illicit amours. She -had not been laid many weeks in the family vault, when my father, by -some means unknown to me—perhaps, by accident—discovered that Octavia -was living, and that she was in the way to become a mother. He -hastened to the miserable garret which she occupied, and found her in -the most abject state of poverty—endeavouring to earn a subsistence -with her needle. A girl of the gipsy tribe, and whose name was -Miranda, was the friend and companion of poor Octavia. How they grew -acquainted—how they came to live together, I am not aware: but Miranda -was much attached to poor Octavia, and was nearly her own age. Indeed -Octavia was not seventeen even at that time; and this Miranda of whom -I speak, was about fifteen. Much mystery envelopes this portion of the -sad tale: it is, however, certain that my father visited Octavia for -several days—that he passed hours with her—that she even appeared to -be reconciled to his presence—and that they went out together, and -remained absent for hours, on two or three occasions. Again she -disappeared—suddenly—abruptly—without having intimated her intention -to my father, and without even having confided her design to her -friend Miranda. For Miranda remained behind at the lodging, and when -my father called and found Octavia not, he was seized with a paroxysm -of the deepest grief. - -"Another year passed away; and behold, poverty and distress drove the -unfortunate Octavia to seek an asylum at the house of her half-brother. -She would not, doubtless, have gone near that fatal dwelling where her -ruin was accomplished, had it not been for the child which she held in -her arms. That child—a boy—was the fruit of her connexion with my -father,—or rather of the dreadful deed which gave her, when under the -influence of an opiate, into his arms. But she was dying—yes, she was -dying, when she knocked at her brother's door; and on her death-bed she -implored that my father might be sent for. He flew to her: he knelt by -her side—he took the child in his arms, and embraced both the dying -mother and the innocent babe. By a strange—a wondrous coincidence, -Miranda entered the house at that moment: she had come to make inquiries -concerning Octavia—and found her dying. The poor mother forgave those -who had wronged her,—forgave her half-brother—blessed my father—yes, -blessed him—and recommended her infant to his care—that infant being -also his own! Then my father requested to be left alone with her; but -scarcely had the villain Bones and the faithful Miranda quitted the -room, when they were recalled by a dreadful cry which burst from my -father's lips;—and they hurried back to find that Octavia was no more." - -Arthur paused to wipe away the tears which were trickling down his -cheeks; nor were Georgiana's eyes unmoistened by the sweet dews of -sympathy. - -"When my father had sufficiently recovered himself to attend to more -worldly matters," continued the young Earl, "he gave directions for the -funeral of his victim; and to Miranda did he entrust the child. Then he -placed in the hands of Benjamin Bones, in the presence of Miranda, a -thousand guineas to be placed out at interest, in order to provide the -means of supporting the infant and his nurse. I should also inform you -that a small roll of papers, carefully wrapped up in a piece of thick -brown paper, was found upon the person of Octavia, shortly after her -death; and these were taken possession of by Benjamin Bones, my father -having previously quitted the house. Of the nature of those documents I -know nothing; but I have been informed that when the half-brother read -them, he was greatly excited, and secured them under lock and key. - -"A year elapsed, during which my father called several times to see the -little boy, who throve well in Miranda's care. But at the expiration of -that period his visits ceased altogether;—for he was about to marry -again. Twenty-nine years ago the Honourable Miss Stamford became his -second wife; and twenty-six years ago I was born. But before the date of -_my_ birth—and within six months after the marriage of my father -appeared in the newspapers—Bones discharged Miranda on some pretence; -and she returned to her tribe. Some few months afterwards she fell in -with another tribe; and to her profound surprise, she discovered the -child Thomas in the possession of a woman named Egyptia. Of the child's -identity Miranda had no doubt, because it had a peculiar mark near the -shoulder of the right arm. She and her sister-gipsy then compared notes, -and Egyptia told her that she had received the child from a man named -Benjamin Bones—a marine-store dealer in Greville Street, Hatton Garden; -that Bones had given her twenty guineas to take the child; that the -money was all gone; and that she already repented of the bargain. -Miranda, who was attached to the child, offered to take it; and her -proposal was accepted. For seven years did the faithful Miranda rear -that boy as if he were her own; but at last she fell dangerously ill—was -long delirious—and when she awoke to consciousness again, she learnt -from her companions that the boy had died of the same epidemic malady -beneath which she herself had nearly succumbed." - -Again the Earl paused for a few moments; and when he again broke -silence, it was to conclude his narrative. - -"My father, as you are aware, Georgiana, died when I was only a year -old; and I was brought up by my mother. At the age of nineteen I went to -Oxford; and it was in the neighbourhood of that city I one day fell in -with a party of gipsies. They offered to tell my fortune; and I -consented for the amusement of the farce. The young female who undertook -the task commenced by giving me my real name; for I had doubtless been -pointed out to her in the city, as the gipsies had been there and in the -vicinity for several days.[24] But the moment my name was mentioned, -another gipsy-woman, who had probably seen forty summers, uttered an -ejaculation of surprise—looked hard at me—and then inquired abruptly -whether I was the son of the late Earl of Ellingham. I answered in the -affirmative; and she let drop some observations which excited my -curiosity. I took her aside, thrust a guinea into her hand, and demanded -of her the meaning of her words. She returned me the money, and, after -much persuasion, narrated to me the whole history of Octavia -Manners—that is to say, as much of it as I have now told to you. You now -understand, Georgiana, how it is possible that this Thomas Rainford may -be my half-brother: but, if he be, the account of his death, received by -Miranda from her companions, must have been false;—for I need hardly -tell you that the elderly gipsy who unfolded to me the details of my -father's fatal conduct towards poor Octavia, was none other than Miranda -herself. Shortly afterwards my mother died; but I never revealed to her -the story of her late husband's guilt and Octavia's wrongs." - -Scarcely was this strange narrative concluded, when the door of the -apartment opened, and Sir Ralph Walsingham entered the room. - -"Well," he exclaimed, "Mr. Rainford, who honoured this house with a -visit last night, and frightened you, Georgiana, so sadly, has got -himself into a pleasant scrape at last——" - -"Indeed!" exclaimed Lord Ellingham hastily; "what——" - -"He is arrested on a charge of highway robbery—a robbery, in fact, -committed on no less a person than our acquaintance Sir Christopher -Blunt," returned the baronet. - -"Arrested!" ejaculated the Earl, exchanging a rapid glance with -Georgiana, as much as to enjoin her not to allow the subject of their -previous conversation to transpire in the presence of Sir Ralph -Walsingham. - -"Yes—arrested last night—lodged in Horsemonger Lane Gaol, as a character -too desperate to put into the usual lock-up—and examined before the -Magistrates at the office in the Borough this morning," continued Sir -Ralph. "I happened to be in the neighbourhood an hour ago, and heard all -about it. But he is remanded for a week, at the solicitation of Mr. -Howard, the attorney for the prosecution, Sir Christopher not being in -London. Well, poor fellow! I am really sorry for him—for he seems to be -a dashing, daring, gallant blade, by all accounts. Pardon me, however, -my dear Georgiana," he added, seeing that his niece was deadly pale; "I -ought not to have spoken a word in favour of a man who terrified you so: -but——" - -Lord Ellingham interrupted Sir Ralph by taking his leave of him and -Georgiana; and as the nobleman took the latter by the hand, he said in a -hasty whisper, "I will go and see him at once!" - -He then left the house, entered a hackney-coach at the nearest stand, -and ordered the driver to take him to Horsemonger Lane Gaol. - ------ - -Footnote 24: - - For the mode adopted by Gipsies to glean information relative to - persons in the various neighbourhoods they visit, see "The History of - Skilligalee" in the First Series of "THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON." - - - - - CHAPTER XLVIII. - LORD ELLINGHAM AND TOM RAIN. - - -The interview between Lady Hatfield and the Earl of Ellingham had lasted -a considerable time; and it was close upon three o'clock in the -afternoon when his lordship reached Horsemonger Lane Gaol. - -He communicated to the governor his desire to see Thomas Rainford; and -although visitors were usually compelled to speak to prisoners through -an iron grating, yet the rank of the nobleman and the fact of his being -in the commission of the peace for another county (Middlesex), procured -him immediate access to the highwayman's cell. - -Rainford was sitting in a pensive attitude at a table on which his -dinner remained untouched. We have before said—and we now repeat—that he -cared but little for the peril of his own predicament: there were, -however, ties which bound him to the existence that was now in jeopardy, -and to the freedom that was lost. - -He started from his seat with unfeigned surprise, when the Earl of -Ellingham entered the cell. - -"You are astonished to see _me_ here, Mr. Rainford?" said the nobleman, -in a mild and mournful tone. - -"It is a visit, my lord," was the answer, "that I certainly did not -expect." - -"And yet—if the statement you made to Lady Hatfield be true—I am but -performing a duty——" - -"Ah! then she has told you _that_!" exclaimed the prisoner. - -"She has told me that you claim a near—a very near relationship to me," -rejoined the nobleman, his voice trembling with emotion—for the reader -has seen enough of him to be aware that he possessed a generous heart. - -"Yes—my lord," replied Rainford: "the same father was the author of our -being—although our mothers were different." - -"Is this true?—is it really true?" demanded the Earl hastily. - -"As true as there is an Almighty God who now beholds the great peer and -the prisoned highwayman face to face!" replied Rainford solemnly; and -divesting himself of his coat, he bared his right arm and exhibited a -particular mark. - -"I cannot doubt it—I cannot disbelieve you!" exclaimed the nobleman, -tears starting from his eyes. - -And then the great peer and the prisoned highwayman were folded in each -other's arms. - -"But, my God!" exclaimed Arthur, when the excitement of this fraternal -recognition had somewhat passed away; "in what a condition do I find -you, my poor brother!" - -"Grieve not for me, Arthur," said Rainford: "my fate will soon be -decided now; and whatever it may be, I shall be prepared to meet it as -becomes a brave man." - -"Talk not thus, Thomas!" cried the nobleman, pressing his hand warmly. -"I have money to buy off your prosecutors—interest to use in your -behalf——" - -"If I say to you, '_Yes, use both_,' Arthur," replied the highwayman, -"it is only because there is _one_ who loves me well, and for whose sake -I could wish to live." - -"I understand you—you allude to Miss Esther de Medina," said the Earl. -"But there is _another_ for whose sake you must hope to live and enjoy -freedom again: and that is the brother who now stands before you, and -who, for our father's sake, will never—never desert you!" - -"My dear Arthur, your kindness unmans me," said Rainford; "and yet—if -you knew all—you would perhaps think that I am not altogether unworthy -of your sympathy! But, sit down, and let me show you that, though of -lost and ruined reputation, I am not without some feeling!" - -The Earl took one of the two chairs that there were in the cell; and -Rainford seated himself near his half-brother on the other. - -"That you are acquainted with a considerable portion of my history, I -know," resumed the highwayman; "for some seven or eight years ago you -encountered a gipsy-woman near Oxford, who revealed to you——" - -"The faithful Miranda indeed told me all she knew!" interrupted the -Earl. "But at that period she believed you to have been long dead." - -"Yes—and it was only a short time ago that I met her in Hampshire," -answered Rainford; "and accident led us to converse together. A word or -two which I dropped without anticipating the result, induced her to make -certain inquiries: then she requested me, in a hurried and excited -manner, to bare my right arm—and it was only on the occasion of which I -am speaking, and which occurred a few months since, that I learnt the -real narrative of my birth. It appears that when Miranda had fallen so -dangerously ill, and had become delirious, the gipsies considered me to -be a burthen to them, as I was not born of their race; and one of them -took me to Winchester, in the neighbourhood of which city the tents were -pitched at the time; and there he purposely abandoned me. What -subsequently became of me I have not time now to relate; my history has -been most eventful, and could not be compressed into a short narrative. -But should the laws of my country demand that my misdeeds be expiated on -the scaffold, I will leave that history, written out in all its -remarkable details, for your contemplation." - -"Talk not thus, Thomas—oh! talk not thus!" cried Arthur. "I will save -you yet—even if I throw myself at the feet of my sovereign, and proclaim -that you are my brother!" - -"God grant that you may prove successful, for the sake of _one_ who -loves me well!" said Rainford, solemnly. "But let me pursue the thread -of that much of my story which I have now to relate to you. It appears -that when Miranda _did_ recover from her serious illness, the gipsies -did not like to tell her the truth relative to myself; and they -therefore invented the tale of my death to account for my disappearance. -Thus was it that, until a few months ago, she remained in ignorance of -the deceit that had been practised upon her; and the same day which -revealed to her the fact that I was still alive, made me acquainted with -the history of my birth. Miranda also told me that Benjamin Bones was -still in existence and was reputed to be a rich man. She had recently -been in London; and curiosity had prompted her to make inquiries -concerning him. All that she had gleaned, she communicated to me. It -then struck me that I would come to London—that I would throw myself in -the way of that man who had plundered me of my inheritance—and that I -would watch for some favourable opportunity to wring from him the amount -with interest and compound interest, that was fairly mine. I learnt from -Miranda that certain papers had been found about the person of my poor -mother, after she was dead, and that the perusal of them had excited the -interest of this Bones. It therefore struck me that I might recover -those documents, as well as the money of which I had been plundered. If -the documents should prove in any way interesting or valuable, I -thought, so much the better: if not, no harm would be done in obtaining -possession of them. I came to London; and accident enabled me, through -the intervention of a mutual acquaintance named Tullock, to meet with -Benjamin Bones. I offered him my services in a particular way—and he -accepted them. To be candid, he was to plan deeds of villany—and I was -to execute them. His terms were so ridiculously exorbitant that I should -have laughed at them, had I not a particular object to serve in -connecting myself with him. And the opportunity which I sought presented -itself sooner than I had anticipated. In a word, I had succeeded in all -I had undertaken: I was enabled to help myself to as much as I chose of -his hoarded treasures—and I discovered the papers that I have alluded -to." - -"And were they of any interest?" asked the Earl. - -"Of such interest and of such value, Arthur," returned Tom Rain, "that -perhaps there is no other man in England who would have failed to avail -himself of the brilliant prospects that they opened to my view. But I -was not to be dazzled by them—not to be led away by the temptation. No: -I knew that my character was gone—that my reputation was tarnished—that -my misdeeds were numerous and great;—and I felt also for _you_, -Arthur—as well as for the haughty name of Ellingham!" - -"What do you mean, my dear brother?" cried the noble, struck by the -impressive tone in which Rainford uttered these words. - -"I mean," answered the debased highwayman to the great peer, "that -within the last few days there has been within my reach a jewel which I -might have had, and might still have, for the mere trouble of extending -my hand to reach it: a jewel such as men toil all their lives to gain! -This jewel is a proud title and a princely fortune——" - -"Thomas!—my brother!" ejaculated the Earl, a strange and exciting -suspicion flashing through his brain. - -"Yes—a proud title and a princely fortune, Arthur," repeated Rainford: -"but I desire neither! Yet—solemnly and seriously do I declare that, -amongst those papers which I discovered in the den of Benjamin Bones, -there was one which would make me rich at the expense of another—ennoble -me to the prejudice of one whom the proud title better becomes,—and that -individual who would thus suffer is _yourself_! For Octavia Manners was -the Countess of Ellingham—and I—the debased highwayman, am thine elder -brother, legitimately born!" - -"Oh! what do I hear?" exclaimed Arthur: "and how much generosity does -your conduct display! But think not, dearest brother, that I grieve at -the announcement which you have just made! No—far from that! To know -that my father did justice to your poor mother—to be able to entertain -the conviction that the author of our being was less guilty than I -imagined—is a source of satisfaction so pure—so sincere—so heart-felt, -that I would gladly purchase it even with the loss of title and of -fortune!" - -"It is you who are generous, Arthur," said Rainford—for so we shall -continue to call him, at all events for the present. "But that coronet -which sits so gracefully on your noble brow, and that fortune which -enables you to do so much good, shall never be lost to you. No—never, -Arthur! Titles I care not for—great wealth I do not crave;—and even if I -yearned for the one or aspired to the other, of what avail would be that -idle—ineffectual ambition? Here am I in a vile dungeon—accused of a -serious offence—my life endangered! And, even if your interest should -save me, must I not for ever become an exile from the land of my birth? -Yes: for whether you deter the prosecutors from farther proceedings in -my case,—or, should they push the matter to the extreme verge, and my -life be saved only at your intercession,—can I remain in England? If -released from custody, how can I hope to gain an honest name in this -clime?—if condemned to death, and then reprieved, will not this leniency -on the part of the Crown be conceded on the condition of banishment for -the remainder of my days? Thus, Arthur, even did I desire to possess the -proud name of Ellingham—did I aspire to that coronet which adorns thy -brow—I could not be mad enough to yield to the temptation. But, I -repeat—I care not for rank—I need not much wealth; and thus neither my -position nor my inclination will for an instant permit me to disturb you -in the enjoyment of the family honours and the hereditary estates." - -"Alas! how much—how deeply do I regret that we had not met before to -embrace as brothers!" exclaimed the Earl. "Though crimes are imputed to -you, Thomas,—yet do you possess a heart endowed with the loftiest—the -most generous feelings! Ah! well do I now understand wherefore you were -agitated last night at Lady Hatfield's house—and why you told me that -from no other man in England would you ask as a favour that right of -egress from the mansion which you could command by force! And I, who was -once on the point of striking you! But wherefore did you not then reveal -to me what you have told me now?" - -"The secret of my birth you should never have learnt from _my_ lips," -answered Rainford. "No—I would not have allowed you to know that you -possessed a relative for whom you would have to blush. But I was -compelled to make that revelation to Lady Hatfield—because——" - -"Ah! let us not talk of her, brother!" said Lord Ellingham mournfully. -"I would not for worlds reproach you—and yet you know not how profoundly -I have loved that woman—how tenderly I love her still! But my hopes -there——Let us change the topic, I say!" he added, hastily interrupting -himself. "And now tell me if there be any thing I can do in order to -soften the grief which must be experienced by that _one_ to whom you -alluded ere now—any message that I can take to her——" - -"Yes: you must see _her_," said Rainford, after a moment's reflection; -"and you must tell her that she is to give up to you all those papers -which relate to the marriage of our father and my mother and to my -birth. She is acquainted with every thing that concerns me and my -affairs. It was my original intention to keep those papers—not to serve -any purpose—never to use them,—but to gratify one of those unaccountable -whims which sometimes influence the most strong-minded amongst us. I -thought that, perhaps, when in a foreign land,—for it was my intention -to have quitted this country in a few days,—I might sometimes feel a -pleasure in contemplating documents so closely connected with my -parentage and my birth. Perhaps, too, I might have been swayed by some -little sentiment of pride in being able to say to myself, '_A title and -a princely fortune are within my grasp; and I will not take them, -because I feel myself so utterly unworthy of the first, and because I -require not the other_.'—But now, let my fate be whatever it may, it is -prudent that those papers should be destroyed. She, who has them in her -keeping, loves me—adores me: but she has one foible—one weakness which -has already produced serious embarrassment. She is fond of gay -apparel—of costly jewels—of those trinkets and that outward show which -dazzle the minds of so many women; and this passion on her part is -stronger than herself. In a word, then, I would rather that the papers -should not remain in her hands—I would sooner that they should be burnt -at once than become the source of a temptation which circumstances might -perhaps some day render irresistible to _her_. If you really wish to -ease my mind of any portion of that weight of anxiety which now hangs -upon it, you will at once visit her; and when you tell her all that has -passed between you and me ere now, she will give you up those documents, -which I enjoin you to commit to the flames, when you have perused them." - -"I will do your bidding, Thomas, in all respects save one," returned -Lord Ellingham: "and that is with regard to the destruction of the -papers. No—if you are generous to a degree, I must at least be just; and -I will keep those documents for you—safely, religiously keep them—to be -at your disposal at any time, however remote, should altered -circumstances induce you to claim them." - -"Then you imagine," said Rainford, with something of bitterness in his -tone, "that should the future smile upon me, I might be tempted to pluck -the coronet from your brow to place it on mine own? You wrong me—yes, -you wrong me, Arthur!" - -"Heaven knows that I would not willingly—wantonly do so!" cried the -nobleman enthusiastically. "But, justice——" - -"Well—be it as you say," interrupted Rainford, with a view to terminate -the discussion on this topic. "Obtain the papers—they will be safer with -you than with her, much as she is devoted to me. And now must I reveal -to you another secret—a secret of a strange and romantic nature, -connected with _her_ whom you are about to visit——" - -"With Esther?" said the Earl hastily. - -"Ah! ever harping upon that name!" exclaimed Rainford. "Did I not assure -you last night that Esther is as pure and innocent as woman can be, and -that she does not even know me by sight? See, then, if I have deceived -you:—but I will not keep you in suspense——" - -At this moment, the turnkey entered with an intimation that it was -impossible to allow the interview to be protracted any longer on the -present occasion, as the hour for locking up had already passed some -time. - -"To-morrow, then, you will come again," said Rainford, in a low whisper -to his brother. "And now go to No. 5, Brandon Street, Lock's Fields-—it -is not very far from here—and inquire for Mrs. Rainford." - -The Earl pressed his hand in assurance of obeying the directions thus -given; and, as the turnkey appeared impatient, the young nobleman -hurried away from his brother's cell. - -But the mystery relative to Esther de Medina—whatever it might be—was -not so soon to be cleared up as the Earl of Ellingham expected. - -Upon leaving the prison, he observed an ill-looking fellow lounging -about at the gate, and on whose forbidding countenance the light of the -lamp streamed fully when the wicket was opened to afford the nobleman -egress:—for our readers will remember that all the incidents yet related -in this narrative occurred in the winter time, when it is dark at four -o'clock. - -But it was now nearly six o'clock; and the atmosphere was heavy with -mist. - -The Earl walked rapidly away from the prison-gate; but when he had -proceeded about thirty yards, he inquired of a passer-by the way to -Lock's Fields. - -The man was a stranger in the neighbourhood, and could not tell him. - -"Please, sir, I'll show you the way," exclaimed another individual, -stepping officiously forward. - -Lord Ellingham immediately recognised, by the light that glimmered from -a window in Horsemonger Lane, the ill-looking fellow whom he had noticed -at the door of the prison; and for an instant he hesitated to accept his -services. But at the next moment he felt ashamed of this vague alarm, -and directed the man to lead on. - -The fellow turned abruptly round, saying, "You are going out of your -way, sir. We must get down to the Fields by the back of the prison." - -And he led the way, the Earl following him, down Horsemonger Lane -towards Harper Street. But as they passed along the prison-wall, Arthur -observed two or three men loitering about at short intervals from each -other; and it struck him that his guide coughed in a peculiar fashion as -he passed them. - -A misgiving, which he vainly endeavoured to resist, was now excited in -the Earl's mind; but still he would not turn back nor question his -guide. - -Suddenly he was seized from behind, and pulled violently backward, while -a strong hand fastened itself as it were over his mouth. He struggled -desperately: but his guide turned on him, and he was now in the grasp of -four powerful men, whose united strength it was impossible to resist. - -Still he endeavoured to release himself: and once he managed to get the -hand away from his mouth, an advantage of which he instantly availed -himself to cry out for help. - -But in another instant he was stunned by the blow of a pistol on the -head. - -When he awoke, he was in total darkness, and lying on a hard bed. - -He instinctively stretched out his arms: his right hand encountered a -rough and damp stone wall. - -He rose and groped cautiously about him;—but it required not many -moments to convince him of the terrible though mysterious truth—that he -was the inmate of a narrow dungeon! - -But where was he thus imprisoned? - -Who were the authors of this outrage? - -And for what purpose was he made a captive? - -These three queries defied all conjecture; and the young nobleman was -left to the darkness of his dungeon and the gloom of his meditations. - - - - - CHAPTER XLIX. - A PAINFUL INTERVIEW. - - -We must now go back a few hours—only to the morning of this eventful -day—in order to describe the interview which Mr. Clarence Villiers had -with his respectable aunt Mrs. Slingsby, at her residence in Old -Burlington Street. - -He called at her abode as early as nine o'clock,—for he had passed a -sleepless night, in consequence of the communication made to him by the -individual whom he as yet knew only as Captain Sparks, and of whose -arrest on the preceding night he was as yet ignorant. - -Mrs. Slingsby, Adelais, and Rosamond were seated at breakfast in a -comfortable little parlour, when Clarence was announced. - -At first his appearance at so unusual an hour and when he was supposed -to be on his way to his office in Somerset House, excited some alarm, -lest he had bad news to communicate; and the sisters already trembled -for fear their father had discovered their abode. But he speedily -reassured them by declaring that he intended to give himself a holiday -that morning, and had therefore come to join them at the -breakfast-table. - -"You are welcome, Clarence," said Mrs. Slingsby, while Adelais appeared -so pleased at this unexpected visit that the enhanced carnation tinge of -her cheeks and the joy that flashed in her fine eyes rendered her -transcendently beautiful. - -But Rosamond seemed pensive and even melancholy—although she endeavoured -to smile and appear gay. - -"I had a visit from Captain Sparks last evening," observed Clarence. "He -is going to America, and he called to take leave of me, as well as to -entrust me with some little commission, which I of course undertook." - -"And we heard a most wholesome and beneficial discourse from the -Reverend Mr. Sawkins," observed Mrs. Slingsby. - -"Was Mr. Sheepshanks present?" inquired Villiers, without looking at his -aunt, and apparently intent only on carving the ham. - -"My dear Clarence," said Mrs. Slingsby in a serious, reproachful tone, -"your question is light and inconsiderate. You doubtless intended it as -a jest, but the object to which it refers is one painfully calculated to -wound those who have the good cause at heart. Mr. Sheepshanks has -conducted himself in a manner that has produced the most lively grief as -well as the greatest astonishment in what may be strictly termed the -religious world. Sir Henry Courtenay was shocked when I narrated the -incident to him." - -"Oh! Sir Henry was shocked, was he?" exclaimed Clarence. "Well, for my -part, I should have conceived that a man of fashion would have cared -very little for all the Sheepshanks' and Sawkins' in the universe." - -"Clarence!" said Mrs. Slingsby, "what _is_ the matter with you this -morning? There seems to be an unusual flippancy in your observations——" - -"Not at all, my dear aunt. Only, I conceive that a man who is fond of -gaiety—who goes to parties—mixes with the _élite_ of the West End, and -so on, can have but little time to devote to the interests of -Cannibal-Clothing Associations." - -"My dear nephew, you astonish me!" exclaimed Mrs. Slingsby. "Is it to -affix a vulgar nick-name to an admirable institution, that you call it a -Cannibal-Clothing Association? I once thought you had some degree of -respect for the philanthropic and religious establishments which are the -boast and ornament of your native land. But——" - -"My dear aunt, pardon me if I have offended you," said Clarence—but in a -cool and indifferent tone. "I really forgot at the moment the name of -the institution to which that arrant hypocrite and scoundrel Sheepshanks -belonged." - -"Use not such harsh words, Clarence," enjoined Mrs. Slingsby, who knew -not what to think of her nephew's unusual manner and discourse. "Mr. -Sheepshanks has lost himself in the estimation of all persons of rightly -constituted minds; but the Christian spirit of forgiveness commands us -to be lenient in our comments on the actions even of the wicked." - -"That may be," said Clarence. "But as I read the account in the -newspapers, it certainly looked so black against this Sheepshanks, that -had he been sent to Newgate, he would have had no more than his due. -Now, my opinion is this:—robbery is always a heinous crime; but he who -robs his fellow-creatures under the cloak of religion, is an atrocious -sinner indeed. Hypocrisy, my dear aunt, is a detestable vice; and you, -as a woman of sound sense and discerning judgment, must admit the truth -of my observation. But we were talking of Sir Henry Courtenay." - -"You must not utter a word against him," said Adelais, in the most -artless manner possible; "for Rosamond has conceived so high an opinion -of him——" - -"Because dear Mrs. Slingsby has represented his virtues—his mental -qualifications—his admirable character to me in terms which make me as -enthusiastic as herself in extolling so good and amiable a man," -exclaimed Rosamond, speaking with an ardour which was the more striking, -because the natural purity of her soul prevented her from seeing the -necessity of checking it. - -Mrs. Slingsby coloured and glanced uneasily towards her nephew, who did -not, however, appear to notice that the conversation had taken a turn -which was disagreeable to her. - -In fact, the suspicions originally excited in his mind by the -communications of the preceding evening, were now materially -strengthened; and the more he contemplated the character of his aunt, -the more transparent became the film that had so long blinded him as to -its real nature. - -"And so you are a great admirer of Sir Henry Courtenay, Rosamond?" he -said, endeavouring to maintain as calm and placid an exterior as -possible. - -"Rosamond is fully aware that virtue deserves respect, wherever it -exists," returned Mrs. Slingsby hastily. - -"And Sir Henry Courtenay is the pattern of all virtue, dear madam—is he -not?" exclaimed Rosamond. - -"He is a very good man, my dear, as I have frequently assured you," said -the pious widow. "But let us change a conversation which does not appear -agreeable to Clarence?" - -"I would not for the world manifest so much selfishness," observed -Villiers, coolly, "as to quit a topic which gives so much gratification -to Rosamond. At the same time—as the future husband of Adelais, and -therefore soon to be your brother-in-law, dear Rosamond—I must warn you -against conceiving extravagant notions of the integrity and immaculate -virtue of any man who belongs to what is called the Fashionable World." - -"But dear Mrs. Slingsby has assured me, Clarence," ejaculated Rosamond, -warmly, "that Sir Henry Courtenay is an exception to the general -rule—that he is the very pattern of every thing generous and good—and -that no one could err in following his advice, whatever it might be. Oh! -I can assure you——" - -Rosamond stopped short; for Mrs. Slingsby, seeing that her nephew's -countenance was becoming purple with indignation as the artless girl -thus gave vent to the enthusiasm excited in her soul by the most -insidious representations,—Mrs. Slingsby, we say, had touched her with -her foot beneath the table—a movement naturally construed by Rosamond -into a hint to cut short her observations. - -"You can retire, dear girls," said Mrs. Slingsby. "I wish to have a -little conversation with Clarence." - -"Do not keep us away long, dear madam," exclaimed Adelais, in a playful -manner, as she rose to quit the room with her sister. - -Clarence and Mrs. Slingsby were now alone together; and the position of -each was a most painful one. - -The aunt saw that something was wrong; and her guilty conscience excited -a thousand vague fears within her bosom; while the nephew felt convinced -that the relative, whom he had hitherto loved and respected, was worthy -only of his abhorrence and contempt. - -There was a long pause in the conversation after the sisters had left -the room; but at length the silence, so irksome to both nephew and aunt, -was broken by the latter. - -"Clarence—something appears to have vexed—to have annoyed you this -morning," she observed, in a tremulous tone. - -"Do you know," he said, turning abruptly round towards her, and fixing a -searching glance upon her countenance, "that you act most unwisely—most -indiscreetly—nay, most incorrectly, to expatiate so much upon the -virtues of Sir Henry Courtenay? When I first entered the room this -morning, I found Rosamond pensive and thoughtful; and she said not a -word until that man's name was mentioned, when she became as it were -enthusiastic in his defence, although no actual attack was made by me -upon his character. What is the meaning of this strange conduct?" - -"Clarence—if, in my respect for Sir Henry Courtenay—I have been too warm -in my praises of his character,—if——" - -"Aunt, there is no supposition in the case," interrupted Villiers, -almost sternly. "You _have_ been too warm—and heaven only knows with -what object! God forbid that I should impute the worst motives to your -conduct in this respect: but a dreadful suspicion has been excited in my -mind——" - -"A suspicion!" murmured Mrs. Slingsby faintly, while the glance which -she threw upon her nephew was full of uneasiness. - -"Yes—a suspicion!" he repeated; "and most painful—oh! most painful is it -to me to be compelled to address you in this manner. But the case is too -serious to allow me to remain silent. In one word, have you not made an -impression on the mind of that artless girl which may endanger her -peace?—have you not been encouraging in her breast an admiration for a -man old enough to be her grandfather—an admiration which is not natural, -and which is calculated to inspire her with feelings towards a -sexagenarian dandy——" - -"Clarence!" exclaimed the pious lady, in a hysterical manner; "how dare -you address me in this dictatorial tone? Would you seek to invest my -conduct in bestowing well-merited praise on a good man, with an aspect -so black——" - -"Your indignation is well feigned!" cried Villiers, his lips quivering -with rage. "But the day of deception has passed—hypocrisy shall no -longer impose upon me. If I accuse you unjustly, I will grovel as an -abject wretch at your feet to manifest my contrition. Before I thus -debase myself, however, you must prove to me that you are indeed the -noble-minded—the open-hearted—the immaculate woman I have so long loved -and revered! Tell me, then, the real—the true history of that night when -a boy was received into this house through charity—a few years ago——" - -Mrs. Slingsby became as pale as death, and sate gazing with haggard eyes -upon her nephew—unable to avert _her_ glance, and yet shrinking from -_his_. - -"Then you are guilty, madam," he said, after a few moments' pause; "and -the excellent—the virtuous—the upright Sir Henry Courtenay is your -lover! My God! did the world ever know hypocrisy so abominable—so black -as this?" - -These words were uttered with extreme bitterness—and Mrs. Slingsby burst -into a flood of tears, while she covered her face with her hands. - -Clarence possessed a generous heart; and this sight moved him. - -"My dear aunt," he said, "I do not wish to mortify you—much less to -humiliate you in my presence. In your own estimation you must -necessarily be humiliated enough. Neither will I dwell at any length -upon the pain—the intense grief which I experience in finding you so -different from what I have ever believed you to be—until _now_!" he -added, in a mournful tone. "Were you my sister, or did you stand with -reference to me in a degree of relationship that would permit me to -remonstrate and advise, I should perhaps both reproach and counsel you. -But it would ill become a nephew to address his aunt in such a manner." - -"Clarence, will you expose me? will you ruin me?" demanded Mrs. -Slingsby, in a hysterical tone. - -"Not for worlds would I injure you!" ejaculated the young man. "But I -must receive no more favours at your hands! Here—take back the money -which you gave me a few days ago. Thank God! I have not yet expended any -of it—and the arrangements I had made to furnish a house for the -reception of my Adelais, can be countermanded. _She_ will not object to -share a lodging with me—until, by my own honest exertions," he added -proudly, "I may be able to give her a suitable home." - -And, as he spoke, he cast a roll of Bank-notes upon the table. - -"Oh! Clarence—if I have been weak—frail—culpable," cried the widow, "you -are at least severe and cruel; for I have ever done all I could to serve -your interests." - -[Illustration] - -"Were I to express my real opinion on that head," answered Villiers, "I -might grieve you still more than I have already done. A bandage has -fallen from my eyes—and I can now understand how necessary an instrument -of publicity I have been for your assumed virtues. But, in the name of -God! let us argue the point no further; for sincerely—sincerely do I -assert my unwillingness to give you additional pain. Pardon me, however, -if I declare how impossible it is—how inconsistent it would be—to leave -those innocent girls in a dwelling which is visited by such a man as -that Sir Henry Courtenay." - -"How could you remove them elsewhere, without exposing me, Clarence?" -demanded his aunt in an imploring tone. "What explanation can you or I -give them, to account in a reasonable manner for the suddenness of such -a step?" - -Villiers paced the room in an agitated manner. - -He knew not how to act. - -To leave Adelais and Rosamond in the society of his aunt was repugnant -to his high sense of honour and his correct notions of propriety; and -whither to remove them he knew not. - -He had seen and heard enough at the breakfast-table, to convince him -that Mrs. Slingsby had some sinister motive in creating in the mind of -Rosamond,—that innocent, artless mind, which was so susceptible of any -impressions which a designing woman might choose to make upon it,—a -feeling of admiration in favour of the baronet; and although he had to a -considerable extent curbed the resentment and the indignation which his -aunt's conduct in this respect had aroused within him, still to leave -that young maiden any longer within an atmosphere of infection, was -impossible! No: he would sooner restore the sisters to their father, and -leave to circumstances the realization of his hopes in regard to -Adelais! - -While he was still deliberating within himself what course to pursue, -and while Mrs. Slingsby was anxiously watching him as he paced the room -with agitated steps, the servant entered with the morning's newspaper. - -Clarence took it from the table in a mechanical manner and glanced his -eye over the first page: but his thoughts were too painfully -pre-occupied to permit him to entertain, even for an instant, any idea -of reading the journal. - -No:—it was one of those unwitting actions which we often perform when -sorely embarrassed or bewildered,—an action without positive motive and -without aim. - -But how often do the most trivial deeds exercise a paramount influence -over our destinies! - -And this simple action of glancing at the newspaper proved to be an -instance of the kind. - -For at the moment when Clarence was about to throw the journal back -again upon the table and resume his agitated walk, his eyes encountered -an advertisement which instantaneously arrested his attention. - -Then, with beating heart and with an expression of joy rapidly spreading -itself over his countenance, he read the following lines:— - - "TO A. AND R.—Your distressed and almost heart-broken father - implores you to return to him. The past shall be forgotten on his - side; and no obstacle shall be opposed to the happiness of A. Your - father is lying on a sick bed, and again implores that this prayer - may not be made in vain." - -"God be thanked!" cried Villiers, no longer able to restrain his joy; -and handing the newspaper to his aunt, he directed her attention to the -advertisement. - -"Here is an apology at once for the removal of the young ladies from -this house, Clarence," observed Mrs. Slingsby. "And now that you are -saved from the embarrassment in which you were plunged but a few minutes -back, will you promise never—never to reveal—and, if possible, to -forget——" - -"You allude to your conduct towards Rosamond?" said Villiers. "Tell me -its motive—and I swear solemnly——" - -"In one word, then," interrupted his aunt, "let Rosamond beware of Sir -Henry Courtenay! And now answer me a single question—for I see you are -impatient to be gone:—How came you to discover——what meant your -allusion—to—to the boy who was received into this house——" - -"I cannot stay to explain all _that_," cried Villiers. "But rest assured -that your character stands no chance of being made the subject of -scandalous talk—unless, indeed, your future actions——" - -"Enough, Clarence!" exclaimed Mrs. Slingsby. "I know that you must -despise me: but spare me any farther humiliation!" - -She then rang the bell, and desired the servant to summon Adelais and -Rosamond. - -We need not pause to describe the joy which those fair beings -experienced when Clarence showed them the advertisement inviting them to -return home; although tears immediately afterwards started into their -eyes, when they read that their father was upon a bed of sickness. - -They once more retired to their bed-chamber to prepare their toilette -for departure; and, when a hackney-coach drove round to the door, they -took leave of Mrs. Slingsby with demonstrations of gratitude which -struck to her heart like a remorse. - -Clarence accompanied them back to the cottage; and his heart palpitated -violently—he scarcely knew wherefore—when he assisted them to alight. - -The front door was opened by the female servant, who uttered a cry of -joy on beholding the young ladies once more; and with trembling steps -Adelais and Rosamond entered the parlour, followed by Clarence. - -To their surprise—and, at first, to their great delight—the sisters -found themselves, on crossing the threshold of the room, in the presence -of their father, who was looking pale, it was true—but with concentrated -anger, and not with illness. - -Adelais and Rosamond fell on their knees before him, exclaiming, -"Forgive us, dear father—forgive us!" - -"How am I to receive you, Adelais?" he asked in a cold voice: "as Miss -Torrens—or as——" - -"As Miss Torrens at present, sir," answered Clarence stepping forward, -and speaking in a firm though respectful tone. "But, in accordance with -the promise held out in that advertisement which appears in to-day's -journal, I hope that your elder daughter will soon be mine—and with your -permission and blessing also." - -"Where have my daughters been residing during their absence, sir?" -inquired Mr. Torrens, without appearing to notice the latter portion of -Villiers' observations. - -"Under the protection of a female relative of mine, sir," answered -Clarence, with increasing misgivings at the cold demeanour of the father -of his beloved. - -"Thank you for the information, sir," said Mr. Torrens, with a smile of -triumph. "At least you have so far disarmed my resentment, that you have -brought me back my daughter pure and innocent as when you enticed her -away, with the aid of a villanous robber." - -"A robber!" ejaculated Clarence indignantly. - -"Yes, sir," continued Mr. Torrens, in a sneering tone; "your worthy -colleague, Captain Sparks, is a common highwayman—a thief—properly named -Thomas Rainford; and at this moment he is a prisoner in Horsemonger Lane -Gaol. Scarcely ten minutes have elapsed since I received a note from Mr. -Howard, a solicitor, informing me of the fact." - -Clarence was so astounded by this announcement, that for a few moments -he could make no reply; and the young ladies, who had in the meantime -slowly risen from their suppliant posture and were now standing timidly -by their father's side, exchanged glances of painful surprise. - -"Yes," resumed Mr. Torrens in a stern and severe tone, "that man, who -aided you to effect the abduction of these disobedient girls, is a -common highwayman—and you could not be ignorant of that fact!" - -"As I live, sir," ejaculated Clarence, at length recovering the power of -speech. "I _was_ ignorant of the fact; and even now——But," he added, -correcting himself, "I cannot doubt your word! At the same time, permit -me to assure you that I had never seen him until that night——" - -"I require no farther explanation, sir," interrupted Mr. Torrens. "My -daughters are now once more under the paternal roof—inveigled back -again, it is true, by a stratagem on my part——" - -"A stratagem!" repeated Clarence, while Adelais uttered a faint shriek, -and sank weeping into her sister's arms. - -"Yes—a stratagem, sir!" ejaculated Mr. Torrens. "And now learn my -decision, Mr. Villiers! Sooner than she shall become your wife," he -continued, pointing towards the unhappy girl, "I would give her to the -meanest hind who toils for his daily bread. Depart, sir:—this house is -at least a place where my authority can alone prevail!" - -"Mr. Torrens—I beseech—I implore you——" began the wretched young man, -whose hopes were thus suddenly menaced so cruelly. - -"Depart, sir!" thundered the angry father; "or I shall use violence—and -we will then see whether you will strike in return the parent of her -whom you affect to love!" - -And he advanced towards Villiers in a menacing manner. - -"I will not stay to irritate you, sir," said Clarence, feeling as if his -heart were ready to burst. "Adelais—remember one who will never cease to -remember you! Rosamond, farewell!" - -Mr. Torrens became more and more impatient; and Villiers quitted the -house with feelings as different from those which had animated him when -he entered it, as the deepest despair is different from the most joyous -hope. - -But the anguish of his heart was not greater than that which now filled -the bosom of her from whom he was so unexpectedly and cruelly separated. - - - - - CHAPTER L. - THE LAWYER'S OFFICE. - - -A few days after the events just related, the following scene took place -at Mr. Howard's office in Golden Square. - -It was about four in the afternoon, and the lawyer was seated in his -private room, at a table covered with papers, when a clerk entered and -announced that Sir Christopher Blunt and his lady had just arrived. - -"His lady with him—eh!" exclaimed the solicitor. "Well—show them in at -once." - -And, accordingly, in a few minutes the worthy knight, with Charlotte—or, -we beg her pardon, Lady Blunt—hanging upon his arm, entered the office. - -The old gentleman was all smiles—but the quick eye of Mr. Howard -immediately perceived that they were to some extent forced and feigned; -and that beneath his jaunty aspect there was not altogether the inward -contentment, much less the lightsome glee, of a happy bridegroom. - -As for Lady Blunt—she was attired in the richest manner, and in all the -colours of the rainbow,—looking far too gaudy to be either genteel or -fashionable. - -"My dear Sir Christopher, I am quite charmed to see you" exclaimed Mr. -Howard, rising to welcome his client and the bride. "Your ladyship——" - -"Yes—this is my loving and beloved Lady Blunt, Howard," said the knight -pompously: "a delightful creature, I can assure you—and who has vowed to -devote herself to my happiness." - -"Come now, you great stupid!" said the lady; "finish your business here, -and let us see about the new carriage. Of all places in the world, I -hate a lawyer's office—ever since I was once summoned to a Court of -Conscience for seventeen shillings and ninepence-halfpenny, and had to -call on the thief of an attorney to get him to take it by instalments of -sixpence a-week. So, you see, I can't a-bear the lawyers. No offence, -sir," she added, turning towards Mr. Howard; "but I always speak my -mind; and I think it's best." - -"My dear creature—my sweet love!" ejaculated Sir Christopher, astounded -at this outbreak of petulance on the part of his loving and beloved -wife. - -"Pray do not distress yourself, my dear Sir Christopher," said the -lawyer. "We are accustomed to receive sharp rebukes from the ladies -sometimes," he added, with as courteous a smile as he could possibly -manage under the circumstances. "But pray be seated. Will your ladyship -take this chair?"—and he indicated the one nearest to the fire. - -Lady Blunt quitted her husband's arm, but made an imperious sign for him -to bring his chair close to hers; and he obeyed her with a submission -which left no doubt in the lawyer's mind as to the empire already -asserted by the bride. - -"I am very glad you have called to-day, Sir Christopher," said the -lawyer; "for——" - -"He couldn't very well come before, sir," interrupted Lady Blunt; -"because we only came back from the matrimonial trip last night." - -Mr. Howard bowed, and was preparing to continue, when the knight -exclaimed, "My dear sir, what _is_ all this to-do about the highwayman -who robbed me of the two thousand pounds? I thought I told you so -particularly that I would rather no steps should be taken in the matter; -and now—the moment I come back to town——" - -"Instead of having all our time to ourselves, to gad about cozie -together," again interrupted Lady Blunt, "we are forced to come -bothering here at a lawyer's office." - -"The ends of justice must be met, Lady Blunt," said Mr. Howard drily. -"In consequence of particular information which I received, I caused -this Thomas Rainford to be apprehended; and I appeal to Sir Christopher -himself—who has served the high office of Sheriff——" - -"And once stood as a candidate for the aldermanic gown of Portsoken, -until I was obliged to cut those City people," added the knight, drawing -himself up. - -"And why should you cut the City people?" demanded his wife. "For my -part, I'd sooner see the Lord Mayor's show than Punch and Judy any day; -and that's saying a great deal—for no one _can_ be more fonder of Punch -and Judy than me." - -"My dear Charlotte," exclaimed the knight, who now seemed to be sitting -on thorns, "you——" - -"Charlotte at home—Lady Blunt in public, Sir Christopher—if _you_ -please," interrupted the bride. "But pray let Mr. Howard get to the end -of this business." - -"Well, my dear," exclaimed Sir Christopher, "if it annoys you, why -_would_ you come? I assured you how unusual it was for ladies to -accompany their husbands to the office of their solicitors——" - -"Oh! I dare say, Sir Christopher!" cried Charlotte. "You don't think -that I'm going to trust you out of my sight, do you now? I'm not quite -such a fool as you take me for. Why, even when we are walking along the -street together, I can see your wicked old eye fixed on the gals——" - -"Lady Blunt!" exclaimed the knight, becoming literally purple; -"you—you—you do me an injustice!" - -"So much the better. I hope I am wrong—for both of our sakes," returned -her ladyship. "Depend upon it——But, no matter now: let Mr. Howard get on -with his story." - -"With your permission, madam, I shall be delighted to do so," said the -lawyer. "I was observing just now that having received particular -information, I caused this scoundrel Thomas Rainford, _alias_ Captain -Sparks, to be apprehended; and on Monday morning, Sir Christopher, you -must attend before the magistrate to give your evidence." - -"But who authorised you to proceed in this affair, Mr. Howard?" demanded -the knight. - -"What a strange question?" exclaimed the lawyer, evidently unwilling to -give a direct answer to it. "Only reflect for a moment, my dear Sir -Christopher. A robbery is committed—you, your nephew, and myself are -outwitted—laughed at—set at defiance,—and when an opportunity comes in -my way, I very naturally adopt the best measures to punish the rogue." - -"Quite proper too, sir," said Lady Blunt. "The idea of any one daring to -laugh at Sir Christopher! I'd scratch the villain's eyes out, if I had -him here. To laugh at Sir Christopher, indeed! Does he look like a man -who is meant to be laughed at?" - -Lady Blunt could not have chosen a more unfortunate opportunity to ask -this question; for her husband at that moment presented so ludicrous an -appearance, between his attempts to look pleasant and his fears lest he -already seemed a henpecked old fool in the eyes of his solicitor, that a -man possessing less command over himself than Mr. Howard would have -laughed outright. - -But with the utmost gravity in the world, the lawyer assured her -ladyship that nothing could be more preposterous than to laugh at a -gentleman of Sir Christopher Blunt's rank and importance; and he also -declared that in arresting Thomas Rainford, he had merely felt a proper -anxiety to punish one who had dared to ridicule the knight, after having -robbed him. - -Lady Blunt was one of those capricious women who will laugh at their -husbands either as a matter of pastime or for the purpose of manifesting -their own independence and predominant sway, but who cannot bear the -idea of any other person taking a similar liberty. She therefore -expressed her joy that Mr. Howard had caused Rainford to be apprehended, -and declared, of her own accord, that Sir Christopher should attend to -give his evidence on the ensuing Monday—"for she would go with him!" - -"Well, my dear, since such is your pleasure," observed the knight, -"there is no more to be said upon the subject. I _will_ go, my love; and -I think that when the magistrate hears my evidence, he will feel -convinced that I know pretty well how to aid the operation of the laws, -and that I have not been a Sheriff for nothing. Although sprung from a -humble origin——" - -"Oh! pray don't begin that nonsense, Sir Christopher!" exclaimed the -lady; "or I shall faint. It is really quite sickening." - -At that moment the door opened somewhat violently; and Mr. Frank Curtis -entered the room. - -"Ah! Sir Christopher, my jolly old cock—how are you?" exclaimed that -highly respectable young gentleman, whose face was dreadfully flushed -with drinking, and who smelt so strong of cigars and rum-punch that his -presence instantly produced the most overpowering effect. - -"Mr. Curtis!" began the knight, rising from his chair, and drawing -himself up to his full height, "I——" - -"Come—it's no use to be grumpy over it, uncle," interrupted Frank. -"Matrimony doesn't seem to agree with you very well, since you're so -soon put out of humour. Ah! my dear Char——my dear aunt, I mean—beg your -pardon—quite a mistake, you know;—but really you look charming this -afternoon." - -"Get out with you, do!" cried Lady Blunt, who was somewhat undecided how -to treat Mr. Curtis. - -"What! doesn't matrimony agree with you, either, my dear and much -respected aunt?" ejaculated Frank. "Why, I once knew a lady who was in a -galloping consumption—given up, in fact, and the undertaker who lived -over the way had already begun to make her coffin—for he knew he should -have the order for the funeral; when all of a sudden a young chap fell -in love with her, married her, and took her to the south of France—where -I've been, by the bye—and brought her home in six months quite -recovered, and in a fair way to present him with a little one—a pledge -of affection, as it's called." - -"Mr. Curtis, I am surprised at you," exclaimed Sir Christopher, in a -pompous and commanding tone;—"to talk in this way before a lady who has -only recently passed through that trying ordeal." - -"I'll be bound to say it wasn't so recent as you suppose, old buck," -cried Frank, staggering against the lawyer's table. - -"Sir, Lady Blunt has only been recently—very recently married, as you -are well aware," said the knight sternly. "And now let me tell you, sir, -that the detestable devices schemed by Miss Mordaunt and you have -recoiled upon yourselves——" - -"Miss Mordaunt and me!" exclaimed Frank, now unfeignedly surprised: -"why—I never spoke to Miss Mordaunt in my life!" - -"The monster!" half screamed Lady Blunt. - -"The audacious liar!" vociferated the knight. - -"Pretty names—very pretty," said Frank coolly; "but I'm rather tough, -thank God! and so they won't kill me this time. But I can assure you, -uncle, you've got hold of the wrong end of the stick when you say that -me and Miss Mordaunt planned any thing against you. As I once observed -to my friend the Count of St. Omers,—'My lord,' says I.—'What?' asks the -Marquis.—'My Lord Duke,' I repeated, in a firmer tone——" - -"Cease this nonsense, Mr. Curtis," interrupted Sir Christopher Blunt -sternly. - -"Yes—and let us come along, my dear," said Lady Blunt, rising and taking -her husband's arm. "Your nev-vy does smell so horrid of rum and -cigars——" - -"And very good things too," cried Frank; "ain't they, Howard? Me and a -party of young fashionables have been keeping it up a bit to-day at my -lodgings—on the strength of my intended marriage with Mrs. Goldberry, -the rich widow——" - -"Your marriage, Frank!" exclaimed Sir Christopher. "What—how—when——" - -"Lord bless you, my dear uncle," said Mr. Curtis, swaying himself to and -fro in a very extraordinary manner, "you don't half know what kind of a -fellow I am. While you was away honeymooning and nonsense——" - -"Nonsense, indeed!" exclaimed Lady Blunt, indignantly. "Come, Sir -Christopher—it's no good staying here talking to Mr. Imperance." - -"Going to Conduit Street—eh, aunt?" said Frank, with a drunken leer. -"But, by-the-bye, you regularly choused me out of five guineas, you -know, aunt—and something else, too——" - -"Eh?—what?" said Sir Christopher, turning back. "Mr. Curtis, do you dare -to accuse Lady Blunt——" - -"Of having made a very great fool of me, but a much bigger one of you, -old fellow," added Frank; and, snapping his fingers in his uncle's face, -he exclaimed, "I don't care a penny for you, Sir Christopher! In a few -days I shall marry Mrs. Goldberry—you are very welcome to be as happy as -you can with your Abigail there. So remember, we're cuts in future, Sir -Christopher—since you want to come the bumptious over me." - -The knight was about to reply; but his better-half drew him hastily away -from the lawyer's office, saying, "Come along, you great stupid! What's -the use of staying to dispute with that feller?" - -The door closed behind the "happy couple;" and Mr. Frank Curtis, -throwing himself into the chair which Lady Blunt had just quitted, burst -out into a tremendous fit of laughter. - -"You have gone too far, Frank—a great deal too far," said the lawyer, -shaking his head disapprovingly. "Sir Christopher has been a good friend -to you; and although he has committed an egregious error in running off -with that filly, still——" - -"What do I care?" interrupted Frank. "I proposed to Mrs. Goldberry -yesterday—and she accepted me, after a good deal of simpering and -blushing, and so on. She's got five thousand a year, and lives in -splendid style in Baker Street. I made her believe that I wasn't quite a -beggar myself: but all's fair in love and war, as my friend the late -Prince of St. Omers used to say in his cups. But what about this fellow -Rainford? and how the deuce did he come to be arrested?" - -"I received information of his residence," answered Howard coolly; "and -I gave him into custody accordingly." - -"It's very odd," continued Frank, "but I met him last Sunday night; and -I don't mind telling you that we went into the middle of Hyde Park and -had an hour's wrestling together, to see who was the better man. I threw -him nineteen times running, and he threw me seven; then I threw him -three times—and he gave in. So we cried 'quits' for old scores, and I -gave him my word and honour that nothing would ever be done against him -in respect to the little affair of the two thousand pounds. You may -therefore suppose that I'm rather vexed——" - -"The officers had already received instructions to apprehend him at the -time your _alleged_ wrestling match came off," said the lawyer; "and -your evidence will be required next Monday morning." - -"And I suppose the whole affair of the robbery will come out?" observed -Curtis interrogatively. - -"Decidedly so. You must state the exact _truth_—if you can," added Mr. -Howard. - -"If I can! Damn it, old fellow, that observation is not quite the -thing—coming from you; and if any body else had uttered it, egad! I'd -send him a hostile message to-morrow morning—as I did to my most valued -friend, the Marquis of Boulogne, when I was in Paris. I'll just tell you -how that was——" - -"Not now Frank," interrupted the lawyer; "because I'm very busy. It's -getting on for post time—and I have not a minute to spare. But mind and -be punctual at the Borough police-office on Monday morning at ten." - -"Well—if I must, I must," said Curtis. "But, after all, I think it's -rather too bad—for this Sparks, or Rainford, or whatever his name is, -seems a good kind of fellow, after all." - -"The law must take its course, Frank," observed the attorney in an -abrupt, dry manner. - -Curtis accordingly took his leave, and returned to his lodgings, where -by dint of cold water applied outwardly and soda-water taken inwardly, -he endeavoured to sober himself sufficiently to pay a visit to Mrs. -Goldberry. - -For it was literally true that there _was_ such a lady—that she lived in -splendid style in Baker Street—that Frank had proposed to her—and that -he had been accepted;—but we have deemed it necessary to give the reader -these corroborative assurances on our part, inasmuch as the whole tale -would otherwise have appeared nothing more nor less than one of the -innumerable children of Mr. Curtis's fertile imagination. - - - - - CHAPTER LI. - LORD ELLINGHAM IN THE DUNGEON. - - -Four weeks had elapsed since the arrest of Tom Rain and the -extraordinary adventure which had snatched the Earl of Ellingham from -the great world and plunged him into a narrow—noisome cell. - -Yes—four weeks had the nobleman languished in the terrible -dungeon,—ignorant of where his prison-house was situated—why his freedom -was thus outraged—and who were his persecutors. - -Every morning, at about eight o'clock, a small trap in the door of his -cell was opened, and food was passed through to him. A lamp had been -given him the day after he became an inmate of the place; and oil was -regularly supplied for the maintenance of the light. His food was good, -and wine accompanied it;—it was therefore evident that no petty spite -nor mean malignity had led to his captivity. - -Indeed, the man who brought him his food assured him that no harm would -befall him,—that his imprisonment was necessary to suit certain weighty -and important interests, but that it would not be protracted beyond a -few weeks,—and that the only reason for placing him in such a dungeon -was because it was requisite to guard against the possibility of an -escape. - -Often and often had Lord Ellingham endeavoured to render his gaoler more -communicative; but the man was not to be coaxed into garrulity. Neither -did he ever allow the nobleman to catch a glimpse of his features, when -he brought the food to the trap-door. He invariably stood on one side, -and spoke in a feigned tone when replying to any question to which he -did vouchsafe an answer. - -The day after his strange and mysterious arrest, Arthur received from -this man the assurances above mentioned; and a considerable weight was -thereby removed from his mind. His imprisonment was not to be eternal: a -few weeks would see the term of the necessity that had caused it. But -still he grieved—nay, felt shocked to think of the state of suspense in -which those who cared for him would remain during his long absence. This -source of affliction he mentioned to the man who attended upon him; and -the reply was to some extent satisfactory. - -"I will supply you with writing materials, and you can address letters -to your friends, stating that sudden business has called you abroad—to -France, for instance; and that you may probably be absent six weeks. -Write in this manner—the excuse will at least allay any serious fears -that may be entertained concerning you; and those letters shall be sent -through the post to the persons to whom they are addressed. But you must -deliver them unsealed into my hands, that I may satisfy myself as to the -real nature of their contents." - -Small as the satisfaction resulting from this proceeding could be to -Lord Ellingham, it was still far preferable to the maintenance of a -rigid silence in respect to his friends. He accordingly wrote a laconic -letter in the sense suggested by his gaoler; and addressed copies to -Lady Hatfield, Thomas Rainford, and Mr. de Medina. The next time his -gaoler visited him—or rather, came to the door of the dungeon, the -prisoner was informed that the three letters had been duly forwarded -through the twopenny post. - -The reader will scarcely require to be informed of the mental anxiety -which the nobleman suffered during his incarceration. This was naturally -great—very great. He was also frequently plunged in the most bewildering -conjectures relative to the authors, the motives, and the locality of -his imprisonment. Nor less did he grieve—Oh! deeply grieve, when he -thought of the surprise—the alarm—and the sorrow with which Lady -Hatfield on one side and Rainford on the other must view his mysterious -absence. He had left the former with the intention of seeing the latter, -and she would naturally expect him to return if for no other reason than -to give her an account of their interview; and he had quitted Rainford -with the promise to perform a certain task, and also having pledged -himself to use his influence and his wealth in his behalf. - -The idea of the feelings that must be entertained by Rainford relative -to his absence, afflicted him more than any other. That generous-hearted -man had told him to keep his coronet and his fortune to the prejudice of -_him_—_the elder brother, legitimately born_; and yet that interview in -Horsemonger Lane Gaol seemed destined to be the last which they were to -have together! What would the poor prisoner think when the Earl returned -not, and when a letter containing a cold and wretched excuse was put -into his hands? Oh! this was the maddening—maddening thought; and the -Earl shrank from it far more appalled than from the stern reality of his -dungeon! Because Rainford might be judged, and, alas! the law might take -its course—its fatal course—ere _he_, the Earl, could stretch out a hand -to save that generous-hearted half-brother. - -But amidst all the bitter and bewildering reflections which tormented -him during his imprisonment of four weeks in that dungeon of unknown -neighbourhood, there was still a predominant idea—a gleam of hope, -which, apart from the assurance that his captivity would soon have a -term, cheered and animated him often. - -For whither will not the rays of Hope penetrate? Even when Hope is -really gone, her work is often done by Despair; and the latter feeling, -in its extreme, is thus often akin to Hope herself. - -The hope, then, that cheered and animated the Earl at times, was—ESCAPE! - -Yes: he yearned to quit that dungeon, not so much for his own sake—oh! -not nearly so much, as for that of his half-brother, who was involved in -such peril, and who needed influence and interest to save him! For the -Earl well knew that the law in criminal cases is not so tardy as in -civil matters; and that to take away a man's life, all its machinery is -set into rapid motion—although to settle his claims to a fortune or to -give him justice against his neighbour, it is, heaven knows! -heart-breakingly slow and wearisome! - -To send a man to the scaffold, takes but a few weeks at the Old -Bailey:—to decide the right of this man or that man to a particular -estate, or legacy, occupies years and years in the Court of Chancery. -Oh! how thirsty do our legislators appear to drink human blood. How -rapidly all technicalities and causes of delay are cleared away when the -capital offender stands before his judge! A day—perhaps an hour is -sufficient to decide the death of a human being; but half a century may -elapse ere the conflicting claims to an acre of land or a few thousand -pounds can be settled elsewhere. - -And, strange—ah! and monstrous, too, is it, that the man who loses a -case in which he sues his neighbour for twenty pounds, may appeal to -another tribunal—have a new trial granted—and, losing that also, perhaps -obtain a _third_ investigation of the point at issue, and thus three -verdicts in that beggarly business! But the man who is doomed to die—who -loses his case against the criminal prosecutor—cannot appeal to another -tribunal. No judges sit solemnly _in banco_ for him: _one verdict_ is -sufficient to take away a life. Away with him to the scaffold! In this -great commercial country, twenty pounds—consisting of pieces of paper -printed upon and stamped with particular figures—are of more consequence -than a being of flesh and blood! What though this being of flesh and -blood may have others—a wife and children—dependent on him? No matter! -Give him not the chance of a new trial: let one judge and one jury -suffice to consign him to the hangman! There can be no appeal—no -re-investigation for his case, _although it be a case of life and -death_: but away with him to the scaffold! - -What blood-thirsty and atrocious monsters have our law-givers been: what -cruel, inhuman beings are they still, to perpetuate so abominable—so -flagrant—so infamous a state of jurisprudence! For how many have been -hanged, though innocent,—their guiltlessness transpiring when it is too -late! But there is no court of appeal for the man accused of a capital -crime: he is a dog who has got a bad name—and public opinion dooms him -to be hanged, days and weeks before the jury is sworn or the judge takes -his seat to try him! - -And wherefore is not this infamous state of the law, which allows -appeals to the case of money-claims, but none to the case of capital -accusations,—wherefore is not this state of the law altered? Because our -legislators are too much occupied with their own party contentions and -strifes;—because they are ever engaged in battling for the Ministerial -benches—the "loaves and fishes" of power: because it seems to them of -more consequence to decide whether Sir Robert Peel or Lord John Russell -shall be Prime Minister—whether the Conservatives or the Whigs shall -hold the reins of power. Or else, gentle reader, the condition of -Greece—or Spain—or Turkey,—or even perhaps of Otaheite,—is a matter of -far greater importance than the lives of a few miserable wretches in the -condemned cells of criminal gaols! - -But, in _our_ estimation—and we have the misfortune to differ from the -legislators of the country—the _life of one of those wretches_ is of far -greater consequence than the state of tyrant-ridden Greece—the Spanish -marriages—the quarrels of the Sultan and his Pachas—or the miserable -squabbles of hypocritical English missionaries and a French governor in -Tahiti. Yes—in _our_ estimation, the life of _one_ man outweighs all -such considerations; and we would rather see half a session of -Parliament devoted to the discussion of the grand question of the -PUNISHMENT OF DEATH, than one single day of that session given to all -the foreign affairs that ever agitated in a Minister's brain. - - * * * * * - -It was the twenty-eighth day of Lord Ellingham's imprisonment; and it -was about six o'clock on the evening of this day. - -The nobleman was at work upon the masonry of his dungeon,—his efforts -being directed to remove the stones from the immediate vicinity of a -small square aperture, or sink in the corner of the cell. - -His implements were a knife and fork, and one of the screws of the -frame-work of his bed. - -But with these he worked arduously. - -Nor was this the first day of his labours. No! for twenty-six days had -he been toiling—toiling—toiling on, to make an opening into what he -believed to be the common sewer,—even at the risk of inundating his -dungeon, and thus perishing miserably! - -But all those toils, and all that risk, were sustained and encountered -for thee, Tom Rain! - -Slowly—slowly—slowly had the work progressed; but now—on the -twenty-eighth day—Arthur found himself so far advanced that escape from -the dungeon was at least open to him. - -But escape into what region? - -Into those drains and sewers which run beneath the streets of London, -and form a maze to which the only clue is a knowledge of the point -whence he, who enters the labyrinth, originally starts! And this clue -was not possessed by Arthur; for in what part of London his dungeon was -situate, he had not the least idea. It could hardly be said that he was -confident of this dungeon being in the metropolis at all;—and yet he had -many reasons to believe that it was. For, in the first place, his gaoler -had mentioned the fact of his letters having been sent by the _twopenny -post_; secondly, he had ascertained that his cell was situate in the -very vicinity of a common sewer, and sewers were not at that time formed -in the villages surrounding the metropolis; and thirdly, he could -scarcely believe that those who had arrested him _in_ London, would have -run the risk of removing him out of its precincts—for he was well aware -that atrocious outrages and diabolical crimes may be perpetrated with -greater chances of impunity in the metropolis than elsewhere. - -But, although he was thus tolerably well convinced that his prison-house -was within the boundaries of London, he had not the least notion of the -precise locality. And when he had removed sufficient of the massive -masonry to form an aperture large enough to permit a full-grown man to -pass into the sewer,—and when he heard the muddy, slimy waters gurgling -languidly in the depths below, he shuddered, and his blood ran cold—for -he thought within himself, "I have heard of men who venture into these -places in search of treasures, and who, having wandered for miles and -miles beneath the streets of London, have issued safely forth again. But -_they_ knew whence they started; and thus that starting-post was a clue -to guide them in the maze. But _I_ know not whether, on entering that -slimy shallow, I should turn to the right or to the left,—nor which -channels to pursue in that terrible labyrinth!" - -Then, ashamed of his fears—reproaching himself for his hesitation, he -drank a deep draught of the wine that had been supplied him in the -morning; and holding the lamp in one hand, and in the other a stout -stick cut from one of the cross-beams that supported the mattress of his -bed, he entered the common sewer. - -His feet sank down into the thick slime, and the muddy water reached to -his knees. There was a nauseous odour in the dreary passage, and the -filthy fluid was very thick. These circumstances convinced him that it -was low water in the river Thames; and by examining the masonry forming -the sides of the sewers, he saw that the tide was running out. He -therefore resolved to follow the course of the muddy stream, with the -hope that he might at length reach one of the mouths by which the sewers -discharge their contents into the river. - -Armed with his stick to protect himself against the rats as well as to -sound his way so as to escape any hole or abrupt depth that there might -chance to be in the bottom of the sewer,—and holding the lamp in his -left hand, the great peer of England pursued his appalling path in a -channel seven feet wide and beneath a vaulting twelve feet high. - -From time to time the sudden rush of a number of vermin along a ledge by -the side of the channel, and then the sound of their plunge into the -slimy water, startled him to such a degree that he almost dropped his -lamp: and then the conviction which flashed to his mind _that if he lost -his light, he should be inevitably devoured by those vermin_, caused -such a chill to pass through him—as if ice were unexpectedly placed upon -his heart—that his courage was oftentimes nearly subdued altogether. - -But he thought of his half-brother who had manifested so much generosity -towards him,—he thought of her whom he had promised to love as a -_sister_,—and he also remembered that were he to retrace his steps, -_even if he could find the way back_, he should be returning to a -dungeon:—of all this he thought—and he went on—on, in that revolting and -perilous maze! - -Yes: with lamp held high up, and stick groping in the filthy -mud—stirring up nauseating odours,—on—on went the daring, enterprising, -chivalrous nobleman—breathing an infected and almost stifling air,—an -air formed of such noxious gases, that it might explode at any moment, -ignited by the lamp! - -But, hark! what is that rumbling sound—like thunder at a vast distance? - -Arthur pauses—and listens. - -The truth in a few moments flashed to his mind: he was beneath a street -in which vehicles were moving. Oh! now he felt convinced—even if he had -entertained any doubts before—that he was in London. - -Watching the progress of the slimy stream, he turned first to the left, -up a channel that branched off from the one which he had originally -entered;—then he turned to the right into another—the hollow rumbling -sounds overhead gradually increasing in volume and power. - -Suddenly he beholds a light glancing upon the putrescent surface of the -slimy stream through which he is wading knee-deep. That light is -half-a-dozen yards in front of him—flickering playfully. - -He advances: sounds of footsteps—human footsteps—come down from -overhead. He looks up—and, behold! there is a grating in the street -above; and through that grating the light of the lamp streams and the -sound of the footsteps comes. - -He hears voices, too—as the people pass,—the voices of that world from -all communication with which he is for the time cut off! - -Shall he cry out for assistance? No: a sense of shame prevents him. He -would not like to be dragged forth from those filthy depths, in the -presence of a curious—gaping—staring crowd. He prefers the uncertainty -and the peril of his subterranean path, in the fond hope that it may -speedily lead to some safe issue. - -The Earl accordingly passed on—disturbing the water on which the light -from the street-lamp played,—disturbing, too, the vermin on either side -with the splash of the fetid fluid as he waded through it. - -But when he had proceeded a dozen yards, he looked back—as if unwilling -to quit the vicinity of that grating which opened into the street. - -In another moment, however, he conquered his hesitation, and pursued his -way in a straight line, without again turning off either to the right or -to the left. - -Upwards of an hour had elapsed since he had quitted the dungeon—and as -yet he had found no issue from that labyrinth of subterranean passages. - -Grim terrors already began to assume palpable forms to his imagination, -when suddenly he beheld a dim twinkling light, like a faint star, at a -great distance a-head. - -That light seemed a beacon of hope; and as he drew nearer and nearer, -its power increased. At last he saw another twinkling light, struggling -as it were betwixt glimmer and gloom;—and then a third—and then a -fourth. The air appeared to grow fresher too; and the Earl at length -believed that an opening from the maze must be near. - -Yes: he was not mistaken! The lights increased in number and intensity; -and he was soon convinced that they shone upon the opposite bank of the -Thames. - -A few minutes more—and all doubt was past! - -The fresh breeze from the river fanned his cheek—and, as he reached the -mouth of the sewer, and hurled away his lamp, he saw the mighty flood -stretched out before him—a bridge spanning its width at a little -distance on his left hand. - -He knew that bridge;—he recognised it by the pale lustre of the moon—for -the evening was clear and fine. - -It was Blackfriars Bridge! - -Then, from which direction had he come? - -Remembering the turnings he had taken, he could fix upon the district of -Clerkenwell as the scene of his late imprisonment. But he did not pause -to reflect on a matter now so trivial,—trivial, _because he had escaped, -and was once more free_! - -It was low water—and a bed of mud received him knee-deep, as he leapt -from the mouth of the sewer. - -But what cared he for his uncouth and filthy appearance?—_since he had -escaped, and was once more free_? - -For four weeks his beard had not been shaved, nor his toilette carefully -performed; and his hair, too, was long and matted. It was therefore -necessary to cleanse himself and change his attire as soon as possible. - -Hastening along the muddy margin of the river's bed, he ascended the -steps of a wharf, and plunged into the district of Whitefriars. There, -selecting the humblest-looking public house he could find, he entered; -and, as he had his purse about him (for those who had imprisoned, did -not rob him), he was enabled to command the necessaries and attentions -which he required. Indeed, the landlord willingly supplied a complete -change of linen and a suit of his own clothes to a guest who spared not -his gold; and as "mine host" and the Earl happened to be of the same -height and equally slender in figure, the garments of the former suited -well enough the temporary need of the latter. - -A hundred times, while performing his hasty toilette, was the Earl on -the point of summoning the landlord, and making inquiries concerning Tom -Rain; but the extraordinary appearance which he himself had worn on -entering the public-house, must, he felt convinced, have already -engendered strange suspicions concerning him; and prudence suggested to -him the necessity of avoiding any conversation which might strengthen -these suspicions, and thereby lead him into some embarrassment from -which the revelation of his name and rank might alone extricate him. - -But, oh! how painful—how acutely painful was the suspense which he -endured while passing through the details of ablution and change of -attire; and, although never were the duties of the toilette more -necessary, yet never had the Earl hurried them over with such feverish -excitement. - -At length, as St. Paul's Cathedral proclaimed the hour of eight, on that -eventful evening, Arthur sallied forth from the public-house—leaving the -landlord and landlady a prey to the wildest and most unsatisfactory -conjectures as to what he was, and how he had happened to be in the -condition in which he at first presented himself at their establishment. -They, however, both agreed that it was a very good evening's work for -them; inasmuch as their strange guest had paid them with a liberality -which would have rendered a similar visit every night of their lives a -most welcome God-send. - -In the meantime the Earl of Ellingham had gained Fleet Street, with the -intention of entering some tavern or hotel where a file of newspapers -was kept. But he was struck by the deserted appearance of the great -thoroughfare—for the shops were all shut, and the vehicles, instead of -pouring in two dense streams running different ways, were few and far -between. - -It then struck him that it was Sunday evening:—for though, in his -dungeon, he had been enabled to count the lapse of each day through the -date afforded by the morning visits of his gaoler, yet he had not kept -so accurate a calculation as to mark each day by its distinctive name. - -[Illustration] - -As he stood in Fleet Street, uncertain how to proceed, it suddenly -struck him that he would purchase a newspaper. The office of the _Weekly -Dispatch_ was facing him: he entered, and bought that day's number. - -Such was his intense curiosity—nay more, his acute and agonising -suspense,—and so awful were the misgivings which crowded upon his -soul,—that he lingered in the office to glance over the newspaper. - -And, my God! How he started—how his brain reeled—how crushed and -overwhelmed did he feel, when his eyes encountered the dreadful words at -the head of a column— - - THE CONVICT RAINFORD. - -He staggered against the wainscot of the office, and the journal nearly -dropped from his hands. He endeavoured to master his emotions, and refer -to the fatal column for farther particulars: but his brain swam—his eyes -were dim—his glances could not settle themselves upon the point which he -vainly endeavoured to make the focus of his attention. - -The clerk in the office fancied that he was suddenly attacked with -indisposition, and made a polite inquiry to that effect. But the Earl, -without giving a direct reply, put hasty and impatient questions to him; -and, though his ideas were strangely confused, he nevertheless -understood the appalling announcement—_that Rainford had been condemned -to death and that the sentence was to be carried into execution on the -following morning at Horsemonger Lane Gaol_! - -The Earl threw down the paper—and darted from the office,—recovered from -his state of stupefaction, but only to become the prey to the most -maddening feelings of despair. - -An empty hackney-coach was passing at the moment: he stopped it, and -leapt in—exclaiming to the driver, "To Horsemonger Lane Gaol." - -The coachman saw that his fare was impatient to reach that place; and he -whipped his horses into a decent pace. Over Blackfriars Bridge—down the -wide road went the vehicle: then it turned to the left at the -Obelisk—and, in a short time, it stopped in front of the gaol. - -The Earl sprang forth, and was rushing up to the entrance of the -governor's house; when an ominous hammering noise fell upon his ears. - -He instinctively glanced upwards:—and there—on the top of the -gaol—standing out in bold relief against the moon-lit sky, _were the -black spars of the gibbet which the carpenters had already erected for -the ensuing morning's work_! - - - - - CHAPTER LII. - LORD ELLINGHAM'S EXERTIONS. - - -Not a cry—not a word—not even a moan betrayed the feelings of the Earl -of Ellingham, as this frightful spectacle met his eyes. - -He was paralysed—stunned—stupified. - -Despair was in his heart;—and he could not lower his glances, which were -fascinated—rivetted by that awful engine of death on the summit of the -gaol. - -This state of complete prostration of all the intellectual energies was -suddenly interrupted by a gentle pull at his sleeve; and turning -abruptly round, he beheld, by the pale light of the moon, a young lad of -sickly appearance standing at his elbow. - -"Do you know me? what would you with me?" demanded the Earl sharply. - -"Yes—my lord, I know you," was the answer, delivered in a -mournful—melancholy tone; "and I also know that good—generous, man -who——" - -The lad burst into an agony of tears, and pointed wildly towards the -gibbet. - -"Oh! you know Rainford!" exclaimed the Earl eagerly. "Tell me, my -boy—speak—have you seen him lately?" - -"This day—this evening," replied Jacob Smith—for it was he: "and I have -taken leave of him—for ever! He begged me not to visit him—to-morrow——" - -"For ever!" echoed the Earl, in a low and hollow voice. "But," he -continued, again speaking eagerly and rapidly, "how does he support his -doom?" - -"With a courage such as the world has seldom seen," replied Jacob: "and -he frequently speaks of you, my lord!" - -"He speaks of me, my boy——" - -"Yes: my lord—he fears that some tidings—some evil reports which you -have probably heard, have set you against him—for he received a letter -from you a day or two after his arrest——" - -"My God! he suspects me of coldness!" exclaimed the Earl, in an -impassioned tone. "Oh! I must see him—I must see him this moment——" - -And he was rushing towards the governor's door, when Jacob again caught -him by the sleeve, saying, "It is useless, my lord! you cannot be -admitted to-night." - -"The keeper of the prison dare not refuse me," cried the Earl; and he -hastened to the door. - -"Would it not be better, my lord," asked Jacob, who had followed him, -"to use the valuable time now remaining, for the purpose of saving him?" - -"True!" exclaimed the Earl, struck by the observation. "An interview -with him at this moment would effect no good, and would only unman me -altogether. Come with me, my lad: you take an interest in Rainford—and -you shall be the first to learn the result of the application which I -will now make in the proper quarter." - -Thus speaking, Arthur hurried back to the hackney-coach, and as the door -closed upon himself and Jacob, he said to the driver in a firm tone, "TO -THE HOME-OFFICE!" - -During the ride, the Earl put a thousand questions to Jacob Smith -relative to the convict. - -From the answers he received it appeared that Rainford was well -convinced that neither Sir Christopher Blunt nor Mr. Curtis had directed -Mr. Howard to prosecute him for the robbery for which he was doomed to -suffer: indeed, they had declared as much when giving their evidence at -the police-court and at the Old Bailey. Neither did he believe that -Howard had instituted the proceedings through any personal motive of -spite; but he entertained the conviction that some secret and mysterious -springs had been set in motion to destroy him, and that Howard had been -made the instrument of the fatal design. - -It seemed that Jacob had visited him as often as the prison regulations -would permit; and that he had been the bearer of frequent letters -between Rainford and the beautiful Jewess, who had removed from Brandon -Street a few days after his arrest—this change of residence being -effected by the express wishes of Tom Rain, who was afraid lest the -malignity of his unknown enemies might extend to herself. Jacob also -casually mentioned that the very first time he had been sent to see the -Jewess (which appeared to have been the morning after Lord Ellingham's -laconic letter was received by Rainford) she enclosed a number of papers -in a packet, which she carefully sealed and which Jacob conveyed to the -prisoner. - -"When I was with him this evening," added the lad, "he gave me that -packet, which he re-directed to your lordship, and desired me to leave -it at your lordship's residence to-morrow—when all should be over; but -since I have thus unexpectedly met you——" - -Sobs choked the youth's utterance, as he passed the sealed packet to the -Earl, who received it in profound silence—for well did he divine the -nature of its contents, and his heart was rent with anguish as he felt -all the generosity of that deed on thy part, Tom Rain! - -But, in a few moments, the spark of hope that already scintillated -within him, was fanned into a bright and glowing flame: for he now -possessed proofs to convince the Secretary of State that in allowing the -law to take its course, an individual rightly entitled to an Earldom -would suffer death; and Arthur was well aware of the influence which -such an argument would have in supporting his appeal for a commutation -of the sentence. - -"Thy generous act in giving up the papers which _thou_ mightest have -used to save thy life," he thought within himself, apostrophising his -doomed half-brother, "shall not be thrown away on me! Ingratitude to -thee were impossible!"—Then, turning to Jacob, he said aloud, "I am much -mistaken, my boy, if these papers which you have placed in my hands will -not effect the great object that we have in view." - -"Oh! my lord," exclaimed Jacob, with the most sincere joyfulness of -manner, "is there really so much hope? Ah! if not for him—at least for -that poor lady who loves him so deeply——" - -"Has she seen him?" hastily inquired the Earl. - -"Once—once only," answered Jacob: "and that was this afternoon. I was -not present at the farewell scene: but I was in the neighbourhood when -_she_ came out again—and I do not wish ever to witness a beautiful -woman's grief again. My lord, I have passed through much—seen much,—and -distress and misery in all their worst forms are known to me. But as -long as I live will the image of that poor creature, as the wind blew -aside her veil for few moments——Oh! I cannot bear to think of it!" - -"He shall be restored to her, my lad!" exclaimed the Earl emphatically. -"The more I ponder upon the case, the more firmly do I become convinced -that it is one in which the Home Secretary may exercise the prerogative -of mercy. It is not as if blood had been shed——" - -At this moment the hackney-coach stopped at the door of the Home Office; -and the Earl alighted, bidding Jacob await his return. - -But what language can describe the violence of that sudden revulsion of -feeling which Arthur experienced, when, on inquiry, he learnt that the -Home Secretary was neither at his official nor his private residence in -London, as he had set out on the preceding evening for his country-seat -in the north of England! - -With the rapidity of lightning did the Earl calculate the chances of -overtaking him by means of fleet horses: but a few moments' reflection -showed him the impossibility of accomplishing that undertaking in time -to make its result, supposing it were successful, available to the -doomed victim. The reprieve might be granted—but it would arrive in -London too late! - -The Earl was well aware that it was useless to seek the Prime Minister; -as that functionary would have no alternative save to reply that he -could not possibly interfere in a case so essentially regarding the -department of the Home Secretary. - -Arthur's mind was accordingly made up in a very few moments:—he would -repair at once to the King, who, as he learnt at the Home Office, was, -fortunately for his purpose, at Buckingham Palace! - -It was now ten o'clock at night: there were but ten hours before him—but -in that interval much might be done. - -Returning to the coach, he desired to be driven to his own house; and, -while proceeding thither, he acquainted Jacob with the cruel -disappointment he had sustained by the absence of the Secretary of -State, and stated his resolution to repair at once to the dwelling of -the King. - -Thus the poor, wretched lad became, by his generous sympathy for Tom -Rain, the companion and confidant of the great noble! - -Great was the joy which prevailed amongst the Earl's household, when he -made his appearance once more at his own abode. The servants had indeed -heard from Dr. Lascelles as much as the physician himself had learnt -through the medium of the vague and laconic letter which the Earl was -permitted to write to him from his dungeon: but still the protracted -absence of their master had occasioned them the most lively uneasiness; -and they were therefore heartily glad to behold his return. - -But he was compelled to cut short the congratulations proffered him; and -the orders that he issued were given with an unwonted degree of -impatience. - -"Let the carriage be ordered round directly. Let some one hasten to -acquaint Lady Hatfield with my return; and also send up to Grafton -Street to request Dr. Lascelles to come hither as soon as possible, and -to wait for me—never mind how late. Let this lad be taken care of," he -added, indicating Jacob: "and see that he wants for nothing." - -Then, hastening up stairs to his own chamber, he locked himself in, -having declined the attendance of his valet. - -He tore open the packet which Jacob had given him, and beheld a small -leathern case. This case contained a roll of letters and other -documents, _tied round with a piece of riband so faded that it was -impossible to determine what its colour might have originally been_. -There was also, accompanying this roll, a brief note addressed to -himself. - -With trembling hand he opened the note, and, with beating heart and -tearful eyes, read the following words:— - - "I have sent you the papers, my dear brother—for so I shall make - bold to call you still,—to convince you that I did not forge an idle - tale when we met last. Whatever your motive for abandoning me in my - last hours may be, I entertain no ill feeling towards you: on the - contrary, I hope that God may prosper you, and give you long life to - enjoy that title and fortune which in so short a time will be beyond - the possibility of dispute. - - "I had promised to leave behind me a written narrative of my - chequered and eventful history for your perusal: but—need I explain - wherefore I have not fulfilled this promise?" - - "T. R." - -The Earl wept—Oh! he wept plenteously, as he read those lines. - -"He thinks that I have abandoned him—and he expresses the most generous -wishes for my prosperity!" he cried aloud. "Oh! my God—I must save him—I -must save him!" - -He waited not to examine the roll of papers: his half-brother intimated -that the necessary proofs were _there_—and, though no human eye watched -the Earl's motions at that instant, still he would not imply a doubt of -Rainford's word by examining the documents. - -But he hastened to dress himself in attire suitable to his contemplated -visit to the King; and his toilette was completed just as the carriage -drove round to the door. - -A few minutes afterwards he was rolling rapidly along in the vehicle -towards Buckingham Palace, the papers carefully secured about his -person, and his heart palpitating violently with the cruel suspense of -mingled hope and fear. - -Alas! he was doomed to another disappointment. - -Though it was but little past eleven o'clock, King George the Fourth had -already retired to rest,—or rather had been borne away in a senseless -state from one of those beastly orgies in which the filthy voluptuary so -often indulged. - -This much was intimated to the Earl by a nobleman attached to the royal -person, and with whom Arthur was well acquainted. - -Quitting the palace in disgust combined with despair, Lord Ellingham -returned home. - -But, no—we were wrong: he did not entirely despair. One hope of saving -Rainford's life—one faint hope remained,—a hope so wild—so -extravagant—and involving a chance with such fearful odds against it, -that it could only have been conceived by one who was determined to -leave no means, however difficult, unadopted, in order to attain a -particular end. - -On crossing the threshold of his door, Arthur's first inquiry was -whether Doctor Lascelles had arrived. - -The reply was an affirmative; and the Earl hastened to the apartment to -which the physician had been shown. - -It is not however necessary to relate the particulars of their -interview; inasmuch as the nature of the conversation which passed -between them will be developed hereafter. - - - - - CHAPTER LIII. - THE EXECUTION. - - -The fatal Monday morning broke, yellow—heavily—and gloomily; and the -light stole—or rather struggled by degrees into the convict's cell. - -Shortly before seven o'clock Tom Rain awoke; and casting his eyes -rapidly around, they successively fell upon the turnkey who had sate up -with him—the still flickering lamp upon the common deal table—the damp -stone walls—and the massive bars at the windows. - -For an instant a cold shudder convulsed his frame, as the conviction—the -appalling truth burst upon him, that the horrors of his dreams were not -to cease with the slumber that had given them birth. - -But, with knitting brow and compressed lip—like a strong-minded man who -endeavours to conceal the pain inflicted on him by a surgical operation -of a dreadful nature—he struggled with his emotions; and, when the -governor and clergyman entered the dungeon, they found him firm and -resolute, though not insolent nor reckless. - -The chaplain offered to pray with him; and he consented to join in -devotion. - -There was profound sincerity—but no affectation, no hypocrisy, no -passionate exclamation—in the prayer which Tom Rain uttered -extemporaneously. - -As the clock chimed half-past seven, he arose from his knees, saying, "I -am now prepared to die." - -But there was yet another half hour before him. - -Scarcely had the clock finished chiming, when the door was opened, and -the Earl of Ellingham entered the cell. - -Heedless of the impression which his conduct might produce upon the -prison authorities present, Arthur rushed forward and threw himself into -Rainford's arms, exclaiming, "No—I had not willfully abandoned you, -Thomas!" - -"Just now I said that I was prepared to die," answered the convict, -returning the embrace with congenial warmth; "and now I may even add -that I shall die contented!" - -"The time is too precious to waste in mere details," returned Arthur; -"or I would tell you how I have been kept away from you by force—by a -vile outrage. But you do not now believe that I was willingly -absent—that I wantonly neglected you?" - -"No—no," exclaimed Rainford. "I seek not an explanation—I require none. -It is enough that you are here now—at the last hour!" - -The Earl then related, in a few hurried words, the vain exertions he had -made on the preceding evening on behalf of Rainford, who expressed his -lively gratitude. - -Arthur next requested the governor to permit him to have a few minutes' -private conversation with the prisoner: but this favour could not be -granted—and the Earl dared not persist in his demand, as the chaplain -hinted that the convict had bidden adieu to the affairs of this life, -and had but little time left for devotion. - -Thus was it that Arthur and Rainford had no opportunity of speaking -together in private,—although the former had something important to -communicate, and the latter perceived that such was the fact. - -"Arthur," said Tom, approaching close to his half-brother, and speaking -in a low solemn tone, "is there any hope?" - -"None—_on this side of the scaffold_," returned the Earl, with a -significant glance as he dwelt on his words: and, as he spoke, he took -the prisoner's hand as if to wring it fervently. - -But Rainford felt something in the Earl's palm, and instantly -comprehended that it was an object which he was to take unnoticed by the -gaol authorities. Then, rapid as the lightning flash, he perceived a -double meaning in the words—"_on this side of the scaffold_;" because he -knew that Arthur would not use those awful words, "_the scaffold_"—but -would have said "_the tomb_," had he not had some special, profound -motive. - -And Rainford _did_ comprehend the hint—the hope conveyed; and though he -thanked his half-brother with a rapid, expressive glance, yet a sickly -smile played upon his lip—indicative of the faintness of that hope so -created. - -At the same instant heavy footsteps were heard approaching the cell; and -the chaplain said in a solemn tone, "The hour is almost come!" - -Then Arthur once more threw himself into the prisoner's arms, and -whispered rapidly in his ear, "Keep the tube in your throat—and you will -be saved!" - -Rainford murmured an assent; and the brothers embraced with a fervour -which astonished those present, to whom their relationship was totally -unknown. - -Arthur then tore himself from the cell:—not for worlds could he behold -that horrible process termed _the toilette_. - -He had also another motive for quitting the dungeon before the last -moment:—this was to meet the Sheriff of the County in the passage. - -And, behold! in the corridor, he encountered that functionary, the -javelin-men, and the under-sheriff, behind whom came the executioner and -his assistant. - -The Earl accosted the Sheriff, with whom he was acquainted, and who was -naturally surprised to meet the nobleman there. - -Drawing him aside, Arthur said in a hasty tone, "I have a favour—a great -favour to ask of you. The convict is well connected, and his friends -demand the body to bury it decently. The earnest prayer that I have to -offer you on their behalf, is that you will not prolong the feelings of -shame and ignominy which they will experience during the time the corpse -remains suspended." - -"My lord," replied the Sheriff, "the body shall be cut down at twenty -minutes past eight, and delivered over to the unhappy man's friends." - -"A thousand thanks!" said the Earl, pressing the Sheriff's hand. - -He then hurried away; and the procession moved on to the cell. - - * * * * * - -Immense was the crowd gathered around the gaol to witness the execution -of the celebrated highwayman who had been proved on his trial to be none -other than the notorious Black Mask who some years previously had -performed the most extraordinary deeds of daring and audacity in the -county of Hants. - -Yes: immense was the crowd;—and not only did the living ocean inundate -all the open spaces about the gaol and all the thoroughfares leading -thither,—but it seemed to force its off-shooting streams and channels -_up_ the very walls of the surrounding dwellings, so densely filled with -faces were the open windows—even to the house-tops. - -Near the front gate of the gaol stood a black coach and a hearse;—and -concealed between the vehicles and the prison wall, were the Earl of -Ellingham, Dr. Lascelles, and three of the nobleman's own men-servants, -all muffled in black mourning cloaks, and holding white handkerchiefs to -their faces so as to hide their features as much as possible. - -Lord Ellingham was convulsed with grief. Far—far more than the convict -himself did the generous-hearted nobleman suffer on this terrible -morning. He was benumbed with cold—his body felt like a dead weight -which his legs could scarcely sustain—his tongue clave to the roof of -his mouth—a suffocating sensation oppressed him—and he felt as if all -the most frightful misfortunes had suddenly combined to fall with -crushing burden on his own head! - -The clock of St. George's in the Borough began to strike eight—the clock -of the prison echoed those iron notes, which sent upon the wing of the -air the signal for death. - -Suddenly the hum of the multitudes ceased; and an awful silence -prevailed. - -The Earl and the physician knew by those signs that the convict had just -appeared on the roof of the gaol. - -But from where they were stationed they could not command a view of the -dreadful scene above: and even if they had been differently placed, Lord -Ellingham at least would not have raised his eyes towards the fatal -tree! - -And now, amidst that solemn silence, a voice was heard,—the solemn, -deep-toned, monotonous voice of the chaplain, saying, "_I am the -resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, -though he were dead, yet shall he live. And though after my skin worms -destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God._" - -The voice ceased: a sudden sensation ran through the crowd like an -electric shock;—and the Earl of Ellingham groaned deeply—groaned in the -bitterness of his spirit,—_for he knew that the drop had just fallen_! - -"Compose yourself, my dear friend," whispered the physician: "for now is -the time to arm yourself with all your energies!" - -"Thanks, doctor—a thousand thanks for reminding me of my duty," said the -Earl. "But this is most trying—most horribly trying! I have lived a -hundred years of agony in the last few minutes!" - -"Hope for the best, my dear Earl," rejoined the physician. "Do you think -that he fully understood you——" - -"He did—I am convinced of it!" replied Arthur, anxious to argue himself -out of all doubts as well as to convince his companion. "He received the -silver tube, and I saw him conceal it in his sleeve. But, alas! we had -no opportunity to speak alone—though I had so much to say to him—so many -explanations to give—such numerous questions to ask——My God! if after -all, _this_ plan should fail!" - -"If that boy Jacob will only follow my instructions to the very letter," -answered Lascelles, "I do not despair of success!" - -"Oh! he will—he will!" returned the young nobleman, as he glanced -towards the hearse. "He is as intelligent as he is attached to my dear -brother!" - -The railings in front of the gaol kept the crowd at a considerable -distance from the mourning vehicles; and thus the observations which -passed between the Earl and the physician were not heard by any save -themselves. - -And now how languidly—how slowly passed the interval of twenty minutes -during which the Sheriff had stated that the body must remain suspended. - -To the Earl it seemed as if each minute were a year—as if he were living -twenty years in those twenty minutes! - -And the crowds had broken the silence which had fallen upon them like a -spell;—and ribald jests—obscene remarks—terrible execrations—and vile -practical jokes now proclaimed how efficacious is the example of public -strangulation! - -At last the prison-clock chimed the quarter past eight; and more -acute—more agonising grew the suspense of the Earl of Ellingham. - -A thousand fears assailed him. - -Rainford might not have been able to use the silver tube,—or its -imagined effect might have failed,—or the knot of the rope might have -broken his neck? Again—the Sheriff might forget his promise, and allow -the convict to hang an hour according to the usual custom? And even if -all these fears were without foundation, the physician might not be able -to fulfil his expectations? - -Cruel—cruel was the suspense,—appalling were the apprehensions endured -by the young nobleman. - -He looked at his watch: it was seventeen minutes and a half past eight. - -Two minutes and a half more—if the Sheriff had not forgotten his -promise! - -But, no: he was even better than his word;—for scarcely had Arthur -returned the watch to his pocket, when a sudden sensation again pervaded -the multitude—and several voices cried, "_They are going to cut him -down!_" - -Then came a dead silence. - -An intense heat ran, like molten lead, through the Earl's veins; and, at -the next moment, he turned death-like cold, as if plunged into an -ice-bath. - -If he had hitherto lived years in minutes—he now seemed to exist whole -centuries in moments! - -All the fears which had previously struck him one by one, now rushed in -an aggregate crowd to his soul. - -The next two minutes were all of fury and horror—fury in his brain, -horror in his heart! - -But at last the gate of the gaol opened; and a gruff voice exclaimed, -"Now then!" - -The Earl's three men-servants hastened to range themselves near the door -of the hearse, which one of them opened: and when the gaol-officials -appeared, bearing the coffin, these servants advanced a few paces to -relieve them of their burthen, and thrust it into the hearse, while Dr. -Lascelles diverted the attention of the officials by distributing money -amongst them. - -This proceeding, which had been pre-arranged by the Earl and the -physician with the three servants, was absolutely necessary: _because -Jacob Smith was concealed within the hearse_! - -The affair having proceeded successfully thus far, the hearse moved -away; and the five persons who acted as mourners entered the black -coach, which also drove off. - -For the sake of appearances it was necessary that the vehicles should -move slowly along, until the outskirts of the multitude were entirely -passed: and then—when Blackman Street was reached—the hearse and the -black coach were driven along at a rate which is adopted by funeral -processions only when the obsequies are over. - - - - - CHAPTER LIV. - GALVANISM. - - -By the time St. George's Church was passed, the drivers had whipped -their horses into a furious gallop;—and on—on went the mourning vehicles -like the wind. - -The sleek and pampered black horses panted and foamed; but the coachmen -cared not—they were well paid for what they were doing. - -Down Union Street rolled the chariot and the hearse—into the Blackfriars -Road—up the wide thoroughfare to the river—over the bridge—along -Farringdon Street—and through Smithfield to Clerkenwell Green. - -In an incredibly short space of time, the two vehicles stopped at the -door of a house in Red Lion Street. - -Dr. Lascelles was the first to leap from the mourning coach, and, taking -a key from his pocket, he opened the door of the house, into which, -quickly as active men could move or work, the coffin was borne from the -hearse. - -Jacob Smith was helped out immediately afterwards, and he followed the -Earl, the physician, and the three servants into the house, while the -mourning coach and the hearse still waited at the door. - -A quarter of an hour afterwards, the coffin, _with the lid now screwed -down_, was borne back to the hearse;—the three servants returned to the -mourning coach, and the funeral procession was set in motion again—but -with slow and suitable solemnity. - -In another half hour, the coffin, with the name of "THOMAS RAINFORD" -upon the plate, was interred in St. Luke's churchyard; and thus ended -this ceremony. - -But did that coffin really contain the cold corse of the once gallant -highwayman? - -No: it had been hastily filled with stones and straw at the house in Red -Lion Street. - -And the body—— - - * * * * * - -The moment the coffin was borne into the house in Red Lion Street, in -the manner already described, Jacob Smith closed the door behind him, -and exclaimed in a triumphant tone, as he produced the silver tube from -his pocket, "It was in his throat! I took it out—and I rubbed his -temples with hartshorn and applied it to his nostrils the whole way from -the goal to this place! Oh! he will be saved—he will be saved!" - -The lid of the coffin, which had not been screwed down, was removed; and -in the shell lay the highwayman—with eyes closed—and pale as death! - -The Earl of Ellingham shuddered convulsively, and uttered a groan of -anguish; but Dr. Lascelles gave his instructions with so much presence -of mind and yet such rapidity, that the intensity of the nobleman's -grief was soon partially absorbed in the excitement of the scene that -now followed. - -The body was removed as hastily as possible up stairs, and carried into -a spacious laboratory, where it was immediately stretched upon the -table. - -The three servants then retraced their way down stairs, filled the -coffin with stones and straw, screwed the lid tight, and departed with -it, as already stated, to St. Luke's churchyard. - -In the meantime, the physician, the Earl, and Jacob Smith remained in -the laboratory; and now was the profound scientific knowledge of Dr. -Lascelles about to be applied to the most wonderful act of human -aims—_the resuscitation of a convict who had been hanged_! - -The poles of a powerful galvanic pile were applied to the body, from -which the animal heat had not altogether departed when it was taken from -the coffin; and the force of the electric fluid almost immediately -displayed its wondrous influence. - -An universal tremor passed over the frame of Rainford; and ejaculations -of ineffable joy burst from the lips of Lord Ellingham and Jacob Smith. - -Dr. Lascelles continued to let fall upon the body a full quantum of the -electric fluid; and in less than a minute the right arm of the -highwayman moved,—moved with a kind of spasmodic quivering: then, in a -few seconds, it was suddenly raised with eagerness and impatience, and -the hand sought the throat. - -With convulsive motion that hand kept grasping the throat as if to tear -away something that oppressed it—as if the horrible rope still encircled -it. - -Then Rainford's chest began to swell and work with the violence of -returning respiration—as if a mighty current of air were rushing back to -the lungs. - -"He breathes! he breathes!" cried Ellingham and Jacob Smith, as it were -in one voice. - -"He will be saved," said the physician calmly, as he again applied the -poles of the battery;—"provided congestion of the brain does not take -place—for that is to be dreaded!" - -But the nobleman and the poor lad heard not this alternative of sinister -and dubious import: they had no ears for anything save those blessed -words—"He will be saved!" - -And they were literally wild with joy. - -Lascelles, without desisting from his occupation of applying the -electric fluid, and apparently without noticing the excitement—the -delirium of happiness and hope which had seized upon his two companions, -began leisurely to explain how it was necessary to adopt means to -equalise the reviving circulation; and though he called for hartshorn, -he was not heard. At length he stamped his foot violently on the floor, -exclaiming, "Will neither of you give me the hartshorn? Do you wish him -to die through _your_ neglect?" - -The Earl instantly checked the exuberance of his joyous emotions, and -hastened to obey all the instructions which the physician gave him. - -The hartshorn was applied to Rainford's nostrils; and in a few moments -his lips began to quiver:—then, on a sudden, as Lascelles let fall upon -him a stronger current of the electric fluid, a terrific cry burst from -the object of all this intensely concentrated interest! - -But never was cry of human agony more welcome to mortal ears than now; -for it told those who heard it that life was in him who gave vent to it! - -The physician felt the highwayman's pulse: it beat feebly—very -feebly—but still it beat! - -And now his limbs moved with incessant trembling,—and he waved his right -hand backwards and forwards, his breast heaving with repeated sighs, and -gasps, and painful moans. - -The doctor applied a small mirror to Rainford's mouth and nostrils; and -it was instantly covered with a cloud. - -He now opened his eyes slowly; they were much blood-shot—but the pupils -indicated the reviving fires of vitality. - -His breathing rapidly grew more regular; and though he retained his eyes -open, yet he seemed unconscious of all that was passing around him, and -gazed upwards with the most death-like indifference. - -Lord Ellingham cast a glance of frightful apprehension towards the -physician; but the countenance of Dr. Lascelles wore an expression of -calm and complacent satisfaction—and the Earl was reassured. - -Twenty minutes had now passed since the galvanic operation had -commenced; and at last Dr. Lascelles said emphatically, "_He is saved!_" - -The Earl embraced him as if he were a father who had just manifested -some extraordinary proof of paternal love, or who had forgiven some deep -offence on the part of a son. - -"We must put him to bed immediately," said the physician, with -difficulty extricating himself from the nobleman's embrace, and fearing -lest he should be compelled to undergo a similarly affectionate process -at the hands of Jacob Smith, who was equally enthusiastic in his -joy:—"we must put him to bed immediately," repeated Dr. Lascelles; "and -fortunately for us, there is a bed-chamber in the house." - -The three then carefully lifted Tom Rain into a small room furnished as -a bed-chamber, and where they undressed him and deposited him in the -bed. - -"And now," said Jacob Smith, "we should remember that there is one, who -will feel as much joy as ourselves——" - -"True!" cried the Earl. "But where does she live?" - -"I am acquainted with her abode," returned the lad. "If your lordship -will allow me——" - -"Yes, my good boy," interrupted Arthur. "It is for you to convey these -joyous tidings. But perhaps she may have returned home to her -father—for, after all that has occurred, and considering Mr. de Medina's -affection for his daughter——But all this while we are talking -enigmatically in the presence of my excellent friend the doctor, from -whom there must be no secrets——" - -"Never mind me," said Lascelles laconically, who perfectly well -comprehended the nature of their allusions. "I care little for your -secrets; and, even if it were otherwise, I am too much occupied with my -patient here——" - -"Then we will not trouble you with explanations at present," interrupted -the Earl. "Jacob, my lad, hasten to the lady of whom we speak—break the -happy tidings to her gently—and bring her hither." - -"Yes, my lord," answered the lad, delighted at being chosen as the -messenger of good tidings in such a case. "Fortunately, Miss de Medina -moved from Brandon Street into the heart of the City, by Mr. Rainford's -positive directions: and I shall not be long before I come back with -her." - -The Earl put gold into his hand; but Jacob returned it, declaring that -he was not without money; and in another minute the front door of the -house closed behind him. - - - - - CHAPTER LV. - THE LABORATORY.—ESTHER DE MEDINA. - - -When Jacob had taken his departure, Dr. Lascelles returned to his -laboratory, mixed some liquid ingredients in a glass, and returning to -the bed-chamber, poured the medicine down Rainford's throat. - -He then felt his pulse, applied his ear to his chest to listen to the -pulsation of his heart, and carefully examined his eyes, which were far -less blood-shot than when they opened first. - -"He is getting on admirably," said the physician, "his pulsation is -regular, and neither too quick nor too slow—but just as I could wish it. -He seems inclined to sleep—yes—he closes his eyes; and he will awake to -perfect consciousness.—But do you know, my dear friend, that in order to -oblige you, I have incurred an awful risk?" continued the doctor. "The -law would not believe me, were I to declare that it was in the interest -of science I made these galvanic experiments, and that having succeeded -in recalling the man to life, I was not capable of delivering him up to -justice." - -"Let us hope that there will be no necessity to make such an excuse at -all," said the Earl. "You have rendered me an immense service, doctor——" - -"Then I am satisfied," interrupted Lascelles; "for, after all you told -me last night, I cannot help liking your half-brother here. He is a -generous-hearted fellow; and one would risk much to save such a man from -death." - -"You had frequently mentioned to me your galvanic experiments," said the -Earl: "and last night, when nearly driven to desperation by the absence -of the Home Secretary, the reminiscence of all the wonders you had at -different times related to me in respect to galvanism, flashed to my -mind—and I sent for you as a drowning man clings to a straw." - -"In the adjoining room," observed the physician, "I have tried the -influence of galvanism upon thousands of animals and on several men. I -have paid high prices to obtain the bodies of convicts as soon as they -were cut down;—but never until this day did I succeed in restoring the -vital spark. Neither would this experiment have been successful, had we -not adopted all the precautions I suggested. The tube in the throat to -allow respiration—and Jacob Smith in the hearse to remove the -suffocating night-cap from Rainford's head, and the tube from his -throat, and then to apply the hartshorn to his nostrils and his temples. -Step with me again into the laboratory: you have not yet had time to -examine its curiosities," added the physician with a smile. "Rainford -sleeps," he continued, glancing towards the bed; "and we shall have a -little leisure to inspect the laboratory." - -They accordingly proceeded into the adjacent room, where Lascelles -directed his companion's attention to the various galvanic and -electrical apparatus. - -"I am also a devoted disciple of Gall and Spurzheim," observed the -physician, when he had expatiated upon the discoveries of Galvani.[25] -"Behold that row of plaster of Paris casts of heads," he continued, -pointing to a shelf whereon upwards of fifty of the objects mentioned -were ranged: "they have afforded me much scope for curious speculation -and profound study." - -"I observe that you have casts of the heads of several celebrated -criminals amongst them," said the Earl: "Arthur Thistlewood—Daniel -Hoggart—George Barrington—Henry Fauntleroy—John Thurtell—William -Probert——" - -"And many others, as you perceive, my dear Earl," interrupted Lascelles. -"The prejudice is as yet so strong amongst people, in respect to -phrenology and craniology, that it is difficult to obtain the casts of -living heads: I am therefore forced to make friends with the turnkeys in -gaols and with the relations of criminals who are hung or who die in -prison, to get casts. Moreover, the heads of men who have led remarkable -lives, or who have suffered for their crimes, afford such interesting -subjects for study and comparison——" - -[Illustration] - -"Comparison between the head of the man and the monkey!" said the Earl -with a smile. - -"Decidedly," exclaimed the physician. "But I will not bore you with my -theories and speculations on this subject. You may, however, suppose -that I am not a little enthusiastic in the matter, since I have taken -the trouble to have human heads prepared and articulated to facilitate -my studies." - -Thus speaking, he opened the door of a cupboard. - -The Earl started back—for four human countenances met his astonished and -horrified gaze, and four pairs of human eyes seemed to glare ominously -upon him. At the same time his nostrils were assailed with a strong -odour of spices. - -"You need not be afraid of them!" ejaculated the physician, laughing: -"they will not speak to you." - -"But how—whence did you obtain——" - -"I suppose you think I murdered four men for the sake of their heads?" -cried Lascelles, laughing more heartily still. "Why, my dear Earl, you -would be surprised, perhaps, to learn that I often pass whole nights in -this laboratory, making galvanic experiments, or pursuing my -phrenological and craniological researches. But these heads were -obtained from the hospitals, and I myself embalmed and prepared, as you -now see them." - -"I was not aware that you possessed this laboratory," observed the Earl, -"until you stated the fact last night." - -"Nor would you ever have known it, had it not been for the desire which -you expressed that science should exert itself to rescue your -half-brother from the grasp of death," answered the physician. "The -truth is, I have had this laboratory upwards of seventeen or eighteen -years. I was always devoted to science, especially that on which my own -profession is based; and the spirit of anatomical inquiry made me -anxious to obtain as many _subjects_—or in plain terms, dead bodies—as -possible. I was therefore thrown into perpetual intercourse with -resurrection-men, who, of course, are not the best of characters. But I -was afraid of having corpses brought to my own house in Grafton Street; -and I was also desirous to fit up for myself a laboratory in some -retired neighbourhood, where I could pursue my studies without the least -fear of interruption, on such occasions when the humour might seize me. -I hinted as much to one of the rascals who sold me _subjects_; and he -put me in communication with a man of the name of Tidmarsh. After some -haggling and hesitation on the part of Tidmarsh—and when he had -consulted, or pretended to consult, his principal—he introduced me to -this house, and I hired this room at an enormous rental. I did not, -however, care about the high rate demanded of me for the use of the -place, because it is not only in a most retired neighbourhood, but there -is also a private and subterranean means of egress and ingress from -another street, which is useful, you know, for one who has to deal with -resurrectionists." - -"And are you the only tenant of this house?" inquired the Earl; "for I -presume that the bed-chamber in which poor Thomas lies is not your own." - -"No: some old man occasionally visits the house, and now and then sleeps -in that room," returned the physician. "But I have only seen him once or -twice and do not even know his name. I have my own key for the -front-door, and I am acquainted with the secret of the subterranean -passage; but I never hold any communication with Tidmarsh, beyond paying -him the rent when it is due;—and when I happen to meet the old man I -have alluded to, we merely exchange a word and pass on. He has his rooms -in the house, and I have mine; and as he does not interfere with me, I -never trouble myself about him nor his concerns." - -"Then, for aught you know, doctor," said the Earl, "you may occupy an -apartment in the house of bad characters?" - -"What do I care?" exclaimed Lascelles. "I could not well have such a -laboratory as this at my own residence—my servants would talk about -these human heads, and those plaster casts, and the galvanic -experiments, and I should be looked upon as a sorcerer, or at all events -with so much suspicion and aversion as to lose all my practice. And, by -the bye, my dear Earl, you should be the very last," added the doctor, -with a smile, "to hint at the possibility of this house being connected -with bad characters; for had I not a laboratory in so quiet a street—a -street, too, where no questions are ever asked nor observations -made—your poor brother might have waited long enough for the chance of -resuscitation by galvanic means." - -"True, my dear doctor—I was unjust," said the Earl. "But you will -forgive me?" - -"Say no more about it, Arthur. Were men of scientific research to be -over particular, they might as well abandon their studies at once. The -experiments I have made on corpses in this room, could scarcely have -been performed at my own residence; and, to tell you very candidly, I -believe that the old man who has the other apartments on this floor, is -either a miser or a rogue;—but I care nothing about him or his affairs. -And now I will mention to you one very extraordinary circumstance. It -must have been, as near as I can guess, five weeks ago that I was one -night pursuing my galvanic experiments in this room—I had been operating -on divers rabbits, frogs, and rats—and, may be, for anything I -recollect, a few cats,—when I was compelled to go down stairs for a -particular purpose. On my return, as I came back by that door," he -continued, pointing to one at the farther end of the room, "and which -leads to the staircase, I was startled—nay, positively astounded at -seeing a man standing near this cupboard, and gazing fixedly on the -human heads. I confess I was alarmed at the moment, because I had heard -voices in the house during the half-hour previously; and I remember that -I rushed back and instinctively barred and bolted the door. But the man -turned round before I had time to close the door—and I caught a glimpse -of his face. That man—now who do you think he was?" - -"It is impossible to guess, doctor," said the Earl. - -"He was your half-brother, who now lies in the adjoining room!" added -Lascelles. - -"Thomas!—here!" cried Arthur, profoundly surprised. - -"I could not possibly make a mistake, because I had seen him before—no -matter how or where—and knew him immediately," continued the physician. -"Well, I must confess that I was uncertain how to act. I did not wish -him to recognise me—although perhaps he had already done so; and I could -not very well leave the house and return to Grafton-street at once, -because I had on a dressing-gown, and had left my coat in this room. I -was half-way down the stairs leading to the hall, when I heard some one -opening the front door with a key. Knowing that it must be either the -old man I have before mentioned, or Tidmarsh, as they alone besides -myself had keys of the front door, I waited till the person came in; and -it _was_ Tidmarsh. I immediately told him what I had seen.—'_Ah!_' said -he, '_I suspected there was something wrong, and that made me get up, -dress, and come round_.'—His words astonished me; and I requested an -explanation; but he seemed sorry that he had uttered them inadvertently, -and gave some evasive reply. He however accompanied me up stairs: we -entered the laboratory, and no one was there. We went into the next -room—the one where Rainford is now sleeping—and there we found the -carpet moved away from the trap-door——" - -"The trap-door!" exclaimed the Earl. - -"Yes—a trap-door that leads to the subterranean passage which I have -mentioned to you," added Lascelles; "but you must remember that all I -have told you about this house is in the strictest confidence. Well, we -found the carpet moved away from the trap-door, though the trap itself -was closed. Old Tidmarsh instantly fastened the trap with a secret -spring which there is to it, and spread the carpet over the floor -again.—'_But does he know the means of getting out at the other end?_' I -inquired, shocked at the thought of Rainford being immured in the -subterranean.—'_Do you think he would venture down there if he were not -acquainted with the secrets of the place?_' demanded Tidmarsh. This -struck me as being consistent with common sense; and moreover I began to -fancy that Tidmarsh and Rainford must be connected together—pardon me, -my dear Earl, for saying so: and that suspicion was encouraged in my -mind by the singular and mysteriously significant observation that -Tidmarsh had dropped when I met him on the stairs. So I felt no farther -uneasiness; but took my departure for Grafton Street. Tidmarsh quitted -the house with me, and left me at the corner of Turnmill Street close -by—as he lives there." - -"Do you know," said the Earl of Ellingham, who now appeared to be -occupied with an idea which had just struck him,—"do you know that all -this conversation about subterraneans, and secret passages, and -trap-doors, has created a strange suspicion in my mind?" - -"Relative to what?" demanded the physician. - -"I briefly explained to you last night the cause of my disappearance for -four long weeks," continued the Earl; "I also acquainted you with the -manner of my escape. Now, I am convinced, by the direction I took, in -threading those dreadful sewers, that I was a prisoner somewhere in -Clerkenwell; and perhaps—who knows—indeed, it is highly probable, that -the very subterranean, of which you have spoken, may contain dungeon——" - -"You shall soon satisfy yourself on that head," interrupted the -physician. "I confess that I have never been there more than three or -four times—and then only to help old Tidmarsh convey to my laboratory a -_subject_ for my galvanic or anatomical experiments, and which the -resurrectionists had deposited at his house in Turnmill Street. So you -may believe that I know but little of the precise features of the -subterranean. But we will visit it at once; and if there be a dungeon or -cell there, such as you describe, we shall discover it." - -The physician and the Earl proceeded into the bed-chamber, where -Rainford still slept. Lascelles felt his pulse, examined his countenance -attentively, and turned with a smile of satisfaction to the young -nobleman, to whom he whispered, "He is beyond all danger." - -Arthur pressed the doctor's hand with fervent gratitude, while tears of -happiness trembled upon his long lashes. - -The physician then proceeded to raise the trap-door; and, having -procured a lamp from his laboratory, led the way down the spiral -staircase of stone. - -But the huge door at the bottom was bolted on the other side; and thus -further investigation was rendered impossible on that occasion. - -They accordingly retraced their steps to the bed-room, closed the -trap-door, and spread the carpet over it again. - -The Earl nevertheless made up his mind to institute farther search in -those mysterious premises at some future day. - -"My dear young friend," said the physician suddenly, as they stood by -the side of the bed, watching the countenance of the sleeper, "I had -almost forgotten that when _he_ awakes presently, it will be necessary -to administer a little stimulant—either port-wine, or good brandy, if -such a thing can be got in this neighbourhood." - -"I will hasten and procure both immediately," returned the Earl. "Give -me the key of the front-door that I may let myself in without troubling -you to descend to open it." - -Lascelles handed the key to the nobleman, who immediately sallied forth -to purchase the spirits required. - -Having procured a pint-bottle of brandy at the most respectable tavern -which he perceived in St. John Street, whither he repaired for the -purpose, he was retracing his way, when his eyes were suddenly attracted -by a lovely female form crossing the street just mentioned, and -proceeding in the direction of Northampton Square. - -But the lady was not dressed in mourning; and therefore he conceived -that he must be mistaken relative to the idea which had struck him. - -And yet that symmetry of form, set off rather than concealed by the -ample shawl which she wore,—that dignified elegance of gait,—that -gracefulness of carriage, were well-known characteristics of Esther de -Medina. - -The Earl hastened after her, and pronounced that name. - -The lady turned—raised her veil—and extended her hand to the nobleman. - -Yes—it was Esther;—but how pale—how profoundly mournful her countenance! - -"I am rejoiced to meet you," said the Earl in a rapid and excited tone; -"for I have news to communicate which will give you joy! But—come with -me—I implore you—I know all—look upon me as a friend—and in my presence -you need not blush. Delay not—I beseech you—come with me at once!" - -And drawing her arm in his, he hurried her away towards Red Lion Street. - -"My lord," she said, "I am at a loss to understand——" - -"Oh! you know not how nearly that which I have to communicate—to give -you evidence of—affects your happiness!" interrupted Arthur. "But I must -not tell you all in a breath—it would be too much for you to hear:—and I -am glad—Oh! I am rejoiced that I have thus met you—for I had dispatched -a messenger to seek you—and he might have broken the happy tidings too -abruptly——" - -Esther gazed upon his countenance in astonishment mingled with an -expression of surprise and even alarm: but the Earl perceived not the -strange impression that his words had produced, as he hurried her along -at a rate which in a more refined neighbourhood would have attracted -disagreeable attention. - -The house in Red Lion Street was reached; and the nobleman opened the -door with extraordinary impatience. - -For an instant Esther hesitated to follow him; but, confident of the -honourable intentions of the Earl, and anxious to relieve herself from -the state of wonder and suspense into which his words had thrown her, -she entered the gloomy-looking tenement. - -He led her up the dirty, decayed staircase into the laboratory, where he -begged her to wait for a moment. He then softly opened the door -communicating with the bed-chamber, in order to acquaint Dr. Lascelles -with her presence there, and in a few hurried words explain the motives -which had induced him to bring her thither; for he supposed that all -those circumstances which had led him to believe that the Jewess was the -mistress of his half-brother, were unknown to the doctor. - -But the moment he opened the door, he started—and an ejaculation of the -wildest surprise burst from his lips. - -For there—standing by the bed, with hands clasped and eyes upraised in -thankfulness to heaven—was the living counterpart of Esther de Medina! - -Arthur turned hastily round to convince himself that Esther had not -passed in before him: but Esther was indeed a few paces behind -him—alarmed by the exclamation which had burst from his lips. - -The truth flashed like lightning to the Earl's brain:—Esther de Medina -had a sister—so like herself that, when apart, they might well be taken -for each other:—yes—that must be the solution of the enigma which had -bewildered him so often! - -"Miss de Medina!" he said, hastily taking her hand, "I have been -labouring under a strange mistake. But you will perhaps understand how -it arose, when——" - -He led her into the room:—she started back, exclaiming, "Oh! heavens—my -oath!"—but in the next moment the sisters—for such indeed they -were—rushed into each other's arms! - ------ - -Footnote 25: - - Mr. Peck, B. A., in his interesting papers on Electricity in - _Reynolds's Miscellany_, gives the ensuing particulars:—"The discovery - of galvanic electricity was the result of accident. Madame Galvani, - the wife of a distinguished Italian philosopher, being recommended by - her medical adviser to partake of broth prepared from frogs, several - of these little animals were procured, and were placed prior to their - being cooked, in the laboratory of her husband. Some of Monsieur - Galvani's friends happened to be amusing themselves with an electrical - machine, which was standing in the room, and, by chance, one of the - frogs was touched with a scalpel. To Madame Galvani's surprise, she - observed the limbs of the frogs exhibit a convulsive motion. Upon - examining them closely, she perceived that the muscles were affected - at the very time when sparks were received from the machine. When her - husband returned, she acquainted him with the circumstance. For some - time previously M. Galvani had entertained a belief that muscular - action was affected by electricity, and had been experimenting for the - purpose, if possible, of verifying this hypothesis. Delighted by the - discovery, he lost no time in trying a variety of experiments. At - first he tested the effect of sparks alone, on dissected frogs, - gradually varying the intensity of the spark. In every case, however, - even when the electric action was feeble, he noticed that the muscles - of the frogs gave evidence of susceptibility to its influence. He next - made experiments with atmospheric electricity. The same result ensued - as when the electric action had been elicited by artificial means." - - In another paper of the same interesting series, the following account - is given:—"On the evening of January the 28th, during a somewhat - extraordinary display of northern lights, a lady became so highly - charged with electricity, as to give out vivid electrical sparks at - the end of each finger, to the face of each of the company present. - This did not cease with the heavenly phenomenon, but continued for - several months, during which time she was constantly charged; and - giving off electrical sparks to every conductor she approached; so - that she could not touch the stove, nor any metallic utensils, without - first giving off an electrical spark, with the consequent twinge. The - state most favourable to this phenomenon was an atmosphere of about 80 - deg. Fahrenheit, moderate exercise, and social enjoyment. It - disappeared in any atmosphere approaching zero, and under the - debilitating effects of fear. When seated by the stove, reading, with - her feet upon the fender, she gave out sparks, at the rate of three or - four each minute; and, under the most favourable circumstances, a - spark that could be seen, heard, or felt, passed every second! She - could charge others in the same way, when insulated, who could then - give sparks to others. To make it satisfactory that her dress did not - produce it, it was changed to cotton and woollen, without altering the - phenomenon. The lady is about thirty, of sedentary pursuits, and - delicate state of health." - - We avail ourselves of the digressive facility afforded us by this note - to the text, to relate _a true history_ of the resuscitation of a man - who had been hanged—a history which is perhaps one of the most - extraordinary "romances of real life" upon record. It is as - follows:—Ambrose Gwinett was hanged at Deal for the murder of a man - who merely disappeared, and whose body was not found. Circumstantial - evidence certainly pointed strongly to Gwinett as a murderer; but - still it was not proved in the first instance that a murder had been - really committed. Gwinett and another man, of the name of Collins, - arrived together at an inn in Deal. Gwinett borrowed Collins's - clasp-knife during supper-time, in the presence of the waiter. On the - following morning Collins was missing; and Gwinett had been met on the - stairs, in the middle of the night, coming up from the garden. Blood - was found in the garden, and in the midst of the blood was the - clasp-knife, open. The traces of blood were continued down to the - sea-side, and there they ceased. Gwinett was moreover found to have in - his pocket Collins's purse, which the waiter had seen over night in - Collins's possession. Gwinett's defence was that he had received the - purse, after the waiter left the room on the preceding evening, in - consequence of an arrangement that he (Gwinett) should be paymaster - for them both; that he had gone down stairs in the night, for a - certain purpose, to the garden; that his nose had bled dreadfully; - that he had used the clasp-knife to raise the latch of the door, and - had dropped it in the dark; and that he had walked down to the - sea-side close by to wash his face and hands, and stop the bleeding at - the nose with the cold salt-water. This tale was not believed; Gwinett - was found guilty of _Murder_, and hanged on Sandown Common. But a - shepherd, passing by the gibbet a few hours after the execution, and - while the victim was hanging in chains, perceived signs of life in - him, and cut him down. Gwinett was recovered: and the kind-hearted - shepherd sent him abroad. In a distant colony, Gwinett met Mr. - Collins, _the very man for whose alleged murder he had been hanged_! - An explanation immediately ensued. On the night in question, Collins - had also gone down stairs to the garden, and had been carried off by a - press-gang who passed along the sea-shore at the time. He was conveyed - to a boat, and in that transported to the tender-vessel lying in the - Downs: the vessel sailed next morning, and Collins had heard nothing - of the dilemma of his friend until they met as just described. - - - - - CHAPTER LVI. - A HISTORY OF THE PAST. - - -Mr. de Medina was the son of a Spanish merchant, who died, leaving a -considerable fortune behind him, and of which this son was the sole -inheritor. But, by the villainy of his relations and the corrupt -decision of a Spanish judge, Mr. de Medina found himself despoiled of -the riches which were rightfully his own; and at the age of -two-and-twenty he quitted his native land in disgust, to return to -England, where indeed he had been educated, and the language of which -country he spoke as fluently as his own. - -It is hardly necessary to state that Mr. de Medina was of the Jewish -persuasion; and on his arrival in London, he naturally applied to the -eminent merchants of his own creed for employment. It is the fashion in -this country to decry the Jews—to represent them as invariably sordid, -mercenary, avaricious, and griping—indeed, to carry the charges laid -against them to such a length, as to associate with their names a spirit -of usury amounting to the most flagrant and dishonourable extortion. And -these charges have been repeated so often, and echoed seriously by so -many persons deemed a respectable authority, that the prejudice against -the Jews has become interwoven with the Englishman's creed. But the -exceptions have been mistaken for the rule; and—strange as the assertion -may sound to many ears—we boldly proclaim that there is not a more -honest, intelligent, humane, and hospitable class of persons on the face -of the earth than the Jews. - -The fact is, when an Englishman is broken down in fortune, and can no -longer raise funds by mortgage on his estate, nor by the credit of his -name, he flies to the money-lender. Now Jews are essentially a financial -nation; and money-broking, in all its details, is their special -avocation. The class of Israelite money-lenders is, therefore, numerous; -and it is ten to one that the broken-down individual, who requires a -loan, addresses himself to a Jew—even if he take the money-lender living -nearest to him, or to whom he is first recommended. Well—he transacts -his business with this Jew; and as he can give no security beyond his -bond or his bill, and his spendthrift habits are notorious, he cannot of -course obtain the loan he seeks save on terms proportionate to the risk -incurred by the lender. Yet he goes away, and curses the Jew as an -usurer; and thus another voice is raised to denounce the entire nation -as avaricious and griping. But does this person, however, reflect that -had he applied to a Christian money-broker, the terms would have been -equally high, seeing that he had no real security to offer, and that his -name was already tarnished? Talk of the usury of the Jews—look at the -usury practised by Christians! Look at the rapacity of Christian -attorneys!—look at the greediness of Christian bill-discounters!—look, -in a word, at the money-making spirit of the Christian, and then call -the Jew the usurer _par excellence_! It is a detestable calumny—a vile -prejudice, as dishonourable to the English character an it is unjust -towards a generous-hearted race! - -We deem it right to state that these observations are recorded as -disinterestedly and as impartially—as honestly and as conscientiously, -as any other comments upon prejudices or abuses which have ever appeared -in "THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON." Not a drop of Jewish blood flows in our -veins; but we have the honour to enjoy the friendship of several -estimable families of the Jewish persuasion. We have, therefore, had -opportunities of judging of the Israelite character; and the reader must -be well aware that the writer who wields his pen _against_ a popular -prejudice is more likely to be instigated by upright motives than he who -labours to maintain it. In following the current of general opinion, one -is sure to gain friends: in adventurously undertaking to stem it, he is -equally certain to create enemies. But, thank God! this work is -addressed to an intelligent and enlightened people—to the industrious -classes of the United Kingdom—to those who are the true pillars of -England's prosperity, glory, and greatness! - -When Mr. de Medina arrived, friendless and almost penniless, on the -British soil, he addressed himself to the heads of several eminent -commercial firms in the City of London,—firms, the constituents of which -were of his own persuasion. The Jews always assist each other to the -extent of their means:—do the Christians? Answer, ye cavillers against -the persecuted race of Israel! Mr. de Medina, accordingly, found -occupation; and so admirably did he conduct himself—so well did he -promote the interests of his employers, that by the time he reached the -age of thirty, he found himself a partner in the concern whose -prosperity his talents and his industry had so much enhanced. He then -repaired to Liverpool, to establish a branch-house of trade, and of -which he became the sole manager. His partners dying soon afterwards, he -effected an arrangement with their heirs, by which he abandoned all -share in the London business, and retained the Liverpool house as his -own. - -His success was now extraordinary; and his dealings were proverbially -honourable and fair. He went upon the principle of doing a large -business with small gains, and paying good wages to those who were in -his employment. Thus, though naturally of a stern and severe -disposition, his name was respected and his character admired. At the -age of thirty-five—twenty years before the opening of our tale—he -married a lady of his own nation—beautiful, accomplished, and rich. -Within twelve months their union was blessed with a daughter, on whom -the name of Tamar was bestowed; and at the expiration of another year, a -second girl was born, and who was called Esther. But in giving birth to -the latter, Mrs. de Medina lost her life; and for a considerable time -the bereaved husband was inconsolable. - -The kindness of his friends and a conviction of the necessity of -subduing his grief as much as possible, for the sake of the motherless -babes who were left to him, aroused Mr. de Medina from the torpor of -profound woe; and he became so passionately attached to his children, -that he would fondle them as if he himself were a child. As they grew -up, a remarkable resemblance was observed between them; and as Esther -was somewhat precocious in a physical point of view, she was as tall -when ten years old as her sister. Strangers then took them for twins, -although there was really twelve months' difference between their ages. -But they actually appeared to be counterparts of each other. Their hair -was of precisely the same intensely black and glossy shade: their eyes -were of the same dark hue and liquid lustre;—their countenances -presented each the same blending of the white and rich carnation beneath -the transparent tinge of delicate olive or bistre which marked their -origin; their very teeth were of the same shape, and shone, too, between -pairs of lips which Nature had made in the same mould, and dyed with the -same vermillion. Twin-roses did the lovely sisters seem,—roses on the -same stalk; and by the time Tamar was sixteen and Esther fifteen, the -ripe beauty of the former and the somewhat precocious loveliness of the -latter, appeared to have attained the same glorious degree of female -perfection. - -But their minds were not equally similar. Tamar was vain of her personal -attractions, while Esther was reserved and bashful: the former was never -so happy as when she was the centre of attraction in a ball-room, while -the latter preferred the serene tranquillity of home. In their style of -dress they were equally different from each other. Tamar delighted in -the richest attire, and loved to deck herself with costly jewels; and, -well aware that she possessed a splendid bust, she wore her gowns so low -as to leave no room for conjecture relative to the charming fullness of -her bosom. Esther, on the contrary, selected good, but not showy -materials for her dress, and never appeared with a profusion of -jewellery. Though of proportions as rich and symmetrical as her sister, -yet she rather sought to conceal their swelling contours than display -them. Tamar was of warm and impassioned temperament, and her breast was -easily excited by fierce desires; but Esther was the embodiment of -chaste and pure notions—her soul the abode of maiden innocence! - -Mr. de Medina often remonstrated with Tamar upon her love of splendid -attire, and her anxiety to shine in the circles of gaiety. But her ways -were so winning, that when she threw her arms around his neck, and -besought him not to be angry with her, or to allow her to accompany some -female friends to a ball or concert to which she had been invited, he -invariably yielded to her soft persuasion. - -Tamar was a few weeks past the age of sixteen, and Esther had -accomplished her fifteenth year, when an incident occurred which was -fated to wield a material influence over the career of the elder sister. -One night Mr. de Medina, while returning home on horseback from a -neighbouring village where he had dined with a friend, was stopped and -plundered of his purse and pocket-book. He was by no means a man who was -likely to yield without resistance to the audacious demands of a -highwayman; but he was unarmed at the time—and by some accident he was -unattended by his groom. The robber, who wore a black crape over his -countenance, was armed to the teeth, and seemed resolute as well as -desperate: Mr. de Medina, therefore, risked not an useless contest with -him, but surrendered his property as above mentioned. On his return -home, and while conversing on the incident with his daughters, he -suddenly recollected that the pocket-book contained a paper of great -value and importance to himself, but of no use to any other person. He -accordingly inserted advertisements in the local newspapers, offering a -reward for the restoration of that document, and promising impunity to -the robber, if he would give it up. But for several days these -notifications remained unanswered. - -A week elapsed, and one morning an individual, dressed in a -semi-sporting style, called at the house and inquired for Mr. de Medina. -But Mr. de Medina had just left home for the purpose of conducting -Esther to the dwelling of some friends who resided in the neighbourhood -of Liverpool, and with whom she was to pass a few days. Tamar was, -however, at home; and as the servant informed her that "the gentleman -said his business was important," she desired that he might be shown up -into the drawing-room. He was evidently struck by the dazzling beauty of -the Jewess who had thus accorded him an audience; and there was -something so dashing—so rakish—so off-hand, without vulgarity, in his -manner,—a something between the frankness of an open-hearted man and the -easy politeness of one who knows the world well,—that Tamar did not -treat him with that degree of cold courtesy which seems to say, "Have -the kindness to explain your business, and then you may depart." But she -requested him to be seated; and when he made a few observations which -led to a connected discourse on the gaiety and "doings" of the Liverpool -folks, she suffered herself to be drawn into the conversation without -pausing to ask the motive of his visit. Thus nearly half-an-hour passed -away: and while Tamar thought to herself that she had never met a more -agreeable gentleman in her life—and certainly never one who possessed -such a brilliant set of teeth, or who looked so well in tops and -cords,—the stranger came to a conclusion equally favourable concerning -herself. Indeed, he was quite charmed with the personal attractions and -the conversation of the beautiful Jewess; and when he took his leave, -she forgot that he had not communicated his business, nor even his name. - -When her father returned home in the afternoon, she mentioned to him the -visit of the stranger; but added that he only remained a few moments, -and would not explain his business to her. Mr. de Medina immediately -expressed his belief that the call had some reference to his -advertisement concerning the lost paper. But Tamar enthusiastically -repelled the suspicion; declaring that, though he had not stayed a -minute, yet his manners, appearance, and address, were of too superior a -nature to be associated with a dishonourable avocation. Mr. de Medina -asked if he had intimated when he should call again; to which question -Tamar, fearful that it would appear strange to give a negative reply, -answered—"In a few days." Thus terminated a conversation in which Tamar -had been guilty of much duplicity, and which was marked by the first -deliberate falsehood which she ever unblushingly told her father. - -On the following day the stranger returned; and Mr. de Medina, not -having expected him so soon, was not at home to receive him. But Tamar -was in the drawing-room, to which he was conducted as on the previous -day. It was summer-time, and she was engaged in tying up the drooping -heads of some flowers in the large balcony. The stranger begged her not -to desist from her occupation; but, on the contrary, offered, in his gay -manner of frank politeness, to assist her. She could not refuse his -aid—she did not wish to refuse it; and they were soon engaged in a very -interesting conversation. He held the stalks of the flowers, too, while -she tied the thread; and her beautiful hand passed over that of the -stranger's—_not_ without touching it; while her breath, sweeter than the -perfume of the flowers themselves, fanned his cheek. Once, when he -stooped a little lower, under pretence of examining a particular -rose-bud more closely, his hair mingled with hers, and he could see that -the rich glow of excitement flooded her countenance—her neck—and even -extended to the bosom, of which he was enabled, by her stooping posture, -to catch more than partial glimpses. - -When next their eyes met, there seemed to be already a tacit kind of -intelligence established between them,—an intelligence which appeared to -say she knew he had allowed his hair to mingle with hers on purpose, and -that she had not withdrawn her head because the contact pleased her. The -interesting conversation was continued; and an hour had passed before -either the stranger showed the slightest sign of an intention to take -his leave, or Tamar remembered how long they had been alone together. -When he did at length take up his hat and his riding-whip, he also -picked up a flower which Tamar had accidentally broken off from its stem -in the balcony; and placing it in his buttonhole without making the -slightest allusion to the little incident, he bowed and quitted the -room. - -He had been gone at least ten minutes ere Tamar again recollected that -he had not mentioned his business nor told his name. She had been -thinking of the incident of the flower;—yes—and also of the commingling -of her raven locks with his fine, manly light hair. When her father -returned home on this occasion, she did not mention the fact of the -stranger's visit at all. Throughout the remainder of that day she -wondered whether he would return on the following one; and she made up -her mind, if he did, not to suffer him to depart before she had elicited -his business and his name. In the evening she went out to make a few -purchases at a shop in a neighbouring street; and she was retracing her -way, when two young men, walking arm-in-arm, and smoking cigars,—having -withal something most offensively obtrusive in their entire -appearance,—stopped short in front of Tamar, literally barred her way, -and began to address her in that flippant, coarse style which, without -being absolutely obscene, is nevertheless particularly insulting. -"Gentlemen—if such you be," said Tamar, in a dignified manner, "I -request you to let me pass."—"Well, won't you let us escort you home, -wherever it is?" demanded one; "for you're a devilish sweet girl, upon -my honour."—Scarcely were these words uttered when the long lash of a -riding-whip began to belabour the backs of the two young swells in a -fashion that made them almost scream with agony; and Tamar, who -instantly stepped aside, recognised in the champion that had thus come -to her assistance, the very individual who was uppermost in her thoughts -at the moment when she was stopped in the insulting manner described. - -The two swells were for an instant so taken by surprise that they -dropped each other's arm and their cigars simultaneously, and began to -caper about in the most extraordinary manner, the stranger continuing to -lash them with so good a will, and yet in such an easy, unexcited -manner, that Tamar could scarcely forbear from laughing heartily. But -when they perceived that there was only one assailant, they rushed in -upon the stranger, and endeavoured to close with him. He did not retreat -a single step, but hitting one of them a heavy blow on the wrist with -the butt-end of his whip, he sent _him_ off roaring, while with his left -hand he caught the _other_ by the collar of the coat and swinging him -round—apparently without any extraordinary effort—laid him on his back -in the dust. He then offered his arm to Tamar, and led her away as -quietly as if nothing had happened, at the same time commencing a -discourse upon some totally different topic, as if he would not even -give her an opportunity of thanking him for the manner in which he had -chastised the insulting youngsters. - -But Tamar _did_ thank him—and very warmly too; for this feat was just -one of the very nature calculated to improve the hold which the stranger -already had upon the heart of the beautiful Jewess. She now looked upon -him with admiration; for all women love bravery in a man;—and his -bravery was so real—so natural—so totally devoid of impetuous excitement -when called into action, and so free from any subsequent desire to -elicit flattery,—that she beheld in him a character at once generous and -noble. She could have thrown her arms round his neck, and said, -"Stranger! whoever you may be, I admire—I love you!" And when he _did_ -take her hand, as she leant upon his arm, and when he pressed it -gently—then let it fall without uttering a word, but fixed his deep -blue, laughing, and expressive eyes upon her countenance with a -steadiness that meant much though his tongue was silent, a soft—a -delicious languor came over her, congenial with the moonlight hour. - -He conducted her to within a few doors of her father's house, and then -took leave of her, saying, "I shall see you again to-morrow." She -entered her dwelling, and retired immediately to her chamber; for her -heart was filled with a happiness which she knew that her countenance -would betray. When she met her father at supper, she was more composed; -and she said not a word to him concerning the occurrence of the evening. - -On the following day the stranger called again; and again did he find -Tamar alone in the drawing-room. On this occasion she extended to him -her hand, which he took and pressed to his lips. The maiden did not -withdraw it; and her cheeks—her neck—her bosom were flushed with the -thrilling glow of excitement, while her eyes expressed a voluptuous -languor. The stranger drew her towards him—their lips met: they embraced -tenderly. Then he declared his love for her—and she murmured words in -reply which convinced him that he was loved in return. Thus, on the -fourth occasion of their meeting, did they pour fourth the secrets of -their hearts; and Tamar plighted her affection to one whose name she as -yet knew not! - -Their happy interview was suddenly disturbed by a loud knock at the -street-door; and Tamar exclaimed, "My father!" The stranger implored her -to compose herself; and she had succeeded in assuming a collected and -tranquil demeanour, when Mr. de Medina entered the room. Her lover was -standing at a respectful distance from Tamar, with whom he appeared to -be exchanging the mere courteous observations which usually pass between -perfect strangers. Mr. de Medina requested him to be seated, and -inquired his business. "I have called relative to the advertisements -which you inserted in the newspapers," was the reply.—"I thought as -much!" ejaculated Mr. de Medina: then, turning towards his daughter, he -said, "Tamar, my love, you can leave us."—The maiden dared not disobey -the hint thus conveyed; but as she passed behind her father to quit the -room, she darted upon her lover a look so full of meaning—so expressive -of ardent affection, that it seemed to say, "Be you who and what you -may, I shall never cease to adore you!" And he returned that look with a -glance more rapid but equally significant of tenderness. - -When she had left the room, Mr. de Medina continued by observing, "May I -have the pleasure of learning your name?"—"Certainly," was the off-hand -answer. "I am called Thomas Rainford."—"And your business with me, sir," -added Mr. de Medina, in a cold tone and with suspicious manner, "is -relative to the paper of which I was robbed?"—"Precisely so," exclaimed -Tom Rain. "A more suitable person than myself could not possibly have -called respecting the affair."—"How so, sir?" demanded Mr. de Medina, -his manner growing still more suspicious.—"Simply, because it was I who -robbed you," was the cool answer; and Tom Rain's merry laugh rang -through the room.—"You!" ejaculated Mr. de Medina, starting from his -seat. "Then how dare you show your face here?"—"Oh! very easily," -replied Rainford, without moving from his chair. "In the first place -your advertisements promise impunity to the robber, on condition that he -restores the document; in the second place, if you contemplated any -treachery, it would only be the worse for you and would not injure me; -and thirdly, it struck me that I had better come in person to give you -up the paper, because it might have miscarried through the post, or a -messenger might have lost it. However, here it is, Mr. de Medina; and -had you not advertised for it, I should have restored it to you. I am no -rascally extortioner: I never hold men's private papers as a means of -drawing money from them. What I do, I do boldly and in true John Bull -fashion. A jolly highwayman, Mr. de Medina, is as different from a -sneaking pickpocket or a low swindler, as an attorney in grand practice -is different from the paltry pettifogger who hangs about the doors of -criminal courts or police-offices. It is not often I boast in this way, -Mr. de Medina; but I thought you might as well understand that a -principle of honour alone, and neither fear nor hope of reward, has -induced me to restore you that document. As for fear, I never knew it; -and as for reward, I should not think of taking it, were you to offer -any."—Mr. de Medina gazed upon Rainford in astonishment, as much as to -say, "You are really a very extraordinary person!" But his lips uttered -not what the countenance expressed. - -The highwayman rose, bowed with easy politeness to Mr. de Medina, and -quitted the room. As he was crossing the landing towards the stairs, the -door of an apartment adjoining that where he had just left Mr. de -Medina, was cautiously opened, and Tamar thrust a note into his hand. He -caught a glimpse of her countenance as he received it; and he saw that -she had been weeping. When he reached the street, he tore open the note, -and read as follows:—"_I have overheard all! But I do not love thee the -less, my brave—my gallant Rainford! This evening, I shall have occasion -to call at two or three shops in the same street where you rescued me -from insult yesterday._"—Need we inform our readers that Tom Rain kept -the appointment thus given him? Or need we say how the lovers -subsequently met as often as Tamar could leave the house without -exciting suspicion? Yes—they met frequently; and each interview only -tended to strengthen the profound attachment which they had formed for -each other. - -And no wonder that Tom Rain loved his beautiful Tamar; for -beautiful—ravishingly beautiful she indeed was! To behold her -countenance, was passion;—to gaze on her admirable shape, was -rapture;—to meet the glances of her fine black eyes was fascination! -And, oh! how devotedly she loved Rainford in return! To her he was a -hero; for, although she knew him to be a highwayman, yet well was she -aware that he never stooped to a petty meanness, and that his soul was -endowed with many noble—many generous qualities. One daring feat which -he performed a few weeks after she first became acquainted with him, -converted her admiration into a positive enthusiasm; so that the Empress -Josephine could not have more ardently worshipped Napoleon than did -Tamar her Tom Rain! - -Thus it happened:—One night the Liverpool and Manchester coach was -stopped on its way to the former town, by a single highwayman, who wore -a crape over his face, was well mounted, and equally well armed. -Although the coach was crowded with passengers, most of whom were men, -yet so terrible was the robber even in his very coolness—so formidable -with his easy air of unconcern, that all were paralysed with fear. No -resistance was offered him; and he reaped an excellent harvest from the -purses of the passengers. One gentleman, who happened to be the Mayor of -Liverpool, was so bewildered by terror, that though only asked for his -money, he handed to the highwayman both purse and watch. The latter was -returned, the robber declaring that he scorned any thing save the -current coin of the realm or good Bank-notes. From the female passengers -he took nothing; and, perceiving by the moonlight a poor shivering girl -of about fifteen seated outside at the back of the coach, he asked her a -few questions. The brief and timid replies which she gave were ample -enough to render intelligible a tale of suffering and woe; and the -highwayman, drawing forth five guineas, said, "Here, my dear, you need -not be afraid to accept this trifle. It comes from a pocket into which -none of these gentlemen's gold has gone."—And before the poor girl could -utter a word in reply, the highwayman put spurs to his horse, and -disappeared in a few moments. - -But this action on his part did not disarm the male passengers, who had -been robbed, of their rage and their rancour. The Mayor was particularly -indignant: the entire town of Liverpool had been insulted—grossly -insulted in his worshipful person! Such wrath required a vent; and it -found an issue by means of advertising the daring robbery. The Mayor -announced, in all the local papers and by means of placards, "_that any -one who should be instrumental in bringing the highwayman before him, -would receive the sum of two hundred pounds as a reward_." But a week -elapsed before these proclamations received any answer. At the -expiration of that time the following incident occurred. One evening, -the Mayor entertained a select party of friends at a splendid banquet. -The cloth had been removed some time—the ladies had retired to the -drawing-room—and the gentlemen, about a dozen in number, were passing -the wine rapidly round, when a servant entered to inform his master that -a person wished to speak to him in the hall. The servant's manner was -somewhat embarrassed; and, upon being questioned, he said that the -stranger seemed to wear a mask, as his face was too hideous to be -possibly a human one. The Mayor trembled; and his guests caught the -infection of his terror. His worship hazarded an opinion that the -visitor was perhaps in some way connected with the highwayman who had -robbed the Manchester and Liverpool coach; and he directed the servant -to show the stranger into the study and then run and fetch a constable. -But scarcely were these commands issued, when the door opened; and in -walked the object of interest and fear. The Mayor and his guests uttered -simultaneous ejaculations of terror; for never did mortal man possess so -frightful a face; and as it was partially shaded by a huge quantity of -hair and a large slouched hat, it was impossible to decide whether it -were really a mask or a natural physiognomy. The nose was enormous, and -studded with carbuncles and warts: the cheeks were fiery red; and the -chin was of dimensions proportionate with the nasal promontory. This -terrible being was enveloped in a long cloak; but through the holes cut -for the purpose appeared his arms, the hands holding each a tremendous -horse-pistol as big as a blunderbuss. - -Placing his back against the door, the intruder said, in a voice which -he rendered as hollow and fierce as possible, "Most worshipful Mayor! -you have advertised that any one who is instrumental in bringing a -certain highwayman before you, shall receive the sum of two hundred -pounds as a reward. _I am_ the highwayman alluded to: I have brought -myself before you; and I appeal to the wisdom and justice of the -intelligent gentlemen seated round your board, whether I have not fairly -earned the recompense promised?"—"But," stammered the Mayor, "I meant -that any one who would bring the robber a prisoner before me, should be -entitled to the reward."—"I don't care what you meant," returned the -highwayman: "I only know what your advertisements and placards say. You -should get the corporation to vote funds to enable you to attach a -grammarian to your establishment. He would be more useful than the -sword-bearer, I think," added the audacious robber, with a merry laugh -in his natural tone. "But I have no leisure to bandy words with you. -Tell out the two hundred pounds; or I shall be under the disagreeable -necessity of allowing one of these little instruments to empty its -contents in the direction of your head."—And, with these words, he -raised a pistol. The Mayor uttered an exclamation of terror, and cast an -imploring glance rapidly around. But all his guests were sitting like -statues—in blank dismay. The Mayor saw that he must not look to them for -assistance; and yet he was very loath to part with two hundred pounds in -such an unsatisfactory manner.—"But how do I know that you really are -the person who robbed the coach?" he asked, the words evidently costing -him a most painful effort to enunciate them.—"Because I can tell you -every incident that occurred on the occasion," was the answer.—"That -information you may have received from hearsay or gleaned from the -papers," returned the Mayor, gathering courage as he found the robber -willing to argue the point with him.—"I will give you another proof," -said the robber. "There was a bad guinea in the purse I took from you. -Are you satisfied now?"—"Not quite," rejoined the Mayor, hoping that by -gaining time, some chance might place the daring visitor in his -power.—"Then I have one more proof to offer you," said the robber. "In a -corner of the purse there was a scrap of paper containing the receipt of -an overseer of some parish in Manchester for the quarter's money due for -the maintenance of your worship's bastard; and so I suppose you had been -to that town to pay it."—The Mayor was aghast as this announcement burst -upon him; for, though he had lost the receipt in question, it had never -struck him that he had placed it in his purse when he paid the money at -Manchester. The guests surveyed their worshipful host in astonishment; -and the servant giggled behind his chair.—"_Now_ are you satisfied?" -demanded the highwayman. "Remember, you brought it on yourself."—The -Mayor, partially recovering his presence of mind, affected to laugh off -the matter as a capital joke on the part of the robber; but he made no -farther objection to pay the two hundred pounds. This he was enabled to -do, by borrowing all the money that his guests had about them, and -adding it to the contents of his own pocket; for the highwayman would -neither take a cheque nor allow him to quit the room to procure the -requisite sum from his strong-box. The robber would not even leave his -post at the door, but compelled the Mayor to rise from the table and -bring the cash and notes to him—a proceeding which his worship liked as -little as might be, seeing that it brought him into awful vicinity with -the nose, the chin, and the pistols. At length the business was settled; -and the highwayman withdrew, locking the door behind him,—but not before -he had assured the company that if they attempted to open the windows -and raise an alarm in the street after him, he would instantly return -and put them all to death. - -This incident was in every body's mouth next day, throughout the good -town of Liverpool and its environs; and the Mayor was most heartily -laughed at. But Tamar alone knew the name of the daring individual who -had perpetrated so audacious a feat. - -The beautiful Jewess carefully concealed her amour from her sister and -her father. Indeed, Esther never saw Tom Rain during the whole time that -he remained in Liverpool. But one day Tamar disappeared, leaving a note -behind her, addressed to her sister, whom she begged to break to their -father her flight and its cause. She stated that her happiness—her life -were wrapped up in Thomas Rainford: and that as she was well aware her -sire would never consent to her union with him, even if the usages of -the Jewish nation sanctioned an alliance with a Christian, she had taken -a step which she should regret only on account of the distress it might -create in the minds of her father and sister. Esther could scarcely -believe her eyes when she read the appalling contents of this note. She -fancied that she was in a dream: then, when the full conviction of the -truth burst upon her, and she comprehended that her sister had really -fled with Rainford, she gave way to all the wildness of her grief—for -she was deeply, deeply attached to Tamar! - -But how did Mr. de Medina bear this cruel blow? He wept not—he gave -vent to no passionate exclamation—he manifested no excitement. But, -after remaining wrapt up in profound meditation for upwards of an -hour, while Esther sate near, watching him with the deepest—most -acutely painful suspense,—a long, long hour of utter silence, broken -only by the frequent sobs that told the maiden's anguish,—Mr. de -Medina spoke in a calm, deliberate, but stern and relentless -tone:—"Henceforth, Esther, I have but one daughter—_thyself_! Let the -name of Tamar never more be uttered in my presence. Destroy every -thing in the house which may tend to remind me that there once dwelt -such a being here—the music whereon her name is written, the drawings -which she executed, the very window-hangings which she embroidered. -Destroy them all, Esther—keep them not—I command you, as you value my -blessing! And henceforth—whatever may occur, never speak of your -sister. In the presence of those who are aware that you _had_ a -sister, cut short any allusion that the thoughtless might make -respecting her, by observing emphatically—'_I have no sister -now!_'—for should such allusion be made before me, my reproof and my -response would be, '_I have but one daughter—and her name is Esther_!' -It is my intention to wind up my affairs as speedily as possible and -retire from business. Had not _this_ occurred, I should have toiled a -few years longer to amass an immense fortune to be divided between -_two_: now the fortune which I possess will be immense enough for -_one_. And that _one_, Esther, is thyself! But two or three years may -elapse before I shall be enabled so to condense the vast details of my -undertakings into such a narrow compass that I may terminate them all -prosperously. During these two or three years we must remain in -Liverpool: but our sojourn here shall not last a day—no, nor an hour -longer than my affairs render imperatively necessary. We will then -repair to London; for it is in the giant metropolis alone that we may -hope to conceal from the world this disgrace—this infamy—this blight -which has fallen upon a family whose name, I had fondly hoped, would -have gone down untainted from generation to generation—even as it had -descended to me from a long line of honourable and honoured ancestors! -These, Esther, are my resolves: seek not to move me.—I am now -inflexible! Nay—implore me not to change my determination, stern -though it may appear: it is immutable as those Median and Persian laws -whereof mention is made in the Book of Books. _Henceforth I have but -one daughter!_" - -[Illustration] - -And having thus announced the inexorable resolves on which his mind had -settled itself during that long, long hour of deep and silent -meditation, the Jew bent down and kissed the brow of his kneeling -daughter with an affection which in its tenderness contrasted strangely -with the stern severity of the conduct that he had determined to pursue -in respect to the lost—the guilty—the disowned Tamar! He then hurried -from the room; and Esther—poor Esther! was left alone to shed torrents -of unavailing tears, and give vent to fruitless sobs and sighs. - -But, oh! what pen can describe the acuteness of her affliction—the -anguish of her gentle heart, when, not daring altogether to disobey the -will of her sire, she removed from their frames the charming landscapes -which Tamar had painted in water-colours, and placed out of sight the -music copies whereon the name of Tamar was penned in her own sweet, -fluent handwriting! And blame not Esther, gentle reader—no, blame her -not, if, disobedient as to the literal meaning of her father's commands, -she retained those paintings and that music,—retained them as memorials -of the lost sister whom she so fondly loved! But she secured them in her -own chamber; and, alas—poor girl! as she placed the pictures one by one -in a drawer, their best tints and their brightest colours were marred by -the scalding tears that fell upon them! For, oh! acute as the pain -inflicted by the merciless knife which the surgeon wields to amputate a -limb, was this task to the sensitive heart of Esther,—a task involving a -deed wearing in her eyes the semblance of profanity,—for little short of -_that_ appeared the removal from their wonted places of those memorials -of the disowned and cast-off Tamar. 'Twas like crushing all the -reminiscences of a sweet sisterhood,—'twas like cutting away from her -heart the brightest thoughts that had hitherto clung around it—tearing -rudely off the flowers that encircled Hope's youthful brow, and -entombing the choice memories of a happy girlhood! - -Then, when the music-books and the pictures were thus removed from the -places where she had so long been accustomed to see them, how mournful -to her was the sight of the tuneful, but now silent piano on which the -former had been piled up—how naked appeared the walls to which the -latter had hung! And next she was compelled to take down the very -hangings which Tamar had embroidered for the drawing-room windows; and -there was fresh cause for tears—fresh motive for the renewal, or rather -for the continuation of her grief! But the task was nevertheless -completed; and the drapery was also retained by Esther as a memorial of -her sister. Not for worlds could she have brought herself to that frame -of mind which would have been necessary to enable her to achieve the -_destruction_ of all those objects,—no—not even were her father to -menace her with his direst curse! When Mr. de Medina again appeared in -the suite of rooms which had been subject to the changes just detailed, -he cast a rapid glance around him, and perceiving that his orders had -been obeyed so far as _removal_ went, asked not a question relative to -the manner in which the various objects had been disposed of: but, -settling his looks upon Esther's countenance, after that hasty survey, -he said emphatically, "_Thank God! I possess an obedient—a dutiful—an -affectionate child!_" - -In the meantime Tom Rain and the beautiful Tamar were far away from -Liverpool, on their road to London; and when they reached the great -metropolis, they hired a neat lodging in a secluded neighbourhood—for -they entertained apprehensions that Mr. de Medina might endeavour to -trace his fugitive daughter. Tamar did not, in this respect, know her -father's disposition well. Judging by his past kindness, she argued -accordingly—little imagining that he had strength of mind sufficient to -adopt the fearful alternative of casting her off for ever! Rainford had -so well stocked himself with coin during his sojourn in Liverpool and -its neighbourhood, that there was no immediate necessity of exercising -his _professional skill_, or rather _valour_, to supply resources; and -several weeks glided away happily—the happiest of his life! He loved -Tamar most tenderly and devotedly; and she not only loved him in -return—but absolutely adored him. Oh! how she worshipped her gallant -highwayman, who was so brave—so generous—and withal so kind to her. -Never was there a better temper than that of Tom Rain: it was impossible -for him to be put out of humour. He would have scorned the idea of -raising a quarrel for the mere sake of making it up again. He saw no -amusement in such maudlin proceedings: dissensions, bickerings, and -domestic feuds were his abhorrence. He looked upon woman as the weaker -vessel, whom man was bound to protect. He thought it beneath him to -dispute with a female; because with him it could be a mere warfare of -words, to which none but a coward would put an end by means of a blow. -Besides, he hated that strife which is waged with the tongue: if a man -offended him, he did not wait to argue the point, but quietly knocked -him down. That was his first and last reason when irritated: but he -could not adopt the same course with a woman, and he therefore most -rationally concluded that it was perfectly useless to quarrel with her. - -Tamar, like all young and beautiful women—especially being placed as it -were in an equivocal position—was jealous. Tom Rain loved to visit all -the strange places in which London abounds, that he might make himself -acquainted with the "lights and shades" of metropolitan life; and -sometimes Tamar complained that he was too long absent. "Now, my dear -girl," he would say, "I give you as much of my time as possible; and -when I tell you that I shall be home at a certain hour, I never -disappoint you. But do not show ill-humour because I take a couple of -hours to myself. So now kiss me, and do not teach that pretty face to -frown." His good temper invariably proved irresistible; and in the -course of time his mistress never thought of manifesting any opposite -feeling. Indeed, he was so kind—so good—so attentive towards her, that, -had it not been for the frequent intrusion of a painful reminiscence -concerning her father and sister, Tamar would have been completely -happy. - -After remaining for some months in London, Rainford and his beautiful -mistress set off for the northern counties, where the highwayman reaped -a rich harvest. His midnight expeditions were frequent, because his mode -of living was by no means economical: he delighted in good cheer—denied -himself nothing that he fancied—and yet was neither a drunkard nor a -glutton. He was moreover generous and liberal to an extreme, and, -emulative of the character of Robin Hood, gave to the poor no -inconsiderable portion of what he took from the rich. Tamar was, -moreover, fond of handsome apparel and resplendent jewellery; and -Rainford took a delight in gratifying all her whims and fancies. Thus -money was lavishly expended by them; but the highway was an -inexhaustible treasury to which Rainford never had recourse in vain. The -perils he incurred, in these predatory expeditions, were of course -numerous and great; but his dauntless valour—his wonderful presence of -mind—and the determined resolution with which he as it were met danger -face to face, invariably saved him from capture. At first Tamar was -dreadfully frightened when Rainford took leave of her to "get a draught -on his treasury cashed," as he laughingly termed his nocturnal -expeditions; but as he invariably returned home about the hour he had -promised, those apprehensions wore off, and she at length became -comparatively easy in her mind during his absence. - -Thus did time pass away, until nearly three years had elapsed since -Tamar first met Rainford at Liverpool. During the whole of this period -she had heard nothing of her father and sister; and no allusion was ever -made to them by her lover or herself when together. But she did not the -less devote frequent thoughts to the author of her being and the -much-loved Esther, both of whom she longed—oh! ardently longed to -embrace once more. - -The reader has already learnt the motives which induced Tom Rain to -visit the metropolis towards the close of the year 1826. The important -information which, during his travels about England in company with -Tamar, he gleaned from the gipsy Miranda, led him to betake himself once -more to London. It happened that Mr. de Medina and Esther arrived in the -capital almost at the same time; for the merchant had not been able to -wind up his affairs until that period. Retiring from business with a -large fortune, he had resolved to quit Liverpool—a place which -constantly brought back the most painful reminiscences to his mind, in -spite of his stern resolve to disown his elder daughter for ever. But -Esther—had she forgotten Tamar? Oh! no—the memory of the fond sister was -immortal; and she would have given whole years of her life to clasp -Tamar in her arms again! - -This tender aspiration was speedily destined to be gratified. One -afternoon, towards the close of October, 1826, Esther de Medina was -returning home to Great Ormond Street, after having been to make a few -purchases in Holborn, when she encountered her sister Tamar, who was -also alone at the time. Fortunately the street where they thus met was -in a quiet neighbourhood and at that moment almost deserted: otherwise, -the ejaculations of surprise and delight which the sisters uttered, and -the eagerness with which they flew into each other's arms, might have -drawn upon them an attention by no means agreeable. As it was, they -escaped any particular notice; and hastening to the least frequented -side of Queen Square, they entered into long and serious conversation -together. Tamar implored Esther to tell her how their father had -received the tidings of her flight; and the younger sister was so -overcome by her emotions, that she allowed the entire truth to be -extracted from her by the questioning and cross-questioning of the -impatient Tamar. Thus was it that the latter learnt how she had been -disowned—cast off for ever! Terrible were the efforts which it cost her -to subdue a violent outburst of grief; and her heart seemed as if it -would break, when in a low tone she addressed her sister thus:—"Esther -dearest, my father has no cause to apprehend that I shall proclaim -myself his daughter. No—let him boldly declare that he has but _one_ -child—_thyself_! I know not how long I may remain in London; but this I -faithfully promise you, that I will appear abroad as little as possible, -and then only with my countenance concealed by a dark veil, so long as -the interests of him whom I love may compel him to dwell in this city. -That we shall be long here, I do not believe. Tell our father, Esther, -that we have thus met; and communicate to him those assurances that I -have now given thee."—Esther clung to her sister for support: that -language was distressing to the young maiden to hear.—"And are you -happy, Tamar?" she asked, weeping bitterly.—"As happy as woman can be, -whose father has disowned her and who is separated from her sister," -replied Tamar, now weeping also. "Yes, dearest Esther, I am happy with -_him_ whom I love so well, and who is so kind, so fond towards -me!"—"This assurance diminishes my grief," murmured Esther. "Oh! how -glad I am that we have thus met: this interview has suddenly relieved me -of a tremendous weight of cruel uncertainty regarding thee! But, alas! -Tamar, why did you desert your happy home? why did you abandon a father -and a sister who loved you so tenderly?"—"Esther, hast thou not yet -known _that love_ which is so different from the affection existing even -between parents and their children, or between those who are so closely -linked in the bonds of kinship as yourself and I?"—"No!"—"Well, then, -Esther, I can scarcely make you comprehend how much more deserving of -pity than blame I am! He whom I love so well came to the house—I did not -seek him; and my heart soon—oh! full soon became his. Could I help it? -It were vain and idle to say that we can control those feelings which -constitute the passion of Love! No earthly power could have restrained -the current of that attachment which hurried me along to the -accomplishment of what became my destiny. And when one loves as I loved -and still love, Esther,—and as I am loved in return,—father, sister, -home, kindred, friends—all are forgotten! Oh! this is true—so true, that -you would not blame me, did you know what it is to love as I -love!"—"Blame you, dearest sister!" exclaimed Esther. "Never! never!" -And she clasped Tamar fervently in her arms; but it was now dark, and -that part of the square to which they had retired for the purpose of -unrestrained discourse, echoed to no voices save their own. - -When the sisters were a little more composed, Esther informed Tamar of -all that had occurred since they had last seen each other,—how their -father had renounced the cares and fatigues of business, and had -resolved to settle altogether in London; and how he was then negotiating -with the Earl of Ellingham for the tenancy of a small but compact estate -near Finchley. The sisters then agreed to correspond together; for -Esther secretly hoped that her father would not deny her the pleasure of -receiving letters from her sister. Tamar was accordingly to address her -correspondence to Great Ormond Street; and Esther was to direct her -letters to "_T. J., South Moulton Street_," where Rainford and his -mistress were then passing under the name of Jameson. The sisters were -now about to part, when, Esther, drawing a diamond ring from her finger -placed it in Tamar's hand: then taking a small pair of scissors from her -reticule, she cut off the end of one of her own ringlets, which, having -folded in a piece of paper, she also presented to her sister, saying in -her softest, sweetest tones,—"Tamar, the love which subsists between us, -no circumstances can destroy—no length of absence impair. We are about -to separate: and, though with the hope of meeting again, still that -meeting might be deferred by accidents at present unforeseen. I would -that you should possess some memorial of your sister——"—"Oh! is it -necessary?" exclaimed Tamar, in an impassioned tone of profound -sincerity.—"If not necessary, it would be at least soothing to my -feelings," said Esther; "for I possess memorials of you, in your -drawings and your music. Grant me, then, the favour which I am about to -ask you."—"Name it, sister," replied Tamar, now deeply affected in her -turn.—"It is, dearest," continued the amiable Esther, "that you dispose -of the ring which I have now presented to you, and that with the -proceeds you will have made a locket in which my hair may be set, and on -the inner side of which my name may be engraved. This I implore you to -do, my sister; and I know that you will not refuse me."—"The next time -we meet, Esther," said Tamar, in a tone tremulous with emotion, "I will -show you the locket."—The sisters then separated with aching hearts. - -On her return home, Esther frankly and candidly confessed to her father -all that had occurred. For some minutes Mr. de Medina remained silent; -and Esther observed that a tear trembled upon his lash. But the hope -thereby excited within her, died away, when her father turned abruptly -round, and said, "Esther, you have not acted well. That you should speak -to her who was once my daughter, is natural. But that you should arrange -with her the means of correspondence, was wrong. I desire that the first -letter which she may address to this house, shall also be the last."—The -Jew then quitted the room, leaving his daughter in tears. - -On the very next day Tamar wrote a long and most affectionate letter to -her sister; and Esther was compelled to inform her, in the reply, of the -harsh command issued by their father. But that very severity on the part -of Mr. de Medina to some extent—at least in this particular -instance—destroyed that frank and open-hearted confidence which Esther -had hitherto manifested towards him, and which was inherent in her -nature. She could not make up her mind to break off all correspondence -with her sister; and yet she dared not receive any future letters at the -house in Great Ormond Street. The idea of having Tamar's letters -addressed elsewhere, naturally suggested itself, therefore, to her -imagination; and she accordingly made an arrangement at the post-office -in Southampton Row, by which the woman who kept the shop consented to -receive and keep for Esther any missives that might be thus -addressed:—"_A. B. C., Post Office, Southampton Row. To be left till -called for._" That same evening Esther wrote another letter to her -sister, acquainting her with this arrangement; and we should observe -that Tamar duly communicated all these circumstances to Tom Rain, who -was delighted to find that she whom he so fondly loved had experienced -so much happiness by thus meeting and corresponding with her sister. The -highwayman was not, however, a little astonished when he had learnt from -Tamar that Mr. de Medina was about to become the tenant of the Earl of -Ellingham; and it was then for the first time that he communicated to -his mistress the full particulars of all that the gipsy Miranda had told -him, and which had made him acquainted with his parentage,—particulars -already so well known to the reader. - -The seventh day after these events was the 31st of October—a date -rendered memorable, so far as this narrative is concerned, by the affair -of the diamonds. It was about five o'clock in the afternoon of the day -named, that Tamar called on Mr. Gordon, the diamond-merchant in Arundel -Street, to dispose of her ring. Rainford would have transacted the -business for her, but he was occupied at the time in effecting his -negotiations with Old Death; and, moreover, Tamar considered it to be a -matter exclusively regarding herself. We must confess that the idea of -possessing the means of procuring a beautiful locket shared in her mind -the place that ought to have been entirely occupied by the proofs she -had received of her sister's devoted attachment. But Tamar was -passionately enamoured of resplendent jewellery; and when, in Mr. -Gordon's apartments, she beheld a beautiful set of diamonds lying in an -open case upon the table, the temptation became irresistible. It cannot -be supposed that she had been very nearly three years the companion of a -highwayman without having her notions of _mine_ and _thine_ considerably -shaken; and through her brain instantly flashed the thought——"Wherefore -should not I make myself the mistress of those charming jewels, as well -as Tom render himself the possessor of a purse on the main road?" -Scarcely was the idea conceived, when she resolved to execute it; and -she haggled with the diamond-merchant relative to the price which he was -to pay for the ring, merely to gain an opportunity to self-appropriate -the diamonds. That opportunity served; and she departed alike with the -produce of the ring and of the theft! - -But scarcely had she reached the street, when her sentiments underwent a -complete revulsion; and she would have given worlds to be able to recall -the last ten minutes. For an instant she paused, hesitating whether she -should not return into the presence of Mr. Gordon and restore him the -diamonds. Fear, however, prevented her,—a fear lest he might consider -her deserving of punishment for having abstracted them at all. She -accordingly hurried away towards South Moulton Street. But during her -walk thither, she reflected that Rainford might be much annoyed with her -for the deed she had committed; and the more she pondered thereon, the -more powerful became her conviction that he would be more than -annoyed—in fact, deeply incensed. She accordingly made up her mind to -conceal the circumstance from him, and seek the earliest possible -opportunity of sending back the diamonds, by some safe means, to Mr. -Gordon. - -On her arrival in South Moulton Street, she found a letter from Esther. -It contained assurances of ardent affection, but apologised for its -brevity, on the ground that it was then already one o'clock in the day, -and that at two Lord Ellingham's carriage was to be at the door to -convey his lordship, her father, and herself to view the mansion and -estate near Finchley. She added that they were to dine at the mansion, -and were not to return until late in the evening. Tom Rain was present -in the room when Tamar read this note; and she communicated its contents -to him. Two nights afterwards he departed on a little expedition; and on -this occasion Lady Hatfield was robbed by the highwayman near Bedfont. - -On the ensuing morning Rainford was arrested, and conveyed to Bow -Street; but he escaped with impunity, in the manner already described. -But how great was his astonishment when he heard the name of Esther de -Medina pronounced in the court; and with what interest—with what -respectful admiration, did he survey the sister of his Tamar—that sister -who loved her whom the father had disowned! When Mr. Gordon was called -forward, and stated his name and calling, Rainford began to grow uneasy; -for he knew that Tamar had sold him the ring three evenings previously. -But as the diamond-merchant gradually explained the details of the -robbery of the diamonds, the highwayman's heart sank within him—for he -had no difficulty in penetrating the mystery. He was still meditating -upon the course that should be adopted to prove Esther's innocence, when -it suddenly struck him that she must have been at the estate near -Finchley, at the very moment when the theft of the diamonds occurred. -The reader knows the rest: Lord Ellingham's attendance at the court was -ensured by the intervention of Rainford, and Esther was discharged. Her -father, it will be remembered, appeared at the police-office just as the -case was about to terminate; and the expression which he made use of to -his daughter,—"_Oh! Esther—Esther, I can understand it all! You have -brought this upon yourself!_"—is now accounted for. When Esther turned -_an appealing glance towards her father, as if to remind him of some -duty which he ought to perform, or to convey some silent prayer which he -could well understand_,—it was to beseech him to satisfy the -diamond-merchant for the loss of his jewels, and thus save Tamar from -any unpleasant consequences which might ensue were the theft traced to -her. But, as we have seen, _he affected not to notice that rapid but -profoundly significant glance_. - -During the few minutes that Mr. de Medina remained in the court, -Rainford was concealed as it were—or at least shrouded from -observation—amongst the crowd; and thus he escaped the notice of the -Jew. We should also state that it was on this occasion Rainford first -beheld his half-brother, the Earl of Ellingham, _whose fine blue eyes -indicated a frank, and generous disposition_, and in whose favour the -highwayman was immediately prepossessed; for it must be remembered that -_his eyes were also of a deep blue, and indicated not only good humour, -but a certain generosity of disposition_. Indeed, it was only in respect -to the eyes and the brilliant teeth, that the Earl and Rainford -possessed the slightest family resemblance to each other. Yes:—it was on -this occasion that Rainford first saw him whom he knew to be his -half-brother; and the Earl noticed him also,—noticed him amongst the -crowd of spectators who thronged the court;—but he knew not then how -nearly that good-looking man, with the florid complexion and light hair, -was related to him! - -When Rainford returned home to South Moulton Street, he upbraided Tamar -for the deed which she had perpetrated, and which had involved her -sister in such a cruel embarrassment. But he did not reproach her in -harsh nor brutal terms: of such conduct he was incapable. He spoke -severely and coldly—manifesting his displeasure in a way which touched -her to the quick, but provoked no recriminations. She was almost wild -with grief when she heard the narrative of her sister being dragged to a -police-office upon so degrading a charge; and, producing the diamonds, -she implored Rainford to hasten and send them back to their owner. He -intimated his intention of performing that duty in person; and ere he -went away, Tamar implored his forgiveness. "I have no right to assume to -myself the power of pardon," he answered; "seeing that my example has -done this. But, oh! Tamar—if not for _my_ sake—if not for _your_ sake—at -least for that of your estimable sister who is so devoted to you, -abstain from such deeds in future!"—He then embraced her, and issued -from the house. - -In the meantime Esther de Medina had succeeded in persuading her father -to advance the money,—advance to _her_ the means wherewith to liquidate -the amount of the value at which the jewels were estimated. But in -giving the sum required, Mr. de Medina said sternly, "Esther, it is to -_you_ only that I concede this favour—and not for the sake of her who -was once my daughter, and whom the infamy this day brought to light has -estranged more remotely than ever from my heart!"—He then retired to -another room, as was his wont when he wished to avoid an unpleasant -topic: moreover, he thought that his daughter had suffered enough that -day to render any further reproach on his part unnecessary—indeed cruel; -and he knew that were the subject of conversation persisted in, he -should not be able to restrain his ire. - -The reader has already seen how Esther de Medina called upon the -diamond-merchant, and paid him the sum of six hundred pounds—the amount -at which he valued his jewels. He offered her a receipt; but she -declined to take it—for she thought that as she was settling the affair -from motives purely honourable and through regard towards _another_, it -would appear as if she were really interested _personally_ in the -transaction were she to reduce it to a mere matter of business. Not that -she meditated a revelation of the fact that she had a sister so like -herself that, when seen apart, they might well be taken for each other, -and that this sister was the real culprit:—oh! no—she would not, even if -she had dared, admit that her father had _another_ daughter! And if she -_lingered—as if anxious to say something more_—'twas merely because her -feelings of natural pride prompted her to exclaim, "Oh! sir, believe -that I am innocent of this dreadful charge!"—but a second thought -convinced her that such a declaration would not be credited, unless -supported by a feasible explanation; and she _abruptly quitted the -house_—bearing the stigma, in Mr. Gordon's eyes, of having committed a -deed of which she was utterly guiltless! - -Scarcely had Esther quitted the diamond-merchant's dwelling, when Tom -Rain called to restore the diamonds; and great was his surprise upon -learning _that Miss de Medina herself had called and paid the six -hundred pounds at which they were valued_. He, however, left the -diamonds, with the certainty that Esther would hear of their restoration -either from Mr. Gordon himself or direct from Tamar. Rainford then -returned to South Moulton Street, where he found Tamar in a very excited -state. The occurrences of the day had made a profound and most painful -impression upon her mind: the indignity offered to her sister—the -certain indignation of her father—the upbraidings of Rainford, who had -never spoken to her so severely before—and the bitter regrets which she -experienced when she contemplated her conduct,—all these circumstances -had combined to madden her. Thinking that Rainford was absent longer -than the business on which he had set out seemed to warrant, she was -filled with the most fearful misgivings. At one moment she fancied that, -in disgust at her behaviour, he had abandoned her for ever: then she -imagined that he must have been arrested as the possessor of the stolen -diamonds. Her mind was agitated like the ocean in a storm. She went out -in a fit of desperation, and purchased some arsenic at a chemist's shop. -She returned;—Rainford had not yet arrived. She sate down, and tried to -wrestle with her maddening thoughts: but an invincible idea of suicide -dominated them all. She struggled—Oh! she struggled bravely against that -terrible sentiment; and at length Rainford came back. He exerted himself -to calm her—said all he could to tranquillise her mind. He declared that -he forgave her from the bottom of his heart, and lavished every token of -tenderness upon her. She endeavoured to triumph over the fearful -excitement under which she was labouring; but all she could do was to -_appear_ calm. Two or three hours passed away, and Rainford hoped she -was recovering her equanimity. But a species of delirium suddenly seized -upon her: she rushed to the bed-room, and, before Rainford even knew her -intention, she swallowed the poison. By the time he had followed her -into the room—alarmed at the precipitate speed with which she had -hurried thither—the deed was accomplished; and the paper which he picked -up, as she threw herself frantically at his feet, explained to him the -whole truth. - -Not a moment was to be lost. Entrusting Tamar to the care of the -servant-girl, Rainford rushed from the house; and, as a hackney-coach -was fortunately passing at the moment, he leapt into it, desiring the -driver to take him to the nearest physician of eminence. The name of Dr. -Lascelles was best known to the honest jarvey, and to Grafton Street did -the vehicle accordingly proceed. The physician accompanied Rainford to -South Moulton Street, and Tamar was saved. But ere Lascelles took his -departure, the highwayman had resolved on adopting some plan to prevent -any disagreeable consequences occurring in respect to Esther de Medina -on account of this attempted suicide on the part of Tamar. For Rainford -naturally reflected, that as the physician was constantly moving in -society, and must necessarily have an immense circle of acquaintance, it -was more than probable that he might, sooner or later, encounter Esther, -whom he would mistake for the sister—his real patient. Hence the solemn -promise which Rainford exacted from Lascelles—_that when once his -professional visits had ceased in South Moulton Street, he would forget -that he had ever beholden Tamar; and that, should he ever meet her, -alone or in company, he would not even appear to recognise her—much less -attempt to speak to her—unless formally introduced, when he would -consider his acquaintance with her to be commenced only from the moment -of such introduction_. On the ensuing morning, at seven o'clock, -Rainford and Tamar took their departure from South Moulton Street, and -repaired to Lock's Fields, where the highwayman had already engaged -lodgings previously to the affair of the diamonds, as he was anxious, -for many obvious reasons, to dwell in a spot as secluded and retired as -possible. Tamar then wrote a long and pathetic letter to her sister, -imploring her forgiveness for the indignity which she had undergone on -account of one so worthless as herself; and requesting her to address -all future letters to her (until further notice) in this manner:—"_T. -R., No. 5, Brandon Street, Lock's Fields_." - -On the same day that Rainford and Tamar thus removed to the vicinity of -the Elephant and Castle Tavern, Mr. Gordon called upon Esther de Medina -in Great Ormond Street. Esther was much embarrassed when the -diamond-merchant was announced; for she feared that if her father were -at home, he would naturally hasten to the drawing-room to learn the -object of this call, and a renewal of many painful reflections, as well -as of much unpleasant observation, would follow. It was therefore with a -feeling of pleasure that Esther found, upon inquiry of the servants, -that Mr. de Medina had gone out a few minutes previous to Mr. Gordon's -arrival. When the diamond-merchant mentioned _the particulars of the -visit which he had received from the light-haired gentleman_, Esther -instantly comprehended that the individual alluded to must be Rainford; -for though she had never seen him to her knowledge, yet she had heard a -few details relative to his personal appearance, three years previously, -at Liverpool. Mr. Gordon acquainted her with the restoration of the -diamonds, and _her countenance suddenly assumed an expression of joy_, -because she could not help recognising a certain evidence of good -principle, and of kind feeling towards herself, in the fact of such -restoration. - -Two days afterwards Tamar and Esther again met; and the younger sister -breathed the most tender expressions of forgiveness in the ear of her -whom, though so guilty, she loved so tenderly. On the following evening -they met for the third time; and then Esther used all her powers of -persuasion to induce Tamar to accompany her home—to throw herself at the -feet of their father, and implore his forgiveness. But Tamar answered in -a firm tone, while tears nevertheless streamed down her countenance,—"It -is impossible, Esther! Rainford loves me so devotedly, that I should -esteem myself the veriest wretch upon the face of the earth to desert -him; and on this condition alone could I hope to obtain my father's -pardon. No: my destiny is fixed; to him I am linked until death shall -separate us! Think not, dearest Esther, that I love thee the less -because I cannot, dare not, take a step that would probably unite us -again at the blessed domestic hearth, and beneath the sacred roof of our -father's dwelling. Oh! God knows how sincerely, how earnestly, I wish -that such happiness was in store for me! But it is impossible, -Esther,—impossible!" And the sisters parted again, each weeping -bitterly. Mr. de Medina had noticed that Esther was absent from home a -long time on those two occasions; and he taxed her with having seen -Tamar again. She did not deny the charge; but falling at her father's -feet, she implored him to leave her that source of consolation. Her -grief was so excessive, that Mr. de Medina, who in his heart admired -these evidences of sisterly affection, gave no reply on that occasion: a -negative trembled upon his tongue—but he dared not utter it. He -recognised all that was generous and noble in the disposition of Esther; -and he felt proud of her as his daughter—the _only_ daughter whom he -considered himself to possess. But, when in the solitude of his study, -he reflected maturely upon these interviews which were taking place -between the sisters, and which, if not at once checked, would naturally -become more frequent, his mind was impressed with an idea that Tamar was -utterly and irredeemably profligate—abandoned in character beyond all -hope: and he feared lest Esther should be corrupted by her conversation. -He therefore resolved, painful as the duty was, to put an end to those -meetings, and yet mitigate the severity of this blow by winking, as it -were, at the continuation of their epistolary correspondence—but still -with the firm intention of crushing that indulgence also at a very early -period. He knew that oral communication is far more dangerous than -written interchange of thought; the former therefore was to be suspended -first. He accordingly chose the anniversary of the day on which Tamar -fled with Rainford to administer to Esther a solemn oath, binding her -never to see her sister again. And to this vow was the unhappy girl -compelled to pledge herself. It was the conversation which passed -between the father and daughter on this occasion, that Lord Ellingham -overheard—or rather, detached portions of which met his ears, producing -such strange misgivings in his mind relative to the purity of Esther de -Medina. - -When the weeping Esther retired to her chamber, after having taken that -oath, it struck her that her father had not prohibited her from -_writing_ to Tamar: and Esther was too glad to avail herself of this -circumstance, to unburthen her grief to her sister through the medium of -that epistle which Old Death intercepted and perused, but which he -afterwards returned to the letter-box in Holborn. And if the reader will -refer to that letter, he will perceive that it was specially addressed -to Tamar, although when first glanced at, and while the impression -remained unfavourable to Esther's character, it might have seemed to -appeal to Rainford himself. - -We have now cleared up all the mysteries relating to the family of Mr. -de Medina; and we doubt not our readers will be pleased to find that -Esther is indeed a model of purity—innocence—and sisterly affection. Oh! -despise not, then, the Jewess—for Christians might be proud to emulate -her virtues! And Rainford was a man who readily recognised and -appreciated all the excellence of her disposition—all the glorious -traits of her character, though he knew her not. But he -admired—enthusiastically admired the soul that could cling so devotedly -to its love for a sister; and from the first moment that the sisters met -in London, he vowed that Esther should never again be compromised by any -act or deed on the part of Tamar, if he were able to prevent it. Thus -was it that, on the night when Mr. Dykes and his myrmidons invaded the -house in Lock's Fields, Tom Rain gave such positive injunctions to Tamar -not to visit him in prison, should he be captured; for he feared lest -any one acquainted with Esther might meet Tamar under such -circumstances, the inevitable result being that the one would be -mistaken for the other. But on the day previous to his execution, he -yielded to the imploring—beseeching letters which Tamar sent to him by -means of Jacob Smith; and consented that she should take a last farewell -of him, on condition that she concealed her face as much as possible -with a veil. - -When Esther read in the newspapers of Rainford's arrest, she felt -deeply—deeply for her poor sister, whom she knew to be so devotedly -attached to the highwayman. And, oh! Esther herself had begun to -comprehend the feeling of love; for she had not beheld with indifference -the handsome—the elegant—and the generous hearted Earl of Ellingham;—and -all that Tamar had said relative to the wondrous influence of that -passion, would at times recur strangely to her memory. Yes—Esther loved -the good young nobleman; but her soul was too pure—her manners to deeply -fraught with maidenly reserve, to betray the slightest evidence of her -attachment. Nor had she yet so far admitted, even in the secret depths -of her own mind, the existence of this inclination towards him, as to -ponder upon it seriously, or to invest it with the aspect of reality. -She knew that he was attached, and believed him engaged to be married to -Lady Hatfield and she sighed involuntarily—scarcely comprehending -wherefore—when she thought thereon. Still she loved him—while she -believed, in the innocence of her own heart, that she merely felt -interested in him as a friend. Nor did her imagination define the true -distinction between the feeling which she actually experienced, and that -which she only conceived to animate her,—no, not even when the glowing -description of love which her sister had drawn on one occasion of their -meeting, presented itself to her mind. But she could yet the more easily -understand how it was possible for Tamar to love Rainford so devotedly -as she did. Hence the acute anguish that Esther experienced, on account -of her sister, when she read the arrest of the highwayman. Mr. de Medina -did not of course remain ignorant of the occurrence; but he made not the -slightest allusion to it in the presence of Esther. Nor did he put into -force his previously contemplated plan of forbidding any future -epistolary correspondence between the sisters. He felt deeply for Tamar, -in spite of his stern silence respecting her; and he would not deprive -her, under the weight of such dire afflictions, of the consolation which -he naturally conceived the letters of Esther must prove to her. He even -gave Esther, though unasked, a considerable sum of money, casually -observing "that she might wish to purchase herself a new piano, or any -thing else she might fancy;"—and the young maiden pressed her father's -hand, for it struck her that he meant her to be the medium of conveying -assistance, in case it should be needed, to Tamar. But Tamar, in reply -to the letter which Esther wrote proffering pecuniary aid, gave her the -assurance that, though bowed down by the weight of affliction, poverty -was not amongst the sources of her deep sorrow. - -Day after day did Esther fondly hope that her father would speak to her -relative to the now unfriended position of her sister; but Mr. de Medina -preserved a profound silence. There were, however, moments when Esther -fancied that his countenance looked anxious and care-worn, as if a -struggle were taking place in his mind. Still time wore on, and he said -nothing respecting Tamar:—he mentioned not her name! But one night, when -Esther could not sleep, she thought that she heard a moaning sound in -her father's room, which was on the opposite side of the passage -communicating with her own; and, alarmed lest he might have been seized -with sudden indisposition, she stole silently from her chamber and -listened at his door. He was pacing the room with agitated steps, and -speaking aloud in a manner indicative of acute mental anguish. "O Tamar! -Tamar—my daughter Tamar! wherefore didst thou ever abandon me? God of my -fathers! that such misery—such disgrace—such infamy should have fallen -upon my race! And yet—though I have disowned thee—though I have cast -thee off for ever—though, obedient to a stern duty, I have interdicted -thy meetings with Esther, the darling of my heart,—nevertheless, my -heart yearns towards thee, my Tamar! Oh! to reclaim thee—to bring thee -back to the paths of virtue—to see thee happy and gay as thou once -wast,—Oh! to do all this, I would consent to become the veriest beggar -who crawls upon the face of the earth!" There was a long pause; and Mr. -de Medina continued to pace his room with steps still more agitated than -hitherto—while Esther stood in breathless suspense at the door, not -daring to make her father aware that she had overheard him, and yet -unable to retrace her steps to her own chamber. "But it may not be!" -suddenly exclaimed the Jew, in an impassioned—rending tone; for the -triumph which he had achieved over his softer feelings, cost him pangs -as acute as if his heart-strings were being torn asunder. "No—it may not -be! I have pronounced the fatal words, Tamar—I have disowned thee; and I -may not recall the _fiat_! But if that man——who led thee astray——should -be cut off by the hand of justice——" and the Jew's voice grew tremulous -as in broken sentences he uttered these words——"then thou will be alone -in the world——friendless——perhaps in want——starving——Oh! my God! my -God!" - -And Esther knew that her father was overcome with the bitterness of -grief. For a moment her hand was raised to knock at the door; but in the -next the thought struck her that she would be doing wrong to wound, and -even humiliate him, by suffering him to know that she had become aware -of the sorrow which he devoured in secret! And it also flashed to her -mind that beneath the cold, stern, and severe demeanour which he had -maintained ever since the flight of Tamar from the paternal -roof,—beneath, also, that unbroken—profound silence which he had -maintained towards her in respect to the misfortune that had fallen upon -Tamar by the arrest of Rainford,—beneath all this, there agitated within -his breast feelings and emotions keenly sensitive, but which were seldom -if ever allowed to reflect themselves in the mirror of the countenance. -Deeming, therefore, her father's grief too sacred for intrusion—too -solemn to be broken in upon, Miss de Medina stole back to her chamber, -and moistened a sleepless pillow with her tears. Nevertheless, a gleam -of light penetrated the dark clouds of grief which hung upon her mind; -for she had ascertained, beyond all possibility of doubt, that Tamar was -not entirely unloved by her father—that his heart was not a tomb in -which her memory was interred! - -For, oh! that heart yearned towards thee, Tamar—lost, fallen though thou -wast! and this conviction was an anodyne to the lacerated feelings of -thy sister Esther! Time passed on—and still Mr. de Medina remained -silent respecting the matter to which the charming maiden daily and -hourly hoped to hear him allude. At length the trial took place—and the -gallant highwayman was condemned to death. Oh! had it not been for that -terrible oath—an oath from which her sire only could release her—Esther -would have flown to console her sister at that season of her bitter -grief. But, alas! all she could do was to impart solace by means of -letters; and how cold is even the most fervent language of the pen when -compared with that which the heart feels it should utter through the -medium of the tongue! Tamar replied to those letters; and Esther was -astonished to perceive that the afflicted woman wrote with a certain -degree of calmness:—but she feared that it was indeed the calmness of -despair! A second time did Mr. de Medina place in Esther's hands a -considerable sum of money, telling her to use it as she thought fit; and -the beauteous maiden, while her heart fluttered with hope and anxious -expectation, exclaimed in an appealing tone, "Oh! my dear father—God -grant that I do not misunderstand thy motives! Thou knowest that I have -no need for all this gold; and _she_ requireth a sire's pardon, but not -the aid of his purse."—"I do not—I dare not understand you, Esther," -returned Mr. de Medina, with difficulty assuming a cold tone, but with -tears starting into his eyes:—and then he hastily quitted the room. -Esther saw how deeply he was moved: and hope increased—not -diminished—within her gentle breast. Then, when she pondered on all her -father had uttered aloud, on that night when she had listened at his -chamber door,—and when she reflected on all his proceedings since the -day of Rainford's arrest,—she fancied that she could fathom his motives -and intentions. "Should my dear—dear sister," she thought within -herself, "be left friendless and alone in the world, by the hand of -justice striking at the existence of him whom she loves—_then_, and only -_then_, will the door of the paternal dwelling be opened, and a father's -arms be extended, to receive the exile once more." - -At length the fatal morning came—the morning on which Rainford was to -suffer, and to which date we have now brought up our history. On the -preceding Saturday Tamar had written to Esther to say that the hours of -her bitterest—most crushing trials were now at hand; and that if she -survived the soul-harrowing anguish then in store for her, it would be -only with the hope of yet finding herself restored, sooner or later, to -the sweet companionship of her sister, and also for the sake of the -little boy whom Rainford's kindness had adopted, and who was so -completely dependent upon her. "The moment all shall be over on Monday -morning," added Tamar in her letter, "my preparations to leave London -will commence. It is my intention—my firm intention to proceed to -America, and there remain—burying my woes in a strange land, and -devoting myself to the care of this boy—until it may please God to move -my father's heart to recall me home! Let me receive a letter from thee, -then, my beloved sister, on Monday morning—a letter that may console me -by the assurances of thy continued love—if consolation there be for me -in this life! Let your much-coveted communication reach me, sweetest -Esther, at about ten o'clock on Monday. May God bless you, -dearest—dearest Esther!" - -Accordingly, on Monday morning, at about half-past nine, Esther -despatched a letter, by a messenger, to Tamar's lodgings in the City. -Need we say that this epistle contained all the tender assurances of -love and unvarying affection which the affectionate disposition of the -Jewish maiden could suggest, or which were calculated to console where -consolation was so difficult? When the messenger, whom she had gone out -to hire, had departed with the letter, Esther de Medina felt too -restless—too nervous—too unsettled, to return home again immediately. -The idea that one whom her sister loved had suffered an ignominious -death that morning, and that Tamar was at that very moment crushed down -to the earth by the weight of her afflictions,—this idea was more than -Esther could contend against. She wandered listlessly about—unmindful -whither she was going; and it was in this frame of mind that she -suddenly heard her name pronounced. She knew the voice, which somewhat -recalled her to herself; for it was the voice of Lord Ellingham, whose -absence from home had been made known to her by means of the laconic -letter which he had addressed to her father from his dungeon. - -[Illustration] - -The reader knows the rest:—with strange rapidity was she hurried away by -the Earl towards Red Lion Street; and in the house to which she was -conducted, she found her sister, who had arrived there only a few -minutes previously, guided by Jacob Smith. - - - - - CHAPTER LVII. - A FATHER. - - -While the scenes related in the fifty-fifth chapter were taking place at -the house in Red Lion Street, Mr. de Medina was pacing in an agitated -manner his private apartment at his own residence. - -Esther had rightly divined his thoughts and intentions: he had indeed -been debating in his own mind, for some time past, whether his duty, as -a father and as a man, did not command him to forgive a daughter whom -the hand of the Lord had so severely stricken. - -The Jew thought of his wife long dead, and murmured to himself—"Were she -alive still, she would be kneeling at my feet, imploring me to pardon -the erring Tamar! And does she not now look down upon me from those -empyrean heights where her sainted spirit is numbered with the blest? -Nay, more; do I not see her image now kneeling before me? Oh! can this -be imagination? Yes—it is,—it is,—and yet how like the reality!" - -Mr. de Medina was so painfully excited that his fancy for a moment -conjured up the semblance of his deceased wife, as she had appeared in -the pride of her loveliness, long years before. - -But when the evanescent illusion had passed away, he again paced the -room, a prey to the most painful indecision and doubt. - -He longed to recall Tamar to his favour; and yet he feared to compromise -his character for firmness and decision;—so strange and yet so sure it -is, that, even in those moments when our best feelings are agitating -within us to the purest and holiest ends, a miserable sentiment of -worldly vanity intervenes, and if it do not altogether mar good deeds, -at least impairs the merit of their excellence, by engendering -hesitation, wavering, and delay. - -Mr. de Medina's conflicting—battling meditations were suddenly -interrupted by a loud knock at the street-door; and a servant shortly -after announced to his master that the Earl of Ellingham was waiting in -the drawing-room. - -The Jew remained in his chamber a few minutes to compose his -countenance, and collect his scattered ideas, ere he descended to meet -the nobleman. - -When he entered the drawing-room, he immediately saw by Arthur's face -that it was no visit of mere ceremonious courtesy which was now paid to -that house. - -"My dear Earl," said Mr. de Medina, "you have been lost to the world for -some weeks; and I must confess that when I received the letter which you -did me the honour to address to me nearly a month ago, I entertained -fears lest business of an unpleasant nature called you thus abruptly -away from England." - -"That letter, my dear sir," answered the Earl, "was not precisely such -an one as I should have written to you had I been free from restraint." - -The nobleman then related, in as few words as possible, the outrage that -had been perpetrated upon him—the imprisonment he had endured for four -mortal weeks—and the manner in which he had escaped. - -Mr. de Medina expressed his indignation and surprise at the treatment -which the young nobleman had undergone, and inquired if the motive could -be accounted for. - -"I am totally at a loss to conjecture who were my enemies, and the cause -of their abominable proceedings," answered the Earl. "But let us waive -that subject for the present, my dear sir," he continued; "as it is my -duty to engage your attention with other and more important matters." - -Mr. de Medina pointed to a seat near the fire, and then drew a chair for -himself to within a short distance of that taken by the Earl. - -"I am about to mention a name to you, my dear Mr. de Medina," continued -the nobleman, "which may perhaps—nay, will certainly sound unpleasantly -upon your ears; but you know me too well to imagine for an instant that -I should thoughtlessly or wantonly give you pain. I allude to Thomas -Rainford." - -The Jew started, and his countenance fell. - -"This Thomas Rainford, Mr. de Medina," resumed Arthur, "has wronged -you—wronged you deeply; and not for a moment do I attempt to defend his -conduct." - -"But how know you, my lord, that the wretched man, who is now no more, -and against whose memory common humanity orders me not to nourish -animosity——" - -"Mr. de Medina," interrupted the Earl in a low and solemn tone, as he -bent towards the Jew, "Thomas Rainford lives!" - -"Lives!" ejaculated Mr. de Medina, in a voice loud with excitement and -surprise. - -"Hush! speak low—in a whisper—the walls have ears!" said Arthur -impatiently. "In the name of heaven! compose yourself—calm your mind, -Mr. de Medina—for I have much to communicate to you—and that much of the -first importance." - -"Proceed, my lord," said the Jew coldly: "I am all attention." - -"It is, then, true that Rainford lives——" - -"And yet scarce an hour has passed since men were crying the account of -his execution for sale in the street—beneath this very window," observed -Mr. de Medina, in an incredulous tone. - -"It is as true that he is now alive as that he underwent the ordeal of -the terrible rope, even as the pamphlet-venders proclaimed beneath your -window," continued the Earl. "In a word, he has been resuscitated by the -wondrous agency of galvanism." - -"Good God! my lord—is this possible?" cried Mr. de Medina: "or do my -ears deceive me?" - -"Again I implore you to master your feelings," said the Earl; "for I -have another circumstance, almost equally strange, to reveal to you. -Thomas Rainford is nearly related to me——" - -"To you—to your lordship!" exclaimed Mr. de Medina. - -"Yes: the same father was the author of our being—though different -mothers bore us. He is my half-brother—and all the proofs thereof are in -my possession. Nay, more—and _this_ I reveal to you to prove the -confidence I place in _you_—he is my elder brother, legitimately born, -and is the rightful Earl of Ellingham!" - -Mr. de Medina gazed on the young nobleman in speechless -astonishment,—with an amazement, indeed, so profound, that it seemed as -if he were suddenly paralysed by the announcement which had just met his -ears. - -The Earl then rapidly sketched the outline of Rainford's birth; and, -without in any way alluding to Lady Hatfield, stated that accident had -brought them together, and had led to the revelation of all those -wondrous circumstances. Arthur did not however forget to mention the -generous conduct of Rainford in refusing to avail himself of papers -which would have placed a coronet on his brow and vast estates at his -disposal, and also in consigning those papers to the possession of -Arthur himself. - -Mr. de Medina was perfectly astounded at all he heard; and he listened -in silent wonderment—no longer interrupting the narrator with comment or -question. - -The Earl proceeded to inform him how the whole scheme for the -resuscitation of the doomed man had been arranged between himself and -Dr. Lascelles, and how it had perfectly succeeded. - -"Indeed," added Arthur, "I left my half-brother just awakened from a -profound sleep, and, though much enfeebled, still beyond the reach of -danger. But spare me the necessity of describing to you the first -moments of horror—boundless, appalling horror—which he experienced, -when, slowly opening his eyes, he awoke to the recollection of all he -had this morning gone through, and to the wildest doubts as to where he -was and what had actually become of him! Oh! Mr. de Medina, it was a -scene which the memories of those who beheld it, never—never could fail -to retain—even though madness were to destroy the discriminating powers -of the intellect! But all that is passed—gone by; and my brother -lives—conscious, too, of resuscitated existence!" - -"My dear Earl," said Mr. de Medina, at length breaking the long silence -which had been maintained on his part, "I have read and heard many -wildly wonderful narratives in my time,—truths also far stranger than -fictions,—genuine occurrences which outvie all the marvels of romance. -But never—never, do I firmly believe, has mortal tongue related, nor -mortal ear listened to, a history more amazing—more solemnly -interesting, than this. Should these facts ever transpire to the world, -and be seized upon by the novelist as the basis of a tale, those who may -read, having been previously unacquainted with those facts, would -exclaim, '_'Tis impossible!_' Oh! what a work might be written, under -the title of THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON! But pardon me for wasting your -valuable time with these comments:—I say, pardon me—because I perceive -that you have more yet to relate." - -"I have indeed," said the Earl, trembling for the success of the mission -which had taken him to Mr. de Medina's house; "and I am now compelled to -touch upon a subject which cannot be otherwise than painful to you——" - -"I understand you, my lord," interrupted the Jew: "proceed—for I know -that you would not refer to that topic without a well-intentioned -motive." - -"Such is indeed the case," said the Earl. "But not to use more words -than are necessary—as time is precious—I shall at once inform you that I -am acquainted with the sad episode in my half-brother's life, which -relates to—to—your elder daughter." - -"Go on, my lord," said the Jew, mastering his emotions. - -"But not until this morning—till within an hour ago," continued the -Earl, "was I aware that you possessed _two_ daughters. The moment that -Rainford was pronounced to be out of danger, I despatched a faithful -messenger to break the tidings to her who loves him, and whom he loves -so well; but while this messenger was absent, I had occasion to leave, -for a short time, the house where Thomas Rainford now lies; and accident -led me to encounter Miss Esther. Pardon me, when I state that a variety -of circumstances, which I will some day explain, had for several weeks -past induced me to believe that she—whom I now know to be an angel of -purity and goodness—was the being so dear to my brother; and, anxious to -relieve her mind, as I thought, from the agony of grief into which the -supposed fate of Rainford must have plunged her,—anxious also that her -presence should greet _his_ eyes upon awaking from the deep sleep that -followed the galvanic resuscitation,—I led her—dragged her, with me to -the house I ere now spoke of—saying heaven only knows what incoherent -things to her as we sped along, and to which, I remember now, she -listened and replied with an amazement since explained. But, in the -meantime, Jacob Smith—the messenger whom I had sent to your elder -daughter—had arrived with _her_; and thus—you perceive how innocently on -my part,—the sisters were brought together by the bed-side of my -brother!" - -"Esther and Tamar together!" ejaculated Mr. de Medina, starting from his -seat, in mingled anger and surprise: then, suddenly changing to an -aspect of profound sorrow, he murmured, "Oh! Esther! thine oath—thine -oath!" - -"She did not violate it, Mr. de Medina," said the Earl emphatically. "As -well might it be asserted that, had you sworn never to enter my house, -and were you carried thither by force, your vow would be -wilfully—wickedly broken. No:—Miss de Medina knew not whither she was -going—knew not whom she was to see—knew not that her sister would be -there! If any one has erred in all this, 'tis I; and yet I, Mr. de -Medina," added the Earl proudly, "am incapable of doing a bad deed. -There lives not the man who, with truth, could impute to me aught that I -should be ashamed to have published before all the world. And it is not -to boast of untarnished rectitude—of a bright fame—of an unsullied -reputation, that I now speak;—but it is to convince you—you, Mr. de -Medina, a man of the world—yourself upright beyond all doubt—honourable -beyond all possibility of impeachment,—it is to convince you, that if I -have incurred your displeasure, I did not the act wantonly—and that I -deserve forgiveness." - -"Excellent young man!" exclaimed the Jew, grasping the Earl's hand, and -wringing it with even paternal warmth: "who shall dare to impute -sinister motives to one like you? No,—Oh! no:—were all the scions of the -aristocracy as noble-hearted as yourself—endowed with such feelings as -you possess, they would be a blessing instead of a curse and a shame to -this country. I was unjust," added Mr. de Medina, more slowly,—"unjust -towards my beloved and amiable Esther—and unjust also in respect to you. -But, oh! my lord," continued the Jew, while tears rolled down his -cheeks, "it is hard—it is hard to have the honour of one's name -tarnished by a disobedient daughter:—and such is the lost—the unhappy -Tamar!" - -"The best of us in this world are but poor, erring, sinful mortals in -the eyes of Him who is all-perfect but who is likewise all-merciful," -said the Earl in a solemn and impressive tone. "Alas! but a few minutes -have passed since I proclaimed my rectitude, vain boaster that I was—and -lauded your integrity, miserable flatterer that I was! But I then spoke -as men speak—as we mortals are accustomed to estimate our characters for -honour and probity. Nevertheless, in the sight of heaven, we are -sinners—wretched sinners; and our only hopes are in God's illimitable -mercy! Then, Mr. de Medina,—as you hope for salvation in another -world,—as you expect forgiveness at the hands of the Almighty for those -failings wherewith the very best of us are characterised,—I implore—I -beseech you, to pardon your daughter Tamar!" - -Glorious—almost god-like, was the enthusiasm with which the fine young -nobleman urged his strong appeal—the stronger for all the sincerity of -the argument which prefaced it. - -Mr. de Medina gazed upon him with mingled wonder and admiration: but -when the Earl had done speaking, the Jew turned aside and paced the room -in a manner betraying the most painful agitation. - -"Think not," resumed Arthur, also rising from his seat, "that I am one -of those wretched hypocrites, who, in their sickly cant, make use of the -holiest names and the most sacred arguments to win a cause in which they -are interested only through selfish and worldly motives. No!—I should -scorn to reduce myself to such a level—I should hate myself were I -capable of such contemptible duplicity. It is not he who prays longest -and loudest, that is the most sincere. But I appeal to you by all things -sacred—I, the Christian, appeal to you, the Jew—by those doctrines which -form the basis of the creed in which we both put faith,—doctrines which -teach us the goodness of the Almighty, as manifested towards the -Israelites,—by all HE did for your forefathers—thereby do I appeal to -you to receive an erring daughter back to your arms, and assure her of -your pardon!" - -Still Mr. de Medina replied not—but continued to pace the room. - -"Were your daughter Esther—the amiable, the excellent Esther here," -continued Lord Ellingham, "she would not perhaps intercede so vainly as -I. During the rapid explanations which were ere now vouchsafed to me by -the repentant Tamar herself,—explanations which have shown me how -ineffably beyond all human praise is the conduct of the younger towards -her elder sister,—I learnt more of the heart of woman than ever I knew -before. My ideas—my sentiments, concerning woman and her mission here, -have always been of the loftiest kind: but now I am led to recognise -something angelic—something heavenly in her disposition. Oh! Mr. de -Medina, had I such a sister as Esther, never—never, would I permit a -tear to dim the brightness of her eye, if it were in my power to wipe it -away!—never—never, would I allow a pang to steal into her gentle breast, -if deed or word of mine could avert it. For I declare your younger -daughter to be a very angel of excellence and moral worth; and your -entire nation should be proud of the name of Esther de Medina!" - -"My lord—my dear Earl," faltered the father, approaching the young -nobleman, and taking his hand, "if the Jews should be proud of Esther, -the Christians may with good cause glory in their Arthur of Ellingham! -But if this _must_ be—if Tamar should once more receive from me the name -of DAUGHTER—how——" - -"I understand you, my dear friend," interrupted the nobleman: "you would -ask—you would know what course is to be pursued in respect to my -half-brother." - -The Jew made a hasty sign for his companion to proceed. - -"I must confess that this difficulty struck me forcibly ere I came -hither just now," continued Arthur. "My half-brother is devotedly -attached to your daughter; and Tamar is equally wrapped up in him. To -separate them, in my opinion, would be the height of cruelty: for you to -forgive your daughter and consent to allow her to dwell in concubinage -with Rainford, are things I know to be incompatible. But is there no -course open to them? Listen to the plan which I suggested before I left -those who are no doubt so anxiously waiting my return. It is this: -To-morrow night, if Dr. Lascelles accord his permission, I shall -accompany my half-brother to France, whence he will proceed as soon as -possible to the United States of America. For in the hasty explanations -which ere now took place between us all, I learnt that he had already -expedited thither a considerable sum of money, his intention having been -to proceed with Tamar to the New World when his project was suddenly -marred by his arrest. While he is away, and in safety, I shall exert -myself to obtain his full pardon; for I shall privately represent to the -Minister all the circumstances of this most extraordinary case. -To-morrow night, then, we proceed to Dover, whence we shall embark for -France. 'Tis for you and your daughters to follow us to Paris; and there -the hands of Tamar and Thomas Rainford may be united in the chapel of -the British Embassy. I am well aware that it will be a Protestant -marriage only;—that in your eyes it may be insufficient, so far as it -regards the creed of your daughter;—but it is the least of two evils. -For, believe me, Tamar and my brother are so devoted to each other that -they would never consent to separate:—no—Tamar would not quit him even -to receive her father's pardon! Thus they would continue to live in that -state which is repugnant to the feelings of society—a state unhallowed -by the rites of the Church. But where two hearts are thus closely -connected and are wedded to all intents and purposes, by the mere fact -of their binding affections,—tell me—tell me, does it matter much at -which of God's altars the blessing of heaven shall be invoked? You will -pardon your daughter—you will receive her back into your arms,—you will -give her to one who loves her most tenderly and who has ever treated her -as if she were his wife—and, after the ceremony shall have been -performed, albeit a Protestant one, you may say proudly and unblushingly -to those who learn that you have another daughter, and who inquire -concerning her,—you may say fearlessly, 'She is married!'" - -Mr. de Medina walked towards the window for a few moments to conceal his -tears. - -But he could not conceal them; and with the holy dew trickling down his -cheeks, he turned again to the nobleman, saying in a tremulous and -broken voice,—"My friend—my dearest friend, I yield!—you have subdued -me! It shall all be as you have designed it!" - -The Earl pressed Mr. de Medina's hand with fervent warmth—with the -ardour of gratitude. - -"Come with me at once—delay not a moment!" exclaimed Arthur, his own -eyes also dimmed with tears. - -And he hurried Mr. de Medina to the hackney-coach, which was waiting at -the door. - - - - - CHAPTER LVIII. - THE RESUSCITATED. - - -Touching was the scene in the bed-chamber at the house in Red Lion -Street,—that scene which the return of the Earl of Ellingham, -accompanied by Mr. de Medina, was to render more touching still. - -But previously to their arrival, the group was interesting and must be -specially noticed. - -Rainford was seated in the bed, propped up with the pillows; for he -still felt very weak, though all danger had completely passed. - -Standing by his side, with one hand locked in his, was Tamar, clad in -deep mourning—a mourning now no longer necessary, and which covered a -heart beating with ineffable joy. - -Dr. Lascelles and Esther de Medina were also standing close by the bed; -and Jacob Smith was leaning over the foot-board, surveying Rainford with -eyes dimmed by tears, and in a kind of wonderment as if he were scarcely -able to convince himself of the miracle the _living evidence_ of which -was before him. - -The hearts of all were too full for connected discourse; for even the -doctor himself was more moved by the incidents in which he had that day -performed so prominent a part, than ever he had felt before. - -At length Tamar turned towards her sister, and said in a low, tremulous -tune, "Do you think, dear Esther, that Lord Ellingham will succeed—can -you hope it?" - -"I have every hope," replied Esther, firmly. "His lordship suggested a -plan by which all our father's scruples may be overcome." - -"And by which we shall not be separated, save for a few days, Tamar," -observed Rainford. - -"I would not quit you even for an hour," answered the elder sister, -emphatically; "were it not that I was previously assured of being -speedily re-united to you." - -Rainford pressed her hand tenderly. - -"If my friend Arthur does not succeed with Mr. de Medina," said Dr. -Lascelles, "I must go myself, and see what I can do. But I confess that -I should despair of producing any effect, were Arthur's eloquence to -fail." - -"Hark!" cried Jacob Smith: "the front door opens!" - -The physician hastened to assure himself that no unwelcome step was -approaching; and the sisters exchanged looks indicative of the most -acute suspense. - -"Bravo!" cried the good doctor, returning in a few moments, and clapping -his hands together. - -But before he had time to give any explanation as to the cause of a joy -so unusual in one of his calm and unexcitable disposition, footsteps -approached the room. - -The eyes of Rainford, the sisters, and Jacob Smith were anxiously cast -towards the door. - -Lord Ellingham entered first—his countenance radiant with joy. Another -moment—and Tamar bounded forward to meet her sire, in whose arms she was -immediately received. - -"Oh! my dear—dear father!" exclaimed Tamar; "is it possible that you can -forgive me—that this happiness is not a dream?" - -"Let the past be forgotten, my child!" said Mr. de Medina, pressing her -again and again to his breast: for now that she _was_ forgiven, all the -long-smothered generosity and tenderness of his heart in respect to her -revived with fresh vigour. "And you, Esther, my well-beloved," he added, -"come also and share your father's joy that the day of pardon has at -length arrived!" - -Most affecting was the scene. The physician pretended to be busily -occupied in wiping his eye-glass; but the tears fell fast upon -it:—Rainford and Lord Ellingham both wept aloud; and Jacob Smith -whimpered like a little child. - -At last the party grew somewhat composed; and Mr. de Medina advanced -towards the bed. - -"Mr. Rainford," he said, extending his hand, which the resuscitated -highwayman grasped with grateful warmth, "to you also do I say, '_Let -the past be forgotten_.' From the very bottom of my heart do I forgive -you; and this forgiveness I the more readily accord, because I learn -that your conduct has been uniformly kind and tender towards my -daughter,—because you are prepared to make her your wife according to -the ritual of your creed,—and also because I have heard from your noble -relative—far more noble in nature even than in name—that you have -manifested so many proofs of an excellent heart and a generous -disposition towards _him_, that it is impossible not to admire your -behaviour in this respect. I have now said all that I intend to utter -upon these subjects; for if I be stern and severe in my displeasure, I -am equally sincere and profound in my forgiveness." - -"My dear Earl," whispered Dr. Lascelles, in the most solemn manner -possible, and in a tone audible only to himself and the young nobleman, -"I did not think of asking you for any reward for all I have this day -done to serve you and yours. But I am so charmed with this Jew, who -positively shows more good feeling than many Christians whom I know, -that I would give any thing to possess a cast of his head. Do you -think——" - -"Depend upon it, my dear Doctor, I will not forget your wish," said the -Earl, smiling: "but you must admit that this is not precisely the time -to ask a favour of so delicate a nature." - -"True!" observed Lascelles. "And yet the interests of science——" - -"Hush!" said Lord Ellingham: "you will be overheard." - -As soon as the party were sufficiently composed to deliberate upon the -course now to be adopted, considering the position of Rainford, a solemn -conclave was held. - -The results of the council may be thus summed up:—Dr. Lascelles, feeling -convinced that Rainford was totally out of danger, proposed to return -without delay to the West End, to visit his patients who would be -otherwise astonished and vexed at his absence. Mr. de Medina was to -repair home with his two daughters: and while the young ladies made all -the necessary arrangements for the trip to France, their father -undertook to proceed to Dover, and secure a sailing-vessel to be in -readiness by the time that Lord Ellingham and Rainford should reach that -port. Mr. de Medina would then return to London to fetch his daughters; -and the family would follow the half-brothers as speedily as possible to -Paris. On his side, Lord Ellingham expressed his intention of remaining -with Rainford until the moment for their departure together should -arrive. Jacob Smith was to stay also in the house in Red Lion Street, -and to accompany Tom Rain not only to France, but also to America; for -the poor lad was devotedly attached to him, and Rainford felt it almost -a duty to remove the youth from the scene of his former temptations and -miseries. - -Dr. Lascelles accordingly quitted the house, first having promised to -see Rainford again next day. Mr. de Medina and his daughters next took -their departure, Tamar having taken a tender farewell of him whom she -loved, and whom, according to present arrangements, she was not to meet -again until they arrived in Paris. As for Esther, ere she turned to quit -the room, she gave her hand to Rainford, who respectfully touched it -with his lips. - -At length the Earl and Jacob were left together with the resuscitated -highwayman, who now lost no time in narrating to them the particulars of -his visit to that very house a few weeks previously. For when, on -awaking from his deep sleep, he was sufficiently recovered to collect -his scattered ideas,—and when the first emotions attendant upon his -meeting with Tamar had passed,—he had recognised the chamber in which he -was lying. But finding himself under the care and protection of Dr. -Lascelles, whom he had seen, it will be remembered, in the house on the -night of his memorable adventures beneath that roof, he had so far -mastered his surprise and momentary alarm, as to maintain a profound -silence relative to his recognition of the place. - -But now that there was leisure to converse on matters of secondary -importance, and that she in whose breast he was fearful of exciting -fears for his safety was no longer present, he detailed at full length -all the particulars with which the reader is acquainted, not even -omitting the impression existing in his mind that Old Death was no more. -Then Lord Ellingham learnt how Rainford had happened to visit the -laboratory when he was disturbed by the entrance of Lascelles; and he -also heard for the first time how his half-brother had recovered his -money, with compound interest, and had obtained all the private papers -proving the history of his birth and the marriage of the late Earl of -Ellingham with Octavia Manners. Jacob, likewise for the first time, -learnt that the very house in which he then was, contained the -store-rooms of Old Death; and he now also ascertained the cause of that -individual's sudden and mysterious disappearance. - -Arthur, in his turn, related the entire particulars of the outrage -perpetrated upon him—his imprisonment in a dungeon for four long -weeks—the reason of his writing the laconic letter which Rainford had -received in prison—his escape by means of the sewers—and his suspicion, -in consequence of all he had heard that morning from Dr. Lascelles, that -the scene of his late incarceration was not altogether unconnected with -the mysterious subterranean of that very house. - -But conjecture was useless in respect to all these circumstances; and -the only point to which any positive decision could be arrived at, was -the absolute necessity that existed for defending the house from all -intruders so long as Rainford should remain in it. - -Jacob Smith went out to purchase refreshments; and Rainford felt himself -so well that he was enabled to make a hearty meal. - -Hour after hour passed; and at length evening came. - -"Arthur," said Tom Rain, breaking a silence during which he had -partially dozed, and now aroused by a sudden idea that had struck -him,—"Arthur, I have a strange fancy—a whim, which I much desire you -would gratify——" - -"Name it, Thomas," returned the nobleman. - -"I should like to see the evening paper," continued Tom Rain. "I need -scarcely tell you that never again will the highways of this nor any -other country be rendered dangerous by me—never shall this right hand of -mine perpetrate a crime. My career as a desperate plunderer terminated -this morning—on the roof of the gaol: from the instant of my -resuscitation I date a new term of existence—new in a moral as well as -in a physical sense. But I _should_ like to see what is said of me _in -my last moments_." - -For an instant the Earl hesitated—but only for an instant; and Jacob -Smith was sent to purchase the evening newspaper. - -In due time he returned; and Rainford sate up in bed _to read the -account of his own execution_! - -"I am glad of that!" he exclaimed, as his eyes ran down the column -headed with the awful words—EXECUTION OF THOMAS RAINFORD; and his -countenance became flushed with excitement, as he read aloud, in a tone -that trembled not in the least degree, a few of the sentences which -seemed to give him pleasure:—"_He underwent the dreadful process of -pinioning with extraordinary courage_"—"_his footsteps were as firm as -if anything save a scaffold were his destination_"—"_he ascended the -stairs leading to the roof of the prison with steps that faltered -not_"—"_the same dauntless courage sustained him as he mounted the fatal -ladder which conducted him to the drop_"—"_nor did he once exhibit signs -of fear; no, not even when the executioner descended beneath the -platform to draw the bolt that was to launch him into eternity._"—"_Thus -died a man who possessed a courage that would have rendered him -distinguished had his destinies cast him in the profession of arms._" - -"For heaven's sake, no more of this, my dear brother," exclaimed the -Earl, painfully excited. - -"Burn the paper, Arthur," said Tom Rain, handing it to the nobleman, and -then throwing himself back on his pillow. "I have seen enough—and never -wish to read that narrative again. But pardon me for having given you -pain; and think not it was any frivolous sentiment of vanity that made -me desirous to peruse the account, or that excited me as I read it. I -merely wished to convince myself that no injustice was done me, Arthur," -he added, very seriously; "for, of all things, I abominate a coward; and -I confess—it may be a weakness on my part—that I should not like _my -last moments_ to have been misrepresented. But let us talk no more on -this topic—since it gives you pain. And now, by way of changing the -conversation, I will tell you some of the plans I have shadowed out in -my mind. Perhaps they may never be realized:—I hope they may." - -Arthur had set fire to the newspaper by means of a lamp which was -burning upon the table; and, having crushed out the expiring flames with -his foot, he drew his chair towards the bed, to listen with attention to -his half-brother. - -Jacob Smith leant over the foot-board, anxious to drink in the words -which Rainford was about to utter. - -"I have been thinking," resumed this individual, "that my past life -requires a great atonement through the medium of my new existence. I am -not, however, one of those men who turn saints, and who hope to win the -good opinion of the world and the favour of heaven by means of incessant -prayer. No—my ideas are quite at variance with such proceedings. I -believe that one good _deed_ is worth ten thousand _psalms_. It -certainly is more beneficial to our fellow-creatures, and must therefore -be more acceptable to the Almighty. I have been thinking, then, how -pleasant it would be for one who possesses an independence, to employ -his leisure time in seeking out those poor, unhappy beings whom adverse -circumstances, or even their own faults, have plunged into misery. If -they be cast down through misfortunes unconnected with errors, it would -be delightful to aid them: but doubly pleasing must it be to reclaim -those who have erred, and to afford even the felon a chance of quitting -his evil ways and acquiring an honest livelihood." - -"Oh! it would—it would, indeed!" ejaculated Jacob Smith, all the -adventures and incidents of his own chequered life rushing to his -memory. - -"I have been reflecting, moreover—not merely within the last few -moments," continued Rainford, "but ever since I heard the narrative of -one who became an ill-doer in spite of himself,"—looking significantly -for an instant towards the lad,—"but who struggled successfully at last -against temptation, cruel attempts at coercion, and almost unheard-of -wretchedness,—I have been reflecting, I say, that society is wrong in -refraining from the adoption of strenuous means to reform those whom it -considers to be the most abandoned. The reformist does not enter the -criminal gaol: he considers it to be useless. But whither should he go, -if not _there_? He should reason with himself that it is impossible for -men willingly to cling to the unnatural—the feverish excitement of a -life of incessant crime, if they had any chance of adopting pursuits -unattended with constant peril. Setting aside the morality of the case, -nine-tenths of those very persons who sing the loudest, swear the -hardest, and appear the most depraved, would gladly quit a course that -makes their conscience see a constable in every shadow. I think I can -give you a parallel case, which will fully illustrate my meaning. It is -the custom to vilify the Irish—to declare that they cling with a species -of natural tenacity to their rags, their dirt, and their penury—to -assert that they themselves are the foes to any civilizing principles -which may be applied to them. But look at Irish labourers in -England—look at the Irishman when in _this_ country, supplied with -plenty of work, earning adequate wages, and removed from scenes of -political excitement. Does he not work hard? is he indolent? does he -adhere lovingly to rags and misery? No such thing! Well, then, it is -equally absurd to suppose that criminals cling with affection to crime, -prisons, and an existence harassed by constant apprehensions. Remove the -thief or the housebreaker from the sphere into which circumstances have -cast him, and from which he cannot extricate himself,—give him a chance -of earning an honest livelihood, and of redeeming his character,—and in -nine cases out of ten, he may be reclaimed. There are, of course, -exceptions to all rules; but I am convinced, from all I have seen and -heard, that I am now speaking of a rule, and not of the exceptions. -Well, then, these considerations lead me back to the starting point -which I chose; and I repeat my former words,—that were some man to -devote himself to the visitation not only of the dwellings of the honest -poor, but also the haunts of crime, and the abodes of vice, the deep -sinks of impurity, and even the felons' gaols themselves, he would be -able to effect an immense amount of good. You may be surprised to hear -such sentiments come from my lips——" - -"I am delighted—ineffably delighted!" exclaimed Lord Ellingham, speaking -with the enthusiasm of unfeigned joy; "and I agree with every opinion -you have put forth. I see that our laws are miserably deficient, while -they seek only to punish and not to reform—that our legislators are -short-sighted if not actually wicked, in neglecting to adopt means to -prevent crime by reforming the criminal, rather than encourage turpitude -by rendering the criminal a desperate outcast." - -"Oh! my dear brother," cried Tom Rain joyfully, "how happy I am to hear -you thus express your adhesion to those theories which I have so rapidly -glanced at. And are not you a legislator of England—an hereditary -legislator? and do you owe nothing to your country? Believe me, when I -declare that were you to apply your intellect—your talents—your -energies, to this great question, you would render your name so -illustrious that the latest posterity would mention it with veneration -and gratitude!" - -"Rest well assured, Thomas, that these words of your's shall not be -thrown away upon me," returned Arthur solemnly. - -"And, on my side—humble individual that I am, _and that I intend ever to -remain_," added Rainford, with a significant glance towards the Earl, -"my resolution is fixed to make some atonement in another part of the -world for all the bad deeds I have committed in this. Should I reach -America in safety, it will be my task to reduce to practice some of -these theories which I have just now broached; and I believe that the -results will fulfil all my expectations."[26] - -"There is no doubt of it—oh! there is no doubt!" exclaimed Jacob Smith, -catching the enthusiasm which now animated him who was _once_—and so -lately—a lawless highwayman, but whom circumstances, and the never -altogether crushed sentiments of a rightly constituted mind, had -suddenly imbued with the hope of atoning for the past by means of the -good which he meditated towards his fellow-creatures. - -"Poverty is a fertile source of crime," observed Lord Ellingham; "but -then it is declared that many are poor only through their own idleness. -How are such persons to be reformed? I am prepared to answer the -question. Education will teach them the value of industry, and the -necessity of rendering themselves independent of parochial relief and -eleemosynary assistance. If a child offend, we say, '_He knows no -better_.' The uneducated individual is as ignorant of the real -principles of right and wrong as the lisping child; and therefore must -instruction—not merely religious, but an enlightened species of -education—be provided for the millions."[27] - -"It is for you to urge those great and glorious points in the proper -place—in the Parliament of England!" said Rainford: "and, I repeat, -posterity will honour your name!" - -"I am not such a hypocrite as to deny the existence of those charms -which a laudable ambition possesses," returned Arthur; "no selfish -considerations will, however, influence me in the public course which I -am now determined to adopt. But I am forgetting, dear Thomas, that this -prolonged discourse on an exciting topic may be prejudicial to you, weak -and enfeebled as you are. Let us not, therefore, pursue the theme at -present: it is now growing late—and you stand in need of repose. Jacob -and myself will watch by your bed-side." - -Rainford pressed his brother's hand, and composed himself to woo the -advance of slumber. - -In about ten minutes he was fast asleep! - -The Earl of Ellingham was seated close by the head of the bed: Jacob -drew a stool near the foot, and the two observed a profound silence. - -The Earl looked at his watch: it was half-past ten o'clock. - -The lamp burnt upon the table. - -Suddenly, slow and heavy steps were heard _beneath_—as if some one were -ascending the flight of stairs under the floor. - -Lord Ellingham placed his finger upon his lips to enjoin Jacob to -maintain the strictest silence, and then instantly extinguished the -light. - -In another moment some one was heard preparing to raise the trap-door—a -proceeding which Arthur did not attempt to thwart. He knew that if the -person or persons now approaching were debarred the ingress which was -sought, the front door would be the alternative next essayed; and he -therefore resolved that, come what might, he would endeavour to capture -and secure any intruders whose presence threatened in any way to -interfere with his plans. - -These calculations were all weighed in a single moment by the energetic -and brave young nobleman. - -The trap-door was raised slowly—the carpet was thrust aside from the -aperture by the arm of him who was ascending; and a light suddenly -gleamed from beneath. - -[Illustration] - -The intruder carried a lamp in his hand. - -Arthur and Jacob Smith maintained the most death-like silence—the former -nerved for the trying scene, the latter ready to sink with apprehension -on account of Rainford, who still slept soundly. - -Having removed the carpet from the aperture,—a task which occupied -nearly a minute, as the intruder held the lamp in his left hand and was -compelled to support the trap-door in a half-open position with his head -or back, while he worked with the right hand,—the individual—for Lord -Ellingham was by this time pretty well satisfied that only one person -was approaching—prepared to ascend into the room. - -But the moment he had removed the carpet, and advanced another step or -two upwards, the lamp was dashed from his hand, and he was violently -seized by the collar, in the powerful grasp of Lord Ellingham, who -exclaimed at the same instant, "Be silent—or you are a dead man!" - -The individual thus captured, uttered a low growl, but said nothing. - -Then, quick as thought, and with a degree of strength which astonished -even him who exercised it, the Earl dragged the man up the steps into -the room, but fortunately without awaking the soundly-sleeping Rainford. - -All this took place amidst the most profound darkness, be it remembered; -but, acting with wonderful energy and presence of mind, Arthur dragged -the man along the floor of the bed-chamber into the laboratory; and -then, without relaxing his hold, he exclaimed, "Jacob, light the lamp -and bring it hither!" - -"Jacob!" muttered the prostrate intruder, "Jacob!" - -"Silence!" cried the Earl. "You are in the grasp of a desperate man," he -added in a menacing tone; "but if you mean no harm, you will receive no -injury." - -Scarcely were these words uttered, when Jacob Smith, having hastily -relighted the lamp, entered the laboratory, closing the door behind -him—for he fully comprehended the Earl's motive in dragging the man, -whoever he might be, away in the dark from the chamber where Rainford -was lying. - -But hardly had the light of the lamp fallen upon the countenance of the -individual who was now half-lying—half-sitting on the floor, restrained -by the vigorous grasp of Lord Ellingham, who bent over him,—when Jacob -uttered a cry of mingled horror and alarm, exclaiming, as he staggered -back, "_'Tis Old Death!_" - -The lamp fell from his hand, and was instantly extinguished. - ------ - -Footnote 26: - - Mr. Brandon, in his admirable preface to Mr. Miles's work on _Poverty, - Mendicity, and Crime_, places on record the ensuing observations:— - - "It is a generally-admitted axiom that among the uneducated, the human - mind is more prone to evil than virtue; how greatly, then, must vice - be disseminated, and the evil propensities encouraged, by persons of - all descriptions, from the hardened murderer to the truant-playing - apprentice, mingling and without one admonitory antidote to check - them, all unemployed, all uneducated in the proper school of morality. - The idlers, tyros in crime, or petty misdemeanants, be they boys or - adults, will listen with eager curiosity to the gossiping of the old - and hardened offenders, while relating to each other the exploits they - had achieved, or when giving instruction how to escape detection in - certain situations, which from their own experience they have been led - to conceive the best, and to hear them plot fresh depredations to be - committed as soon as they shall have finished the term of their - captivity, or be set at large upon a verdict of 'not guilty;' what but - evil can arise from such a state of congregating? the mind cannot fail - to become contaminated in some degree, even in the best disposed among - them; whilst others, incited by the picture of pleasure they have - described in the event of a successful enterprise, and from the - encouragement given to the growing desires by the hardened wretches, - enter recklessly into the path of vice as soon as they have turned - their backs on the prison door; future accomplices and companions of - the 'gaol bird,' who had been their tutor; commencing their career - perhaps by a robbery planned whilst in prison. Minds, not over strong - nor sufficiently guarded by moral education, are easily led astray, - and the very punishment they are enduring as a requital for faults - committed, will be used as the rudder by which they are steered to - crime, in persuading them that they are aggrieved victims instead of - criminals paying the penalty due to offended justice. This is the - certain effect of the present system, and to expect any thing like - repentance or thorough reform in a criminal, would be ridiculous. - - "In a work published some time since, which is generally considered - authentic, 'The Autobiography of James Hardy Vaux,' a notorious thief, - is the following anecdote, which, as it corroborates and is - illustrative of the facts above stated, namely, that vice is taught in - prison, is here inserted:— - - "He (Vaux) had in a most systematic manner robbed jewellers' shops, - and, as he conceived, every one of note had fallen under his lash. He - was at length taken up for stealing a gold snuff-box, and committed to - Newgate, where he made acquaintance with two brothers, both of the - same profession as his own, and committed for a similar offence; they - were very communicative to each other, and Vaux discovered that there - were some of his favourite shops which had escaped his notice. 'They - pointed out,' says the text, 'about half a dozen shops which it - appeared I had omitted to visit, arising either from their making no - display of their goods, or from their being situated in private - streets where I had no idea of finding such trades. Although I had - little hopes of acquittal, it was agreed that in the event of my being - so fortunate that I should visit these tradesmen I had overlooked, and - I promised, in case I was successful, to make them a pecuniary - acknowledgment in return for their information.' He was further - instructed in what manner to proceed, and what sort of goods to order, - and a Mr. Belger, a first-rate jeweller in Piccadilly, was - particularly recommended to his notice as a _good fiat_. He succeeded - in getting acquitted, and in robbing the shops pointed out to his - notice, when, like a 'man of honour,' he did not fail to perform his - promise to the two brothers—his associates in Newgate. The _good fiat_ - he robbed more than once, and once too often, for Vaux was discovered - by him at last, and through his instrumentality convicted." - -Footnote 27: - - Mr. Brandon has these remarks in his Preface, just quoted - from:—"Poverty is one of the great causes, and proceeds from both - public and private abuse. It is the originator of minor crime, when it - arises from want of employment commensurate to earn sufficient to - maintain a large and growing family so often to be found in the hovels - of the poor; of the greater offences, when it is owing to idleness, - and a total dislike to labour, of which there are but too many - instances, the individuals never attempting to work more days than - will procure food, and of that a scant portion for the family, while - for their particular self they make up the deficiency by a quantity of - those pernicious spirits so destructive to health, and become besotted - the rest of their time, until they are compelled to labour for a - supply of provision; at length work fails altogether, either from a - slackness in trade, or the party having become too enfeebled or - besotted to use proper care and exertion. Then, with poverty staring - him in the face, his favourite liquor refused, and he turned out of - the same house in which he had squandered so much, when flushed with - cash, he becomes half mad, the inflamed state of his mind from drink - adding to it, and the wretches he had associated with in his boozing - hours, being of the worst description, giving bad advice, he is - tempted and fails.—But there are others who struggle in vain, and can - only get a partial employ at most; who find, strive to their utmost, - they cannot gain sufficient to drive 'the gaunt wolf, famine' from the - door, and are doomed to behold the wife and children of their love, - dearer to them than life, in a state of starvation—what wonder that - they should be induced to steal food to soften the cravings of hunger, - and alleviate the bitter cries of the young and helpless infants? - Parental affection is strong, and what for himself a man would scorn - to do, for the sake of his poor and suffering child he rushes to, and - rather than behold his family dying in the agony of starvation, he - begins by robbing victuals; for this he is placed in prison with a set - of reckless vagabonds, by whom he is taught to become as degraded as - themselves, and crime following crime, he stops not till he rises to - the acme of his profession. Whereas, if this description of prisoners - had been kept apart, he would have returned to society nothing the - worse for his incarceration.—Early marriages are one of the great - causes of poverty, a folly to which the labouring classes are greatly - addicted, getting large families before they are enabled by their - strength or abilities to maintain them. Dr. Granville made a very - curious table, showing the ages at which they marry, and as his - calculation is made upon his Lying-in Hospital Practice, which is - confined to the lower classes, none else taking the benefit of such - institutions, it is confirmatory of the fact, and of the extent of - this evil." - - - - - CHAPTER LIX. - THE JEW'S FAMILY. - - -In the meantime Mr. de Medina had passed a happy afternoon in company -with his two daughters and little Charley Watts. - -Tamar acquainted her father and sister with the generous conduct of -Rainford towards the boy, who was accordingly fetched by a servant from -the lodging which he and his adopted mother had recently occupied in the -City. - -Tom Rain's kindness in respect to Charley made a deep impression upon -Mr. de Medina, who had already heard and seen enough to convince him -that the seducer of his daughter possessed many good qualities; -especially a generosity of disposition which might have made the envy of -a monarch. - -Charley had been fortunately retained in complete ignorance of the real -cause of the protracted absence of him whom he called by the endearing -name of "father." He was too young to entertain suspicions or misgivings -on the subject; and the excuses which Tamar had constantly made to -account for that absence, had so far satisfied his mind, that he -entirely believed them, although he pined for the return of Rainford. -When he beheld Tamar weep, which was often—very often—he exerted himself -to console her, throwing his little arms round her neck, and yet weeping -also! Even when Tamar, with the bitterest anguish, arrayed herself in -deep black on the awful morning the results of which she could not have -possibly anticipated, she had not the heart to exchange Charley's -coloured garments for the mourning ones which had been prepared for him. -No—she threw them aside: she had not strength sufficient to place before -her own eyes an evidence of the dreadful loss which she deemed herself -that hour to sustain! - -The dinner-table at Mr. de Medina's house that day, was gayer—oh! far -more gay than usual; for a forgiven daughter sate at the board—and -Charley Watts was so happy to see his "dear mamma" smile once more, and -to receive the positive assurance that he would meet his "papa" in a few -days, that it was delightful to behold his sweet countenance animated -with such heart-felt, innocent joy. - -The attendance of the servants was dispensed with, in order that the -conversation might flow unreservedly; and Mr. de Medina felt the full -amount of that pleasure which consists in pardoning, as Tamar -experienced the ineffable happiness of being by a father pardoned. - -And, Esther—beauteous, amiable, generous-hearted Esther,—oh! she was as -gay and smiling as she was ever wont to be in her girlhood, ere Tamar's -disgrace had carried sorrow into the heart of the family! - -In the evening Mr. de Medina bade adieu to his daughters and little -Charley, and departed in a post-chaise for Dover, according to the -arrangements already made. - -That night, when the sisters retired to rest, a touching scene occurred -in Esther's chamber; for this amiable girl led Tamar to her drawers, in -which she showed her all the music-books and the pictures that had been -so religiously preserved. - -Then Tamar threw herself, weeping with gratitude and joy, into Esther's -arms; and delicious was the embrace of purest affection in which the -sisters clasped each other. - -"Oh! how can I ever repay thee for so much love, dearest Esther?" -murmured Tamar in a tone expressive of her unfeigned sincerity. - -"By thinking of me frequently when you are far away," replied Esther, -the tears streaming from her eyes as she reflected that they were no -sooner re-united than they were about to separate again—for a long, long -period—perhaps for ever! - -"I shall never cease to think of thee, my Esther," answered the elder -sister, as she now began to set at liberty the shining masses of her -rich black hair, preparatory to retiring to rest; for she was to share -Esther's bed, little Charley being already asleep in an adjoining -chamber, the door of communication being left open in case he might -awake:—"no, never shall I cease, to think of thee, Esther!" repeated -Tamar; "for thou hast always manifested so much devoted affection -towards me—and then, too," she added, casting down her blushing -countenance, "thou hast endured so much for my sake!" - -"Oh! have we not agreed that the past is to be forgotten?" hastily -exclaimed Esther, for a moment desisting from the occupation of laying -aside her garments. "The deeds that are gone should only engage our -thoughts when no hope survives for the future. And how much hope is -there yet for _you_!" she added, with an emphasis upon the pronoun. - -Tamar started, and gazed steadfastly upon her sister's countenance; for, -apart from that emphasis which was not unnoticed, there seemed something -mournful in the sweet, liquid tones of Esther's voice. - -"Hope for me!" exclaimed Tamar. "Yes—there _is_ hope of happiness for me -and for him whom I love so tenderly! But you spoke, my beloved sister, -as if there were hope for me _alone_—and that there was none for you. -Ah! Esther, have no secret from me—for I will never henceforth refuse -you my fullest confidence, in the letters which I shall address to you -so often—so very often! Esther, my sweet sister—you love!" - -The maiden buried her countenance in Tamar's bosom. - -"I am not deceived!" continued the latter. "Yes—you love, Esther; and -perhaps you are not loved in return? But tell me all, and I may counsel -you." - -Esther murmured a name; and, as she thus whisperingly pronounced it, her -face was burning in its contact with Tamar's bosom—so deeply did she -blush in the confusion and shame of that confession of virgin love. - -"The Earl of Ellingham!" cried Tamar, echoing the name which her sister -had breathed. - -"Alas!—yes," answered Esther, raising her beauteous countenance, still -suffused with the rich carnation hues of modesty; "I can conceal the -truth from my own heart no longer! But he loves another——" - -"Whom he can never marry," added Tamar; "and therefore, my beloved -sister, there is hope for thee!" - -"Can never marry Lady Hatfield!" exclaimed Esther, in a tone of profound -surprise. - -"Rainford assured me that such is the case," continued Tamar. "I am not -aware of the reason, because he did not volunteer an explanation; and it -never has been my habit to question him respecting affairs on which he -has not spoken freely of his own accord. But this much I can assure -you—that Lady Hatfield and the Earl of Ellingham will never be united, -and that they no longer entertain even the idea of such union. Do not, -therefore, perplex yourself relative to the cause of their severance, my -darling Esther; but nourish hope—for, oh! it is delicious to feed love -upon the manna of hope! And, believe me, the Earl of Ellingham already -surveys you with so much admiration—already entertains so exalted an -opinion of your character—already looks upon you with such respect, that -he cannot fail to experience feelings more tender still!" - -"O Tamar! talk not thus—I may not listen to thee!" exclaimed Esther, -with fluttering heart and swelling bosom; for, model of purity and -innocence as she was, the words of her sister excited pleasurable -sensations within her breast. - -And thus ever is it with the most chaste, most virtuous, and most -unsophisticated maiden, who loves for the first time! - -"Nay—do not compel me to keep silence on a topic which _is_—which _must -be_ dear to your soul, my Esther," said Tamar. "Were human beings to -feel shame at loving, there would not be an unblushing cheek in the -whole world, save amongst children. Sooner or later, dear sister, every -one must feel the influence of that passion, which spares no one. Oh! -cold and cheerless, indeed, would this world be, were not the hearts of -those who have grown up, and who have cast aside the frivolities of -childhood, warmed and irradiated by the beams of Love! Feel not ashamed, -then, dearest Esther, on account of this passion which has so -imperceptibly stolen upon thee." - -"But, after all you have said, Tamar," returned the coy and bashful -maiden, "I shall not be able to meet the Earl again without blushing! -And then—were I mad enough to indulge in such a hope as you would have -me nourish—remember the difference of our creeds!" - -"Was it not the Earl himself who suggested the means by which -matrimonial rites could be celebrated between his own half-brother and -myself?" demanded Tamar eagerly. - -"Yes," replied Esther, every feature of her fine aquiline countenance -deriving additional charms from the crimson hues which mantled on that -splendid face, and spread themselves over her arching neck, her -gracefully sloping shoulders, and the rich contours of her virgin bust, -which, in the presence of her sister, no invidious drapery now -concealed:—"yes, Tamar," she replied; "but there are other—oh! and far -more important considerations. Consider how exalted is the rank of that -great nobleman—and consider, also," she added, in a mournful tone, "how -much our race is still despised even in this land, which boasts of an -almost consummate civilisation!" - -"The Earl of Ellingham, I feel convinced, despises such absurd—such -pitiful prejudices," said Tamar, labouring only to render her sister -happy by means of joyous hope. "As an enlightened man, he must recognise -how deeply his country is indebted, in respect to its wondrous -prosperity, to the commercial enterprise and the financial skill of our -nation. Moreover, do we not believe in the same God? For the Almighty -whom the Christians worship, is the same who brought our forefathers out -of Egypt, and gave them the promised land. In a word, my beloved Esther, -Arthur of Ellingham is too noble-minded a being to despise you because -you cling to the creed in which you were brought up; and something tells -me that my sister is destined to become the Countess of Ellingham." - -Esther sighed, but made no response. - -Tamar continued to discourse in the same inconsiderate strain for -several minutes. She was actuated by the most generous motives towards -her sister; but, in the enthusiasm of her affection and gratitude, she -forgot that she might only be exciting hopes destined never to receive a -fulfilment, and encouraging a passion which, after all, was perhaps -doomed to experience the bitterness of disappointment. - -At length Esther turned towards her, and exclaimed hastily, "Tamar—if -you love me, speak on this topic no more. It may be false shame on my -part,—but it seems to me that it is unmaidenly thus to discourse on a -subject in which one, who is separated from me by so wide a gulf, is -concerned. Alas! deeply do I regret that, in a moment of weakness, I -admitted aloud that which my heart had not hitherto dared to whisper -even to itself! I should have exercised more command over myself. Oh! I -have been foolish—very foolish to permit such a thought even to assume -the faintest shape in my imagination. But we will abandon the topic;—and -again I say, Tamar—if you love me, renew it not!" - -There was a minute's pause, at the expiration of which Esther began to -converse gaily and rapidly on Tamar's future prospects in the clime to -which it was contemplated that herself and Rainford were to proceed; and -the amiable girl communicated to her sister all that she had read -concerning the United States of North America. - -This little manœuvre on the part of Esther was to change the topic of -discourse: and Tamar did not attempt to renew a subject which offended -the maiden pride of her sister. - -Oh! happy was Tamar to sleep beneath her father's roof that night—to -know, to feel that she was in the parental dwelling again! When she -awoke once, while it was yet dark, she fancied that she had been -dreaming—so strange did all the incidents of the preceding day appear to -be—so truly incredible! But, as she stretched out her arms, they -encountered the form of her sister; and then—in the silence and -obscurity of the night—Tamar joined her hands and prayed fervently,—far, -far more fervently than she had prayed for some years past! - -And, Christian! darest thou believe that the prayers of the despised -Jewess were not wafted with thine own to the throne of the Eternal? - - - - - CHAPTER LX. - SIR CHRISTOPHER BLUNT'S DOMESTIC HEARTH. - - -It was the morning following the incidents just related; and the scene -changes to the house of Sir Christopher Blunt, in Jermyn Street. - -The worthy knight and his lady were seated at breakfast. - -The table literally groaned beneath the weight of the cold viands placed -upon it; for the ex-lady's-maid was particularly addicted to good -things, and she moreover thought that it was "quite the rage" to see -cold fowls, ham, tongue, Perigord pie, and all kinds of marmalades -spread for the morning repast. - -Lady Blunt was in her glory of premeditated negligence and studied -_deshabillée_. She was arrayed in a pea-green silk wrapper, trimmed all -down the front with scarlet bows; and the cape was braided with the same -glaring hue, so much affected by a certain Lady of Babylon. Her cap was -decorated with ribands likewise of scarlet, and she wore red slippers. -Her appearance was indeed most flaming, as she lolled, in delightful -lassitude, in a capacious easy chair, with her foot upon an ottoman. - -A stranger would have thought that so fine a lady could not possibly -touch any thing more substantial than a thin slice of toast or half a -muffin for her breakfast; but she had in reality paid her respects—and -with a good will also—to every dish upon the table. - -Sir Christopher was seated opposite to her, looking like a fish out of -water; for, in order to please his dear wife—or rather, to have a little -peace and quiet in the house—he had consented to adorn his person with a -light blue dressing-gown, fastened by a gold cord and huge tassels at -the waist, and a pair of bright red trowsers, large and loose like a -Dutchman's. Moreover, a scarlet silk cap, with a long gold tassel, was -perched airily over his left ear; so that altogether he seemed as if he -were dressed out to enact the part of a Turk at a masquerade. - -"Shall I cut you a _leetle_ slice more ham, my love?" enquired Sir -Christopher, in a mincing tone, as if he were afraid of receiving a box -on the ears for not speaking civilly enough. - -"No, Sir Christopher," answered the lady sharply: "you shan't send me a -_leetle_ ham, as you call it. I don't like the ham—and that's flat." - -"And yet, my love—that is, my dear—" remonstrated the knight gently. - -"And yet what?" demanded his wife. - -"I _think_ I had the pleasure of helping you three times, my love," -added Sir Christopher, astonished at his own boldness in uttering the -words, the moment they had escaped his lips. - -"Three times!" ejaculated the lady, turning as red as her ribands or as -her husband's trowsers. "And if I like to be helped six times—or nine -times, Sir Christopher—what should you say _then_?" - -"Well, my love—I should say——" - -"What should you say?" again asked the lady, assuming a menacing -attitude. - -"Why, my love—that you had a very good appetite," responded the knight, -looking as miserable as if he expected eight finger nails to fasten on -his cheeks the very next moment. - -"I have no appetite, Sir Christopher!" cried the lady in a petulant -tone, as she sank back again into her lounging attitude: "three -miserable bits of ham, and a trifle of cold pie, with may be a taste of -the chicken, and just one cut out of the tongue——" - -"And two eggs, my love," suggested Sir Christopher meekly. - -"Well—and two tiny eggs," continued the lady;—"I am sure all that -doesn't say much for one's appetite. Why, when I was at Lady Hatfield's, -I used to eat three great rounds of bread-and-butter, crustinesses and -all." - -"But you are no longer at Lady Hatfield's, my angel," said Sir -Christopher, simpering; "you are with one who adores you—who has given -you his name—a name, I flatter myself, that carries weight with it, in -certain quarters; although, when I did so far forget myself as to put up -for Portsoken——" - -"Now, Sir Christopher, pray let us have none of that nonsense, if _you_ -please!" interrupted Lady Blunt, in a tone and with a manner which -showed that she knew full well she should be obeyed. "I can't a-bear to -hear even the word _Alderman_ mentioned, ever since a lady I lived with -once in the City talked something about the Guildhall police-court when -she missed the silver spoons——" - -"My dear, my dear," said Sir Christopher; "you forget that you are now -Lady Blunt! Pray let us change the topic." - -"Well, so we will," she cried sharply; "and I'll tell you what we'll -talk about." - -"What, my best love?" asked the knight. - -"Your best love!" almost shrieked the lady. "Then you must have other -loves, if I'm your best! Oh! Sir Christopher, was it to hear this that I -gave up every thing—all my prospects in life—to become yours?" - -"My dear girl," said the knight meekly, "I most humbly submit to you -that I do not think you had so very much to give up when I asked you to -become Lady Blunt." - -"What! do you call a good place and being my own mistress, nothing to -give up?" cried Charlotte. "Twenty-four guineas a-year, and the chance -of marrying a Duke or a Prince!" - -"Well—well, my love, we will not dispute," said the knight, who in his -heart wished to God that she never _had_ given up the prospects she -spoke of; or that she _had_ married some Duke or Prince—in which latter -case Sir Christopher would not have envied either his Grace or his Royal -Highness, after the trifling experience he had already enjoyed relative -to the fair one's temper. - -"No—I should think _you_ would _not_ dispute, either, Sir Christopher!" -cried the vixen, tossing her head. "But I was going to tell you what we -would talk about, when you interrupted me so rudely. I was going to say -that I do not approve of that ham—or yet the chicken—or yet the tongue; -and I do not mean to have my breakfast spoilt in this way. Ring the -bell, Sir Christopher." - -"My dearest Charlotte——" - -"Ring the bell, Sir Christopher!" repeated the lady in a still more -authoritative tone, as she looked daggers—nay, regular bayonets—at her -miserable husband. - -The knight rang the bell accordingly, gulping down a sigh—a very -profound sigh—at the same time. - -A footman answered the summons. - -"John!" said the mistress of the house. - -"Yes, my lady," was the reply. - -"Tell Mrs. Bodkin to step up—_immediately_," added the wife of Sir -Christopher's rash choice. - -"Yes, my lady;"—and the footman disappeared, thanking his stars that -_he_ was not "in for it,"—the bad humour of his mistress being very -evident indeed. - -In due time Mrs. Bodkin made her appearance, in the shape of a stout, -matronly-looking female, "of a certain age," as a housekeeper ought to -be;—for Mrs. Bodkin was neither more nor less than that high female -functionary in the establishment. - -"Mrs. Bodkin!" said Lady Blunt, endeavouring to distort her really -pretty face into as stern an expression as possible. - -"Yes, my lady," returned the housekeeper. - -"That ham is detestable, Mrs. Bodkin." - -"Indeed, my lady." - -"The cold fowl's abominable!" - -"Sure now, my lady!" - -"And the tongue frightful!" - -"Lawk-a-daisy!—your ladyship don't say so!" - -"I _do_ say so, though, Mrs. Bodkin!" cried Sir Christopher's better -half; "and I just tell you what it is—I don't mean to have my breakfast -spoilt in this way; and if you can't find tradesmen who'll supply good -things——" - -"Why, please your ladyship," interrupted the housekeeper, quite -astounded at these accusations against comestibles which she knew to be -excellent: "Mr. Smuggs, who sent in the ham and tongue, is purveyor to -His Majesty; and——" - -"Then if His Majesty chooses to put up with Mr. Smuggs's rubbish, Lady -Blunt will _not_!" exclaimed the mistress of the house, glancing -indignantly, first at the petrified Mrs. Bodkin and then at the -dumb-founded Sir Christopher. - -There was, as romancists say, an awful pause. - -Mrs. Bodkin knew not whether she were standing on her head or her heels: -Sir Christopher was in an equally strange state of bewilderment as to -whether he had heard aright or was labouring under a delusion; and Lady -Blunt was triumphant in the impression she had evidently made upon her -audience. - -"But, my dear angel—my love," at length stammered the knight, "surely -you will not—that is, you cannot—I appeal to you, my sweet, as a woman -of sound judgment——" - -"Sound fiddlestick, Sir Christopher!" interrupted her ladyship -contemptuously. "I know what I am saying, and I mean what I say. Mrs. -Bodkin, I order you once for all not to deal no more at Smuggs's; and if -you can't choose good things, you'd better pack up your things and go -about your business." - -Now it happened that Mrs. Bodkin had managed, during long years of -servitude and by rigid economy, to scrape together a very comfortable -independence; and, feeling that she _was_ independent, she did not -choose, as she afterwards observed to a friend, "to put up with any of -missus's nonsense." - -"Go about my business, eh!" she accordingly exclaimed. "Well, ma'am—the -sooner I do that the better, I think: for since I can't give -saytisfaction here, I'd much rayther resign at once." - -"Resign!" echoed Lady Blunt, again turning red as her ribands. - -"Yes, ma'am," continued the housekeeper; "_resign_ I said; and _you_ -ought to know that's the right word—for I b'lieve you wasn't always used -to sit in the parlour." - -"Oh! you wretch!" exclaimed Lady Blunt, now manifesting a violent -inclination to go off into hysterics. "Sir Christopher! can you sit -there and hear me insulted by that owdacious woman? Turn her out of the -house, Sir Christopher—let her bundle, neck and crop, this minute!" - -"I rayther think there's no need for bundling in the matter," said the -indignant Mrs. Bodkin. "Sir Christopher is too much of a gentleman to -ill-treat me, after being eleven years in his service come next Aperil. -But I don't require no favours at _your_ hands, ma'am—leastways, I -wouldn't except them if they was offered." - -And in a most stately manner Mrs. Bodkin walked out of the room, leaving -the door wide open behind her. - -"Sir Christopher!" exclaimed Lady Blunt, bursting into tears—but tears -of rage, and not shame. - -"Yes, my love," said the knight, who was rendered so nervous by this -scene that he appeared to be labouring under incipient _delirium -tremens_. - -"You're a brute, Sir Christopher!" cried the angel in the pea-green -wrapper and the red bows. - -"My dear!—my love!" stammered the knight. "It was not my fault—you -brought it on yourself—I really think——" - -"Oh! I did, did I?" screeched Charlotte; and, unable to control the fury -of her passion, she darted upon Sir Christopher, adown whose cheeks the -marks of her nails were in another moment rendered most disagreeably -visible. - -"Lady Blunt!" vociferated the miserable man, struggling to extricate -himself from the power of the fury. - -"There! now I've taught you not to nag me on another time," said -Charlotte, throwing herself back into her chair, already sorry and -ashamed for what she had done, but too deeply imbued with vulgar and -mean-spirited pride to manifest the least proof of such compunction. - -Sir Christopher wiped his bleeding face with his cambric -pocket-handkerchief: but his heart was too full to speak. He felt all -the indignity which he had just sustained—and yet he had not courage -enough to resent it. - -The embarrassment of the newly-married pair was relieved, or rather -interrupted, by a loud and unusually long double knock, which at that -moment awoke every echo, not only in the house itself, but also half-way -up Jermyn Street. - -A few minutes elapsed, and then the footman entered the -breakfast-parlour to announce to Sir Christopher that a gentleman, who -had been shown into the drawing-room, wished to speak to him immediately -upon most urgent business. - -At the same time the servant placed upon the table a card, bearing the -name of CAPTAIN O'BLUNDERBUSS. - -"Tell the gentleman I'll be with him in a moment, John," said Sir -Christopher. - -The servant bowed and retired. - -"Do you know who he is?" asked Lady Blunt. - -"No, I do not," responded the knight, more sulkily than he had ever yet -dared to speak to his wife. - -"Come, now, Sir Christopher," exclaimed her ladyship; "don't have any of -your ill-humours with me, because I can't a-bear them. Say you're sorry -for what you've done, and I'll not only forgive you, but also patch your -face for you with diakkulum plaster. Come, now—do what I tell you." - -And as her ladyship seemed to examine her finger nails, as she spoke, in -a manner which portended her readiness to make another onslaught, the -miserable husband muttered a few words of abject apology for an offence -which he had not committed, and the amiable Charlotte vouchsafed a -pardon which she should rather have besought than bestowed. - -Then there was a little fond—or rather foolish kissing and hugging; and -this farce being concluded, the lady hastened to fulfil her promise -relative to the diachylon plaster. - -When this operation was likewise ended, Sir Christopher cast a rueful -glance into the looking-glass over the mantel; and never did a more -miserable wight see reflected a more woefully patched countenance. The -wretchedness depicted on that face, apart from the long slips of plaster -stuck upon the cheeks, contrasted in a most ludicrous fashion with the -absurd splendour of the knight's morning attire; and, to use a common -phrase, he wished himself at the devil, as he wended his mournful way to -the drawing-room. - - - - - CHAPTER LXI. - CAPTAIN O'BLUNDERBUSS. - - -Captain O'Blunderbuss was a gentleman of Irish extraction, and, -according to his own account, possessed of vast estates in the Emerald -Island; but it was evident to all his friends that the rents were very -irregularly paid, inasmuch as their gallant proprietor was frequently -under the necessity of soliciting the loan of a guinea, and when he -could not obtain that sum, his demand would suddenly drop to -half-a-crown or even eighteen-pence. - -But whenever the Captain talked of his estates, no one ventured to -suggest a doubt relative to their existence; for the gallant officer was -a notorious duellist, having been engaged as principal in thirty-seven -of those pleasant little contests, and as second in ninety-two more. - -He was about forty-five years of age, and of exceedingly fierce -appearance. His crown was entirely bald; but huge bushes of red hair -stuck out between his temples and his ears—enormous whiskers of the same -meteoric hue and portent covered half his face—and a formidable pair of -moustaches, red also, curled ominously over his upper lip, the ends -being twisted and greased so as to look like two small tails. - -In person he was tall, thin, but not ill-made. He held himself -particularly upright; and as he wore a military undress coat, all -frogged and braided in the Polish fashion, and grey trousers with red -stripes down the legs, he really looked like what he called himself and -was called by others—namely, a CAPTAIN. - -But he was not wont to be more explicit relative to his military -services than he was definite concerning the locality of his estates. No -one knew, and assuredly no one ever ventured to ask him, to what -regiment he had belonged. He stated himself to be _unattached_; and that -was sufficient. - -We should, as faithful chroniclers, observe that it _had_ been -whispered—but then, scandal is so rife in this wicked world!—that -Captain O'Blunderbuss was never in the army at all, and that his -formidable name was merely an assumed one; and the newsmongers who -propagated these reports behind the gallant gentleman's back, not only -ridiculed the idea of his estates, but actually carried their malignant -spite so far as to insinuate that he was once the driver of a -jaunting-car in Dublin, and at that period bore the name of Teddy -O'Flaherty. - -Be all this as it may, it is nevertheless very certain that Captain -O'Blunderbuss was a great man about town—that he was nodded to by -loungers in the Park—shaken hands with by dandies in Bond Street—and -invariably chosen as a second in every duel that took place on Wormwood -Scrubs, Wimbledon Common, or Battersea Fields. - -Such was the terrible individual who was standing on the rug, in a most -ferocious attitude, when Sir Christopher Blunt entered the drawing-room. - -The Captain desisted from twirling his moustaches, and indulged in a -good long stare at the knight, whose half-ludicrous, half-doleful -appearance was certainly remarkable enough to attract an unusual degree -of attention. - -"You resayved my car-r-d, Sir Christopher Blunt?" said the Captain, -speaking in a strong Irish accent, and rattling the r in a truly -menacing manner. - -"Yes, sir—I received the card of Captain O'Blunderbuss," replied Sir -Christopher, not knowing what to think or make of his strange visitor. - -"And, sure, I'm Capthain O'Blunther-r-buss!" exclaimed the military -gentleman, twirling his moustache; "and I've come on the par-rt of my -friend Capthain Morthaunt—an honour-r-able man, Sir-r Christopher -Blunt!" added the gentleman emphatically, looking awfully fierce at the -same time, just as if the unfortunate knight entertained the idea of -questioning the honour of Captain Mordaunt. - -"I—I've no doubt of it, sir," stammered the intimidated Blunt, looking -more wretched in proportion as the tone of his visitor became more -excited. - -"By the power-rs, I'm glad ye don't doubt it!" cried the Captain; "or -you'd find yerself desayved in yer man. Well, Sir-r Christopher, the -shor-t and the long of the affair is just this:—My friend Capthain -Mordaunt feels himself aggraved on behalf of his sisther-r, and he's put -the little business into my hands to manage for-r him." - -"I'm convinced that Captain Mordaunt could not have chosen a better -friend, Captain O'Blunderbuss," said the knight, scarcely able to utter -a word, so sorely was he oppressed by vague alarms. "But I hope—that is, -I mean, I—in a word——" - -"What do ye mane?" demanded the Captain, advancing a pace or two towards -the knight. - -"Oh! nothing—only——" stammered Sir Christopher, dodging round the table, -for fear that the formidable O'Blunderbuss intended an attack upon him. - -"Only what, man?" vociferated the Captain. "Sure, now, ye don't think -I'm afther ayting ye up!" - -"No—oh! no! I'm not afraid of any gentleman eating me, exactly," -observed Sir Christopher. "But if you would state the object of your -visit——" - -"Be Jasus! and that's soon done!" exclaimed Captain O'Blunderbuss. "The -shor-rt facts is these:—Capthain Morthaunt is mightily attached to his -sisther-r, Miss Julia, who's a most amiable lady—for I've jist been -breakfasting with her-r and her-r brother at their lodgings in Half Moon -Street. Miss Morthaunt, as per-rhaps you are aware, returned home to her -father's mansion—a sweet place, by the bye, in Connamar-r-ra—when you -desayved her in the most gross—the most infamous manner, by running away -with a lady's-maid instead of her dear self——" - -"Captain O'Blunderbuss," said Sir Christopher, "she of whom you speak is -now Lady Blunt." - -"And much good may she do ye, Sir Christopher!" exclaimed the Captain. -"But, as I was saying, Miss Morthaunt comes back to London again, -smar-rting under the influence of her wrongs, which her brother has -resolved to avenge. And, therefore, Sir Christopher, you'll be so good -as jist to say whether it shall be on Wor-rmwood Scr-rubs or Wimbledon -Common; and we'll be there punctual to-morrow morning at eight o'clock." - -The worthy knight looked perfectly aghast. He began to understand the -real drift of Captain O'Blunderbuss's visit; and he entertained the most -unmitigated abhorrence of the mere idea of a duel. - -"Well, Sir Christopher, say the wor-rd!" resumed the gallant gentleman -with as much unconcern as if he were making arrangements for a party of -pleasure. "But per-rhaps ye'd like to consult a frind—or refer-r me to -him. That's the best way! Leave it to your frind and me; and we'll -settle everything so comfortable that you'll not have the least throuble -in the wor-rld. You can get your breakfast a thrifle earlier than -usual——" - -"Breakfast!" echoed Sir Christopher, in a deep sepulchral tone; -"breakfast—when one is going out to be shot at!" - -"Be the power-rs! and why not?" demanded the warlike Captain. "But here -we are, wasting our precious time, while we ought to be settling the -little business and thrying the pisthols at the Gallery." - -"The pistols!" groaned Sir Christopher, his visage lengthening most -awfully, and his under-jaw completely dropping through intense alarm. - -"Be Jasus! and what would ye fight with, if it isn't pisthols?" cried -the Captain. - -"But pistols—pistols are so apt to—to—kill people," observed the knight, -shaking from head to foot. - -"Is it afraid ye are?" demanded Captain O'Blunderbuss, twirling his -moustache, as he surveyed Sir Christopher with cool contempt. - -"I do not admit such an imputation," answered the knight; "but I will -not fight with this mad-cap Mordaunt. The law shall be my protection. I -am my own master—I married whom I chose—and I will not be bullied by any -man living." - -The astonishment depicted on the countenance of Captain O'Blunderbuss, -as these words met his ears, was mistaken by the knight for a feeling of -apprehension; and thus he had grown bold, or at least energetic in his -language, as he had proceeded. - -"Yes, sir," he added emphatically, "the law shall protect me." - -"Is it shir-rking that ye mane?" asked the Captain. "Because, if it is, -I shall feel myself bound to administer a dacent drubbing to ye, Sir -Christopher. Why, sir—it's a rale insult to _me_ to refuse to fight with -my frind!" - -And, as he uttered these words, the Captain advanced in a menacing -fashion towards the knight. - -"Keep off, sir! don't attempt violence against me!" exclaimed Sir -Christopher Blunt, rushing towards the fire-place to seize the poker. -"I'll not stand it, Captain O'Blunderbuss—I have been a Sheriff in my -time—I once put up for Portsoken—and I'll not submit to any insult." - -"Then name your frind, sir!" thundered the gallant officer; "or-r I'll -not lave a whole bone in your skin." - -"Well—I will, I will!" ejaculated Sir Christopher, anxious to get rid of -his fire-eating visitor on any terms. "Go to my nephew, Mr. Frank -Curtis: he has killed his man often enough—according to his own -account——" - -"Be the power-rs! that jist suits me to a tay!" exclaimed the Captain; -"for may be he and me could jist amuse ourselves with an exchange of -shots afther you and my frind Morthaunt have settled your own small -thrifle. 'T would be a perfect God-send to me; and I've no doubt your -nev-vy will be of the same mind. Where does he hang out?" - -Sir Christopher hastily mentioned the address of Mr. Frank Curtis; and -Captain O'Blunderbuss stalked away, hugely delighted at the idea of -being about to form the acquaintance of a gentleman every way so worthy -of his friendship as the knight's nephew appeared to be. - -Fierce indeed was the aspect of Captain O'Blunderbuss as he marched -through the streets to the address indicated by the knight; and to the -great joy of the military gentleman, he found, on his arrival, that Mr. -Frank Curtis was at home. - -"But he's not up yet, sir," said the spruce-looking tiger who opened the -front door at which the Captain had given one of his tremendous double -knocks. - -"Never mind, my boy," exclaimed the visitor in an awe-inspiring tone. -"Your masther will be glad to see me, or I'm mightily desayved." - -"What name shall I say, sir?" inquired the tiger. - -"Faith! and I'll just take my name up along with me, my lad," returned -the Captain. "Which floor may it be now?" - -"First floor, sir,—and the bed-room's at the back." - -"By Jasus! you're a smar-rt lad, and a credit to your masther!" -exclaimed the Captain. "The next time I come, I'll make ye a present of -sixpence." - -And with these words Captain O'Blunderbuss marched up stairs. - -On reaching the landing, he knocked at the back-room door with his fist, -as if he were practising how to fell an ox; and to this peremptory -summons an invitation to "come in" was returned. - -The Captain accordingly stalked into the chamber, where Mr. Frank Curtis -was breakfasting in bed, a table well spread being drawn up close by the -side of his couch. - -"Be Jasus! I knew you was a boy afther my own heart!" ejaculated the -Captain, as he caught sight of a bottle of whiskey which stood near the -tea-pot: then, closing the door, he advanced up to the bed, and, pulling -off his buckskin glove, said, "Misther Curtis, here's my hand. Tip us -your's, my boy—and let's know each other without any more pother." - -Mr. Frank Curtis accepted the proffered hand with delight; for the -amiable deportment of the visitor now relieved his mind from the vague -fears that had been excited in it by the unceremonious entry and -ferocious appearance of the Captain. - -"And how are ye, Misther Curtis?" continued this gentleman, drawing a -chair close to the bed, and depositing his gloves in his hat, and his -hat on the table. - -"Quite blooming, old fellow, thank'ee!" returned Frank, to whom all this -familiarity was by no means displeasing. "But what will you take? shall -I ring for another cup and plate? or will you take a dram of the -whiskey?" - -"The potheen, my boy—the potheen for me!" exclaimed the Captain, -grasping the bottle. - -"You'll find it rather good, I fancy," said Curtis. "My friend the -Russian Ambassador sent it round last night, with his best respects——" - -"And my respects to him and to you both!" cried the Captain: then, -having drained his glass, he drew a long breath, and said, "Be Jasus! -that's some of the right sor-rt!" - -"Help yourself then, old fellow!" said Frank, in as free and easy a -manner as if he had known his visitor all his life. "I can get plenty -more where that came from. Old Brandyokouski, the Polish Ambassador's -butler, has had orders to give me the entire run of his master's cellar; -for me and his Excellency are as thick as two thieves. He is pestering -me from morning to night to dine with him——" - -"No wonther, Misther Curtis!" interrupted the Captain; "for you're the -most agreeable jintleman I've the honour to be acquainted with." - -"And what's your name, old boy?" asked Frank, as he proceeded with his -breakfast. - -"Captain O'Blunderbuss, at your service, my dear frind," was the answer, -while the individual who gave it helped himself to another glass of the -whiskey, which was certainly the best that the _Stilton Cheese_ round -the corner could supply. - -"Delighted to form your acquaintance, Captain!" exclaimed Curtis, -suddenly becoming a trifle less familiar,—for the name was well known to -him, in connexion too with the notoriety of a duellist. "And might I -inquire what business——" - -"Oh! we'll talk about that presently," interrupted the Captain. "Your -uncle, Sir-r Christopher Blunt, recommended you to me in the strongest -ter-rms—the most flatter-ring ter-rms, I may say——" - -"Indeed!" ejaculated Mr. Curtis, with unfeigned surprise—for he had not -seen, nor spoken to the knight for some weeks. - -"Be the power-rs! he gave you a splindid char-r-acter, Misther Curtis!" -cried Captain O'Blunderbuss; "and it was quite longing to know ye, I -was. But we'll talk on business presently. I'm in no hurry—and we'll -have a cozie chat first. May be my name is not altogether strange to -ye?" - -"By no means," answered Curtis, now thoroughly convinced that the object -of his new friend's visit was altogether of an amicable character. "I -have heard of your renown, and must say that I have envied it. But I've -done a little in the same line myself—chiefly in France, though. I'll be -bound the name of the Marquis of Soupe-Maigre is not unknown to you." - -"Yes—I've heard spake of it," returned the Captain, helping himself to -another glass of whiskey. - -"Well—the Duke and me fought with small swords for three hours one -morning," continued Frank; "and at length I managed to scratch the -little finger of his left hand. In France, you know, a duel always ends -when the first blood is drawn; and so the Count flung away his sword, -acknowledged that I'd beat him, and we've been bosom friends ever -since." - -"Give me your hand, my broth of a boy!" exclaimed the Captain: "I was -not desayved in you! You're as fine spirited as your potheen. Why! be -the power-rs, you're a confir-rmed duellist." - -"To be sure! and I have killed my man, too," responded Frank, delighted -to perceive that he had made a deep impression on his companion. "There -was the famous Spaniard, you know—what was his name again? Oh! ah! Don -Juan Stiletto del Guerilla! He was a dreadful fellow—the terror of all -Paris, where he was staying when I was also there. Well, one evening—it -was at the King's fancy-ball—this Portuguese fellow gave himself such -airs that there was no bearing him. He insulted all the gentlemen, and -smirked at all the ladies. At length the Archbishop of Paris, who was in -full canonicals, appealed to me to put down the insolent Italian; I -undertook the task—and picked a quarrel with him in no time. The ladies -all looked upon me as one devoted to death: and though I say it who -shouldn't, a great deal of tender sympathy was shown towards me. Well, -next morning me and the German met on the very top of Montmartre; and in -a quarter of an hour my gentleman was weltering in his blood. That -affair won for me the love of the beautiful Countess of Dunkirk:—but she -is gone down to the tomb—and I am left behind to mourn her loss!" - -And Mr. Frank Curtis took a large bite of a muffin, doubtless to subdue -the sigh which rose to his lips at this sad reminiscence. - -"Be the holy poker-r! it's a touching business," cried the Captain, who -had by this time fully seen through the mendacious braggadocio of Mr. -Frank Curtis, and had come to the conclusion that he was as great a -coward in reality as his uncle. - -But the gallant Captain O'Blunderbuss did not choose to suffer the young -gentleman to perceive that he understood him, as the whiskey was too -much to his taste to allow him to lose the chance of emptying the bottle -by a too precipitate rupture. - -Frank, firmly believing that all his fine stories were taken as gospel -by his visitor, rattled away in his usual style—heaping lie upon lie at -such a rate, that, had his falsehoods been mountains, the piling thereof -would have outdone the feats of Titan with Ossa and Pelion. - -At length the Captain began to thrust in a few words edgeways, as the -contents of the bottle got lower and lower. - -"Your uncle, Misther Curtis, seems a nice old jintleman. His face was -rarely plasthered this mornin', as if he'd been in the war-r-rs a -thrifle or so." - -"Perhaps his wife had been giving him a taste of her claws?" said Frank, -with a coarse giggle. - -"Be Saint Path-rick! and that's just what struck me!" exclaimed the -Captain. - -"She's a very devil, I know," continued Frank. "But, I say, old -fellow—what little business was it that took you to old Sir -Christopher's, and made him refer you to me?" - -[Illustration] - -"Is it the little business?" cried the Captain. "Och? and be Jasus! -then, it's jist that affair of my friend Morthaunt, who manes to shoot -Sir Christopher-r to-mor-r-row mor-r-r-ning before breakfast." - -"Shoot Sir Christopher!" ejaculated Frank, apparently more surprised -than annoyed. - -"Or else jist get shot himself, be the power-rs!" added Captain -O'Blunderbuss. "And it's becase it's myself that's Morthaunt's frind, -Sir Christopher has referred me to you as his frind." - -"Then it's a regular duel?" said Frank, opening his eyes wider and -wider. - -"The purtiest little affair I ever had a finger in, Misther Curtis," -responded the Captain, now looking tremendously fierce; for although he -had imbibed at least a pint of pure spirit without experiencing the -least inconvenience in respect to his brain, the effects were -nevertheless apparent in an awful rubicundity of countenance: "the -purtiest little affair, certainly," he continued; "and it now only -remains for you and me jist to settle the place—time being of cour-rse -in the mornin at eight." - -"And do you mean to say that my old uncle has agreed to fight this duel -with Captain Mordaunt?" inquired Frank. - -"Be Jasus! it's for you to bring him to the scratch, Misther Curtis; or -else——" - -"Or else what?" demanded the young gentleman, oppressed by a vague -presentiment of evil. - -"Or else, be the holy poker-r! you must fight _me_!" returned Captain -O'Blunderbuss, twirling his moustache in the coolest and calmest manner -possible. - -"Fight _you_?" ejaculated Frank, turning ashy pale. - -"As a matther of cour-rse!" answered the Captain. "A famous duellist -like Misther Curtis, can't be at a loss on a point of honour." - -"But why the devil should I fight _you_?" demanded the young gentleman, -his heart palpitating audibly. - -"Why the devil shouldn't ye?" vociferated Captain O'Blunderbuss. "Answer -me that, my frind?" - -"My dear sir—it's really—I mean, you—that is to say, I think, with all -due deference——" stammered Frank, growing every moment more and more -alarmed. - -"Be Jasus! I've said nothing I don't mane to stick to!" exclaimed the -martial gentleman, now assuming an expression of countenance so fierce -that Frank Curtis began to have serious misgivings that his visitor -intended to assault him then and there. - -"But, my dear Captain——this proceeding——" said Frank, assuming a tone of -excruciating politeness. - -"Is going on beautifully, Misther Curtis. And so, as you seem to have a -little delicacy in putting yourself too for-rward in the matther," -continued the Captain, "we'll jist say Battersea Fields, to-morrow -mornin', at eight o'clock. Good bye, Misther Curtis." - -With these words the Captain took up his hat, and stalked majestically -out of the room, banging the door violently after him. - -Frank Curtis fell back in his bed, and gave vent to his feelings in a -deep groan. - -The door opened again with a crash; and the Captain thrust in his -inflamed visage, exclaiming, "Ye'll remember, Misther Curtis, that I -hould ye responsible in this matther; and that if ye can't bring the -uncle to the scratch, ye must come yourself; or, be Jasus! I'll be -afther ye to the inds of the ear-rth!" - -The head was withdrawn again, and the door once more slammed violently. - -Frank Curtis gave a hollow moan, thrust himself down in the bed, and -drew the clothes over his face, as if to shut out some dreadful spectre -from his sight. - - - - - CHAPTER LXII. - FRANK'S EMBARRASSMENTS. - - -Thus remained Mr. Frank Curtis for some minutes—each moment expecting -that the bed-room door would again open, and that the voice of the -terrible Irishman would once more convey some hideous menace to his -ears. - -But Captain O'Blunderbuss had fairly departed this time; and at length -the miserable young man slowly pushed down the clothes, and glanced -timidly round the room. - -It was no dream—as for an instant he had endeavoured to make himself -believe that it was; for there was the chair in the very place where the -Captain had sate—there also was the bottle which the Captain had -condescended to empty. - -"A duel!" groaned Frank, in a sepulchral voice—he who had fought so many -in imagination! - -Then he remembered that there existed a means of averting all danger -from himself; and, elated by the sudden thought, he leapt nimbly from -his bed, with the affectionate intention of proceeding forthwith to his -uncle, and compelling the old gentleman to go forth and be shot at, -whether by Captain Mordaunt or Captain O'Blunderbuss, Frank did not care -a fig. - -Having hastily dressed himself, the young gentleman hurried off to -Jermyn Street: and, on his arrival, he was surprised to find the -knight's travelling-carriage at the door, while the servants were busily -employed in piling up portmanteaus, and hat-boxes, and bandboxes, and -carpet-bags. - -"Halloa!" cried Frank to Jeffreys, the groom, who was in the act of -hoisting one of the aforesaid articles of luggage to another servant who -stood upon the roof of the vehicle: "what does all this mean?" - -"Means travelling, Mr. Frank," responded the domestic. "The order was -given in a violent hurry—and so I haven't a moment to spare. But here's -master and her ladyship." - -And, sure enough, Sir Christopher and Lady Blunt made their appearance -at that instant, the former enveloped in his great coat and with a silk -handkerchief tied round all the lower part of his face,—and Charlotte -muffled in a splendid cloak. - -"I say, Sir Christopher!" cried Frank: "this won't do at any price, you -know." - -"What won't do, sir?" demanded the knight in a stern tone. "Now, then, -Jeffreys—down with the steps." - -"Yes, sir:"—and the steps were lowered accordingly. - -Frank stood aghast, as he saw the knight hand his better half into the -carriage: and the said better half pouted up her really pretty mouth in -a disdainful manner as she passed the forlorn youth. - -Sir Christopher was about to follow her into the vehicle, when Frank -suddenly seized him by the skirts of his great coat, exclaiming, "You -shan't sneak off in this manner: you shall stay to—to——" - -"To what?" growled Sir Christopher from the depths of the silk -handkerchief which came up to his nose. - -"To be shot at!" returned Frank, almost driven to desperation. - -The lady inside uttered a scream—Sir Christopher gave a desperate groan, -and, breaking away from his nephew, rushed into the carriage—Jeffreys -put up the steps and banged the door—and the vehicle rolled away, -leaving Curtis standing alone on the pavement, the very picture of the -most ludicrous despair. - -What was to be done now? The formidable Captain O'Blunderbuss held -him—yes, _him_—Frank Curtis—answerable for the appearance of Sir -Christopher Blunt on the field of battle; otherwise——but the alternative -was too dreadful to think of! - -What, then, _was_ to be done? Frank saw the impossibility of nerving -himself so as to encounter the desperate fire-eater; and yet he knew -that the Captain would find him out, even if he removed his abode from -the West-End to West Smithfield. - -Yet something _must_ be done—and that speedily; for it was now two -o'clock in the afternoon—and next morning at eight the Captain would -expect him at the place of appointment. - -An idea struck Frank:—he would go and consult Mr. Howard, the attorney. - -To that gentleman's offices he accordingly repaired, composing himself -by the way as well as he could, so as not to express by his countenance -the alarms which agitated within his breast. - -Mr. Howard was disengaged, and gave him an immediate audience. - -"Well, I hope you're satisfied, now that you hanged that poor fellow -yesterday morning," said Frank, as he took the chair to which the -solicitor pointed. - -"It was a duty which I owed to society," returned Howard, laconically, -as if the subject were not altogether a pleasant one. - -"What an idea!" ejaculated Frank. "But, however, it is done, and can't -be undone. After all, he was a brave fellow—a man just such as I could -have admired, barring the highway part of his calling. And now, you who -are such a stickler about duties to society, and so on—suppose you -heard, for instance, that a duel was going to take place between some -friends of yours and another party—of course you'd do all you could to -stop it—you'd go to Bow Street, and you'd give private information -concerning the _where_ and the _when_;—or perhaps you'd speak openly, -and get the persons bound over to keep the peace—eh?" - -"I should not do anything of the kind," answered Howard, who already -began to suspect that Mr. Frank Curtis had some special reason of his -own for speaking with so much earnestness—indeed, with such an air of -appeal, as he now displayed. - -"You wouldn't—eh?" exclaimed Frank, grievously disappointed at the -ill-success of his little manœuvre. "And why not?" - -"Because I should only lose my time for nothing," responded Mr. Howard. - -"The devil! Then, did you get Tom Rain hanged because the prosecution -put money into your pocket?" demanded Frank. - -"Did you merely come to chatter with me, or on business?" asked the -lawyer evasively. "If the former, I am busy—if the latter, make haste -and explain yourself." - -"Well—the fact is," continued Frank, now feeling certain that the entire -affair of Tom Rain's prosecution was a very sore subject with the -lawyer,—"the fact is, I wanted to speak to you about a little matter—in -which my precious old uncle has placed me in a complete fix——not that I -care about a duel, you know—I'd see a duel damned first, before I'd care -for it—still——" - -"Still you would rather not fight it?" observed Mr. Howard, with a -slight curl of the lip. - -"You see, my dear fellow," proceeded Curtis, "that I have so many -affairs of my own to attend to, I really cannot undertake to conduct -those of other people. There's my marriage with Mrs. Goldberry coming -off in a few days——and now, bother to it! up starts this -duel-business——" - -"Do explain yourself, Frank!" exclaimed Howard impatiently. - -"Well, I will—and in a few words, too. It seems that Captain Mordaunt -has taken a tiff at my uncle's conduct towards his sister; and so he -sends Captain O'Blunderbuss——" - -"Captain O'Blunderbuss, eh!" ejaculated the attorney, now becoming -suddenly interested in the narrative of Mr Curtis. - -"Yes: a terrible-looking, wild Irishman," returned this young gentleman: -"but he didn't frighten me, though——_I_ should think not! Do you know -him?" - -"Only by name," answered Mr. Howard coolly, as he glanced at a -suspicious-looking slip of parchment that lay upon his desk. "But go -on." - -"Well, this O'Blunderbuss, it appears, goes to my uncle, who refers him -to me—naturally enough, seeing that I am pretty well experienced in all -matters of duelling," pursued Frank. "So the Captain calls on me a -couple of hours ago; and we discuss the business in a very friendly way. -Every thing is settled pleasantly enough; but before the Captain takes -his leave, I catch hold of him by the button, and let him know that if -he fails to produce his principal on the ground to-morrow morning, after -all the trouble entailed on me, I shall hold _him_ answerable -accordingly. The Captain looks rather glum at that, because I did tumble -down upon him a little unexpectedly with my threat. However, he agrees; -and we separate. But, lo and behold! I go to Sir Christopher to tell him -how comfortably I have settled the whole business for him—and he is -gone—fled—bolted—mizzled—cut his stick—baggage and all, including his -wife!" - -"And, therefore," observed Howard coolly, "you will have to fight -Captain O'Blunderbuss, because _you_ will not be able to produce _your_ -principal." - -"It's just this that bothers me," exclaimed Frank. "If the man had -offended me, I shouldn't of course mind: in that case, one of us should -never quit the ground alive—for I'm a desperate fellow, when once I am -in earnest. But here's a poor devil who has never done me any injury, -but who seems to me to be a capital hand at the whiskey-bottle,—and my -fire-eating temper places us both in that position which compels _him_ -almost, poor creature! to insist on our exchanging shots. I really feel -for the Captain——" - -"And not at all for yourself, Frank?" said the lawyer, in his usual -quiet manner. - -"Oh! not an atom!" ejaculated Mr. Curtis. "But don't you admit that -something ought to be done to prevent Captain O'Blunderbuss from -becoming the victim of a display of temper so unjust and uncalled for on -my part? I wish to heaven my friend the Duke of the Tower Hamlets was in -town—he would pretty soon put matters on a proper footing, and save me -from the chance of killing a man that has never injured me. But as his -lordship the Marquis is _not_ in town, why—I must throw myself on your -friendship." - -"Well—I will undertake to prevent the duel, in this case," said Howard, -speaking as quietly as if he believed every word of Mr. Frank Curtis's -version of the affair. - -"Will you, though?" cried the young man, unable to conceal his joy. - -"I will indeed," returned Howard: "so make your mind perfectly easy on -that head. Where is the duel—or rather, where ought it to take place?" - -"In Battersea Fields, to-morrow morning, at eight precisely," answered -Frank. - -"Very good," said the lawyer. "Now, you must be with me at a quarter -before seven—here, at my office; and I will have a chaise ready to take -us there." - -"But need we go at all?" asked Frank, his countenance suddenly assuming -a woeful expression again. - -"We _must_ go to the field," replied the solicitor; "but trust to me to -settle the matter when we _do_ get there. Again I tell you not to make -yourself uneasy: I will guarantee the complete settlement of the -affair—and in a most peremptory manner too." - -"Thank'ee kindly," returned Frank, again reassured. "You have taken a -load from my breast: not that I care about fighting, you know—but it -must be in a good cause. That was just what I said when my best friend, -the Prince of Scandinavia——" - -"There's enough of it for the present, Frank," interrupted the lawyer. -"Leave the affair to me—and I shall manage it to your complete -satisfaction. Be here at a quarter to seven—not a minute later—to-morrow -morning,—and now you must permit me to attend to my own engagements." - -Frank Curtis took the hint and his leave accordingly, wondering how the -lawyer would so manage matters as to subdue the terrible fire-eating -propensities of the redoubtable Captain O'Blunderbuss. Nevertheless, the -young man placed implicit reliance upon Mr. Howard's promise; and it was -with a comparatively light heart that he sped towards use dwelling of -Mrs. Goldberry, in Baker Street. - - - - - CHAPTER LXIII. - THE MEETING IN BATTERSEA FIELDS. - - -According to instructions given to his landlady, Mr. Frank Curtis was -called at a quarter to six on the morning following the incidents just -related; and leaping from his warm bed, he proceeded, with quivering -limbs and chattering teeth, to strike a light. - -Having, after a great deal of trouble, persuaded the short wick of his -candle to catch the flame of the match which he held to it, he drew -aside the window-curtains and looked forth to ascertain the nature of -the weather. - -The result of this survey was by no means reassuring; for a mizzling -rain was falling, and a cheerless mist appeared to hang against the -window. - -Frank closed the curtains again, and looked wistfully at the bed, as if -he were more than half inclined to return to it, and leave Captain -O'Blunderbuss to do his worst;—but, on second thoughts, he knew that -this was a hazardous venture—and, accordingly, he began to huddle on a -portion of his garments. - -Then commenced the process of shaving—always an unpleasant one, but -doubly so by candle-light, and when the hand is so nervous that the -chances are equal whether you mow off the hirsute stubble or the tip of -your nose. - -"Bother to this razor!" cried Frank: "it won't cut at all this morning!" - -The fault was not, however, in the razor, but with him who wielded it. - -At length, by dint of reiterated scraping, and steadying the right wrist -with the left hand, Mr. Frank Curtis managed to achieve this portion of -his toilette. - -When occupied with his ablutions, he thought that the water had never -appeared so icy cold before; and his teeth chattered like a box of -dominoes rattling. - -The fact was, that the nearer the eventful moment approached, the more -alarmed became this heroic young gentleman, lest the lawyer should -disappoint him, or deceive himself, in the task of taming the formidable -Captain O'Blunderbuss. - -It was half-past six before Mr. Curtis quitted his bed-room; and he had -just time to take a cup of coffee in his sitting apartment while the -girl of the house ran to fetch a cab. She speedily returned with, or -rather _in_ the vehicle; but when Mr. Curtis had taken her place, he -perceived to his dismay that the horse had such an unpleasant knack of -suddenly bolting round each corner he came to, and the driver was -already so drunk, even at that early hour in the morning, that the -chances were decidedly in favour of an upset. - -He, however, reached the lawyer's office in safety, though not before -the clocks at the West-End were striking seven. - -A hackney-coach was already waiting at the door; and the moment Frank -rang the office-bell, Mr. Howard appeared. - -"Come, jump in—we have not a minute to lose," said the latter. - -Frank accordingly entered the coach, in which, to his surprise, he found -two ill-looking, shabbily-dressed fellows ensconced. Mr. Howard followed -him—the door was closed hastily—and away rolled the vehicle in a -westerly direction. - -Mr. Curtis was now enabled to examine at his ease—or rather at his -leisure, for easy he was not—the two individuals just mentioned. - -One was a man of about forty, dressed in seedy black, and with a beard -of at least three days' growth, and a shirt that seemed as if it had -been worn and slept in too for a fortnight. His face was pale and -cadaverous, and its expression sinister in the extreme. His companion -was worse-looking and dirtier still; but _his_ countenance was red and -bloated with intemperance. He carried a stout stick in his hand, and -smelt awfully of rum. - -"Got your pistols, Frank?" inquired Mr. Howard, when the coach had moved -off the pavement. - -"Pistols!" repeated the young gentleman, turning dreadfully pale. "I -thought you—you—you——" - -And his teeth chattered violently. - -"I know what I promised; and what I promised I will perform," responded -the attorney. "But I thought you might like to make a show of an -intention to fight, before I interfered." - -"Oh! you know I never bully," exclaimed Frank. "If I made a show of -fighting, as you call it, I _would_ fight—and not pretend merely." - -"Well—just as you like," observed Howard. "We will settle the business -the instant we get down there." - -"But is the gen'leman sartain the Cap'ain'll be there?" asked the man -with the stout stick and the red face. - -"Hold your tongue, Proggs!" growled his companion in the shabby black. -"These gen'lemen know what they're up to." - -Silence then prevailed in the vehicle; and Frank Curtis sate wondering -who the strange-looking twain could be. At last he came to the -conclusion that they must be constables whom Mr. Howard had called into -requisition for the laudable purpose of putting a stop to the duel. -Still, such seedy constables were seldom seen: but then, reasoned Frank -within himself, they might perhaps be in a state of insolvency—a -suspicion certainly warranted by their outward appearance. - -The mist-like rain continued; and, though the morning grew a trifle -brighter, it was in a very sickly manner. Frank had seldom felt more -dispirited in his life, the weather leaguing itself with his own vague -apprehensions to render him utterly miserable. - -At length the coach reached the vicinity of Battersea Fields; and Mr. -Howard pulled the check-string as a signal for the driver to stop. - -He then descended; Frank Curtis followed; and the two queer-looking -gentlemen alighted also. - -"You will keep at a decent distance, Mr. Mac Grab," said Howard, -addressing himself to the individual in seedy black. - -"Wery good, sir. Proggs," continued Mr. Mac Grab, turning to his -companion, "you make a circumbendibus like, so as to cut off the -Captain's retreat down yonder. I'll skirt the river a short way, and -then drop down on him.". - -"All right," growled Mr. Proggs; and off he set in the direction -indicated by his master, Mr. Mac Grab. - -Howard then took Frank's arm; and they walked on together, the young -gentleman shivering and trembling violently. - -"What _is_ the matter with you?" demanded the lawyer. "You shake just -like an aspen." - -"Oh! nothing—nothing!" returned Frank, in a faltering tone. "Only it's -very cold this morning—and this cursed mist——But there's the Captain -already!" he suddenly ejaculated, making a full stop. - -Howard glanced in the same direction towards which Frank's eyes were -turned, and beheld two individuals at a short distance. One, who was -wrapped in a cloak, was standing still; the other was pacing rapidly up -and down in the immediate vicinity of his companion, and tossing his -arms about as if in a perfect fury of indignation. - -"Come on," said the lawyer, dragging forward the terrified Frank Curtis. -"There! the person who is walking up and down like a maniac, has caught -sight of us——" - -"That's the Captain!" almost whimpered the young man. "Oh! my stars! how -fierce he does look!" - -"Now, then, ye shir-rkers! is it keeping us waiting ye mane?" -vociferated the terrible Captain, sending his voice half-way across a -field in a tone of awful indignation. "Be Jasus! it's a rale insult to -me and my frind, to be seven minutes and a half behind time in this -way!" - -"We are coming, sir, as fast as we can!" exclaimed Howard: "and may be a -little faster than you will find to be agreeable." - -"My God! don't irritate him!" implored Frank. "He's capable -of——of——shooting us both—as we walk along." - -"Don't be such a fool, Frank. You will see a rare bit of fun in a few -minutes. Come along!"—and the lawyer dragged his shrinking companion -forward. - -"Be the holy poker-r!" vociferated the Captain, as Howard and Curtis now -drew near enough for him plainly to recognise their countenances: "be -the holy poker!" he repeated, his eyes glaring furiously, "Sir -Christopher is not here! Morthaunt, my dear frind, ye are -swindled—robbed—plunthered—chated of the pleasure of a duel this cold -mornin'. But I'll avenge ye, my boy—for I tould that Misther Curtis -there that I'd hould him responsible——" - -"Come, come, Captain!" exclaimed Howard, as he and Frank now stopped at -the distance of a few paces from the warlike officer and his friend -Mordaunt: "don't bluster and sputter in this fine fashion——" - -"Is it blusther and sputther to me ye mane!" cried Captain -O'Blunderbuss. "Be Jasus; sir-r—ye shall ate the wor-rds afore we're -done. But I'll shoot Mr. Curtis first; and 'tis yourself I'll send -headlong afther him. Morthaunt, my frind, instead of being principal -now, 'tis second ye must be. So give us the pisthol-case from under your -cloak, man." - -"With all my heart, Captain!" said Mordaunt, who was a tall, awkward -gentleman, about thirty-five years of age, and as like Miss Julia as -brother could be to sister. - -"Howard—my dear friend—my good fellow," gasped Frank Curtis in the ear -of his companion; "is it possible that—that—you've——" - -"Be Jasus! we're watched!" suddenly exclaimed the Captain, whose quick -eye now caught sight of a man approaching from the next field. - -"It's only my servant, sir, who is bringing my case of pistols," -remarked Howard. "Not knowing whether you would be here, we kept them in -the coach at a short distance." - -"Not be here!" repeated the Captain. "Do ye take us for as great cowards -as ould Sir Christopher Blunt? Be Jasus——But that man don't look like a -servant anyhow!" ejaculated the warlike gentleman, interrupting himself, -and fixing a ferocious look upon Mr. Mac Grab, who now came running up -to the spot, completely out of breath. - -Howard glanced rapidly to the left, and beheld Proggs approaching from -that direction. - -"Here's another fellow!" exclaimed Mordaunt, who had marked and followed -the lawyer's scrutinizing look. "Gentlemen, what _does_ this mean?" - -"Yes—and be Jasus!" vociferated Captain O'Blunderbuss: "what does this -mane? Have ye had recourse to the dirthy expadient of getting constables -to come for-ar-rd to spile the purtiest little affair that was ever to -come off on a misty mornin'?" - -"It don't mean nothink of the kind, Captain," said Mr. Mac Grab gruffly: -then, as with a side glance he convinced himself that his follower -Proggs was now only a few paces distant in the rear of the warlike -Irishman, he continued thus:—"The fact is, I'm a hofficer—and you're my -prisoner." - -"An officer-r-r!" vociferated Captain O'Blunderbuss, his countenance -becoming actually purple with rage, while Frank Curtis, suddenly assured -that all prospects of a duel were at an end, began to enjoy the scene -amazingly. - -"Yes, sir—this person is an officer," said Mr. Howard, in the calmest -manner possible; "and I am the attorney for the plaintiff—Mr. -Spriggins—at whose suit you are now captured for three hundred and -forty-seven pounds, including costs." - -"Blood and thunther-r!" roared Captain O'Blunderbuss, swelling so -tremendously with passion that he seemed as if about to burst through -his military frock-coat with its frogs and braidings: "this is a rale -insult not ounly to me, but also to ould Ireland. Mor-r-thaunt, my -boy——" - -"It's a very awkward business, Captain," said the gentleman thus -appealed to. "But I do not see why it should prevent the business on -which we met. Pistols first—prison afterwards." - -"That won't do," said Mr. Mac Grab. - -"Not a bit," growled Proggs, who was now stationed close behind the -Captain. - -"Bastes of the ear-rth!" roared O'Blunderbuss: "do——" - -"Come now—enough of this gammon," interrupted Mac Grab. "If you won't -walk quiet off with us, we must see what force will do." - -"It is no use to resist, my boy," whispered Mordaunt to his friend, who -was literally foaming at the mouth. "But we will find another occasion -to punish these cowardly fellows," he added aloud, casting fiery glances -upon the lawyer and Frank Curtis. - -"Be Jasus! and I'll have some of it out of 'em now!" ejaculated Captain -O'Blunderbuss; and springing upon the unfortunate Frank, he administered -to this young gentleman three or four hearty cuffs, before a hand could -be stretched out to withhold him. - -Curtis roared and wriggled about with the pain; but he was speedily -released from the effects of this onslaught, Mac Grab, Proggs, and the -lawyer, hastening to his assistance. - -The warlike Captain was then borne away to the hackney-coach, in which -he was safely deposited, Mordaunt obtaining leave from Mr. Howard to -accompany his friend in the same vehicle as far as the prison to which -he was to be consigned. - -Frank Curtis declined forming one of the party; and while the coach -proceeded in as direct a line as possible for Horsemonger Lane gaol, the -young gentleman sped merrily along alone and on foot, delighted, in -spite of the drubbing which he had received, to think that the -redoubtable Captain O'Blunderbuss was on his way to a place where his -warlike propensities stood every chance of being "cribb'd, cabin'd, and -confin'd," at least for a season. - -You may conceive, gentle reader, that Captain O'Blunderbuss was in a -dreadful rage at being interrupted in the midst of his favourite -pursuit—especially as the interruption was of so unpleasant a nature as -that described. But his vapouring and blustering produced little effect -upon Messrs. Mac Grab and Proggs, who never spoke a word during the -journey from Battersea Fields to Horsemonger Lane, save to answer in an -affirmative when Mr. Howard proposed that they should stop at a -public-house for a few moments to partake of some refreshment; and then -they each responded—"Yes—rum, please." - -The Captain himself was accommodated with a glass of whiskey: Mordaunt -and the lawyer took nothing. - -The vehicle then proceeded, without stopping, to the prison, where the -gallant Captain—oh! most ignominious fate!—was handed over to the care -of the turnkeys in the debtors' department of the establishment. - - - - - CHAPTER LXIV. - OLD DEATH AND HIS FRIEND TIDMARSH. - - -The incident which occupied the preceding chapter occurred, as will -probably be recollected, on the morning of the Wednesday after the -Monday on which Thomas Rainford was hanged and resuscitated. - -It was on the evening of the same Wednesday, and at about eight o'clock, -that we must again introduce the reader to the laboratory in Red Lion -Street. - -A cheerful fire burnt in the grate; and before it sate Dr. Lascelles and -the Earl of Ellingham, engaged in conversation and also in the -discussion of a very excellent bottle of claret conveyed thither from -the Earl's own cellar in Pall Mall. - -"I wish Jacob Smith would return," said the young nobleman, looking -anxiously and nervously at his watch. - -"In the same manner have you renewed the conversation after every pause -that has occurred during the last two hours," observed the physician. -"My dear Arthur, there is nothing like patience in this world. You may -depend upon it, all goes on well—or you would too soon have received the -tidings of any evil that might have occurred. Bad news fly uncommonly -fast." - -"I wish that I possessed a small amount of your calm and unexcitable -temperament, doctor," returned the Earl. "But I am so fearful lest any -untoward accident should mar the success—the complete success of all our -plans." - -"Do not meet evils half way," said the doctor. "Every thing has gone on -well as yet. Mr. de Medina acted with the dispatch of a regular man of -business. No one could possibly have managed better. He left on Monday -evening for Dover, where he remained but just long enough yesterday -morning to hire a cutter and arrange with the captain to have her in -readiness to leave at a moment's warning. He was back in London again -last night by seven; and fortunately your half-brother was so far -recovered as to be able to depart in company with Jacob. The disguise -you procured for him was impenetrable to even the eyes of the most -experienced Bow Street runner. He and his young companion reached Dover -early this morning; and I dare swear that long before this hour gallant -Tom is safe in Calais, where Mr. de Medina and his daughters will also -be some time to-morrow. Then off they all go to Paris, where you are to -rejoin them." - -"Yes: all has been well arranged by Mr. de Medina," said the Earl; "and -I have no doubt that the results will be as you anticipate. But I -charged Jacob to return post-haste to London—I begged him not to spare -the gold with which I furnished him, so that he might be back here as -soon as possible to assure us of my brother's safe embarkation for -France. And yet the lad is not with us yet! You must admit, doctor, that -I am not to be blamed for my apprehensions: for misadventures and -obstacles, altogether unforeseen—never dreamt of, indeed—do start up so -suddenly, that I confess I shall enjoy no peace of mind until I receive -from Jacob's own lips the assurance that the object of my anxiety is -beyond the reach of all danger." - -"How can it be otherwise than that he is already safe?" demanded the -physician somewhat impatiently. - -"Who can tell what may happen?" asked the Earl. "On Monday night, while -Thomas was sleeping and profound tranquillity as well as perfect -security seemed to prevail in the house, was not the grand secret -suddenly menaced by the appearance of one whom only a few hours -previously I had been led to consider numbered with the dead? Yet -doubtless you thought at the moment, while at your house in Grafton -Street, that all was calm and unendangered in Red Lion Street." - -"The sudden turning up of that old scoundrel whom Thomas Rainford -supposed to be dead, and of whom you have since told me so much, was -certainly very remarkable," observed the physician. "But you certainly -managed the matter most cleverly—the more so, too, inasmuch as my -patient knew nothing of the transaction until it was all over." - -"Fortunately he slept, as I have already told you," said the Earl. -"That excellent lad Jacob was for a few minutes completely -overcome—stunned—stupified, indeed, when he recognized the countenance -of Benjamin Bones; and I myself was strangely excited when those -terrible words, '_'Tis Old Death!_' fell upon my ears—for I knew to -whom they applied. Moreover, Jacob let the lamp fall; and I dared not -move to obtain another light—for Bones began to struggle furiously. I -was sadly alarmed lest my half-brother should awake: but fortunately -his slumber was profound." - -"And then, I believe, Jacob Smith recovered himself and procured another -light?" said the physician interrogatively. - -"You see, doctor," returned the Earl, with a smile, "that you did not -listen very attentively to my narrative of the transaction, when you -came back to the house yesterday morning." - -"Because, I remember, you would persist in telling me the story at a -time when I was thinking of the best restoratives for my patient," -answered Lascelles, also with a good-natured laugh. "But pray give me -all the details now—and the occupation will while away the time until -Jacob makes his appearance." - -"God grant that he may soon come!" exclaimed the Earl. "But let me -resume at the point where we interrupted ourselves." - -"I asked you if Jacob did not procure another light the moment he had -recovered his presence of mind," said the physician: "but I remember now -that you availed yourself of the opportunity afforded by the darkness, -to drag the old man back to the staircase leading into the subterranean, -and that the terrible menaces you whispered in his ears reduced him to -the passiveness of a lamb. He is a hideous-looking man—for, after all -you learnt from your brother concerning him, it is clear that he is the -same whom I had seen in this house on one or two occasions, but whose -name I did not then know." - -"He is clearly the same person," said the Earl. - -"Well—and so you got him down the break-neck stairs," added the doctor; -"and _then_ it was you called to Jacob to procure another light, -Rainford continuing asleep the whole time. But, after all that had taken -place in the morning, his slumber would necessarily be heavy." - -"I can assure you that a more dangerous task I had seldom undertaken -than that of dragging the old villain down those stairs," said the Earl; -"and how it was that we both escaped broken necks, I am at a loss to -divine. However, I did get him safely down to the bottom; and the great -door being then bolted only on the same side as the stairs, I had no -difficulty in opening it. Jacob came down with the light; and I -compelled the old man to rise, and enter the subterranean with me." - -"I will be bound his hideous countenance was convulsed with rage and -alarm?" exclaimed the doctor. "But I must get a cast of his head when he -dies—which I dare say will be upon the scaffold." - -"Yes: he was positively horrible with mingled wrath and fear," continued -the Earl. "But I had no pity for him—as I have none now. I made him walk -a few paces in front of me, Jacob accompanying us with the light. Once -he turned round, and fixed on the lad a look so full of infernal -spite—of demon-like malignity, that I was horrified to think that such -hateful emotions could find an abode in the breast of any human being. -Jacob Smith recoiled in affright—as if from the glare of a serpent's -eyes; but I whispered a word to reassure him—and almost at the same -moment I beheld, by the light of the lamp, a door in the side of the -subterranean. You know the suspicions which had already filled my mind: -they then returned with renewed vigour to my memory—and I felt convinced -that I touched on the threshold of a discovery. I commanded the old man -to stop—suffering him to believe that I had pistols about me, and should -not hesitate to use them in case of need. The door was speedily -opened——" - -"And it led into the very dungeon where you were confined for four -weeks," said Dr. Lascelles. "The villains—the scoundrels, who -perpetrated such an outrage!" - -"Yes—it was the very same dungeon," continued the Earl; "and my blood -ran cold as I glanced within. Jacob Smith understood the discovery that -I had made, and uttered an ejaculation of horror. '_I now know at least -one of the authors of_ my _imprisonment_!' I said, turning to Old Death, -whose eyes were again glaring fiercely upon the lad. '_But_,' I added, -'_this is no time for question and answer on that head._'—Then, taking -the lamp, I held it in such a manner as to be able to throw its light -upon that part of the cell where I had opened to myself the means of -escape; and I perceived that the masonry had not been replaced. I -accordingly resolved not to imprison the old man there: and yet, what -could I do with him? Turning round to examine more minutely the nature -of the place, I beheld another door, on the opposite side of the -subterranean. Old Death marked the fact of my eyes lingering thereon; -and he gave vent to something between a menace and a prayer.—'_I seek -not to harm you_,' was my reply; '_but as it once suited_ your _purposes -that I should become a captive here for a few weeks, it is now expedient -according to_ my _views that you should become a prisoner for a few -days. In with you, old man!_' I added, having in the meantime opened the -door of this second cell!" - -"And there the old reprobate is now cooped up, along with his friend -Tidmarsh," exclaimed the physician, laughing at the idea of the two -cronies being caught in one of their own snares;—for that they _were_ -companions in iniquity he had now but little doubt. - -"You must admit that the case was a desperate and an urgent one," -continued the Earl. "From all you had told me concerning this Tidmarsh, -I felt well persuaded that he was likely to visit the subterranean; and -I knew that, were such a casualty to ensue, Old Death had merely to -raise his voice in order to obtain his release." - -"And so you quit the subterranean and run round to Turnmill Street to -tell old Tidmarsh that Dr. Lascelles wishes to see him immediately in -his laboratory?" exclaimed the doctor, again laughing heartily—for the -entire affair seemed to have touched a long slumbering chord of merry -humour in his breast. - -"Precisely so," returned the young nobleman. "Tidmarsh, however, eyed me -very suspiciously, and muttered something to himself about the doctor -being very indiscreet;—but I affected not to notice his peculiarity of -manner. He came round to the house—and you know the rest." - -"Yes: you took him down to join his friend Old Death, as it seems the -rascal is called," observed the doctor. - -"And there they must remain until Jacob Smith shall have returned with -the tidings of my brother's safe embarkation," continued the Earl. "It -is true that they are both utterly ignorant of his escape from death—his -extraordinary resuscitation, thanks to your profound knowledge and -generous aid, doctor;—but, as we have every reason to believe at least -one of them to be Thomas's enemy, they shall neither obtain a chance of -discovering the secret of his _new existence_, as I may indeed term -it—at all events not until he shall be beyond the reach of danger. And, -do you know, it strikes me most forcibly that Tidmarsh was the gaoler -who attended upon me during my incarceration in the dungeon below? -Although the person who _was_ my gaoler, invariably spoke in a feigned -tone, and as laconically as possible, yet I am almost certain that it -was the voice of Tidmarsh. Moreover, he seemed for a moment so -astounded—so struck, when I presented myself at the door of his dwelling -in Turnmill Street, to deliver the forged message which induced him to -accompany me round to this house, that I am convinced he knew me. For, -though he never permitted me to catch a glimpse of his countenance, when -he used to visit me at the trap in the dungeon-door—still he might have -seen my face. However, when I presented myself at his abode in the way -which I have described, my manner appeared so off-hand and sincere, that -had any suspicions of treachery entered his mind, they were dispelled -almost immediately. But, doctor, I abominate the necessity of having to -use duplicity even towards villains of that stamp!" - -"Your compunction is carried too far, my dear Arthur," returned -Lascelles. "It was necessary to get that scoundrel Tidmarsh into such a -snare, as to place him beyond the possibility of doing mischief; and, -though the narrative which you have now given me more in detail than you -did yesterday morning, when you hastily sketched these incidents to your -brother and myself,—though, I say, it makes me laugh—a habit not -frequent with me—I really commend your foresight in averting danger, as -well as your bravery in carrying into effect the requisite precautions." - -"I deserve and require no praise, doctor," answered the Earl. "What -would I not have done to ensure the safety of him who has behaved so -generously to me? During the whole of Monday night, I sate by his -bed-side, anxiously awaiting the moment when slumber should leave his -heavy eye-lids; for I knew that I had welcome—most welcome tidings for -his ears. But he slept on until you came: and then, doctor, you were a -witness of the joy which he experienced on learning that he had not been -the cause of the death of Benjamin Bones—miscreant though the man be!" - -Scarcely were these words uttered, when a low but hasty knock at the -front door caused Lord Ellingham to spring from his seat—seize the -lamp—and hasten to answer the summons. - -Dr. Lascelles could hear the Earl ejaculate the words—"Jacob -Smith!"—then a hurried whisper took place in the hall;—and, in another -moment, the joyous exclamation—"Thank God! thank God!" bursting from the -young nobleman's lips, met the physician's ears. - -And Dr. Lascelles thereby knew that Rainford had succeeded in quitting -the shores of England in safety! - - - - - CHAPTER LXV. - THE EXAMINATION. - - -The reader will remember that, according to the arrangements originally -chalked out, Lord Ellingham and Jacob Smith were to have accompanied Tom -Rain to France. But this project was disturbed by the appearance of Old -Death in the house in Red Lion Street, and the incidents to which it -gave rise, as narrated in the last chapter. - -For, the Earl—having succeeded in making Old Death and Tidmarsh his -prisoners—resolved to remain in the house, not only that he might, by -means of frequent visits to the subterranean, guard against their -escape, but also to supply them with food and to liberate them when -circumstances should render their farther confinement unnecessary. - -Thus was it that Tom Rain and Jacob had proceeded without the Earl to -Dover, and that the lad had returned thence to London the moment he had -seen Rainford safe on board the cutter which Mr. de Medina had hired -especially to convey him to France. Nay—Jacob was not content with -merely witnessing the embarkation of the individual to whom he had -become so deeply attached; but, in spite of the instructions he had -received alike from the Earl and Tom Rain himself to return with the -least possible delay to the metropolis, he had lingered on the pier at -Dover until the white sails of the cutter were no longer in sight. - -He therefore arrived somewhat later in London than had been expected, -although he travelled post and spared not the gold placed at his -disposal to urge the postillions on: but when he frankly admitted to -Lord Ellingham and the doctor the reason of his retarded appearance in -Red Lion Street, they could not find it in their hearts to utter a word -of reproach or blame. - -No:—for Lord Ellingham's joy was now as exuberant as his apprehensions -had a short time previously been strong and oppressive; and he wrung the -hand of the humble Jacob as if that lad had been his own brother! - -"We will presently liberate our prisoners," said the Earl, when Jacob -had related the particulars of his journey with Rainford to Dover, and -of the latter's safe embarkation. "But, before I suffer them to go at -large, it behoves me not only to adopt the means requisite to elicit -certain explanations interesting to myself, but also to take those steps -that will effectually prevent the mysterious subterraneans and dungeons -of this establishment—or rather, of the _two_ houses—from being -accessible or available to the miscreants whom we are about to set free. -Conceiving that Jacob would be sure to come back this evening, and -intending that his return should be followed by the examination and -liberation of those two men, I have ordered the three faithful domestics -who assisted us so materially on Monday morning, and on whose fidelity I -can rely with so much confidence, to be here at half-past nine o'clock." - -"For what purpose?" demanded the physician, in astonishment. - -"To increase our number so as to overawe the wretches who are to appear -before us," replied the Earl. "It is not that I fear to give them an -inch of vantage-ground; but were they to find themselves in the presence -of only two men and this lad, they might attempt resistance, and use a -violence that would alarm the neighbourhood;—and I need hardly say, -doctor, how necessary it is for all our sakes that we should not be -placed in a position which would compel us to give to a magistrate any -explanation of the modes in which we severally became acquainted with -this establishment or those two vile men." - -"Your precautions are most admirably forecast, my dear Earl," responded -Dr. Lascelles. "Hark! there is a single knock at the front door!" - -"Run, Jacob, my boy," said the Earl: "my servants have arrived." - -The lad left the room without taking a light, but the young nobleman -almost immediately rose and followed him—a second thought suggesting the -prudence of assuring himself against the coming of any unwelcome -intruder instead of his servants. - -By the time the Earl reached the middle of the stairs leading down into -the hall, Jacob had opened the street-door. - -"Mrs. Bunce!" exclaimed the lad, starting back half in affright, as he -recognised her wizen countenance by the feeble light that streamed from -an adjacent window. - -"What! Jacob—you here!" cried the woman. "Why—how come you in this -house? and what have you been doing with yourself lately? I began to -think you was playing us false: but now that I find you here, I suppose -you know all about the trick of Mr. Bones's pretended death, and have -made every thing right with him. But is he here?" - -"Yes," answered Jacob boldly—for he had by this time recovered his -presence of mind. "Walk in:—he wants very much to see you." - -"And so do I want to see him," added Mrs. Bunce as she entered the hall, -while Jacob barred the door carefully. "I haven't seen him ever since -Monday night; and he was to be sure and come up to the Dials last -evening. So I got alarmed, and come down to see, I went to Turnmill -Street—but I could make no one hear there—for I suppose you know by this -time all about Tidmarsh and the other crib——" - -"Yes—and the subterranean too," added Jacob: "all the secrets, so long -kept from me, are now revealed. But walk up, Mrs. Bunce—walk up." - -The woman, suspecting nothing wrong, and not altogether displeased to -find (as she believed) that Jacob had risen so high in favour with Old -Death as to become one of his confidants,—the woman, we say, walked up -the staircase, which was well known to her; but, scarcely had she -reached the first turn, when she was suddenly grasped by a vigorous -hand, and a voice exclaimed, "Make no noise, Mrs. Bunce—or it will be -the worse for you." - -[Illustration] - -"Thank God, you are there, my lord!" cried Jacob now hastily running up -the stairs. "This woman is one of the gang which it has fallen to your -lordship's lot to disperse." - -"Oh! Jacob," ejaculated Mrs. Bunce, "you don't know what you are doing! -But who is this lord—and what have I done to injure him?" - -"I am the Earl of Ellingham, woman," said Arthur; "and perhaps you are -not ignorant of the long imprisonment which I endured in this place. But -proceed—I will follow you: and remember that you are in the power of -those who will not suffer you to escape." - -At that instant there was another knock at the door. - -"Remain here," said the nobleman to Mrs. Bunce. "Jacob, let me answer -that summons." - -Arthur accordingly proceeded to the door, and gave admittance to his -three men-servants. - -They then all repaired to the laboratory together, where the Earl made -Dr. Lascelles acquainted, in a hasty whisper, with the cause of Mrs. -Bunce's appearance on the stage of their present proceedings. - -The moment the woman emerged from the darkness of the landing outside to -the light of the laboratory, she cast a hasty and inquiring glance -around on those present; but her eyes settled on Jacob Smith, and she -was evidently much astonished to see him dressed in a plain but most -respectable manner, and looking neat, clean, and even interesting in his -appearance. For the lad possessed good features—very bright eyes—and a -set of white, even teeth; and though his countenance was still somewhat -indicative of a sickly constitution, it nevertheless showed a state of -health considerably improved by the excitement of travelling and by the -happiness imparted to his soul by the successful escape of Thomas -Rainford. - -Jacob saw that Mrs. Bunce surveyed him with interest; and at the moment -he felt pity for the woman who had on many occasions shown him some -kindness, and towards whom he had also experienced at times -unaccountable heart-yearnings;—but he could not blame himself for having -just now entrapped her into the power of Lord Ellingham, because he knew -how important it was to assemble in the presence of that nobleman as -many of Old Death's accomplices as possible. Besides, he was well aware -that no harm was intended her; and this assurance he conveyed to her in -a hasty whisper—though not in such a way as to induce her to believe -that he was any longer an accomplice also. - -"You will now accompany me _below_," said the Earl, addressing himself -to his three servants. - -Jacob hastened to light another lamp (of which there were several in the -laboratory); and the Earl, attended by his domestics, proceeded into the -adjoining bed-room, whence they passed down into the subterranean. - -Dr. Lascelles, Mrs. Bunce, and Jacob were left together in the -laboratory. - -"What does all this mean?" demanded the woman, accosting the lad in an -imploring manner—for she was afraid, in spite of the whispered assurance -she had received from him. - -"I cannot give you any explanation," answered Jacob aloud. "But I may go -so far as to promise you—and this good gentleman," he added, turning -towards the doctor, "will confirm my words—that no harm is intended to -you, provided you give faithful replies to the questions that will be -put to you presently." - -"The lad speaks quite properly, woman," said the physician; "and you had -better hold your tongue until _the prisoners_ make their appearance." - -"The prisoners!" muttered Mrs. Bunce; and it struck her that allusion -must be made to Old Death and Tidmarsh. - -Nor was she mistaken; for, in a few minutes, the Earl and his domestics -re-appeared, escorting into the laboratory those two individuals, whose -hands were fastened by strong cords. - -Benjamin Bones looked more hideous than ever. A white bristling beard, -of three or four days' growth gave an additional death-like aspect to -his countenance; and his eyes glared, from beneath their shaggy brows, -with mingled rage and alarm. - -Tidmarsh manifested less emotion; but, on entering the laboratory, he -cast a rapid and scrutinizing glance around, as if to ascertain who were -present. - -Old Death did the same; and when his eyes caught sight of Jacob Smith, -his forehead contracted into a thousand wrinkles with the intense -ferocity of his malignant hate: then he exchanged a rapid glance with -Mrs. Bunce, who gave him to understand, by a peculiarly significant -look, that she was not there as a witness against him, but as a prisoner -herself. - -Dr. Lascelles stood with his back to the fire, contemplating the various -persons assembled, in a manner which showed that he was far from being -an uninterested spectator of the proceedings: indeed, he not only -prepared to listen with attention to all that was about to be said, on -account of the friendly feelings which he experienced towards the Earl -of Ellingham,—but he likewise occupied himself in studying the -physiognomies of Old Death, Tidmarsh, and Mrs. Bunce—a survey which led -him to the comfortable conclusion that if they did not all three perish -on the scaffold sooner or later, it would not be their own fault. - -Lord Ellingham ordered the three prisoners to be accommodated with -chairs; and, when they were seated, he addressed them in the following -manner:— - -"You are now in the presence of one who has the power to punish you for -your numerous misdeeds, and who, should you refuse to answer the -questions to be put to you, will not hesitate to hand you all three over -into the grasp of justice. The individual who possesses that power, and -who is now about to question you, is myself. All your secrets are known -or suspected—and, even should you refuse to answer my queries, or if you -reply to them falsely, I have the means of arriving at the truth. To -you, Benjamin Bones, do I address myself first:—answer me, then—and say -wherefore your agents or accomplices waylaid me, and bore me off to that -dungeon opening from the subterranean. Speak, villain—and see that you -speak truly!" - -"One word, my lord," said the arch-miscreant, his sepulchral tones -quivering and tremulous with mingled rage and alarm: "let me say one -word to you in private!" - -"Not a syllable! Speak openly—and cause not idle delay," exclaimed the -young nobleman. - -"Do you know," asked Old Death, "that it is in my power to publish a -secret which would not redound to your honour?" - -"I can well divine to what you would allude," returned Arthur; "and I -despise your menace. Go and say, if thou wilt, that the Earl of -Ellingham is the half-brother of him——" - -"Who was hanged on Monday morning!" growled Old Death; and then he -chuckled horribly in the depth of his malignity. "Ha! ha! ha! the proud -and wealthy Earl of Ellingham the brother of a highwayman who was -hanged,—and that brother, too, the elder one, and born in lawful -wedlock! Ah! this would be a pretty tale to circulate at the West End!" - -"Scoundrel! you cannot provoke me to anger," said the Earl, calmly; "but -you may move me to invoke the aid of justice to punish you for daring to -imprison me during four long weeks in a noisome dungeon—a crime for -which the penalty would be transportation for the remainder of your -miserable life. Moreover, that same justice would require of you full -and ample explanations respecting those rooms filled with property of -immense value, and of such a miscellaneous nature that the various -articles could not have been honestly obtained! Ah! you shrink—you -recoil from that menace! Think you that any ridiculous punctilio has -prevented me from forcing the locks of those rooms and examining their -contents? No: the day after _you_ became _my_ prisoner here, and when I -ascertained beyond all doubt that _you_ were the tenant of those rooms, -I hesitated not to visit them, to glean evidence against you. Now, old -man, you see that you are in my power; and you will do well not to push -my patience beyond the sphere of indulgence." - -"And what if I tell you all you want to know?" said Benjamin Bones, -appalled by the unveiling of the fearful precipice on which he stood. - -"Give me the fullest and completest explanation of many circumstances in -the unravelling of which I feel a special interest—spare me the trouble -of adopting other means to obtain the solution of those mysteries to -which I possess a clue," exclaimed the Earl; "and I shall forthwith -liberate you and your companions, having previously taken measures to -prevent you from holding any farther interest in this house or the -tenement in Turnmill Street, with which the subterranean passage -communicates." - -"And—and my property?" gasped Old Death. - -"To allow you to retain it, were a sin," answered the Earl emphatically: -"to give it up to the magisterial authorities, or to dispose of it for -the benefit of the poor, would be to court an inquiry which must -inevitably lead to the mention of your name and the consequent -apprehension of your person—a result which would be an indirect -forfeiture of the promise I have given and now repeat: namely, to permit -yourself and companions to depart with impunity on condition that you -make a full and complete confession in regard to all the points wherein -I am interested. What, then, can be done with that property?" exclaimed -the nobleman: "there is but one course to pursue—and that is, _to -destroy it_!" - -"Destroy it!—destroy it!" groaned Old Death, writhing with mental -anguish on his chair: "what? destroy all that hard-earned wealth—those -treasures——" - -"Every article!" interrupted the nobleman emphatically; "and consider -yourself fortunate in quitting this house to breathe the air of liberty, -rather than to be consigned to a gaol." - -"Oh! my God! my God!" cried Old Death, reduced to despair by the -lamentable prospect now placed before him. - -"Blaspheme not, villain!—invoke not the sacred name of the Almighty!" -ejaculated Arthur. "Rather implore pardon for your manifold iniquities!" - -"It would take a long life of repentance to purge _his_ soul of all the -atrocity that harbours in it," observed the physician, who had intently -watched all the variations of the old man's countenance during this -colloquy. - -"My dear doctor," said the Earl, "there is hope for even those who are -most deeply stained with sin—yes, even for this miserable man, who would -sooner cling to his ill-got wealth than adopt the only means now open to -him of avoiding the grasp of justice. But it is useless to prolong this -discussion. Benjamin Bones! once for all, do you consent to make a full -confession, as the first atonement for a life of crime, and to surrender -all your treasures as the second?—or shall I send forthwith to summon -hither the officers of justice?" - -"But, if you take mine all, you send me forth into the world a beggar!" -cried Old Death, in a tone which seemed to indicate that he was about to -weep for very rage. - -"On that night," said the Earl solemnly, and almost sternly, "when -Thomas Rainford took from thy treasury the money which he conceived to -be his due, did he not leave ample sums behind? and wilt thou tell me -that thou hast not since disposed of those sums in other places of -security? Thou seest, villain, that I can read all thy secrets: so prate -no more about being reduced to beggary." - -Old Death's eyes fell beneath the fixed gaze of the Earl of Ellingham, -who thereby perceived that the conjecture which he had just hazarded was -indeed the right one. - -"And you will let us go free if I answer all your questions?" said the -arch-miscreant, after a brief pause, during which he consulted his -companions in iniquity by means of a rapid interchange of glances. - -"I will," replied the nobleman emphatically. - -"But what if I should tell you more than you already seem to -suspect—through ignorance of the precise extent of your real knowledge," -said Old Death,—"and thus make you acquainted with things likely to -render you vindictive——" - -"I scorn a mean and petty vengeance!" exclaimed the young nobleman. "My -word is pledged to a certain condition; and that promise shall be -redeemed, whatever the nature of your revelations may be." - -"Then I consent!" exclaimed Old Death. "Bear witness, Dr. Lascelles—for -you are an honourable man——" - -"The Earl of Ellingham is too lenient," interrupted the physician. "But, -as it is, I guarantee my word of honour that his lordship will -faithfully fulfil his promise." - -"In spite of any thing that may transpire, and for which he may not be -prepared?" added Old Death, determined to drive as sure a bargain as -possible: "because," he continued, "it is quite impossible for me to -foresee the nature of the questions you are going to put to me, my -lord—and, in answering them, I may only commit myself. I am in your -power; but pray use that power mercifully." - -"Mercifully!" cried the Earl, in a tone of mingled scorn and disgust. "I -have no sympathy with you of any kind, old man—you are loathsome to me! -I merely make a compact with you—and that bargain shall be adhered to on -my part, if it be fulfilled on yours. I however warn you, that should I -detect you in aught at variance with the truth, our compact ceases—my -promise is annulled—and you remain at my disposal as completely as if no -pledge relative to your safety had ever issued from my lips. Weigh well, -then, the position in which you stand," continued the young nobleman -sternly: "for I am not to be trifled with!" - -"I will tell you all you require to know—all—all," responded Old Death, -gasping convulsively: "only let this scene end as soon as possible—for -it does me harm." - -"We will proceed at once to business," said the Earl: then seating -himself in front of the prisoners, he addressed his questions to Old -Death, saying, "In the first place, why was I imprisoned in the -subterranean dungeon?" - -"To prevent you from using your wealth to bribe the gaol-authorities to -let Rainford escape, or your interest to save him if he was condemned," -answered Old Death, in a slow and measured tone. - -"Then, villain that you are," cried the Earl, scarcely able to subdue -his resentment, "you had an interest in hurrying the son of your own -half-sister Octavia to the scaffold!—Oh! I understand it all! Thomas -felt assured that some profound, secret, and malign influence was at -work against him; for those who were put forward as the prosecutors—the -knight and his nephew—went as unwilling witnesses! Then it was you," -continued the nobleman, in a tone of fearful excitement,—"it was _you_ -whose gold doubtless bribed the attorney Howard to institute those fatal -proceedings!" - -"It was—it was!" ejaculated Old Death, trembling from head to foot. "But -Rainford deserved it;—he outraged me—I was good and kind to him—I threw -excellent things in his way—but he made me bring him to this house—he -learnt all my secrets—he robbed me of my treasures—he carried off my -private papers——" - -"Silence!" exclaimed the Earl, in a tone which made the arch-villain and -his fellow-prisoners all three start convulsively: "give not a false -colouring to that transaction! Rainford learnt, when in the country, who -you were and how nearly you were allied to his late mother;—he knew also -how you had plundered him of his inheritance—and he was justified in the -conduct he pursued towards you. The money which he took was legitimately -his own, allowing for the accumulation of interest and compound -interest; and the papers were not _yours_—but rightfully his property!" - -"Then why did he not tell me who he was?—why did he entrap me, and -compel me at the muzzle of the levelled pistol to conduct him to my -secret places?" demanded Old Death impatiently. - -"Your villany and your craft could only be met by stratagem and -counterplot," returned the Earl emphatically; "and in that way did -Rainford meet you. And yet—for the truth of my assertion you cannot -deny—you have sent your own nephew to the scaffold!" - -"It was his own fault!" persisted Old Death doggedly. "He should not -have crossed my path—he should not have proclaimed warfare against me. I -would have been his friend——" - -"His friend!" exclaimed the Earl, in a tone of bitter scorn. - -"Yes—his friend, after his own fashion—in the way he wanted a friend!" -continued Old Death, becoming garrulous with nervous excitement. "But he -outraged me in a way I could not forgive nor forget—he penetrated into -all my secrets—he might have returned and helped himself again and again -from my stores—_he knew too much_ for me to be safe—and moreover he -bound me to a chair in such a way that I fell into a fit, and should -have died had it not been for this man here," added the miscreant, -indicating Tidmarsh. "All those things combined to render Rainford's -death necessary—and he has paid the penalty of his conduct towards me." - -Lord Ellingham recoiled in horror from the fiend-like man who could thus -seek to palliate the foul deed of having sent his own relative to the -scaffold, through no moral motives, but merely to gratify his vengeance -and remove one who seemed to be dangerous in his path. - -"Let us know more of the sham-death business on your part, Mr. Bones—or -whatever your name is," said Dr. Lascelles. - -"You remember that night I came round to the house here and met you, -sir?" hastily exclaimed Tidmarsh, thinking that he should serve himself -by exhibiting a readiness to volunteer any explanation that was -required. "Well—you recollect that it was the night you saw Rainford in -your laboratory, and we knew that he had gone down into the -subterranean. Then, if you please to remember, we went away together—and -I took leave of you at the corner of Turnmill Street. But I suspected -there was something wrong—although I did not dare offer to go into Mr. -Bones's rooms while you were with me. As soon as you had left me, -however, I returned to the house—not by the subterranean, be it well -understood,—and passing through your laboratory——" - -"Then you possess counterpart keys, rascal!" exclaimed the physician -angrily. "But go on." - -"Well, sir—I passed through your laboratory into the bed-room there, -locking the door of communication after me. Then I entered the first -store-room; but I had scarcely put foot therein when I heard a violent -noise as if some one was trying to break through the trap-door in the -bed-chamber. I confess that I was frightened—because I knew it must be -Rainford, and I suspected him to be a desperate man who meant no good in -that house. I remained quite still—heard him break open the trap and -come forth. I also heard him, dash open the door of your laboratory, -through which he passed; but as I had neglected to lock the other door -there—leading to the landing—he was not compelled to force that also. -Well—I waited a few minutes, till I thought he had left the house; and -then, having great misgivings on account of Mr. Bones, I went into the -next store-room. But there I caught a glimpse of Rainford, standing over -Mr. Bones, who was tied in his chair. I was about to retreat, I must -confess—but Rainford bolted away like a ghost; and I ran up to my -friend, who I thought was dead. I however saw enough, at a second -glance, to convince me that he was only in a kind of trance-like fit; -and in a short time I recovered him. That's my part of the story, sir; -and, I hope——" - -"Enough!" exclaimed Lord Ellingham abruptly. "_I_ have now a question to -ask _you_, Mr. Tidmarsh:—Were you not my gaoler when I was a prisoner in -the subterranean?" - -"Well, my lord—it's no use denying it," answered the man; "but——" - -"Spare your comments. I cannot complain of the way in which you executed -a task doubtless imposed on you by your master here. Moreover, you even -showed me some indulgence, by permitting me to write those letters to my -friends——" - -"Give my friend Bones his due, my lord," interrupted Tidmarsh; "for I -showed 'em to him first before I posted them." - -"And as they could do no harm, I let them go," hastily exclaimed Old -Death; "for I did not want to punish _you_ more than I could help. -Besides, I was glad you wrote them;—in the first place because they -prevented any noise amongst your friends on account of your -disappearance—and, secondly, because the one you wrote to Rainford was -enough to convince him he had nothing more to hope from you." - -"Even while you seek to conciliate me, you cannot prevent the -manifestation of your fiendish hate against him who was the son of your -sister Octavia!" said the Earl, gazing upon Old Death in profound -surprise,—surprise that his heart could be so irredeemably black. "But -now answer me another question," he continued after a few moments' -pause: "how came you to know that I was likely to use my interest or my -gold on behalf of Thomas Rainford?" - -"My spies were stationed about Horsemonger Lane gaol," answered Old -Death; "and I had a lodging in the immediate neighbourhood. They came -and told me that you had just gone into the prison to see Rainford; and -I concluded that you must already be aware of the relationship which -existed between you. To resolve and to act with me are the same thing; -and I sent back my men to seize you and convey you to the subterranean." - -"And why had you stationed spies about the gaol?" demanded the Earl. - -"Because I suspected that Rainford would send for you, or that you would -go to him of your own accord," replied Old Death; "for he had taken from -me the papers which _proved_ who he was—and I supposed that his first -act on possessing them, must have been to communicate with you; and in -that I cannot have been far wrong." - -By dint of questioning and cross-questioning, the following additional -facts were elicited;— - -When Tidmarsh recovered Old Death from the species of trance or fit -into which he had fallen when bound to the chair, the latter -determined to encompass at least the transportation, if not the -execution, of Tom Rain. For two or three days he remained quiet at -Tidmarsh's abode in Turnmill Street, brooding over his scheme of -vengeance, and communicating with none of his friends elsewhere—not -even with the Bunces. In planning the punishment of Tom Rain, Old -Death knew that he had a most delicate and difficult game to play; for -the highwayman was to be sacrificed to his hatred and his -interests—and yet in such a manner that the victim should not know by -whom the blow was struck nor the source whence his ruin came. The deed -must be effected with so much dark mystery that Rainford should not -even have any ground for supposing that Bones was the real prime mover -of the prosecution; and in this case the arch-villain felt convinced -that Rainford would not even mention his name nor allude to his -establishments in Clerkenwell, when placed before the magistrate or on -his trial. The affair of Sir Christopher Blunt's three thousand pounds -seemed the best point on which to set the whole of this complicated -machinery in motion; and Old Death knew sufficient of Mr. Howard's -cold, calculating, and money-making disposition to be well aware that -his aid in the business could be readily secured. He communicated all -his plans to Tidmarsh; and this latter individual suggested that -Rainford should be led to believe that Old Death was no more. "For," -said Tidmarsh, "when I entered your store-room and saw Rainford gazing -at you in your fit, I concluded you were really dead, and I am certain -that such was the impression of the highwayman. Besides, he fled in -horror; and Rainford is not the person thus to act save under -extraordinary circumstances." This hint was adopted; and it was -resolved that Rainford should be induced to suppose that Benjamin -Bones was positively defunct—a belief that would of course preclude -the possibility of any suspicion that the said Bones was the -individual who set in motion the springs of that conspiracy which was -to carry the victim to the scaffold. These projects being all settled -between Old Death and his man Tidmarsh, the latter was despatched to -Mrs. Bunce to whom the entire scheme was communicated. She was -instructed to set spies to watch Tom Rain, and to convey to him, if -possible, the information that Benjamin Bones was dead. It was also -determined not to trust Jacob Smith with the plan of vengeance to be -carried out, but, as a precaution on the right side, to let even him -also believe that Old Death was no more. At the same time the lad was -to be used as a spy on Rainford, his devotion to whom was not of -course suspected. When Mrs. Bunce met, or rather overtook Rainford in -Gray's-Inn-Lane on the Saturday night previous to his arrest, it was -really by accident; and she availed herself of that opportunity to -inform him that Old Death had gone to his last account, according to -the instructions communicated to her in the morning of that very day. -She endeavoured to watch whither Rainford went, after she parted from -him; but he disappeared, and she concluded that he had entered some -house in that vicinity. That he had quitted Lock's Fields was known to -her; and she therefore imagined that his new domicile must be in the -Lane. Jacob was accordingly set to watch that neighbourhood; but he -misled her purposely, as will be remembered, by stating that he had -knocked at every house in the street, and had ascertained that no such -person as Rainford lived there. Tom was, however, seen by one of the -spies, in Piccadilly, on the ensuing (Sunday) evening, as he was -returning from Lady Hatfield's house; and he was dogged over to his -old abode in Lock's Fields. In the meantime, Tidmarsh had been to Mr. -Howard, whom he bribed heavily with gold supplied by Old Death for the -purpose; and the lawyer was induced to instruct Dykes, the Bow Street -runner to arrest Rainford on the charge of robbing Sir Christopher -Blunt. This arrangement with the solicitor was effected on the -Saturday afternoon: it was on the Sunday evening that Rainford was -dogged to his own abode; and that very night, as soon as the spy could -communicate with Mrs. Bunce and Dykes, the arrest of the victim was -accomplished in the manner described in a previous chapter. Throughout -all these and the subsequent proceedings, Jacob Smith's friendly -disposition towards Rainford was not suspected; nor were his visits to -Horsemonger Lane Gaol known to the conspirators—inasmuch as the spies, -who had been placed in that neighbourhood to watch for Lord Ellingham, -had no farther business there when once the Earl was captured and -secured. - -Such was the substance of the confession, partly elicited fairly and -partly extorted from the three worthies—Old Death, Mrs. Bunce, and Mr. -Tidmarsh—who were now so completely in the power of the Earl of -Ellingham. - -"Thus," said Arthur, who, as well as the physician and Jacob Smith, was -appalled at the dreadful discoveries now brought to light,—"thus was -this tremendous conspiracy to take away the existence of a human being, -minutely—I may almost say, scientifically planned in all its details, -and carried on with a secrecy and a success that manifested the most -infernal talent for wicked combinations! Monsters that ye are!" he -cried, unable to retain his feelings any longer; "what vengeance do ye -not merit at my hands? But, no—vengeance is for cowards and grovelling -miscreants like yourselves! Were I inclined—did I stoop to retaliate and -repay ye in your own coin for this enormous misdeed—for you, old man," -he added, turning his indignant glances upon Benjamin Bones, who shrank -back in dismay,—"you ere now alluded to that cause which makes me -interested in all that regards—or rather regarded," he said, correcting -himself, "your unfortunate victim Thomas Rainford! But, as I was -observing—did I choose to wreak revenge on ye three, how easy were it -done! I might imprison ye for the remainder of your lives in your own -dungeons: I might gag and bind ye in such a way that no cry could escape -your lips, and no avenue of escape be possible, and then either leave ye -to starve—yes, to starve to death in this room; or I might set fire to -the house and consign ye to the torture of flames!" - -Mrs. Bunce uttered a faint shriek, and Old Death gave vent to a low -moan, as these awful words fell upon their ears: but Tidmarsh remained -passive and silent. - -Jacob Smith and the domestics gazed upon the Earl in anxious suspense, -not unmixed with awe; for, as he spoke, he seemed as if he were armed -with an iron eloquence to reproach, and a vicarious power to punish -fearfully. - -The physician surveyed the three prisoners with ineffable disgust. - -"But, no!" resumed the Earl: "I would not condescend—I would not degrade -myself so low as to snatch from your hands the weapons with which you -work, and then use them against you! I have yet another point on which I -require information: and when your answers, old man," he continued, -again addressing himself to Bones, "shall have been given, all that will -remain for me to perform is the destruction of your ill-got property, -and the adoption of a measure to deprive you of any future interest in -these houses with their dark subterranean passage and their horrible -dungeons. Benjamin Bones," exclaimed Arthur, after a few moments' pause, -"wherefore did you seek to possess yourself of that little boy whom -Thomas Rainford had so kindly—so generously—so charitably adopted?" - -Old Death explained that as he hoped to be enabled to discover the -maternal parent of the lad, and as he conceived that Charley might -afford him information calculated to assist him in that pursuit, he had -endeavoured to get the child into his power. - -"The letter which was found on the person of the deceased Sarah Watts," -said the Earl, "doubtless furnished you with ideas of enacting a scheme -of extortion against the boy's mother, should you be enabled to find her -out, and believing as you do that she is high-born and perhaps wealthy. -That letter fell into the hands of Rainford—no matter how; and, though I -have not seen it, yet the nature of its contents have been communicated -to me. Now, answer me—and answer me truly, if thou canst,—have you any -farther clue beyond that which your acquaintance with the nature of that -letter furnishes?" - -"I have not—I have not," replied the old villain hastily: "if I had, I -should not have wanted to get the boy into my power, that I might glean -from him as much as he could impart to me." - -"I now, then, warn you to think no more of that child, old man," said -the Earl; "for he is already beyond the reach of your vile aims—and, -even were he not, _I_ would protect him. You see that all your -atrocity—all your intriguing—all your black wickedness does not -invariably conduct you to the goal of success. But moral lessons are -thrown away on such as you. We will therefore terminate this scene as -speedily as possible." Then, turning to his domestics, he added, "You -will repair into the store-rooms of this house, and you will so destroy -and ruin all the rich garments and the larger articles which are there -piled up, that they will become comparatively valueless. The jewellery -you will convey into the subterranean; and all those trinkets you will -throw into the sewer, to which there is an opening from one of the -dungeons. Jacob, you will guide my servants in this task." - -"No, Jacob—Jacob!" exclaimed Mrs. Bunce hysterically: "have nothing to -do with a business which——" - -"Silence—silence, I command you!" growled Old Death, turning a savage -glance upon the woman, and then fixing a look of demoniac hatred upon -the lad, who was already leading the servants into the adjoining rooms. - -Mrs. Bunce remained quiet, in obedience to the order she received from -Old Death. - -"And now relative to these houses—this, and the one in Turnmill Street?" -said the nobleman. "Whose property are they?" - -"They are my own freehold," responded Bones,—"bought with my money, -long, long ago. But you will not——" - -"I will not rob you," interrupted the Earl emphatically. "Where are the -papers proving your title to the possession of this freehold?" - -"In the iron-safe, in one of the store-rooms." - -The nobleman quitted the laboratory, but presently returned, saying in a -tone of authority, "The key of that safe!" - -"It is here—here, in my pocket," muttered the arch-villain. "But my -hands are bound——" - -The Earl took the key from the pocket of Old Death and again left the -laboratory. In a few minutes he re-appeared, holding a bundle of papers -in his hand. - -"I see by the endorsement that these are the deeds which I require," he -said. "Now set a value upon your property, and I will pay you the -amount. But stay—I will release you, so that you may execute a document -which my solicitor has already prepared, and which simply requires the -necessary filling up to render it available." - -The nobleman drew a parchment deed from his pocket; and, aided by the -papers which he had brought from the store-room, inserted the requisite -particulars in the blanks left for the purpose. - -He then removed the cords which confined Old Death, who named a large -sum as the purchase-money of the freehold, and for which the Earl wrote -a cheque on his banker without hesitation. - -Then the deed of sale and transfer was duly signed by Old Death, and -witnessed by Dr. Lascelles. - -"This proceeding on my part," said the Earl, when the business was -concluded, "may appear arbitrary and even vindictive; but it is -necessary, and is not instigated by the spirit of revenge. I have paid -you more than double the value of the property; and, therefore, you -cannot complain. If you feel aggrieved, remember that it is in my power -to transport you for life, on account of the outrage you perpetrated -upon me by making me your prisoner in the subterranean which shall never -be rendered available to you again. I have now performed the whole of -the task which I had imposed upon myself; and you may all three depart!" - -Thus speaking, the Earl unbound Tidmarsh; and, having compelled this -individual, as well as Old Death, to surrender their pass-keys to the -two houses, he followed those two villains and the equally vile Mrs. -Bunce to the front-door. - -The three passed out into the street; but before they sped away, Old -Death raised his hand, and shaking it ominously, exclaimed, "Lord -Ellingham, I will yet be avenged!" - -The young nobleman did not condescend to offer a reply, but closed the -door, and retraced his way to the laboratory. - -"Well, my dear Arthur," said the physician, "I think you have had to -deal with as pretty a sample of miscreants as ever underwent -examination. None of those," he added, pointing towards the shelf on -which the casts of the felons' heads were ranged, "could possibly have -competed with them." - -"Do you approve, doctor, of all the steps which I have taken?" demanded -the young nobleman. - -"You have acted admirably," replied Lascelles. "Indeed, you have behaved -too well to the chief of those fiends, by paying him double the value of -his houses." - -"I would not allow even so vile a wretch as he to think that I had -wronged him," returned the nobleman. "You can now remain in -uninterrupted possession of your laboratory, doctor," he added with a -smile. "But let us see how progresses the work of destruction in the -other rooms." - -Thither the doctor and the Earl proceeded accordingly. - -It would have broken Old Death's heart outright to contemplate the rapid -work which the nobleman's servants and Jacob Smith were making of the -task allotted to them. In the room adjoining the bed-chamber, two of the -domestics were employed in breaking the china, tearing the clothes, -burning the silk handkerchiefs and the parcels of rich lace, ripping to -pieces the muffs and boas, smashing the looking-glasses and pictures, -and committing a havoc such as only the peculiar circumstances of the -case could have justified. In the other store-room, the third servant -and Jacob Smith were unpacking boxes and cases of jewels, and crushing -the various valuables with billets of wood. - -The fires were lighted in both rooms, and as much property was destroyed -as it was safe to consume by those means: the jewellery was all conveyed -to the subterranean, and thrown into the common sewer through that -aperture which the hands of the nobleman had so lately hollowed in the -wall of the dungeon. - -The day dawned ere the work of destruction was completed: and then the -store-rooms exhibited an appearance forming a strange contrast with -their late wealthy aspect. - -The physician returned to his house in Grafton Street; and Lord -Ellingham hastened home to Pall Mall, leaving his servants and Jacob -Smith to follow at their leisure. - -In the course of the day he called upon Lady Hatfield, to whom he had -already written two or three notes, acquainting her with the outlines of -the numerous incidents which had so rapidly occurred since the moment of -his escape from the dungeon: and he now gave her a detailed and oral -account of all those exciting occurrences. - -Their demeanour towards each other was that of an affectionate brother -and a fond sister; and when the Earl bade her adieu, they embraced with -feelings far different from those which once had filled their hearts. - -In the evening, Arthur, accompanied by Jacob Smith, and attended by only -a single valet, departed in his travelling-carriage for Dover, whence on -the ensuing morning he embarked for France. - - - - - CHAPTER LXVI. - MRS. SLINGSBY AND THE BARONET AGAIN. - - -A few days had elapsed since the events related in the preceding -chapter. - -We must now again introduce our readers to the abode of Mrs. Slingsby, -in Old Burlington Street. - -It was about ten o'clock in the morning; the breakfast things had just -been cleared away; and the pious lady was sitting in an abstracted—nay, -positively mournful mood, holding in her hand the _Morning Herald_, on -which, however, her looks were not fixed. - -There was something on her mind. She was the prey alike to a source of -disquietude and to the embarrassment caused by a projected scheme, beset -with difficulties which seemed insuperable. - -At length a double knock at the door interrupted her painful reverie; -and in a few minutes Sir Henry Courtenay, whom she had been expecting, -was announced. - -The baronet's countenance was lighted up with an expression of joy and -triumph; and, as soon as the servant had retired, he embraced his -mistress with more than his wonted ardour. Still that ardour seemed not -to exist on account of her, but rather to arise from feelings which -required a vent: it was an embrace that appeared to say, "Congratulate -me, for I have succeeded!" - -"You are unusually gay this morning, my dear Henry," observed the lady, -somewhat piqued at his manner; for her perception was quite keen enough -to comprehend the real nature of the baronet's emotions, as we have just -described them. - -"Martha, my love," responded Sir Henry, "I have just brought a well-laid -plot to a successful issue—at least, so far successful, that there can -be no doubt as to the result." - -"I dare say the project has but little interest for me," exclaimed the -lady. "You have become a general _intriguant_ I am convinced, Sir Henry; -and your conduct is not fair or proper towards me." - -"My dear Martha, I have before told you that it is impossible for me to -remain completely faithful to you," answered the baronet. "I would not -bind myself to any one woman, for all the world. If there be a woman to -whom I could so bind myself, it is decidedly yourself." - -"Thank you, Sir Henry, for the compliment," said Mrs. Slingsby, a little -softened. - -"But it is impossible, I repeat. Moreover," continued the baronet, "you -must not complain of me—for I do all I can to render you happy. My -banker's book is at your service——" - -"Well, well," interrupted Mrs. Slingsby, "we will not dispute. Indeed, I -have matters of too great an importance upon my mind to permit me to -devote attention to petty jealousies and idle frivolities; and I -perceive that you have also much to occupy your thoughts. But the -revelation shall commence with you. Come, Henry, tell me all you have to -say; and when we have discoursed on your affairs, you shall listen to -mine." - -"Be it so, Martha," said the baronet; then drawing his chair close to -that of his mistress, he continued thus: "You are well aware how vexed -and annoyed I was when you allowed the two girls to depart in so sudden -a manner from the house." - -"And you are also aware how cruelly I was discovered and reproached by -my nephew Clarence," added Mrs. Slingsby. - -"I have not forgotten all you told me on that head, Martha," returned -the baronet; "and perhaps what I am going to tell you may set your mind -at ease relative to that same nephew of yours." - -"Poor Clarence!" exclaimed the lady, really touched as she thought of -him. "He has been dreadfully ill ever since that shabby trick which Mr. -Torrens played him. For three weeks he was confined to his bed, and was -delirious——" - -"I know all that, Martha," interrupted the baronet somewhat impatiently. -"But do listen to me, as I am going to tell you things which I have -hitherto kept altogether to myself. Well, you must know, then, that I -was determined not to be discomfited by the abrupt return of Rosamond to -her father's house; and I was well aware that, after all which had -occurred between Villiers and yourself, you could not possibly give me -any further assistance. So I acted for myself. I ascertained every -requisite particular relative to this Mr. Torrens; I discovered that he -is overwhelmed with difficulties—trembling on the verge of -insolvency—and anxious to do any thing that may save him from so -ignominious a fate. I also learnt that he is a man who will sacrifice -his best feelings and principles for money. He has a mania for building -speculations; and he conceives that if he be only assisted with adequate -funds, he shall make a rapid and princely fortune. Love for his -daughters he has not: he merely regards them as beautiful objects, to be -sold to the highest bidder—and on what terms he scarcely cares, so that -they become the means of producing him money. Such is the person on whom -I have had to work—and I have not worked ineffectually." - -"Then you have formed an acquaintance with him?" exclaimed Mrs. -Slingsby. - -"An acquaintance!" cried the baronet, chuckling; "I have formed an -intimate friendship." - -"What! in four or five weeks!" said Mrs. Slingsby. - -"Exactly so. I obtained an introduction to him through his surveyor, who -also happens to be mine; and under pretence of bargaining with him for -the purchase of some of his houses, I wormed myself into his confidence. -He at length informed me that there were heavy mortgages on all his -buildings, and that he was anxious to sell some in order to be able to -proceed with others. When I encountered the young ladies, I affected to -be greatly surprised that they should prove to be the daughters of the -very Mr. Torrens to whom my surveyor had recommended me." - -"You have worked systematically indeed!" exclaimed Mrs. Slingsby, with -pouting lips. "But pray proceed." - -"Sometimes I was enabled, when I called," continued the baronet, "to -obtain a few minutes' conversation with Rosamond alone; for Adelais, the -elder sister, usually remains in her own chamber, a prey to the deepest -melancholy. But Rosamond never appeared to comprehend any of the -significant though well wrapt up hints which I dropped relative to my -feelings concerning her. It is evident that you proved either a bad -tutoress, Martha, or she a dull pupil." - -"I presume you are coming to a crisis, Henry," said Mrs. Slingsby; "for -your narrative is somewhat of the most tedious." - -"I will endeavour to render it a little more interesting," observed the -baronet complacently. "A few days ago I called at Torrens Cottage, and -found the house in the greatest confusion. An execution had been levied -in the morning, and the broker was there, putting a value upon the -property. Mr. Torrens was in a state of dark and sombre despair; the -young ladies were in their own apartment. I had a long private -conversation with the father. He made me acquainted with the entire -position of his affairs; and I discovered that five thousand pounds -would be required to redeem him from utter ruin. It was then that I -gradually unveiled my purposes—it was then that I dropped mysterious -hints of my objects and views. At first he was astounded when the light -began to dawn upon him, and he caught a glimpse of my meaning; but as I -carelessly displayed a roll of notes before him, he grew attentive, and -appeared to reflect profoundly." - -"_The man who deliberates, is lost_," said Mrs. Slingsby, quoting the -hackneyed proverb, and shuddering—bad, criminal, worthless as she was—at -the tremendous amount of guilt which she now more than half suspected to -be already perpetrated, or at all events to be approaching its -consummation. - -"While we were yet far from coming to an open explanation," continued -the baronet, as calmly as if he were narrating a history of but little -moment, "an event occurred which hastened the affair to the catastrophe -that I contemplated. A sheriff's officer entered and arrested Mr. -Torrens for a considerable amount—seven hundred pounds. The execution -levied on the property in the house was for three hundred and forty; and -thus he required an immediate advance of upwards of a thousand pounds to -save himself from a prison, and his furniture from a public sale in due -course. I requested the officer to withdraw from the room for a few -minutes, stating who I was, and pledging myself that Mr. Torrens should -not attempt to escape. I will not tell you all that then took place -between me and the father of those girls: let it suffice for you to -learn, that at the expiration of nearly an hour's discourse—varied on -his part by appeals, threats, prayers, and imprecations—_he agreed to -sell his daughter Rosamond_!" - -"As your wife?" exclaimed Mrs. Slingsby, in a hoarse, hollow tone. - -"No: as my mistress—as any thing I choose," returned Sir Henry -Courtenay, emphatically. - -Mrs. Slingsby shuddered from head to foot. - -"How silly of you to affect horror at such an event!" exclaimed the -baronet. - -"Yes—it _is_ silly on my part!" cried Mrs. Slingsby, bitterly; "silly, -because I ought to have played a different part when first you touched -upon the subject a few weeks ago. But, my God! Henry—you cannot mean—you -will not, surely—surely——" - -"Martha, this passes all endurance," said the baronet sternly. "If you -do not choose to listen to me, I can retire: if you will not assist me, -there is an end to every thing between you and me—and then, how will you -live?" - -"What assistance do you require?" asked the widow, in a low and -tremulous tone—for she was shocked at all she had heard, and she was -terrified by the menace which the baronet had just uttered. - -"You shall learn," answered the latter. "I advanced the sums necessary -to save Mr. Torrens from a prison and his furniture from the effects of -the levy, taking his note of hand, payable on demand, for the amount—so -that should he wish to retract from his bargain, he is completely in my -power. I have agreed to give him five thousand pounds in all—_as the -price of his daughter_. But he represented to me that the project can -never be carried into execution, until Adelais and Rosamond shall have -been separated. I was not unprepared for such an objection; and I -accordingly proposed that he should permit Clarence Villiers to marry -Adelais without delay—her drooping health serving as the plea for this -relenting disposition on his part. I moreover promised my special -protection on behalf of Clarence, for whom I can speedily obtain a -government situation of far greater emolument than the paltry clerkship -which he now holds. Then, when the wedding is over, and the young couple -have quitted London, to pass the honeymoon somewhere in the country, -_you will request Rosamond to spend a few days at your house_." - -And the baronet fixed a significant look upon his mistress as he uttered -these words, so pregnant with terrible meaning. - -"Impossible!" exclaimed Mrs. Slingsby: "if the deed were done -here—beneath this roof—it would ruin me!" - -"Ridiculous!" cried the baronet; and he proceeded to argue his hellish -project in a manner which showed how fully he had considered it in all -its details, and how artfully he had devised the means to render an -exposure improbable. - -[Illustration] - -But we cannot place on record all that was urged by him, or objected to -by his mistress, on this particular point; suffice it to say that, -influenced by the menaces more than by the reasoning which came from his -lips, the pious lady at last consented to become the pander to his -damnable machinations. - -"Mr. Torrens shall this day write a letter to your nephew and invite him -to the Cottage," said the baronet, when the whole plan was fully agreed -upon. "Clarence will not of course be suffered to know that any -interference on my part has brought about a reconciliation between him -and the father of his beloved. The marriage will be hurried on as much -as possible, and then Rosamond will become mine! But is Clarence -sufficiently recovered from his illness to leave his dwelling?" - -"He is much better than he was a few days ago," returned Mrs. Slingsby; -"but when he first awoke to consciousness, after a month's duration of -alarming illness and almost constant delirium, he received a severe -shock, which produced a partial relapse. In a word, he inquired -concerning the highwayman Thomas Rainford; and, on hearing that he had -suffered the penalty of death, he exhibited the most painful and -heart-rending emotions." - -"But can he leave his room? Is he well enough to move out again?" -demanded the baronet impatiently. - -"Yes: he was here yesterday," answered Mrs. Slingsby. "Moreover, a -letter conveying to him such joyful news as those which Mrs. Torrens -will have to impart, cannot fail to restore him speedily to health and -good spirits." - -"Thus far all goes well," said Sir Henry Courtenay. "And now, Martha, my -love, it is your turn to speak." - -"I have consented to serve you, Henry, in a most difficult and dangerous -scheme," observed the lady, after a few moments' reflection; "may I hope -for aid and support from you in a plan which _I_ have formed?" - -"Certainly. Proceed—my curiosity is already excited." - -"Henry," said Mrs. Slingsby, sinking her voice to a low and serious -tone; "I am again——" - -The baronet started. - -"Yes—again with child," added the widow; "and on this occasion I intend -to turn to a good account what would otherwise be deemed a terrible -misfortune." - -"I cannot for the life of me understand you," exclaimed Sir Henry -Courtenay. - -"I will explain myself," resumed Mrs. Slingsby. "You are well aware of -the readiness which even well-informed persons in this country manifest -to put faith in anything monstrous or preposterous that may be -proclaimed or established under the cloak of religion. The greater the -falsehood, the more greedily it is swallowed. There is that scoundrel -and hypocrite Sheepshanks, for instance, who was so completely exposed a -few weeks ago: he has taken a chapel somewhere in the Tottenham Court -Road, and preached for the first time last Sunday. He has now become a -dissenter; and in his initial sermon he dwelt boldly and long on the -errors of which he had been guilty. He declared that he had been sorely -beset by Satan, to whom he had for a time succumbed: hence his -disgraceful fall. But he proceeded to aver that he and Satan had since -then had a long and desperate struggle together, throughout an entire -night, in his bed-chamber; and that he eventually succeeded in sending -the Evil One howling away just as the day broke. He therefore proclaimed -that he had now emancipated himself from the thraldom of hell, and was a -chosen vessel of heaven once again. This discourse produced such an -effect, that when he descended from the pulpit, many of the congregation -pressed forward to shake him by the hand; and he is now in a more -fragrant odour of sanctity than ever." - -"To what is all this to lead, Martha?" inquired Sir Henry, completely -bewildered by the long tirade relative to Mr. Sheepshanks. - -"I merely mentioned the circumstances which I have related, for the -purpose of convincing you how easily the world is duped by persons -professing extreme sanctity," continued Mrs. Slingsby. - -"To be sure!" ejaculated Sir Henry: "there are always plenty of fools to -assemble at the beck and word of a knave." - -"And it is with these impressions," added the widow, "that I intend to -convert my present misfortune into an honour and a source of immense -profit." - -"May I be hanged if I understand one word of all you are saying!" cried -the baronet, completely bewildered. "You are in the family way again, it -appears; and yet you glory in the circumstance!" - -"Doubtless you have heard the story of Johanna Southcott?"[28] said the -widow, with a glance full of meaning. - -"And you would imitate that imposture!" exclaimed Sir Henry: "'tis -madness—sheer madness! Your nephew, who knows how intimate you and I are -together, would expose the miserable trick." - -"That is the principal difficulty which I should have to encounter," -said Mrs. Slingsby, in a calm tone: "and even that is not -insurmountable. I require your aid, indeed, on that very point. The -change which, to suit _your_ views, has taken place—or will speedily -take place—relative to the position of Clarence and Adelais, already -smoothes down much of the difficulty alluded to. Clarence will receive -the benefit of your interest: exert that interest, then, to procure him -a situation in some distant colony—or the East Indies, if you will—and -his absence will alike render _you_ more secure in the enjoyment of your -Rosamond's person, and will remove to a distance the only individual who -could possibly interfere with _my_ project." - -"Martha, this scheme of yours is utter madness, I repeat," exclaimed the -baronet. "I will have nothing to do with it. If you attempt to palm so -ridiculous a deceit on the world, all sorts of prying inquiries will be -made, and the real nature of our intimacy must in that case be -inevitably discovered. No—it shall not be done! I will give you money to -go abroad, if you choose, when your situation may render necessary a -temporary disappearance from London; but to consent to this insane -project——" - -"Well, well, Henry," interrupted the lady, terrified by the vehemence of -the baronet's manner, "you shall have your own way." - -"Now you are reasonable," said Sir Henry, drawing his chair closer to -that in which she was seated, and beginning to toy with her. - -But we need not prolong our description of this interview. Suffice it to -say, that Mrs. Slingsby consented to abandon her atrocious scheme of -representing herself as a second Johanna Southcott, and on the other -hand promised to lend her aid to the no less infamous conspiracy formed -against the honour of the unsuspecting Rosamond Torrens—for which -concessions the pious and excellent lady received a cheque for a -considerable sum on Sir Henry Courtenay's bankers. - - * * * * * - -The plan which Mrs. Slingsby had conceived, would never for one moment -have obtained any degree of consistency in her imagination, had she not -been well aware that there were thousands and tens of thousands of -credulous gulls—superstitious dolts and idiots—miserable and -contemptible fanatics, who would have greedily swallowed the impious, -blasphemous, and atrocious lie. - -In earnest belief of the Christian religion, and for profound veneration -of all the sublime truths and doctrines taught by the Bible, we yield to -no living being:—but it is not with common patience that we contemplate -that disgusting readiness which so many of our fellow-countrymen exhibit -to put faith in the false prophets and hypocrites who start up on all -sides, each with some saving system of his own. - -Not many years have elapsed since the Reverend Mr. Irving electrified -all England with his "unknown tongues;" and there were impostors and -fanatics, or fools and knaves, prompt to give an impulse to that -memorable delusion by lending themselves to the cheat. - -In this civilized country, too—in the nineteenth century—in a land whose -sons proclaim themselves to be farther advanced in knowledge and -enlightening principles than any other race on the surface of the -earth—in one of the counties, moreover, where the refinement of -intellect is supposed to prevail to a degree of brilliancy certainly not -excelled in other parts of the kingdom,—there—in the neighbourhood of -the cathedral city of Canterbury—did a madman, at no very remote date, -assemble a host of enthusiastic believers in his horrible assumption of -the name and attributes of the SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD! Yes—in the vicinity -of a town presumed to possess all the benefit which the knowledge and -learning of innumerable clergymen can possibly impart, did Mad Tom -successfully personate the Messiah for several days! - -But, oh! how sad—how mournful is it to contemplate the course which the -Government of England is taking at the instant while we are penning -these lines! A General Fast, to propitiate the Almighty, and to induce -Him to avert his wrath from Ireland! Holy God! do thy thunders sleep -when men thus blaspheme thy sacred name—thus actually reproach Thee with -the effects of their misdeeds? - -When misgovernment has brought Ireland to the verge of desperation,—when -landlords have drained the country of its resources to be expended in -the British metropolis,—when the agents and middlemen have exercised the -full amount of petty tyranny and goading oppression upon the unhappy -tenants,—when the Irish pride has been insulted by the symbols of -subjection until endurance is no longer possible,—when the ambition of -many gifted minds has been chafed and irritated at being excluded from a -career of honour they would otherwise have pursued,—when all the -humanizing effects of civilization have been restricted by a perpetual -collision between the triumphant Protestant religion on the one hand -domineering with insolence, and the defeated Catholic religion on the -other looking for the chance of regaining a lost ascendancy,—when, too, -an unprincipled system of agitation has fanned the flame of the worst -feelings and extorted the few pence from the pockets of the -half-starving peasantry,—when all these influences, forming an aggregate -powerful enough to crush the most flourishing country upon the face of -the earth, have been brought to bear upon unhappy Ireland, and have -reduced her population to a misery which with such fertile causes was -inevitable,—there are to be found men who are bold enough, in their -deplorable ignorance or their abominable impiety, to accuse the Almighty -of having purposely afflicted Ireland! - -People of the British Isles! be not deceived by this blasphemous -proceeding—a proceeding that would shift an awful responsibility from -the shoulders of incompetent statesmen, and lay it to the account of -heaven! Our blood runs cold as we write these lines—we shudder as we -contemplate the wickedness of this impious subterfuge! - -A General Fast to propitiate the Almighty—when the misgovernment and the -misdeeds of men have worked all the horrible results complained of! -Carlile, Hone, Richard Taylor, Tom Paine, and the whole host of avowed -infidels were never prosecuted by the Attorney-general for blasphemy -worse than that which attributes to the Almighty the effects of the -errors, ignorance, despotism, and short-sightedness of human beings! - -God has given us a fair and beauteous world to dwell in,—he has endowed -us with intelligence to make the most of the produce of the soil,—and -his revealed laws and doctrines have supplied us with precepts competent -to maintain order and regularity in society. HE manifests no caprice—no -change: the seasons come in due course, each bringing its peculiar -bounties;—and it depends on ourselves to render our abiding-places here -scenes of comfort, happiness, and contentment. But if by our own -ignorance, wickedness, or tyrannical behaviour, we succeed in rendering -any one spot of this fair and beauteous world a prey to famine and its -invariable attendant—pestilence,—if we undertake to govern a country -which we have conquered, and instead of applying beneficial and suitable -measures, heap insult, wrong, error, and oppression upon its people,—how -can we be surprised that the worst results should ensue? and how can we -be so wickedly blind, or so vilely hypocritical, as to attempt to cast -upon the dispensations of Providence those lamentable evils which we -ourselves have engendered? - -Again we say that a more abominable insult to the Majesty of Heaven was -never perpetrated, than that conveyed by the motives set forth as a -reason for a General Fast! The Ministers who have advised Queen Victoria -to assent to such a hideous mockery, are unworthy the confidence of the -nation. England will become the laughing-stock—the scorn—the derision of -the whole world. Oh! we feel ashamed of belonging to a country in which -such monstrous proceedings are set in motion under the solemn sanction -of the Sovereign and her Ministers! - ------ - -Footnote 28: - - Partington's "Dictionary of Universal Biography" contains the - following brief but faithful account of that impious and abominable - impostress, Johanna Southcott: - - "She was a singular fanatic, whose extravagant pretensions attracted a - numerous band of converts in London and its vicinity, said to have, at - one period, amounted to upwards of 100,000. She was born in the west - of England, about the year 1750, of parents in very humble life, and, - being carried away by a heated imagination, gave herself out as the - woman spoken of in the book of Revelation. In this capacity she for - awhile carried on a lucrative trade in the sale of seals, which were, - under certain conditions, to secure the salvation of the purchasers. A - disorder subsequently giving her the outward appearance of pregnancy, - after she had passed her grand climacteric, she announced herself as - the mother of the promised Shiloh, whose speedy advent she predicted. - The faith of her followers, among whom were several clergymen of the - established church, rose to enthusiasm. A cradle of the most expensive - materials, and highly decorated, was prepared by her expectant - votaries at a fashionable upholsterer's, and every preparation made - for the reception of the miraculous babe that superstition and - credulity could induce. About the close of the year 1814, however, the - prophetess began to have her misgivings during some comparatively - lucid intervals, in which she declared that, 'if she was deceived, she - had, at all events, been the sport of some spirit, either good or - evil;' and the 27th December in that year, death put an end to both - her hopes and fears. With her followers, however, it was otherwise; - and though for a time confounded by her decease, which they could - scarcely believe to be real, her speedy resurrection was confidently - anticipated. In this persuasion many lived and died, nor is her sect - yet extinct: but, within a short period, several families of her - disciples were living together in the neighbourhood of Chatham, in - Kent, remarkable for the length of their beards and the general - singularity of their appearance. The body of Johanna underwent an - anatomical investigation after her death, when the extraordinary - appearance of her shape was accounted for upon medical principles; and - her remains were conveyed for interment, under a fictitious name, to - the burying-ground attached to the chapel in St. John's Wood." - - - - - CHAPTER LXVII. - THE MARRIAGE.—ROSAMOND. - - -A fortnight had passed since the interview between Mrs. Slingsby and Sir -Henry Courtenay; and the machinations of the latter had so successfully -prevailed in accelerating the matters in which he was interested, that -on the morning, when we must request our readers to accompany us to -Torrens Cottage, the marriage of Adelais and Clarence Villiers was to -take place. - -The young man was still pale from the effects of recent and severe -indisposition; but the happiness which he had experienced during the -last fourteen days had worked a greater physical improvement in him than -six months' sojourn in the south of France could possibly have done. - -Firmly believing that the declining health and drooping spirits of -Adelais had alone induced Mr. Torrens to revoke a decree which was to -have separated them for ever,—and not over anxious to revive past topics -in connexion with the subject,—Clarence gave himself completely up to -the happiness which now awaited him; and his Adelais was equally ready -to bury in oblivion any disagreeable reflections relative to the late -conduct of her father. - -Mr. Torrens was cold, moody, and distant: but this was his manner—and, -as the young people knew not what fierce fires raged beneath that aspect -of ice, they did not bestow any unusual attention on the subject. - -The only source of grief which the sisters knew was their approaching -separation; for Mr. Torrens had arranged for the young couple to proceed -into Devonshire and pass the honeymoon with some distant relations of -his own, who were anxious to see their beautiful cousin Adelais. -Rosamond was to remain with her father, Mrs. Slingsby not having as yet -sent her an invitation to Old Burlington Street, for fear that Clarence -might throw some obstacle in the way of its being accepted. - -Thus stood matters on the bridal morning,—when Adelais appeared -pre-eminently beautiful in her garb of virgin white—emblematical of the -innocence of her own heart,—and when Clarence Villiers could scarcely -persuade himself that he was actually touching on the threshold of -complete felicity. Rosamond—poor Rosamond smiled amidst the tears that -flowed fast down her pale cheeks; for she felt as if she were losing her -best—her only friend in the approaching departure of Adelais. - -There was a young lady—a friend—who acted as joint bridesmaid with -Rosamond; and there were two or three other acquaintances of the -family;—and of the persons thus enumerated consisted the bridal party. -The sisters had naturally invited Mrs. Slingsby; but that lady, aware -that her presence would not be agreeable to her nephew, had sent to -plead indisposition as the excuse for her absence. - -And Mr. Torrens—what was the nature of his feelings now? Forced by his -necessities—or rather by that indomitable pride which urged him to make -every sacrifice rather than boldly meet his embarrassments in the -Bankruptcy Court—he had assented to bestow his elder daughter on a young -man whom he disliked, and to sell his younger child to an atrocious -villain, who had not even manifested the delicacy of hinting at -marriage! - -Reader! think not that when we record the dreadful fact of _a father -consenting to sell his own daughter for gold_, we are fabricating for a -romance an incident which never occurred in real life! Such things have -been done often—are done often—and will be done often, so long as the -human species shall exist. The immense wealth of that corrupt and -detestable monster, the late Marquis of Hertford,[29] enabled him to -purchase the favours not only of Lady S——, but also induced that -profligate woman to sell to him every one of her daughters! And those -daughters have since married titled men, and live splendidly upon the -riches bequeathed to them by the horrible voluptuary. Again, but a few -years have elapsed since a certain Lady H——sold her beautiful daughter -Priscilla to a most ignoble lord; and the atrocious deed became the -topic of numerous articles in the English and continental newspapers, -the tribunals of France having taken cognizance of the scandal! - -We could make mention of innumerable instances of this kind, the greater -portion of which are, however, confined to the aristocratic circles. For -it must necessarily occur that the "upper classes," as they insolently -denominate themselves, are the most profligate, unprincipled, and -licentious of all the sections into which society is divided. Wealth and -idleness, associated, must, as a general rule, give a fearful impulse to -immorality: rich viands and generous wines must heat the blood; and -nights of dissipation—balls, routs, _soirées_, and card-parties—inflame -the imagination. The voluptuous dances which prevail in those -fashionable assemblies—the indecent manner in which the ladies of the -"upper class" display so much of the bosom that but little scope is left -for the exercise of fancy—the positive encouragement that is given in -high life to men whose reputation as vile seducers is notorious,—all -these circumstances foster licentiousness, and provide a constant -aliment to sustain immorality. - -Again, the morals of the fashionable world have not recovered from the -effects of that dangerous poison which was instilled into them by the -evil examples of the family of George the Third, and the flagrant -conduct of the beastly voluptuary, George the Fourth. The licentiousness -of the Princesses of that family became the public scandal of the day; -and from the ladies of the Court emanated the fashion of wearing hoops -to their dresses, for a purpose which need not be particularly -described. But fashion subsists by the artifice of constant change; and -when hoops had enjoyed their day, those ladies who had found them so -convenient, actually devised the scheme of giving vogue to a padding in -front _to make the wearers appear in the family way_! This is no -fiction; and young, unmarried girls, as well as married ladies, actually -submitted to this disgraceful and immoral fashion through servile -obedience to the example of the Princesses. This was positively holding -out a premium to licentiousness—because the fear of a false step -indicating itself by its consequences, was annihilated. - -Everyone knows that many titled ladies gloried in the reputation of -being (as they really were) the mistresses of George the Fourth. With -all these frightful examples in view, how could the entire sphere of the -fashionable world fail to become dreadfully demoralised? and how was it -possible to prevent the contaminating influence from spreading to the -inferior grades? Therefore is it that the fashionable world -especially—being the first to experience that influence and the most -likely to perpetuate it—has not yet recovered from the effects of the -evil example of the Court. True is it, thank God! that Queen Victoria -has not followed the same course which so many of her near relatives -adopted: but still even her bright example can only gradually mitigate, -and not in a moment destroy, the effects of the moral poison instilled -into fashionable society by her royal predecessors. - -Previously to the first revolution in France, the aristocracy were -steeped in licentiousness and profligacy. But a glorious nation rose in -its might—hurled down a throne encrusted with the miseries of the -people—annihilated the bloated and infamous nobility—and even gave the -proud and arrogant clergy such a lesson as they have never since -forgotten. The aristocracy of France have never recovered that blow—and, -thank heaven! never will. The hereditary peerage exists no longer in -France; and titles of nobility are valueless. Thus, by virtually -destroying the aristocracy of rank and birth, France has suppressed a -sewer of filth and corruption which distilled its abominations through -every grade and phase of society. The aristocracy of talent has been -substituted; and the mechanic may now rise to be a minister—the -ploughman has his fair chance of becoming a politician—the delver of the -soil can aspire to the post of deputy. France is regenerated: England -can become so only by the destruction of its hereditary aristocracy. - -From this long digression, we return to the bridal party assembled at -Torrens Cottage, and now about to repair to the adjacent church, where -the nuptial bond was to be indissolubly tied. - -And to that church did the party proceed,—the father, who looked upon -his daughters as the means of filling his purse,—the daughters, who knew -not the utter selfishness of their sire,—the young man, who was so -indescribably happy in at length accompanying to the altar her whom he -loved so well,—and the guests, who thought as much of the excellent -breakfast which followed as of the solemn ceremony itself. - -The banquet passed—and the time came for the departure of the newly -married couple. A post chaise drove up to the door—the trunks were -hastily conveyed to the vehicle—and Adelais was torn away from the arms -of her young sister Rosamond, who clung frantically to her. - -An hour afterwards, the guests were gone—and Rosamond remained alone -with her father. - -"God grant that my dearest sister may be happy!" said the maiden, her -voice almost completely lost in sobs. - -"If she is not, it will be her own fault," observed Mr. Torrens harshly, -as he paced the room. "She would have the young man—she set her heart -upon him—and I have yielded. I suppose you are now sorry that she is -gone; and yet I dare swear you thought me a brutal tyrant for separating -the love-sick pair a few weeks ago." - -"My dearest, dearest father!" exclaimed Rosamond, profoundly afflicted -and even annoyed at the manner in which she was addressed,—"wherefore -speak to me thus! Have I ever given you any reason to suppose that I was -so undutiful as——" - -"As to run away from the house with your sister—eh?" interrupted Mr. -Torrens in a biting, satirical tone. "A young lady who could take such a -step, would not be very particular in her observations on her father's -conduct." - -"Heavens! how have I deserved these reproaches—at least to-day?" asked -Rosamond, bursting into an agony of tears. "Shall not the past be -forgotten? will you ever continue, my dear father, to recall those -events which are naturally so painful——" - -"Well, well—let us say no more about it, Rosamond," cried Mr. Torrens, -ashamed of having vented his ill-humour upon his daughter. - -And he paced the room in a manner denoting a strange and indomitable -agitation. - -The fact was that the miserable father recoiled in horror from the -atrocity he had agreed to perpetrate; and, with an idiosyncracy so -common amongst men who tremble upon the verge of committing a fearful -crime, he turned on the intended victim as if she were the wilful and -conscious cause of those black feelings that raged within his breast. He -had not moral courage sufficient to retreat while it was yet time:—he -dared not make the comparatively small sacrifice of himself to avoid the -immeasurably greater one which involved the immolation of his daughter. - -Rosamond was already deeply afflicted at parting with her sister—that -sister from whom she had never been separated until now:—but she was -doomed to experience additional sources of grief in the harsh manner and -alarming agitation of her father. - -At length, unable any longer to endure the state of suspense and -uncertainty in which she was suddenly plunged concerning him, she rose -from her seat—advanced timidly towards him—and, throwing one of her -snowy arms over his shoulder, murmured in a plaintive tone, -"Father—dearest father, what dreadful cause of sorrow oppresses you now? -Are you fearful that Adelais will not be happy—that Clarence will not -always be good and kind to her? Oh! yes, dearest father—I am sure he -will——" - -"I am not thinking of the daughter who is gone," exclaimed Mr. Torrens, -suddenly interrupting the maiden, and speaking in a tone no longer -harsh, but positively wild with despair: "my thoughts are intent on the -daughter who is left behind!" - -"Am I a source of affliction to you, father?" asked Rosamond, -contemplating her sire in so plaintive, melancholy, and yet tender a -manner that his vile heart was for a moment touched, and he felt ready -to throw himself at her feet and implore her pardon for the ill he -meditated towards her. "Tell me, my beloved parent," she said, "have I -given you offence in any way—by word or deed? Oh! if I have, bitter will -be the tears that I shall shed; and sincerely—most sincerely shall I -beseech your forgiveness." - -"No, Rosamond," said Mr. Torrens, crushing the better feelings of his -soul as he thought of the ruin that would envelop him were he to retract -his engagements with the baronet: "you have not offended me—and I -believe I spoke harshly to you just now without a cause. But let us talk -no more on that subject. Compose yourself—wipe away those tears. I shall -now retire to my study—for I have letters of importance to write." - -But at that moment the well-known knock of the postman resounded through -the house; and almost immediately afterwards a servant entered the room, -handed a letter to Rosamond, and then withdrew. - -"A note for _me_!" exclaimed the young lady, in surprise, while Mr. -Torrens' blood ran cold and his brain whirled. "Oh! it is from dear Mrs. -Slingsby—I recognise the handwriting." - -And hastily opening it, she glanced over the contents. - -Mr. Torrens was about to leave the room, as if the arrival of the letter -were a matter of perfect indifference to him. - -"One moment, dear father," said Rosamond, detaining him by the arm: "you -must read this beautiful letter which Mrs. Slingsby has written to me; -and though I cannot think of accepting the kind invitation which it -conveys——" - -"What does Mrs. Slingsby say in her letter, then?" demanded Mr. Torrens, -all his ill-humour returning as this further step in the hideous plot -re-awakened his most poignant reflections; "what does she say, that you -speak in such enthusiastic terms of a mere letter?" - -Rosamond placed the note in his hand; and Mr. Torrens, turning aside -towards the window, read the contents, as follow:— - - "It has greatly distressed me, my beloved young friend, to have been - unable to attend at the solemnization of the holy and yet deeply - affecting ceremony, which, by the time this reaches you, will have - united my excellent nephew and your sweet sister. But it has pleased - the Almighty, in his inscrutable wisdom, to afflict me with a severe - rheumatism at this time, as I assured you in a previous note; and - although I sincerely hope that, by the blessing of that all-wise - Being and the aid of the lotion which Dr. Wagtail has sent me, I - shall be well in a few days, yet I am compelled for the present to - remain within the house. It is my most sincere and heart-felt hope - that your dear sister and my beloved nephew may experience all that - happiness which the Omnipotent may deign to bestow upon his elect. - One circumstance must essentially tend to smooth down those mundane - asperities which, alas! they will have to encounter in the rough - path of life; and that is the religious faith with which they are - both imbued. For myself, I can safely declare that if it were not - for the consolations which the Holy Bible imparts to all who study - its divine doctrines, and for the solace afforded me by a few kind - friends (amongst whom I must include that most choice vessel of the - Lord, Sir Henry Courtenay), I know not how I should bear up against - the grievous pains wherewith it has pleased the Most High to afflict - me, and which have just passed from the right foot into the left. - Doubtless it is for my eternal welfare, in a better world, that I am - thus chastened in this; although Dr. Wagtail, with a levity - unbecoming a professional man of his age and standing, declares that - if I keep my feet well swathed in flannel and take mustard baths on - going to bed, I shall triumph over the ailment. But, oh! my dearest - young friend, what is flannel without the blessing of heaven? what - is mustard without the aid of the Most High? I am very lonely, sweet - Rosamond; and I am fearful that you must miss your dear sister much. - I know that Mr. Torrens' occupations take him much from home; and - thus you cannot always enjoy the presence and the consolations of - your excellent father, whom, I regret to say, I only as yet know by - good report, but whose hand I hope to press some day in friendship. - Will you, my love, come and pass a week or two with me? It will be a - perfect charity on your part; and I am convinced also that change of - scene will cheer your spirits. Come to me, my dearest Rosamond, - early to-morrow morning (God willing)—if your good kind father can - spare you. - - "Ever your sincere and attached friend, - "MARTHA SLINGSBY." - -The vile hypocrisy which characterised this letter enhanced, if -possible, the blackness of that crime towards the consummation of which -it was so material a step; and Mr. Torrens stood gazing upon the -document until all its characters seemed to move and agitate on the -surface of the paper like a legion of hideous reptiles swarming -together. - -But at length mastering his horribly painful emotions, he turned towards -his daughter, saying, "And wherefore, Rosamond, should you not accept an -invitation as kind as it is considerate?" - -"Oh! my dear father," exclaimed the maiden, "I could not think of -leaving you at a time when you have just lost the society of one of your -children. Moreover, I perceive that you are not entirely happy—I fear -that those recent embarrassments——" - -"Speak not of them, Rosamond," interrupted Mr. Torrens sternly; for so -great was his pride, that he could not endure the idea of his own -daughters being acquainted with his late pecuniary difficulties. "To -return to the subject of that letter," he added, after a few moments' -pause, "I think you cannot do better than accept the invitation:—indeed, -it would appear unkind were you to refuse it. Mrs. Slingsby is suffering -from indisposition—and she is evidently anxious to have a companion. -Therefore, Rosamond, I must beg you to commence your preparations for -the visit." - -The young lady urged various remonstrances against this resolution; but -her father over-ruled them all—and it was accordingly determined at -length that she should repair to Old Burlington Street on the following -morning. - -But when the morning came, and the vehicle which was to convey her to -London drove up to the door, how appalling were the feelings which -agitated,—nay, absolutely raged in the breast of Mr. Torrens! - -Acute—intensely acute was the pain which he endured in endeavouring to -subdue those emotions,—or rather in composing his features in such a way -that his countenance might not indicate the awful warring that disturbed -his soul. - -With streaming eyes did Rosamond take leave of her father; and as she -stepped into the chaise, a presentiment of evil flashed across her -imagination. - -But she was young—naturally inclined to look upon the bright side of -things—and too inexperienced to know much of the dreadful pit-falls -which the artifice of man has hollowed in the pathways of the moral -world. Her misgiving was therefore forgotten almost as soon as it was -entertained; and she was in comparatively good spirits—though still -affected by her recent separation from her sister—when she alighted at -the door of Mrs. Slingsby's residence in Old Burlington Street. - ------ - -Footnote 29: - - Represented as the Marquis of Holmesford in the First Series of "THE - MYSTERIES OF LONDON." - - - - - CHAPTER LXVIII. - DR. WAGTAIL.—ROSAMOND TORRENS. - - -Rosamond Torrens found the pious lady reclining on a sofa, and so -profoundly absorbed—at all events, apparently so—in the perusal of a -chapter in the New Testament, that she did not immediately look up when -the drawing-room door opened to give the young maiden admission. - -"Ah! my dearest girl—is it indeed you?" at length said Mrs. Slingsby in -a dolorous tone of voice, as she laid aside the sacred volume. "Come and -embrace me, sweet Rosamond." - -"I hope you are better to-day, my dear madam," was the sincere -observation made by the intended victim of a damnable plot, as she -pressed her pure lips to Mrs. Slingsby's polluted brow. - -"Heaven blessed me with a good night's rest, my love," returned the -pious lady; "and Dr. Wagtail would insist upon my taking a little warm -brandy-and-water—although, as you well know, I loathe alcoholic liquor, -which I do not consider to be a '_good creature of God_,' nor '_fitted -for our use_.' But, as a medicine, Rosamond—and when accompanied by -urgent prayer—it is beneficial. And now tell me, sweet girl, how passed -off the bridal ceremony? Was the conduct of my nephew becoming and -proper? I could scarcely suppose otherwise—seeing that for years he has -been benefited by the advice and example which it has been my happy lot -to afford him. And Adelais—was she much affected, my love?" - -Rosamond described the particulars of the wedding; and Mrs. Slingsby was -in the midst of some very comforting remarks thereon, when the door -opened and Dr. Wagtail made his appearance. - -This gentleman was a short, fat, important-looking personage—with a -powdered head and a pig-tail—delighting, too, in small-clothes and black -gaiters, and carrying a thick bamboo cane, the gold head of which he -invariably applied to his nose when he wanted to appear more than -usually solemn. He enjoyed a large practice, and was yet miserably -ignorant of the medical art. What, then, was the secret of his success? -We will explain the mystery. - -His father was a very wealthy man, and paid a premium of £800 to -apprentice the subject of this sketch to the house-surgeon of one of the -great metropolitan hospitals. But young Wagtail, though cunning and -crafty enough, was a wretched dolt, and only succeeded in passing his -examination by dint of the most extraordinary cramming. By these means, -however, he became a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, and set up -in business for himself. The house-surgeon of the hospital soon after -hinted to him that he intended to resign; and Mr. Wagtail senior, on -hearing this private communication made to his son, immediately sent the -house-surgeon a five-hundred pound note in a gold snuff-box, "as a token -of esteem for his high character and of admiration for his splendid -talents." This was intelligible enough. The house-surgeon immediately -began to canvass his friends on behalf of young Wagtail as his -successor; and when the resignation of the said house-surgeon was -publicly announced, the majority of the persons who had a right to vote -were already enlisted in the cause of Mr. Wagtail. Several of the most -eminent surgeons became candidates for the vacancy; but their abilities -stood no chance when weighed against Mr. Wagtail's interest—and Mr. -Wagtail was accordingly elected. He thus jumped into renown and handsome -emolument almost as soon as he entered the profession; and things went -on smoothly enough for three or four years, until he one morning took it -into his head to cut off a man's leg, when amputation was positively -unnecessary. A disturbance ensued—the thing got into the newspapers—and -Mr. Wagtail employed three poor authors constantly, for six months, at -half-a-crown a day each, to get up the pamphlets which he issued in his -defence. He so inundated the British public with his printed statements -that he literally bullied or persuaded the majority into a belief that -he was right after all; and then, with becoming indignation, he threw up -his berth at the hospital—took a magnificent house at the West End—got -his doctor's diploma at the same time—and announced through the medium -of the _Morning Post_, _Morning Herald_, and _St. James's Chronicle_, -that "Dr. Wagtail might be consulted daily, at his residence, from 2 -till 7." His father died soon afterwards, leaving him a handsome -fortune; and as the doctor, when the time of mourning (which he cut as -short as possible) had expired, began to give splendid entertainments, -his dinners procured him friends, and his friends procured him patients. -In fact, he eventually rose so high in public estimation at the West -End, that he was quoted as the rival of the celebrated Dr. -Lascelles;—but wise men shook their heads, as much as to intimate that -Dr. Lascelles had more medical knowledge in his little finger than Dr. -Wagtail possessed in his entire form. But then Dr. Wagtail was so -important-looking, and had such a knowing and mysterious way with -him;—and he never insulted his patients, as Dr. Lascelles sometimes did, -by telling them that they had nothing the matter with them, but were -mere hypochondriacs. On the contrary, he would gratify their fancies by -prescribing pills and draughts till he made them ill in reality; and -then he had some little trouble in curing them again. But as he -administered plenty of medicine—shook his head a great many times even -when ordering a foot-bath or a bread poultice—and dropped mysterious -hints about its being very fortunate that he was called in just at that -precise moment, or else there would have been no answering for the -consequences,—as he did all this, and was particularly liberal to -nurses, valets, and ladies-maids, he had worked his way up to a degree -of eminence which real talent, legitimately exercised, struggled -fruitlessly in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred to arrive at. - -Such was the physician who now entered the drawing-room where Mrs. -Slingsby was reclining on the sofa with Rosamond seated near her. - -Bowing with important condescension to Miss Torrens, the doctor quietly -took the chair which she vacated, because it was close to his patient. - -Rosamond was about to quit the room, when Mrs. Slingsby desired her to -remain, adding, "Dr. Wagtail does not require your absence, my love: -there is nothing so very important in my case—is there, doctor?" - -"Important, my dear madam, is not precisely the word," returned the -physician, with his gold-headed cane to his nose; "inasmuch as your -ailment _is_ important—as all ailments are, when, though trivial in -themselves, they _may_ lead to dangerous consequences. But how are we -to-day, my dear madam? how is the pain in our legs? did we suffer much -last night? or did we feel a _leetle_ easier?" - -"Yes, doctor—thank you," replied the sufferer, who had nothing at all -the matter with her, but who had merely simulated indisposition as an -excuse for absenting herself from the bridal: "I passed a better -night—by the blessing of heaven!" - -"Well—come—and so we are getting on nicely, eh?" observed the doctor. -"And what did we take for supper last evening?" - -"A little gruel, doctor—as you ordered," answered Mrs. Slingsby, in a -lachrymose tone—which was really natural enough, seeing that she could -have eaten a roast fowl instead of the farinaceous slop. - -"And did we take a very _leetle_ brandy-and-water hot?" asked Dr. -Wagtail, in a most insinuating voice, as much as to say that he knew -very well how revolting such a beverage must have been to Mrs. Slingsby; -although, in his heart, he had recommended it simply because experience -had taught him that ladies of a certain age did _not_ object to a small -dose of cognac:—"did we take a _leetle_ brandy-and-water?" - -"I did so far follow your advice, doctor," replied Mrs. Slingsby; "but I -hope I am not to continue it?" - -"Indeed but we must though, my dear madam," exclaimed the physician, -shaking his head most solemnly and with all the air of a man enforcing -the necessity of swallowing a nauseous draught:—"indeed but we must -though,—and a trifle stronger, too—a mere trifle;—but stronger it must -be, or I really cannot answer for the consequences." - -And here he looked at Miss Torrens, as much as to imply that Mrs. -Slingsby's life would perhaps be endangered if his advice were not -punctually and accurately followed. - -"Well, doctor," said the suffering lady, in a more doleful tone than -ever, "if it must be stronger, it shall be: but pray make a cure of me -(God willing) as soon as possible, so that I may renounce that vile -alcoholic beverage." - -"We must have patience, my dear madam—great patience," said Dr. Wagtail -with increasing solemnity, as he rubbed his nose against the gold-headed -cane. "Indeed, so long as this nasty rheumatism hangs about us, we must -keep to the brandy-and-water." - -The physician knew very well that his words would cause the rheumatism -to hang about the excellent lady for a considerable time,—indeed that -she would be in no hurry to get rid of it, so long as he proscribed "the -vile alcoholic beverage";—and he foresaw a goodly number of fees -resulting from the judicious mode which he thus adopted of treating an -ailment that did not exist. - -"And now, my dear madam," he continued, "how is our tongue! Ah—not quite -right yet! And how are our pulse?" - -Then, as the case was pronounced to be important, the doctor lugged out -an enormous gold stop-watch, and bent over it with a mysterious and even -ominous expression of countenance as he felt the patient's pulse. - -"Well, doctor—what do you think?" asked Mrs. Slingsby, looking as -anxious and miserable as if she had been in the dock at the Old Bailey, -about to hear the verdict of the jury. - -"We must take care of ourselves, my dear madam—we must take care of -ourselves," said the physician, shaking his head: "our pulse is not -quite as it ought to be. How is our appetite? do we think we could -manage a little slice of boiled fowl to-day? But we _must_ try, my dear -madam—we _must_ try; and we must take a glass or two of wine—Port wine, -of a good body. We must not reduce ourselves too low. And this evening, -for supper, we must take gruel again—and the brandy-and-water as an -indispensable medicine, afterwards." - -"I will endeavour to follow your advice, my dear sir," said Mrs. -Slingsby; "though heaven knows that the idea of the old Port wine at -dinner——" - -"Well, my dear madam—I know it is repugnant to you—very repugnant," -interrupted the physician in a calmly remonstrative tone: "but the world -cannot afford to lose so excellent a member of society as yourself. -Consider your friends, my dear madam—exert yourself on their account. -Triumph over these little aversions to wine and brandy—and take them as -medicines, in which sense do I offer them. And now, my dear madam, I -will write you out a _leetle_ prescription. You had better get it made -up as usual at Timmins and Jakes, in Bond Street. I have no interest in -recommending them, you know—not the slightest;—but I am sure their drugs -_are_ good, my dear madam." - -Which was as much as to imply that the drugs of other chemists were -_not_ good; and we may here observe that the disinterested physician -merely received a thousand a-year from Messrs. Timmins and Jakes for -recommending all his patients to send his prescriptions to their shop. - -The doctor wrote some professional hieroglyphics upon a slip of paper, -and scrawled at the bottom something which would have represented the -name of Snooks, or Brown, or Thompson, quite as well as it did Wagtail. - -He then rose, received from Mrs. Slingsby his fee neatly wrapped up in a -piece of tissue paper, and took his departure, holding his stick to his -nose all the way down stairs. - -The afternoon passed away somewhat tediously for Rosamond; and when -dinner was placed on the table, Mrs. Slingsby contrived to do honour to -the boiled fowls; and though she held forth at considerable length upon -her abhorrence for Port wine, she managed to swallow four glasses of the -generous juice in a manner which Rosamond considered highly creditable -to her moral courage, seeing how much she detested it. - -Shortly after dinner, which was served in the drawing-room, Sir Henry -Courtenay made his appearance. - -The baronet's eyes sparkled with delight when he beheld his intended -victim at the pious lady's abode, and looking more sweetly -beautiful—more divinely interesting than she had ever yet appeared to -him. The blood boiled in his veins, as his glances rapidly swept her -slight but symmetrical form, and as he thought within the recesses of -his own iniquitous heart, "This night thou shall become mine!" - -It will be remembered that, during the last few days of her previous -sojourn at Mrs. Slingsby's abode, Rosamond had been taught to form a -very high opinion of the baronet; but the pious lady had not gone so far -as to instil any voluptuous sentiment into the mind of the young maiden. -Thus, when the baronet, on the occasion of his visits to Torrens -Cottage, had addressed her in a somewhat equivocal manner, she did not -comprehend him; and hence Sir Henry's reproach against Mrs. Slingsby, -"that she was but an indifferent tutoress." - -Still Rosamond was predisposed to admire the baronet's character, as it -had been represented to her by Mrs. Slingsby; and she was by no means -sorry that he had arrived to vary the monotony of the evening. - -He exerted all his conversational powers to please her; and she could -not conceal from herself the delight which she experienced in listening -to those outpourings of a well-informed mind and a richly cultivated -intellect. - -The supper-hour arrived while she thought the evening was still young—so -rapidly had the time passed away. Mrs. Slingsby partook of her gruel -with as good a grace as she could possibly assume; but she ever and anon -cast a longing glance towards the more substantial and succulent viands -spread upon the board. The brandy-and-water was, however, a consolation; -and this the baronet, who mixed for her, made as strong as she could -wish, and much stronger than Dr. Wagtail, were he really sincere in his -advice, could have possibly intended her to take it. - -[Illustration] - -Shortly before eleven the baronet rose and took his departure, Mrs. -Slingsby ringing the drawing-room bell for the servant, to open the -front door for him, with a ceremony the object of which was to let every -one in the house know that he had departed, and the hour at which he -went—_in case of any exposure following the dread plot now in progress_! - -Mrs. Slingsby and Rosamond then remained in conversation for a few -minutes, the topic being the excellent qualities of Sir Henry Courtenay. - -"Rosamond, my love," at length said Mrs. Slingsby, "before you retire to -your own chamber, have the kindness to lock the side-board in the -drawing-room and bring me the keys. For really servants are so -neglectful——" - -The beautiful girl departed with the alacrity of an obliging disposition -to execute this little commission:—but the moment she had quitted the -drawing-room, Mrs. Slingsby emptied the dark contents of a very small -phial into the only half-finished glass of Port wine which Rosamond had -left. - -The infamous woman then resumed her recumbent position upon the sofa; -and—oh! the abominable mockery!—appeared to be occupied with her Bible, -when the artless, innocent, and unsuspecting maiden returned to the -room. - -"Here are the keys, my dear madam," said Rosamond; "and every thing is -safe down stairs. I shall now wish you a good night's rest." - -"Finish your wine, my love, before you retire," observed Mrs. Slingsby, -in a softly persuasive tone: "I am not mean, but you know that I am -averse to waste in any shape." - -Rosamond blushed at having merited the species of reproach thus -conveyed, and drank the contents of her wine-glass: then, as it struck -her that the flavour of the _wine_ was somewhat less pleasant than it -should be—but without attaching the least importance to the idea, and -forgetting it altogether a moment afterwards—she ate a small piece of -bread to take away the disagreeable taste. - -"Good night, my dear madam," said the maiden, bending over the pious -lady and kissing her cheek. - -"Good night, Rosamond my love," returned Mrs. Slingsby. "I shall remain -here for a quarter of an hour to perform my usual devotional exercises; -and then I shall retire to my own chamber." - -Rosamond withdrew, and sped to the room prepared for her. - -She felt wearied, and made haste to lay aside her garments and arrange -her hair. But in the midst of her occupation a sensation of deep -drowsiness came over her; and she was glad to step into bed as speedily -as possible—omitting, for perhaps the first time since her childhood, to -kneel down first in prayer. - -A minute afterwards—and she was sound asleep. - - * * * * * - -Three persons at that precise period had their minds filled with the -image of Rosamond! - - * * * * * - -In the solitude of his chamber, at his lonely cottage, Mr. Torrens -endured the torments of the damned,—mental torments, indescribably more -severe than the most agonising of physical pain could possibly be. - -Mercenary—selfish—cold—callous as he was, he could not stifle the still -small voice of conscience, which told him he had done a flagrant—a -vile—an awful deed, which would fill his cup with a bitterness, that no -earthly pleasure, no mundane reward, could possibly counteract or -change. - -He felt that he was a monster in human shape: he was afraid to catch a -glimpse of his own countenance in the glass—for when he once surveyed it -rapidly, its workings were horrible to behold! - -To sell his daughter for the filthy lucre which had tempted him!—It was -horrible—atrocious! - -And then,—then, at that very moment while he was pacing his chamber, the -fell deed might be in consummation! - -He walked to the window:—how black was the night—how menacing were those -clouds that seemed laden with storm! - -He started back with a look of horrified amazement: was there not some -dreadful shape in the air?—assumed not those clouds the form of a -tremendous being, with a countenance of lowering vengeance and awful -threatenings? - -No: it was fancy—and yet the temporary creation of that fancy was -dreadful to behold,—as cloud piled on cloud, for an instant wore the -semblance of a supernal, moving phantom, black and menacing with -impending storm! - -The guilty, wretched father clenched his fists—gnashed his teeth—knit -his brows—and compressed his lips together to prevent his voice from -suddenly shrieking forth in accents of heart-felt agony. - - * * * * * - -Having remained for about twenty minutes in the drawing-room, Mrs. -Slingsby summoned her maid, by whose assistance she gained her own -chamber—although she in reality no more required such aid than did the -servant who afforded it. - -The maid helped her mistress to divest herself of her clothing, and then -retired. - -And now Mrs. Slingsby, instead of seeking her couch—that couch which had -been the scene of guilty pleasure, when Jacob Smith had lain concealed -beneath it—seated herself in a large arm-chair, to wait until the house -was quiet. - -"I could wish that any thing rather than _this_ was to take place!" she -murmured two or three times. "Heaven only knows what will be the end of -it! But Henry appears so confident of being able to appease her—so -certain of reducing her even to the position of one who beseeches -instead of menacing—that I am inclined to suppose he has well weighed -all the difficulties of his task. At all events he has promised to spare -me—to make me appear innocent! But will Rosamond be so deceived? No—no: -she will view me with suspicion—her eyes will gradually open——And yet," -thought Mrs. Slingsby, suddenly interrupting the current of her -reflections, "she will be so completely in my power—at my mercy,—her -honour will be in my hands—her reputation will depend on my secresy——Oh! -how I wish this night was past!" she cried passionately: "for the deed -which is to mark it, is horrible to contemplate!" - - * * * * * - -And the third person whose mind was so full of the image of Rosamond -Torrens, at the time when she lay down—beauteous and chaste virgin as -she was—to rest beneath the roof of one whom, in her ingenuous -confidence, she believed to be a pattern of female excellence and -virtue,—that third person was Sir Henry Courtenay. - -The baronet, on quitting Mrs. Slingsby's house, had returned home in his -carriage, which was at the door ready to convey him thither; and, on -entering his abode, he had immediately repaired to his own chamber. - -Dispensing with the services of his valet, he sate down to pass away in -voluptuous reflections the hour that must elapse before he could set -forth again, to return to the dwelling of his mistress in Old Burlington -Street. - -He was of that age when the physical powers somewhat require the -stimulus of an ardent and excited imagination; and he now began to gloat -in anticipation of the joys which he promised himself to experience in -the ruin of the hapless Rosamond. - -Remorse and compunction touched him not:—if he thought of the grief that -was to ensue, it was merely because he re-arranged in his head all the -details of the eloquent representations he must make to soothe that woe! -Besides, his licentious imagination represented to him the beauteous -Rosamond, more beauteous in her tears; and he had worked himself up to a -pitch of such maddening desire, by the time it was necessary for him to -sally forth, that he would not have resigned his expected prize—no, not -if the ruin and disgrace of ten thousand families were to ensue. - -Leaving his house stealthily, by a means of egress at the back, Sir -Henry Courtenay hastened back to Old Burlington Street. - -A few moments after he had reached the immediate vicinity of Mrs. -Slingsby's residence, the clocks of the West-end churches proclaimed the -hour of one. - -That was the appointed time for his admission into the house. - -Nor had he long to wait—for the front-door was soon opened noiselessly -and cautiously, and by a person bearing no light: but the voice which -whispered, "Is it you, Henry?" was that of Mrs. Slingsby. - -And noiselessly and cautiously, too, she led the way up stairs, he -having previously put off his shoes, which he carried in his hand. - -At the door of her own bed-room, Mrs. Slingsby made the baronet pause -for an instant while she procured a taper; and as she handed it to him, -and the light revealed their countenances to each other, they shrank -from each other's gaze,—for human nature at that instant asserted its -rightful empire, and while the woman recoiled with horror from the man -who was about to commit an awful outrage on a member of her own sex, the -man felt a momentary loathing for the woman who was aiding and abetting -in the work of this foul night. - -Mrs. Slingsby hurriedly pointed towards a door at the bottom of the -passage, in the most retired part of the house; and she then retreated -into her own room, a prey to feelings which a convict in Newgate need -not have envied. - -Meantime Sir Henry Courtenay had passed on to the extremity of the -passage: and now his hand is upon the door. - -He opens that door—he enters—he closes and fastens it behind him. - -Advancing towards the bed, he holds the taper so that its light falls -upon the pillow; and the soft, mellow lustre of the wax-candle reveals a -charming countenance, with flushed cheeks and with rosy lips apart. - -For Rosamond's slumber is uneasy, though profound,—doubtless the effect -of laudanum upon the nerves of one so entirely unaccustomed to its use, -and who has imbibed so large a dose! - -And one of those flushed cheeks reposed on a round, full, and naked arm, -like a red rose-leaf upon Parian marble;—and the other arm was thrown -over the bed-clothes, which had been somewhat disturbed by the -uneasiness of the maiden's sleep, and left exposed the polished -shoulders of dazzling whiteness and the bosom of virgin rotundity and -plumpness. - -Oh! what a charming picture was thus revealed to the eyes of the lustful -miscreant, whose desires were increased to almost raging madness by the -spectacle! - -He placed the taper on the mantel, and hastened to lay aside—nay, almost -to tear off his garments; and in less than three minutes he was lying by -the side of the young virgin. - -But scarcely had his rude hand invaded the treasures of her bosom, when -she awoke with a faint scream and a sudden start—the result of some -disagreeable dream; and then the baronet clasped her with all the fury -of licentiousness in his arms. - -A few moments elapsed ere she was aroused sufficiently to comprehend the -dreadful—the horrible truth; but when the torpor produced by the -laudanum had somewhat subsided, she became a prey to the most frightful -alarms, produced by the conviction that some one had invaded the -sanctity of her couch—and a glance showed her the features of Sir Henry -Courtenay. - -She would have given vent to her anguish and her horror in appalling -screams; but he placed his hand over her mouth—he muttered fearful -menaces in her ears—he called God to witness his resolution to possess -her; and, though she became bewildered and dismayed—though her brain -whirled, and her reason seemed to be deserting her—yet she battled with -the ravisher—she maintained a desperate, an awful struggle,—and so -unrelenting was the violence which he used to restrain and overpower -her, that murder would have perhaps been done, had not the poor victim -become insensible in his arms! - -And then her ruin was accomplished. - -Oh! ye clouds, laden with storm, why gave ye not forth your forked -lightnings—why sent ye not abroad your thunders—to smite the hero of -that foul night? - -For, oh! while the father was still pacing his chamber in his own -dwelling, the hell that raged in his breast defying all hope of -slumber,—while, too, the no less infamous woman who had pandered to this -work of ruin, was trembling rather for what might be the consequences -than for the deed itself,—there, in that room to which Rosamond had -retired in the pride of innocence and chastity—there was she -despoiled—there became she the victim of the miscreant ravisher! - - * * * * * - -"Release me—let me depart—let me fly!" implored the wretched Rosamond, -in a tone so subdued with anguish and with weakness, that there was no -fear of its alarming the house. - -"Rosamond, hear me—I beseech you!" exclaimed the baronet, as he held her -by the arms in such a manner that she could not escape from the bed. -"Hear reason, if you can! What would you do? Whither can you fly? The -past cannot be recalled; but there is much to think of for the future. -The occurrence of this night is a secret known only to yourself and to -me: your dishonour need never transpire to the world?" - -"Oh! my God! my God!" murmured Rosamond, in a tone of ineffable anguish: -"my dishonour!—my dishonour!" - -And she repeated the word—the terrible word, in so thrilling, -penetrating, and yet subdued a voice, that even the remorseless baronet -was for a moment touched. - -"O Rosamond!" he said, in a hurried and excited manner; "do not repine -so bitterly for what cannot be recalled! Think how I love you, dearest -one—remember that my passion for thee amounted to a frenzy,—and it was -in frenzy that I acted thus. Instead of loathing me——" - -"No—no, I do not loathe you!—my God—no!" said Rosamond, becoming the -least degree calmer. "I now perceive how dependant I am upon you—how -necessary it is that your love should console me! But my dear -father—should he learn his daughter's disgrace—Oh! heaven, have mercy -upon me!" - -And she once more burst into an agony of weeping. - -"Rosamond—Rosamond, compose yourself!" said Sir Henry Courtenay, with -that tenderness of tone which he so well knew how to assume, and on -which he had so much relied as an emollient means to be applied to -soothe the grief of the victim of his desires. "Shall I repeat how -deeply I love thee—how ardently I adore thee? Oh! my best beloved, do -not thus abandon yourself to the wildness of a vain and useless -despair!" - -"But have I not been made the victim of a dreadful conspiracy?" said -Rosamond; "was I not inveigled hither to be ruined? Oh! I will fly—I -will fly—I will hasten home to my father—I will throw myself at his feet -and tell him all—and he will pardon and avenge me!" - -Again she endeavoured to spring from the bed; but Sir Henry Courtenay -held her back—and, through sheer exhaustion, she fell weeping on his -breast. - -Then the task of consoling her—or rather of somewhat moderating the -excess of her anguish, became more easy; and the baronet reasoned and -vowed—argued and protested—and pleaded for pardon so touchingly and with -so much apparent contrition, that Rosamond began to believe there was -indeed some extenuation for one who loved her so passionately, and who -had been led away by the frenzy of those feelings of which she was the -object. - -"Oh! why, my adored girl, are you so beautiful?" murmured the baronet: -"rather attribute my crime to the influence—the irresistible influence -of thine own charms, than to any deeply-seated wickedness on my part! I -should have become raving mad for love of thee, had not the fury of my -passion hurried me on to that point, when, reckless of all consequences, -I had recourse to this stratagem. I know that my conduct is -horrible—that it is vile and base in the extreme;—but I sue to thee for -pardon,—I, so proud and haughty—yes, I implore thee, my darling -Rosamond, to forgive me! And, oh! if all the remainder of my life, -devoted to thine happiness, can atone for my turpitude of this night,—if -the most unwearied affection—the most tender love can impart consolation -to thee, my angel—then wilt thou yet smile upon me, and the past shall -be forgotten." - -"Then you will make me your wife?" murmured Rosamond. - -"Yes, sweet girl—thou shall become mine—mine in the sight of heaven!" -said the baronet, who would have made any pledge at that moment, in -order to solace and reassure his victim. - -"But wherefore not have told me that you loved me—why not have demanded -my hand of my father, and have married me as Clarence did my sister?" -asked Rosamond, a doubt striking to her heart's core. - -"I said many things to make you understand how dear you were to me," -answered the baronet; "and you did not comprehend my meaning. Remember -you not that, one day when I called at your father's house, I met you -alone in the parlour; and as you offered me your hand, I said, '_Happy -will the man be on whom this fair hand shall be bestowed!_' And on -another occasion, when you and I were again alone together, the -conversation happened to turn upon death, and I remarked that '_it was -dreadful to contemplate the idea of dying, but that I could lay down my -life to serve you!_'" - -"Oh! yes—I remember now!" murmured Rosamond. "And I even thought of -those observations after you were gone; and they seemed to afford me -pleasure to ponder upon them." - -"Do you not now understand, then, dearest angel, how disappointment at -finding that I was not at once comprehended, drove me to despair?" said -the wily baronet. "Can you not pardon me, if—thus driven to -desperation—I vowed to possess you—to make you mine—so that you would be -compelled to accept my hand, as you already reigned undisputed mistress -over my heart?" - -"If you will fulfil your solemn promise to make me your wife, I shall -yet be happy—and this dreadful night may be forgotten. No—not -forgotten," continued Rosamond, hastily; "because the memory is immortal -for such hours of anguish as these! But you will, at least, make all the -atonement that lies in your power—and I may yet look the world in the -face!" - -"Rosamond—my sweet Rosamond, within a month from this time thou shalt be -my wife!" said the baronet. - -"With that assurance I must console myself," returned the still weeping -girl. "And now, I adjure you—by the solemnity of the pledge which you -have made me, and which I believe—I implore, you, by that love which you -declare you entertain for me,—to leave me this moment!" - -The baronet was fearful of reviving the storm of grief which his -perfidious language had succeeded in quelling; and he accordingly rose -and resumed his apparel. - -Not a word was spoken during the two or three minutes which thus passed; -and when Sir Henry was once more dressed, he approached the ruined girl, -saying, "One embrace, Rosamond, and I leave thee till the morrow." - -"One word ere we part," she said, in a hurried and almost hollow tone: -"does Mrs. Slingsby know——But surely, surely, she could not have lent -herself——And yet," added the bewildered Rosamond, a second time -interrupting herself abruptly, "how could you have gained admittance -into the house, and in the middle of the night? Oh! heavens, the most -fearful suspicions——" - -"Calm yourself—compose your feelings, dearest," said the baronet. "Mrs. -Slingsby knows that I adore you—is aware that I love you: because the -long acquaintance—indeed the sincere friendship which exists between -us—prevents me from having any secrets unrevealed to her. But wrong not -that amiable, that excellent, that pure-minded woman, by unjust -suspicions! I entered her house like a thief—by means of a window -accidentally left unfastened; and in the same manner must I escape now. -Not for worlds would I have her suspect the occurrences of this night! -Therefore, my angel, compose yourself, so that your appearance may not -engender any suspicion in her mind when you meet at the breakfast table -in the morning:—for, remember, my Rosamond, you will shortly become my -wife,—and then, as you yourself observed, you will be enabled to look -the world in the face!" - -"And until that moment comes," said Rosamond, with a deep sob, "I shall -blush and be compelled to cast down my eyes in the presence of every one -who knows me. Oh! my God—what cruel fears—what dread thoughts oppress -me! And my sister is doubtless so happy! Heaven grant that she may never -know the anguish which wrings my heart at this moment!" - -"By every thing sacred, I conjure you to compose yourself, Rosamond," -exclaimed Sir Henry Courtenay, now afraid to leave her, lest in the -dread excitement which was reanimating her, she might lay violent hands -upon herself:—for, by the light of the taper, he could perceive that her -countenance was ashy pale, and that while she was uttering those last -words relative to her sister, her features were suddenly distorted by an -expression of intense mental agony. - -"Compose myself! Oh! how can I compose myself?" she exclaimed; and then -she burst into a torrent of tears. - -The baronet knew the female heart too well not to allow her to give full -vent to the pearly tide of anguish; and three or four minutes -elapsed,—he standing by the bed, contemplating with but little emotion, -unless, indeed, it were of lust, the beauteous being whom he had so -ruthlessly ruined,—and she burying her face in her hands, the tears -trickling between her fingers, and her agonising sobs alone breaking the -solemn stillness of the night. - -Sir Henry Courtenay waited until the violence of this renewed outburst -of ineffable woe had somewhat abated; and then he again endeavoured to -console the unhappy victim of his foul desires—the ruined sufferer by -his hellish turpitude! - -And Rosamond had so much need of solace, and was so dependent on hope -for the future to enable her to sustain the almost crushing misery of -the present, that she threw herself upon his honour—his mercy—his -deceitful promises; and she even smiled—but faintly—oh! very -faintly—when he again employed his infernal sophistry to prove the deed -of that dread night to be the surest testimony to his ardent love. - -At length she was sufficiently composed to induce him to take his -departure; and, like a vile snake as he was in heart, he crept away from -the chamber of the deflowered—the ravished girl. - -As he stole thus stealthily along the passage, he observed a light -streaming from Mrs. Slingsby's room, the door of which had been -purposely left ajar. - -He entered, and found his accomplice still up; nor had the abandoned -woman felt the least inclination to retire to rest. - -For her mind had been a prey to the most terrible alarms, from the -moment when the baronet had first set foot in Rosamond's chamber. - -"I have succeeded—and she will not proclaim the outrage to the world," -said Sir Henry Courtenay, in a low tone. "I have, moreover, kept my word -with you, and have made her believe that you are innocent of any share -in the proceeding." - -Mrs. Slingsby gave no answer, but bit her under lip forcibly—for vile as -she herself was, she could hardly prevent herself from exclaiming to her -companion, "You are a black-hearted monster!" - -Sir Henry did not, however, notice that she was influenced by any -emotion hostile to him; or if he did, he cared not to show that he -perceived it;—but, wishing his mistress "good night," he quitted the -room, and stole out of the house. - - - - - CHAPTER LXIX. - MISERY AND VICE. - - -A week had elapsed since the perpetration of the atrocity described in -the preceding chapter. - -The scene changes to a miserable garret in one of the foul courts -leading out of King Street, St. Giles's. - -It was about eight o'clock in the evening; and the rain pattered on the -roof and against the little window of the wretched room, which, small as -it was, was scarcely lighted by the candle that flickered with the -draught gushing in from beneath the door. - -On a mean and sordid mattress stretched upon the floor, and with but a -thin and torn blanket to cover him, lay a man who was not in reality -above five-and-twenty, but who seemed nearly double that age—so ghastly -was his countenance, and so attenuated was his form with sickness and -want. - -Near him a young female—almost a mere girl—was seated on a broken chair. -Her apparel was mean, and so scanty that she shivered with the cold; and -though the traces of famine and care were plainly visible upon her -features, yet they had not carried their ravages so far as to efface the -prettiness which naturally characterised the composition of that -countenance. - -Beautiful she was not, nor ever had been; but good-looking she decidedly -was;—and though attired almost in rags, and with an expression of -profound misery upon her face, there was something interesting in the -appearance of that poor creature. - -The reader will remember that, in the earlier chapters of this tale, we -introduced him to one of those dens of iniquity called low -lodging-houses, in Castle Street, Long Acre; and he will also recollect -that a mock marriage took place in that "padding-ken," between a thief, -called Josh Pedler, and a poor labourer's daughter, named Matilda -Briggs. - -The man lying on the mattress in the garret, was Josh Pedler; and the -girl sitting near him, was Matilda Briggs. - -"Well, now," suddenly exclaimed Pedler, as he raised himself with -difficulty to a sitting posture, "what do you say in answer to my last -question? are we to die of starvation? or are we to have bread by some -means or another?" - -Matilda burst into tears, and wrung her hands bitterly. - -"Don't sit whimpering there, damn your eyes!" cried the ruffian. -"Blubbering won't do no good—and you know that as well as me. Here have -I been on my beam-ends, as one may say, for the last three weeks, and -unable to go about to pick up a single farthing—the landlord swears he -will have some money to-morrow morning—all the things is pawned—and here -am I only wanting a little proper nourishment to set me on my legs -again; but that I can't get." - -"God knows I have starved myself to give you all I could, Josh," said -Matilda, her voice broken with frequent and agonising sobs. "When you -have asked me if I had kept enough meat or bread for myself, I always -answered yes; and I turned my back towards you that you mightn't see how -much—or rather how _little_ I had kept back. But what can I do? My -father and mother are gone back into the country to throw themselves on -their parish—I have no friends to apply to—and your's seem unable to -assist you at present." - -"Something must be done, Tilda," said the man. "We can't starve—we must -do any thing rather than that. I am as hungry as the very devil now—and -I know that if I had a good steak and some porter, it would put me all -right again." - -"But, my God! we have not even the means to buy a penny roll!" almost -shrieked the young woman. "There isn't a thing left to pawn. I have -nothing but this old gown on my back—every thing else has gone—gone!" -she added hysterically, as she threw a wild glance around the naked and -dismantled garret. "How cold it is, too! What can we do? what can we -do?" - -And she rocked herself to and fro in a manner denoting an utter despair. - -"You keep asking what can be done," said Josh Pedler, brutally, "and yet -you know all the time that there's only one thing to be done, and that -it must come to _that_ at last." - -Matilda started, and turned a glance of horrified amazement upon her -companion. - -"Well—so I suppose you understand what I mean," continued the ruffian; -"and, therefore, there's no use in gammoning about it no longer. We're -starving, and there's the rent to pay: that's one side of the question. -You're a good-looking young o'oman, and can do as other vimen do: that's -t'other side of the question." - -"Oh! Josh—and would you have me become a prostitute?" shrieked Matilda, -in a tone of mingled horror and reproach. - -"Come—none of your nonsense, my lady," said Josh Pedler; "or I shall -precious soon know how to settle your hash. Either go and earn some tin, -or cut your lucky altogether. If I starve, I'll starve by myself——" - -"My God! I will not abandon you!" murmured the unhappy young creature, -terrified by this menace of separation from one to whom she had grown -greatly attached. "No—I cannot—I will not leave you, Josh: and yet——" - -"Let's have no more of this humbug, Tilda!" exclaimed the man, brutally. -"Leave off whimpering—or, ill as I am, I'll give you something worth -crying for. Come, put on your bonnet and tramp; or, by hell——" - -"Oh! you could not—you would not do me a mischief!" she cried, clasping -her hands together. "And if I obey you now, in what you have ordered me -to do, shall you not hate and detest me ever afterwards?" - -"Not a bit of it," returned Josh Pedler, softening a little as he -perceived that his point was already well nigh gained: for the poor -young woman found powerful incentives to yield to the commands of the -ruffian—she herself being almost famished. "Not a bit of it!" he -repeated. "You ought to have turned out when I was first taken ill; and -then if I'd had common necessaries I should have got well by this time. -So be a good girl, and see if you can't bring back something good to eat -and drink, and a trifle to pay the landlord." - -With a bursting heart, Matilda rose from her seat, and put on her bonnet -and her scanty shawl—a poor rag which the pawnbroker had refused to -advance a single penny upon. - -"Give us a kiss afore you go, old gal," said Josh Pedler, by way of -affording her some encouragement to begin the frightful course of -prostitution to which he strove to urge her. - -She bent down, and pressed her lips upon his forehead, murmuring, "Are -you sure that you will not loathe me _afterwards_?" - -"Don't have any more of that gammon, Tilda," he cried; "but cut along—or -else I shall be tempted to bite a piece out of your face, I'm so -thundering hungry." - -Matilda shuddered from head to foot, and rushed from the room. - -As she was about to quit the house, a door in the passage opened, and a -stout ill-looking fellow, without a coat, and smoking a short pipe, came -forth, exclaiming, "Ah! I know'd it was you by your sneaking step. Now I -tell you what it is, Mrs. Pedler—if so be I don't have my rent, or a -good part on't to-night, you and your man must tramp before I shuts up. -I've got people as will be glad to have a airy and comfortable room like -your'n and as will pay; leastways I'll get rid of _you_." - -Matilda stayed to hear no more, but rushed wildly from the house, the -threat of the landlord ringing like the knell of hope in her ears. - -She observed not which direction she was pursuing;—she saw not the -passengers who jostled her on either side:—her eyes were open—and yet -the surrounding and the passing objects formed only one vast void—one -tremendous blank to her. - -Her pace was hurried, like that of a person intent on some important -mission, and having some defined and positive end in view:—and yet she -had even forgotten the motive that had sent her forth into the streets -that evening, to dare the cold wind and face the pattering rain,—she who -had but so scanty a clothing to protect her! - -There was a humming noise in her ears: but she could not discriminate -the sounds of voices from the roll of carriages;—and even when she -crossed a street, it was through no caution exercised on her part that -she was not ran over. - -At last her ideas began to assume a more settled shape; and her -thoughts, rescuing themselves as it were from utter confusion, settled -gradually down into their proper cells in the brain—the racking brain -which held them! - -She walked slower, and with more apparent uncertainty of aim; objects -assumed a defined shape to her eyes; and her ears recognised the various -sounds which raised the echoes of the streets. - -At length she stood still in the midst of Holborn, and tears burst from -her eyes; for she now remembered that she was there—there, in the wide -and open thoroughfare—to commence the dread avocation of a prostitute! - -She shuddered from head to foot—but with no ordinary tremor: it was a -convulsion which began at the very heart, and vibrated with electric -rapidity and spasmodic violence throughout the entire form. - -"Now then, young voman—out o' the vay!" cried a porter carrying a huge -load upon his head. - -And, like a startled deer, Matilda hurried along. - -She glanced to the left and to the right, and beheld magnificent shops -teeming with merchandise, and crowded with purchasers:—she lingered in -front of the pastry-cooks' establishments;—and she stopped to devour -with her eyes the smoking joints, the piles of vegetables, and the large -tins full of pudding, in the windows of the eating-houses! - -But she knew it was useless to implore a meal;—and moreover it was -something beyond food that she required,—for money to pay her heartless -landlord she must have! - -She resumed her mournful, melancholy walk, now slow in pace and drooping -in gait. - -Time was wearing on—nine o'clock would soon strike—and if she were ever -to take the first step in a loathsome trade, now was the moment! - -Think not, reader, that because this young woman had become the mistress -of a thief, and had passed through all the training of a low -lodging-house and several weeks of misery and want,—think not that she -was prepared to rush at once and in a moment on a career of public -prostitution! No: she was attached to her lover, in the first place;—and -secondly, she was no brazen-faced slut, whose mind had derived -coarseness from intemperance, or callousness from ill-treatment. - -She shrank from the path which alone seemed open to her: she recoiled -from the ways into which a stern necessity commanded her to enter. - -While she was endeavouring to subdue the bitterness of the reflections -which crowded upon her soul, a young woman, scarcely a year older than -herself, accosted her, and said, "My dear, are you come on this beat to -be one of us?" - -Matilda saw by a glance that the female was one of the lowest class of -prostitutes; and she burst into tears. - -"Oh! then, you _are_ come out for that purpose!" exclaimed the other. -"Well, you must pay your footing at all events;"—and making a signal to -several of her friends who stood at a short distance, she cried, "Here's -a precious lark! a gal which wants to be one of us, and is blubbering at -it!" - -Matilda was now surrounded by loose women, who vowed that she should -treat them, or they would tear her eyes out. - -Vainly did she protest that she had no money: tears and remonstrances -were of no avail; and the prostitutes were growing more clamorous,—for, -it must be remembered, there were no New Police in those days,—when an -old man, decently dressed, but horribly ugly, stopped near the group and -asked what was the matter. - -"Here's a young gal which wants to go upon the town, and can't pay her -footing," explained one of the loose women; "and so she shan't come on -our beat." - -"Come, come," said the old man; "don't tease the poor thing! Which is -she? Oh! rather good-looking. Well, my dears—here's half-a-crown for you -to get something to drink—and I'll get the young woman to take a little -walk along with me." - -Thus speaking, the old man handed the coin to the girl who had given him -the above recorded explanation; and she and her friends were too much -rejoiced at the receipt of this unexpected donation, to trouble -themselves further concerning Matilda Briggs. - -When the loose women had disappeared, the old man turned towards -Matilda, and said, "Take my arm, my dear; and I'll conduct you to a nice -place where we can have a chat together for half an hour or so; and I'll -make you a present of half-a-guinea before we part." - -The unfortunate girl obeyed in silence; but not quite -mechanically:—gratitude for the seasonable assistance she had received -from the old man, and the idea of obtaining enough money not only to buy -food but also liquidate the greater portion of the arrears of rent due -to the merciless landlord, were powerful motives to stifle compunctious -feelings in her breast. - -The old man was one of those sexagenarian voluptuaries who dishonour -gray hairs—one of those hoary sinners who prowl about the streets after -dusk, to pick up girls of tender age, and who seldom choose females of -ripe years. Under ordinary circumstances this old man would not have -bestowed the slightest notice upon Matilda; because she was between -fifteen and sixteen, and he affected children of eleven and twelve. But -the incident which had brought them together had given him a sudden zest -for novelty; and thus the gray-headed reprobate, who was old enough to -be Matilda's great grandfather, tucked her under his arm and led her off -to the nearest brothel with which he was acquainted. - - * * * * * - -It was eleven o'clock when the door of the garret in which Josh Pedler -was lying, opened abruptly and Matilda made her appearance. - -"Well, what news?" demanded the man anxiously "You've left me long -enough——" - -"I could not return sooner," answered the young woman, in a hoarse and -strangely altered tone. "But sit up and eat your fill, Josh—for here is -a good plate of meat——" - -"And the landlord?" interrupted the thief joyfully. - -"Is paid every farthing. I have earned a sovereign by yielding to the -hideous embraces of an old man," she added in a tone expressive of deep -and concentrated emotion,—"an old man whose touch was horrible as the -pawings of an imp or some filthy monster. But he gave me double what he -first promised; and now you may eat—if you can," she exclaimed, with a -hysterical laugh. - -"And you will sit down and eat with me, Tilda," said the thief in a -coaxing tone—for he now saw that his mistress might become serviceable -to him, and he was anxious to conciliate her. - -"No—not a morsel," she replied impatiently. "I am not hungry—_now_: -besides, even if I was, it would seem to me that I was eating my own -flesh and blood. But I have got some spirits in a bottle, Josh—and I can -drink a drop with you." - -"I thought you didn't like spirits, Tilda?" observed the man, -contemplating with some degree of alarm her pale countenance on which -there appeared an expression of settled despair. - -"Oh! I dare say I shall like spirits well enough now!" she said. "At all -events I feel an inclination for them to-night. But, come—sit up and -eat." - -Thus speaking, she spread open a large brown-paper parcel before the -thief, whose eyes sparkled when he beheld a quantity of slices of -recently cooked meat, a loaf of bread, and some cheese. - -Forgetting how the viands were procured, Josh Pedler began to devour -them with the voracity of one who had fasted a long time; and Matilda -hastened to fetch him some beer. - -When she returned, she sate down, and drank two glasses of raw gin, with -but a few moments' interval between the drams; and then, bursting out -into a hysterical laugh, she said, "Blue ruin is capital stuff! I feel -myself fit for any thing now!" - -"That's right, old gal—cheer up!" exclaimed Josh Pedler. "Take another -glass—and then you'll be able to eat a bit of this meat." - -"Well—perhaps I may," cried Matilda. "I was tipsy when you and me were -married by the old parson in the padding-ken; and I'll be tipsy to -night, as it's the first of a new period of my life." - -"Damn it! you are coming out strong, Tilda!" ejaculated Josh Pedler. -"_Blue ruin—padding-ken_—why, I never heard you patter flash before." - -"Oh! you don't know what you may see me do yet," said the young woman, -in a voice indicative of unnatural excitement. "And what does it matter? -Perhaps you'll hear me cursing and swearing to-morrow! Any thing—any -thing," she added, her voice changing to a tone of deep, intense -feeling,—"any thing, so long as one can only grow hardened!" - -And having tossed off a third glass of liquor, she accepted and ate the -portion of food that Josh Pedler handed to her—although but a few -minutes before she recoiled from it, as if it were her own flesh and -blood! - -"Now you are acting like a sensible woman," said Josh; "and you make me -feel more comfortable. But when you first come in, I couldn't make out -what the devil possessed you: you looked all queer like—just as if you -was going to commit suicide." - -"Suicide!—ha! ha!" laughed Matilda strangely. "Well—I did think -of it as I was coming home; but I remembered that you was -here—hungry—starving—and too ill to get up and shift for yourself. So I -came back, Josh. But won't you have some gin? You don't know what good -it does one. If I had only taken some before I went out just now—that -is, if I had had the money to buy it—I shouldn't have gone whimpering -along the street as I did. No wonder all the poor girls who walk the -pavement drink so much gin. I am already quite another person. I do -declare that I could sing. But here comes some one up the stairs: it -can't be for us." - -"Yes, it is though," said Josh Pedler, as the heavy steps of a man -halted at the door, to which a fist was applied by no means lightly. -"Come in!" - -The visitor obeyed this invitation without farther ceremony; and the -moment Josh caught sight of his countenance, he cried joyfully, "Tim the -Snammer!" - - - - - CHAPTER LXX. - TIM THE SNAMMER. - - -The individual who rejoiced in the name of _Tim the Snammer_, was a -tall, athletic, well-built man of about thirty-two, and tolerably -good-looking. His attire consisted of a shabby bottle-green surtout, a -dark waistcoat, and drab trousers; and he wore his hat very far down on -his head—probably because it was too large for him, his hair being -particularly short, all his superfluous curls having fallen beneath the -unsparing scissors of a gaol-barber. - -"Holloa! Josh, my boy!" cried Tim, as he closed the door behind him. -"Why, you are taking it cozie there in bed." - -"I have been desperate bad, Tim," was the answer; "or I shouldn't lie -quiet in such a damned empty garret as this here, you may take your -davy. But when did you get out?" - -"My time was up to-day at eleven o'clock," returned Tim. "I called at -the old crib in Castle Street—Thompson's, twenty-three, and stayed with -Mutton-Face till now. She told me you'd been ill, and also where I -should find you. So I've come round to see you, old feller—and, may be, -arrange a little job that I've got in my head. But since you're unable -to get up——" - -"Tim, my boy," interrupted Josh, "I've just had a deuced good supper, -and I'm sure of a breakfast and a dinner too, and may be a supper also, -to-morrow; and if I ain't well with all that in two days' time, my name -isn't Pedler. So, if you've got any thing that'll keep so long, do let -me be in it. Matilda, my dear, this is my friend Mr. Timothy Splint, -generally knowed as Tim the Snammer: and Tim, this young o'oman is my -jomen. We was regularly spliced at the padding-ken by old Barlow; and -she's staunch to the backbone. So now you're acquainted with each other; -and you needn't be afraid, Tim, of talking secrets. But how goes the -gin, Tilda?" - -"There's plenty left—and I borrowed two glasses of the landlord as I -came up," answered the young woman: "so here's one for Mr. Splint." - -"Call me Tim, my dear," said that individual "We have no _misters_ and -_missuses_ among us. Here's your health, Tilda, then—since that's your -name: here's to ye, Josh." - -"Thank'ee. But what plan is it that you've got in your head?" asked -Pedler. - -"I'll tell you in a brace of shakes," returned Splint, smacking his lips -in approval of the dram which he had just imbibed. "You may very well -suppose that I've no great reason to be pleased with the conduct of that -scoundrel Old Death." - -"The damned thief!" cried Josh. "He sacked the sixteen pounds, and then -never made a move to help you when you was had up again afore the beak." - -"No thanks to him that I wasn't transported," said Tim Splint, with a -fierce expression of countenance. "The prigging wasn't proved very -clearly, and so I got off with two months at the mill as a rogue and -vagabond. But, by hell! I'll have my revenge on the bilking old -scoundrel that humbugged you and Mutton-Face Sal. And what's more, I -know how to go to work, too." - -"What do you mean, Tim?" demanded Josh Pedler. - -"Why, I mean this—that Mutton-Face knows where Old Death is -hanging-out," responded the Snammer. "She saw him last night in the -Borough; and she dogged him into some crib. This was about eight -o'clock. Well, she was determined to see whether he lived there, or -not—and she was afraid of raising suspicion and alarming him by making -any inquiries: so she watched near the place for a matter of three -hours, and he didn't come out. So it's pretty clear he does live there. -But to make all sure, Mutton-Face has gone over there again to-night; -and she'll watch to see when he comes in, if he does at all—and then -she'll stay to see whether he comes out again. If it's all right, you -and me will just pay a visit to Old Death; and I'll be bound we shall -find something worth the trouble of going for." - -"Old Death always has money about him," observed Josh; "and I should -think that there's no one wants blunt more than you and me, Tim, at this -moment." - -"I haven't a blessed mag," returned Splint. "If it wasn't for -Mutton-Face Sal, I shouldn't have had a dinner to eat, when I got out of -quod this morning, till I'd prigged the money to pay for one. And after -all I've spent in Thompson's padding-kens, I couldn't get a lodging -there for love, I know. But Sal has managed to keep herself while I've -been lumbered; and now I must begin to keep her again. She's got just -enough to carry us on till either this business of Old Death or some -thing else turns up: and that's all I care about." - -"Well," said Josh Pedler, "I hope I shall be able to get up in two or -three days; and then I'm your man for any thing you like. But, I say, -Tim, what a life this is of our'n, to be sure!" - -"You don't mean to say you're a-tired on it—do you?" cried Splint, with -a species of anxiety and almost convulsive shudder, proving that a truth -of an unwelcome nature, and to which he never liked to be awakened, was -suddenly recalled to his contemplation. - -[Illustration] - -"By God! I wish I could turn honest man, Tim!" exclaimed Pedler, with -unmistakeable sincerity. "It's all very well while the excitement of -drinking or _business_ goes on; but it's when one is lumbered in bed, as -I've been for some weeks, that one feels queer and qualmish, Tim. That's -why I always hate to have the least thing the matter with me. I can't -a-bear to have time to brew and mope over things. I wish there wasn't no -such thing as _thought_, Tim." - -"Blest if I didn't often say so to myself when I was cooped up in that -cursed prison, Josh!" exclaimed the Snammer. "I tell you what it is. -People say we're reglarly depraved—that's the word, Josh—and so they -invent treadmills and all them kind of things. But it's quite enow for -chaps like us to be left alone with our own thoughts—and there's no -denying it. Now my idear is jist this:—Put a man like us into gaol, if -you will and don't torture him with hard labour: but let him have time -to _think_. Then, when he comes out, say to him, '_Here's work for you, -and a chance to get an honest living_.' My opinion is that nine out of -ten would awail themselves of the offer. But suppose only one or two did -it—why, it must be a blessin' to society to reduce the number of them as -preys upon it. What do you think, Josh?" - -"I can't a-bear to think about it, Tim," returned the invalid thief. -"Now, then, Tilda—what the hell are you piping your eyes for? I s'pose -you think my friend Splint is a Methodist parson? But he ain't -though—and don't mean to be. Damnation! Tilda, leave off blubbering like -that—and hand round the gin. There—that's a good girl. Blue ruin is the -mortal enemy of unpleasant thinking—and that's why we all takes to it as -nat'ral as one does to opium when he's accustomed to it." - -"I've often thought, Josh," said Tim Splint, after draining the glass -which Matilda handed him, "that I should like to go over to America, and -bury myself in the backwoods that you hear talked of or read about. I -wish I had a chance! And, raly, if we do get a good haul from Old Death, -I think I shall try the game. For, arter all—and you and me may say it -between ourselves in this here room, 'cause Matilda, being a o'oman, -goes for no one,—but, arter all, there's few on us that wouldn't give up -prigging if we could. I wonder why they don't establish societies to -reclaim and provide for men-thieves, as they do for unfortunit vimen. -Blowed if I wouldn't go into such a place in a minute!" - -"And do you mean to say," exclaimed Matilda, wiping her eyes, and -speaking with strange energy, "that if you choose to leave off this kind -of life, you can't? Why, you'd be happier, Josh, as a labourer with only -twelve or fifteen shillings a week, than you are now;—for I never heard -so much from your lips as I have to-night." - -"Who the devil will employ people without characters?" demanded Josh -Pedler. "Do you think that if you tried to get a place even as a -scullion in a gentleman's family, you could obtain it? No such a thing. -Lord bless your dear heart! them as talks most about the depravity of -the lower classes, is always the last to give us a chance." - -"Yes:—and yet we wasn't all nat'rally wicked," said Tim the Snammer. -"Some on us was made so by circumstances; and that was the case with -me." - -"How came that about?" asked Josh Pedler, who, being in no humour to -sleep, was well disposed for conversation. - -"Yes:—how came that about?" inquired Matilda, feeling interested in the -present topic. - -"You don't mean to say you would like to hear me tell my story, do you?" -exclaimed Tim. - -"I should, by all means," answered Josh Pedler. - -"And I too——Oh! above all things!" cried Matilda: "particularly, if you -can show——what you said," she added hesitatingly. - -"You mean to say, if I can prove that I didn't become what I am through -my own fault?" observed the Snammer. "Well—I think I _can_ prove it. But -you shall judge for yourselves. So, here goes." - -And, with this free-and-easy kind of preface, the thief commenced his -narrative, which we have expurgated of those grammatical solecisms and -characteristic redundancies which, if preserved, would only mar the -interest and obscure the sense. At the same time, we have kept as nearly -to the original mode of delivery as possible. - - - - - CHAPTER LXXI. - THE HISTORY OF TIM THE SNAMMER. - - -"My father was a small farmer in Hampshire. He had about thirty-six -acres of his own, all well cultivated and well stocked, and free of all -mortgage and encumbrance of that kind. The farm was small enough, God -knows; but it yielded a decent living,—for my father was as industrious -as a bee,—always out by sunrise,—and my mother was as saving, thrifty, -and prudent a housewife as any in the county. They were not, however, -mean: no—very far from that. The beggar was never turned away unassisted -from their door; and if a neighbour got a little behind-hand with his -rent, and deserved aid, it was ten to one if the china tea-pot in my -mother's cupboard did not contain a few pounds, which were speedily -placed at his disposal. Farmer Splint, as my father was called, was -always regular in his attendance at the village church on Sunday; and -the only person who looked upon him as a mean-spirited fellow, was the -landlord of the ale-house—because my father so seldom entered the -_George and Dragon_ even to take a glass of beer at the bar,—and never -stopped there to pass an evening. - -"My mother was a very handsome woman, and had been the village-belle -before her marriage with Farmer Splint. This marriage was one of -affection on both sides; for though my mother's parents were very poor -and unable to give their daughter any thing, yet Farmer Splint preferred -her to the wealthier young women of the neighbourhood. On her side, -though my father was nearly ten years older than herself, she refused -the offer of a rich young farmer, and became the spouse of a man whom -she could respect and esteem as well as love. The fruits of this -marriage were two children,—a daughter, named Marion, and myself. Our -mother found time, even amongst the numerous duties and cares of the -household, to teach us to read and write. The village schoolmaster then -taught us a little arithmetic, history, and geography; and we were as -well instructed as the children of poor parents were likely to be, and -much better than those of even many richer people living in our -neighbourhood. - -"Now, from all I have just told you, you will see plain enough that our -mother and father were good, honest, moral, and well-intentioned people. -Their only care was to toil with all possible diligence, to make both -ends meet,—put by a little savings, when the harvest was very -plentiful,—and bring up their children in a respectable and decent -manner. My father was particularly anxious to prevent his boy from -resembling the young black-guards of the village: he would never let me -play about in the high road at marbles,—nor yet go bird's-nesting, which -he said encouraged cruelty, and was also the first step to poaching. But -he did all he could to render me hardy, and promoted innocent sports of -an athletic nature. Altogether, farmer Splint's family was considered to -be the best-behaved and the happiest in all the county. - -"It was in the year 1807, that my history now dates from. I was then -thirteen years old: my sister, Marion, was eighteen, and a sweet -beautiful girl she was, with fine blue eyes, flaxen hair, and a figure -that couldn't have been made more graceful if clothed in silk or satin. -She was at that time engaged to be married to the only son of a farmer -in the neighbourhood, and who was well to do in the world. A finer -fellow than young George Dalton you would never wish to see; and when he -and Marion walked to church arm-in-arm, on a Sunday, every one noticed -them, as much as to express a conviction of the fitness of the intended -union of such a handsome, manly youth, and such a modest pretty girl. -Well, it was the summer of 1807, and the marriage was to take place in -October, when all the harvest was got in, and the good ale was brewed -for the ensuing year. Every thing appeared gay and smiling for the young -people; for George's father had promised to give up his farm to his son, -but to continue to live in the house, as soon as Marion should have -become his daughter-in-law. - -"About three miles from our farm stood the beautiful seat of Squire -Bulkeley. This gentleman had been left an orphan when young; and his -estates were managed by his guardians, until he came of age, he living -with one of them in London. But when he attained his majority, he soon -showed himself to be tired of a London life; and he came down to take -possession of Bulkeley Hall, and settle there. This was in the beginning -of 1807; but for two or three months the Squire kept himself pretty -quiet. All of a sudden, however, he became as gay as he was before -tranquil and retired; and this change, we learnt, arose in consequence -of his guardians leaving him, they having accompanied him to the Hall -and remained there until all the papers and deeds connected with his -accession to his property were signed. The moment they were gone, a -number of fashionable gentlemen from London arrived as guests at the old -mansion; and the long silent rooms echoed to the sounds of their late -revellings. Then there were steeple-chases, and horse-racing, and -cock-fighting, and badger-baiting, and all kinds of sports of that -nature; and sometimes the young squire was more than half tipsy when he -lounged into church in the middle of the Sunday evening service. His -residence at the Hall did no good to the village tradespeople, because -he had every thing sent down from London;—and thus no one was rejoiced -at his settling in that neighbourhood. My parents, particularly, had no -good opinion of Squire Bulkeley; but, as the farm was their own, they -had no positive fear of him, although our land joined his estates. This -was not so, however, with the Daltons, who were only tenant-farmers, and -rented their fifty or sixty acres of the Squire. The farm had been in -old Dalton's family for many, many years, and was one of the best tilled -and best stocked in the county; and as Mr. Dalton was always regular -with his rent, it did not seem probable that the lease, which was -shortly to expire, would be refused renewal. - -"One morning,—it was in the month of June, I remember, Marion and myself -happened to be alone together in the house, when the Squire, attended by -his groom, rode up to the door. Marion sent me out to learn the cause of -his visit. 'This is Farmer Splint's, my boy, I believe?' said the -Squire, who, I should observe, was a handsome young man in spite of his -dissipated appearance. I replied in the affirmative, adding, that my -father was not at home. 'Who is at home, then?' asked the Squire; 'for I -caught a glimpse of a face so pretty just now at the window, that I -should not mind beholding it again.'—'That was my sister, Marion, sir,' -I answered, not seeing any thing insolent in his remark; but, perhaps, -rather pleased by it, as it flattered a sister of whom I was very -fond.—'Well, my boy,' said the Squire, leaping from his horse, 'here is -a crown for you; and now be off and try and find your father, as I want -to speak to him. In the mean time I will walk in and rest myself.' -Catching the coin which he threw me, I hurried away, delighted with the -handsome present, and naturally thinking that the visit of so liberal a -gentleman must be with a motive beneficial to my father. But after -hunting every where for him about the farm, I remembered that he and my -mother had gone to the village to make some purchases. The village was a -mile and a half distant from our house; and as I knew that they would be -back to dinner at one, I returned straight home, expecting to find them -already arrived. The groom was walking the horses up and down at a -little distance; and, therefore, I was convinced that the Squire was -still waiting within. My hand was just upon the latch of the door, when -a scream burst upon my ears; and immediately afterwards I heard Marion's -voice reproaching the Squire bitterly for some insult which he had -offered her. I hastened into the house, and my presence appeared to -disconcert Mr. Bulkeley completely. He was standing in the middle of the -room, as if uncertain what course to adopt in a case of embarrassment; -and he turned as red as scarlet when he saw me. Marion was at the -further end of the apartment, near a door opening into the kitchen; and -she was arranging her hair, which had been disordered; while her cheeks -were also crimsoned, but, as I thought, with the glow of indignation; -whereas the face of the Squire was flushed with shame. - -"I advanced towards Marion, asking, 'What is the matter? why did you -scream out? and what has he been doing to you?'—'Nothing, Tim,' she -replied, but with a profound sob. 'Have you met father?'—'No; I forgot -that he'd gone to the village; but he will be home in a minute or two, -as it's close on one.'—'I shall call another day, then, Miss,' said the -Squire; and he hurried abruptly away. For some minutes neither Marion or -myself spoke a word. I suppose she was endeavouring to compose herself, -and also deliberating what course she should pursue; while, on my side, -I did not like to question her. At length she approached me, and said, -'Tim, you are a good boy, and always do what sister tells you. Now, mind -and don't mention a word about that gentleman having been rude to me. I -have reasons of my own for it. And don't say either, that you were so -long away when he was here.' I promised to follow Marion's injunctions; -for I was very fond of her, as I have before said. Accordingly, when my -father and mother had come back, and we were all seated at dinner, -Marion remarked in an indifferent manner that the Squire had called to -see our father, and that he had given me a five-shilling piece. 'I -wonder what he can want with me?' said my father: 'it was certainly very -kind of him to make Tim such a handsome present; but after all I have -heard of him, I would rather that he should honour us with his visits as -rarely as possible. However, he can do us no harm—nor any good, that I -know of; for he has no land to let at present, and I am not disposed to -hire any even if he had.' There the subject was dismissed, at least so -far as remarks thereon were concerned; but I saw that Marion was -thoughtful and even melancholy during the remainder of the day. - -"About a week had elapsed, and my father and I were one afternoon -proceeding along the borders of our land, just where it was separated by -a quick-set hedge from the Squire's estate, when Mr. Bulkeley himself, -alone and on foot, suddenly appeared at a stile. My father and I touched -our hats with the usual respect shown by country people to great folks; -and the Squire, who had for a moment shrunk back on seeing us, -exclaimed, 'Farmer Splint, you are the very man I wanted to fall in -with; and that very field in which you are standing is the object of my -business with you.'—'How so, sir?' asked my father.—'Why,' returned the -Squire, 'you see it cuts awkwardly into my estate, and breaks in on the -very best preserves I have in this quarter.—'Begging pardon, sir,' said -my father, 'I could wish it broke a little more on your preserves: for -your hares and pheasants do a world of harm to my fields when the corn -is just springing up. I lost more than an acre by them last year, -sir.'—'So much the greater folly on your part, Farmer Splint,' exclaimed -the Squire, 'to persist in remaining a landowner. You never can get a -good living out of so small a farm as your's.'—'I get enough for all our -wants sir, and am able to assist a friend now and then,' said my -father.—'Well, but if you sell your land and become a tenant-farmer, you -will be much better off,' observed the Squire. 'Suppose, for instance, I -bought the land? why, you would have received compensation for the -injury done to your crop by the game in my preserves.'—'But I should -lose my independence, sir,' said my father, in a firm though perfectly -respectful manner.—'Your independence!' ejaculated Mr. Bulkeley, with a -sneer. 'Then, I am to imagine that you consider yourself a regular -landowner, one of the lords of the soil. May be you will dub yourself -_Squire_ next! Squire Splint, eh?'—'I am plain Farmer Splint, sir, and -so I hope to remain,' was the answer.—'Then you will not sell me that -field?'—'I had rather not, sir.'—'But you may have an equivalent portion -of my seven-acre field over by the mill yonder; and your property will -be much more compact.'—'But the land is not equally serviceable, sir,' -answered my father, 'and therefore I must decline the bargain. Besides, -it may be fancy on my part; but it is true notwithstanding, that I am -rather superstitious in making boundary changes in a farm that has been -so long in my family; unless it was to extend it by a purchase of land, -and _that_ I can't afford. So good day, sir;' and my father, touching -his hat, walked on. I saw the Squire's lips quivering with rage as he -stood looking after us; and, young as I was, yet I thought my father had -made an enemy of him—for the conversation which I have just detailed, -produced a deep impression upon me. - -"Six or seven weeks had passed away since this little incident, when I -one day met the Squire as I was going on an errand for my mother to the -village. He was on horseback, and his groom was in attendance. I was -thinking whether I ought to touch my hat to him or not, after his -insolence to my father, when he pulled up, exclaiming, 'Holloa! -youngster—your name is Splint, I believe?'—'Yes, sir.'—'Ah! I remember. -You are a very good lad, and I should wish to become a friend to you. I -think I gave you a crown once: well, here's another. And now answer me a -question or two. Did your sister ever say a word to her father or mother -about that visit of mine some weeks past, you know?'—I was so bewildered -by the apparent liberality of the Squire, and, boy-like, was so rejoiced -at the possession of the coin which I was rolling over and over in my -hand, that I suffered myself to be sifted by him at will; and I -acquainted him with the injunctions that my sister Marion had given me -on the occasion to which he had alluded. He seemed much pleased, but not -particularly astonished. In fact, it is of course easy to understand -what was passing in his mind, although I could not _then_ fathom his -thoughts. The respect which my father had shown him when they met in the -fields, evidently induced him to believe that Marion had _not_ -acquainted her parents with his rudeness to her; and now he was pleased -to receive from my lips a confirmation of his conjecture on that point. -It was also natural for him to imagine that Marion was not in reality so -much offended with him as she had appeared to be; and it was doubtless -with this impression upon his mind that he proceeded to address me in -the following manner:—'To tell you the truth, my boy, I behaved rather -rudely to your charming sister; and I have repented of it ever since. I -do not like to call and offer an apology, because your father or mother, -or both, might be present. But if you will deliver a note to her -privately, I will write one; for I shall not feel happy till I have -convinced her that I am sorry for the past.'—'I am sure, sir,' I -replied, 'I shall be most happy to deliver such a letter to my sister, -and she will be most pleased to receive it; because she has often told -me that we always ought to forgive those who show repentance for their -errors.'—'An excellent maxim, my boy!' cried the Squire. He then desired -me to wait for him in a particular shop, which he named, in the village; -and, turning back, he rode thitherward, followed by his groom. I walked -on, thinking that the Squire was a much better man than he had at first -seemed,—wondering, too, how he could have been so harsh and unjust in -his observations towards my father, and yet so ready to acknowledge the -impropriety of his conduct towards my sister. - -"Arrived in the village, I performed the commission entrusted to me by -my mother, and then repaired to the shop of Mr. Snowdon, chemist and -druggist, as directed by the young Squire. This gentleman was leaning on -the counter, writing on the sheet of paper with which the obsequious Mr. -Snowdon had provided him; and when it was terminated, the Squire folded -it, sealed it, and addressed it to _Miss Marion Splint_. Mr. Snowdon -caught a glimpse of the superscription, although he pretended to be -looking quite another way. The letter was then handed to me by the -Squire, accompanied by a whispered injunction to be sure and give it -privately to Marion; while another crown-piece anointed my hand at the -same time. I promised compliance with the instructions given, and -hurried back home. George Dalton was there, and he stayed to dinner; but -he departed soon afterwards, taking an affectionate leave of Marion as -usual. My father also went out to his work; my mother repaired to the -dairy; and I was now alone with my sister. 'Marion, dear,' said I, 'I -have got a surprise for you.'—'A surprise for me, Tim!' she -exclaimed.—'Yes; a letter from Squire Bulkeley.'—'Tim!' she cried, 'you -surely——.'—'Pray read it, Marion dear,' I interrupted her. 'Its contents -are a most respectful apology for his conduct some weeks ago. In fact, -he spoke quite like a gentleman about it, and said how sorry he was.' -Marion no longer hesitated to open the letter; but I saw that her -countenance suddenly became crimson, and she hastened up to her own -chamber, without uttering another word. - -"An hour passed away, and she came down again. Having assured herself -that our mother was still occupied in the dairy, she said to me, 'Tim -dear, you must do me a kindness this very evening.'—'That I will, -Marion,' I answered. 'What is it?'—'Here is a letter for Squire -Bulkeley,' she said; and it struck me that there was something singular, -and not altogether natural in her voice and manner. 'If you meet father -on the way, say that you are going to inquire after neighbour Jones's -little daughter; and never tell any one, Tim, that you did this for me. -You are not old enough yet to understand my motives; but when you are, -you shall know them.'—I was never accustomed to question my sister, nor -even to deliberate on any thing she did; and away I sped to Bulkeley -Hall. The Squire was not at home; and so I left the letter. On my return -to the farm-house, I told Marion what I had done: she said I was a good -boy, and repeated her injunctions of the strictest secrecy. - -"About a week after this incident, George Dalton took me out for a -ramble with him. I never saw him so happy and in such excellent spirits. -He spoke of the prospects of a good harvest; and observed that every -thing seemed to hold out a promise of happiness for Marion and himself. -Then he told me how glad he would always be to see me at his farm when -my sister should have become his wife. In this way he was talking, and I -was listening very attentively, when, as we were crossing a field on -Squire Bulkeley's estate, that gentleman suddenly appeared on the other -side of the hedge. 'Holloa! you fellows,' he cried; 'don't you know -you're trespassing?'—'I wasn't aware of it, Sir,' replied George, -touching his hat: 'the field has always been used as a short cut by the -people of the village; and there have been a foot-path and a stile at -each end, ever since I can remember.'—'And if my guardians chose to -permit the village people to use this short cut, it is no reason why I -should,' exclaimed the Squire, purple with rage. 'And so I order you off -at once, both of you.'—'Well, sir,' said George, still respectfully but -firmly, 'we shall never trespass again, now that we know it is -trespassing.'—'Go back, then!' cried Mr. Bulkeley.—'As we are nearer the -other end of the field, we may as well continue our walk in that -direction, sir,' returned George. 'It can't possibly make any difference -to you.'—'Yes, but it does though,' shouted the Squire. 'I order you -off; and you shan't advance another step.' Thus speaking, he sprang -through the hedge, and came towards us in a menacing manner.—'Look you, -Squire Bulkeley,' said George Dalton, without retreating a single pace: -'you warn me off your grounds, and I am prepared to obey. But you shall -not bully me, for all that.'—'Bully you!' cried the great man, now -turning perfectly white: 'do you think a gentleman like me knows what it -is to bully?'—'I think it seems very much as if you did, sir,' answered -George coolly.—'Low-bred scoundrel, insolent clod-hopper!' exclaimed the -Squire: 'you are not fit to stand in the presence of a gentleman. Go -back to your Marion, and console yourself with my leavings in that -quarter!'—'Villain! what do you mean?' cried George, rushing forward to -grasp the Squire by the throat.—'Wait one moment!' exclaimed the latter, -raising his arm and stepping back a few paces. 'I tell you that Marion -knows how to prefer a gentleman to a swineherd; and that boy there can -prove it,' he added, pointing to me. - -"George Dalton turned a hasty and angry glance upon me; and I saw him -become deadly pale and tremble violently—I suppose because he saw that -my manner was embarrassed and confused. 'Tim,' he said, in a hoarse and -thick voice, 'do you know what this person means?' and he pointed -disdainfully towards the Squire, who seemed to feel a diabolical delight -at the evident pain which he was inflicting upon my sister's lover.—'If -that boy tells the truth,' said Mr. Bulkeley, 'he will admit——.'—'The -children of Farmer Splint were never known to tell a falsehood,' -interrupted George Dalton; 'and though you, sir, have made most cowardly -and insulting allusions to Marion, you are well aware that there -breathes not a purer being than she is, nor a greater scoundrel and liar -than you are. And if I restrain my hands from touching you, it is only -because you are too contemptible for serious notice. Come, Tim: let us -move on.'—'One word, George Dalton!' cried the Squire, his lips -quivering with rage. 'Ask that boy whether he knows of any thing that -has ever taken place between me and Marion. Remember, I am your -landlord; and your father's lease expires next Christmas.'—'We don't -care for the threats of a man like you, who endeavours to cause a breach -between me and a young lass that never did you any harm.'—'Oh! not at -all; but a great deal of good, on the contrary,' said the Squire, with a -chuckle of triumph. 'Why, it is but a week ago since that boy was the -bearer of the last notes which passed between us.'—'Liar!' thundered -George Dalton; and he was again on the point of rushing on the Squire, -when he checked himself, and turning to me said, 'Now, Tim, you are no -story-teller; and, indeed, I ought scarcely to insult Marion so far as -to ask such a question. But can you not tell this man to his face that -he is what I just now called him; namely, a liar?'—'Not if he tells the -truth,' observed Mr. Bulkeley coolly.—I hung down my head, and wished at -the moment that the earth would open and swallow me up.—'Tim,' said -George Dalton, again speaking in a hoarse tone, as dark suspicions were -revived in his mind, 'does this person who calls himself a gentleman -utter facts? did you ever convey letters between him and your sister? -Come, answer me, my boy: I cannot be angry with _you_.'—I faltered out a -faint 'Yes.'—'Then God have mercy upon me!' exclaimed George Dalton, in -a voice of piercing anguish, as he clasped his hands convulsively -together. - -"The Squire stood gazing upon him with fiend-like malignity. I cannot -describe the dreadful picture of despair which George at that moment -seemed to be. At length he turned again towards me, and, grasping my -shoulder so tight that I nearly screamed out with pain, he said, 'Tim, -tell me all, or I shall do you a mischief. Does Marion receive letters -from Mr. Bulkeley?'—'She did one,' I stammered in reply, 'because I took -it to her. The Squire wrote it at Mr. Snowdon's.'—'And did Marion answer -it?' he demanded.—'She did,' I answered: 'but——'.—'Have you ever seen -the Squire and Marion together?' he asked in a hurried and now -dreadfully excited tone.—'Yes, once,' I said: 'but——.' And again I was -about to give certain explanations relative to what the Squire himself -had represented to me to be the nature and object of his letter to my -sister—namely, to apologise to her for some insult which he had offered -her: but George Dalton had not patience to hear me. Rushing upon the -Squire, he struck him to the ground, exclaiming, 'Vile seducer! you -glory in the ruin you have accomplished!' and then he darted away, -clearing the hedge with a bound, and was almost immediately out of -sight. - -"The Squire rose slowly and with pain from the ground, muttering the -most dreadful threats of vengeance; and I, afraid that he might do me a -mischief, hurried off as quick as possible. I was old enough to -comprehend that George Dalton believed my sister to have been faithless -to him; and the same impression rapidly forced itself on my own mind. -Still I was sorry that George had not waited to hear all the additional -circumstances which I was about to relate; and it somehow or another -struck me that he would call on Mr. Snowdon, the chemist. I cannot now -account for this idea which I entertained: but I suppose it must have -been because that person's name was mentioned in the conversation, and -because I must have thought it probable that George would seek the -fullest confirmation of his cause of unhappiness. It is, however, very -certain that I hastened off to the village as quick as my legs would -carry me. But just as I entered Mr. Snowdon's shop, I caught sight of -George Dalton, standing at the counter talking to that individual. He -had his back towards me; and the chemist was so occupied with the -subject of conversation, that he also did not notice my entrance. I knew -not whether to advance or retreat; and while I stood hesitating, I -overheard Dalton say, 'And you are sure that the letter was addressed to -Marion?'—'I happened to catch a glimpse of the direction,' answered the -chemist, 'and I saw the Squire give the lad Timothy some money.'—'Then -am I indeed a wretched, miserable being!' exclaimed George Dalton; and -he rushed wildly from the shop, not noticing me as he hurried by. I was -so alarmed by his haggard looks and excited manner, that I was nailed as -it were to the spot; and it was not until Mr. Snowdon had asked me two -or three times what I wanted, that I recollected where I was. Then, -without giving any reply, I quitted the shop, and repaired homewards. - -"I was afraid to enter the house; for I felt convinced that poor -Marion's happiness was menaced, and that even if she was not already -aware of the presence of the storm, not many hours would elapse ere it -would burst upon her head. And when I did reach the farm, my worst fears -were confirmed. The place was in confusion; Marion was in a state -bordering on distraction; and my father and mother were vainly -endeavouring to comfort her. An open letter lay upon the table:—without -reading its contents I could too well divine their nature and whence the -missive came. For some minutes my entrance was unperceived; but when at -last the intensity of Marion's grief was somewhat subdued, and her eyes -fell on me, she exclaimed, 'Oh! Tim, what have you done? what have you -been telling George, that he has written to say he will abandon me -forever, and that _you_ can explain the cause?'—'Reveal the whole truth, -boy,' said my father sternly, 'as some atonement for the misery which -you have been instrumental in producing.'—I then related all that had -occurred with the Squire and at the apothecary's shop.—My father and -mother showed, by their lowering countenances and searching glances -towards my sister, that they were a prey to harrowing suspicions; but -they did not interrupt the current of my story. Then, when I had -concluded, Marion, without waiting to be asked for an explanation, gave -it in the following manner:— - -"'You cannot, my dear parents, think for a moment that I have acted -unworthily. Imprudent I may have been—but guilty, Oh! no—no! One day the -Squire called here, as you are well aware; and he sent Tim to search -after you, father. This was most probably a mere vile subterfuge on his -part; for when Tim had departed, the bad man began to speak to me in a -disparaging way of George; and when I begged him to desist, as he was -wronging an excellent being, his language took a bolder turn. He paid me -some compliments, which I affected not to hear; and at last his language -grew so insulting, that I was about to quit the room, when he caught me -round the waist. Oh! how can I tell you his insulting language?—but he -proposed to me—to me, your daughter, and beloved by George Dalton as I -then was,—the detestable man implored me to fly with him to his -mansion—to become his mistress!'—Here my father and mother made a -movement indicative of deep indignation; and Marion then continued -thus:—'I started away from him—I was rushing towards that inner room, -when Tim returned. I was now no longer alarmed, though still boiling -with anger: nevertheless I had presence of mind sufficient to command my -emotion so far as not to utter a word of reproach or complaint in the -presence of my brother. For, in a moment, did I perceive how necessary -it was to retain in my own breast the secret of the gross insult which I -had received. I reasoned to myself that the Squire was the landlord of -the Daltons—that their lease would expire at the end of the year—that it -would break the old man's heart to be compelled to quit a farm which had -been in his family for so many years—and that George possessed a fiery -spirit, which would render him blind to the consequences of avenging on -the Squire the insults offered to me. Of all this I thought: those ideas -flashed rapidly through my brain;—and I therefore not only resolved to -remain silent in respect to the insolence of Mr. Bulkeley, but also -tutored Tim to be so reserved, that you, my dear father and mother, -should not notice any thing unusual having occurred. When Tim brought me -the Squire's note, a week ago, I scarcely hesitated to read it, thinking -that it might indeed contain an apology. But, oh! you may conceive my -feelings, when I discovered that it repeated the insulting proposals -made to me on the first occasion. I knew not how to act; and prudence -struggled with wounded pride. But I reflected that Mr. Bulkeley was -wealthy and powerful enough to crush us all—for we _have_ seen -instances, my dear parents, of the rich landowners ruining the small -farmers, who to all appearance were independent of them: and again I -resolved to adopt a cautious line of conduct. I accordingly answered the -Squire's note. I implored him, as he was a gentleman and a Christian, -not to molest me more with importunities from which my very heart -revolted; I besought him not to ruin for ever the happy prospects of two -families by any means of vengeance with which circumstances or accident -might supply him; and I conjured him to believe that, in keeping secret -all that had hitherto passed between us, I was actuated only by the best -of motives. That letter was the one which Tim conveyed to the Squire; -and now, my dear parents, you know all.' - -"I remember perfectly well that my father and mother were greatly -affected by the narrative which my pure-minded sister thus related to -them, and which was frequently interrupted by bursts of bitter anguish -on her part. She moreover added that she possessed the Squire's letter -to her and a copy of the one which she had written to him.—'Give me -those papers, my dear child,' said my father: 'and I will at once -proceed to neighbour Dalton's house. If I find George at home, I will -undertake to bring him back with me to pass the remainder of the day, -and to implore your forgiveness for his unjust suspicions; and if he is -not there, I am sure to see my old friend, to whom I will give all the -necessary explanations.'—Marion was somewhat soothed by the hopes thus -held out; and our father departed to the Daltons' farm, which was about -a mile off. Two hours elapsed before he came back; and when at last we -perceived him returning through the fields, he was alone. Marion burst -into tears: a presentiment of evil struck a chill to her heart; and as -our father approached, the serious expression of his countenance filled -us all with alarm. He entered and seated himself without uttering a -word. Marion threw herself into his arms, saying in a broken voice, -'Father, tell me the worst: I can bear every thing save suspense.'—'My -dearest child,' answered the old man, tears trickling down his cheeks, -'it has pleased heaven to afflict thee, and all of us likewise through -thee. George has quitted his home, and——.'—And what?' demanded Marion -hastily.—'And his father knows not whither he has gone,' continued he: -'but when the first fever of excitement is over, there can be no doubt -that he will return. Old Mr. Dalton is perfectly satisfied——.' - -"But Marion heard not the words last addressed to her: she had fainted -in her father's arms;—and, when she was restored to consciousness, she -was so unwell that she was immediately removed to her own chamber. For -three weeks her life was despaired of; and she was constantly raving of -George Dalton. But at last, youth, a good constitution, and the care -taken of her, triumphed over the rage of fever; and she was pronounced -out of danger. Alas! what replies could be given to her anxious, earnest -questions concerning George? Old Dalton had not heard of him since the -fatal day when he disappeared. Was he no more? had he in a moment of -frenzy laid violent hands upon himself? There was too much reason to -suppose that such was the case: otherwise, would he not have written, or -returned? As gently as possible was the fatal truth, that no tidings had -been received of him, broken to Marion; and a partial relapse was the -consequence. But in another week she rallied again; and then the first -time she spoke of him, she said in as excited a tone at her feebleness -would allow, 'Had he ceased to love me—had he loved another, I could -have borne it! But that he should think me lost—faithless—degraded,—oh! -that is worse than even the bitterness of death!' - -"Slowly—slowly did Marion recover sufficiently to rise from her bed: but -how altered was she! The gay, cheerful, ruddy girl, blooming with health -and rustic beauty, was changed into a pale, moping, mournful creature, -whose very presence seemed to render joy a crime and smiles a sacrilege. -The autumn came—the corn was cut—the harvest, as plentiful as had been -expected, was gathered in. Had George been there then, that was the -period settled for the wedding. And, strange as it may seem, it was -precisely on the day originally resolved upon as the one to render the -young couple happy,—that old Dalton _did_ receive tidings of his son. -George was alive, and had enlisted in a regiment then stationed at -Chatham, but shortly to embark for India. The young man wrote a letter -communicating these facts, and referring to a former letter which he had -written to his father a few days after he had quitted home, but the -miscarriage of which had produced so much uncertainty and painful -suspense. The colour came back to Marion's cheeks when she heard that -her lover was alive; and she said, 'Even though I may never see him -more, I can yet be happy; for he will now learn that I am still as I -have ever been, his faithful and devoted Marion!' Meantime, old Dalton -and my father were deliberating together what course to pursue; and it -was determined that the discharge of George should be immediately -purchased. The proper steps were taken, under the advice of an attorney -in the nearest market-town; and in the mean time his father wrote to him -a full account of the Squire's treachery and Marion's complete -innocence. The return of post brought the tenderest and most pathetic -letter to Marion, imploring her forgiveness, and assuring her that his -extreme love had driven him to such a state of desperation as to render -his native district hateful to him, and had induced him to enlist. I -need scarcely say, that Marion now enjoyed hopes of happiness again: her -cheeks recovered their lost bloom—her step grew light as formerly, and -her musical voice once more awoke the echoes of the homestead. In six -weeks time we heard that George was free, and on his way home. He -came:—it is impossible to describe the unbounded joy of the meeting! - -"And now there was no longer any obstacle to the union of the lovers, -nor any wish in any quarter to delay it. The marriage was accordingly -celebrated and a happier pair never issued from the village-church; nor -did ever the bells appear to ring so merrily before. There were grand -doings at our farm-house, for my mother was determined to give a treat -to all her neighbours;—and the feast was such a one as I never can -forget. Long after George had borne away his bride to his father's -house, which, as already long before arranged, was to be the young -couple's home, the dancing was kept up on the green in front of our -dwelling, though the cold weather had already begun to show itself. But -all hearts were gay and happy, and warm with good feelings; and the old -ale and the punch flowed bountifully; for it was one of those days in -people's lives which are a reward for whole ages of care. Ah! when I -look back at those times, and think of what I was—and now reflect for a -moment on what I am——But, no; I must not reflect at all. Let me continue -this history without pausing for meditation! - -"The happiness of both families was now complete; for even old Dalton -declared that he had so much reason for joy in the turn which -circumstances had lately taken, that he could even make up his mind to -receive a refusal when he should apply for the renewal of his lease. But -just at this time fortune seemed determined to be propitious; for Squire -Bulkeley, who was in London when the return of George and the marriage -took place, sent down a legal gentleman to make arrangements with his -steward for the sale of a part of his estate in Hampshire, as he wanted -to make up the money to purchase a small property in Kent. He was a wild -and reckless fellow, and full of whims and fancies; and he cared not -which portion of his land was sold, so long as his preserves and park -were left. Well, it happened that old Dalton, hearing of this, went -straight to the lawyer, and proposed to purchase the farm which had been -rented by his family for so many years. The offer was accepted: by the -aid of my father the money was made up and paid. Dalton was now a -landowner; but he did not remain so long—for he made over all his newly -acquired property to his son George, who laboured hard to improve it. - -"Shortly after this transaction, it was rumoured in the neighbourhood -that the Squire had flown into a tremendous passion when he received the -news that the Daltons had purchased the farm. He had no doubt intended -to turn them out at Christmas; but he had omitted to except their farm -from the part of the estate to be sold. The Daltons cared nothing for -his anger; and George even said that he now considered himself -sufficiently avenged upon the perfidious gentleman. Shortly after -Christmas the Squire came down to Bulkeley Hall with a party of friends; -and the mansion once again rang with the din of revellers. And now I -come to a very important incident in my narrative. - -"One day George Dalton had occasion to visit the neighbouring -market-town to buy a horse; and he stayed to dine in company with the -other farmers at the principal inn. The landlord of the inn dined at the -same table with his guests; and, during the meal, he informed the -company that a poor discharged gamekeeper had died at the house on the -preceding evening, leaving behind him his only possession—the only thing -that he had been able to retain from the wreck of his former -prosperity,—namely, a beautiful greyhound. The farmers were interested -in the tale, and instantly made a subscription to defray the expenses of -the poor man's funeral, and remunerate the good landlord for the care -and attention which he had bestowed on the deceased during his last -illness. The hound was brought in, and every one admired it greatly. The -landlord observed that his wife had such an aversion to dogs, he did not -dare keep it on the premises; and he proposed that the farmers should -raffle amongst them to decide to whom the hound should belong. This was -assented to; and the lot fell on George Dalton. He accordingly took the -dog home with him, and related all that had occurred to his father and -his wife, both of whom were much pleased by the acquisition of such a -fine animal, and under such interesting circumstances. The poor -gamekeeper's dog accordingly became an immediate favourite. - -"About a week or ten days afterwards, and in the month of February, -George went out early, accompanied by the hound. The morning was fine -and frosty, but excessively cold; and George whistled cheerily as he -went along, Ponto trotting close at his heels. Suddenly a hare started -from her form; and away dashed the greyhound after her. George knew that -he had no right to pursue game even on his own land; and he ran after -the dog as hard as he could, calling him back. But he might as well have -whistled against the thunder: Ponto was too eager in the chase to mind -the invocations of his master. Well, after a short but exciting run, the -hound caught and killed the hare in the very last field belonging to -George's farm, the adjoining land being the Squire's. And, sure enough, -at that very instant Mr. Bulkeley appeared, accompanied by two -gamekeepers, on the other side of the boundary palings. 'George Dalton, -by God!' cried the Squire, with a malignant sneer on his -countenance.—But George took no notice of his enemy; for he had promised -Marion in the most solemn manner to avoid all possibility of quarrelling -with so dangerous an individual.—'I did not know that you took out a -certificate, Mr. Dalton,' observed the Squire, after a pause.—'Neither -do I, sir,' replied George in a cold but respectful manner; 'and I have -done nothing that I am ashamed of; for, if you have been here many -minutes, you must have heard me trying to call the dog off.'—'We know -what we heard, Mr. Dalton,' said the Squire, with a significant grin at -his gamekeepers;—and away the gentleman and keepers went, chuckling -audibly. The very next day an information was laid by the Squire against -George Dalton, who accordingly attended before the magistrates. Squire -Bulkeley was himself a justice of the peace; and he sate on the bench -along with his brother magistrates, acting as both judge and prosecutor. -The two gamekeepers swore that they saw George encourage the dog to -pursue the hare; and it was in vain that the defendant represented the -whole circumstances of the case. He was condemned in the full penalty -and costs, and abused shamefully into the bargain. Smarting under the -iron scourge of oppression, and acting by the advice of an attorney whom -he had employed in the case, George Dalton gave notice of appeal to the -Quarter Sessions. His wife, my father, and old Mr. Dalton implored him -to settle the matter at once and have done with it: but he declared that -he should be unworthy of the name of an Englishman if he suffered -himself to be thus trampled under the feet of the despotic magistracy. -The attorney, who was hungry after a job, nagged him on, too; and thus -every preparation was made to carry the affair before the Sessions. - -"The event made a great stir in that part of the country, and the -liberal papers took George's part. They said how utterly worthless, as -an engine of justice, was the entire system of the unpaid magistracy; -and they denounced that system as a monstrous oppression, instituted -against the people.[30] Well, the case came on before the assembled -magistrates; but on the bench sate not only the justice who had -condemned George Dalton, but likewise Squire Bulkeley, the prosecutor -himself! Judgment was given against my brother-in-law; and he suddenly -found himself called upon to pay about sixty pounds—the amount of all -the aggregate expenses which the original case and the appeal -occasioned. The money was made up with great difficulty, and not without -my father's aid; and though George Dalton was thus relieved from any -fears of the consequences, yet he became an altered man. He went to work -with a heavy heart, because he could not prevent himself from brooding -over his wrongs. He also found frequent excuses for visiting the -village; and on those occasions he never failed to step into the -ale-house for a few minutes. There he found sympathizers; and his -generous nature prompted him to treat those who took his part. One pot -led to another; and every time he entered the ale-house, his stay was -prolonged. Care now entered both the farm-houses. In one, old Dalton and -Marion deplored the change which had taken place in George; and in the -other, my parents could not close their ears to the rumours which -reached them, nor shut their eyes against the altered manner of their -son-in-law. The great proof of dogged obstinacy which George gave, was -in his conduct respecting the hound. Those who wished him well, implored -him to dispose of it; but he declared that he considered himself bound, -by reason of the manner in which he had acquired the dog, to maintain -and treat the animal kindly. He, however, kept Ponto chained up in the -farmyard. - -[Illustration] - -"Time wore on; the summer arrived and passed; and the autumn yielded so -good a harvest that the produce was a complete set off against the heavy -expenses entailed on the two families by the unlucky appeal. This -circumstance somewhat cheered George's spirits; and the birth of a fine -boy restored him almost completely to his former gaiety. In the evening, -instead of finding some pretence to repair to the village, he sate with -his beloved Marion; and happiness once more entered the homestead. But -misfortune was again impending over the head of George Dalton. It was -one morning in the month of November, that he was repairing to his work, -with a spade and a hoe over his shoulder, whistling as he was wont to do -ere oppression had wronged him; and wondering, also, how he could ever -have been so foolish as to pay such frequent visits to the public-house -in the village. His mind was occupied, too, with the image of his -Marion, whom he had left nourishing her babe; and perhaps his heart was -never lighter than at that moment. But suddenly, he heard a slight noise -behind him; and, turning round, he beheld Ponto, who, having succeeded -in slipping his collar, had scampered after his master. George's first -impulse was to secure the dog; but, as the devil would have it, at that -very instant a hare jumped from her form close by. Ponto escaped from -George's grasp, and the chase ensued. My brother-in-law was -bewildered—he knew not how to act; but at last he pursued the hound, -taking care, however, not to call him. Away went Ponto—the hare doubled -and turned—George managing to keep them in sight. At length, to his -horror, the hare swept towards a hedge, which in that point separated -the Daltons' property from the Squire's preserves:—the hedge was passed -by the pursued and the pursuing animals, and the chase was now -maintained on Mr. Bulkeley's estate. But the run soon terminated by the -death of the hare; and George, after casting a rapid glance around to -assure himself that the coast was clear, sprang through the hedge to -secure Ponto. He was, however, doomed to misfortune on this, as on the -former occasion. The gamekeepers were up before he could retrace his -steps into his own property; and he was immediately seized as a poacher -and a trespasser. In dogged silence he accompanied the keepers to the -house of the same magistrate who had before convicted him; but that -'worthy gentleman' was absent in London, and the prisoner was -accordingly taken before the rector of the parish, who was also in the -commission of the peace. The Squire was sent for, and the case was -entered into under all the unfavourable circumstances of a previous -conviction—a fruitless appeal—the exaggerated or positively false -representations of the gamekeepers—the malignity of the Squire, and the -readiness of his Reverence to believe every thing that was set forth to -the prejudice of the prisoner. The parson-justice determined to send the -case to the Sessions; and George was ordered to find bail. This was -easily done, and he was accordingly liberated. - -"This second misfortune, of the same kind, plunged the two families into -the deepest affliction, and made Marion very ill. George said but little -on the subject: he refused this time to employ any legal advice in -getting up his defence, both on account of the expense, and because it -was notorious that the unpaid magistrates always dealt more harshly with -those persons who _dared_ to show fight with the weapons of the law. -Again there was a great sensation in the neighbourhood; and every one -waited anxiously for the day of trial. That day came; and George left -his Marion on a bed of sickness, to repair to the market-town. The -Squire, the parson-justice, and the magistrate who had convicted the -defendant on the previous occasion, and who had by this time returned -from London, were all on the bench. The two gamekeepers swore that -George Dalton had coursed with the same hound which had led him into -trouble before—that he had persisted in keeping the dog in spite of the -remonstrances of his friends—that in the case then under the cognisance -of the court, he had encouraged the dog to chase the hare—that he had -followed into the Squire's land—and that he was in the act of concealing -the hare about his person when he was stopped by the keepers. George -told the entire truth in defence, and implored the magistrates not to -allow him to be crushed and ruined by the malignity of Squire Bulkeley. -He was then about to enter into explanations to show wherefore the -Squire persecuted him; but the chairman stopped him abruptly, saying, -that he had no right to impute improper motives to any member of the -court. The Squire, moreover, indignantly—or, at least, with seeming -indignation—denied any such selfish purposes as those sought to be -imputed to him; and it was very evident, that even if the magistrates -were not already prejudiced against Dalton, this attempt at explanation -on his part fully succeeded in rendering them so. George was sentenced -to three months' imprisonment in the County House of Correction; and he -was forthwith removed thither without being allowed to go home first and -embrace his sick wife. - -"You may suppose that Marion was distracted when she received this -intelligence, although my mother went and broke it to her as gently as -possible. Old Dalton was so overwhelmed with grief that he became -dreadfully ill, took to his bed, and died three weeks after his beloved -son's condemnation. My mother went to stay altogether with Marion until -George's return, which took place at the expiration of his sentence. But -how he was altered!—altered in mind as well as in personal appearance. -He was gaol-tainted: his honourable feelings were impaired—his generous -sympathies were ruined. He was still kind and tender to Marion and his -child; but his visits to the ale-house soon re-commenced, and he -neglected his work more and more. One night, about six weeks after his -release from prison, a tremendous conflagration was seen in the -immediate neighbourhood of the Squire's mansion: all the out-houses and -farms were on fire; and, despite of the assistance rendered by Mr. -Bulkeley's people, those premises were reduced to ashes. That it was the -work of an incendiary was clearly ascertained; and suspicion instantly -pointed to George Dalton. He was taken before a magistrate and examined; -but nothing could be proved against him. The magistrate, however, -observed, that he felt convinced of George's guilt, and deeply regretted -the necessity there was to discharge him. I well remember that my father -and mother evinced by their manner their fears that George was indeed -the incendiary. - -"From that moment a dreadful change came over my sister Marion. She grew -profoundly melancholy; but not a murmur nor a complaint escaped her -lips. There can be no doubt that _she_ was aware who the incendiary was; -and that knowledge was the death-blow to her happiness. The child, -deprived of its proper nutriment—for Marion wasted to a mere -shadow—drooped and died; and the poor mother declared hysterically that -its loss was the greatest blessing which could have happened to her. -This was the only allusion she was ever heard to make, direct or -indirect, to the unhappy state of her mind and of her home. George -continued kind to her; but kind rather in the shape of forbearance than -in tokens of affection: that is to say, he never said a harsh word to -her—nor beat her—nor slighted her; but he gave her little of his -society, and was usually silent and thoughtful when in her presence. - -"One day the parson-justice, whom I have before mentioned, called on the -Daltons, and remonstrated with George on his conduct in absenting -himself from church.—'I shall never go again, sir,' was the dogged -answer.—'And why not?' demanded the clergyman.—'Because I got no good by -it,' replied Dalton. 'The more I strove to be respectable, the more I -was persecuted. The hound I liked, almost as if it was a human being, -and which got me into two dreadful scrapes, was obliged to be given -away; my father was killed by grief for my wrongs; and my wife's sorrow -has led to the death of my child. My character is gone; and I know that -sooner or later, I must be ruined, as I have no heart for work. Every -thing that one prays for, and that I have so often prayed for, has been -swept away: I mean an honest reputation; the bread of industry; a -cheerful disposition, and the health and long life of those who are near -and dear to us.'—'Then you refuse to go to church any more?' said the -parson-justice.—'I do,' was the answer; 'and the law can't compel -me.'—'We shall see,' observed the Rector; and away he went. A few days -afterwards the Squire issued a summons for George Dalton to attend -before him. George went, and found that the Rector had laid an -information against him, under an obsolete Act of Parliament,[31] for -having absented himself from divine service during a period of six -months. George was astounded at the charge, but could not deny its -truth. The Squire accordingly sentenced him to a month's imprisonment in -the House of Correction; and George was taken back to his old -quarters—to the farther contamination of a gaol! - -"This was another dreadful blow for Marion; and it produced such an -effect upon our father, that, like old Dalton, he fell ill, and soon -died. When George was liberated once more, he was compelled to part with -his farm at a great loss; for his misfortunes and his absence on two -occasions had left it but indifferently cultivated; and, moreover, as my -father was now gone, it was thought better that we should all live -together. Dalton's farm was accordingly put up for sale; and the Squire -became the possessor of the land once more. George was now almost -constantly at the ale-house. Instead of expending the money realised by -the sale of the farm, after paying the debts due, in increasing the -stock and improving the tillage of our land, he squandered it away on -worthless companions. His wife never remonstrated when he came home -late; but would sit up for him patiently and resignedly: and if ever my -mother said any thing, she would observe, 'Poor George feels his wrongs -too acutely to be able to bear up against them: there are great -allowances to be made for him.' Thus did about two years pass away; and, -though I and the two labourers whom we kept worked hard on the farm, yet -it wanted the master-hand to superintend; and we found that its produce -now scarcely yielded a bare maintenance when every thing was paid. -Marion gradually got worse; but her endurance was inexhaustible. It -often gave me pain to look at that poor, pale, wasted young woman, and -think of her blooming charms when she first loved George Dalton. Her -heart was breaking slowly—slowly—slowly! Had she been passionate, or -liable to the influence of strong emotions, she would have gone rapidly -down to the tomb; but she was so meek—so amiable—so resigned—so -patient—so enduring, that her very weakness was her strength. - -"Upwards of two years had passed since George's second liberation from -confinement, when it was found necessary to raise money to increase the -stock of the farm, and buy seed for sowing. George applied to the same -attorney who had got up his defence on the occasion of his appeal; and -this man offered to induce one of his clients to lend a certain sum on -George's and my mother's joint bill of exchange, which he said would -save all the expense of a mortgage. My mother objected strongly; but -George promised so faithfully to amend his conduct if she would consent, -that she did agree. The money was raised; but a considerable portion -found its way to the public-house before any purchases were made. Even -then, George forgot his pledges, and became, if possible, more idle and -dissipated than before. The bill became due, and there were no assets to -meet it. The lawyer, however, undertook to manage the affair; and he -induced George and my mother to sign some parchment deed, which he -previously read over in a hasty mumbling way, and in which blanks were -left for the names of another person who appeared to be interested in -it; and also blanks for certain dates, fixing the particular conditions -as to time. My mother inquired why the name of the other party was not -filled in; and the lawyer replied, with a chuckle, 'Oh! that is for the -name of my client; and as he has only lent the money to serve you, and -not as a mere lender, motives of delicacy induce this suppression for -the time being.'—My mother did not like it; but George urged her to -sign, and she did so. - -"Three months after that an execution was levied upon the farm, at the -suite of Squire Bulkeley, the lawyer's accommodating client, who had -hitherto kept his name secret! George Dalton was at first a prey to the -most terrific rage; but he mastered his feelings at the intercession of -Marion and our mother. We were compelled to quit the farm, which now -became the property of the Squire, by virtue of the roguish deed which -had been drawn up by the unprincipled attorney; and we retired to a -humble lodging in the village. Need I say how we all felt this sad -reverse—this dreadful degradation? My mother and Marion strove hard to -subdue their anguish, in order not to irritate the already much excited -George; but there were moments when his outbursts of rage were furious -in the extreme. He invoked curses upon the head of the Squire, whom he -denounced as the murderer of his father and of mine, and also of his -child; and he vowed to wreak a deadly vengeance upon him. At the -ale-house, it seems, these threats were repeated, accompanied with the -bitterest imprecations. On the following day George was arrested, and -conveyed before the parson-justice, on a charge of threatening the life -of Squire Bulkeley. He was ordered to find good bail for keeping the -peace; but security was impossible in respect to one so fallen, lost, -and characterless as he. To prison, then, again he was sent; and for -three months he languished there, doubtless brooding over the awful -wrongs which the Squire had heaped upon him. And all this time the -Squire held up his head high; and no one in his own sphere of life -seemed to think that he had acted at all unjustly or tyrannically. On -the contrary, the gentry and the influential farmers in the -neighbourhood, looked on George Dalton as an irreclaimable scamp, who -had only got what he well deserved. Even those persons of the poorer -class, who were formerly our friends, looked coldly on us, and shook -their heads when the name of George Dalton was mentioned. So sure is it -that if you give a dog a bad name, you may hang him. - -"We lived as sparingly as possible on the wreck of our little property, -during the three months that George's third imprisonment lasted; but I -found it very difficult to get work, as the farmers said '_that I was as -bad as my brother-in-law_.' And yet there was not a steadier lad in the -whole county than myself; and, though invited, I never set foot in the -ale-house. I was moreover regular in attendance at church, along with my -mother and sister. But I got a bad name without deserving it; and even -when I could procure a little employment, I was subjected to a thousand -annoyances. Unpleasant hints would be dropped about the burning down of -the Squire's out-houses, and the name of George Dalton was darkly -alluded to in connexion with that business; or, if I refused, on a -Saturday night, to accompany my fellow-labourers to the ale-house, I was -taunted with knowing something that I was afraid of confessing in my -cups. At that time I often thought of running away, and seeking my -fortune elsewhere; but when I looked at my poor mother, now deprived of -almost necessaries, and my sister pining away, I had not the heart to do -it. Besides, I was greatly attached to George Dalton, and was anxious to -see in what state of mind he would come out of prison. Three times -during his incarceration was Marion allowed to visit him; and on each -occasion she returned home to our humble lodging weeping bitterly. -Neither my mother nor myself ever questioned her much; for we knew her -extreme devotion to George, and that she would not only always endeavour -to conceal his failings as much as possible, but that she likewise -strove to hold out hopes of his complete reformation. But when he was -emancipated once more, he had become sullen, dogged, and -morose—_forbearing_ only in respect to Marion, to whom he could no -longer be said to be positively _kind_. He did not mention the name of -the Squire, nor in any way allude to him; neither did he visit the -ale-house—and thus my mother and I began to hope that Marion's fond -hopes were likely to be fulfilled. - -"Having recruited his strength by a few days' rest, after his -half-famished sojourn in the gaol, George one morning said to me, 'Now, -Tim, you and me will go out and look for work.' We accordingly set off, -but applied fruitlessly at all the farm-houses in the neighbourhood. -Some did not want hands: others positively refused to have any thing to -do with George Dalton or any one connected with him. We were returning -homeward, mournful enough, when we passed a large lime-kiln, the owner -of which had been very intimate with George's father and mine. He -happened to be coming up from the pit at the moment when we were -passing; and stopping us, he entered into conversation. Finding that we -were in search of work, he offered to employ us in the chalk-pit; and we -readily accepted the proposal. Next day we went to work; and when the -Saturday night came round, we were paid liberally. Thus several weeks -elapsed; and we earned enough to keep the home comfortably. Our master -was good and kind to us; and the spirits of my brother-in-law appeared -to revive. But he never mentioned the Squire, nor alluded to the past -oftener than he could help. - -"We had been employed in this manner for about three months, when one -evening George and I stayed later than the other labourers in the -chalk-pit, to finish a job which we knew the owner wanted to be -completed as soon as possible. It was ten o'clock before we made an end -of our toil; and we were just on the point of retiring, when we saw two -persons walking slowly along the brink of the chalk-pit. The moon was -bright—the night was beautifully clear; and we obtained a full view of -the two figures: but as we were at the bottom of the precipice, they -could not have seen us, even if they had looked attentively downward. -'Tim,' said George, in a low, hoarse whisper, 'one of those men is the -Squire. I recognised his infernal countenance just now when the -moonlight fell full upon it.'—We remained perfectly quiet at the foot of -the chalky side of the pit; although I do not believe that George had -any bad intention in view, and I only stayed because he did. - -"The Squire and his companion began to talk together; and by the name in -which Mr. Bulkeley addressed the other, George and I immediately knew -that he was one of the very gamekeepers who had twice perjured -themselves in mis-stating the circumstances connected with the exploits -of Ponto.—'And so you say that the scoundrel Dalton works in this pit -now, eh?' observed the Squire.—'Yes, sir,' replied the other: 'he's come -down to that at last.'—'By God! I never shall be contented till I send -him to Botany Bay, or to the scaffold!' exclaimed the Squire. 'But -sooner or later, you see, I obtain vengeance on those who offend me. Old -Splint refused to sell me his field, and spoke insolently to me: he died -of grief through all that has happened, and the entire farm is now mine. -Old Dalton contrived to buy his land, through my cursed neglect in -forgetting to tell my agent to except his property from any part that -might be sold; but he also died of grief, and the land has come back to -me. Ah! ah! I bought that in again too, no doubt to the vexation of -young Dalton. Then, next we have the insolent jade Marion: she refused -my overtures, and persisted in marrying Dalton; and what has she gained? -Nothing but misery. As for George Dalton himself, he insulted and struck -me, besides carrying off Marion as it were before my very eyes and -making her his wife, when she was much more fitted to become my -mistress;—and what has _he_ got for his pains? I have crushed and ruined -him, and I will never stop till I have shown him what it is to dare to -offend an English landowner. But you say that this is the pit where he -works?'—'Yes, sir,' answered the gamekeeper.—'Well, I shall see his -master to-morrow,' continued the Squire; 'and I'll be bound to say -George Dalton will not do another week's work in this place. You may now -go and join your men in the preserves; and I shall return to the Hall, -by the short cut through the fields. The night is uncommonly fine, -however, and is really tempting enough to make one stay out an hour or -two.'—'It is very fine, sir,' answered the gamekeeper. 'Good night, -sir;'—and the man walked rapidly away, the Squire remaining on the edge -of the pit, about thirty feet above the spot where George and I were -crouched up. - -"'Tim,' said George at last,—and his voice was deep and hollow, although -he spoke in a low whisper,—'do you remain here quite quiet: I must have -a word or two with that man.'—'For God's sake, George,' I said, 'do not -seek a quarrel.'—'No, I won't seek a quarrel exactly,' returned my -brother-in-law; 'but I cannot resist the opportunity to tell my mind to -this miscreant who is now seeking to deprive us of our bread.'—And -before I had time to utter another word, George was gliding rapidly but -almost noiselessly up the craggy side of the chalk-pit, holding by the -furze that grew in thick strong bunches. I confess that a strong -presentiment of evil struck terror to my soul; and I remained breathless -and trembling, where he had left me, but gazing upwards with intense -anxiety. 'Holloa!' suddenly exclaimed the Squire, who had remained for -nearly three minutes on the top of the precipice after his gamekeeper -had quitted him—most likely brooding over the new scheme of vengeance -which his hateful mind had planned: 'holloa!' he said; 'who is -there?'—'I, George Dalton!' cried my brother-in-law, suddenly leaping to -within a few paces of where the Squire was standing, and confronting the -bad man like a ghost rising from a grave in the presence of the -murderer.—'And what the devil do you want here, scoundrel?' exclaimed -the Squire.—'Rather what do _you_ want, plotting against me still?' -demanded George. 'I overheard every word that passed between you and -your vile agent; and if there was any doubt before as to your detestable -malignity, there is none now.'—'Listeners never hear any good of -themselves,' retorted the Squire; 'and if I called you a rascal, as -perhaps I might have done, I meant what I said, and you heard yourself -mentioned by your proper name.'—'Villain! miscreant!' cried George, now -quite furious; 'you shall no longer triumph over me!'—And in another -moment they were locked in a firm embrace, but not of love; and in the -next moment after that, they rolled over the edge of the precipice, down -to within a few paces where I was standing. - -"A scream of terror escaped me; for I thought that they must be killed. -The Squire lay senseless; but George leapt upon his feet—and almost at -the same instant a low moan denoted that his enemy was not dead.—'Thank -God, murder has not been done!' I exclaimed.—'But murder _will_ be done, -Tim, this night,' said George, in a voice not loud, but so terrible in -its tone that it made my blood run cold in my veins. 'Yes,' he -continued, 'my mortal enemy is now in my power. For a long time have I -brooded over the vengeance that I had resolved to take upon him when no -one should be near to tell the tale; for _you_ will not betray me, -Tim—you will not give me up to the hangman on account of what I may -do?'—'George, I implore you not to talk thus,' I said, falling on my -knees at his feet.—'As there is a living God, Tim, above us,' said -George, solemnly, 'if you attempt to thwart me, I will make away with -you also!' And having thus spoken, he raised the Squire in his arms, -while I still remained on my knees, horrified and speechless. Never, -never shall I forget the feelings which then possessed me! The Squire -recovered his senses, and exclaimed, 'Where am I? Who are you?'—'George -Dalton, your mortal enemy,' was the terrific reply.—'Oh! I recollect -now,' cried the Squire, wildly. 'But do not murder me!'—'Your last hour -is come! and your death shall be as terrible as human revenge can render -it!' said George, in a voice which I should not have recognised without -a foreknowledge that it was actually he who was speaking.—'Mercy!' cried -the Squire, as George dragged him away towards the middle of the pit. - -"Oh! then I divined the dread intent of my brother-in-law; but I could -not move a hand to help, nor raise my voice to shout for assistance in -behalf of the victim. There I remained on my knees—speechless, -stupified, deprived of motion,—able only to exercise the faculty of -sight; and that showed me a horrible spectacle! For, having half stunned -the Squire with a fearful blow, inflicted with a lump of chalk, George -dragged him towards the kiln in which the lime was still burning, -diffusing a pale red glow immediately above. 'Mercy!' once more cried -the Squire, recovering his senses a second time.—'Mercy! miscreant,' -exclaimed George; 'what mercy have you ever shown to me?' and, as he -uttered these words, he hurled his victim, or rather his oppressor, into -the burning pit! There was a shriek of agony—but it was almost -immediately stifled; and the lurid glow became brighter, and the form of -my brother-in-law seemed to expand and grow vast to my affrighted view; -so that he appeared some dreadful fiend bending over the fiery -receptacle for damned souls! - -"Still was I a motionless, speechless, stupified spectator of that -horrible tragedy, at a distance of about twenty yards. But no words can -describe the dreadful feelings that seized upon me, when I suddenly -beheld an object reach the top of the burning kiln, and cling there for -an instant, until George Dalton with his foot thrust him back—for that -object was indeed the Squire—into the fiery tomb! Then a film came -rapidly over my eyes—my head seemed to swim round—and I fell back -senseless. I was aroused by a sensation of violent shaking; and, on -opening my eyes, I saw George Dalton bending over me. I shuddered -fearfully—for all the particulars of the dreadful deed so recently -performed, rushed to my mind with overwhelming force; and I remember -that I clasped my hands together in an agonising manner, exclaiming, 'My -God! George, how could you do it?'—'Tim,' he replied, 'I do not repent -what I have done. Human endurance could not stand more. If I had to live -the last hour over again, I would act in the same manner. _Your_ -father—_my_ father—and my child, were all as good as murdered by that -man: and he has deserved death. Death he has met at last; and the -sweetest moments I ever tasted were when I saw him crawling painfully up -from the smouldering bottom of the pit, with his flesh all scorched, his -clothes singed to tinder, and his face awfully disfigured,—clinging, -too, with his burnt hands to the burning lime, and too wretched—yes, too -full of horror, even to utter a moan. Then I kicked him back, and I -watched his writhings till all was over. He died with difficulty, Tim; -and my only regret is that he was not ten hours in the tortures of that -death, instead of as many minutes. But, come, get off your knees, and -let us be going. I do not ask you whether you mean to tell of me, -because that would not prevent you if you have the intention.'—'George, -do you think it possible!' I exclaimed, scarcely able to recover from -the horrified sensations which were excited by the cold, implacable -manner in which he had described the dying efforts and agonies of his -enemy.—'Well, Tim,' he said, 'I don't ask you for any promises: you can -do as you like. One thing is very certain, I could never harm you; and -so, if you do take it into your head to turn round upon me, you would be -treating me as I never should treat you. Let us say no more about it; -and if you _can_ keep a composed countenance before the women, do.' - -"We left the pit; and when we reached the top, George said, 'You go one -way, and I will go another. If you are met out late by any one, you -would not be suspected; but I should—and I would not involve you in any -danger by your being seen with me; for, remember Tim,' he added, as we -were about to separate, 'if I should happen to be caught out, I shall -never say that you were present. And now get home as soon as you can; -and say that you left work an hour ago, but that you took a walk, or -something of that kind, before you went home. You can also seem -surprised that I have not yet come back: that is, if I don't get home -before you.' We parted, and I took the nearest road to the village, -which I reached a little after eleven. Marion and my mother were rather -uneasy at our absence; and I was quite unable to master my feelings so -far as to appear composed and comfortable. Indeed, they were already -overwhelming me with questions, when George made his appearance. I was -astonished to see how happy he appeared: there was, positively, a glow -of animation in his countenance, as if he had done some admirable deed. -Somehow or another, his good spirits were catching; and I began to think -that an admirable deed had really been accomplished, in ridding the -earth of a monster whose delight was to crush and oppress the poor. -George said that he had been to deliver some message to the owner of the -kiln, after he had separated from me; and that made him so late. I had -already stated that I had taken a good long walk, and our tales were -believed. But, when the two women retired to rest, and George and I were -left alone for a few minutes, his manner suddenly changed, as he said in -a hoarse, low whisper, 'Tim, there is danger menacing _me_. A few -minutes after you and I parted, I met the Squire's gamekeepers near the -pit, as they were going their rounds on account of the poachers; and -they recognised me. My only chance of safety is in the probability that -the lime will consume the body entirely. At all events I shall be the -first at the pit in the morning.' I was horror-struck at what he told -me, and conjured him to seek safety by flight; but he declared his -resolution to await the issue of events, and trust to fortune. He said -that he felt perfectly happy in having wreaked his vengeance upon the -Squire, and should not experience other feelings, were he on the -scaffold. He then rose and went to join Marion, while I prepared to -spread my bed as usual on the floor of our little parlour. - -"It was not yet day-light when I was awakened by hearing a noise in the -room; and on inquiry, I found that it was George, about to sally forth, -as he had intimated to me on the preceding night. I offered to get up -and accompany him; but he said, 'Not for the world, Tim. Should any -thing happen to _me_, _you_ must be at least safe, for those poor -creatures of women cannot be left without a friend and protector.' He -then left the room, and in a few moments I heard the street-door closing -gently. I lay down again and tried to sleep, but could not. An -indescribable feeling of uneasiness was upon me, and I found myself, -even against my will, balancing and calculating the chances for or -against the detection of the murder. At length my mind was worked up to -such a pitch of excitement that I could remain in bed no longer; and I -rose and dressed myself. Having opened the shutters, I found that the -day was just breaking. I cleared away the bedding, and laid the -breakfast-table, as was my custom. Presently my mother and Marion made -their appearance; and we sate down to the morning meal. But I could eat -nothing; and my uneasiness was soon perceived. 'Tim,' said Marion, -'there is something upon your mind: I know there is. You cannot conceal -it; and if you deny it, you will not be speaking the truth. In the name -of heaven, tell me what grieves you! And why has George gone out so -unusually early and without his breakfast this morning?'—I assured both -my sister and mother that there was nothing the matter with me, and that -George had merely gone out early to do a good day's work, as he hoped to -get an increase of wages. Marion was not satisfied; but she saw that it -was useless to question me, at least before our mother: accordingly, -when the latter left the room after breakfast, my sister again urged me -to make her acquainted with the cause of the secret anxiety which she -knew was preying upon me. I renewed my protestations that she was -mistaken. 'Well, Tim,' she said in her quiet, plaintive manner, while -her blue eyes filled with tears, 'if any thing should happen, the blow -will be certain to kill me, because I shall be unprepared for it.'—For a -few moments I hesitated whether I would confide to her the terrific -secret of the murder; but I had not the courage, and hurried away to -join my brother-in-law at the kiln. - -"As I passed through the village, with my pickaxe on my back, I met a -person whom I knew. 'Splint,' said he, 'have you heard any thing?'—I -know that I turned deadly pale, as I stammered out, 'No, nothing -particular.'—He did not notice my change of countenance, but added, 'The -Squire is missing, and foul play is suspected. That is all I have heard. -But where is George?'—'Why should you instantly ask that question, after -mentioning the report about Squire Bulkeley?' I asked; and it was with -the utmost difficulty that I could restrain my feelings so as to speak -in a manner at all composed.—'Oh! only because if any thing should be -wrong, you know, I am afraid that George Dalton would be suspected -first; as every one is aware that he is no friend to the Squire;'—and -the man passed on his way, not having intended to say any thing cruel or -cutting, for he was a good kind of a fellow. My alarms increased; and I -felt so terribly uneasy, that I knew not whether to throw down my -pickaxe and run away altogether, or whether I should proceed to the -chalk-pit. But while I was still weighing in my mind all the chances for -and against detection, I came within sight of the fatal spot where the -dreadful murder had been perpetrated. There was the height from which my -brother-in-law and the Squire had rolled down, so firmly locked in each -other's hostile embrace: there was the chimney of the kiln, in the -burning-pit of which the wretched man had endured such fearful agonies -before death released him! - -"I know not how it was—but, though I really wished to fly from the fatal -spot, some strange influence urged me on, or rather attracted me -thither. When I reached a point from which I could command a view of the -depths of the chalk-pit, an icy chill struck to my heart. George was in -the grasp of the Squire's two principal gamekeepers; and the labourers -of the pit were gathered round the mouth of the kiln, in a manner which -convinced me that they had made some discovery. At that instant the -words which George had addressed to me that morning, flashed back to -mind:—'_Should any thing happen to me, you must be at least safe; for -these poor creatures of women cannot be left without a friend and -protector._'—My soul recovered all its power, and I felt that the truth -of those words was strong indeed. Yes—what would become of my poor -mother and the unhappy Marion, if both of their protectors were snatched -away from them? Never was presence of mind more necessary. With a firm -step I descended the sloping path leading into the pit, and affected -extreme surprise when I beheld George in the custody of the gamekeepers. -A rapid but significant glance on his part encouraged me to maintain the -part I was playing; and fortunately no one suspected that a mere lad of -fifteen or sixteen like me had any hand in the dreadful deed of which -there was now evidence to prove the perpetration. It was however with no -affected horror that I gathered from the hurried words of the labourers -the particulars of the discovery. It appeared that the absence of the -Squire from home all night had created an alarm; and this was augmented -when it was ascertained that the Squire had been with one of his -gamekeepers at the chalk-pit, and that half an hour afterwards this same -keeper and another had encountered George Dalton in the same vicinity. -The gamekeepers, finding that the Squire had not returned home all -night, repaired direct to the chalk-works, where they found George -Dalton had just arrived; and the dawn of day showed them enough at the -bottom of the lime-pit to convince them that murder had been -perpetrated. To the questions put to him by those who arrested him, -George replied that he had parted from me at about a quarter to ten -o'clock on the previous evening—that I had returned home—and that he had -remained behind to finish his work;—but he denied having seen the Squire -at all. - -"I may as well state now, although I was not aware of the fact till some -hours later on that terrible day, that the Squire's bailiff had been -sent for the moment George was arrested and the murder was discovered; -and that, having heard George's answers to the questions put to him, he -set off for the village by a short cut over the Bulkeley estate; whereas -I took the main road to the pit, and therefore had not met him. It -appears that on his arrival at the village, the bailiff went straight to -our lodgings, and began to question Marion and her mother as to whether -George had been home at all during the night; and if so, at what hour he -had returned. Marion named the hour at which he had returned; adding, -that he was so late because he had been, on leaving off work, to deliver -a message to the owner of the chalk-pit. The bailiff then brutally -revealed the whole terrible truth to the two females; and though I was -not there to witness the same, yet it is easy to believe that it was -terrible and heart-rending indeed. But, heedless of the misery which his -abrupt discourse had produced, the bailiff hastened off to the owner of -the chalk-pit, and learnt from him that George had _not_ been near him -on the preceding evening. Back to the pit went the bailiff, now -accompanied by its owner; and the next step was to convey the prisoner -before the nearest magistrate, who happened to be the rector of the -parish. I was desired to go with the party; but no suspicion was -attached to me. It was proved that the calcined remains of a human body -were found in the hole where the lime was burnt; and that the metal -buttons picked up were those which belonged to the coat the Squire had -on the previous evening. I need not detail the nature of the evidence -which appeared to tell against George Dalton; because you can well -understand it from all the circumstances I have already related. He -conducted himself with wonderful calmness and presence of mind -throughout the long examination, which lasted for several hours; and -when the magistrate asked him if he had any thing to say in his defence, -or to show why he should not be committed for trial, he answered in a -firm tone, 'I am innocent, and have nothing more to say.' He was -accordingly committed for trial—handcuffs were put upon him; and he was -removed to an out-house, guarded by constables, until a cart could be -got in readiness to convey him to the County Gaol. - -"But in the yard of the rector's abode a heart-rending scene took place. -Marion was there, waiting to see her husband, of whose guilt _she_, poor -thing! could entertain no doubt. She had left our mother, who had fallen -down in a fit when the disclosure was so rudely made by the bailiff, to -the care of the landlady of the house in which we lived; and, crushed -with deep affliction—weak—sickly—almost heart-broken as she was, she had -dragged herself to the place where she heard the examination was going -on. 'Oh! George, George!' she exclaimed, as she rushed forward to -embrace her husband, whose manacles rattled, as, forgetting that he wore -them, he endeavoured to extend his arms to receive her. How poor Marion -wept!—what convulsive sobs escaped her bosom! George wept also; but he -said every thing fond and endearing to console her. The parson-justice -appeared at the door of his house; and, perceiving the sad spectacle, -said, 'Take that woman away: I will not have such scenes under my -windows. She is no doubt as bad as he.'—Never shall I forget the look of -imploring anguish which Marion turned towards that _minister of the -Gospel_, who spoke so sternly and so unjustly; then, in the next moment, -she fell senseless upon the ground. The constables rushed upon George to -drag him off to the out-house: but he hurled them away, manacled as he -was, crying in a voice that struck terror to my soul, 'I will not move -an inch till I see this poor innocent creature properly cared for. Keep -off—or I shall do _another murder_!'—'Another murder!' exclaimed the -rector: 'then he confesses that of the Squire!'—But George heard not the -observation; nor did he seem to notice the tremendous oversight which he -had committed in the bewildering anguish of the moment. Bending over -Marion, he raised her with his chained hands, while one of the rector's -servants, more humane than his master, brought out water to sprinkle -upon her countenance. At length she slowly opened her eyes; and George, -beckoning to me, said, 'Now, Tim, take her away: I cannot bear this -scene any more!'—I approached, and lent my support to poor Marion, while -George, of his own accord, hurried to the out-house, not once casting a -look behind him. - -"I know not how I got my wretched sister home;—and I was nearly as -wretched as herself. But at length we reached our humble lodging, where -the landlady, who appeared to be the only friend left to us in the -world, did all she could to console the miserable young wife. Had it not -been for that kind-hearted woman, we must all have perished through -sheer want; for I received notice from the owner of the chalk-pit that -my services would be dispensed with in future, and no one else would -give me work. A week after George's committal, my mother died; and she, -who was once the wife of a farmer well-to-do in the world, was now -buried at the expense of the parish! When the funeral was over, and -Marion grew somewhat more composed, she insisted upon removing to -Winchester, so as to be near the gaol wherein her husband lay. 'If we -go,' said I, 'we must beg our way.'—'Then we will beg our way, Tim,' -answered Marion; 'for, whether innocent or guilty, George is my husband, -and I can never cease to love him.'—I offered no farther remonstrance; -so, bidding our kind landlady farewell, we set out, with only -half-a-crown in our pockets; and for that sum we were indebted to that -same good landlady. - -"On our arrival at Winchester, we took a small lodging near the goal; -and Marion went to see her husband. She insisted upon going alone; and I -did not thwart her in any of her wishes. When she returned to me, she -seemed a little more tranquil than she had yet been since the dreadful -disclosure of George's arrest on an accusation of murder. She was -consoled by having seen her husband, although she could not do otherwise -than believe him guilty. But of that she never spoke to me; and I was -very careful not to touch upon the point. I now tried to obtain work; -but, at some places where I applied, _character_ was inquired about, and -at others no assistance was wanted. At last I was actually compelled to -go into the streets and beg, for Marion was attacked with severe -indisposition. One evening, as I was returning home without having -succeeded in obtaining a single halfpenny all day long, and in a state -bordering on despair, I was warned by a beadle that if I was seen -begging in the streets again, I should be taken up as a rogue and -vagabond. Frightened by his threats, I hurried away, and was already in -sight of the house in which we lived, and where I had left my poor -sister in the morning, when, by the light streaming from a shop-window, -I saw an old gentleman drop something on the ground as he drew out his -pocket-handkerchief. He went on without noticing the occurrence; and I -picked up the object, which proved to be his purse. Gold glittered -through the net-work at one end—silver was in the other. I ran after the -gentleman as hard as I could, hoping to receive a reward for my trouble; -but I could not find him. Thinking he had entered some house in the -street, I waited for nearly an hour—but still he appeared not. It came -on to rain hard: I was soon wet through to the skin, for my clothes were -old and tattered; and the pangs of hunger were now dreadful. The idea of -using a small portion of the money in the purse, by degrees grew -stronger and stronger in my mind. I thought of poor Marion, who was -famished as well as myself;—the temptation was too strong—and I yielded. -Rushing to a baker's shop, I procured bread: thence I proceeded to a -general-dealer's, and purchased a little tea, sugar, butter, and other -necessaries. I then returned home, and told Marion that a charitable -gentleman had given me half-a-crown, and that I was also promised work. -'Alas! my poor brother,' she said, 'you are compelled to think of -supporting me as well as yourself: but it will not be for long, Tim,' -she added: 'I feel it _there_ now,'—and she touched her forehead,—'as -well as _here_,'—and she placed her hand on her heart.—I burst into -tears, and implored her not to talk in that mournful way. She shook her -head, sighing piteously—but said nothing. - -"Next day I went out and remained absent until night. When I came home -again I said that I had obtained work, at the rate of two shillings a -day and was to be paid every evening. So I laid two shillings on the -table. I forgot to observe that the purse contained about eleven pounds -in gold and silver; and I was determined to dole it out in such a way -that Marion should not suspect me of deceiving her. As often as the gaol -regulations would permit, she visited her husband; for the little -comforts which I was now able to provide for her, restored her strength -in a trifling degree—at all events, sufficiently so to enable her to -drag her drooping form along to the dungeon which held all she deemed -most dear. Once only did I see George before the day of his trial; for -Marion preferred to visit him alone. He was greatly affected at -beholding us together, and thanked me for my kindness towards my sister. - -"At last, after the lapse of about three months, the Assizes commenced; -and on the second day the trial came on. George had counsel to defend -him: for I supplied the means from the purse, having invented some tale -to account for the possession of the requisite sum to fee the barrister, -so that Marion was satisfied. It was with the greatest difficulty that I -could persuade her to remain at home during the proceedings, at which I -was compelled to be present as a witness. I need not detail all the -particulars of the evidence given against my unhappy brother-in-law: -circumstances all told in his disfavour, and the observation which he -had let slip, '_I shall do another murder_,' was made the most of by the -counsel for the prosecution. I was examined, and I swore that I had -quitted the prisoner at the lime-kiln at a quarter to ten on the night -in question. It was proved that it was not until _past_ ten that the -gamekeeper accompanied the Squire to the neighbourhood of the fatal -place; and therefore no questions were put likely to embarrass me. The -counsel for the defence argued most ingeniously in George's favour; but -the Judge summed up against him.[32] The Jury did not deliberate ten -minutes; and the verdict was _Guilty_! George was standing in the dock -all the time that the Jury were whispering together and when the foreman -pronounced his doom; and a slight muscular twitching of the lips was the -only sign of emotion. The Judge put on the black cap,[33] and sentenced -him to death in the usual horrible terms. I must confess that, though I -had but little room in my soul for reflection of any kind—so much was it -occupied with the _one_ dreadful fact of the day—I shuddered and looked -with loathing upon the Judge,—to hear that old man, himself having one -foot in the grave, uttering such a disgusting, cruel, and inhuman -sentence as this:—'_You shall be taken back to the place whence you -came, and thence to a place of execution, where you shall be hanged by -the neck until you are dead!_' Then, when man has done his worst, and -will not forgive nor attempt to reform the criminal, the awful atrocity -concludes with the damnable mockery—'_And may the Lord have mercy upon -your soul!_' I call it a mockery, because it is insulting to heaven to -invoke that pity and compassion which human beings so positively refuse. -But then the old Judge was a mere mouthpiece through which the -blood-thirsty law spoke; and he was compelled to do a duty for which he -was so well paid. Still I loathed that old man who could _sell_ his -feelings for money, and who could be allured by the temptation of a -large income to undertake an office which constrained him to doom his -fellow-creatures to die the deaths of mere dogs. I wondered whether he -could sleep comfortably in his bed afterwards; and I thought at the time -that I would sooner be the veriest beggar crawling on the face of the -earth, than a Judge with all his money—all the respect shown to him—and -all his titles of Lordship! - -[Illustration] - -"But I have wandered away from my subject. Poor George was removed from -the dock:—I mean, he accompanied the turnkeys back to the gaol; for he -walked as firmly as I could do at this moment. I now had a most dreadful -duty to perform—to convey the result to Marion. But I hastened back to -her, fearful lest she should learn that result from lips which might not -break the horrible tidings slowly to her. When I entered the garret -where I had left her, I found her on her knees praying aloud and -fervently. The sight was too much for me; and I burst into tears. She -rose slowly, took me by the hand, and said, 'Tim—dear Tim, you need not -attempt _to break it gently to me_, as I know you have come to do. I -feel—something tells me, indeed—that it is all over: and I have been -long prepared for this awful moment! I have never allowed myself to -indulge in vain hopes. The world, I was convinced, would persecute my -poor husband until it drove him to——but I cannot, cannot say where! That -he was guilty of the deed, Tim, I have known all along; and, dreadful as -that deed was, I could not reproach him for it. He was goaded to -desperation by wrong heaped upon wrong; and, instead of being treated as -a criminal, he should be looked upon as a victim himself.'—Marion had -spoken with an unnatural calmness, which made me tremble lest her reason -was deserting her; but when she had concluded her address to me, she -threw herself into my arms, and burst into a violent flood of weeping. I -endeavoured to console her: she grew frantic. The command which she had -maintained over herself throughout that dreadful day, and in the -solitude of that garret, had tried her powers of endurance too severely; -and now that her long pent-up anguish burst forth, it was awful in the -extreme. 'Oh! my God!' I exclaimed; 'what have we done that we should be -thus tortured on earth, as if we were in hell?'—and then I thought of -the crime I had committed in appropriating the contents of the purse to -my own use—and I felt ashamed. But in a few moments other feelings came -over me: it struck me that there was no use in being good. Old Dalton—my -father—my mother—poor Marion—and, until the date of that one deed, -myself,—none of us had ever been wicked—and yet, how awfully had we -suffered. The three first had positively been _killed_ by misfortune. -And George too,—there was not a more upright, honourable, -generous-hearted man in existence than he, until oppression and cruel -wrong wrought a change in his nature. Such were my thoughts; and again I -asked myself, what was the use of being good? From that moment I -determined to do as I saw the world doing around me. - -"The execution was fixed for the second Thursday after the trial, which -took place on a Tuesday; and during the interval Marion saw her husband -three times. I accompanied her on each occasion; for I was afraid to -allow her to venture out alone. George maintained his courage in an -astonishing manner; but never alluded to the crime in our presence. He -showed the greatest affection towards his wife, and the warmest -attachment for me; and implored her not to give way more than she could -help to grief on his account. The third interview was on the evening -previous to the fatal day; and that was heart-rending indeed. Marion, no -longer resigned and enduring, was absolutely frantic; and she was borne -away, raving wildly, from the condemned cell. I managed to get her home; -and some female lodgers in the same house put her to bed. A surgeon was -sent for, and he pronounced her to be in the greatest danger. I sate up -with her all that night, throughout which she slept at intervals, -awaking to rave after her '_dear murdered husband_!' Had she not been my -sister, I never could have supported the horrors of that awful night. -Towards morning she seemed quite exhausted, and fell into a deep -slumber. The execution was to take place at twelve precisely; and I -hoped, sincerely hoped, that she might sleep until all should be over. -Hour after hour passed—eleven o'clock struck, and still she slept. Every -now and then she started convulsively, and murmured the name of her -husband. Oh! how anxiously did I then wait for the chimes that -proclaimed the quarters! and how slowly went the time! 'Poor George! -what are your feelings now?' I kept repeating to myself. A quarter -past—half-past eleven,—a quarter to twelve,—these had all struck, and -still she slept. As I sate by her bed-side, I could hear the rushing -crowds in the street below; and I also heard all the lodgers hastening -down the stairs to witness the execution! But still Marion slept; and, -in the bitterness of my own grief, this circumstance was a slight -consolation. - -"At length the chimes announced the hour—the fatal hour! Scarcely had -they done playing, when Marion awoke with a sudden start, and raised -herself to a sitting posture in the bed. Wildly she glanced around—and -again she started fearfully as, the chimes being over, the clock began -to strike the hour. '_One—two—three_,' she began in a tone of piercing -anguish; and on she went counting the strokes till her tongue had -numbered _twelve_! 'My God! 'tis the hour!' she exclaimed, with a -dreadful shriek; then extending her arms wildly, she cried, 'I come, -George—I come!' and fell back heavily in the bed, as if shot through the -heart. She was no more! - -"It appeared that the drop fell about half a minute after the last -stroke of twelve; and, therefore, by a strange chance, poor George -must have breathed his last almost at the very instant when Marion -uttered those words so wildly—'_I come! I come!_'—Thus died my -persecuted brother-in-law and my poor sister; and I was now left -alone—friendless—unprotected in the wide world. - -"A strange whim now suddenly entered my head: I would bury the remains -of the ill-fated couple in the same grave! Such was my idea; and so -determined was I to carry it into execution that I set out deliberately -and calmly for the purpose of robbing some one to obtain the means for -the purpose. When I got into the street I found the crowds dispersing -after having witnessed the execution of my brother-in-law. How I loathed -the inhuman creatures, who had shown such eager curiosity to view the -last struggles of a man hung up like a dog by the blood-thirsty mandates -of the law! Some were laughing and joking together as they walked along; -and such observations as these caught my ears:—'How game he died, didn't -he?'—'That Jack Ketch is a devilish clever fellow at his business!'—'It -was the best turnoff I have seen for a long time.'—'I propose that we -don't go to work to-day. Let's make a holiday of it? For my part, I -never fail to attend all executions that take place in the county, and I -always look upon it as a holiday; just like Easter Monday or Whit Monday -for instance.'—'What fun it was to see that old chap whom I bonneted in -the crowd! How he did curse and swear just as the parson was reading the -last prayer on the scaffold!'—'I never had such a jolly good lark in my -life. I had my arm round Tom Tiffin's wife's waist all the time.'—'What -a precious sight of pickpockets there was in the crowd!'—These, and a -hundred other observations of the same kind, met my ears as I walked -along the streets through which the people were returning from the -execution. At length I passed the door of a public news-room; and there -several gentlemen were standing, in conversation about the hideous -spectacle, which one of them had witnessed, and which this individual -was describing with wonderful minuteness to his companions. I pretended -to be looking at some pictures in the shop-window, but was in reality -surveying the group, thinking that one of them might become paymaster -(though against his will) for the funeral of my sister and -brother-in-law.—'You don't mean to say that the woman really did it?' -cried one of the gentlemen.—'I mean to say,' answered the person who had -witnessed the execution, 'that immediately after the criminal was dead, -or rather as soon as he had ceased to struggle, the woman went up on the -scaffold and the executioner put the murderer's hand upon her face to -cure the King's evil; and when she had gone down again, a countryman -ascended to the platform, and was touched in the same way for a wen -which he had got upon his head. I saw it all myself.'—'Well, I could -scarcely believe it,' said the other gentleman who had spoken.—'I will -lay you ten guineas,' exclaimed the one who had witnessed the execution, -'that if you ask any other person who was present, he will tell you the -same thing: and, thus speaking, the gentleman drew out his purse. His -friend, however, declined the wager; and the purse was re-consigned to -the pocket, but not before I had seen enough of it to convince me that -its contents were worth having. I felt the less remorse in robbing that -man, because he had described, with such methodical cold-bloodedness, -all the minute details of the execution; and, availing myself of on -opportunity when the group had got deep into a loud and excited -discourse on the incidents of touching for the King's evil and the wen, -I managed to extract the purse in even a far more skilful manner than I -had expected. The robbery was not immediately perceived; and I got clear -away. - -"On returning to my miserable garret, and by the side of the bed whereon -lay the remains of my once beautiful and amiable sister, I counted the -contents of the purse. 'Eleven guineas!' I murmured to myself; and, as I -glanced tremblingly at the corpse, it actually seemed to me at the -moment as if an expression of deep gloom and sorrow suddenly passed over -its countenance. 'Oh! my sister—my dear sister!' I cried; 'I have done -it for your sake:'—and then, unable to remain any longer near one who -seemed to reproach me even in death, I hurried away to the prison to -claim the body of my brother-in-law. This request was granted without -difficulty; and in the course of the day the husband and wife lay -together upon the same bed—side by side—motionless, white, and cold,—the -former murdered by the law, the latter by cruel wrong and diabolical -oppression. The undertaker had received my instructions, and the -preparations for the funeral were in progress. But two nights did I pass -in the same room with those dead bodies; for, although I was afraid, yet -something seemed to whisper to me within, that it would be heartless and -cruel to abandon even those inanimate remains until the grave should -close over them! And as I sate by their side, while a candle burnt dimly -on the table, I thought to myself, 'All this tremendous amount of -sorrow, calamity, and woe has been caused by a wealthy and unprincipled -landlord! Had it not been for Squire Bulkeley, those two would still -have been alive, and would have been happy, prosperous, and useful to -society. But the tenant or the small landowner has no chance against the -proprietor of great estates, if the latter chooses to be a tyrant. The -herring has as much right as the whale to swim in the waters which God -has made; and yet the whale swallows up the herring! So is it with the -great and the small landholder!' - -"Well, the funeral took place—and there were four mourners, one real and -three sham. The real one was myself—the three sham were the undertaker -and two of his dependants. Nevertheless, my aim was accomplished: George -and his wife slept in the same grave; and the money of a man who had -greedily devoured the hideous spectacle of public strangulation had -served to bury them! In spite of my grief I chuckled at this idea; it -seemed something like retributive justice. I had now no object in -staying at Winchester; and, with eleven shillings in my pocket, I set -out to walk to London. During my journey I passed the chalk-pit where -the dreadful deed had taken place—I passed it purposely, because I now -wanted to harden my mind as much as possible, for I saw it was no use -for a poor friendless orphan like me to think of being honest. In the -most civilised country (as it is called) in the world, I had seen such -abominable acts of oppression perpetrated, under colour of law, that I -envied those naked savages in islands a great way off of whom I had read -in books; _for I thought that it was better to be barbarians without the -pretence of civilisation, than to be barbarians with that pretence_. I -had heard a great deal said by my father, by old Mr. Dalton, and also by -the clergyman from the pulpit, about the paternal nature of the English -Government; but I now began to perceive that it had been mere delusion -on the part of my well-meaning parent and Mr. Dalton, and rank hypocrisy -and wanton deception on the part of the parson. All I could now think of -the paternal Government was, that it favoured institutions by means of -which poor men might be driven to desperation, and then they were coolly -and quietly hanged for the deeds to the perpetration of which they had -been so goaded. I began to look upon the English people as the most -chicken-hearted and contemptible nation in the world for allowing the -aristocracy to ride rough-shod over them; whereas the great and -high-minded French people, as I had read in books, had risen up like one -man and overthrown _their_ aristocracy altogether.[34] But let me -continue my history. Having passed by the chalk-pit—the fatal -chalk-pit—I visited the immediate neighbourhood of the farm-house where -a happy family had once dwelt—my own! Now it was tenanted by strangers. -I went on, and came to the house to which George Dalton had borne my -sister Marion a blooming bride: that tenement was now deserted—and it -struck horror to my heart to observe—or rather to _feel_—that death-like -silence which pervaded a place where the joyous laugh of George Dalton -and the musical voice of my dear sister had once been heard. O God! that -so much misery should have fallen upon _two_ families who strove so hard -to live honestly and in peace with all mankind! - -"The tears streamed down my face as I turned back into the high road and -pursued my way towards London. I now thought, as I went along, that if I -could, _possibly_ obtain honest employment in the great city, honest I -would endeavour to remain,—I say _remain_, because although I had -committed two thefts, yet I was far from being utterly depraved. The -tears which painful remembrances had called forth, had softened my -heart; and the image of my lamented sister appeared to urge me to -virtue. Armed with this resolution, I proceeded towards the metropolis. -It was evening when, after two days' fatiguing journey, I entered -London, and put up at a miserable lodging-house in the window of which I -saw a bill stating that single men might have a bed for fourpence a -night. Eight hours' good rest gave me strength and spirits to begin my -search after employment. I went into the City and inquired at several -warehouses if a light porter was wanted. Having met with many refusals, -and being wearied with walking about, I went into a public-house to get -some refreshment; and happening to mention my situation to the landlord, -he very kindly recommended me to apply at a certain warehouse which he -named and where he knew that a porter was wanted. I did so, and was -fortunate enough to succeed in obtaining the place, with a salary of -twelve shillings a week. - -"I commenced my new avocation on the following morning, and exerted -myself to the utmost to obtain the good opinion of my master. I was -regular in the hours of attendance, and frequently remained behind at -the office, when the clerks had departed, to finish the labours which -had been assigned to me in the morning. I was economical and prudent in -my expenditure; and the pittance which I received was ample to keep -myself. At the expiration of four months from the time when I first -entered this establishment, I had entirely gained the confidence of my -employer. My salary was increased; and I began to think that fortune was -once more inclined to smile upon me; when a circumstance occurred which -convinced me that the long lane of life had not yet taken a turn. My -employer one morning desired me to proceed to a particular address, at -the West End of the Town, and insist upon the payment of a bill, which, -in the course of business, had fallen into his hands, and which had been -protested. I instantly set out for the place intimated; and, having -inquired for the gentleman, whose name was familiar enough to me, though -I could not suspect the identity which proved to be the case. I was -shown into an elegant apartment, where a gentleman was sitting with his -face to the fire and his back to the door, smoking a cigar. 'Who the -devil's that?' demanded the occupant of the room, without turning his -head, but in a voice which was not unknown to me. 'If you're a dun, I -ain't at home.'——'I have called for payment——,' I began.—'Holloa! who -have we here?' ejaculated the gentleman; and, rising from his chair, he -disclosed the features of the magistrate who had first committed George -Dalton for poaching. 'What! Tim Splint!' he cried: 'is this you?'—'It is -I, the brother-in-law of the man whom you helped to persecute,' I -returned, equally surprised at this unexpected encounter.—'No impudence, -my good fellow,' said the magistrate, very coolly; 'or else I shall be -compelled to kick you out of the room. But what vulgar thing have you -got in your hand there?'—'A bill, with your name to it, and the payment -of which I am come to require,' was my immediate answer.—'Oh! that's -it—is it?' ejaculated the magistrate, casting his eyes over the document -which I displayed to his view. 'Well, let me see, how shall I pay this? -In Bank notes, or by kicking you out of the house, or by recommending -the holder to read his bill again this day six months? Oh, I have -it;'—and, sitting down to an elegant writing-table, he penned a hasty -note, sealed it, and desired me to give it to the person who had sent -me. I then withdrew, anxious to avoid a dispute which would be perfectly -useless, and which would probably prejudice the interests of my -employer. I returned to the office in the City, and delivered the note. -The merchant opened it, and his countenance changed as he perused its -contents. For some moments he remained absorbed in thought; and then, -apparently acting in obedience to a sudden impulse, passed the note to -me, who had been anxiously watching the strange demeanour of my master. -The letter contained the following words:—'_Mr.——would be much obliged -to the holder of his acceptance, for a hundred and sixty-eight pounds, -if he would forbear from sending the brother of a man who has been -hanged, to demand the amount, as such persons are by no means welcome at -the abode of Mr.——, however well they may suit the holder of his bill. -The meaning of this request would be ascertained, were the porter -Timothy Splint, questioned as to his connexion with the murderer George -Dalton._'—I folded up the letter, returned it to my employer, and said, -'I cannot deny the truth of its contents; but I am innocent, although my -poor brother-in law died on the scaffold.'—'You should have been candid -at the commencement,' interrupted my employer, firmly but mildly. -'Whether you are innocent or not, matters not now. Had you told me your -real position when you first came to me, I should have admired your -frankness, and given you a fair trial. As it is, we must part at -once.'—I attempted to justify my silence respecting the ignominious end -of my relative; but the merchant was inexorable in his determination not -to hear any thing in the shape of an explanation. He paid me the wages -due to me, with a sovereign over, and dismissed me. - -"I forthwith began to look after a new situation; and I remembered the -parting words of the merchant whom I had left, resolving to be candid in -the first instance, when soliciting a new place. My duties at my recent -situation had compelled me to visit other mercantile firms on many -occasions; and I had formed the acquaintance of several of the persons -employed in those establishments. To some of them I repaired to -ascertain where vacancies were to be filled up; and, having obtained a -considerable list, I set out upon a round of applications. The first -house I inquired at was that of a general merchant and warehouseman, who -required a porter and collector of monies.—'Have you ever served in that -capacity before?' was the first demand.—'I was in the employ of a highly -respectable merchant,' I returned, mentioning his name, 'whose service I -only left a few days ago.'—'I remember that you were engaged there; I -thought your face was familiar to me,' said the merchant. 'And I also -recollect that I heard you spoken of in the highest possible terms,' he -continued; 'indeed, you were represented to me as being invaluable in -your particular department. But, of course, you did not leave your late -employer for any misconduct on your part?'—'Not at all, sir,' was my -answer. 'I must, however, explain a certain circumstance——.'—'Well, I -will just send round, merely for the form's sake, you know, and -ascertain that it is all right; and if you will call to-morrow morning, -I have no doubt I shall be enabled to give you a favourable answer.'—'I -must really, sir,' said I, 'speak to you very seriously for a moment -before you take any trouble on my behalf. If you will have the kindness -to listen to me, I shall explain my real position. The truth is, though -perfectly innocent of any crime myself, I have the misfortune to be -related to a persecuted man, who was driven by despair to commit a deed -for which he suffered on the scaffold.'—'The scaffold!' ejaculated the -merchant in dismay.—'Yes, sir,' I continued, hastily endeavouring to -give a full explanation; 'and if you will but permit me to tell you in a -few words the melancholy history, you will see no reason to be -displeased with my candour. On the contrary, you will, I am sure, pity -me, sir.'—'I thank you for such candour,' interrupted the merchant, -buttoning up his breeches-pockets, and locking his desk; 'but I regret -that, under circumstances, I cannot think of taking you into my -service.'—'But do pray listen to me, sir,' I exclaimed: 'you are -doubtless a man of sense, of justice, and of impartiality; and I appeal -to you——.'—'My good young man, it is no use to take up my time,' -interrupted the merchant impatiently; 'I am certainly not going to -receive you into my service, under existing circumstances.' - -"I was compelled to take my departure. I left the house, ashamed and -abashed—fearful that my evil doom was sealed—afraid to look those whom I -met in the face—and fancying that every one seemed to know who and what -I was. But a few moments' reflection taught me to believe that I had no -reason to anticipate failure every where, because I had met with a -repulse in one place. I accordingly proceeded to another establishment -where a light porter was also required. The head of this firm was a -venerable old man, with long grey hair falling over his coat-collar, a -bald head, and a huge pair of silver spectacles on his nose. There was -altogether something so kind, so unassuming, and so philanthropic in the -appearance of this individual, that I was immediately inspired with -confidence. I began my narrative, and related the main incidents, -without interruption from my hearer, who listened to me with the -greatest attention and apparent interest.—'My good young man,' said the -merchant, taking off his spectacles, and wiping them, 'I feel deeply for -you. Every word which you have told me, I firmly believe; your manner -and your language inspire me with confidence. Merciful God! into what a -state would society be plunged if innocence that had been wronged, could -not obtain the credence of those to whom it offered its justification! I -repeat, I am interested in you; I feel deeply for you. You have had your -share of misfortune, poor young man! Most sincerely do I hope that your -future prospects will not be equally embittered. I have a son of just -your age;—he has gone to the East Indies in a free-trader in which I -have a share; and, if it were only for his sake, I should feel -interested in you, for you resemble him in person. Heaven! what a world -this is! Why, man is a cannibal in a moral sense, for he is constantly -devouring his fellow-man! Upon my word, I could weep, I could shed -tears, when I think of the misfortunes which you have endured.'—'I am -overcome by your kind sympathy,' said I, now certain that this time I -had encountered the man who would not allow my misfortunes to stand in -the way of my appointment to the vacant situation. 'How much did you -receive per week at your last place?' asked the old gentleman.—I named -the sum.—'And what hours did you keep?'—This question I also -answered.—'Was your master kind and considerate?' proceeded the -venerable merchant, in a compassionate tone of voice.—'He was very kind -in his manners; but at parting he behaved harshly and ungenerously, when -he discovered all I have just told you; and I think I had reason to -complain.'—'Ah! it was cruel, it was ungenerous,' said the venerable old -gentleman, musing. 'But don't you see,' he added, 'that as society is at -present constituted, and I admit that its constitution is vitiated in -the extreme, it is impossible for a man who depends upon the world for -his subsistence, to act contrary to the received notions and usual -habits of that world. Now, for my part, I should be glad, I should be -delighted to take you in a moment; but I dare not. I am very sorry, but -I really _would_ strain a point to serve you, if I possibly could.'—You -may suppose that I was astonished at this announcement. I had made sure -of the situation from the first moment that the old merchant had -addressed me; and I now saw my hopes cruelly and fatally defeated. With -a heavy heart I went away; and the tears ran down my cheeks, as I -reflected upon all I had just heard. Never did my situation in the world -appear more lonely—never more truly desperate! - -"My position was too hopeless to allow me to apply at another mercantile -establishment for upwards of an hour. It required that interval to -soothe and soften down my feelings; and I then ventured into the -warehouse of an export merchant upon a very extensive scale, whose name -was down upon my list. I was introduced into the presence of a young -man, who wore a large blue figured satin stock with an enormous gold -pin, and a chain hanging over an elegant silk waistcoat. This gentleman -sate on one side of a desk; and his partner, who was dressed as well as -he was, occupied the other. I immediately attracted their attention; and -the elder partner, laying down his pen, exclaimed, 'Why, you're a -devilish smart looking fellow. Here, sit down and take a glass of -porter; you seem tired. By the bye, we haven't had our cigars yet, -Dick,' he added, addressing his partner; 'let's smoke and talk over this -business at the same time. Sit down, my man: we have no humbug about us, -I can tell you.'—And so indeed it appeared; for the two gentlemen -produced cigars and bottled porter, and I was very soon engaged in a -most comfortable chat with them. At length they began to speak about the -business which had taken me there, and when I told them my story in a -straight-forward manner, they declared, with an oath, that 'they would -take me on my word, and that they didn't want any damned reference, or -any thing of that kind.' The terms were agreed upon, and I was to -commence my duties on the following morning. When I took my leave the -two partners shook hands with me, expressing their conviction that 'I -was a damned good fellow and understood what was what,' and also that 'I -was just the kind of bird they had some time been looking for.' I -accordingly entered on this new place; but I had not been there long, -before I began to notice, though I was regularly paid, that a great many -persons called for money, and never could obtain a settlement of their -accounts. On some occasions the partners were denied, although they were -in the counting-house, drinking and smoking; and then the applicants -were very much disposed to be insolent, making use of such terms as -'swindlers,' 'rogues,' &c. Some would express their conviction 'that it -was all a regular _do_,' while others felt equally certain 'that it was -nothing but a _plant_.' There was also another circumstance which -astonished me; and that was the singular mode in which the business of -the firm was conducted. No sooner did the bales of goods arrive by the -front door, than they were carried out at the back, and sent away in -vans. Altogether it was a most extraordinary firm; and one morning I -discovered that the doors were closed, the partners had bolted, and the -City-officer was inquiring after them, in consequence of a warrant which -he had with him for their apprehension. Thus I lost a place where the -duties were easy, but where the respectability attached to it was not -very likely to increase my own. - -"I was thus thrown once more upon the world; and again was I compelled -to look out for a situation. I applied at numerous warehouses and -offices; but when I stated my real condition,—when I revealed the secret -that I was related to a man who had been hanged,—I was thrust from the -doors of some, reproached for my impertinence in calling by others, and -treated with coolness or contempt by a third set of men. No one seemed -to believe that I could possibly be honest. Day after day saw the -renewal of disappointment, and that sickening at the heart which leads -to despair;—night after night did I return to my lodging, to meet a -landlady who wanted the money I owed her. At last she would have no -further patience; and one night when I went back late, she poked her -head out of a window, desiring me to begone and loading me with abuse. I -slunk away, almost-heartbroken at the treatment I had just received, and -at the deplorable situation to which I was reduced. Accident, or rather -necessity, conducted me back to the low lodging-house at which I had put -up on my first arrival in London; and there I fell in with some persons -who were very willing to assist me in a certain way. In fact they -proposed that I should join them in a robbery which they were arranging; -and after vainly struggling with my better feelings, I consented. It is -no use to tell you how I got on from bad to worse:—you can both very -well guess how it is that when once a man gets regularly into this line, -he seldom or ever gets out of it again till his career is cut short by -transportation or the scaffold." - -Thus terminated Tim the Snammer's History, which, as we stated at the -conclusion of the preceding chapter, we have greatly modified in style -and changed in language, without however omitting, altering, or -exaggerating any one incident, nor any one sentiment. - -It was now late; and the Snammer took his leave of Josh Pedler and -Matilda Briggs, having promised to call again next day, and arrange with -the former the contemplated robbery of Old Death. - ------ - -Footnote 30: - - Taken as a body, there is not a more infamous and tyrannical set of - authorities on the face of the earth than the unpaid magistracy of - England. How the high spirited people of this country can endure such - an atrocious system, is to us surprising. Almost entirely - irresponsible—chosen on account of their wealth and influence in their - respective counties, but without the least reference to their - abilities—and, by the very circumstances of their position, opposed to - the interests of the masses, the justices of the peace are so many - diabolical tyrants vested with a power which completely coerces the - industrious and labouring classes. If it be necessary to have _paid - barristers_ as magistrates in the cities and great towns, why should - not the same rule apply to smaller towns and to rural districts? To - invest an irresponsible, narrow-minded, and prejudiced body of men - with such immense powers as those wielded by magistrates, is a foul - blot upon our civilisation. Prison-chains, fines, and treadmills are - at the disposal of these justices; and the use they make of their - power proves that the entire system on which their attributes and - jurisdiction are based, deserve universal execration. Thousands and - thousands of honest, well-meaning, hard-working families have been - ruined by this hierarchy of terrestrial fiends. Talk of the freedom of - the British subject, and boast of the trial by jury! Why, any - magistrate, by his own _single_ decision, can award heavy fines or - months of imprisonment! The unpaid magistracy exists as a protection - and also as an agency for the infernal Game Laws. Their local powers - and influence give them immense weight in general elections, for poor - people are afraid to offend them. But the worst kind of unpaid - magistrates are the clergymen who are in the commission of the peace. - These men usually act more like off-shoots of the Czar of Russia than - as magistrates in a civilised country and as ministers of the - charitable and generous doctrines of the Christian faith. - -Footnote 31: - - This act is not only still unrepealed, but was put in force about - eighteen months or two years ago, by certain county magistrates - against two or three poor labourers. - -Footnote 32: - - It is generally understood that the Judge should be merely an - expounder of the law affecting the cases brought under the cognizance - of the court, and also a means of refreshing the memories of the - jurymen by reading over his notes, or the salient points in them. At - least, to our thinking, a Judge should never allow his own opinion on - the point at issue to transpire. If he do, he is almost sure to bias - the jury. But, unfortunately, nearly all the Judges in this country - act in a dictational manner with regard to juries. They _direct_ the - verdicts returned. This assumption on the part of the Judges of the - privileges and attributes of juries, renders the latter perfectly - unnecessary. For ourselves, we believe that trial by jury is in these - islands a mere farce—an idle mockery—a contemptible delusion: the - Judges are the real juries after all. And yet we boast of the - institution! That institution would indeed be a glorious one, were the - Judges to discharge their duties properly: _but, in nine cases out of - ten, they do not_. - -Footnote 33: - - There is something uncommonly barbarous in many of our institutions - and customs. Were it not associated with such solemn occasions, we - should laugh at the mountebank piece of solemn humbug of the black - cap—as if the Judge himself could not assume a demeanour serious and - dignified enough for the awful and atrocious duty which the law - imposes upon him in pronouncing death sentences. The custom of Judges - and barristers disfiguring themselves in huge wigs is a mere relic of - barbarism, and unworthy of a civilized age. If the law cannot maintain - its solemn majesty without such wretched aids, heaven knows there must - be something radically wrong either in the constitution of the - tribunals themselves or in the conduct of the functionaries of - justice. Away with all such mockeries and fools'-play as wigs and - black caps, and let men distribute the justice _of_ men _as_ men, and - not muffled up and disguised like old women. The maintenance of all - customs which our barbarian ancestors handed down to us shows an - aversion to _progress_ on the part of the Government and the - Legislature. The wisdom of those ancestors existed, we imagine, only - in the _wig_: let the wisdom of the present day show itself by the - fact of discarding all useless pomp and vain ostentation. - -Footnote 34: - - "The Aristocracy of England, a History for the People," by John - Hampden, Junior (the pseudonym of a very clever writer, whatever his - real name and whoever he may be) is a work which should be read by all - classes—by the aristocratic sections of society, because it may warn - them of the impending storm; and by the middle and poorer grades, - because it will shew them their oppressors in their true characters. - This and William Howitt's "History of Priestcraft" (both published by - Messrs. Chapman, Newgate Street) are glorious signs of the times in - which we live. From the first-mentioned book we quote the ensuing - passage:— - - "Look at France. Every one is familiar with the dreadful condition to - which its proud and imbecile aristocracy reduced it. Every one knows - in what a storm of blood and terror the oppressed people rose and took - an eternal vengeance on their oppressors. If we read the accounts of - France, just previous to the Revolution, we cannot avoid being struck - with a terrible similarity of circumstances and features with those of - our own country now. Nay, the following description by their own - historian, Thiers, seems to be that of England at present:—'The - condition of the country, both political and economical, was - intolerable. There was nothing but privilege—privilege vested in - individuals, in classes, in towns, in provinces, and even in trades - and professions. Every thing contributed to check industry and the - natural genius of man. All the dignities of the state, civil, - ecclesiastical, and military, were exclusively reserved to certain - individuals. No man could take up a profession without certain titles, - and the compliance with certain pecuniary conditions. Even the favours - of the crown were converted into family property, so that the king - could scarcely exercise his own judgment, or give any preference. - Almost the only liberty left to the sovereign was that of making - pecuniary gifts, and he had been reduced to the necessity of disputing - with the Duke of Coigny for the abolition of a useless place. Every - thing, then, was made immoveable property in the hands of a few, and - every where these few resisted the many who had been despoiled. The - burdens of the state weighed on one class only. The noblesse and the - clergy possessed about two-thirds of the landed property; the other - third, possessed by the people, paid taxes to the king, a long list of - feudal _droits_ to the noblesse, tithes to the clergy, and had, - moreover, to support the devastations committed by noble sportsmen and - their game. The taxes upon consumption pressed upon the great - multitude, and consequently on the people. The collection of these - imposts was managed in an unfair and irritating manner; the lords of - the soil left long arrears with impunity, but the people, upon any - delay in payment, were harshly treated, arrested and condemned to pay - in their persons, in default of money to produce. The people, - therefore, nourished with their labour, and defended with their blood, - the higher classes of society, without being able to procure a - comfortable subsistence for themselves. The towns-people, a body of - citizens, industrious, educated, less miserable than the people, could - nevertheless obtain none of the advantages to which they had a right - to aspire, seeing that it was their industry that nourished and their - talents that adorned the kingdom.'—Is not that a wonderful fac-simile - of our own present condition? But these circumstances produced - revolution in France; what will they produce here! If they are allowed - to continue they will produce the very same thing. The French - historians assert, that had the cries of the people been listened to - before they grew maddened with their miseries, there would have been - reform instead of revolution, and their nation would have been spared - the years of unexampled horror and self-laceration through which it - had to wade. Now is the same saving crisis with us! The people, the - most industrious of them in town and country, starve by tens of - thousands, or lead a sort of half life in incessant labour, rags, and - hunger. All parts of our social system call out for relief. The - manufacturer, the farmer, equally complain; the agricultural labourers - are reduced to a condition worse than serfdom—to a condition of - unparalleled destitution; and in some districts gangs of them are - driven to the field, as we learn from parliamentary reports, under - gang-masters, and are lodged promiscuously like cattle—men, women, and - children, in temporary booths, fitter for beasts than human beings. In - many parts of this once happy country the agricultural labourers are - getting but five and six shillings per week; while they are asked - 8_l._ an acre for bits of land to set a few potatoes on." - - The author of "THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON" would not have his readers - imagine him to be in favour of "physical force." No—we abhor war even - with foreign powers; but no words are strong enough to express our - loathing and abhorrence of the bare idea of that infernal scourge—a - civil war. Another quotation from the work of John Hampden, Junior, - will serve to express also our opinions on the point:— - - "The neglect of the public interest it extends to the whole frightful - mass of _delegated taxation_, under which the nation groans, even more - heavily than under the direct national imposts. The reviewer justly - remarks that the maxim of legislators is 'Every one for himself, and - the public for us all!' But could this state of things possibly exist - if Englishmen did their duty, if they resolved to do their own - _public_ business, as they do their private—to do it themselves, and - not foolishly intrust to men who have shown themselves at once so - incapable and so unworthy of trust in every respect? Is there any - reason why the people of England, who conduct their commerce, their - manufactures, their domestic trade and affairs so admirably, should - not conduct the affairs of their government just as well if they were - to set about it? Is there any reason that a man who guides a ship - round the world, clear of rocks and breakers, should not as well help - to steer the vessel of state? Why should not he who governs a - steam-engine just as well govern or assist in governing a country? The - great Oxenstiern, Chancellor of Sweden, said to his son, 'Mark, my - son, with what a small stock of talent a nation may be governed.' But - our aristocracy have for ages demonstrated that they do not even - possess this 'small stock of talent,' or of as much honesty; and the - remedy for the evils they have covered us with is as clear as the - day-light:—_The power must be wrested from them!_' But how? By arms? - No: Englishmen know too well the dangers of revolution: they have too - much to lose; and they have too much humanity. The soil of England - will not willingly drink in the blood of its children, as in the - barbarous ages; the remedy is alike simple and conspicuous. It lies in - one joint rising and stern demand of all and every class in the - country. All—manufacturer and farmer, gentleman and ploughman, - merchant and shop-man, artizan and labourer—all must combine, and with - one dread voice, like another Cromwell, command the aristocrats to - quit the people's house, and 'give place to better men.' This is the - simple and sole remedy. A thousand evils are complained of. 'The whole - head is sick and the whole heart is sore;' but 'THE GREAT ROOT OF ALL' - is the usurpation of the Commons House of Parliament by the - aristocracy. One party proclaims that the whole people is corrupted by - the bribery of these patrician senators, and demand the _universal - franchise_, and in that they demand the true and only remedy. But - because some are for this, and some for that, and do not all join in - the _hearty rending shout_ for the FRANCHISE—_that magic word in which - lies the constitution_—that cure for all bribery (for who can bribe - thirty millions of people)—that guarantee for the steady maintenance - of the constitution—for, once in the hands of the totality, the - totality will never relinquish it again—they cry, but they cry in - vain. Till we obtain the _franchise_ we obtain _nothing_; when we - obtain _that_ we obtain _every thing_. Every petition, every demand, - however stern or resolved, that asks for any thing short of the - UNIVERSAL FRANCHISE, is the preparation of an absurdity, and the - greatest of all absurdities. He is just as wise who asks short of - this, as if he prayed the Pope to abolish the Catholic religion, or a - Jew to give you all he is worth. The aristocracy have usurped the - House of Commons—for what? Just for this very purpose—of resisting the - proper demands of the people—of maintaining and perpetuating all the - evils for whose removal you pray. It is true the people, combining on - some great emergency—driven, as it were into this combination by some - desperate pressure—may alarm the aristocracy into some individual - concession, as in the case of the Reform Bill. But this is a - stupendous exertion, a violent and convulsive sort of action in the - political system, which wrests only, at the point of famine or - national ruin, its own rights from the usurping party. Public opinion - is said, in this country, to be the actual ruling power; but it is a - fitful and irregular power. Like the Indian, or the boa-constrictor, - it is aroused to action only by hunger or imminent impending danger; - at the smallest return of ease it pauses; it becomes drowsy again, and - the mischief goes on for another period. If public opinion really - rules, it should lift itself to the necessary height of command, and - do its work effectually. That would save us all much trouble. There is - but one perfect permanent remedy—but one means of absolute cure for - our perpetually recurring evils: _We must have these usurpers out of - the people's house, and rule in it ourselves!_ and this is to be done - only by insisting on _the franchise, the whole franchise, and nothing - but the franchise_." - - - - - CHAPTER LXXII. - MR. AND MRS. CURTIS. - - -It was about two o'clock on the following afternoon that a -travelling-carriage with four posters thundered along Baker Street, to -the great admiration of that semi-fashionable neighbourhood, and at -length stopped at a house the door of which was immediately opened by a -footman wearing a livery of such varied colours that the rainbow was -nothing to it. - -Divers countenances appeared at the windows of the neighbouring -dwellings; for it would seem that the travelling-carriage—or rather the -persons whom it contained, were an object of curiosity and interest to -the elderly ladies in turbans in the drawing-rooms and the servant-maids -in the garrets, the latter of whom completely flattened their noses -against the panes in their anxiety to obtain a view of the fashionably -dressed gentlemen who handed the magnificently attired lady from the -vehicle, while the footman in the transcendent livery assisted the -lady's-maid to alight from the high seat behind. - -And since all the neighbourhood of Baker Street appears to know right -well who the arrivals are, we shall not affect any mystery with our -readers; but plainly, distinctly, and at once declare that the -fashionably dressed gentleman was Mr. Frank Curtis, and the -magnificently attired lady was Mrs. Curtis, late Mrs. Goldberry. - -This excellent couple had just returned home, after passing their -honeymoon in the country, as all rich and fashionable people are bound -to do; and five little Goldberrys were crowding at the front door to -welcome their mamma and their "new papa." These specimens of the -Goldberry race formed, in respect to their ages, an ascending scale -commencing with Number 5 and terminating with Number 13, and exhibiting -as much pleasing variety as could possibly exist in the pug-nose species -and the chubby-face genus. - -These delightful children set up a perfect yell of joy, which was heard -at least ten houses off, when their "new papa" assisted their old mamma -to alight from the carriage; for Mrs. Goldberry could not be said to be -_young_, she being on the shady side of forty, though blessed with such -a juvenile family. - -"Happy is the _man_," says the psalmist, meaning also _woman_, "who hath -his quiver full of them:" but Mrs. Goldberry fancied that it rather -spoilt the effect of a bride's return, to behold a hall full of them. -Nevertheless, she gave them each a maternal hug; and the youngest set up -a shout because she did not give him a box of toys into the bargain. - -Let us suppose half an hour to have elapsed since the return of the -"happy pair." At the expiration of that period we shall find them seated -in the drawing-room, enjoying a pleasant _tête-à-tête_ chat until the -early dinner which had been ordered should be duly announced by the -rainbow-excelling footman. - -Mrs. Goldberry was, as above stated, a trifle past forty; although she -never acknowledged to more than thirty-one. She was somewhat stout, had -coarse masculine features, a tolerably good set of teeth, certainly fine -eyes, and was as yet independent of the adventitious aids of the -wig-maker and rouge manufacturer. Little of her history was known by Mr. -Curtis until the period (a few weeks previously to the marriage) when he -became acquainted with her through the simple process of picking up her -youngest boy who happened to fall into some mud one day when the lady -and her children were taking a walk in the vicinity of Baker Street. -This little act of politeness on the part of Frank had naturally led to -the exchange of a few observations; the exchange of a few observations -brought Mrs. Goldberry to her own door; her own door admitted her into -the house, whither Frank was politely invited to follow her; the -following her in was followed by the serving up of luncheon; the -luncheon led to increased communicativeness; and the communicativeness -made Frank aware that his new acquaintance was the widow of the late Mr. -Goldberry, gentleman, and the undisputed possessor of a clear income of -five thousand a year. Glorious news this for Frank, who suffered the -lady to understand that he enjoyed a similar income; and then they -laughed a great deal at the funny coincidence. When Frank took his -leave, he requested permission to call again; and this favour could not -be refused to a gentleman who had picked the child out of the mud and -who had five thousand a year. Thus frequent visits led to tender -proposals; the tender proposals ended in marriage; and the marriage -ended in—— - -But we were going on much too fast; and therefore we must pause at the -point indicated ere we commenced this brief digression—namely, at the -_tête-à-tête_ discourse while awaiting the announcement of dinner. - -"Well, my love," said Frank, "here we are once more in London. Upon my -word, there's nothing like London after all—as my friend the Earl of -Blackwall says." - -"And yet I think we were very comfortable in the country, Frank?" -observed Mrs. Curtis, late Mrs. Goldberry, with a simper as fascinating -as she could possible render a grimace formed by a large mouth. - -"Oh! but you and I can be happy any where, dear," said Frank. "We -mustn't remain in Baker Street, though: I shall take a slap-up house in -Grosvenor Square, if I can get one there: at all events, somewhere more -in the fashionable quarter. Now, I'll tell you what I've been thinking -of—and I'm sure that you'll approve of my plan. You see, there's all -those dear children of your's—I'm sure I love them as well as if I was -their real father, the darlings——" - -"You're quite a duck, Frank," exclaimed Mrs. Curtis, tapping him -slightly on the face. - -"Well—I don't think I'm a bad fellow at all," continued the young -gentleman, smoothing down his hair very complacently; "And the plan I'm -going to propose to you will prove it. Indeed, it's just what my very -particular friend the Marquis of Woolwich did, when he married under -similar circumstances—I mean a lady with a young family." - -"And what did his lordship do?" inquired Mrs. Curtis. - -"He made this arrangement with his wife," explained Frank:—"All his own -property was to be left in the funds to accumulate for the benefit of -the children—never to be touched—to be locked up like a rat in a trap, -as one may say; and the lady's property was to serve for the household -and all other expenses. Now, this is just what I propose we shall do. My -hundred and forty thousand pounds shall be so locked up; and your -income, my love, will do for us to live upon. In fact, I'll make a will -to-morrow, settling all my fortune on you in case you survive me, or on -the children at your death." - -It is astonishing how blank Mrs. Curtis's countenance became as her -beloved husband proposed this arrangement: but she managed to hide her -confusion from him by means of her handkerchief, while he flattered -himself that his generous consideration of her children had drawn tears -from her eyes. - -"This little arrangement will decidedly be the best," continued Frank; -"and I shall have the satisfaction of knowing that your dear children -are well provided for. In fact, it was but the day before the happy one -which united us, that I met my friend the Duke of Gravesend, and he was -advising me how to act in the matter, saying what he had done, as I told -you just now. And his Grace's authority is no mean one, I can assure -you, my dear. But you don't answer me: what are you thinking about?" - -Mrs. Curtis was thinking of a great deal;—a horrible idea had struck -her. Was it possible that Frank's vaunted property was all moonshine, -and that he was now inventing a means of concealing this fact from her. -She had been vain enough to suppose all along that he was enamoured of -her person far more than of her alleged five thousand a year; and he had -given her so many assurances of the disinterestedness of his affection, -that she had congratulated herself on hooking him most completely. She -knew that he was the nephew of the rich Sir Christopher Blunt, and had -readily believed, therefore, that he himself was rich also; and, -experienced though she were in the ways of the world, she had not -instituted any inquiries to ascertain the truth of his assertions -relative to his property. In a word, she fancied she had caught a green, -foolish, but wealthy young fellow; whereas she was now seized with the -frightful apprehension that she had laboured under a complete delusion. -And this alarm was the more terrible, as the reader may conceive when we -inform him that she herself was a mere adventuress—without a farthing of -annual income derivable from any certain source—and overwhelmed with -debts, her creditors having only been kept quiet for the last few weeks -by her representations that she was about to marry a young gentleman of -fortune. In a word, she had only taken the house in Baker Street on the -hopeful speculation of catching some amorous old gentleman of property: -and she had deemed herself particularly fortunate when she received the -proposals of an amourous _young_ gentleman who, in the course of -conversation, happened to intimate that he possessed five thousand a -year. - -Mrs. Curtis's confusion and terror,—nay, absolute horror, may therefore -be well conceived, when the dreadful suspicion that she herself was as -much taken in as her husband, flashed to her mind. - -"You don't answer," repeated Frank: "what the deuce _are_ you thinking -of?" - -"I was thinking, my love," replied the lady, subduing her feelings as -well as she could, and still clinging to the faint hope that all might -not be so bad as she apprehended,—"I was thinking, my love, that your -arrangement is not feasible, for this simple reason—that _my_ fortune is -so locked up and settled on my children, I can only touch the dividends: -and I shall have nothing to receive till July. Moreover, I run very -short at my banker's now—indeed, I believe I have overdrawn them—and so, -all things considered, it will be impossible, and unnecessary even if -possible, to carry your generous proposal into effect." - -[Illustration] - -"I didn't know your money was so locked up!" exclaimed Frank, looking -mightily stupid, in spite of his strenuous endeavours to appear -perfectly happy and contented. "I thought your fortune was at your own -disposal?" - -"Certainly—the interest," responded Mrs. Curtis, now finding by her -husband's manner that her worst fears were considerably strengthened. - -"The devil!" murmured Frank petulantly. - -"What did you say, dearest?" asked the lady. - -"Oh! nothing, love—only that it doesn't signify at all, so long as we -have the interest of the money settled on your children—and that's five -thousand a year." - -"Which, with your five thousand a year, makes us ten, love," added the -lady, eyeing him askance. - -"To be sure!" said Frank: and, walking to the window, he hummed a tune -to conceal his desperate vexation. - -This worthy pair had, however, each a consolation left—one real, the -other imaginary. - -The real consolation was on the side of the lady, who had saved herself -from the danger of a debtor's prison by marrying Mr. Curtis. The -imaginary consolation was the idea which this gentleman nourished that -his amiable spouse enjoyed at all events the annual income of five -thousand pounds. Moreover, as he glanced round the elegantly furnished -drawing-room, and in imagination at all the other apartments in the -dwelling, he thought to himself, "Well, hang it! with five thousand a -year and this splendid house, I think I can manage to make myself pretty -comfortable. Of course every thing's paid for—and that's a blessing!" - -Scarcely had Mr. Curtis disposed of this solacing reflection, when the -livery servant entered to announce that "dinner was served up." - -Frank offered his arm to his lady in the most jaunty manner -possible—for, as the reader may suppose, he had many reasons to induce -him to be uncommonly attentive to one who (as he thought) held the -purse; and the lady, on her side, accepted in a most charming manner the -homage thus paid her—because she was not as yet quite certain that her -husband's property was really aerial, and even if it should prove so, he -must become the scapegoat between herself and her ravenous creditors. - -Indeed the little tokens of endearment which the "happy couple" thought -it fit to lavish upon each other as they descended the stairs, created -such huge delight on the part of the livery servant following them, that -this individual, totally forgetting the dignity which should have -accompanied such a gorgeous livery, actually and positively diverted -himself by means of that wonderful arrangement of the hands commonly -called "taking a sight." - -The dinner passed off in the usual way; and when the cloth was removed -and the domestic was about to retire, Frank exclaimed in an -authoritative manner, "John, bring up a bottle of claret." - -"Yes, sir—claret, sir?" said the servant, fidgetting about near the -door, and glancing uneasily towards his mistress, who did not however -happen to observe him. - -"I specified claret as plain as I could speak, John," cried Mr. Curtis -angrily; "and so make haste about it." - -"Yes, sir,—only—" again hesitated the domestic. - -"Only what?" vociferated Frank. - -"Only there ain't none, sir," was the answer. - -"No claret, John?" cried Mrs. Curtis, now taking part in the discussion. - -"No ma'am. There was but two bottles of wine left when you went away, -ma'am—with master—and them's the Port and Sherry on the table now -ma'am." - -"John, you must be mistaken!" exclaimed Frank. "Your mistress assured me -that the cellar was well stocked——" - -"Yes, my dear," interrupted Mrs. Curtis: "and I was so far right in -telling you what I did, because on the very morning—the happy morning, -dear, you know—when we went away, I wrote to Mr. Beeswing, my -wine-merchant—or rather _our_ wine-merchant, I should say—to order in a -good stock of Port, Sherry, Champagne, and Claret." - -"And what the devil, then, does Mr. Beeswing mean by this cursed -neglect?" cried Frank. "There's Log, Wood, and Juice, my friend Lord -Paddington's wine-merchants, who would be delighted to serve us. Did you -know of this order, John, that your mistress gave?" - -"Ye-e-s, sir—I did," was the stammering reply, delivered with much -diffidence and many twirlings of the white napkin. - -"Well, my dear—it is no use to make ourselves uncomfortable about the -business," said Mrs. Curtis, evidently anxious to quash the subject at -once. "You can put up with what there is to-day; and to-morrow you can -give an order to your noble friend's wine-merchants. That will do, -John—you can retire." - -"No—by God! that will not do!" vociferated Frank. "This fellow Beeswing -has behaved most shamefully. It's a regular insult—as the Prince of -Gibraltar would call it! But I dare say he forgot it: and since you knew -of the order, John, why the devil didn't you see that it was executed -while we were away?" - -"My dear——" began Mrs. Curtis, in a tone of remonstrance. - -"Answer me, you fellow!" cried Frank, turning in a threatening way -towards the domestic, and unable to resist the opportunity of indulging -his bullying propensities. "Why the devil didn't you attend to the order -given by your mistress?" - -"Well, sir—and so I did," responded the servant, now irritated by the -imperious manner of his master. "I went a dozen times to Beeswing's -while you and missus was away." - -"Frank, dear—do leave this to me," urged the lady. - -"No, my dear—this concerns me, as the master of the house," exclaimed -Frank, looking very pompous and very fierce. "Well, John—and what the -deuce did Beeswing say when you did see him?" - -"Please, sir, he said he'd rayther not," was the astounding answer. - -Mr. Frank Curtis looked aghast. - -"I always knew he was the most insulting fellow in the world—that -Beeswing!" cried the lady, colouring deeply and affecting violent -indignation. "But we will never deal with him again, I vow and declare! -John, tell him to send in his bill——at once, mind——" - -"He has, ma'am," interrupted the servant "In fact, there's a many -letters waiting for master." - -"Then why the devil didn't you give them to me before?" exclaimed Frank, -not knowing precisely what to think of Mr. Beeswing's conduct, but in a -very bad humour on account of the disappointment relative to the claret. - -John, the servant, made no reply to the question last put to him, but -advancing towards the table, produced from his pocket about thirty -letters and other documents, all of which he laid before his master, his -countenance the while wearing a most curious and very sinister -expression, as much as to say, "You're a very bumptious kind of a young -man; but these papers will, perhaps, bring you down a peg or two." - -"You may retire," said Frank, savagely; and this intimation was -forthwith obeyed. "Very curious conduct, that of Beeswing, my dear?" -continued Mr. Curtis, as soon as the door had closed behind the servant. - -"Very, dear—I can't make it out," responded Mrs. Curtis. "But pray don't -bother yourself with those letters and papers now. They can't be very -particular; and you will have more time to-morrow, dear." - -"Oh! I can look over them, and we can go on talking all the same," said -Frank: "because I can't think how the deuce so many letters should be -addressed to me _here_—instead of at my own place;—I mean, I shouldn't -have thought that such a lot of my friends would have already heard of -our union, love," he added, with a tender glance towards the lady, who -was sitting very much in the style figuratively represented in common -parlance as being "on thorns." - -And Mr. Curtis's visual rays, having thus benignly bent themselves on -his companion, were once more fixed on the pile of letters and documents -lying before him. - -The lady tossed off a bumper of Port, and filled her glass again, in an -evident fit of painful nervousness; while her husband opened the first -letter, the contents of which ran as follow:— - - _Oxford Street._ - - "SIR, - - "We beg to enclose our account for furniture supplied to Mrs. - Curtis, late Mrs. Goldberry, and respectfully solicit an early - settlement, as the bill has been running for a considerable time. - - "Your obedient Servants, - "TUFFLE and TUNKS." - -"The devil!" ejaculated Frank, as he cast his eyes over the inclosure: -"'_Bill delivered_, £876 6_s._ 6_d._' God bless my soul! that's a -stinger! Why, I thought all the furniture must have been paid for, my -dear?" - -"Not exactly, love—you perceive," returned the lady. "One never pays an -upholsterer's bill for so long a time, you know: indeed—it quite slipped -my memory, it's such a trifle!" - -"Well, so it is, dear," observed Frank, reassured by the calm and -indifferent way in which his wife disposed of _the trifle_: and he -proceeded to open another letter, which announced a second trifle in the -ensuing manner:— - - _Furnival's Inn._ - - "SIR, - - "We are desired by Messieurs Ore and Dross, jewellers, to apply to - you for the payment of 377_l._ 10_s._ being the amount of debt - contracted by your present wife, late Mrs. Goldberry, with our - clients; and unless the same be paid, together with 6_s._ 8_d._ for - cost of this application, within three days from the date hereof, we - shall be compelled to have recourse to ulterior measures without - farther notice. - - "Your obedient Servants, - "DAWKINS and SMASHER." - -"What a thundering lot of jewellery you must have, to be sure, dear!" -exclaimed Frank, as he handed this letter to his wife. "But, 'pon my -soul! I think you've been rather extravagant, love—haven't you?" - -"Oh! my dear—ladies _must_ have jewellery, you know," returned Mrs. -Curtis; "and, after all I have paid Ore and Dross, I really am surprised -at their importunity. But we will pay them, and have done with them, -dear." - -"So we will, love," responded Frank; "and I'll ask my friend the Duke of -Hampstead to recommend _his_ jeweller to us. But here's a precious -letter! Why—what the deuce? There's a dozen pawnbroker's tickets in it, -I declare!" - -Mrs. Curtis fell back almost senseless in her chair, while her husband -perused the ensuing letter:— - - "i rite maddam 2 inform u that I can't sel the dewplikets wich u - Placed in mi ands as seckeuraty for mi Bil and has u've married a - gent wich as propperti i ope u'll now settel my Bil wich as bin a - runnin for 18 munce and i ope u'll settel it soon leastways as soon - has u cum ome becaus i ham in rale want of it being a loan widder - wich as lorst mi Usban 2 yere cum missummer an having 5 young - childern an another cumming bi axident but i shan't do so no more an - shal be verry appy to go on washin for u wen u've pade this Bil wich - is thirty fore pouns thrippense dere maddam pray do this 2 oblege me - the instunt u cum ome u can send it upp by mr jon yure futman or els - mi Littel gal shal wate on u at anny our u no i've never prest u an - i tuk the dewplikits 2 oblege u but coodn't dew nuththink with them - an now they've run out and its no falt of mine becaus i'd no munny - to pay the interesk and u was gorn out of town with ure new usban - wich i ear is a very fine young man wich I'm glad to ear for ure sak - dere maddam eggskews this long letter becaus the doctor should say i - shal be konfined this weak an its hard lines to ave no munney at - such a time i arn't sent ome the last batch of linning becaus i ware - obleged to mak a way with it butt I send the dewplikit of that has - wel has the dewplikit of the wotch and chane an other trinklets wich - i ope u'll reseave saf an now as u'r all rite and r a ritch wumman - u'll not be angree with me for puttin ure linning upp the spont att - such a crittikal moment dere maddam pray eggskews this riting wich i - no is verry bad butt mi pen is verry bad an ime in grate pane wile i - rite ure obejent umbal servant kummarn susan - - spriggs. - mary lee bone - "Mrs. Kirtis lane wigmore strete - baker cavenditch - strete squair." - -"Madam, it's all a cursed plant!" vociferated Frank Curtis, starting -from his seat, and throwing down the letter, during the perusal of which -he had been scarcely able to control his impatience. "I see it all—it's -a cursed imposition—an infernal plant—and I'm a—a—damned fool!" - -Thus speaking, the young gentleman shook his better half violently by -the shoulders; and she, having nothing to urge in explanation of the -extraordinary letter of her washerwoman, screamed just loud enough to -appear hysterical without alarming the servants and went off into a fit, -as a matter of course. - -"Fooled—duped—done brown, by God!" exclaimed Curtis, as he began to pace -the room with no affected agitation. "Saddled with a wife and five -children—overwhelmed with her debts and my own—and, what's a deuced -sight worse, made an ass of! I've regularly sold myself, as my friend -the Duke——no, damn the Duke! I'm in no humour for Dukes and that kind of -nonsense now—I don't know a Duke, and never did—and never shall—and so -it's no use telling a parcel of lies any more! Plague take this old cat -with her half-dozen brats—or near upon that number——" - -"And plague take you, then!" screeched the newly-married lady, -recovering with most surprising abruptness from her fit, and starting up -like a fury. "Why, you swindling scoundrel, how dare you call me names? -I'll tear your eyes out, I will, if you say over again what you've just -said." - -"I say you're a regular adventuress!" cried Frank. - -"And you are an impostor—a cheat!" yelled the lady. - -"Your fortune is all a gammon!" exclaimed Curtis. - -"And your's all moonshine!" retorted his wife. - -"You've taken me in shameful!" - -"And you've done the same to me!" - -"You're——" cried Frank, nearly suffocated with rage. - -"And so are you, whatever you're going to call me!" vociferated the late -Mrs. Goldberry. - -Curtis was unable to give forth any rejoinder; and Mrs. Curtis, resuming -her seat, had recourse to the truly feminine alternative of bursting -into tears. - -A long pause ensued, constituting a truce to recriminations and -vituperations for several minutes, and affording the pair leisure for -reflection. - -We will describe the ideas that gradually expanded in their minds, as -such explanation will the more easily prepare the reader for the result -of the quarrel. - -Frank Curtis, on his side, recognized the grand truth, that what was -done could not be undone; and then he came to the philosophical -conviction, that it would be prudent to make the best of a bad job. He -reflected on the folly of an exposure, which would be attended with -immediate ruin;—bringing about his ears a host of creditors, who would -only become the more clamorous when they were brought in contact with -each other, and were placed in a condition to ascertain their number and -compare the amounts of their claims. He fancied that by allowing himself -to be represented as a man of property his wife might silence the -creditors for a time, during which the war could be carried on; and -though an explosion must sooner or later take place, yet it was some -consolation to the young gentleman to think that the evil day might be -postponed by keen manœuvring and skilful generalship. He feared being -laughed at much more than the idea of a debtor's prison; and delay was -every thing to a man in his desperate circumstances. "There was no -telling what might turn up;" and he thought that if he could only dazzle -the eyes of his uncle Sir Christopher with fine stories relative to the -brilliancy of the match which he had formed with the late Mrs. -Goldberry, he might contrive to wheedle a large sum of money out of the -old gentleman on some such pretext as a desire to discharge divers -debts, and a disinclination to confess to his wife that he had -contracted them. - -On the other hand, Mrs. Curtis fell into a similar train of thought. It -would, she fancied, be easy for her to visit the numerous creditors, -assure them that she had as yet intercepted all the letters they had -written to her husband, and implore them not to ruin her in his good -opinion by exposing her liabilities to him. She even arranged in her -head the very words which she would use when calling on them:—"My -husband is about to sell an estate in Ireland, and the moment the -purchase money is paid, I am sure to be enabled to obtain from him a sum -sufficient to liquidate all my debts. Have a little forbearance, -therefore, and all will be well." Thus _she_ also recognised the utter -inutility and monstrous folly of exposing themselves by means of -quarrels; and as their minds were, by these parallel systems of -reasoning, prepared for reconciliation—or at least the show of it—the -making up of their dispute was no very difficult matter. - -Frank was the one to break the ice with the first overture. - -"Well, I think we're two pretty fools," he said, approaching the chair -in which she was rocking herself to and fro: "don't you?" - -"To alarm all the house, and let our servants know every thing," added -the lady. - -"No—no: it isn't so bad as _that_ yet," returned Frank. "But I vote that -we have no more quarrels." - -"I am sure I agree to the proposition, Frank," was the answer. - -"It's carried then, without a dissentient voice," exclaimed Curtis; "as -my friend the Duke——" - -"Let us have no more falsehoods," interrupted his wife. "You said just -now that you knew no Duke—never had known one—and never should——" - -"But I thought you was in a fit at that moment, my dear?" said Frank. - -"Maybe I was—but still I could hear all that passed, as you very well -know. However, let us be good friends, and hold a consultation how we -are to proceed." - -"Good!" cried Frank. "And we will begin with a glass of wine each. -There—let us drink each other's health. Here's to you, my dear. And now -to business. I suppose all these letters and bills are about unpaid -debts of yours?" - -"Precisely so, love," answered Mrs. Curtis. - -"How much do you think they amount to?" - -"About eighteen hundred pounds, I should say?" - -"And how much money have you got towards paying them, dear?" inquired -Frank. - -"Eighteen-pence, love," responded the lady, extracting that sum from her -pocket. - -There was a pause, during which Frank Curtis refilled the glasses; and -then the "happy pair" looked inquiringly at each other, as much as to -ask, "Well, what shall we do?" - -"This is devilish awkward!" observed Frank. "But I'll tell you what I've -been thinking of." - -"I am all attention, dear," said his better half. - -Mr. Curtis then conveyed in words the substance of those reflections -which we have recorded above, and which had bent his mind towards a -reconciliation. - -"I entirely approve of all you say," remarked Mrs. Curtis; "and I will -now tell you what I have been thinking of." - -"Fire away, love," was her husband's encouraging observation. - -The lady detailed, in her turn, the reflections which had occupied her -mind a few minutes previously. - -"Then we both hold the same opinions?" exclaimed Frank. - -"Exactly. And if we play our cards well, there is no immediate danger of -any thing," remarked the lady. - -"But all the threatened writs—the probability of a sudden arrest—and the -clamours of such small tradesmen or other persons as your delectable -washerwoman, who is about to add to her family two years after the death -of her husband?" exclaimed Frank interrogatively. - -"I have trinkets, plate, and such like things which will realise a -hundred pounds," said Mrs. Curtis; "and with that sum we can settle the -little claimants, who are always more noisy and clamourous than the -large ones." - -The colloquy had just reached this highly satisfactory point, when a -tremendous double knock threatened to beat in the front door, and the -bell was instantaneously afterwards set ringing in frantic -accompaniment. - -"Some one's ill," cried Frank, "and they take this house for a -Doctor's." - -"At all events it is no dun," observed Mrs. Curtis. - -Here the thundering knock and insane ring were repeated. - -"I just tell you what, my dear," resumed the young gentleman, rising -from his chair, and looking as fierce as possible: "I've a deuced great -mind to go out and ask who the devil it is that dares knock and ring -twice in half a minute at our door in that fashion. I'm certain it's no -friend of your's—and it's none of mine. So—as sure as my name is Francis -Curtis, Esquire, of Baker Street—I'll—" - -But at this instant the dining-room door was thrown open by the domestic -in gorgeous livery; and the countenance of the warlike Francis Curtis, -Esquire, of Baker Street, grew white as a sheet, when the servant -announced—"CAPTAIN O'BLUNDERBUSS!" - - - - - CHAPTER LXXIII. - CAPTAIN O'BLUNDERBUSS AGAIN. - - -"Be Jasus! and it is my dear friend, Misther Frank Cur-r-tis!" exclaimed -the redoubtable officer, as he stalked into the room: then, perceiving -the lady, he untiled his head in a most graceful manner—or, in plain -terms, removed his foraging cap with a certain rounding sweep of his -right arm, saying, "Your servint, Mim. I presume that I have the -honour-r to pay my rispicts to Mrs. Curtis?" - -"Ye-es—that is Mrs. Curtis, Captain," said Frank, while the lady gave a -somewhat cold inclination of the head. - -"And a sweet and iligant wife ye've got, ye dog!" cried the Captain, -bestowing a friendly poke in the ribs of the newly married gentleman. -"Come, shake hands, Misther Cur-r-tis: men like you and me mustn't -harbour animosity against each other. Let the past _be_ past, as the -saying is: and an excellent saying it is too, ma'am," he added, in a -tone of bland appeal to the lady, as he nearly wrung her husband's -fingers off in the enthusiasm of his anxiety to convince him that _this -time_ at least he came for no hostile purpose. - -"Sit down, Captain," said Frank, now feeling more at his ease than he -had done since the unexpected appearance of the famous duellist. "Will -you take a glass of wine? There's Port and Sherry on the table; and -there's Champagne, Claret, Hock, and Burgundy in the cellar—as well as -capital whiskey." - -"Be the holy poker-r!" exclaimed Captain O'Blunderbuss, "and I'll jist -throuble ye for the potheen. The thrue Irish potheen, ma'am," he -continued, turning once more towards Mrs. Curtis, "is the most iligant -beverage unther the sun. On my estates in ould Ireland I allow no water -at all; and my pisanthry is the finest to be seen in the whole -counthry." - -"Indeed, Sir," observed Mrs. Curtis, beginning to grow amused with the -strange character who had thus intruded himself upon the momentous -discussion which she and her husband were carrying on at the time. - -"Be Jasus! Mim, and it's as thrue as you're sitting there!" exclaimed -the Captain. "In my own counthry, Mim, I'm a Justice of the Pace, and I -never allow my pisanthry to be interfered with by the gaugers. I let -them keep as many illicit stills as they like; and the consequence is -they adore me." - -"I should think that to be very likely," said Frank. "But here's the -whiskey—and there's hot water. Now, John, put the sugar on the table: -that's right!" - -The servant having retired, Captain O'Blunderbuss proceeded to compound -his favourite beverage by mixing equal parts of spirit and water, and -adding thereto three lumps of sugar. - -"I always brew the first glass sthrong Mim," he observed, "in honour to -ould Ireland. Your health, Mim." - -"But I'm not Irish, sir," responded the lady, laughing. - -"Then I'm sure ye ought to be, Mim," cried the Captain; "and, be Jasus! -if ye was, ye'd be an honour to the counthry!" - -Mrs. Curtis simpered, and bowed in acknowledgment of the compliment. - -"Come, old fellow," said Frank, "you needn't mind my wife being -present—she's a woman of the world, as my friend the Archbishop of Paris -used to say of his niece;—and so you may as well tell us how you managed -to get out of a certain place and what made you think of honouring us -with this visit." - -"Och! and be Jasus, I'll answer the last question fir-rst, Mr. -Cur-rtis," responded the Captain. "Well, thin, ye must know that I've -taken a great affection for ye, because, be the power-rs! I've heard -spake of your bravery in a many quar-rters; and it isn't me that would -cherish animosity against a gallant fellow." - -The Captain might have added that, being in want of grog, supper, and -lodging, he had racked his brain all day to think of some soft, easy -individual amongst his acquaintance, on whom he could quarter himself -for a week or so; and having at length remembered to have seen the -marriage of Mr. Curtis and Mrs. Goldberry duly announced, at the time, -in the fashionable newspapers (the said announcements having been duly -paid for, as a matter of course), it had struck him, that he might make -himself very comfortable in Baker Street for a short period. - -"Well, I feel highly flattered by your good opinion of me," said Frank. -"It's quite true that I've killed a man or two in my time, and winged -half a dozen others;—but really those are trifles which one scarcely -thinks of any value. At the same time, Captain, we duellists, you know, -are devilish chary of our reputation; and so it's just as well that the -world should talk in a respectful way about us—eh?" - -"Be the holy poker-r! and ye're right, my boy!" exclaimed the Captain, -mixing the second glass of grog; then, turning towards Mrs. Curtis, he -said, "I always make my second jorum, Mim, a little stronger than the -first, for the honour of ould England; because that's always my second -toast! So here's for ould England! And now," continued Captain -O'Blunderbuss, after having taken a long draught of the potent liquor, -"I'll answer your first question, Misther Cur-r-tis. And sure it's how -I got out of limbo that ye was asking about. Well, I'll tell ye; and, -be Jasus! ye'll say that such a rum start never was seen. The cowardly -bastes locked me up in Horsemonger Lane, ye know, at the suit of one -Spriggins, for three hundred and forty-seven pounds, including costs. -For three whole days I was jest for all the world like a rampagious -lion. There's an infer-r-nal iron grating all round the yar-rd where -the prisoner-rs have to walk about; and, be Jasus! I chafed and foamed -inside those bar-rs, till the other prisoner-rs got so frightened they -sent a petition to the governor to get me locked up in the sthrong -room. So the governor sends for me, and says he, '_Capthain -O'Bluntherbuss, ye're a terror to the other people in the debtors' -department of the prison, and ye'd betther be after thinking of making -some arrangement with your creditor, or I shall be forced to put you -by yourself in the sthrong room._'—'_Be Jasus!_' says I, '_and I'll -skin any man who shall dar-r to lay even the tip of a finger on me for -such a purpose._'—'_Well_,' says the governor, '_but if you've ever so -little in the shape of ready money to offer your creditor, I'll see -him myself and thry what I can do for ye._'—So I pulled out my purse; -and behold ye! I'd jest two pound three shillings, and sixpence, to -pay three hundred and forty-seven pounds with.—'_Is it three-halfpence -in the pound ye'll be afther offering?_' asks the governor.—'_Jest -that same_,' says I; '_and if ever Misther Spriggins gets another -farthing out of me, then I'll skin myself!_'—So away goes the governor -to the creditor; and heaven only knows what blarney he pitches -him;—but in the course of a day or two, down comes a discharge on -condition that I pay the three-halfpence in the pound.—'_Now_,' says -I, '_that's trating an Irish jintleman as he deserves_;' and so I got -clean out of that infer-r-nal place. Here's your health, Mim." - -And the Captain emptied his glass. - -"You managed that business capital," exclaimed Frank Curtis, who began -to think that it would be no bad speculation to maintain the martial -gentleman altogether in Baker Street to frighten away the creditors,—or, -at all events, to employ him to go round to them, in case they should -prove inclined to act in a hostile manner towards him. - -At that moment his eyes met those of his wife; and the glance of -intelligence which was exchanged between them, showed that the same -thought had struck them both, and at the same time. - -"Help yourself, Captain," said Frank. "That whiskey was sent me as a -present by the Crown Prince of Denmark, for having been second to his -illustrious wife's uncle's stepmother's first cousin's nephew, in a duel -three years ago." - -"Blood and thunther-r!" ejaculated Captain O'Blunderbuss, "what a -disthant relation! But the potheen is beautiful. I always mix my third -glass sthronger than the two first, because in this same thir-rd I -dhrink to the ladies—the sweet-hearts—and God bless 'em!" - -Mrs. Curtis again acknowledged the compliment with a simper and an -inclination of the head; and by the time the Captain had disposed of his -third glass, the domestic in transcendent livery announced that coffee -was served in the drawing-room. - -Thither the party accordingly proceeded; Captain O'Blunderbuss escorting -Mrs. Curtis, with a politeness which would have been perfectly -enchanting had he not smelt so awfully of poteen. - -And now, in a few minutes, behold the trio seated so cozily and -comfortably at the table in the drawing-room, sipping the nectar of -Mocha; while a friendly little contest took place between Frank and the -Captain, to decide who could tell the greatest number of lies in the -shortest space of time. - -"Be Jasus!" cried O'Blunderbuss; "this coffee is an iligant beverage! -But, saving your prisence, Mim, it don't come up to the coffee which I -grew on my own estate in ould Ireland. The thruth was, I had such a vast -extent of bog-land that I was at a loss what use to tur-rn it to—so I -sent my steward off to Arabia,—yes, be the holy poker-r, direct off to -Arabia,—to buy up as much coffee as he could get for money. Och! and -with a power-r of coffeeberries did he come back, in the next West -Indiaman, up the Meditherranean; and wasn't it a sowing of them same -berries that we had in the bog! Ye should have seen the land eight -months afterwards, with the coffee-plants grown up bigger than -gooseberry bushes, and making the whole counthry smell of coffee for -eight miles round. I rayalized seven hunthred pounds by that spec the -first year; and I have gone on with the culthure of coffee ever since." - -"Oh!" said Frank, "it is astonishing what improvements might be -introduced in that way, if one only had the sense to do it. When I was -staying in Paris, I was very intimate with the Governor of the Bank of -France, and he had a beautiful conservatory on the top of the Bank. He -took me up one day to see it: 'twas in the middle of winter, and cold as -the devil in the open air—but warm as a toast inside the conservatory. -Well, there I saw melons as large as a bumb-shell growing in flower-pots -no bigger than that slop-bason—pine-apples hanging over the sides of -tea-cups—and a kind of fruit the name of which I've forgotten; but I -know that it was as large as a horse's head, and of the same shape. So I -said to my friend the Governor of the Mint, says I——" - -Mr. Curtis stopped; for the radiant footman entered the room, saying, -"Please, sir, two men wish to speak to you immediately." - -"Two men!" exclaimed Frank, casting an uneasy glance towards his wife, -who, it was evident, shared her husband's very natural apprehensions. - -"Yes, sir——But here they are," added the footman: then turning round -towards the intruders, he said, "Why didn't you wait quiet down in the -hall till I'd informed master that you wanted to speak to him?" - -"'Cos we doesn't do business in that ere way, old feller," responded a -voice which was not altogether unknown to either Mr. Curtis or the -Captain. - -"Proggs, the officer-r—by God!" vociferated the latter, starting from -his seat. - -"Yes—it's me and my master, Mr. Mac Grab, at your service, gen'lemen," -said Proggs, pushing his way past the footman, and entering the room -with his hat on his head and his stout stick in his hand. "Please, Mr. -Curtis, sir—you're wanted." - -And as these words were uttered by the subordinate, the principal -himself—namely, Mr. Mac Grab—made _his_ appearance (and a very dirty one -it was too) in the door-way; while the footman stood aghast, and Mrs. -Curtis went off into hysterics. - -"Wanted!" cried Frank, casting an appealing glance towards the Captain: -"who the devil wants me?" - -"Whose suit is it at, sir?" asked Proggs, turning towards his superior. - -"Beeswing, wine-merchant—debt, two hundred pounds, owing by the lady," -answered Mr. Mac Grab. - -"Is it arresting my friend Misther Curtis, ye mane?" demanded Captain -O'Blunderbuss, advancing towards the officers with tremendous -fierceness, now that he found his own personal security unendangered. - -"And why not?" growled Mac Grab, shrouding himself behind his man -Proggs. - -"Is it why not, ye're afther asking?" shouted Captain O'Blunderbuss. -"Now, be Jasus! and if ye don't both make yourselves as scarce as ye was -before ye was bor-rn, it's myself that'll tayche ye a lesson of -purliteness in the twinkling of a bed-post." - -"Oh! that's all gammon," muttered Proggs. "Mr. Curtis must either pay -the money or come along with us." - -"He won't do neither the one nor the t'other, ye bastes of the ear-rth!" -exclaimed the Captain. - -"I say now——" began Mac Grab: but, before he had time to utter another -word, the redoubtable Captain wrenched the short stick from the hands of -Mr. Proggs, and throwing it to a distance, boldly attacked the officers -with his long sinewy arms in such an effectual manner, that they -disappeared from the drawing-room in as short a space of time as their -assailant had represented by that beautiful figure of rhetoric—"the -twinkling of a bed-post." - -Mrs. Curtis had deemed it most prudent to go off into a fit—Frank was -nailed to the floor by the terror of being captured and dragged off to a -debtor's prison—the footman considered it wise to remain a mere -spectator of the fight;—and thus the Captain was unassisted in his -gallant onslaught upon the sheriffs' officer and his man. - -The Captain, however, had an advantage on his side: namely, that when he -had once succeeded in driving the enemy back as far as the staircase, it -was comparatively an easy matter to fling them headlong down—a feat -which he performed without the least ceremony or hesitation, to the -infinite alarm of the female-servants in the kitchen, who came rushing -up into the hall from that lower region, screaming as heartily as they -could under the conviction that the house was tumbling about their ears. - -"Hold your pace! my dears," exclaimed Captain O'Blunderbuss, rushing -down the stairs after the vanquished enemy,—his countenance purple with -whiskey and excitement—every vein in his forehead swollen almost to -bursting—and his fists clenched for a renewal of the onslaught. - -"We'll make you smart for this, my man!" growled Mac Grab, as he rose -painfully from the hall-floor. - -"I'm jiggered if we don't too!" added Proggs, picking himself up as it -were from the last step, and feeling his legs and arms to see if any of -his bones were broken. - -"Out of the house, ugly bastes that ye are!" thundered the Captain. - -The officers had received sufficient evidence of the redoubtable -gentleman's warlike propensities, to induce them to beat a rapid -retreat,—and the moment they had evaporated by the front-door, the -Captain banged it violently after them, securing it with bolts and -chain. - -"That's the way we serve out the riptiles in ould Ireland, my dears," he -exclaimed, turning towards the female servants, who, having at length -comprehended the nature of the amusement going on, had ceased to scream -and were enjoying the animated scene as much as if it had been a play. - -Frank Curtis had heard the front door close violently; and the drawing -of the bolts afterwards convinced him that the house was cleared of its -invaders. He accordingly descended the stairs, laughing heartily now -that the immediate peril had been averted by the prowess of the Captain. -The resplendent footman was following close behind his master—very -anxious to solicit his wages and his discharge there and then, and only -prevented from acting thus abruptly by the formidable presence of -Captain O'Blunderbuss. - -"Now, my frinds," exclaimed this gallant gentleman, who was quite in his -element under existing circumstances, "the house is in a complate state -of siege! Ye must look to me as the commander of the garrison. So let -the area and the ground-floor windows be all properly fastened: take -care of the back door, wherever it leads to—and, be Jasus! we'll keep -the rascals out! I know 'em well! They'll be thrying all manner of -dodges to get in: but they'll find themselves as mistaken as the old -lady was when she scratched the bed-post and thought she was scratching -her head." - -Then, with wonderful alacrity, Captain O'Blunderbuss hastened to -superintend the arrangements and the precautions which he had briefly -suggested. He examined the windows in the drawing room—he descended to -the kitchen—went out into the area—poked his nose into the -coal-cellar—inspected the yard at the back—issued his orders—saw that -they were executed—and then drank off half a tumbler of whiskey neat, -both as a slight refreshment after the exertions of the evening, and as -a token of his satisfaction at the various measures which he had adopted -with a view to convert the house into an impregnable fortress. - -By this time Mrs. Curtis had made up her mind to recover from her fit; -but she was so dreadfully shocked at the exposure which had taken place -before the servants, that she retired to her bed-chamber forthwith. - -The Captain and Frank then sat down to hold, as the former gentleman -expressed it, "a council of war-r-r;" and as one bottle of whiskey had -been emptied, and there was not another in the house, the martial -gentleman was kind and condescending enough to put up with gin, of which -exhilirating fluid he found, to his great satisfaction, there was a -large supply in the cellar. - -"What the devil would you have me do in this cursed embarrassment?" -asked Frank. - -"Be Jasus! and I'll jest tell ye now," answered the Captain. "Let me -see?—this is Thuesday. Well, we must maintain the siege until Sunday; -and then you must give the traps leg bail into another counthy. Whose -furnitur-r is it in the house?" - -"Why—it's ours, and it isn't," responded Frank. - -"Och! and be asy now—I understand ye, my boy!" cried the Captain. "It -isn't paid fur, ye mane—but possission is nine points of the law; and, -be the holy poker-r! we'll make it the whole twilve. Jest allow me to -carry ye through this little affair. Next Sunday night, me lad, ye must -be off into Surrey with the lady and little ones; and lave me to manage -here. On Monday, at the top of the mornin', I'll have in a broker and -sell off every stick; and I'll bring ye over the proceeds like a man of -honour-r as I am." - -"So far, so good," said Frank. "But how are we to get things to eat -between this and Sunday, if no one is to stir out of the place?" - -"Is it ayting ye mane, when there's three gallons of gin in the house?" -demanded Captain O' Blunderbuss, with something like indignation in his -tone and manner. - -"Well, but the wife and the children can't live upon gin, Captain," -observed Frank; "even though the servants should have no objection." - -"Not live upon gin, me boy!" vociferated Captain O'Blunderbuss, in a -state of astonishment as complete and unfeigned as if some one had just -shown him his own name in the Army List, or presented him with the -title-deeds of his often vaunted Irish estates: "not live upon gin, -Misther Curtis!" he repeated, surveying Frank as if this young gentleman -were actually taking leave of his senses. "Show me the discontended -mortal, my frind, that says he _won't_ live upon gin, and I'll jest——" - -"Just what?" asked Frank, somewhat dismayed at this irascibility on the -part of his companion. - -"I'll skin him—by the holy poker-r!" cried Captain O'Blunderbuss, -rapping his clenched fist violently upon the table. - -There was a long pause, during which the two gentlemen emptied and -refilled their glasses. - -"Be the way, me boy," suddenly exclaimed the Captain, as if an idea had -just struck him, "is that old uncle of yours in town at present?" - -"Yes: he came back some days ago, I understand," replied Frank. - -"D'ye think he'd bleed?" asked the Captain: "for 'tis supplies to carry -on the war-r in an iligant style for a long time to come, that we want; -since now that we're once on a frindly footing together, Curtis, I'm not -the boy to desert ye in your throubles." - -He might have added that he would stick to Mr. and Mrs. Curtis so long -as they had a bottle of spirits to give, or a shilling to lend him. - -"I really think that it's very likely you might be able to draw the old -bird," said Frank: "and to tell you the truth, I had already entertained -the idea. Besides, he won't _dare_ refuse _you_, Captain." - -"Be Jasus! I should take it as an insult if he did," exclaimed the man -of war, caressing his moustache. "But let us strike the ir-r-ron while -it is hot. Dthraw up a letter to Sir-r Christopher-r in your best style; -and I'll be off with it at once. Trust me for getting out of the -garrison safe and coming back again in the same way; but mind and keep a -sharp watch while I'm gone." - -Frank promised compliance with this injunction, and hastened to pen a -letter to his uncle, the Captain kindly undertaking to dictate the sense -in which it was to be written. - -The precious document ran as follows:— - - "MY DEAR UNCLE, - - "I hope this will find you blooming, as it leaves me; and as you and - me have both made ourselves happy by marriage, don't let us have any - more animosity between us. In fact, I will show you at once that I - mean to forget the past, and treat you as an uncle ought to be - treated by his dutiful nephew. - - "Well, then, to come to the point. My friend, Captain O'Blunderbuss, - whom you have the pleasure of knowing, and who improves vastly on - acquaintance, has kindly lent me five hundred pounds, just to settle - a few pressing debts which I had contracted during the time that I - was so unfortunate as to be on bad terms with you; and as the - Captain wants his money again, and I don't like to tell my wife so - soon after marriage that I owe this sum, you will greatly oblige me - by giving the Captain a cheque for the amount—or else Bank notes at - once—he isn't very particular which, I dare say;—and I will repay - you the moment I get my quarter's allowance, as the beloved and - angelic creature, whom I shall have so much pleasure in introducing - to you and to my dear aunt Charlotte, has promised me seven hundred - pounds every three months to spend as I like and no questions asked. - - "So no more at present, my dear uncle, from your dutiful, attached, - obliged, and grateful nephew, - - "FRANCIS CURTIS." - -"What do you think of _that_?" demanded Frank triumphantly, when he had -read the letter aloud for the opinion of his friend. - -"Is it what I think?" exclaimed the Captain. "Be the power-rs! and it's -as well as I could have done it myself, if I'd studied it for a week." - -"Thanks to your suggestions," added Frank. "And now I'll just seal and -direct it, while you finish your glass." - -Captain O'Blunderbuss _did_ drain the contents of his tumbler, as Frank -foresaw that he would do; for it was one of that gallant gentleman's -maxims never to waste good liquor;—and, being thus fortified with -upwards of a pint of whiskey and ditto of gin—the effects of which were -evident only in the fiery hue of his complexion, but by no means in his -gait nor speech—he prepared to set out on his expedition to the dwelling -of Sir Christopher Blunt. - -"Frank," said he, putting on his foraging cap and conveying the letter -to his pocket, "take the poker-r." - -"The poker!" repealed the young man, with mingled surprise and dismay. - -"And what else would ye take to dash out the brains of any man who -should thry to spring in at the door while I go out!" exclaimed -O'Blunderbuss. "That's right, me boy," he added, as Curtis shouldered -the fire-implement. "Not that it's likely for any of them bastes of the -ear-rth to be lur-rking about so soon afther the little affair of jest -now: but it's as well to be on our guar-rd." - -Accordingly, Frank Curtis stood behind the front door, poker in hand, as -the redoubtable officer issued forth; but the coast was clear so far as -the retainers of the Sheriff were concerned; and the peace of the -garrison remained unmolested. - -Frank closed, chained, and bolted the door again; and Captain -O'Blunderbuss wended his way with an awful swagger down the street, -frightening by his fierce looks all the small children whom he happened -to encounter. - - - - - CHAPTER LXXIV. - THREE MONTHS AFTER MARRIAGE. - - -Sir Christopher Blunt was pacing his drawing-room in a very agitated -manner; and the expression of his countenance was so ludicrous, in its -reflection of the thoughts that were stirring within his breast, that it -was impossible to say whether he was influenced by commingled hope and -suspense on the one hand, or by fear and shame on the other. - -It was pretty evident that he had not been out all day; for he was -unshaven—and he wore the light blue dressing-gown, the bright red -trousers, and the scarlet silk cap, which his dear wife had devised as a -most becoming morning costume, but which gave him the appearance of a -Mussulman quack-doctor, as the golden lustre of the handsome lamp -brought forth all the flaunting effects of the garb. - -Advancing towards the time-piece, Sir Christopher compared his watch -with that dial. - -"A quarter to nine!" he murmured to himself, as he restored the huge -gold repeater to his fob; "and the doctors have been an hour with her -already! Well—I never heard of such a thing before—three months after -marriage—it's impossible—quite impossible! Dr. Wagtail is a very clever -man, no doubt—but he's wrong for once in his life. If it was six or -seven months, now—one might suppose that a premature birth—but three -months——" - -And the worthy knight paced the apartment in a manner which showed that -"he didn't know wha the deuce to make of it." - -"Well," he continued, again speaking in a murmuring tone, after a short -pause, "it may be so, after all! For really science does discover such -wonderful things now-a-days, and the world seems to undergo so many -strange changes, that upon my word I should not be at all surprised if, -on going out some morning, I was to see the people walking on their -heads along Jermyn Street. Ah! things weren't like this when I was a -boy! But then I must recollect that I live in the fashionable quarter of -the town _now_, and ladies at the West End ain't like those vulgar -citizens' wives. Thank God that I didn't get in for Portsoken! It was -quite enough to have filled the high and responsible office of Sheriff, -and to have received the distinguished honour of knighthood——But, three -months!" exclaimed Sir Christopher, interrupting himself, and flying -back with ludicrous abruptness to the idea that was uppermost in his -mind; "three months! And, after all, who knows but that it's the fashion -at the West End; and I'm sure that if it is, I shall be very glad that -it has happened so. And yet the most extraordinary part of the business -is that—when I suspected something of the kind, and just hinted at it to -Lady Blunt—she—she scratched my face to pieces for me. Very -extraordinary, indeed!" - -Sir Christopher now became lost in a maze of conjecture, vague -suspicion, and bewilderment, through which he certainly could not find -his way; and heaven only knows how long he might have remained in the -labyrinth, had not Dr. Wagtail appeared to his rescue. - -"Well, doctor?" exclaimed the knight, hastening to meet the physician. - -"My dear Sir Christopher, I congratulate you!" said Dr. Wagtail, -considering it decent and becoming to assume a joyous and smirking -expression of countenance for the occasion, while he wrung the knight's -hand with most affectionate warmth: "for it is my duty," he continued, -now suddenly adopting the pompous and important style of the fashionable -physician to a rich family,—"for it is my duty, Sir Christopher, to -announce to you that you are the happy father of a charming boy, with -whom her ladyship has been kind enough to present you." - -[Illustration] - -"A boy—eh, doctor?" faltered the knight. "But of course it isn't—I -mean—it can't be—a—a—full grown child?" - -"Well, my dear Sir Christopher," responded Dr. Wagtail, who perfectly -understood where the shoe pinched, "from what Mr. Snipekin, the talented -and much-sought-after accoucheur whom I deemed it prudent to call in -just now,—from what Mr. Snipekin says, Sir Christopher, I do believe -that the dear little creature has come a leetle before his time. But -pray don't make yourself uneasy on that account, my dear Sir -Christopher; for the sweet babe is in no danger, and is an uncommonly -fine child, to be sure!" - -"Then it is a little before its time, doctor—eh!" said Sir Christopher. -"But—doctor—you and me are old friends, and you can speak candidly, you -know——and—the truth is——you must remember that—that—our marriage only -took place—three months ago—and it seems to me rather unusual—not that I -suspect dear Lady Blunt's virtue for a moment—on the contrary—I know her -to be a perfect paragon of morality: at the same time—three months, -doctor—and a fine boy——" - -"My dear Sir Christopher," responded Dr. Wagtail, foreseeing that the -amount of his fee would depend vastly upon the state of mind in which -the Knight might be when he should give it, and acting moreover upon his -favourite principle of humouring the whims and wishes of all persons -with whom he had any professional connexion,—"my dear Sir Christopher," -he said, looking very solemn indeed, "your avocations in the world have -not allowed you time to dive into the mysteries of science and -investigate the arcana of learning—much less to pursue with -sesquipedalian regularity the routine of that course of study which, in -the abstract, and also considered in a purely professional point of -view—and having due regard to the wonders of physiological science,—in -fact—ahem!—you understand me, Sir Christopher?" - -"Ye-e-s, doctor," drawled forth the bewildered knight. "But I think you -were going to satisfy me—you know—about the three months—and a fine -boy—doctor——" - -"I was coming to that point, my dear Sir Christopher," said Dr. Wagtail. -"In fact, I was about to observe that _physiology_, properly considered -in its etymological signification, comprehends the entire science of -Nature; but I must impress upon your mind, Sir Christopher, that the -ratiocinative propensities of modern physicians have induced them, -doubtless after much profound cogitation, to restrict the term to that -department of physical knowledge relating, referring, and belonging -exclusively to organic existence. And thus, Sir Christopher——ahem!—you -follow me?" - -"Oh! quite easy—indeed!" returned the knight, wondering in his own mind -whether it were dog Latin that stunned his ears, and also how any one -individual could possibly pick up and retain such an immense amount of -knowledge. "But—the point was, doctor——" - -"Precisely, my dear Sir Christopher!" exclaimed the physician, looking -as wise as all the seven sages of Greece put together: "it was to that -very point which I was coming;—but I thought that a detailed and full -explanation would prove most satisfactory to you." - -"Oh! decidedly, doctor:—and I am sure I am very much obliged to you for -taking the trouble to—to——" - -"Well, then, my dear Sir Christopher," interrupted the fashionable -physician; "all my premises being granted, and the arguments which I -have adduced being fully admitted, I think that the demonstration is -easy enough. Consequently, Sir Christopher, it is quite apparent that a -child _may_ be born three months after marriage; at the same time, I -think I can assure you, that in future your excellent and amiable lady -will not be quite so premature in her accouchements." - -"It is not unusual, then, doctor, amongst your female patients?" said -Sir Christopher, who was not entirely satisfied yet. - -"It is by no means unusual that a _first_ child should be born a few -months after marriage, my dear Sir Christopher," answered the physician. - -"And perhaps—perhaps, it's rather fashionable than otherwise?" asked the -knight, in a hesitating manner. - -"Well—I don't know but what it is, Sir Christopher," replied Dr. -Wagtail, taking a pinch of snuff. "And now that your mind is completely -set at rest on this point—as indeed it must and ought to be, after the -full and professional explanation which I have given you,—I will return -to the chamber of your amiable and excellent lady, and see whether you -can be permitted to visit her for a few moments." - -"Do, my dear doctor. And, doctor," cried the Knight, as a sudden idea -struck him; "pray don't—I mean, it is not necessary to let Lady Blunt -know that—that—in a word—that I asked you any questions——" - -"Oh! certainly not, my dear Sir Christopher," exclaimed the physician; -and he then quitted the room. - -"Well," thought the knight to himself, as soon as he was again alone; -"and so I am the father—the happy father,"—and he made a slight -grimace,—"of a fine boy. A fine boy—eh! 'Pon my honour, I'm very -glad—very glad, indeed! A son and heir—a little Christopher! How very -kind of my dear wife: it is a tie which will bind us together—perhaps -soften her temper a leetle—and make her more sparing in the use of her -finger nails. Well—if it's only for that, the coming of this child will -be a great blessing—a very great blessing. But I really do wish the dear -babe had made its appearance about six months later. Not that it matters -much—seeing that I must be its father, and that the thing is rather -fashionable than otherwise. Besides—Doctor Wagtail is such a clever -man—such a very clever man—and his explanation was so completely -satisfactory—so very lucid and clear—a fool might understand it. Well, I -really ought to be a very happy fellow!" - -But all the knight's attempts at self-persuasion and self-consolation -were futile: there was a weight upon his spirits that he could not throw -off—and in the depths of his secret soul there was an awful misgiving, -to the existence of which he vainly endeavoured to blind his mental -vision. He strove to be gay—he tried to establish the conviction that he -was perfectly happy and contented—he did all he could to make himself -admit _to_ himself that the doctor's reasoning was conclusive:—still he -could not shut out from his heart the ever recurring thought that the -physician's argument might be very conclusive indeed, but that he was -totally unable to understand a word of it. - -Then came the fear of ridicule;—and this was the most galling sentiment -of all. But, on the other hand, there was an apprehension which was not -without its weight: namely, the anger of his wife, in case she should -discover that he had dared to doubt her virtue. - -Thus, by the time the doctor came back, the silly old gentleman had -determined to take matters just as he found them: and, though half -suspecting that there was something wrong in the business, he resolved -to maintain as contented an air as possible, as the only means of -combatting ridicule should he experience it, or of quieting his wife -should she hear of any thing to excite her irritability. - -"We are getting on so well, my dear Sir Christopher," said the -physician, "that we can see you for a few minutes; but we cannot bear -any loud speaking as yet, and we establish it as a condition that you do -not attempt to kiss our child more than once, for fear you should set it -crying and make our head ache." - -Sir Christopher attempted a pleasant smile, and followed Dr. Wagtail to -the chamber of the indisposed lady. - -The moment the door was opened, the shrill but nevertheless apparently -half-stifled cry of a newborn child saluted the knight's ears; and, -hastening up to the bed, he bent over and kissed his wife. - -"See what heaven has sent us, Sir Christopher!" said the lady, in a low -and weak voice, well suited to the solemnity of her observation; and, -slightly uncovering the bed-clothes, she exhibited a tiny object, -looking amazingly red, but which she assured him was "the sweetest -little face in the world." - -"That it is—the pretty creatur!" observed a hoarse voice, which appeared -to emanate from the chimney, but which in reality came from no further -off than the fire-place, and belonged to an elderly woman of tremendous -corpulency, who was arranging some baby-linen on a clothes-horse. "I've -nussed a many ladies," continued the stout proprietress of the hoarse -voice, "but never such a patient dear as your'n, Sir Christopher: and I -never see such a angel at its birth as that babby. Why," continued the -woman, advancing towards the knight and giving him a good long stare, -while, potent odours of gin assailed his nostrils all the while, "I do -declare that the babby is as like his father as he can be." - -Sir Christopher "grinned horribly a ghastly smile," and slipped -half-a-guinea into the nurse's hand, at which proof of his generosity -she dropped him a curtsey that shook the house so profoundly as nearly -to drop her through the floor. - -"Yes—the babby's as like you, Sir, as two peas is like each other," -continued the nurse, while Dr. Wagtail and the accoucheur exchanged -rapid but intelligent glances at the excellence of the idea, and Sir -Christopher grunted like a learned pig which has just put its snout upon -the right card in a show. "I'm sure, Sir, you ought to be wery much -obleeged to missus for presenting you with such a cherub. Poor dear! she -had a sad time of it—but she bore it like a saint, as she is. Won't you -let master have just one kiss at the little dear, my lady?" - -The saint was just at that moment wondering whether the child, as it -grew up, would bear any resemblance to a certain tall footman in a -certain family at the West End: but why such an idea should enter her -head, we must leave to the readers to divine. - -The nurse repeated her question, adding, "Do let the little dear's pa -just kiss it once; and then we must turn him out, you know, ma'am, for -the present." - -"Yes, Sir Christopher—you may kiss the little cherub, if you like," said -Lady Blunt, in a tone which was meant to impress on her husband's mind a -full sense of the favour conferred upon him: "but pray don't make the -sweet child squeal out—for you're so rough." - -The knight accordingly touched the babe with his lips, which he smacked -to make believe that the kiss was a hearty one in spite of his wife's -injunction; and, this ceremony being completed, he was turned out of the -room by the nurse, whose power on such occasions amounts, as all fathers -know, to an absolute despotism. - -"The nurse" is a species exhibiting but little variety. Stout and in -good spirits she must always be; and bottled stout and ardent spirits -she highly esteems. She moreover has an excellent appetite, and is fond -of many meals in the course of the day. She awakes at five or six in the -morning, and makes herself strong hot coffee and a couple of rounds of -toast, putting a great deal of sugar to the former, and a vast quantity -of butter to the latter. At nine she is ready for her _breakfast_—the -first meal not being so denominated and in fact considered as nothing at -all. If her mistress be awake, the nurse will amuse her with innumerable -stories relative to her former places; and she will not fail to make -herself out the very best nurse in the world. She will describe how one -lady was inconsolable because she could not have her at the desired -time; how another lady would eat nothing unless prepared by the said -nurse's own hands; how a third would have died if it had not been for -her care and attention; and how she never slept a wink nor put her -clothes off once for a whole month while in attendance upon another -lady. Then she is sure to be well connected and to have seen better -days: and if asked for her address, she is certain to reply, "Lord bless -you, my dear: all you have to do is to send and inquire for me in -such-and-such a street, and any body will tell you where I live." In -fact she is as well known in her quarter of the town as the Queen is at -Pimlico. But—to continue the category of meals—at eleven o'clock she is -quite prepared for a mutton-chop and half a pint of stout; and she -forces a basin of gruel down her mistress's throat, accompanied with -many a "Poor dear, I'm sure you must want it!" At two o'clock she has a -good appetite for her dinner; and then she manages to get on pretty -comfortably till tea-time. The nurse is very fond of her tea, and likes -it strong. After tea, as her mistress most likely sleeps, she gets hold -of an odd volume of a romance, or a newspaper not more than a week old; -and it is ten to one that she believes every word she reads in both. If -her mistress happen to be awake, the nurse will comment upon what she -reads. The newspaper, especially, is sure to set her talking on the -"hardness of the times," and arouse all her reminiscences of "when she -was a gal." She will often express her mysterious wonder at "what the -world is coming to," and invariably speaks as if every thing had -undergone a great change for the worst. She is sure to know a poor -family whom she is mainly instrumental in saving from starvation; and -she is equally certain to descant upon the necessity of sobriety and -frugality amongst the working classes. Then she remembers that it is -time "for missus to take her medicine;" but when she goes to the shelf -or the cupboard, she stays a little longer there than is quite necessary -to pour out the medicine aforesaid; and, as she approaches the bed to -administer the same, she wipes her mouth with the back of her hand, and -her eyes are observed to water. The invalid lady may now thank her stars -if she be not assailed with an odour of ardent spirit while she receives -her medicine from the hand of the nurse. Well, the time passes away -somehow or another until the supper hour; and it is a remarkable fact, -that the nurse never seems wearied of the monotony of her avocation. -But, then, in the evening she manages to get half-an-hour's chat with -the servants down stairs; and the chat is rendered the more pleasant by -a little drop of something short out of a black bottle which the cook -mysteriously produces from the cupboard. On these occasions the nurse -exhibits all her importance. She assures the listening domestics that it -was very fortunate _she_ happened to be sent for to attend upon -"missus," as if any other nurse had been called in the results would -have been most unpleasantly different. She then expresses her opinion of -the medical attendant; and her estimation of this gentleman is -invariably regulated by the amount of his liberality towards her. If he -gave her the odd shillings which accompanied the sovereigns in the -little piece of paper containing the fee, then he is sure to be a very -clever man indeed; but if he forgot this important duty, then in the -nurse's estimation he is certain to be a most unfit doctor to call in; -and "it was quite a wonder that he didn't kill poor dear missus." Having -thus delivered her opinion, which is received as gospel by the servants, -she hastens up stairs again, and relates to her mistress her own version -of the conversation which has taken place down below. After supper she -no longer partakes of ardent spirit on the sly, and unblushingly brews -herself a potent glass. But then she is sure to have an excuse—such a -dreadful pain in the stomach, or a bad cold; and her mistress, whose -peace of mind depends on keeping her attendant in a good humour, says in -a mild, languid voice, "Do make yourself comfortable, nurse!" And the -nurse obeys the hint to the very letter. The liquor induces her to -descant upon spirits in general; and she is sure to inform her mistress -that the _Duke of Wellington_ doesn't sell near such good things as the -_Duck and Drake_; but that "the beautifullest gin is at the public round -the corner." Sometimes—and this is one of the worst features in her -character—the nurse will take it into her head to relate gloomy stories -to her mistress; and when once she gets on this subject, the devil -himself could not stop her. She tells how she knew a lady who went on -very well for ten days, and then popped off all on a sudden; or else she -was once in a house which caught on fire in the middle of the night, and -the poor lady and child were burnt to death. If the husband should -happen to be out late, the nurse, when she is in this gloomy vein, talks -mysteriously of the danger of the streets; and says how she knew a -gentleman who was run over by an omnibus during the fog. But, in justice -to the nurse, we must observe, that these horrible subjects are not very -frequently touched on by her—and only when she gets somewhat maudlin -with too much ardent spirit or bottled stout. For the first week she is -in her place, no one comes to see her; but in the course of the second, -she is visited by her married daughter and her married daughter's eldest -girl. During the third week, the nurse is constantly wanted by people -who come to see her, or inquire for her; and at the beginning of the -fourth the front door bell is rung frantically, and the nurse hears, -with a countenance so innocent that it is almost impossible to think she -has pre-arranged the whole matter, that Mrs. So-and-so, whom she has -pledged herself to attend upon, is just taken in labour, and she (the -nurse) must go to her directly. Her mistress is by this time well enough -to do without her; and the nurse receives her full month's wages for -three week's attendance. - -But let us return to Sir Christopher Blunt, whom we left at that -pleasant point when, having undergone the ceremony of embracing the babe -which, according to his lady's account, heaven had sent him, he wended -his way back to the drawing-room. - -At that precise moment Sir Christopher would have given just one half of -his fortune to be enabled to undo all he had done three months -previously. He had married in haste, and he now repented at leisure. But -it was too late to retract; and he found, to his infinite mortification, -that he must "grin and bear it." - -The accoucheur shortly entered the room to report that "all was going on -as well as could be expected;" and, having received his fee, he took his -departure. - -Soon afterwards the pompous and self-sufficient Dr. Wagtail made _his_ -appearance, and received _his_ fee, which, out of sheer ostentation, the -knight rendered as liberal as the physician had anticipated. - -These little matters being disposed of, Sir Christopher rang the bell, -ordered up a bottle of claret and was about to console himself with the -solitary enjoyment of the same, when an astounding double knock and -tremendous ring at the front-door startled him so fearfully that he -spilt the wine over his red trousers and nearly upset the table on which -his elbow was leaning. - -"Who can this be?" he exclaimed aloud. - -"Captain O'Blunderbuss!" cried the footman, throwing open the door as -wide as possible to afford ingress to the swaggering officer. - - - - - CHAPTER LXXV. - THE KNIGHT AND THE CAPTAIN. - - -"Captain O'Blunderbuss!" murmured Sir Christopher, in a faint tone, as -he sank back dismayed into his seat. - -"Be the power-rs! and how are ye, my hearty old cock?" was the polite -salutation of the gallant gentleman, as, advancing close up to the -knight, he grasped his hand and shook it with as much energy as if he -were a policeman carrying off a starving mendicant to the station-house -for the _heinous crime_ of begging. - -"Thank you, Captain—I—I'm pretty well," responded Sir Christopher. - -"Well, that's a blessing, be Jasus!" cried the Captain, coolly taking a -seat. "Is it claret that you're after dhrinking, Sir-r Christopher?" he -demanded, taking up the bottle and holding it between his eyes and the -lamp. "Iligant stuff in its way—but not my lush. Have ye no potheen in -the house, Sir Christopher-r?" - -"Potheen?" repeated the knight, not understanding the name nor half -liking the intrusion. - -"Is it you, Sir-r Christopher, that don't know what rale Irish potheen -is?" cried the Captain. "Why, there's niver a child in ould Ir-reland -that can't spell potheen. Whiskey, Sir Christopher—whiskey! But I'll -save ye the throuble of ringing for it yourself:"—and, with these words, -Captain O'Blunderbuss applied his hand most vigorously to the bell-pull. - -The footman answered the summons. - -"Your masther says, sirrah," exclaimed the Captain, "that ye're to bring -up a bottle of the best Irish whiskey—rale potheen—with a tumbler, a -spoon, a lemon, hot water, and sugar and look shar-rp about it, too!" - -The domestic retired, and Sir Christopher stared in amazement at the -Captain; for the worthy knight was so astounded by the free and easy -manners of his visitor, that he was not quite certain whether he, Sir -Christopher Blunt, was actually in his own house at the moment, or -whether he was in some public coffee-room where every one had a right to -order the waiter about as he chose. - -"I hope you're not offinded with me, Sir Christopher-r, by making myself -at home?" said the Captain: "but it isn't me that's the boy to stand on -any ceremony." - -The knight thought that his visitor could never have said a truer thing -in his life. - -"Not I, be Jasus!" continued Captain O'Blunderbuss. "But thin I'm the -man to let others do the same with me; and if you should ever find -yourself in the wilds of Conamar-r-ra, Sir Christopher, jist ask the -first naked urchin ye meet with to show the way to Bluntherbuss Park, -and see if I won't trate ye as ye deserve to be trated. Blood and -murther! it's me that keeps open house save whin the sheriff's-officers -are prowling about the neighbourhood, which is generally from the 1st of -January to the 31st of December in every year." - -The servant now made his appearance with the whiskey and the _et -ceteras_ which the gallant gentleman had ordered; and the said gallant -gentleman straightway began to brew himself some toddy, with the air of -an individual who had had nothing stronger than mild ale to drink all -day long. - -"May I request to be informed——" began Sir Christopher, his courage -reviving now that the Captain's visit appeared to be one altogether of -an amicable nature. - -"Faith! and is it to be informed ye'd be?" ejaculated O'Blunderbuss, as -he stirred his whiskey-and-water up with the spoon. "But don't alarm -yourself, Sir Christopher-r: my call this evening was merely jist to ask -ye how ye do and present ye with a little note from that rale broth of a -boy, Misther Frank Curtis." - -"Frank—my nephew!" exclaimed Sir Christopher: "what can he want with me? -Surely 'tis not to congratulate——But, no—he can't have heard of _that_ -yet." - -Be the power-rs! and is there any thing to congratulate ye upon, Sir -Christopher?" cried the Captain. "Have ye been made a baronet—or elected -an alderman?" - -"I would have you know, Captain O'Blunderbuss," said the knight, in a -solemn tone, "that I was once so unadvised as to put up for Portsoken——" - -Be Jasus! have nothing to do with Port—it lies heavy on the stomach, my -frind!" interrupted the gallant officer. "Dhrink potheen—and you'll -niver grow old nor yet gray. But we were spaking of congratulations. Is -it possible that your dear wife has tumbled down stairs and broken her -neck? or has she presented ye with a pledge of her affiction?" - -"Since you must know, Captain O'Blunderbuss," responded the Knight, "it -is——the latter." - -"I give ye joy, old brick!" vociferated the gallant officer and seizing -Sir Christopher's hand, he subjected it to such a process of violent -shaking, that the victim almost yelled out with agony. "But from what -Frank tould me," continued the Captain, at length relinquishing the hand -which he had so unmercifully squeezed, "I thought you hadn't been -married long enough for such a happy evint to take place. However—I wish -ye joy, my frind; and now to business. Read this little bit of a note, -and ye'll be charmed with the kind way in which Frank Curtis spakes of -ye." - -The knight received the letter which the Captain handed to him; but ere -he had time to break the seal, the door opened and the nurse made her -appearance. - -"Well, nurse—what is it?" demanded Sir Christopher. - -"Please, sir," was the reply, "missus wants to know who it was as come -with such a chemendous knock and ring that it has set her poor head -a-aching ready to split, and the blessed babby a-crying as if he was in -fits." - -"Tell your misthress, nurse," exclaimed the visitor, in an imperious -tone, "that it's Captain O'Bluntherbuss, of Bluntherbuss Park, -Ir-r-reland," with an awful rattling of the r's; "and prisint my best -rispicts to your lady and the babby." - -"Thank'ee, sir," replied the nurse; "but missus says, Sir Christopher, -please, that she hopes you won't make no noise in the house." - -"Very well—very well, my good woman!" exclaimed the knight hastily. -"Tell your mistress I shall not be engaged long, and will come up and -see her presently." - -"Wery good, sir;"—and the nurse withdrew. - -Sir Christopher then proceeded to open the letter; but it was with -trembling hands,—for the visit of the nurse had thrown him into a most -unpleasant state of nervousness—he being well aware that he should -receive a blowing up on account of the Captain's call,—although no one -could possibly wish more devoutly than himself that such a call had not -taken place. - -"Ye thrimble, Sir Christopher!" cried the Captain; "but there's no need -to be alar-r-med—for your nev-vy hasn't sent ye a challenge. So let your -mind be at pace—and read the little note at your leisure. I'm in no -hurry for an hour or two." - -And indeed the Captain appeared to be quite comfortable; for he brewed -himself a second glass of whiskey and water—threw some coals upon the -fire—and trimmed the lamp in such a way that the flame rose above the -globe. - -Meantime Sir Christopher perused the letter with great attention, and -did not altogether seem to relish its contents. - -"I really cannot oblige my nephew in this respect," he said, fidgetting -the paper about in his hands. "The truth is—he has not behaved -altogether well to me—nor to Lady Blunt;—and if I was to do this for -him, Lady Blunt would be so angry. He must fight his own way in the -world, Captain O'Blunderbuss, as I did; for I have no hesitation to -admit that I rose from nothing—indeed, I glory in the fact: and having -filled the high and responsible office of Sheriff, with credit to myself -and advantage to my fellow-citizens——" - -"Damn the high office of Shiriff!" exclaimed the gallant gentleman, -striking his fist upon the table. "I want my money—and it isn't Captain -O'Bluntherbuss that ye'll be afther putting off in this snaking -fashion." - -"But, my dear sir," said the knight, in a tone of gentle remonstrance, -"_I_ don't owe you the money." - -"Be Jasus! but your nev-vy does—and therefore it's all in the family!" -cried the Captain. - -"That is a proposition I cannot agree to, my dear sir," returned the -knight. - -"D' ye mane to differ from me?" demanded the Captain, looking -desperately ferocious. - -"Why—as for that—I—I——" - -"D' ye mane to differ from me, I repate?" vociferated Captain -O'Blunderbuss, again striking the table with his fist, but so violently -this time that the bottles and glasses danced a hornpipe: "answer me -that, Sir-r Christopher-r!" - -"I don't wish to offend you, Captain—I couldn't wish to do that; but," -added the knight, "I must beg leave most respectfully to dissent from -the proposition that I am in any way answerable for the debts of Mr. -Curtis. And since he has married a lady of fortune, let him be candid -with her at once; and——" - -"Is it candid that he's to be, when the wife would kick up hell and -blazes?" cried O'Blunderbuss. "But I tell you purty frankly, my frind, -that if ye don't shell out the seven hunthred pounds——" - -"Seven hundred!" ejaculated Sir Christopher. "It says only five hundred -in the letter." - -"I don't care two r-raps for the letther," answered the Captain: "all I -know is that Misther Frank Curtis, your nev-vy, had seven hunthred of -me—and, be Jasus! I'll have seven hunthred of you." - -"It can't be done," said Sir Christopher doggedly. - -"Then, be the holy poker-r! I'll shoot ye to-morrow mornin'!" -vociferated the gallant officer: "so name your frind; and I'll take care -that ye shan't be afther shir-r-king this time as ye did when ye had to -mate my frind Morthaunt." - -"Really, Captain O'Blunderbuss, this strange conduct on your -part—is—is—" stammered the knight, scarcely knowing what to say or do; -while his countenance became elongated to an awful extent. - -"Sthrange!—sthrange! do ye say?" exclaimed the Captain. "Why, ye're -adding insult to injury, man. But don't desayve yourself—ye won't come -the counterfeit-crank over me, be Jasus! I'm not the boy to be bullied -afther this fashion, Sir Christopher-r. So shell out the eight -hunthred—or be the Lor-r-d Harry!——" - -"Eight hundred!" murmured the miserable knight, now cruelly alarmed at -the ferocious manner and the progressive attempt at extortion on the -part of his visitor. - -"Eight hunthred is what I lent, and eight hunthred is what I'll have -back," said the Captain, in a determined tone: "and if ye're afther -denying your debts of honour-r, Sir Christopher, I'll make such an -example of ye as shall let all the wor-rld know what ye are—as soon as -I've shot ye dead, which I'll do in the mornin'." - -"You surely wouldn't commit such a crime—without—without just -provocation?" urged the knight, in a coaxing manner. - -"I'll not hear another word of palthry excuse, sirrah," replied the -Captain, starting from his seat; "and if the money isn't forthcoming in -the twinkling of a bed-post, I'll flay ye first and shoot ye -aftherwards." - -"Oh! dear—Oh! dear," said the wretched Sir Christopher: "what shall I -do?—I wouldn't mind the five hundred that my nephew asks for—since he -promises so faithfully to pay me again· but eight hundred——" - -"Nine!" thundered the Captain. "D'ye mane to tell me as good as that I'm -a liar-r, and that I can't recollect amounts?—Be Jasus! I niver was so -insulthed in my life—and nothing but blood can wash it away!" - -"Blood!" murmured Sir Christopher: "my blood! and I the father of a -family, as I may say." - -"So much the more dishonour-r-able for ye to dispute a just debt, and -thry to shir-rk off in this bastely fashion!" cried the Captain, -twirling his moustache, and eyeing Sir Christopher in a way which made -the latter tremble in every limb. "I always thought that ye was a man -famous for your straight-for'ard dalings; but I'm desayved—grossly -desayved;—and I'll sind my frind to ye to-morrow mornin', before you've -had time to break the shell of your first egg at breakfast." - -"Well, Captain—to oblige _you_," said Sir Christopher, "I don't mind if -I write a cheque for five hundred pounds; but I positively will give no -more—I won't indeed—I can't." - -"Put down the palthry five hunthred, then, on the dhraft," exclaimed the -Captain; "and I'll make Misther Curtis fork me out the rest at his -convaynience." - -The miserable Sir Christopher, though feeling that he had been -completely bullied into the settlement of the demand made upon him, -nevertheless stood in such awful dismay of the warlike Irishman, that he -wrote a cheque for the five hundred pounds, which said cheque the -Captain secured about his person, exclaiming, "And now, my frind, I'll -look over all the insulting words ye have applied to me this evening. -But, be the power-r-s! if I hadn't a great respict for ye, I'd make a -mummy of ye before ye was twelve hours oulder." - -Having thus spoken, the Captain tossed off the remainder of his -whiskey-and-water, shook the knight violently by the hand once more, and -took his departure, just as the nurse was coming down to desire that Sir -Christopher would get rid of his guest and send up the keys of the -wine-cellar to her ladyship. - -Now, strange as it may appear to the reader,—considering all that they -know relative to the character of Captain O'Blunderbuss,—it is -nevertheless a fact that he never once thought of appropriating to his -own use the amount just extorted from the knight. He was a man who would -not hesitate to get into debt, without the least intention of ever -paying the same,—he moreover thought that he had accomplished a highly -meritorious deed in extorting the five hundred pounds from Sir -Christopher: but he was honourable after his own fashion—that is to say, -he would scorn to perpetrate an actual robbery, or to betray the trust -reposed in him by an accomplice. He was, in fact, one of those curious, -but not uncommon beings, who might be trusted with a thousand pounds to -convey to the bank for a friend, but who would borrow eighteen-pence -without the remotest intention of ever repaying it, and who thought that -the most brilliant act a gentleman could achieve was to chouse a -creditor. - -Accordingly, the clock had scarcely struck eleven, and Frank Curtis was -already beginning to get uneasy, when the Captain's thundering knock at -the front door in Baker Street, proclaimed his return; and in a few -moments the young gentleman was made acquainted with the success -experienced by his friend. - -"And now, be the holy poker-r! we'll make a night of it," said the -Captain, when, the front-door having been duly secured, the two worthies -were once more seated in the dining-room: "and it's myself that'll tell -ye stories and sing ye rale Irish songs to keep ye awake, my boy." - -And a night they did make of it, heaven knows!—and tremendous inroads -were effected upon the supply of gin then in the "garrison," as the -Captain now termed the house. Such lies, too, as the Captain and Frank -Curtis told each other! until the latter gentleman began to entertain -the pleasing idea that the room was spinning round, and that there were -four candles on the table instead of two. The gallant officer, on the -other hand, carried his liquor like a man who was inaccessible to its -inebriating fumes; and when Curtis fell dead drunk upon the carpet, the -Captain considerately picked him up, tossed him over his shoulder as if -he was a sack of potatoes, and thus transported him to the door of his -wife's bed-room, at which he deposited the senseless gentleman, having -intimated in stentorian tones that Mrs. Curtis would do well to rise and -look to her husband. - -The Captain then went down stairs again, finished the bottle last -opened, and, throwing himself on a sofa, fell into a sound sleep. - - - - - CHAPTER LXXVI. - TIM THE SNAMMER AND JOSH PEDLER OUT ON - BUSINESS. - - -He who delights in wandering amongst the mazes of this mighty city of -London,—this wilderness of brick and mortar,—and who can view, with the -eye of a philosopher or a moralizer, the various phases in which the -metropolis is to be considered, may find ample food for reflection, and -much changing interest of scene, if he post himself at that point in the -Borough of Southwark, called Newington Butts. - -From this point diverge Blackman Street, the Newington Road, the Borough -Road, and Horsemonger Lane. - -Blackman Street and the Newington Road constitute the great thoroughfare -between London Bridge and the _Elephant and Castle_ tavern; and -incalculable are the multitudes—innumerable are the vehicles, which pass -along the busy way,—oh! so busy, because the love of money and the love -of pleasure cause all those comings and goings,—those hurryings hither -and thither,—those departures, and those returns! - -What a tremendous conflict of interests,—what a wondrous striving to -accomplish objects in view,—what an energy—what an activity—what an -unwearied industry, are denoted by a great thoroughfare like this! Nor -less does that bustle speak of recreation and enjoyment—parties of -pleasure to end in dissipation—amusement, diversion, and holiday, too -often to be dearly paid for thereafter! - -Close by Newington Butts you behold a portion of the wall of the Bench -Prison, with its _chevaux de frise_, denoting rather the criminal prison -than a place of confinement for unfortunate persons. What a horrible -cruelty it is to incarcerate men who are unable to liquidate their -liabilities—as if such immurement would place within their reach the -philosopher's stone. Where one dishonest debtor finds his way thither, a -dozen human beings who are enclosed within that gloomy wall, would -gladly—willingly, acquit themselves of their responsibilities if they -had the means. And shall the law be so framed that, in order to punish -one, it must cruelly oppress twelve individuals? Is such a principle -consistent with common sense, justice, or civilisation? Many and many a -heart has been broken within those walls: many and many a fine spirit -has been crushed down to the very dust; and the man who went into that -prison with honourable feelings and generous sympathies, has gone forth -prepared to play the part of a sneaking swindler. For a creditor to lock -his debtor up in prison, is the same as if a master took away the tools -from a mechanic and said, "Now do your work as usual." The Legislature -does not understand this. It allows an expensive process to take place, -so that the debtor who cannot originally pay 50_l._, for instance, has -his liabilities immediately increased to 60_l._: then, when responding -negatively to the demand for this larger sum, he is taken away from the -avocations by pursuing which he might obtain the means to settle with -his creditor, and is thrown into prison. The routine is precisely -this:—If a person cannot pay a debt, you increase it for him: and, -having increased it, you tie his hands so that he shall have no chance -of paying it at all! Merciful heavens! is this common sense?[35] - -The system of imprisonment for debt falls trebly hard upon the poor. The -gentleman, though reduced himself, has friends who can assist him; but -the poor are too poor to aid each other. Then money can purchase bail -when a schedule has been filed in the Insolvents' Court; but the poor -man must languish in prison until his hearing. Oh! the advantages of -wealth or wealthy connexions in this mercenary land!—oh! the benefits of -being by birth _a gentleman_! - -It was about ten o'clock in the evening, when Tim the Snammer and Josh -Pedler encountered each other, by appointment, at Newington Butts; and, -as it was yet too early for the business which they had in hand, they -repaired to a public-house hard by, where they drank porter, smoked -pipes, and conversed, until the clock in the tap-room denoted the hour -of eleven. - -They then rose, paid their score, and took their departure,—bending -their way into Horsemonger Lane. - -Tim the Snammer now fell a few paces behind his comrade, Josh Pedler, -who hurried a short distance up the lane, and stopped at the door of a -house of mean, sordid, and sombre appearance. - -He knocked at the door, which was opened by an old and hideous-looking -woman, holding in her hand a candle, by the light of which she surveyed -the visitor in a very suspicions manner. - -"I want to speak to a genelman of the name of Bones which lives here," -said Josh, placing his foot, with apparent carelessness, in such a way -over the threshold that the door might not be shut against his -inclination. - -"No sich a person don't live here," returned the woman gruffly; and she -was about to close the door, when Josh again addressed her. - -"Well," said he, "if he don't pass by that there name, he does by -another—and it's all the same. We ain't partickler, ma'am, as to names; -but my business is partickler, though—and I've got an appintment with -Mr. Benjamin Bones—or Old Death—or whatever else he calls his-self or is -called by others." - -"It ain't of no use a standing bothering here, my good man," said the -woman, "'cause vy—no sich a person lives here, I tell you—and I don't -know sich a person by sich a name at all." - -"Humbug!" cried Josh and, giving a low, short whistle, he pushed into -the house. - -A moment had not elapsed ere Tim the Snammer was at his heels—the door -was forcibly closed—the candle was wrested from the old woman's hand—and -she was threatened with throttling if she attempted to raise an alarm. - -The two men bound her with a cord, and carried her into the room opening -from the passage. They then left her, vowing with terrible oaths to -return and "do for her," if she dared make the slightest disturbance. - -"There isn't a room on t'other side of the passage, is there, Tim?" -demanded Josh of his companion, who carried the light. - -"No. And now let's creep up stairs as gentle as if we was mice," said -the Snammer. - -"You've got your barkers, Tim?" asked Pedler. - -"Yes—and a damned good clasp knife too," replied the ruffian, with a -significant leer at his accomplice, and speaking in a low whisper. "I -don't think we shall find any one else in the house besides that old -woman and Ben Bones his-self, 'cause Mutton-Face Sal is a devilish keen -one—and she would have found it out if there was any lodgers." - -"Well, cut up stairs, Tim," said Josh Pedler, "and don't let us be -a-standing here palavering—or the old scamp may overhear us and get out -by the back windows, or some such a dodge. I'll go fust, if you like." - -"No—I'll go fust, Josh," answered the Snammer; "for it's me that has got -the most spite agin the ancient willain." - -With these words, Tim Splint crept cautiously up the narrow and dirty -staircase, Josh Pedler following close behind him. - -The robbers stopped at the door on the first landing, and knocked; but, -no answer being returned, they broke it open in a few moments by means -of a small stout chisel such as housebreakers are in the habit of using. - -"Who's there?" cried the deep, sepulchral voice of Old Death, as he -started from the arm-chair in which he had been taking a nap. - -"It's only two of your friends," returned Tim the Snammer; "and _as_ -friends you had better treat us, too—or it'll be the wuss for you." - -"I don't know that I ever treated you in any way but as friends," said -old Death, glancing somewhat uneasily from the one to the other. "As for -you, Tim—I can guess why you're angry with me; but I wasn't at liberty—I -wasn't my own master, I can assure you—on that Saturday when I promised -to get you out of the Jug; or I should have kept my word. But it's too -long a story to tell you now—even if I was disposed to do so; and so the -shortest way to make us all right, is for me to give you back the money -that was placed in my hands by Josh Pedler." - -"And what'll pay me for the two months of quod that I had all through -you, you cheating old fence?" demanded Tim Splint, placing his back -against the door in a determined manner. - -"I couldn't help it, Tim—I couldn't help it," returned Old Death with a -hideous grin. "And may be—may be," he added, with the hesitation -habitual to him, "I can put something in your way, that will make up for -the past." - -"Well—that looks like business, at all events," observed Tim, exchanging -a rapid glance with his companion; for it struck the two robbers at the -same moment, that they should perhaps act prudently to join Old Death in -any enterprise which he might have in hand, and then plunder him -afterwards—provided that the affair he had to propose, gave promise of a -better booty than that which they stood the immediate chance of -obtaining from him. - -Old Death looked leisurely round the small, mean, and ill-furnished -room, as much as to say, "What can you hope to get out of me?"—for the -meaning of the glances which he had observed to pass between the two -robbers, was perfectly well understood by him. - -"Is the business you hinted at for to-night?" demanded Josh Pedler, -after a brief pause. - -"For to-night," replied Benjamin Bones. "But sit down, my good friends, -and may be I can find a dram of brandy in the bottle for you." - -"Thank'ee, we'll stand, old chap," said the Snammer; "but we shan't -refuse the bingo, for all that." - -Old Death regaled his two visitors each with a wine glass full of -brandy, and then took a similar quantity himself. - -"Yes," he said, continuing the discourse: "it is for to-night—and a good -thing may be made of it, if you're staunch and resolute. In fact, I -wanted to meet with a couple of such active fellows as you are, for I -have been sadly used lately—in more ways than one." - -"Well, what is it?" demanded Tim the Snammer. "You know that we're the -lads to do any thing it ought to be done; and I don't see the use of -wasting time, if the business is really for to-night." - -"I have had positive information," continued Old Death, his dark eyes -gleaming snake-like beneath the shaggy brows that overhung them, "that a -gentleman, who lives in a lonely house not many miles off, this morning -received a considerable sum of money at a banker's, on a cheque which he -get cashed there; and in a few days he will pay it all away to his -creditors—for he has been building a great number of houses at Norwood; -and so I think," added Bones, with a horrible chuckle, "that it would be -just as well to anticipate him." - -"And can you rely on this information?" asked Tim the Snammer. "Come—let -us know all the particklers." - -"Two or three days ago he took into his service a man named John -Jeffreys—a groom who was lately in the household of a certain Sir -Christopher Blunt," said Old Death; "and this person sells his secrets -to those who pay him best." - -"In plain terms he's in your pay," exclaimed Josh Pedler. "Well—that's -all right. What next?" - -"Nothing more than that if you like to crack that crib, you can do it -to-night; and I'll smash the notes, which will be of no use to you till -they're melted into gold," answered Old Death; thereby intimating to -them, first that he should take no active part in the business, and -secondly that it would not be worth their while to cheat him of his -share of the plunder, inasmuch as they were totally dependent on him for -rendering the hoped-for booty at all available. - -Tim the Snammer and Josh Pedler consulted together for a few moments in -low whispers. - -"But how do we know," said the former, suddenly turning round upon Old -Death, "that this isn't all a cursed plant to get us out of the house -here—or may be to inveigle us into some infernal trap—eh? Answer us -that." - -"Read John Jeffreys' note," said Old Death coolly, as he produced the -letter from the pocket of his capacious old grey surtout coat. - -Tim the Snammer, and Josh Pedler, accordingly read the contents of the -paper, which ran as follow:— - - "This cums to tel you, sir, that Master resceved a chek for about - twelve undred pouns yesterday from Sir enry courtenee, a - barrow-night, and that master got it keshed this mornin at the benk, - wich I no becos I had to go with him in the gigg to the benk, and I - see him cum out of the benk a-countin the notes, and I no he will - pay it all away in 2 or 3 days to his bilders and arkitecks and - carpinters at norwood. anny thing you leeve for mee in a broun paper - parsel at the ushoul crib will reech mee. Yure fatheful servant, - - "J. J." - -"Satisfactory enow," exclaimed Tim the Snammer, with an appealing glance -to his comrade, who nodded his head approvingly. "Well," continued the -thief, "give us the necessary description of the place; and we'll be off -at once. It's fortnit that we've got our tools about us." - -"Which you have used against my miserable lodging," observed Old Death, -with a grim smile. "However, I would rather you'd have introduced -yourselves in that way, than not come at all; for I should have let this -matter," he added, pointing to Jeffreys' note, which now lay on the -table, "go by without attending to it. So it's lucky for us all that you -did make your appearance; and if you serve me well in this case, you -shall not want employment of my finding." - -[Illustration] - -"Good again, old tulip," said Tim the Snammer; "and now tell us where -this Mr. Torrings lives—or whatever his name is—and we will lose no -time." - -Old Death gave the necessary explanation; and the two men took their -departure, having first acquainted their employer with the condition in -which they had left the old woman down stairs—a piece of information -which made him hasten to her rescue. - ------ - -Footnote 35: - - The records of the Insolvent Debtors' Court prove that the average - dividend paid upon the estates of persons who take the benefit of the - Act is _one farthing_ in the pound! - - - - - CHAPTER LXXVII. - THE FATHER AND DAUGHTER. - - -Proceed we now to Torrens Cottage, on the road to which place we have -just left Tim the Snammer and Josh Pedler. - -It was past eleven o'clock, and Mr. Torrens was seated alone in his -parlour, examining a pile of papers which lay before him. A decanter -more than half emptied of its ruby contents, and a wine-glass also stood -upon the table; and the flushed countenance of the unprincipled man -showed that he had sought to drown the remorseful feelings of a restless -conscience by means of the juice of the grape. - -But he could not;—and though ten days had now elapsed since the -sacrifice of the beautiful Rosamond had taken place, there were moments -when the father felt even more acutely than on the fatal night when, in -the solitude of his chamber, he endured the torments of the -damned,—_mental torments, indescribably more severe than the most -agonising of physical pain could possibly be_! - -He had received the price of _his_ infamy and _her_ dishonour: the last -portion of the "price of blood" he had drawn from the bankers in the -morning—and he was now arranging and casting up his accounts to satisfy -himself that he had actually obtained sufficient to settle all his -liabilities. - -But his occupation was every moment interrupted by a gush of terrible -thoughts to his maddening brain;—and if he laid down the pen, it was to -grasp the bottle. - -What would the world say if his black turpitude were to transpire?—how -should he ever be able to meet Clarence Villiers and Adelais again, if -they were to become acquainted with Rosamond's dishonour? He knew that -the baronet had hitherto managed somewhat to tranquillise the ruined -girl by promises of marriage and eternal affection;—he was also aware -that Rosamond had endeavoured to subdue her anguish as much as possible -in order to avoid the chance of arousing any suspicion on the part of -Mrs. Slingsby! But a term must at length arrive to those specious -representations and mendacious assurances adopted by Sir Henry Courtenay -to lull the agonising feelings of the unhappy girl;—and then—oh! it was -then, that the danger would be terrible indeed! Of all this Mr. Torrens -thought; and he suffered more acutely from his fears than from his -consciousness of infernal iniquity. - -The time-piece upon the mantle had struck the hour of eleven some time, -and Mr. Torrens was in the midst of his terrible meditations, when a -loud, long, and impatient knock at the front-door caused him to start -from his seat. - -He had already desired the servants not to sit up on his account, as it -was probable that he should be occupied with his papers until a late -hour in the night; and he was therefore now compelled to answer the -summons himself. - -A cold chill struck to his heart—for he entertained a presentiment of -what was about to occur: indeed, such an anticipation was natural on his -part when we reflect that his soul was a prey to conscious guilt, and -that the knock at the door was hasty and imperative. - -For a moment he staggered as if about to fall: then, calling all his -firmness to his aid, he proceeded to open the front-door, the knocking -at which was repeated with increased vehemence. - -His presentiment was correct;—for, scarcely had he drawn back the bolt, -when the door was pushed open—and Rosamond rushed into the house. - -"My dearest father!" she exclaimed, and fell insensible into his arms. - -He conveyed her to a sofa in the parlour, tore off her bonnet and shawl, -and sprinkled water upon her pale—her very pale countenance. - -Merciful heavens! how acute—how agonising was the pang which shot to his -heart, as he contemplated that lovely brow on which innocence had so -lately sate enthroned, until the spoiler had pressed the heated lips of -lust thereon! Then for a few moment all the father's feelings were -uppermost in his soul; and he gnashed his teeth with rage at the thought -that he himself was dishonoured in that dishonoured daughter! - -Oh! to have given her back her purity and her self-respect,—to have -known that she could raise her head proudly in maiden pride,—to have -been able to embrace her as the chaste and spotless being she was ere -hell suggested its accursed machinations to achieve her destruction! - -But it was too late!—Here lay the ruined child—and there were piled the -notes and gold which had purchased her virtue! - -Three or four minutes elapsed, and still Rosamond gave no signs of -returning animation. Suddenly the father desisted from his endeavours to -restore her; for an infernal thought flashed to his mind. - -He would suffer her to die! - -No sooner did the atrocious idea enter his soul, than he longed to see -it fulfilled. He dared not meet her eyes—even should she be unsuspicious -relative to his unnatural treachery. No—it were better that she should -die! - -But the infernal hopes of the wicked man were not to be realized;—and, -monster that he was, he could not slay her with his own hands! - -Slowly, at length, her bosom began to heave—a profound sigh escaped -her—she opened her eyes, and gazed vacantly around. - -"Rosamond," said her father, now mastering his feelings of bitter -disappointment so far as to be able to speak in a kind tone: "Rosamond, -dearest—what ails you? Fear not—you are at home! But why do you look at -me so wildly!" - -"Oh! my God—what have I done, that I should have deserved so much -misery!" exclaimed the young girl, in a voice of the most piercing -anguish, as she covered her face with her hands and burst into a flood -of tears:—then, raising herself to a sitting posture on the sofa, she -seized her father's hands, saying in a different and more profoundly -melancholy tone, "My parent—my only friend! I am unworthy to look you in -the face!" - -"Do not speak thus, Rosamond," said Mr. Torrens, seating himself by his -daughter's side, and maintaining a demeanour which bespoke the deepest -interest in her behalf. "Something has cruelly afflicted you?" he added -interrogatively—as if _he_ had yet the fatal truth to learn! - -"Oh! heavens—your kindness kills me, dearest father!" shrieked Rosamond. -"Yes—never did you appear so kind to me before—and I—I——But, merciful -Saviour! my brain is on fire!" - -"My sweet child," returned Mr. Torrens, whose soul was a perfect hell as -he listened to the words which came from his daughter's lips,—"you can -surely have no secrets from me? Has any one caused you chagrin? has any -one dared to insult you? And what means this sudden arrival at home—at -so late an hour—and when I fancied that you were staying with that -excellent woman, Mrs. Slingsby?" - -"Mrs. Slingsby!" repeated Rosamond, with a shudder which denoted the -loathing and abhorrence she entertained for that woman. "Oh! my dear -father, that Mrs. Slingsby is a fiend in human shape—a vile and -detestable hypocrite, who conceals the blackest heart beneath the garb -of religion!" - -"Rosamond—Rosamond—you know not what you are saying!" exclaimed Mr. -Torrens, affecting to be profoundly surprised and even hurt at these -emphatic accusations. - -"Alas! I know too well—oh! far too well, the truth of all I am saying!" -said Rosamond, a hectic glow of excitement appearing upon her cheeks, -hitherto so ashy pale. "Yes, father—that woman is a disgrace to her sex! -This evening—but two hours ago—I accidentally heard a few words pass -between her and Sir Henry Courtenay——" - -"Sir Henry Courtenay is at least an honourable man," said Mr. Torrens. - -"Sir Henry Courtenay is a monster!" cried Rosamond emphatically: then, -bursting into tears again, she threw herself at her father's feet, -exclaiming, "Oh! that I had a mother to whom I could unburthen all the -woes that fill my heart:—but to you—to you—my dearest parent—how can -your daughter confess that she has been ruined—dishonoured—undone?" - -"Unhappy girl!" cried the hypocrite, affecting a tone and manner -denoting mingled indignation and astonishment: "what dreadful things are -these that you have come home to tell me?" - -"The truth, my dear father—the horrible, the fatal truth!" continued -Rosamond, in a fearfully excited tone. - -"Speak lower—lower, my child," said Mr. Torrens: "the servants will be -alarmed—they will overhear you. And now resume your seat near me—rise -from that humiliating posture—and——" - -"Humiliating indeed," interrupted Rosamond, sinking her voice to a -comparative whisper, but with an utterance that was almost suffocated by -the dreadful emotions raging within her bosom:—"because I myself am so -signally humiliated!" she added. "And yet I am innocent, dear father—it -was not my fault—not for worlds would I have strayed from the path of -virtue! But a hideous plot—a diabolical scheme of treachery—devised -between that bad woman and that still more dreadful man——" - -"No more—no more, Rosamond!" exclaimed Mr. Torrens, still maintaining a -well-affected semblance of indignation and astonishment. "I understand -you but too well—and you shall be avenged!" - -"Alas! vengeance will not make me what I once was—a happy and spotless -girl!" said Rosamond: "and now that I am dishonoured, it would require -but the contumely with which the world would treat me, to drive me to -utter desperation—to madness, or to suicide!" - -Mr. Torrens said all he could to console his unhappy child; and he very -readily promised her to abandon all ideas of vengeance on those who had -been the authors of her shame. - -"Until this evening," said Rosamond, her head reclining upon her -father's shoulder, "I had hoped that Sir Henry Courtenay would repair -the wrong he had done me by means of marriage,—for, alas! my dear -father, I loved him! But—two hours ago—I overheard a few words pass -between him and Mrs. Slingsby,—a few words which rivetted me to the spot -where I was at first only an involuntary listener. Then I became a -willing and attentive eaves-dropper,—for, oh! the little which had -already met my ears, intimately—too intimately regarded myself! And, -dear father, you can conceive with what horror and dismay I learnt -enough to convince me, that she whom I had loved and esteemed as a dear -friend and a model of perfection, was a vile—an abandoned—an infamous -woman,—the mistress of Sir Henry Courtenay, and in the way to become a -mother also! I could not believe my ears—I fancied that I was dreaming. -But, alas! it was indeed a frightful reality;—and then I heard that I -had been sold,—yes, _sold_—I, your daughter, _sold_ to Sir Henry -Courtenay,—and, I suppose, by that dreadful woman! Yes—yes—father," she -continued wildly, "I was sold to his arms,—and he never intended to -marry me! I screamed not,—I uttered not a word: I was crushed too low—I -had too great a load of misery upon my soul to be able to give vent to -my feelings; but I dragged myself away from the spot where I had -overheard that terrible discourse,—a veil had fallen from before my -eyes, and I saw all the extent of my hopeless position in its true -light. How I managed to reach my bed-room I know not: my brain began to -whirl, and I thought that I should go mad! Of what followed I have but a -dim recollection; but methinks that, having put on my bonnet and shawl, -I was flying from the house, when Sir Henry Courtenay pursued me down -the stairs—and how I escaped from him I cannot say! There was a chaos in -my bewildered brain; and when I was enabled to collect my scattered -thoughts—when consciousness, as I may term it, came back, I found myself -hurrying along the streets. I looked round, fearful of being pursued; -but there was no cause for alarm. Nevertheless, I hastened on,—and all -that long distance have I accomplished on foot, dear father; for, oh! I -felt that home was the place where my deep sorrows would receive -sympathy, and where only I could hope to enjoy security. And now, my -beloved parent," added Rosamond, throwing her arms around his neck, "you -will not spurn your unhappy daughter,—you will not thrust her from you! -My God! why did I ever reveal to you all this? Oh! it was because my -heart was so full of woe, that if I had not unburthened it to you in the -hope of receiving consolation, it would have broken—it would have -broken!" - -"Rosamond," said Mr. Torrens, "you did well to reveal all these dreadful -things to me; because I alone am the proper person to counsel and -console you. A fearful crime," he continued, shuddering at his own -monstrous duplicity, "has been perpetrated; but, alas! the criminals -must go unpunished. Yes,—Rosamond, you were right when you declared that -vengeance would lead only to exposure; and that exposure would kill you. -My poor child, not even your sister must be made acquainted with this -awful calamity." - -"No—no!" exclaimed Rosamond: "it is sufficient that _you_ are aware of -the ignominious treatment which I have received! Not for worlds would I -have the bridal happiness of my dearest sister poisoned by the -revelation of my wrongs! And Clarence, too—Clarence—oh! from him, of all -men, must this secret be kept; or he would, perhaps, be urged to wreak -on his aunt, and on that vile baronet, a vengeance which would lead to -exposure, and render Adelais miserable for ever!" - -"It charms me, Rosamond," said Mr. Torrens, "to perceive that the wrongs -heaped upon you have not impaired your prudence. Between you and me -shall this secret now remain,—for, depend upon it, the authors of this -cruel outrage will not themselves be anxious to publish their own -infamy. You are now beneath the paternal roof—and here you are certain -to enjoy security; and from this night forth, Rosamond, let us place a -seal on our lips so far as the _one_ dread topic is concerned." - -"And you, my father," asked the ruined girl,—"shall you not love me the -less? Shall you not look with loathing and abhorrence upon your -daughter? Oh! if there be a change in your sentiments towards me, I -shall have no alternative save to die!" - -The miserable and criminal father embraced his dishonoured child, and -said every thing he could to console her. - -Rosamond then retired to her chamber,—that chamber which she had left -ten days previously a pure and spotless virgin, and to which she now -returned a deflowered and ruined girl! - -Mr. Torrens remained in the parlour. - -Amidst all the horrible thoughts that forced themselves upon his mind, -he saw one glimmering of consolation: and this was that Rosamond -suspected not his complicity in the nefarious plot which had destroyed -her. It was evident that in the conversation which she had overheard -between Mrs. Slingsby and the baronet, _his_ connivance had only been -hinted at,—too darkly and mysteriously for Rosamond to comprehend the -meaning of those words which alluded to the fact of her having been -_sold_! - -But what pen can describe the tortures which the guilty man experienced, -as he pondered on the scene that had just occurred? In spite of that -gleam of solace he was the prey to ineffable anguish,—for he could not -help feeling as a _father_: nature asserted her empire,—and he was in -despair as he contemplated the awful crime which had led to the -dishonour of his own child! - -Never had she appeared to him so beautiful as when, ashy pale, she had -awakened from the deep trance into which she fell on crossing the -parental threshold;—never did he feel more inclined to love her, or to -be proud of her charms, than when he afterwards saw her kneeling at his -feet, the light of the lamp falling with Rembrandt effect upon her -upraised countenance! Alas! through him was she ruined—by his -machinations was she destroyed! And of what avail was that beauty now, -since honour was lost? - -He fixed his eyes upon the gold, and endeavoured to console himself with -the contemplation of the glittering metal. - -It seemed dross—vile dross in his eyes; and could he have recalled the -deeds of the last ten days, he would gladly have fallen back into the -inextricable labyrinth of his pecuniary difficulties, and have dared -even the disgrace and punishment of a debtors' prison, so that he might -not have had to reproach himself with _the sale of his daughter's -virtue_! - - - - - CHAPTER LXXVIII. - RETRIBUTION. - - -It was long past midnight—and Mr. Torrens was still pacing the parlour -with uneven steps, when a low double knock at the front-door aroused him -from his painful meditations. - -Wondering who could visit the cottage at that late hour, he hastened to -reply to the summons; and, to his surprise, the lustre of the -parlour-lamp which he carried in his hand, streamed full upon the pale -and agitated countenance of Sir Henry Courtenay. - -Making a sign to the baronet not to speak, Mr. Torrens led the way into -the parlour; and the visitor, in the excitement of the feelings which -had brought him to the cottage, neglected to shut the front-door close -as he entered, but merely pushed it back in such a way that the bolt of -the lock did not catch. - -This little incident was unperceived by the two gentlemen. - -When they were both in the parlour, Mr. Torrens shut the room-door, and -said in a low whisper, "She has come home!" - -"Thank God! she is safe then!" observed the baronet, also in a subdued -voice. "The fact is, Mrs. Slingsby and myself were so dreadfully -frightened that she might either make away with herself, or else adopt -some measure that would lead to a certain exposure, that we have both -been hunting for her through all the streets at the West End; and at -last I determined, late as it was, to come over and acquaint you with -her flight. But it never struck me that I should hear of her return -home." - -"She is unaware of my sad complicity in the dreadful business," replied -Mr. Torrens sternly. "But pray repeat to me the whole conversation which -took place between Mrs. Slingsby and yourself, and which she -unfortunately overheard. I shall then be enabled to judge whether -reflection on that discourse may lead her to imagine that her own father -was indeed a party to her ruin; for I must confess that I have terrible -fears lest she should indeed imbibe such a suspicion." - -"Give me a tumbler of wine, Torrens," said the baronet, throwing himself -upon the sofa which had so lately been pressed by his victim when in a -state of insensibility: "I am regularly exhausted, for I have walked all -the way hither;—and, when I have a little recovered myself, I will -detail all the conversation which took place between me and Mrs. -Slingsby, as nearly as I shall be able to recollect it." - -Mr. Torrens produced a bottle of wine from the side-board, he having -already emptied the decanter upon the table. - -"Help yourself, Sir Henry," he said: "and in the meantime I will steal -cautiously up stairs and see if Rosamond be yet retired to rest—for I -would not for worlds have her come down and find you here." - -"A wise precaution," observed the baronet. - -Mr. Torrens accordingly quitted the parlour, and hastened up stairs. He -stopped at the door of his daughter's chamber, and listened. Profound -sobs and impassioned ejaculations, indicative of terrible grief, met his -ears; and he grew alarmed lest she should feel herself so thoroughly -wretched and lonely as to be unable to sleep, and perhaps return to the -parlour. - -He accordingly knocked gently at the door, and Rosamond speedily opened -it. - -She had not as yet divested herself of a particle of her clothing, nor -made any preparation to retire to rest; and her countenance was so truly -woebegone—so thoroughly the picture of a deeply-seated grief, that even -her iron-hearted father was affected to tears. She threw her arms around -his neck, and thanked him for his kind solicitude. He remained with her -nearly half-an-hour, exerting all his power of language to console her; -and the anxiety which he experienced to induce her to seek her couch, so -that he might return to the parlour and get rid of Sir Henry Courtenay -as soon as possible, rendered him so eloquent and so effective in the -(to him) novel art of administering solace, that he succeeded fully. - -"Now I am convinced that you do not loathe, despise, and hate your -daughter," said Rosamond at length; "and this impression has removed an -immense weight from my mind. Though true happiness may never more be -mine, yet shall I find a substitute in Christian resignation to my fate; -and henceforth, dear father, I will not make _you_ unhappy by compelling -you to act the part of a comforter. And now, good night, my only -friend—my beloved parent; and fear not that I shall give way again to -that violent outpouring of grief in which you so kindly interrupted me." - -Mr. Torrens embraced his daughter, and a pang shot to his heart as he -thought of his infernal conduct towards that good and affectionate girl! - -As he descended the stairs he heard her lock her chamber-door; and he -was just congratulating himself upon the success of his attempt to -console her, when the murmuring sounds of voices, apparently coming from -the front parlour, caused him to redouble his pace thither—for the idea -flashed to his mind that Mrs. Slingsby might also have visited the -cottage in her alarm concerning Rosamond, and that the baronet had -probably afforded her admission while he was up stairs with his -daughter. - - * * * * * - -Tim the Snammer and Josh Pedler, bent on their predatory intent, and -hoping to reap a good harvest at the house of Mr. Torrens, approached -that dwelling nearly half an hour after Sir Henry Courtenay had entered -it. - -Perceiving a light gleaming from the divisions in the parlour-shutters, -they crept cautiously up to the window, and through those crevices -beheld the glittering gold piled upon the table, and a person lying upon -the sofa, apparently in a profound sleep. - -The fact was that the baronet was completely exhausted with his long -walk from Old Burlington Street to the Cottage; and, having tossed off a -tumbler of wine, he lay down on the sofa to await Mr. Torrens' return. - -But we have seen that the father had found his daughter in such a state -of profound affliction as to be totally unable to leave her for nearly -half an hour; and during that interval an irresistible drowsiness stole -over Sir Henry Courtenay,—speedily wrapping him in a deep slumber. - -Tim the Snammer and Josh Pedler were determined to risk "the crack," in -spite of the sleeper whom they descried upon the sofa, and whom they -believed to be Mr. Torrens; for neither was this gentleman nor the -baronet known to them by sight. - -With their housebreaking implements they were on the point of making an -attempt on the front-door; when it yielded to their touch, and swung -noiselessly open. At this they were not at all surprised; for it -immediately struck them that John Jeffreys had expected the visit that -night, and had left the door ajar on purpose. - -They stole into the house, and succeeded in entering the parlour without -arousing the baronet. - -Tim the Snammer instantly drew forth his clasp-knife, and, bending over -Sir Henry Courtenay, held the murderous weapon close to his throat, -while Josh Pedler hastily secured the notes and gold about his person. - -"We may as well have the plate, if there is any," whispered this -individual to his companion. "In fact, we'll have a regular ransack of -the place; and if he awakes——" - -"I'll cut his infernal throat in a jiffey," added Tim the Snammer. - -Josh grinned an approval of this summary mode of proceeding, and opened -one of the side-board drawers. But the noise which a sugar-basin or some -such article made inside the drawer, by falling over with the sudden -jerk, aroused the sleeper. - -Sir Henry Courtenay started—opened his eyes—beheld a strange countenance -hanging over him—and was about to utter a cry of alarm, when the -terrible clasp-knife was drawn rapidly and violently across his throat. - -There was a dull, gurgling noise—a convulsive quivering of the entire -frame,—but not a groan—much less an exclamation of terror,—and Sir Henry -Courtenay was no more! - -"Come along, Tim," said Josh Pedler, whose face was ghastly pale. "We've -done enough for to-night." - -"Yes—let us be off," returned the murderer, now shuddering at the -dreadful deed which he had just perpetrated. - -And they were issuing from the room, when the noise of footsteps on the -stairs made them redouble their speed to gain the front-door. - -It was Mr. Torrens who had thus alarmed them; but they escaped without -molestation—for when that gentleman reached the hall, and beheld two men -rushing towards the front-door, he was himself seized with such profound -terror—painfully strung as his feelings had been that night—that he was -for a few moments stupified, and rivetted to the spot. - -But when he saw the front-door close behind the strangers, he took -courage—hastily secured it within—and then hurried to the parlour, in -agony of fear lest his gold and notes should have become the prey of -plunderers! - -One glance at the table was sufficient:—the money was gone! - -Mr. Torrens dashed his open palm against his forehead with frantic -violence, and was about to utter a cry of rage and despair, when the -remembrance of his unhappy daughter sealed his lips. - -At the same instant he looked towards the sofa:—but, holy God! what a -spectacle met his view! - -For there lay the baronet with his head nearly severed from his -body,—murdered—barbarously murdered upon the very sofa where his victim -had so lately reposed in trance-like insensibility. On that sofa slept -he his last sleep; and, even in that appalling moment when Mr. Torrens -recoiled, shuddering and shocked, from the dreadful sight, it struck him -that there was something of retributive justice not only in the loss of -his own treasure but also in the death of Sir Henry Courtenay! - -The frightened man uttered not a murmur as that spectacle encountered -his eyes. His amazement was of so stupifying a nature that it sealed his -lips—paralysed his powers of utterance. With staring orbs he gazed on -the grisly corpse from which he recoiled staggeringly; and several -minutes elapsed ere he could so far command his presence of mind, as -even to become aware of his own dreadful predicament. - -But as the truth dawned upon him, he was seized with indescribable -alarms—with horrible apprehensions. - -The double crime of robbery and murder, had been perpetrated so speedily -and so noiselessly, that not a soul in the house was alarmed by any -unusual sound—and Mr. Torrens felt the sickening conviction that it -would be a difficult thing to persuade a jury that _he himself_ was -innocent! Suspicion must inevitably attach itself to him:—circumstantial -evidence would be strong against him! In a word, the appalling truth -broke in upon him, that _he_ would be accused of the assassination of -Sir Henry Courtenay! - -Mr. Torrens sate down, and, burying his face in his hands, fell into a -profound but most painful meditation. - -Should he raise an alarm—arouse Jeffreys and the female-servant, as well -as his daughter—and proclaim all he knew about the horrible transaction! -No:—something whispered in his ear that he would not be believed. -Rosamond, not knowing that he was the baronet's accomplice in achieving -her dishonour, would naturally conceive that the murder was the result -of paternal vengeance. It was, then, impossible to suffer the occurrence -to transpire. But what was he to do with the body?—how dispose of it? -Terrible dilemma! - -All the atrocity of his crime towards his daughter now returned with a -tremendously augmenting intensity to his mind. His punishment on earth -had already begun:—he was doomed—accursed. Wretched man! gold was thy -destroyer! Ah! gold—but thou hast lost thy gold,—and in a few days the -creditors who yet remain unpaid, will be upon thee! But—— - -What!—does such an idea actually strike him?—urging him to plunder the -murdered victim of any coin which there may be about the corpse! -Yes:—and now behold the father, who sold the honour of his child, about -to examine the pockets of that child's assassinated ravisher? - -The purse contains some fifteen or sixteen sovereigns; and these Mr. -Torrens self-appropriates. The pocket-book of the deceased is next -scrutinized. But there are no Bank-notes—nothing save papers and -memoranda, totally valueless. - -Mr. Torrens stamps his foot with rage:—his predicament is truly awful. -Ruin still menaces him on one side in respect to his affairs—for, having -reckoned on the money to be produced _by the sale of his daughter's -virtue_, he had contracted fresh liabilities within the last ten days: -and on the other side is the terrible danger in which the presence of -that corpse may involve him! Add to these sources of agonising feelings, -the conviction that the sacrifice of Rosamond will, after all, have -proved ineffectual in respect to the complete settlement of his affairs, -even should he succeed in burying the more serious event—namely the -murder—in impenetrable mystery,—and the wretched state of mind in which -Mr. Torrens was now plunged, may be conceived. - -He rose from the chair, on which he had a second time flung himself, -after plundering the corpse, and approached the time-piece. - -It was half-past one o'clock. - -But as Mr. Torrens glanced at the dial, which thus told him how short an -interval remained for him to take some decisive step, if he really -intended to dispose of the corpse before the servants should be -stirring, he caught a glimpse of his countenance in the mirror over the -mantel. - -He recoiled—he shrank back with horror. - -Was it indeed _his own_ countenance that he saw? - -Or was it that of some unquiet ghost, wandering near the spot where its -mortal tenement had been cruelly murdered? - -He turned round suddenly, to avoid farther contemplation of that ghastly -visage;—and again he recoiled from an object of terror—staggered—and -would have fallen, had he not caught the back of a chair for support. - -For in the half open door way he beheld a human face, which was -withdrawn the moment his eyes encountered it. - -Driven to desperation, and reckless now of what might happen to him, the -maddened man rushed into the hall, in time to observe a figure turn the -angle of the staircase. - -In another moment he had caught that figure by the arm; and, dragging -the person forcibly down, beheld his new man-servant John Jeffreys, by -the light of the lamp streaming from the open parlour-door. - -Totally forgetful at the instant of the presence of the corpse in the -room,—so terribly excited and bewildered was he,—Mr. Torrens dragged -Jeffreys into the parlour to demand the reason why he was up and -_dressed_ at that hour of the night—or rather morning:—and it was not -until he saw the man himself turn ghastly pale as his eyes encountered -the hideous spectacle on the sofa, that Mr. Torrens remembered the -frightful oversight which he had committed. - -Then, hastening to close the room-door, which he locked also, Mr. -Torrens said, "Why are you up? and wherefore were you prying about the -house?" - -The fact was that Jeffreys had expected a visit from some of Old Death's -gang that night, and had never retired to bed at all. He heard the two -double-knocks at the door—the first being that given by Rosamond, and -the other by the baronet;—and when the robbers had quitted the house, -closing the front-door after them, Jeffreys thought it must be the last -visitor (whoever he might be) going away. After that the house had -remained quiet for some little time; and Jeffreys fancied that Mr. -Torrens had retired to bed. He had accordingly stolen down from his -bed-room to unfasten a window shutter, and thus render the ingress of -the expected robbers an easy matter: but perceiving a light in the -parlour, he began to suspect that they must be already there. -Accordingly he crept cautiously up to the door, and was for a moment -stupified when he obtained a glimpse of the reflection of his master's -ghastly countenance in the mirror, a view of which he could command from -the hall. - -"Why are you up? and wherefore were you prying about the house?" -demanded Mr. Torrens. - -"The truth is, sir, I heard a noise, just now, and I was afeard that -thieves was breaking in," was the ready reply: "so I got up and dressed; -but, sir—" - -And he glanced significantly towards the dead body. - -"Jeffreys," said Mr. Torrens, in a hurried and excited tone, "a dreadful -event has occurred to-night. This gentleman came to call upon me late—on -very particular business—I left him here, while I went up stairs to -speak to my daughter, who has returned home—and, on coming down stairs -again, I saw two men escaping from the house. When I entered the -parlour, a considerable sum of money, which I had left on the table, was -gone—and my poor friend was as you now see him!" - -The man-servant believed the tale; but he affected not to do so—for he -was villain enough to rejoice at such an opportunity of getting his -master completely in his power. - -"You smile incredulously, John," said Mr. Torrens; "and yet I take -heaven to witness——" - -"It's orkard, sir—very orkard," observed Jeffreys; "and may be it'll -lead to scragging, if the stiff'un isn't put away." - -Mr. Torrens shuddered from head to foot. - -"What _do_ you mean to do, sir?" asked Jeffreys. "I am quite ready to -assist you; but it's getting on for two o'clock——" - -"Yes, I know it," interrupted Mr. Torrens. "I am mad—I am driven to -desperation! What would you advise? But will you be faithful? Will you -keep the secret? I can reward you——" - -"We'll talk of that another time, sir," said Jeffreys; "for the present -let's think of making away with the stiff'un. We must bury it. Stay here -a moment, sir, while I go and get the stable lanthorn and a sack." - -"Or rather," observed Mr. Torrens, "I will fetch some water to wash the -carpet; fortunately, the blood has not trickled upon the sofa." - -Noiselessly the two crept away from the parlour—one to the stables, the -other to the kitchen. - -In a few minutes they met again by the side of the corpse, which they -thrust into the sack; and between them the load was conveyed to the -stable. - -"You go and clean the carpet, sir," said John Jeffreys, whose superior -presence of mind served to invest him with authority to direct the -proceedings; "while I dig a hole in the garden." - -Mr. Torrens hastened to obey the suggestion of his servant, and returned -to the parlour, where he cleansed the carpet, as well as he could. He -then took a bottle of Port-wine from the side-board, and broke it over -the very spot where the blood had dripped down, leaving the fractured -glass strewed about, and drawing the table near the sofa, so as to -produce the appearance of the bottle having been accidentally knocked -off it. - -Nearly half an hour was consumed in this occupation; and Mr. Torrens, -whose mind was already much relieved, hastened back to the garden, where -Jeffreys was busily engaged in digging a grave for the murdered baronet. -When the servant was tired, his master took a turn with the spade; and, -as the soil was not particularly hard, an hour saw the completion of the -labour. - -The corpse was thrown into the hole, and the earth was shovelled over -it—each layer being well stamped down by the feet. - -When the task was accomplished, Mr. Torrens and Jeffreys re-entered the -house; and, ere they separated to retire to their respective rooms, the -former said, in a low whisper, "Once more I conjure you to maintain this -secret inviolable, and I will find means to reward you well. For the -present take this!" - -And he slipped ten sovereigns—a portion of the murdered baronet's -money—into the hands of Jeffreys. - -"Don't be afeard that I'm leaky, sir," responded the man, clutching the -gold, and consigning it to his pocket, where he had already stowed away -the baronet's handsome repeater and gold rings—to which valuables he had -helped himself, while his master was busily engaged in cleansing the -carpet in the parlour;—for Mr. Torrens had merely plundered the corpse -of the contents of the purse, and had not touched the jewellery, through -fear that it might lead to the detection of the murder, if seen in his -possession. - -Master and man now separated—the former to seek a sleepless couch, and -the latter to dream of the good fortune which that night's adventure had -brought him. - -And in his unconsecrated grave—a victim to the assassin's knife—slept -the once gay, dissipated, and unprincipled Sir Henry Courtenay! - - - - - CHAPTER LXXIX. - THE EARL OF ELLINGHAM AND LADY HATFIELD - AGAIN. - - -It was about two o'clock, on the day following the incidents just -related, that we shall find the Earl of Ellingham seated with Lady -Georgiana Hatfield, in the drawing-room at the residence of the latter. - -Arthur had returned on the preceding evening from France, accompanied by -Mr. de Medina and Esther, after having seen Tom Rain, Tamar, and Jacob -Smith embark at Havre-de-Grace for the United States. - -Rainford and Tamar were united in the bonds of matrimony in Paris; and -Mr. de Medina had insisted upon placing in the hands of his son-in-law a -sum of ten thousand pounds, as a proof of his perfectly cordial feeling -towards him, and of his determination, also, fully to recognise Tamar as -his daughter again. - -The Earl communicated all these incidents to Lady Hatfield, who listened -to them with the greatest interest. - -"I propose to introduce the Medinas to you shortly, Georgiana," said the -young nobleman. "You will find the father a person of very gentlemanly -manners, well read, and particularly agreeable in conversation; while -his daughter, Miss Esther, is as amiable and accomplished as the child -of such a man should be." - -"Arthur," replied Lady Hatfield—for they now addressed each other in the -same friendly, or rather familiar manner, when alone together, as if -they were brother and sister—"I would rather not form the acquaintance -of your friends for the present." - -The Earl appeared surprised and vexed. - -"Georgiana," he exclaimed, in a tone of gentle remonstrance, "is it -possible that you entertain any of those ridiculous prejudices[36] which -only very ignorant or very narrow-minded persons can possibly entertain -towards a most estimable race?" - -"Oh! no—no," cried Lady Hatfield emphatically. "I have read much -concerning the Jews, and I feel convinced that they are most unjustly -treated by Christians. Heaven knows, Arthur, that I have no bad -prejudices of that nature; and were I imbued with them, I would never -rest till I had stifled such evidences of an illiberal and narrowed -mind." - -"I am delighted to hear you thus express yourself," said the Earl. -"During my sojourn in France with the Medina family, I have obtained a -great insight into the Jewish character; and I am convinced that it is -fully as benevolent, as generous, and as liberal as that of the -Christian. But we were speaking of my proposed presentation of Mr. de -Medina and his daughter Esther to you. From all that I have said to them -concerning you, they are most anxious to form your acquaintance; and you -have yet to explain to me the meaning of your observation that you would -rather postpone the introduction." - -"To justify myself," returned Georgiana, blushing, "against your -suspicion that I entertain illiberal prejudices, Arthur, I will frankly -state my motives for expressing that wish. Indeed, I know not why any -consideration should induce me to retain those motives a -secret—especially as the explanation of them will afford me an -opportunity to give you my advice. For have we not agreed to be unto -each other as brother and sister?—and in what can a sister more -conscientiously advise her brother than in matters regarding his -happiness?" - -"My happiness!" exclaimed the Earl, starting slightly, and evincing some -degree of astonishment at Lady Hatfield's remark. - -"Yes, Arthur—your happiness!" repeated Georgiana, with difficulty -suppressing a sigh. "Now, listen to me attentively. I have heard that -Miss Esther de Medina is eminently beautiful—excessively -accomplished—very amiable—and endowed with every qualification to render -her worthy of becoming even a monarch's bride." - -"Georgiana!" cried the Earl of Ellingham, his heart fluttering with -mingled suspense, surprise, and joy. - -"Yes," observed Lady Hatfield; "and since you have learnt," she added -more slowly, and in a softly plaintive tone—though she endeavoured to -subdue the emotion which so modulated her voice,—"since you have learnt -that _our_ union is impossible, Arthur,—since you have ceased to look -upon me otherwise than as a sister,—it is probable—nay, it is both -natural and certain that you cannot have beheld Esther de Medina with -indifference." - -"Georgiana," exclaimed Arthur, in a solemn tone, "I never can forget -that my first love was devoted to you; and—although circumstances have, -alas! prevented our union—yet I should be unwilling to promise to -another that heart which I so freely—so gladly gave to you!" - -"It is alike unjust and ridiculous for me to suppose that, as I cannot -become your wife, Arthur, you may never marry. No," continued Lady -Hatfield; "I should despise myself, were I to entertain such abhorrent -selfishness. My ardent desire is to know that you are happy; and Esther -de Medina is well qualified to ensure your felicity. Nay—interrupt me -not: remember, it is now a sister who counsels a brother! Granting even -that you could never love another as you have loved me—and this is a -supposition which I have not vanity enough to entertain for a -moment—but, even granting it, for argument's sake, you may yet treat a -beautiful and affectionate wife with that tenderness—those delicate -attentions—and that cherishing kindness which will make _her_ happy. Oh! -believe me, such a state of bliss would soon beget love in your heart,—a -love for Esther as ardent and sincere as that with which you honoured -me; for it is the mere idle theory of romance-writers, that the same -heart cannot love twice. Nature herself proclaims the falsehood of the -doctrine; and the experience of all wise legislators, whether secular or -ecclesiastic, declares the same, by the mere fact of allowing second -marriages. Believe me, Arthur, I am speaking solely in regard to your -happiness; and the day shall come when your lips breathe the words, -'_Georgiana, I thank thee for the counsel thou gavest me_.'" - -The Earl surveyed with respectful admiration that noble-hearted woman -who thus stifled her own feelings through generous solicitude for his -felicity. - -"And now," she resumed, after a moment's pause, "you can divine the -reasons which induced me to express a wish that my introduction to the -Medinas should be postponed for the present. I am but a weak woman;—and -though I can proudly say that no petty feeling of jealousy would ever -enter my heart—yet I would rather not awaken in my mind painful -recollections of _what might have been_, by beholding you in the society -of one to whom you would be engaged. Moreover, as Miss de Medina has -doubtless heard that _our_ union was once resolved upon," added Lady -Hatfield, now unable to suppress a profound sigh, "it would not be -agreeable for her to visit me, if she accept you as her husband, until -after your marriage. Those are my motives, Arthur: and now you will -admit that, so far from entertaining any illiberal prejudices against -the Jews, I have proved the very contrary, by earnestly recommending you -to espouse an amiable and beautiful lady belonging to that nation." - -[Illustration] - -"Dearest sister—for such indeed you are to me," said the Earl of -Ellingham, "I appreciate all the excellence of your intentions in thus -advising me; and I will frankly admit to you, that did I now think of -uniting my fate with any woman, Esther de Medina would be the object of -my choice, since my alliance with yourself has been rendered impossible. -But I am not quite prepared to take that step—nor do I even know whether -Miss de Medina would accept my suit, were I to proffer it." - -"If her affections were not engaged before she saw you—before she knew -so much of you," exclaimed Georgiana, "she loves you now. Oh! of this I -am convinced," she continued enthusiastically. "Consider how much you -have done to render her grateful to you; and gratitude in woman is the -parent of affection! You have saved her beloved sister Tamar from the -depths of despair by adopting those wondrous schemes, by which he who is -now her husband, was snatched from the jaws of death;—you reconciled a -father to a long discarded daughter;—and you have at length seen that -daughter made a wife—the wife of the man she adores! Oh! Arthur, think -you not that Esther ponders on all this? Yes—and, in the gratitude of -her generous soul, she already sees a god-like being in the Earl of -Ellingham." - -"You will render me quite vain, Georgiana," said the young nobleman; -"for you are magnifying into glorious achievements a few very -common-place acts on my part." - -"I am giving you your due for all that is great and noble in your -disposition—all that is excellent and estimable in your character," -replied Lady Hatfield, in a tone of fervent sincerity. "And that you are -every thing I describe is so much the more to your credit, inasmuch as -you belong to a class not famous for good qualities. The aristocratic -sphere is characterised by intense selfishness—by a love of illegitimate -power—by an abhorrence of the inferior grades,—and by a hollowness of -heart which brings shame and reproach upon their hierarchy. When, then, -we find this corrupted and vicious sphere possessing a glorious -exception such as yourself, the world should be the more ready to -recognise your merits. But I will say no more on this head, my dear -Arthur," added Georgiana, with a smile, "for fear that you should think -I wish to coax you into following that counsel which I, ere now, so -seriously and so conscientiously gave you." - -"And on that advice will I reflect deliberately," replied the Earl, who -could not conceal from himself that he was rejoiced it had been given. -"And now, Georgiana, I must take my leave of you for the present," he -added, rising from his seat: "for I have a commission of a somewhat -important nature to execute for my half-brother. Indeed, the mention -thereof reminds me that I have never made you acquainted with one of the -best traits in his character. But does it annoy you,—does it vex you to -hear me speak of him?" - -"No—no," answered Georgiana, somewhat hurriedly. "Since I have known -that he is your brother, I have been pleased to hear you say as much -good of him as possible." - -"And this incident to which I allude," continued the Earl, "is not the -least praiseworthy of the many fine deeds which must be placed to his -account on the bright side. It appears that about three months ago he -adopted a little boy under very peculiar circumstances. A poor woman -died suddenly, through want and exposure to the inclemency of the -weather, at an obscure house in Seven Dials. Rainford happened to be -there at the time, and he took compassion on the little boy whom this -poor woman had in charge. The boy was not the woman's child—as a certain -letter found upon the person of the female proved. This letter was at -first detained by those miserable wretches who so persecuted my poor -brother: but it subsequently fell into his hands; and he entrusted it to -a Mr. Clarence Villiers, in order that this gentleman might institute -inquiries relative to its contents. I am now about to seek Mr. Villiers, -and obtain the letter from him; because, it appears from all I have -heard, that it is indubitably addressed to some lady of title, although -no name be mentioned in it. In fact, the poor woman—whose name was Sarah -Watts——" - -"Sarah Watts!" repeated Lady Hatfield, with an hysterical scream, a -deadly pallor overspreading her beautiful countenance. - -"That is the name——But, my God! you are ill!"—and the Earl rushed -forward to catch Georgiana in his arms, as she was falling from her -chair. - -He conveyed her to the sofa; but for some moments she seemed insensible. -He was about to summon her female attendants, when she opened her eyes, -glanced wildly around her, and then said in an excited tone, "Do not -ring for any one,—I shall be better in a minute—remain with me, -Arthur,—I have now much to tell you!" - -Surprised and grieved at the effect which his words had produced on Lady -Hatfield—yet unable to comprehend wherefore the mere mention of a name -should have so seriously touched her feelings,—the Earl gazed upon her -with interest and curiosity. - -At length a faint tinge of red appeared upon her cheeks; and, with -reviving strength, she sate up on the sofa, motioning the young nobleman -to take a chair near her. - -"Arthur," she said, "I ought not to have kept that _one_ secret from -you—for are we not now brother and sister? But, alas! you—with your -generous heart and fine feelings—can well understand how painful it is -for me to speak of my own dishonour,—and the more so, since that -degradation—that deep disgrace was caused by _him_ who is nearly allied -to you." - -"What! can it be possible?" exclaimed the Earl, a sudden light breaking -in upon him: "that child—that boy, whom Rainford has adopted as his -own——" - -"Is mine!" said Georgiana, in a voice of despair;—and, covering her face -with her hands, she burst into an agony of tears. - -The Earl of Ellingham started from his seat, and began to pace the room -in a manner denoting the most painful excitement. - -He was, indeed, deeply afflicted. - -How wronged—how profoundly wronged had Georgiana been!—and by _him_ who, -as she herself had said, was so nearly allied to him! - -Oh! Tom Rain—Tom Rain! that was the darkest episode in thy life! - -Thus thought the Earl likewise;—and bitter was his sorrow at the revival -of such appalling reminiscences as those which now rent Lady Hatfield's -heart with anguish, and called forth the floods of grief from her eyes. - -"Arthur," at length she said, exercising a violent effort to subdue her -sorrow, "give not way to bitter reflection on my account. For _your_ -sake, all has been forgiven—though it may never be forgotten; for memory -is immortal! But that child—that boy of whom you speak—he is indeed with -his own father; and Providence doubtless willed that it should be so!" - -She paused, and stifled the sobs which rent her bosom. - -"You may think me a cruel and heartless mother, Arthur," she resumed at -length, now speaking in a mournful, plaintive tone, "thus to have -abandoned my offspring: but reflect ere you blame me! I was as it were -alone in a house situated in a retired part of the country—a man entered -at night—he found his way to my chamber—he took advantage of my -loneliness——O God! how have I survived that disgrace—that infamy? -Desperate was my resistance—but vain: and the ravisher, as you already -know, was Rainford! Alas! pardon me if I then mentioned his name with -bitterness; but human patience could not speak it calmly when such a -cloud of crushing reminiscences come back to the soul." - -Again she paused: the Earl remained silent. What could he say? He -loathed—he abhorred the conduct of his half-brother, whom he would not -attempt to justify;—and his good sense told him that it were worse than -mockery to aim at consoling the victim of that foul night of maddened -lust and atrocious rape. - -"Some weeks afterwards," continued Lady Hatfield, in a voice scarcely -audible and deeply plaintive, "I found that I was in a way to become a -mother. You may conceive——But no: it is impossible to imagine the state -of mind into which this appalling conviction threw me. And yet I was -compelled to veil my grief as much as possible;—for at that time a -suspicion of my condition on the part of the world, would have driven me -to suicide. I need not—I could not enter into the details of the plan -which I had adopted to conceal my dishonour. Suffice it to say, that I -succeeded in so doing—and, in a small retired village, and under a -feigned name, did I give birth to a son. To Sarah Watts was the babe -confided;—and, for a sum of money paid down at once, she agreed to adopt -it as her own. By an accident she discovered who I was—my name was on an -article of jewellery which I had with me. But she promised the strictest -secrecy, and I put faith in her words. Oh! do not blame me, if I acted -as I have now described—if I abandoned that child whose presence near me -would only have been a proof of my dishonour, and a constant memorial of -the dread outrage which no levity—no encouragement—no fault on my part -had provoked!" - -"Blame you, Georgiana!" exclaimed the Earl, approaching and taking her -hand kindly;—"how could I blame you? You acted as prudence dictated—and, -indeed, as circumstances inevitably compelled you. But—now that the -parentage of this child is at length discovered—how do you wish me to -act? Remember, Georgiana, every thing in this respect shall be managed -solely with regard to your wishes—solely according to your directions. -Shall I communicate in a letter to my half-brother the secret which has -thus strangely transpired this day?—or shall I leave him in ignorance of -the fact that he has adopted his own son?" - -"He knew not that the outrage he perpetrated led to that consequence," -said Lady Hatfield, now cruelly bewildered and uncertain how to decide. -"No—he could not even suspect it—for I never met him again until that -night on the Hounslow road—and even then I recognised him not—and it was -only at the police-office in Bow Street that I again beheld him who had -been my ruin!" - -"I am convinced," observed the Earl, "that Rainford has not the least -suspicion that you indeed became a mother. And, oh! when I touched upon -the subject of his atrocious behaviour towards you—while we were in -Paris—had you seen the tears of contrition—heart-felt contrition which -he shed——But, no," added the Earl, suddenly interrupting himself,—"it -were impossible that you could forgive him!" - -"I forgive him for _your_ sake, Arthur," said Georgiana, in a mild but -firm tone. "And now, relative to that child—yes—he shall know that he is -with his father; and your brother must be informed that he has adopted -his own son! Providence indeed seems to have so willed it; for we cannot -believe that accident alone threw the child thus wondrously into the way -of the author of its being. Arthur," she added, taking the young -nobleman's hand,—"you will write to Rainford—and you will tell him all. -It is not necessary to enjoin him to treat the child with kindness—for -you say that his disposition is naturally generous. Nevertheless—I -should wish," continued the lady, looking down as she uttered these -words, and sinking her voice almost to a whisper—for _maternal feelings_ -were stirring within her bosom,—"nevertheless, I should wish that you -impress upon the mind of your half-brother the necessity of bringing -that child up in the paths of virtue and honour." - -"Your wishes shall be complied with," answered the Earl. "But fear not -that Rainford would inculcate evil principles into the mind of his son. -No—he is thoroughly changed, and will become a good, and, I hope, a -happy and prosperous man." - -The young nobleman then took leave of Lady Hatfield, whom he left a prey -to emotions of a very painful nature. - -For deeply and tenderly did she love Arthur; and great violence did she -to her feelings when she so generously and conscientiously counselled -him to take the beautiful Jewess as his wife! - -And as the Earl returned home to his mansion in Pall Mall, to pen a -letter to Rainford, who was then on his voyage, under an assumed name, -and accompanied by Tamar, Jacob Smith, and little Charley, to the United -States,—he reviewed all the details of that long and interesting -conversation which had that afternoon passed between Lady Hatfield and -himself;—and he found that the tendency thereof was to make him ponder -more seriously and more intently upon the image of the charming Esther -than he ever yet had done. - ------ - -Footnote 36: - - We have been much gratified by observing that our attempt to vindicate - the Jews against most of the unjust charges which it seems to be a - traditionary fashion to level against them, has not passed unnoticed. - All the Jewish papers have quoted the exculpatory passage at page 172 - of this Series of "THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON:" many provincial journals - have also transferred it to their columns; and in No. 173 of - _Chambers's Edinburgh Journal_ (New Series) it was printed, with the - following record of approval on the part of the Editors of that - well-conducted periodical:—"_We cordially agree in this manly defence - of a cruelly misrepresented people_." - - In this enlightened age it is really horrible to think that the most - abominable prejudices should prevail amongst Christians against the - Jews. England boasts her high state of civilisation; and yet the Jews - labour under innumerable disabilities, which have been abolished in - France. After all, the French understand what civilisation really is - much better than the English. The idea of a Jew sitting in the House - of Commons would send all the Church party raving mad: but in France - there are many Jews in the Chamber of Deputies. The learned Selden - said very justly, "Talk what you will of the Jews, that they are - cursed, they thrive where'er they come; they are able to oblige the - prince of their country (and others too) by lending him money; none of - them beg: they keep together; and for their being hated, my life for - your's, Christians hate one another as much." - - The worst feature in the malignant persecution and misrepresentation - of the Jews, is that the evil prejudice against them has been, and - still is, fostered by Christian Divines and Theological writers. A - Spanish theologian has placed on record the following infamous - specimen of malignity:— - - "The tribe of Judah treacherously delivered up our Lord, and thirty of - them die by treason every year. - - "The tribe of Reuben seized our Lord in the garden, and therefore the - curse of barrenness is on all they sow or plant, and no green thing - can flourish over their graves. - - "The tribe of Gad put on the crown of thorns, and on every 25th of - March their bodies are covered with blood from deep and painful - wounds. - - "Those of Asher buffeted Jesus, and their right hand is always nearly - a palm shorter than the left. - - "Those of Napthali jested with Christ about a herd of swine, since - when they are all born with tusks like wild boars. - - "The tribe of Manasseh cried out, 'His blood be on us and on our - children,' and at every new moon they are tormented by bloody sores. - - "The tribe of Simeon nailed our Lord to the cross, and on the 25th of - March, four deep and dreadful wounds are inflicted on their hands and - feet. - - "Those of Levi spat on the Saviour, and the wind always blows back - their saliva in their faces, so that they are habitually covered with - filth. - - "The tribe of Issachar scourged Christ, and on the 25th of March blood - streams forth from their shoulders. - - "The tribe of Zebulon cast lots for the garments, and on the same day - the roof of their mouth is tortured by deep wounds. - - "The tribe of Joseph made the nails for crucifying Jesus, and blunted - them to increase his sufferings; and therefore their hands and feet - are covered with gashes and blood. - - "Those of Benjamin gave vinegar to Jesus; they all squint and are - palsied, and have their mouths filled with little nauseous worms, - which, in truth (adds our author), is the case with all Jewish women - after the age of 25, because it was a woman who entreated the tribe of - Joseph not to sharpen the nails used for the crucifixion of our Lord." - - * * * * * - - That wretchedly prejudiced and unprincipled writer, Justin Martyr, - wrote as follows, while apostrophising the Jews:— - - "God promised that you should be _as the sand on the sea shore_; and - so you are indeed, in more senses than one. You are as numerous, and - you are as barren, and incapable of producing any thing good." - - - - - CHAPTER LXXX. - MRS. SLINGSBY AND MR. TORRENS. - - -While the scene, related in the preceding chapter, was taking place at -the residence of Lady Hatfield, in Piccadilly, incidents requiring -mention occurred elsewhere. - -Mrs. Slingsby was seated in her drawing-room, a prey to the most -frightful alarms. - -Sir Henry Courtenay had left her the evening before to acquaint Mr. -Torrens with Rosamond's flight, and consult with him relative to the -necessary steps to be taken to prevent the exposure which himself and -Mrs. Slingsby so much dreaded. On thus parting with her, the baronet had -faithfully promised to call early in the morning and inform her of the -particulars of his interview with Mr. Torrens;—but it was now past one -o'clock in the afternoon, and he had not made his appearance. - -What could his absence mean?—had any thing disagreeable occurred?—was it -possible that Rosamond could have made away with herself, and that Sir -Henry had taken to flight through dread of an exposure and its -consequences? - -The suspense which Mrs. Slingsby endured, was horrible—horrible! - -Guilty consciences invariably magnify into giants even the most -dwarf-like causes of apprehension; and there was no exception to this -rule on the present occasion. - -A hundred times had she glanced at the elegant or-molu clock on the -mantel—and as hour after hour passed, and he came not, her restlessness -increased to such a degree that it at length reached a state of nervous -excitement no longer endurable. - -She accordingly hurried to her chamber, dressed herself in her -walking-attire, and having left word with her servants that in case Sir -Henry Courtenay should call, he was to be requested to wait until her -return, sped to the nearest hackney-coach stand, where, stepping into a -vehicle, she ordered the driver to take her over to Torrens Cottage. - -Yes—thither she was determined to proceed without delay, even at the -risk of encountering Rosamond; though she could scarcely believe that -the wronged girl had returned home. For, not precisely remembering all -the details of the conversation which took place between herself and the -baronet, and which Rosamond had overheard, the guilty woman imagined -that something more than mere allusions might have been made to the -connivance of Mr. Torrens in the ruin of his daughter; and hence Mrs. -Slingsby's very natural supposition that the victim of the infernal plot -had not returned to the parental dwelling. - -The coach did not proceed with particular celerity, and the distance -from the West End to Torrens Cottage was great:—Mrs. Slingsby had -therefore ample leisure to continue her harrowing meditations upon the -real or supposed dangers which menaced her. - -In sooth, her position was by no means an enviable one—unless indeed a -convict under sentence of death might have preferred her state to that -of imminent and ignominious death. For circumstances appeared suddenly -to combine against her. She was in the family-way—and this was alone -sufficient to cause her the most serious chagrin, especially as her -impious scheme of proclaiming herself a second Johanna Southcott had -been so completely frustrated by the determined opposition of her -paramour. Then there was the affair of Rosamond Torrens, one word from -whose lips would have the effect of tearing away the mask of hypocrisy -which Mrs. Slingsby had so long worn, and exposing her to the world in -all the hideous nudity of her criminal character. Lastly, the -unaccountable absence of the baronet filled her mind with the most -serious misgivings; for she knew that if he had indeed absconded, and if -he should cease to maintain her in a pecuniary sense, her position would -become lamentable in the extreme. - -All these maddening reflections raised a storm of agitation in her -guilty mind; and she could scarcely subdue her excitement so that it -should escape the notice of the coachman, as he opened the door of the -vehicle when it stopped opposite Torrens Cottage. - -Mr. Torrens was at home; and Mrs. Slingsby was immediately conducted by -Jeffreys to the parlour—the very parlour where her paramour had been -murdered on the preceding evening! - -Rosamond, from her bed-room window, had observed the arrival of the -hateful woman, and was lost in surprise at her conduct in daring to -visit her father's abode. - -Mr. Torrens received Mrs. Slingsby in the apartment where, as we have -just stated, the awful tragedy of the previous night had been enacted; -and this was the first time the criminal pair had ever met. - -Bad as Mr. Torrens himself was, he could not help feeling a sentiment of -extreme loathing and disgust for the woman who concealed so black a -heart beneath the garb of religious hypocrisy;—and, though he -endeavoured to speak politely to her as he desired her to be seated, his -manner was cold, reserved, and indicative of the influence which her -presence produced upon him. - -"We know each other by name, Mr. Torrens," began Mrs. Slingsby; "but it -is only now that we have met. You can doubtless conjecture the object of -my visit——" - -"Yes, madam," exclaimed Rosamond, suddenly bursting into the room, -evidently in a state of fearful excitement: then, hastily closing the -door, she added, "My father can too well divine the purport of this -insolent intrusion. You doubtless seek to recover possession of _me_—to -take me back to your infamous abode—to surrender me up to your own vile -paramour! Oh! my dear father, surely—surely you will not allow this -polluted creature to remain beneath your roof a minute longer!" - -"Rosamond—Rosamond," said Mrs. Slingsby, becoming the colour of scarlet, -"you will regret those harsh words. I came for the purpose of giving -certain explanations to your respected parent——" - -"Explanations, madam!" cried the young girl, with a bitter smile of -contempt. "What explanations can _you_ offer which _I_ have not already -given?" - -"I have every reason to believe that you overheard a conversation -between Sir Henry Courtenay and myself," said Mrs. Slingsby, growing -bolder as she perceived that the atrocious complicity of Mr. Torrens was -not suspected by his daughter; "and that conversation seems to have -alarmed you—for your flight from the house was wild and precipitate." - -"Had I not already tarried there too long?" demanded Rosamond -emphatically. "Oh! think not to be able to delude me any more with your -specious misrepresentations—your disgusting sophistry! A veil has fallen -from my eyes—and I now behold _you_, madam, and that baronet whom you so -much vaunted, in your proper colours." - -"You are wrong thus to suspect us so cruelly," said Mrs. Slingsby. "The -conversation which you overheard was but the repetition of another -conversation which Sir Henry Courtenay had himself overheard between two -persons whom you know not, and which he was relating to me. But I appeal -to your father whether _he_ believes me——" - -"Enough, madam!" exclaimed Rosamond, in a tone which convinced the base -woman that she was indeed no longer to be imposed upon. "My father knows -you to be a degraded hypocrite—and your insolence is extreme in thus -daring to violate the sanctity of the paternal dwelling to which I have -been forced to return for shelter and refuge. And were it not," she -added bitterly, "that I should be proclaiming my own dishonour, not a -moment's hesitation would I manifest in tearing away the mask from your -face, and exposing you to the world. Oh! when I think of all the -insidious wiles which you have practised—all the abhorrent tutoring -which you have brought to play upon my mind, I deplore—yes, deeply do I -deplore that necessity which compels me to place a seal upon my lips!" - -Mrs. Slingsby had heard enough to satisfy her that no exposure would -take place at the hands of Rosamond; and she was not very solicitous to -prolong her visit. The cause of the baronet's absence she had yet to -learn; but she concluded that it was not at Torrens Cottage she must -seek to have her curiosity in that respect gratified. - -She accordingly rose—bowed to Mr. Torrens, who had remained a mute but -most alarmed spectator of the whole scene—and hastily withdrew, just in -time to avoid coming in collision with John Jeffreys; for that worthy, -judging by the excited manner in which he, himself unobserved, had seen -Rosamond rush into the parlour, that something extraordinary was -connected with the arrival of Mrs. Slingsby, had very coolly and quietly -listened at the parlour-door to every word that was uttered within. - -Mrs. Slingsby returned home, somewhat consoled by the conviction that -her character was safe from any vindictiveness on the part of Rosamond: -but she was still alarmed in respect to the baronet;—and this fear -increased greatly, when, on her arrival in Old Burlington Street, at -about four o'clock, she learnt that he had not called. - -She immediately despatched a note to his residence; but the domestic -returned with the answer that Sir Henry Courtenay had not been home -since the preceding day—a circumstance which caused no small degree of -alarm in the baronet's household, inasmuch as though he often slept away -from his abode, his servants were invariably kept ignorant of those -proofs of irregularities on his part. In a word, he was accustomed so to -arrange matters, that his nocturnal outgoings were never suspected at -his own residence—and thus his absence on this occasion had naturally -inspired some degree of apprehension. - -Mrs. Slingsby was astounded at the message which her servant had brought -back. She could not even hazard a conjecture relative to the cause of -Sir Henry Courtenay's disappearance; and she was at a loss where to -search for him. - -She therefore resolved to remain at home in the hope that he would -presently call upon her; but time passed—and still he came not. - -At length there was a loud double knock at the door; and she fancied it -was the announcement of Sir Henry's arrival. But, instead of the object -of her anxiety, Mr. Torrens was ushered into the drawing-room. - -"I fancied, madam," he said, "that you had some particular reason in -calling upon me just now, and which the presence of the unfortunate -Rosamond prevented you from explaining. I therefore lost no time in -waiting upon you." - -"My alarm was somewhat appeased by the words which fell from your -daughter's lips," answered Mrs. Slingsby, motioning to her visitor to be -seated; "inasmuch as she expressed her intention of remaining silent on -a subject which neither I nor you would wish to become a matter of -public gossip. But I am astonished and grieved at the behaviour of Sir -Henry Courtenay, who left me last night with the intention of proceeding -direct to your house, and whom I have not since seen." - -"He came not to me, madam," answered Mr. Torrens, with an unblushing -countenance. - -"This is most extraordinary—most alarming!" cried Mrs. Slingsby; "for he -has not been home all night—nor yet to-day—and I begin to have vague -suspicions that something wrong must have occurred." - -"Sir Henry Courtenay is a gallant man——" - -"Yes," interrupted Mrs. Slingsby hastily, as if the subject were not a -very agreeable one: "but he also _maintains_ a character for propriety -and good conduct—and his dependants are never suffered to know that he -stays away from home at night. You see that I am compelled to be candid -with you—for the affair is most serious. Now, only reflect for a moment, -Mr. Torrens, upon what my state of mind would be, were I questioned -relative to Sir Henry's disappearance. Suppose, I say, that he did not -soon come back—that he continued to be missing,——it would transpire that -he was with me until late last evening—that we went out together,—for we -_did_ go out, to search for Rosamond,—and that I came back alone." - -"No one could suspect _you_, madam, of having made away with him," -observed Mr. Torrens. - -"No—but I should be overwhelmed with the most embarrassing questions," -exclaimed Mrs. Slingsby hastily. "And, do you know, that remark of -your's has inspired me with horror and alarm? No one would suspect _me_ -of having made away with him! Of course not:—how could a weak woman -assassinate a man in the streets of London, and not leave a trace of the -dreadful deed behind? But might not inquiries be made—might it not be -discovered that Sir Henry and myself were frequent visitors—I must speak -candidly to you—to a house of ill-fame? And then—oh then! what a -dreadful exposure would take place!" - -"You are torturing yourself with vain apprehensions, Mrs. Slingsby," -said Mr. Torrens, experiencing the greatest difficulty to conceal his -own agitation. - -"I should have thought that _you_, Mr. Torrens, would have assisted me -with your advice—considering how we have been involved in the same -transaction—rather than treat my fears with levity," said Mrs. Slingsby, -in an excited manner. "And, if I tell you the candid truth," she added, -fixing her eyes upon his countenance in a way which seemed intended to -read the inmost secrets of his soul, "I must declare my conviction that -_you_ know more of the cause of the baronet's disappearance than you -choose to admit." - -"I—madam!" exclaimed Mr. Torrens, shrinking from the accusation in spite -of himself. - -"Yes—_you_," returned the lady, growing more and more excited: "and that -suspicion which I hazarded, I scarcely know why, is now confirmed by -your manner. I again say, yes—you know more of the cause of Sir Henry -Courtenay's disappearance than you are willing to admit. I am convinced -that he _did_ visit you last night—and if he never came back, what -account will you give?—what explanation will you render? Your anxiety in -coming after me just now,—the singularity of your remark that no one -would suspect _me_ of foul play towards the baronet,—and your -trepidation when I named the suspicion which had flashed to my mind -concerning you,—all these circumstances convince me that you are no -stranger to the cause of Sir Henry Courtenay's disappearance." - -"Madam—this outrageous charge—implying a crime of which I am utterly -incapable——" began Mr. Torrens, scarcely knowing how to meet the -accusation, and seriously inclined to divulge the whole truth. - -"I do not say that you have _murdered_ Sir Henry Courtenay," interrupted -Mrs Slingsby, speaking in a low tone, and giving a strong, hollow -emphasis to that dreadful word which few can breathe without a shudder: -"but that some quarrel may have taken place between you—that you were -compelled to appear violent and vindictive in respect to him, your -daughter perhaps being present—and that all this led to a fatal issue, -are things which now seem to form a complete and connected train of -horrible impressions in my mind. At all events, Mr. Torrens," she added, -sinking her voice to a low whisper, "be candid with me—tell me the whole -truth—and we will consult together, circumstances having already -rendered us colleagues in _one_ transaction." - -"I have nothing to tell you, Mrs. Slingsby, in respect to this -business," said Mr. Torrens; "and I am as astonished at Sir Henry -Courtenay's disappearance as yourself." - -"Then, if I were questioned," observed the lady, "you would have no -objection to my saying that I parted last night from Sir Henry Courtenay -near St. James's Church, Piccadilly, his last words being to the effect -that he was about to call at Torrens Cottage on particular business?" - -As she thus spoke, Mrs. Slingsby fixed her eyes in a searching—nay, a -piercing manner upon the countenance of her companion, who for a moment -quailed and betrayed evident signs of the desperate efforts he was -making to conceal his agitation. - -"Yes—you may safely say _that_, if you perceive any utility in so -doing," returned Mr. Torrens at length: then, his features suddenly -assuming a ferocious expression, he added, "But why proclaim war against -me! Do we not know too much of each other to render such a warfare safe -or useful to either? Were you not the paramour of Sir Henry -Courtenay?—did you yourself not admit ere now that you visited a house -of ill-fame with him?—and are you not at this moment with child by him? -Woman—woman," muttered Torrens between his teeth, "provoke me not,—or it -shall be war indeed—war to the knife!" - -"Be reasonable, sir," said Mrs. Slingsby, now assuming a cold and -resolute air; "and let us talk as two accomplices ought to converse—and -not with menaces and threats." - -"Agreed, madam—but be you reasonable also," returned Mr. Torrens. - -"Then wherefore keep anything secret from me?" demanded Mrs. Slingsby. -"I have read the truth—I have divined it—and your language has just -confirmed my impression. But think not that I care for Sir Henry -Courtenay, as a loving mistress or wife might care for him. No," she -added contemptuously: "any affection which I may ever have experienced -towards him, has long since vanished." - -"And of what avail would it be to you to know that Sir Henry Courtenay -was no more, even for a moment granting that he indeed exists no -longer?" asked Torrens. - -"I will tell you," replied Mrs. Slingsby in a low and hoarse whisper, -while she looked intently and in a manner full of dark meaning into her -companion's eyes, as she bent her countenance towards him. "If I were -assured that Sir Henry Courtenay was indeed no more, I would become -possessed of two thousand pounds by ten o'clock to-morrow morning." - -"Ah!" ejaculated Mr. Torrens, his mind instantly conceiving the idea of -sharing the produce of whatever plan the lady might adopt to accomplish -her purpose—for we have already said that his necessities were still -great, and that, unless he shortly obtained funds, he would be as badly -off as he was ere he sold the virtue of his daughter. - -"Yes," resumed Mrs. Slingsby; "and to show you that I have more -confidence in you than you have in me, I will give you a full and -complete explanation. Sir Henry Courtenay promised me two thousand -pounds as a reward for my connivance in the plan respecting Rosamond." - -"Go on—go on," said Mr. Torrens hastily. - -"That reward I have not received, because the payments which Sir Henry -had to make to you, and other claims upon him, had caused him to -overdraw his bankers. But yesterday morning he paid in eight thousand -pounds; and he intimated to one of the partners that he should give me a -cheque for two thousand in the course of the afternoon. The fact is," -continued Mrs. Slingsby, "those bankers believe that I have property in -India, which Sir Henry Courtenay's agent there manages for me, and that -the proceeds therefore pass through Sir Henry's hands. This tale was -invented to account for the numerous and large cheques which I have -received from the baronet on that bank:—it was the saving clause for my -reputation. Now, those two thousand pounds which were promised me I can -have for little trouble and a small risk." - -"Indeed!" said Mr. Torrens, becoming more and more interested in this -explanation. - -"Yes," continued Mrs. Slingsby, "and I will tell you how almost -immediately. But I must first observe that I should have received the -cheque last evening had not the sudden flight of Rosamond interrupted -the discourse which I was having with the baronet, and thrown us into -confusion. But,"—and again she lowered her voice to an almost inaudible -whisper—"I can imitate the handwriting of Sir Henry Courtenay to such a -nicety that it would defy detection. Now, do you understand me?" - -"I do—I do," answered Mr. Torrens. - -"And you perceive that I have full confidence in _you_," added the -widow. - -Mr. Torrens rose and paced the room for a few minutes. He was -deliberating within himself whether he should repose an equal trust in -Mrs. Slingsby; and he decided upon doing so. She saw what was passing in -his mind, and remained silent, confident as to the result. - -"My dear madam," he said, resuming his seat, "I will at once admit to -you that Sir Henry Courtenay is indeed no more." - -The lady heard him with breathless attention; for though she was fully -prepared for the avowal, yet when it came it sounded so awfully—so -ominously, that she received it with emotions of terror and dismay. - -"It is indeed too true," continued Torrens: "but think not for a moment -that I am a murderer! No—no; bad as I may be—as I know myself to be, in -fine—I could not perpetrate such a deed as that. A strange and wonderful -combination of circumstances led to the shocking catastrophe. Listen—and -I will tell you all." - -Mr. Torrens then related every incident of the preceding evening, -suppressing only that portion of the tale which involved the fact of his -servant John Jeffreys being acquainted with the occurrence, and having -lent his aid in disposing of the body. This circumstance he concealed -through that inherent aversion which man ever has to confess that he is -in the power of any one; and he made it appear, by his own story, that, -unassisted, he had buried the corpse. - -At first Mrs. Slingsby was incredulous relative to the version of the -murder which she heard. She thought that Torrens was himself the -perpetrator of the act; but when he declared how cruelly the robbery of -his money had embarrassed him, and when she reflected that there really -could have been no reason urgent or strong enough to induce him to make -away with the baronet, she ended by fully believing his narrative. - -"Then he is indeed no more!" she exclaimed. "But, my God! what will be -thought of his disappearance?—and will not those enquiries, which I so -much dread, be made?" - -"As no suspicion can possibly fall upon either yourself or me," -responded Mr. Torrens, "it is far from likely that any such enquiries -will be instituted. No—you need not be alarmed on that head, my dear -madam. I should rather be inclined to entertain apprehensions for the -success of your own scheme of——the forgery," he added, after a moment's -pause. - -"No danger can possibly attend that undertaking," said Mrs. Slingsby. -"The baronet stated at the bankers' that he should give me the cheque -yesterday; and it will be paid in a moment, even if they have already -heard of his disappearance, which is scarcely probable, because the -fears excited by that fact have not as yet become so strong as to lead -to the suspicion that he has indeed met with foul play." - -"You are, then, confident of being enabled to counterfeit his -handwriting successfully?" asked Mr. Torrens. - -"Beyond all possibility of doubt," replied the widow. - -"And shall you want my assistance?" inquired Torrens, thinking how he -could start a pretext for claiming a portion of the expected proceeds of -the nefarious plan. - -"Listen to me," said Mrs. Slingsby, after a few moments' deliberation, -and now speaking as if she had finally come to a settled resolution on a -particular point, which she had been revolving in her mind almost ever -since Mr. Torrens entered the room: "I have something to propose to you -which regards us both, and which may suit yourself as well as it would -suit me. You are involved in embarrassments?" - -"I am indeed," replied Mr. Torrens, now awaiting breathless suspense the -coming explanation, which, by the leading question just put, appeared to -relate to some scheme for relieving him of his difficulties. - -"And these embarrassments are very serious?" continued the widow. - -"So serious that they are insurmountable, as far as I can see at -present," was the response. - -"Then you fear executions—arrest—prison—and all the usual ordeal of an -insolvent debtor?" asked the lady. - -"Just so: and sooner than enter on that ordeal, I would commit suicide," -rejoined Mr. Torrens. - -"The alternative I have to propose to you is not quite so serious nor -alarming as that," resumed Mrs. Slingsby. "I have shown you that I can -put myself in possession of two thousand pounds to-morrow morning: will -that sum relieve you completely from your difficulties?" - -"And enable me to carry out those speculations which must produce a -large fortune," answered Torrens. - -"Then those two thousand pounds are at your disposal, on one condition," -said Mrs. Slingsby. - -"And that condition?" gasped Mr. Torrens, in mingled joy and suspense. - -"Is that you marry me," returned Mrs. Slingsby, as calmly as if she were -making a bargain of a very ordinary nature. - -"Marry you!" exclaimed her companion, quite unprepared for this -proposal. - -"Yes—marry me," repeated the widow. "You want money to save you from -ruin—I want a husband to screen me from disgrace. You are involved in -pecuniary troubles—I am in a way to become a mother. I can save your -person from a gaol—you can save my character from dishonour." - -"The arrangement is indeed an equitable one," said Mr. Torrens, not -without the least scintillation of satire in his remark: "but I see one -fatal objection." - -"And that is your daughter Rosamond," observed Mrs. Slingsby. "Surely -the whim—the aversion—or the phantasy of a girl will not induce you to -reject a proposal which will save you from ruin and imprisonment?" - -"And yet, what could I say to her? how could I explain my conduct? what -would she think, after all she knows of you?" demanded Mr. Torrens. - -"She has not the power to prevent the match; and that is the principal -point in the matter," returned Mrs. Slingsby coolly. "You may as well -urge as an objection that Clarence Villiers, my nephew, is your -son-in-law; but I am not so foolish as to be alarmed at such scruples, -and you must have seen too much of the world to allow yourself to be -irretrievably ruined for the sake of a few idle punctilios. Give me your -decision at once—aye or nay. If it be the former, the marriage may be -celebrated by special license to-morrow evening; if it be the latter, -there is at once an end of the business, and we need not be the less -good friends." - -"You regard the whole proposition, then, entirely as a matter of -_business_," said Mr. Torrens. "Well—that is indeed the way to look at -it. Of course, if we strike a bargain and unite our fortunes, we shall -require only one establishment. Will you break up this in Old Burlington -Street, and be contented to dwell at my Cottage?" - -"Certainly," was the reply. "The sale of my furniture will pay my debts, -and perhaps leave a surplus; at all events we shall have the two -thousand pounds clear." - -"And that sum you will place in my hands to-morrow morning?" said Mr. -Torrens interrogatively. - -"No—to-morrow evening, _after_ the ceremony," responded the widow. - -"Then we cannot trust each other?" continued Mr. Torrens. - -"I think we should act prudently to adopt as many mutual precautions as -possible," observed Mrs. Slingsby coolly. - -"Granted!" exclaimed Mr. Torrens. "And what guarantee have I that, when -once the indissoluble knot shall have been tied, you will hand me over -the promised sum?" - -"Simply the fact that I do not wish to marry a man who will be the next -morning conveyed away to a prison." - -"That is a mere assertion, and no security," remonstrated Mr. Torrens; -"we are talking the matter over in a purely business-like sense. Now, as -far as I can see, the advantages will be all on your side. If you happen -to be in debt, you will have a husband on whose person your creditors -will pounce instead of on your own; and, at all events, as you are with -child, you will have a person whom you can represent as the legitimate -father of the expected offspring." - -"I will tell you how the business can be managed," said Mrs. Slingsby, -after a pause. "A thought has struck me! I will lodge the money in the -hands of a very respectable solicitor whom I know, and you can accompany -me to his office for the purpose. In his keeping shall it remain, with -the understanding that it is to be paid to you on your becoming my -husband." - -"Good!" observed Mr. Torrens. "Who is the solicitor?" - -"Mr. Howard," was the answer. - -"I know him, and have no objection to him as the agent in the business. -I think we have now got over all obstacles in that respect. A difficult -task will it however prove to me to prepare my daughter this evening for -the step which I am to take to-morrow." - -"Oh! I have no doubt you will succeed," said Mrs. Slingsby: "it would be -indeed hard if a father could not overcome, with his reasoning, the -objections of his own child." - -"I must do my best," observed Torrens, rising. "At what hour to-morrow -shall I call to accompany you to the lawyer's?" - -"At about twelve. I shall go to the bank between ten and eleven; and you -can in the meantime obtain the marriage-license." - -"It shall be done," returned Mr. Torrens. "The ceremony will be -performed here?" he added interrogatively. - -"Yes—at seven o'clock in the evening. I will make arrangements with two -ladies whom I know, to be bridesmaids, and Dr. Wagtail will give me -away. After the ceremony we will repair to Torrens Cottage." - -Thus, calmly and deliberately, was settled the solemn covenant between -the man who had sold his daughter's virtue and the licentious woman who -was now prepared to commit a forgery! - -And the worthy pair separated, Mr. Torrens having embraced his intended -wife, because he considered a kiss to be as it were the seal of the -bargain just concluded, and also because Mrs. Slingsby by her manner -appeared to invite the salutation. - - - - - CHAPTER LXXXI. - ROSAMOND AT HOME. - - -We shall follow Mr. Torrens homeward, and see how he acquitted himself -of the disagreeable and difficult task of breaking his matrimonial -intentions to his daughter, the fair but ruined Rosamond. - -It was past nine o'clock in the evening when he reached the cottage; and -Rosamond, with a charming filial solicitude to render her parent's home -as comfortable as possible, had superintended the preparations for -supper. Exercising a command, too, over the sad feelings which filled -her bosom, and invoking resignation with Christian fortitude to her aid, -she even manifested a species of cheerfulness as she opened the -front-door at the sound of his well-known knock. But, alas! it was not -the innocent—artless cheerfulness of other days:—it was merely the -struggle of the moonbeam to pierce the mass of dark and menacing clouds! - -And now behold the father and daughter seated at the supper-table—that -repast which the care of Rosamond had endeavoured to render as agreeable -as possible, but which was disposed of hastily and without appetite on -either side. - -At length, when the things were cleared away and Mr. Torrens had -fortified his courage with sundry glasses of wine, he prepared to enter -on the grave and important subject which occupied his mind. - -"Rosamond, my love," he said, speaking in as kind a tone as it was -possible for his nature to assume, "I have something to communicate to -you, and shall be glad if you will hear me calmly and without -excitement. I have this evening seen Mrs. Slingsby." - -"That woman!" exclaimed the daughter, starting. "Oh! I had hoped that -her name would no more be mentioned in this house." - -"I begged of you not to give way to excitement—I warned you to be -reasonable," said Mr. Torrens severely. "Surely you can accord me your -attention when I am anxious to discourse with you on matters of -importance?" - -"Pardon me, dearest father—and, oh! do not blame nor reproach me if I -manifest a very natural irritability—a loathing—an abhorrence——" - -She could say no more, but burst into a flood of tears. - -Mr. Torrens suffered her to give full vent to her emotions; for he knew -that the reaction would produce comparative calmness. - -"Rosamond," he at length said, "you _can_ be reasonable when you -choose—and I do hope that you have sufficient confidence in your father -to accord him your attention and to believe what he may state to you. -Listen then—and rest assured that I should never take the part of any -one against my own daughter. I have seen Mrs. Slingsby." - -Rosamond gave a convulsive start; but her father, appearing not to -observe it, proceeded. - -"It struck me," he continued, "that she would never have had the -presumption and impudence to call here this morning, if she were really -as guilty as you supposed her to be. I therefore deemed it an act of -justice to ascertain the nature of those explanations which she -proffered in this room, and which your presence cut short. With that -object in view, I proceeded to her abode; and she assured me that she -was entirely innocent of any connivance in the atrocity perpetrated by -Sir Henry Courtenay——" - -"Innocent!" almost shrieked Rosamond. "Oh! my dear father, you know not -how specious—how plausible that woman can be when she chooses; and it -has suited her purpose to be so with you. But be not deceived——" - -"Do you imagine that I am not old enough and sufficiently experienced to -discriminate between sincerity and duplicity?" demanded Mr. Torrens. "I -tell you, Rosamond, that you wrong Mrs. Slingsby—that your suspicions -are most injurious! Reflect—consider before you thus condemn! You -overheard a few words which immediately threw you into a state of such -excitement that your imagination tortured all the subsequent discourse -into an evidence of guilt on the part of a lady who is deeply attached -to you—who loves you as if she were your own mother—and who will die of -grief if you continue thus to misjudge her. Yes, Rosamond—Mrs. Slingsby -has declared that she will put a period to her existence if you persist -in your present belief! She accuses you of ingratitude towards her, -after all her affectionate kindness in your behalf; and, should she -carry her dreadful threat into execution—which I much fear, for she -seems literally distracted—her blood will be upon your head!" - -[Illustration] - -"Merciful heavens!" exclaimed Rosamond, appalled by this terrible -announcement. "But if I cannot command my own convictions?" she added -hastily. - -"You must cherish a Christian spirit—you must be less prompt in forming -opinions—less ready to arrive at those convictions which you represent -to be uncontrollable," said Mr. Torrens, endeavouring to bewilder his -daughter, and thereby render her spirit ductile and her mind pliant, so -that he might manage both as he pleased. "So far from nourishing -malignity against Mrs. Slingsby, you should seek consolation with her; -for your own mother is not here to console you!" - -"God be thanked that my mother is not here to witness my disgrace!" -ejaculated Rosamond, clasping her hands fervently. - -"For the sake of my daughters I was wrong—yes, I was wrong not to have -married again," said Mr. Torrens, as if musing to himself. "I should -have given a protectress to my children—a lady who would have been a -second mother to them; and then all this would not have occurred! But it -is not yet too late to ensure your future welfare, Rosamond, by those -means," he added, turning towards his daughter, who had listened with -surprise to her father's previous observations; "and in accomplishing -that aim, I may at the same time afford a convincing proof to a -deserving, wrongly-suspected, and misjudged woman of my own esteem, and -inferentially of your regret at the calumniatory sentiments you have -cherished concerning her." - -"My dear father—I do not understand you!" cried Rosamond, a dreadful -suspicion weighing on her mind; and which, nevertheless, seemed so wild -and ridiculous—so utterly impossible to be well-founded, that she -fancied she had not rightly comprehended the sentiments of her parent. - -"I am thinking how I can best ensure your welfare and happiness, -Rosamond," he said, "by giving you a substitute for that maternal -protectress whom you have lost—one who will be a companion and a friend -to you——" - -"Father!" exclaimed Rosamond, horrified at the idea of having a -step-mother, and trembling with indescribable alarms lest she had indeed -too well read her sire's intentions respecting the _one_ whom he -proposed to invest with that authority. - -"Will you hear me with calmness?—will you subdue this excitement, which -amounts to an undutiful aversion to all I am projecting for your sake?" -demanded Mr. Torrens, again assuming a severe tone: then, perceiving -that his daughter was dismayed by his manner, he hastily added, as if -determined at once to put an end to a painful scene, "If I have -consulted you, Rosamond, on the step that I propose to take, it was -because I deemed you sensible and reasonable enough to merit that proof -of confidence on my part, and obedient enough to submit becomingly to -the dictates of my superior wisdom and experience. Know, then, that it -is my intention to marry again—_for your sake_—and that my inclinations, -as well as my interests, induce me to fix my choice upon Mrs. Slingsby." - -Rosamond uttered not a word, but fell back senseless in her chair. - -"Obstinate fool!" muttered Torrens between his teeth, as he hastened -forward to save her from slipping off on the fender. "But I will neither -argue nor consult any more—I will command, where I wish to be obeyed." - -He applied a scent-bottle to her nostrils; and she soon gave signs of -returning animation. Opening her eyes, she glanced wildly at her father, -as if to interrogate him whether that were really true which appeared to -have been haunting her like a horrid dream. - -"Father—father," she murmured, grasping his hands; "you will not—no, you -will not do what you have said! Oh! I implore you—I conjure—sacrifice -not your own happiness and mine at the same instant! I was not mistaken -in one syllable that I overheard between that woman and that man—and -their discourse filled me with horror. She is his paramour, father—she -is in a way to become a mother——" - -"Silence, daughter!" cried Mr. Torrens, sternly. "And now listen to me, -while I make you acquainted with my _commands_! Not only is it my -intention to marry Mrs. Slingsby, but I desire that you will treat her -with respect—if not with affection. And as you value my love and the -continuance of my kindness, you will observe these instructions. If any -thing more be wanting to induce you to comply with my desire, that -additional argument will, perhaps, be found in the fact that if I do not -marry Mrs. Slingsby, I shall be ruined—utterly undone—my property -wrested from me—my person conveyed to a prison—and _you_ thrust out, -houseless and penniless, into the wide world, without a soul to protect -or befriend you. Now I have told you all—and it is for you to decide -whether your prejudices shall prevail against my most substantial -interests." - -Rosamond was astounded at the words which met her ears; and she knew not -how to reply. - -For a few moments she stood gazing vacantly upon her father's -countenance, as if to read thereon a confirmation of words, the import -of which seemed too terrible to be true: then, probably experiencing the -necessity of seeking the solitude of her own chamber for the purpose of -giving vent to the overflowing fulness of her heart's emotions, she -hurried from the room. - -Poor friendless girl! dreadful was the position in which she found -herself placed! Oh! why were not Clarence and Adelais near to console -her—to receive her beneath their protecting influence? Alas! she would -not have dared to face them, even were they in the metropolis at the -time; for she could not have revealed to them her dishonour—Oh! no, she -would sooner have died! - -Throwing herself on a seat in the privacy of her bed-chamber, she burst -into tears, and gave vent to her anguish in heart-rending sobs. - -An hour passed—and still she thought not of retiring to rest;—she was in -a state of utter despair! - -She heard her father ascend to his chamber: but this circumstance -reminded her not that the usual hour when she herself sought her couch -had gone by. - -Suddenly she was aroused from the deep reverie of woe that had succeeded -the violent outburst of her anguish, by the movement of the handle of -the door, as if some one were about to enter her room. - -She started and listened, the bed being between the place where she was -and the door, so that she could not see the latter. - -Yes—some one was indeed entering the chamber. - -With a faint scream she darted forward, and beheld a man in the act of -closing the door behind him. - -The intruder was Jeffreys, the recently-hired servant. - -"What has brought you hither, John?" enquired Rosamond, in hasty and -anxious tone—for she feared lest something had happened to her father. - -"Nothink but your own beautiful self, Miss," answered the ruffian, -advancing towards her as well as he was able—for he was much -intoxicated. - -"Begone!" cried Rosamond, her whole countenance becoming suddenly -crimson with indignation. "Begone, I say—and to-morrow my father will -know how to punish this insolence." - -"Your father, Miss, won't do no such a thing," returned Jeffreys; "and -it'll be all the worse for you if you holler. I know a many things that -wouldn't render it safe for master to quarrel with me. So give me a -kiss——" - -"Villain!" exclaimed Rosamond, bursting into tears: "how dare you thus -insult me? Leave the room—or I alarm the house at any risk!"—and she -rushed towards the bell-pull. - -"None of that nonsense, Miss—_or I'll hang your father, as sure as -you're alive_!" said Jeffreys, placing his back to the door, folding his -arms, and surveying Rosamond with the insolence of a licentious, drunken -bully. - -"Hang my father!" repeated the unhappy girl, staggering back and sinking -into a chair—for so many dreadful things had recently occurred, that her -mind was more attuned to give immediate credence to evil than to receive -good tidings. - -"Yes, by jingo!" said Jeffreys: "I can hang him any day I like. But -what's more, I know pretty well all that's happened to you. I didn't -listen for nothink at the parlour door this morning when that Mrs. -Bingsby or Stingsby, or whatever her name is, was here." - -"My God! my God!" murmured Rosamond, pressing her hands to her brow with -all her might—for she felt as if she were going mad. - -"Now don't take on so, Miss," said Jeffreys: "I'm sure I didn't mean to -vex you like that. But the fact is I've took a great fancy to you: and -if so be I let out that your father did draw a knife across the throat -of that baronet which come here last night, and which I s'pose was the -same you spoke of this morning to Mrs. Bingsby——" - -"Monster!" shrieked Rosamond, in a shrill, penetrating tone—for she was -unable any longer to subdue the horrible emotions which racked and -tortured her, goading her almost to madness. - -In another instant Mr. Torrens was heard to rush from his chamber—a -moment more, and he forced his way into his daughter's room, hurling the -villain Jeffreys forward with the violence exerted in dashing open the -door. - -"Father—dear father!" exclaimed Rosamond, springing into his arms; "save -me—save me from that monster, who has told me such dreadful—dreadful -things!" - -"Be calm, Rosamond," said Mr. Torrens in a low and hoarse tone; "or you -will alarm the other servant. Jeffreys," he added, turning towards the -fellow who was swaying himself backwards and forwards, in the middle of -the room, in that vain attempt to appear sober so often made by drunken -men, "how dare you to intrude here? But follow me—I must speak to you -alone." - -"Father—one word," said Rosamond, in a voice indicative of deep feeling. -"This man uttered a frightful accusation against you—Oh! an accusation -so terrible that my blood curdles——" - -"Nonsense, Rosamond!" interrupted Mr. Torrens, cruelly agitated: "you -see that he has taken a drop too much—he is a good well meaning -fellow—and will be very sorry in the morning——" - -"Sorry! why the devil should I be sorry?" cried Jeffreys, with the -dogged insolence of inebriation. "I don't know what I've got to be sorry -for——" - -"Come, come," said Mr. Torrens, gently pushing his daughter aside, and -approaching the man-servant in a coaxing, conciliatory way; "this is -carrying the thing too far, John——" - -"Well—well, we can talk it over in the morning, Miss—and I dare say we -shall make matters right enough together," stammered the drunken hind, -as he allowed himself to be led away from the chamber by Mr. Torrens. -"You're a pretty gal—and if I said anythink amiss——" - -The almost maddened father hurried him over the threshold, and Rosamond -hastened to secure the door behind them both. - -Then flinging herself into a chair, she exclaimed, "My God! what horrors -have met my ears this night! Misfortunes—crimes—woes—fears—outrages have -entered the house, like an army carrying desolation along with it! But -my father—a murderer—Oh! heavens—no—no—it cannot be! And yet that dread -accusation—so cool—so systematic——my God! my God!" - -And she wept as if her heart would break. - -From this painful—or rather most agonising condition of mind, she was -aroused by a low knock at her door; and, in answer to her question who -was there, the voice of her father replied. - -She hastened to admit him;—but, as he entered, she started back, -appalled by the ghastliness of his countenance, every lineament of which -denoted horror and fearful emotions. - -"Father, tell me all—keep me not in suspense—let me know the worst!" -exclaimed Rosamond, clasping her hands in an imploring manner. "Dreadful -things have happened, I am sure—and my brain is reeling, maddening!" - -"Daughter," said Mr. Torrens, taking her hand, "you _must_ and you -_shall know_ the worst now—for I find that the miscreant Jeffreys has -indeed told you too much for me to attempt to conceal the truth——" - -"Just heavens! my father—stained with blood—the blood of vengeance on -account of his dishonoured daughter;" said Rosamond, speaking in broken -sentences and with hysterical excitement, while her eyes were fixed -intently and with a fearfully wild expression upon the haggard -countenance of her sire. - -"No—not so, Rosamond," answered Mr. Torrens emphatically. "Sit -down—there—and try and compose yourself for a few moments, while I give -you an explanation which circumstances have rendered imperative." - -The wretched girl suffered herself to be placed on a seat: her father -then drew another chair close to the one which she occupied—and, leaning -with folded arms over the back of it, he continued in these terms:—— - -"Last night—after you had retired to your room—Sir Henry Courtenay -called. Yes—he dared to visit the house into which such dishonour and so -much misery had been brought by his means. But he came to offer every -possible atonement which it was in his power to make; and then I -ascended to your room—here—to make you aware of his presence in the -parlour below and of the proposals which I had received. But I found you -in a state of mind too profoundly excited to bear the announcement—I -remained with you to console and tranquillise you—and, when I saw that -you were growing more calm, I retraced my way down stairs. Merciful -heavens! what a spectacle then met my eyes!" - -And Mr. Torrens, having introduced his fearful history by this deceptive -and well coloured preface, proceeded to narrate the facts of the murder -precisely as they had really occurred,—not forgetting to mention the -robbery of a sum of money which he had left on the table. He then -explained the part which John Jeffreys had subsequently performed in the -occurrences of the preceding night; and he wound up in the following -manner:—— - -"Thus you perceive, dear Rosamond, how a fearful combination of -circumstances would fix dark and dreadful suspicions on me, were this -tragedy to be brought to light. And now, too, you can understand how -that miscreant Jeffreys dared to presume upon his knowledge of the -shocking event—how, believing me to be completely in his power, he -fancied that I dared not defend my own daughter from his licentious -ruffianism. And, more than all this, Rosamond—Mrs. Slingsby holds me -also beneath the rod of terrorism! For she knew that the baronet came -hither last night—she knew also that he did not return—and I was -compelled to reveal to her the whole truth, even as circumstances have -now forced me to reveal it to you. And this is the secret of my intended -marriage with her—a marriage that will take place to-morrow, and into -which she has coerced me! Thus, Rosamond, if you ever loved and if you -still love your unhappy father—pity him, pity him—but do not reproach -him—nor aggravate his grief and his mental anguish by thought or deed on -your part!" - -So ingeniously had Mr. Torrens blended truth and fiction in his -narrative, to work upon the feelings of his daughter,—so artfully had he -combined and explained the various incidents in order to represent -himself as the victim of cruel circumstances—that the generous-minded -Rosamond felt the deepest commiseration and sympathy on behalf of her -father rapidly taking possession of her soul. - -"My dearest parent," she said, "I crave your pardon—I implore your -forgiveness, for having wronged you by the most unjust—the most horrible -suspicions! But the conduct of that man Jeffreys—his awful -accusation—the reluctance you appeared to exhibit in dealing summarily -with him, when you entered the room the first time this night,—all these -things operated powerfully upon my mind, which has been attenuated by so -many dreadful shocks within the last ten or twelve days! Alas! what -sorrows have overtaken us—what perils environ us! Let us fly from this -neighbourhood, dear father—let us leave England——" - -"It is impossible, Rosamond!" interrupted Mr. Torrens hastily. "I had -myself thought of that means of ensuring personal safety: but I -abandoned the idea almost as soon as formed—for it was better to stay -here, surrounded by danger, yet having bread to eat, than seek a foreign -clime to starve!" - -"We can work, dear father—we can toil for our livelihood! But, -no—never should you be reduced to such a painful necessity, so long as -your daughter has health and strength to labour for our mutual -support!" exclaimed the excellent-hearted girl. "Oh! let us fly—let us -quit this country—let us repair to France! I have some few -accomplishments—drawing—music—a knowledge of all the branches of -needlework; and it will be hard indeed if I cannot earn enough to -procure us bread." - -"No—no, Rosamond—it cannot be!" said Mr. Torrens, tears now trickling -down his cheeks—for the better he became acquainted with the admirable -traits of his daughter's character—traits which adversity, misfortune, -and danger now developed—the more bitterly did his heart smite him for -the awful treachery he had perpetrated with regard to her. - -"And wherefore is it impossible?" she asked. "Consider, my dear father, -by what circumstances you are now surrounded. On one side is Jeffreys -whom you dare not offend—whom you cannot discharge—and from whose -ruffianism your daughter is not safe. On the other side, is this -marriage with Mrs. Slingsby—a marriage which I now perceive to be forced -upon you—a marriage that will bring into this house a person whom -neither of us can ever love or respect!" - -"Enough! enough! Rosamond," exclaimed Mr. Torrens: "all these sad -things—these dangers and these sacrifices—have become interwoven with -the destiny which it is mine to fulfil; and I must pursue my painful -course—follow on my sad career, in the best manner that I may. I cannot -risk starvation in a foreign land—I could not support an existence -maintained by the toils of my daughter. Besides, I am confident of being -able to realise a fortune by my speculations in this neighbourhood. -Here, then, must I remain. And now, Rosamond, it remains for you to -decide whether you will receive the mother-in-law whom imperious -circumstances force upon you—or whether you will abandon your father!" - -"Never, never will I leave you!" cried the affectionate girl, throwing -her arms around her parent's neck, and embracing him tenderly. - -The interview—the painful interview between the father and his child -then terminated. The former retired to his own apartment, a prey to -feelings of the most harrowing nature; and the latter sought her couch, -to which slumber was brought through sheer exhaustion. - -But the horrors of the early portion of the night were perpetuated in -her dreams! - - - - - CHAPTER LXXXII. - THE FORGED CHEQUE. - - -Oh! what a strange, and, at the same time, what a wondrous world is this -in which we live;—and how marvellous is human progress! The utmost -attainments effected by the wisdom of our ancestors were but ignorance -and short-sightedness compared with the knowledge of the present day. -Antiquity had its grand intellects and its sublime geniuses; but it -furnished not the same abundance of materials to act upon as is afforded -by the discoveries and likewise by the spirit of this age! - -But are we proportionately happier, on this account, than were our -forefathers? Is the working-man, for instance, more prosperous, more -comfortable, more enviable as to his condition, than the aboriginal -Briton who lived in a cave or the hollow of a tree, and who painted his -body to protect it against the cold? - -With all our prosperity—with all the grandeur, the glitter, and the -refinement of our civilisation—with all our moralising institutions and -our love of social order and mental improvement, we yet find the -national heart devoured, tortured, and preyed upon by that undying -serpent—PAUPERISM! - -Yes: the millions are not so happy, so prosperous, or so comfortable as -they ought to be;—for they are compelled to gnaw the tares of -civilisation's field, while the proud and heartless oligarchy -self-appropriate the corn! - -Proud and heartless, indeed, are the rulers and the mighty ones of this -land; and if the millions remain passive and patient, that pride and -that heartlessness will grow, the one more despotic and the other more -selfish. - -It was but a few days ago that we marked two distinct articles in the -morning newspapers, which formed a contrast fearfully significant in its -evidence of the pride and the heartlessness which we abominate on the -one hand, and of the distress and suffering which we so deeply deplore -on the other. - -One of these articles consisted but of _four lines_: the other occupied -nearly _two columns_. - -The first stated as laconically as possible that bread had risen to -thirteen-pence the quartern loaf, and recorded a rapidly-disposed of -regret that provisions should be so dear, on account of the poor. The -second gave a laboured, fulsome, and tediously wire-drawn narrative of -"Her Majesty's State Ball." - -Thus the misery endured by millions in consequence of dearness and -scarcity, is a trivial matter deserving only of _four lines_; whereas -the trumpery nonsense and childish tom-foolery of a royal dance are -deemed of sufficient importance to merit nearly _two columns_! - -Oh! instead of giving balls and splendid entertainments at such a time, -if the Sovereign of this land were to say to the people, "Ye are -starving, and it makes my heart bleed to think that from your very -vitals are wrung the hundreds of thousands of pounds which are wasted by -myself and the other members of the Royal Family on our frivolities, our -whims, our caprices, and our wanton extravagances: therefore will I give -ye back one half of the enormous income which I have hitherto enjoyed, -in the full confidence that my example will be imitated by many others -who prey upon you;"—did the Sovereign thus speak to the nation, the -nation would be justly proud of its Sovereign; and yet this Sovereign -would only be performing a duty dictated by humanity and common justice. - -What would be thought of the father of a family who feasted on turtle -and venison, accompanied by generous wines, every day, while his -children were thrust into the cold, humid cellar, to devour a mouldy -crust and drink water? - -Yet the Sovereign delights in the attribute of a general and -comprehensive paternal solicitude in the welfare of the people: but it -is an attribute which exists only in the imaginations of grovelling -courtiers or lick-spittle historians. - -Royalty and Aristocracy are intensely—necessarily—and thoroughly -selfish: and as for any anxiety on behalf of the toiling and suffering -millions, the idea is absurd—the notion is a mere delusion—the assertion -that such a feeling exists, is a lie—a monstrous, wicked, atrocious lie! - -There is more of the milk of human kindness in a single cottage than in -all the palaces of Europe taken together. - -There is more true philanthropy in one poor man's hovel, than in a -thousand mansions of the great and wealthy in the fashionable quarters -of London. - -Oh! if the father or the mother can dance and be glad while the children -are famishing, the sooner all ties are severed between such worthless -parents and such an oppressed and outraged offspring, the better! - -Nero danced and sang on the summit of a tower at the spectacle presented -to his eyes by burning Rome;—and festivity and rejoicing reign in our -English palaces, at a moment when scarcity menaces the land with famine -and its invariable attendant—pestilence! - -People of England! ye now understand how much sympathy ye may expect on -the part of those who derive all their wealth from the sweat of your -brow! - -People of Ireland! ye now comprehend how much pity your starving -condition excites on the part of your rulers! - -People of Scotland! ye now perceive how worthy the great ones of the -realm are of your adulation! - -But it is sickening, as it is sorrowful, to dwell on this subject. Some -of our readers may perhaps ask us wherefore we broach it at all? We will -reply by means of a few questions. Is not every individual member of a -society interested in the welfare of that society? or ought he not at -least to be so? Is he not justified in denouncing the errors or the -downright turpitude of the magistrates whom that society has chosen to -govern it, and who derive their power only from its good will and -pleasure? or is it not indeed his duty to proclaim those errors and that -turpitude? Should not this duty be performed, even if it be unpleasant? -and can we ever hope to ameliorate our condition, unless we expose the -abuses which oppress, degrade, and demoralise us? - -Oh! let no one rashly and in a random manner say that he cares nothing -about politics! Such an assertion denotes a wilful disregard not only of -his neighbour's interests, but also of his own. Were all men to -entertain such an indifference, the people would be the veriest slaves -that an unrestrained despotism and an unwatched tyranny could render -them. It is as necessary for the industrious classes to protect their -rights and privileges by zealously guarding them, as to adopt -precautions to save their houses from fire. - -One word more. It is a common saying, and as absurd as it is -common—"Oh! women have no right to meddle in politics." Women, on the -contrary, have as much right as "the lords of the creation" to exhibit -an interest in the systems and institutions by which they are -governed. For the sake of their children, as well as for their own, -they should assert and exercise that right. It is a lamentable -delusion to suppose that the intellect of woman is not powerful nor -comprehensive enough to embrace such considerations. The intellect of -woman is naturally as strong as that of man; but it has less chances -and less opportunities of developing its capacity. The masculine study -of politics would aid the intellect of woman in putting forth its -strength; and we hope that the day is gone by when the female sex are -to be limited to the occupations of the drawing-room, the nursery, or -the kitchen. We do not wish to see women become soldiers or sailors, -nor to work at severe employment: but we are anxious to behold them -_thinkers_ as well as _readers_—utilitarians as well as domestic -economists. And we know of no greater benefit that could be conferred -on society in general, than that which might be derived from the -influence of the well developed intellect of woman. Her mind is -naturally better poised than that of man: far-seeing and quick-sighted -is she;—a readiness at devising and combining plans to meet -emergencies, is intuitive with her. Her judgment is correct—her taste -good;—and she profits by experience far more usefully than does man. -Is it not absurd, then—is it not unjust—and is it not unwise to deny -to woman the right of exercising her proper influence in that society -of which she is the ornament and the delight? - -Alas! that there should be such exceptions to the general rule of female -excellence, as Martha Slingsby,—a woman whose principles were thoroughly -corrupt, whose licentious passions were of the most devouring, -insatiable kind, and whose talent for wicked combinations and evil -plottings was unfortunately so great! - -Let us return to this hypocritical and abandoned creature, and follow -her in the vile scheme which now occupies all her attention. - -Having breakfasted at an early hour, she seated herself at her desk, -whence she drew forth a packet of letters received by her at various -times from Sir Henry Courtenay, and the signatures of which now became -the objects of her special study. The art of counterfeiting the late -baronet's autograph was practised by her for nearly half an hour; for -though she was already tolerably confident of her ability to forge his -signature most successfully,—as she had assured Mr. Torrens,—she -nevertheless deemed it prudent to render the imitation as perfect as -possible. - -At last the atrocious deed was accomplished to her complete -satisfaction; and a cheque for two thousand pounds lay, drawn in a -thoroughly business-like manner, upon her desk! - -She was bold and courageous in the execution of plots and the carrying -out of deep schemes;—but this dark and dangerous crime which she had -just perpetrated, caused her to shudder from head to foot! Hitherto all -her wickedness had been of a nature calculated only, if detected, to -involve her in disgrace, and not in peril—to ruin her character, but not -place her life in jeopardy! Now she had taken a step—a bold and -desperate step—which at once set her on the high road that conducts all -those who are found treading its pathway, to the foot of the scaffold! - -Yes—she shrank back and she trembled violently as she rose from the desk -whereon the forged cheque now lay; and for a moment she was inclined to -seize it—to rend it into a thousand pieces—and thus to dispel at once -and in an instant the tremendous black cloud of stormy danger which she -had drawn over her own head. - -But, no—she had courage enough to be wicked and rash; but she had not -strength of mind sufficient to render her prudent. She therefore decided -on daring all—risking everything, by the presentation of the forged -cheque! - -Having dressed herself in a style of unusual elegance, she proceeded in -a hackney-coach to Lombard Street, and alighted at the door of the -banking-house on which the cheque was drawn. - -Saying to herself,—"Now for the aid of all my courage!"—she entered the -spacious establishment, and advanced towards the counter. - -One of the numerous clerks in attendance instantly received the cheque -which she handed across to him;—and, as it left her hand, a chill struck -to her heart—and she would at that moment have given worlds to recall -it. - -Her composure was now only the effect of utter desperation: but so -unruffled was her countenance, that not a lineament was so changed as to -be calculated to engender suspicion. - -The clerk took the cheque to the nearest desk upon the counter; and -after reading it with more than usual attention, as Mrs. Slingsby -thought, he said, "This is dated the day before yesterday, madam. Have -you seen Sir Henry Courtenay since then?" - -"I have not," answered Mrs. Slingsby, wondering how she was able to -speak in a tone so cold and collected. "I believe," she added, "that he -is gone out of town." - -"Pardon the question, madam," observed the clerk; "but one of his -servants was here last evening, just before closing time, to enquire if -we had seen Sir Henry:"—then, after a few moments' pause, he said, "How -will you have this?" - -Immense was the relief suddenly experienced by the guilty woman! She -seemed as if drawn abruptly forth from the depths of an ocean in which -she had been suffocating—drowning. The revulsion of feeling was so -great, that, whereas she had been enabled to stand without support -throughout the few minutes of frightful ordeal just passed, she was now -compelled to cling to the counter, though the clerk observed not her -emotion. - -Having specified the manner in which she desired the amount of the -cheque to be paid her, Mrs. Slingsby received the produce of her crime, -and quitted the bank. - -She was now so astounded at the complete success of her -scheme,—although, when able to reflect calmly upon it, she had never -once doubted the issue,—that she could scarcely believe in its -realization. Her brain whirled—her heart palpitated violently, as she -ascended the steps of the hackney-coach;—and its motion, as it rolled -away from the door of the bank, increased the excitement under which she -was now labouring. - -On her return to Old Burlington Street, she found Mr. Torrens waiting -for her, it being nearly twelve o'clock—the hour appointed for their -visit to the solicitor. - -The moment she entered the drawing-room, Mr. Torrens rose from his seat, -and advanced towards her, his eyes fixed intently upon her countenance. - -In fact Mr. Torrens was deeply anxious to learn the result of the bold -venture which Mrs. Slingsby was that morning to make. With him it was -now a matter of pecuniary ruin or salvation; and he had overcome so many -difficulties already,—stifling his own scruples at taking an immodest -woman for his wife, and reducing his daughter to a belief in the -necessity of his submitting to this matrimonial arrangement,—that he -trembled lest some unforeseen accident should thwart him just at the -moment when he appeared to be touching on the goal of success. Moreover, -he had that morning, ere quitting home, so contrived matters with John -Jeffreys as to induce this man to leave his service without delay; and -he had enjoyed the supreme satisfaction of seeing that dangerous person -leave his house ere he himself had set out to keep his appointment with -Mrs. Slingsby. Thus every thing had progressed in accordance with Mr. -Torrens' views and wishes, so far as the preliminaries to his change of -condition were involved. - -"Well, my dear madam, what tidings?" he eagerly demanded, as he -approached to meet Mrs. Slingsby. - -"I have succeeded," she said, throwing herself into a chair. "But I -would not for worlds undergo again the same dreadful alternations -between acute suspense and thrilling joy—cold tremor and feverish -excitement." - -"And yet the transaction has given a charming glow of animation to your -countenance," observed Mr. Torrens, now for the first time inflamed by -desire in respect to the amorous widow whom he was shortly to make his -wife. "I have procured the license; and——" - -"And Rosamond—what of her?" demanded Mrs. Slingsby hastily. - -"She will receive you with a respectful welcome at Torrens Cottage," was -the answer. "By dint of reasoning with her, I overcame all her scruples, -and rendered her pliant and ductile to our purposes." - -"All progresses well, then," said Mrs. Slingsby. "Let us now away to Mr. -Howard." - -And to that gentleman's office did the pair proceed. Their business was -soon explained to the attorney, who manifested no surprise nor any -particular emotion at the singularity of the transaction; for Mr. Howard -was a perfect man of business, ready to receive instructions without -expressing any feelings at all calculated to annoy his clients, and -never indicating a curiosity to learn more than those clients might -choose to confide to him. - -"I am to keep this sum of two thousand pounds until such time as Mr. -Torrens may claim it in the capacity of your husband?" he said, as -coolly and quietly as if he were receiving a deposit on the purchase of -an estate. - -"Exactly so," answered Mrs. Slingsby. - -"And to-morrow morning, my dear sir," added Mr. Torrens, with a smile, -"I shall come to claim it." - -"Good," exclaimed Mr. Howard, locking up the bank-notes and gold in his -iron safe. "I give you joy, Mr. Torrens: Mrs. Slingsby, I wish you all -possible happiness." - -Thus speaking, the attorney bowed his clients out of the office. - -Mr. Torrens escorted Mrs. Slingsby back to Old Burlington Street, and -then repaired as fast as his horse and gig would take him to his own -dwelling, to sit down to an early dinner, and afterwards dress himself -for the interesting ceremony of the evening. - -But on his arrival at the Cottage, he learnt from the female servant who -opened the door, that his daughter Rosamond had left home an hour -previously. - -"Left home!" ejaculated Mr. Torrens. "But she will return?" he continued -interrogatively. "Did she not say that she would return?" - -"She desired me to give you this note, sir," answered the domestic. - -Mr. Torrens tore open the letter placed in his hands, and read the -following impressive lines:— - - "Pardon me, dearest father, for the step which I am now taking; but - I cannot—cannot support the idea of dwelling beneath the same roof - with that lady who is soon to be my mother-in-law. I know that I - promised not to desert the paternal home: that promise was given in - sincerity—though maddening reflections now render me incapable of - keeping it. You are well aware how dreadfully my feelings have been - wounded—how cruelly my heart has been lacerated, during the last few - hours; and I have struggled against the violence of my grief—I have - endeavoured to subdue my anguish;—but the occurrences of last - night—the outrage attempted by that villain Jeffreys—the revelation - of the terrible secret relative to Sir Henry Courtenay——Oh! my dear - father, a mind ten thousand times stronger than that of your unhappy - daughter could not endure the weight of all this aggregate of - misery! Therefore, sooner that my presence should render my father's - house unhappy, I depart thence, hoping to be followed by your - blessing! Grieve not for me, dear father—heaven will protect me! - From time to time I shall write to you; and should happier days - arrive——but of that, alas! I dare entertain no hope at present. To - you must I leave the painful task of accounting to my dearest, - dearest sister and her esteemed husband for my absence when you see - them again. Farewell—farewell, my beloved father! I scarcely know - what I have written—my brain is on fire—my heart is ready to - burst—my eyes are dimmed with tears." - -The servant watched the countenance of her master with evident interest -and curiosity as he perused this note. - -"Did Miss Rosamond appear much excited?" he asked, in a tremulous tone, -and without raising his eyes from the letter which he held in his hand. - -"She was crying very much, sir," responded the servant; "and it made me -quite sad to see her. I attempted to comfort her; but she only shook her -head impatiently, and then sobbed as if her heart would break. I knew -that she was going to leave, because she had a small package in her -hand; and she did cry so dreadful when she told me to give you this -note." - -Mr. Torrens turned aside, and hastened to his chamber, where he remained -until half-past five o'clock. He then descended to the parlour, dressed -for the nuptial ceremony. To the servant's enquiry relative to the -serving up of the dinner, he replied that he had no appetite, and -immediately gave orders for the horse and gig to be got ready by a -stable-boy, who had been hastily hired in the morning to take the place -of Jeffreys until a more efficient substitute could be found. - -This command was soon obeyed, and shortly before seven o'clock Mr. -Torrens arrived in Old Burlington Street. - -The flight of his daughter from home had proved a more severe shock to -him than the reader might imagine, considering the cold and heartless -disposition of this man. It was not that he felt he should miss her -society;—no—he did not love her enough to harbour a regret of that -nature;—but her departure from the paternal dwelling had made him writhe -beneath the maddening—the galling conviction that his independence was -in a measure gone, and that a stern necessity had compelled him to -assent to link his fate with that of a woman so vile and abandoned, that -his own child fled at the idea of her approach. - -Influenced by such feelings as these, it was no easy task for Mr. -Torrens to assume a complacent demeanour suitable to the occasion of his -nuptials. He, nevertheless, managed to conceal the emotions which wrung -him so acutely, and played his part with tolerable satisfaction to Mrs. -Slingsby as she introduced him to Dr. Wagtail and the other guests, -including a clergyman, who were already assembled at her house. - -The ceremony was performed by the reverend gentleman just alluded to, -Dr. Wagtail giving the bride away. A splendid banquet was then served -up; and shortly after ten o'clock Mr. and Mrs. Torrens departed together -for the Cottage. - - - - - CHAPTER LXXXIII. - THE REWARD OF CRIME. - - -At half-past eleven on the following morning, Mr. Torrens entered the -office of Mr. Howard, the solicitor. - -His countenance wore a smile of satisfaction, in spite of the various -events which had lately occurred to harass him; for he was about to -receive a large sum of money—and his fingers itched to grasp the -bank-notes and the gold which he had seen stowed away in the safe on the -preceding day. - -He already beheld his debts paid—his mind freed from pecuniary -anxieties—and his speculations prospering in a manner giving assurance -of the realization of a splendid fortune; and these pleasing visions, -with which his imagination had cheered itself during the drive from the -Cottage to the attorney's office, naturally tended to bestow on his -countenance the expansiveness of good humour. - -And, after all, it is a pleasant thing to enter a place where one is -about to receive a good round sum of money, even though the amount will -not remain long in pocket, but must be paid away almost as soon as -fingered. - -Mr. Torrens had never felt more independent than he did on this -occasion; and the look which he bestowed upon a poor beggar-woman with a -child in her arms, as he ascended the steps leading to the front-door of -Mr. Howard's abode, was one of supreme contempt—as if a pauper were -indeed a despicable object! - -Well—Mr. Torrens entered the office with a smiling countenance:—but he -was immediately struck by the strange aspect of things which there -presented itself. - -The place was in confusion. The clerks were gathered together in a group -near the window, looking particularly gloomy, and conversing in -whispers;—several gentlemen were busily employed in examining the -japanned boxes which bore their names and contained their -title-deeds;—and two or three females were weeping in a corner, and -exchanging such dimly significant observations as—"Oh! the rascal!"—"The -villain!"—"To rob us poor creatures!" - -Mr. Torrens recoiled, aghast and speechless, from the contemplation of -this alarming scene. A chill struck to his heart: and, in common -parlance, any one might have knocked him down with a straw. - -"Good heavens! gentlemen," he exclaimed, at length recovering the use of -his tongue: "what is the meaning of this?" - -"Ask those youngsters there, sir," said one of the individuals engaged -in examining the tin-boxes: and the speaker pointed towards the clerks -in a manner which seemed to imply that the news were too shocking for -_him_ to unfold, and that it was moreover the duty of the lawyer's -subordinates to give the required information. - -"Well, gentlemen, what _is_ the matter?" demanded Mr. Torrens, turning -to the clerks. "Has any thing sudden happened to Mr. Howard?" - -"Oh! very sudden indeed, sir," was the answer vouchsafed by one of the -persons thus appealed to, and accompanied by a sinister grin. - -"Is he dead?" enquired Mr. Torrens, his excitement now becoming -absolutely intolerable. - -"No, sir—he isn't dead exactly—but——" - -"But what?" cried Torrens, trembling from head to foot. - -"He's bolted, sir!" was the astounding answer. - -"Absconded!" murmured Mr. Torrens faintly;—and, reeling like a drunken -man, he would have fallen had he not come in contact with the wall. - -Yes—it was indeed too true: Mr. Howard—the cold, phlegmatic, -matter-of-fact, business-like lawyer—had decamped no one knew whither, -though numbers had to mourn or curse his flight! - -"Are you ill, sir?" enquired one of the clerks, at the expiration of a -few moments; for Mr. Torrens was leaning against the side of the room, -his countenance pale as death, his eyes rolling wildly in their sockets, -and his limbs trembling convulsively. - -"No—no—I shall be better in a minute," groaned the unhappy man. "But -this blow—is cruel—indeed!" he gasped in a choking voice. "Two thousand -pounds—ruin—ruin!" - -"Ah! there's many who'll be ruined by this smash, sir," said the clerk: -"you're not the only one—and that's a consolation." - -A consolation indeed! - -It was none for Mr. Torrens, who saw himself ruined beyond all hope of -redemption,—ruined in spite of the immense sacrifices he had made to -avert the impending storm—the sacrifice of his daughter's innocence to -Sir Henry Courtenay, and the sacrifice of himself to an abandoned and -profligate woman! - -Miserable—miserable man! what hast thou earned by all thine -intriguings—thy schemings—thy black turpitude—and thy deplorable -self-degradation? Oh! better—better far is it to become the -grovelling, whining beggar in the streets, than to risk -happiness—character—name—honour—all, on such chances as those on which -thou didst reckon! - -And now, behold him issue forth from that office into which he had -entered with head erect, self-sufficient air, and smiling -countenance:—behold him issue forth—bent down—crushed—overcome—ten years -more aged than he was a few minutes previously,—and an object of pity -even for that poor beggar-woman whom ere now he had treated with such -sovereign contempt! - -Miserable—miserable man! has not thy punishment commenced in this -world?—is there not a hell upon earth?—and is not thy heart already a -prey to devouring flames, and thy tongue parched with the insatiate -thirst of burning fever, and thy soul tortured by the undying worm? Oh! -how canst thou return to thy house in the vicinity of which lies -interred a corpse the discovery of which may at any time involve thee in -serious peril?—how canst thou go back to that dwelling whence thine -injured daughter has fled, and over the threshold of which thou hast -conducted a vile strumpet as thy bride? - -When we consider how fearfully we are made,—how manifold are the chances -that extreme grief—sudden ruin—and overwhelming anguish may cause a -vessel in the surcharged heart to burst, or the racked brain to become a -prey to the thunder-clap of apoplexy,—it is surprising—it is truly -wondrous that man can support such an enormous weight of care without -being stricken dead when it falls upon him! - -And yet to what a degree of tension may the fibres of the heart be -wrung, ere they will snap asunder!—and what myriads of weighty and -maddening thoughts may agitate in the brain, ere reason will rock on its -throne, or a vein burst with the gush of blood! - - * * * * * - -In the meantime occurrences of importance were taking place at Torrens -Cottage. - -Mrs. Torrens—late Mrs. Slingsby—was whiling away an hour in unpacking -her boxes and disposing of her effects in the wardrobe and cupboards of -her bed-chamber; congratulating herself all the time on the success -which her various schemes had experienced. She had obtained a husband to -save her from disgrace; and that husband had set out to receive, as she -fancied, a considerable sum of money, which would relieve him of his -difficulties, and enable him to pursue his undertakings in such a manner -as to yield ample revenues for the future! She was moreover rejoiced -that Rosamond had quitted the house;—for, shameless as this vile woman -was, she could not have failed to be embarrassed and constrained in her -new dwelling, had that injured girl met her there! - -While Mrs. Torrens was thus engaged with her domestic avocations and her -self-gratulatory thoughts in her bed-chamber, the stable-boy, who had -been hired on the preceding day, was occupying himself in the garden. - -"Well, what do you think of your new missus?" he said to the -maid-servant, who had just been filling a stone-pitcher at the pump in -the yard. - -"She seems a decent body enow," was the reply. "But I haven't seen much -of her yet. What are you doing there, Harry?" - -"Why, you must know that I'm rather a good hand at gardening," answered -the lad, desisting from his occupation of digging a hole in the ground, -and resting on his spade: "and I'm going to move that young tree to this -spot here—because it's all in the shade where it stands now, and will -never come to no good." - -[Illustration] - -"Ah! that's one of the young trees that Jeffreys planted—him who went -away so suddenly yesterday morning, and which made me come and fetch you -to help us here," observed the maid. "But, come—go on with your work," -she added, laughing; "and let me see whether you really know how to -handle a spade." - -"Well—you shall see," returned the boy; and he fell to work again with -the more alacrity because a pretty girl was watching his progress. "But -I'll tell you fairly," he said, after a few minutes' pause in the -conversation, "this digging here is no proof of what I can do; because -the ground is quite soft—and the more I dig, the surer I am that the -earth has been turned up here very lately." - -"That I am certain it has not," exclaimed the maid-servant. - -"But I say that it has, though," persisted Harry. "Look here—how easy it -is to dig out! Do you think I don't know?" - -"You fancy yourself very clever, my boy," said the female-domestic, -laughing: "but you're wrong for once. We had no man-servant here before -Jeffreys come—and he never dug there, I declare." - -"Now, I just tell you what I'll do for the fun of the thing," cried the -lad. "I'll dig out all the earth as far down as it has been dug out -before—because I can now see that a hole _has been dug_ here," he added -emphatically. - -"You're an obstinate fellow to stand out so," said the maid. "But I'll -come back in five minutes and see how you get on." - -The good-natured servant hastened into the kitchen with the pitcher of -water in her hand; and the lad continued his delving occupation in such -thorough earnest that the perspiration poured down his forehead. - -By the time the maid-servant returned to the spot where he was digging, -he had thrown out a great quantity of earth, and had already made a hole -at least three feet deep. - -"Still hard at work?" she said. "Why, you have made a place deep enough -to bury that little sapling in! And what a curious shape the hole is, to -be sure! Just for all the world like as if it was dug to put a dead body -in! I wish you wouldn't go on digging in that way, Harry—I shall dream -of nothing but graves——" - -A cry of horror, bursting from the lips of the boy, interrupted the -maid-servant's good-natured loquacity. - -"What is it, Harry?" she demanded, peeping timidly into the hole, from -which the boy hastily scrambled out. - -"You talk of dead bodies," he cried, shuddering from head to foot, and -with a countenance ashy pale;—"but look there—a human hand——" - -The maid shrieked, and darted back into the kitchen, uttering -ejaculations of horror. - -Mrs. Torrens heard those sounds of alarm, and hastily descended the -stairs. - -"Oh! missus," cried the boy, whom she encountered in the passage leading -from the hall to the back door of the house; "such a horrible sight—Oh, -missus! what shall we do?—what will become of us?" - -"Speak—explain yourself!" said Mrs. Torrens, amazed and frightened at -the strange agitation and convulsed appearance of the boy. - -"Oh! missus," he repeated, his eyes rolling wildly, and his countenance -denoting indescribable terror; "in that hole there—a dead body—a man's -hand——" - -"Merciful heavens!" shrieked Mrs. Torrens, now becoming dreadfully -agitated in her turn—for, rapid as lightning-flash, did the thought -strike her that the corpse of Sir Henry Courtenay was discovered. - -"Yes, missus—'tis a man's hand, peeping out of the earth," continued the -lad; "and I'm afraid I hacked it with the shovel—but I'm sure I didn't -mean to do no such a thing!" - -The newly-married lady staggered, as these frightful words fell upon her -ears—and a film spread over her eyes. - -But a sudden and peremptory knock at the front-door recalled her to -herself; and she ordered the trembling maid, who was now standing at the -kitchen entrance, to hasten and answer the summons. - -The moment the front-door was opened, two stout men, shabby-genteel in -appearance, and smelling uncommonly of gin-and-peppermint, walked -unceremoniously into the hall. - -"Is Mrs. Torrens at home, my dear?" said one, who carried an ash-stick -in his hand: "'cos if she is, you'll please to tell her that two -genelmen is a waiting to say a word to her." - -"What name?" demanded the servant-maid, by no means well pleased at the -familiar tone in which she was addressed. - -"Oh! what name?" repeated the self-styled gentleman with the ash-stick: -"well—you may say Mr. Brown and Mr. Thompson, my dear." - -"_I_ am Mrs. Torrens, gentlemen," said that lady, who having overheard -the preceding dialogue, now came forward; "and I suppose that you are -the persons sent by the auctioneer about the sale of my furniture in Old -Burlington Street." - -"Well—not exactly that neither, ma'am," returned the individual with the -ash-stick. "The fact is we're officers——" - -"Officers!" shrieked the miserable woman, an appalling change coming -over her. - -"Yes—and we've got a warrant agin you for forgery, ma'am," added the Bow -Street runner, who was no other than the reader's old acquaintance Mr. -Dykes. - -Mrs. Torrens uttered a dreadful scream, and fell senseless on the floor. - -"Come, young o'oman, bustle about, and get your missus some water, and -vinegar, and so on," exclaimed Dykes. "Here, Bingham, my boy, lend a -helping hand, and we'll take the poor creatur into the parlour." - -The two officers accordingly raised the insensible woman and carried her -into the adjacent room, where they deposited her on the sofa—that sofa -which had proved the death-bed of her paramour! In the meantime the -servant-maid, though almost bewildered by the dreadful occurrences of -the morning, hastened to procure the necessary articles to aid in the -recovery of her mistress; and in a few minutes Mrs. Torrens opened her -eyes. - -Gazing wildly around her, she exclaimed, "Where am I?"—then, -encountering the sinister looks of the two runners, she again uttered a -piercing scream, and clasping her hands together, murmured, "My God! my -God!" - -For a full sense of all the tremendous horror of her situation burst -upon her; and there was a world of mental anguish in those ejaculations. - -"She's a fine o'oman," whispered Dykes to his friend, while the -good-natured servant endeavoured to console her mistress. - -"Yes, she be," replied Bingham; "what a pity 'tis that she's sure to be -scragged!" - -"So it is," added Mr. Dykes. "And now, you stay here, old chap—while I -just make a search about the place to see if I can find any of the blunt -raised by the forgery." - -Thus speaking, the officer quitted the room. - -"Oh! ma'am, pray don't take on so," said the good-natured servant-maid, -endeavouring to console her mistress. "It must be some mistake—I know it -is,—you never could have done what they say! I wish master would come -home—he'd soon put 'em out of the place." - -"My God! my God! what will become of me?" murmured Mrs. Torrens, -pressing her hand to her forehead. "Oh! what shall I do? what will the -world say? Just heavens! this is terrible—terrible!" - -At that moment the parlour door was opened violently, and Mr. Dykes made -his appearance, dragging in the lad Harry, who was straggling to get -away, and blubbering as if his heart were ready to break. - -"Hold your tongue, you damned young fool!" cried Dykes, giving him a -good shake, which only made him bawl out the more lustily: "no one ain't -a going to do you no harm—but we must keep you as a witness. Bless the -boy—I don't suppose you had any hand in the murder." - -These last words brought back to the mind of Mrs. Torrens the dread -discovery which had ere now been made in the garden, and the remembrance -of which had been chased away by the appalling peril that had suddenly -overtaken her: but at the observation of the Bow Street runner to the -boy, she uttered a faint hysterical scream, and fell back in a state of -semi-stupefaction. - -"Murder did you say, old fellow?" demanded Bingham. - -"Yes—summut in that way," returned Dykes. "At all events there's a man -with his throat cut from ear to ear lying at the bottom of a hole in the -garden——" - -"You don't mean to say he was left all uncovered like that?" exclaimed -Bingham. - -"No—no," answered Dykes. "Them as did for him, buried him safe enough; -and it seems that this boy has been a-digging there, and comes to a hand -sticking out of the ground. So he's too much afeared to go down any -farther; but I deuced soon shovelled out the earth—and, behold ye! there -lies the dread-fullest spectacle you ever see, Bingham, in all your -life. But it wont do to waste time in talking here. You cut over to -Streatham and get a couple of constables—'cos there's plenty of work for -us all in this house, it seems." - -Bingham departed to execute the commission thus confided to him; and -Dykes remained behind in charge of the premises. - -It would be impossible to describe the wretchedness of the scene which -was now taking place in the parlour. The lad Harry was crying in one -corner, despite the assurances which Dykes had given him;—the -maid-servant, horrified and alarmed at all the incidents which had -occurred within the last quarter of an hour, was anxious to depart from -a house which circumstances now rendered terrible; but she could not -make up her mind to leave Mrs. Torrens, who was in a most deplorable -condition;—for the unhappy woman lay, gasping for breath and moaning -piteously, on the sofa—her countenance distorted with the dreadful -workings of her agitated soul, and her eyes fixed and glassy beneath -their half-closed lids! - -Dykes accosted the boy, and, was beginning to put some questions to him -with a view to ascertain when it was likely that Mr. Torrens would -return, when that gentleman suddenly drove up to the door in his gig. - -"Now, my lad," said Dykes, "go and open the door, and mind and don't -utter a word about what has taken place here this morning." - -The boy hastened to admit Mr. Torrens, who passed him by without even -appearing to notice his presence, and proceeded straight to the parlour -in a mechanical kind of manner, which showed how deeply his thoughts -were occupied with some all-absorbing subject. - -But the moment the ruined, wretched man opened the door, he shrank back -from the scene which offered itself to his view; for the condition of -his wife, and the presence of so suspicions-looking a person as Mr. -Dykes told the entire tale at once—the forgery had been discovered! - -"Oh! master," exclaimed the servant-maid, "I am so glad you're come -back;—for your poor dear lady——" - -"Yes, master—and that dreadful sight in the garden," interrupted the -boy, whimpering again,—"the murdered man in the hole——" - -Mr. Torrens staggered—reeled—and would have fallen, had not Dykes caught -him by the arm, saying, "Sit down, sir—and compose yourself. I'm very -sorry that I should have been the cause of unsettling your good lady so, -sir: but I'm obleeged to do my dooty. And as for t'other business in the -garden—I s'pose——" - -"I presume you are an officer?" cried Mr. Torrens, suddenly recovering -his presence of mind, as if he had called some desperate resolution to -his aid. - -"That's just what I am, sir," answered Dykes. - -"And you have come here to—to——" - -"To arrest Mrs. Slingsby that was—Mrs. Torrings that is—for forgery, was -my business in the first instance," continued Dykes; "and now its grown -more serious, 'cos of a orkard discovery made in the garden——" - -"What?" demanded Torrens, with strange abruptness: but he was a prey to -the most frightful suspense, and was anxious to learn at once whether -any suspicion attached itself to him relative to that discovery, the -nature of which he could full well understand. - -"The dead body—the murdered gentleman, master!" exclaimed the lad Harry, -throwing terrified glances around him. - -"I do not understand you!" said Mr. Torrens, in a hoarse-hollow tone: -"what do you mean? All this is quite strange—and therefore the more -alarming to me." - -But the ghastly pallor and dreadful workings of his countenance -instantly confirmed in the mind of Dykes the suspicion he had already -entertained—namely, that Mr. Torrens was not ignorant of the shocking -deed now brought to light: and the officer accordingly had but one -course to pursue. - -"Mr. Torrens, sir," he said, "the less you talk on this here business, -perhaps the better; 'cos every word that's uttered here must be repeated -again elsewhere; and it will be my dooty to take you afore a -magistrate——" - -"Take me!" ejaculated the wretched man: and his eyes were fixed in -horrified amazement on the officer. - -"I'm sorry to say I must do so," answered Dykes. - -"Martha—Martha!" ejaculated Torrens, starting from the seat in which -the officer had just now deposited him, and speaking in such wild, -unearthly tones that those who heard him thought he had suddenly -gone raving mad: "why do you lie moaning there? Get up—and face the -danger bravely—bravely! Ah! ah! here is a fine ending to all our -glorious schemes!"—and he laughed frantically. "Howard has run -away—absconded—gone, I tell you! Yes—gone, with the two thousand -pounds! But I did not murder Sir Henry Courtenay!" he continued, -abruptly reverting to the most horrible of all the frightful -subjects which racked his brain. "No—it was not I who murdered -him—you know it was not, Martha!" - -And he sank back, exhausted and fainting, in the seat from which he had -risen. - -"Sir Henry Courtenay!" cried Dykes. "Well—this _is_ strange; for it's on -account of forging his name that the lady is arrested—and notice of his -disappearance was given at our office this morning." - - * * * * * - -Late that evening the entire metropolis was thrown into amazement by the -report "that a gentleman, named Torrens, who had hitherto borne an -excellent character, and was much respected by all his friends and -acquaintances, had been committed to Newgate on a charge of murder, the -victim being Sir Henry Courtenay, Baronet." And this rumour was coupled -with the intelligence "that the prisoner's wife, to whom he had only -been married on the previous day, and who was so well known in the -religions and philanthropic circles by the name of Slingsby, had been -consigned to the same gaol on a charge of forgery." - - - - - CHAPTER LXXXIV. - OLD DEATH'S PARTY. - - -While these rumours were circulating throughout the metropolis, Old -Death was preparing for the reception of visitors at his abode in -Horsemonger Lane. - -The aged miscreant, assisted by the old woman who acted as his -housekeeper, arranged bottles, glasses, pipes, and tobacco on the -table—made up a good fire so that the kettle might boil by the time the -guests should arrive—and carefully secured the shutters of the window in -order to prevent the sounds of joviality from penetrating beyond that -room. - -When these preparations were completed, the old woman was despatched to -the nearest cook's-shop to procure a quantity of cold meat for the -supper; and shortly after her return with the provender, the visitors -made their appearance—arriving singly, at short intervals. - -The housekeeper was dismissed to her own room: and the four men, having -seated themselves at the table, began to mix their grog according to -their taste. - -"I s'pose you've heard the news, Mr. Bones?" said Jeffreys. - -"About your late master and his wife—eh?" asked Old Death. - -"Just so. They're in a pretty pickle—ain't they?" exclaimed Jeffreys, -with a chuckle. "We little thought last night, when we was a talking -over the whole business and dividing the swag, that the corpse would so -soon turn up again. But, I say," he added, now breaking out into a -horrible laugh, and turning towards Tim the Snammer and Josh Pedler, "it -was rather curious, though, that I should have had a hand in burying -that there feller which you made away with." - -"And still more curious," replied Tim, "that we should have done for a -stranger, while the master of the house his-self escaped altogether. But -'tis no use talking of that there now. I wish it hadn't happened. It was -however done in a hurry——" - -"Never mind the little windpipe-slitting affair," said Josh Pedler -impatiently. "We got the swag—Old Death here smashed the screens[37]—and -that's all we ought to think of. Twelve hundred between us wasn't such a -bad night's work—although it did lead us to do a thing we never did -afore." - -"And now my late master is certain sure to be scragged for it," -exclaimed Jeffreys; "for no one could believe such a tale as he must -tell in his defence. Well—I'm not sorry for him: he is a harsh, -reserved, sullen kind of a chap. But there's one thing I'm precious -sorry for——" - -"What's that?" demanded Old Death. - -"Why—he promised me fifty pounds, to be paid this evening at seven -o'clock," answered Jeffreys; "on condition that I'd leave his service at -an instant's notice: and the blunt isn't of course forthcoming." - -"Never mind that—don't make yourself uneasy, my boy," said Old Death, -with a significant chuckle. "You've got plenty of money for the present: -and the business which we've met to talk about, will put ever so much -more into your pocket." - -"Well—let's to business, then," exclaimed Jeffreys. "The fact is, I -shan't go out to service no more; for, since I'm reglarly in with you -fellers now, I shall stick to you." - -"And I can always find you employment, lads," observed Old Death. -"Come—help yourselves: we shall get on so much more comfortable when -we're a little warmed with good liquor." - -"The cunning old file!" exclaimed Tim the Snammer, laughing and winking -at his comrade, Josh Pedler; "he wants to make us half lushy so as to -get us to undertake anythink, no matter how desperate, on his own -terms." - -"'Pon my word, Tim," said Old Death, affecting a pleasant chuckle, which -however sounded like the echo of a deep-toned voice in a cavern, "you -are too hard upon me. I don't mean any such thing. I'll treat you -liberally whatever you do for me." - -"And so you ought, old boy," returned Tim Splint: "for you know how I -suffered by you—and how cursed shabby you behaved towards me." - -"We agreed yesterday to let bygones be bygones," said Benjamin Bones, -somewhat sternly. "Do you mean to keep to that arrangement? or am I to -consider that you still bear me a grudge?" - -"No—no," cried Tim. "What I said was only in fun. So tip us your hand, -old boy. There! Now we'll each brew another glass—and you shall explain -your business, while we blow a cloud." - -The fresh supplies of grog were duly mixed: Jeffreys, Josh Pedler, and -Tim Splint lighted their pipes;—and Old Death addressed them in the -following manner:— - -"There is a man in London who has done me a most serious injury—an -injury so great that I can never cease to feel its consequences as long -as I live. In a word," continued Old Death, his features becoming -absolutely hideous with the workings of evil passions, "he discovered my -secret stores—he destroyed all the treasures, the valuables, and the -possessions which I had been years and years in accumulating." - -"Destroyed them!" cried Tim Splint. "Stole them, you mean?" - -"No—destroyed them—wantonly destroyed them—destroyed them all—all!" -yelled forth Old Death, his usually sepulchral voice becoming thrilling -and penetrating with hyena-like rage. "The miscreant!—the fiend! All—all -was destroyed! Thousands and thousands of pounds' worth of valuables -wantonly—wilfully—methodically destroyed! I did not see the work of -ruin: but I know that it must have taken place—because the man of whom I -speak is what the world calls honourable! Perdition take such honour!" - -"But of what use was all that property to you, since you didn't convert -it into money?" demanded Josh Pedler. - -"Of what use?" cried Old Death, again speaking in that yelling tone -which manifested violent emotions. "Is there no use in keeping precious -things to look at—to gloat upon—to calculate their value? To be sure—to -be sure there is," he continued, with a horrible chuckle. "But of that -no matter. It is sufficient for you to know that I was deprived in one -hour—in one minute, as you may say—of that property which had been -accumulating for years. And the house, too, which was mine so long—which -I had purchased on account of its conveniences,—even those premises this -man of whom I speak, made me sell him. But I swore to have vengeance on -him—I told him so when we parted—and I will keep my word!" - -"Who is this person that you speak of?" asked Tim the Snammer. - -"The Earl of Ellingham," was the reply. - -"He is a great and a powerful nobleman, I suppose," observed Tim. "It -will be difficult and dangerous to do him any harm." - -"What's a nobleman more than another?" cried John Jeffreys. "I for one -will undertake any thing that our friend Mr. Bones may propose." - -"And so will I—if we're well paid," added Josh Pedler. "But there's one -thing I must mention while I think on it. Don't none of you ever speak -about that affair down at Torrings's, you know—the cut-throat business, -I mean—before my blowen, Matilda. I like to have a little comfort at -home; and a woman's tongue is the devil, when it's set a wagging in the -blowing-up way." - -"We'll mind our p's and q's before 'Tilda," said Tim the Snammer. "It -isn't likely that any of us would be such fools as to talk of that -business to women, or to others besides ourselves. But let Mr. Bones -continue his explanations." - -"I have told you enough," resumed Old Death, "to convince you that this -Earl of Ellingham deserves no mercy at my hands: and if I say that I -will give each of you a hundred pounds—yes, a hundred pounds each—to do -my bidding in all things calculated to accomplish my vengeance on that -man,—if I make you this promise, I suppose you will not refuse to enlist -yourselves in my employ. But, mark you!" he added hastily, and with a -sinister knitting of the brows; "before you give me your answer, bear in -mind that my vengeance is to be terrible—terrible in the extreme!" - -"You mean to have the Earl murdered, I suppose?" said John Jeffreys. - -"Murdered—killed!—no—no," exclaimed Old Death; "that would be a -vengeance little calculated to appease me! _He must live to know—to feel -that I am avenged_," added the malignant old villain. "He must -experience such outrages—such insults—such ignominy,—that he may writhe -and smart under them like a worm under the teeth of the harrow. He must -be made aware whence the blow comes—by whose order it is dealt—and -wherefore it is levelled against him. Will you, then, for one week -devote yourselves to my service? If you agree, I will at once give you -an earnest of the sums promised as your recompense: if you refuse, there -is an end of the matter—and I must look out elsewhere." - -"But you haven't told us what we are to do to earn our reward," said -Josh Pedler. - -"There is no murder in the case," observed Old Death, emphatically. - -"Then I for one consent without another minute's hesitation," exclaimed -Josh Pedler. - -"And me too," said Tim the Snammer. - -"And I'm sure I'm not going to hang back," cried John Jeffreys. - -"Good!" continued Benjamin Bones. "Though you've all got plenty of money -in your pockets, there's no harm in having more. I will give you each -thirty pounds on account of the business I have now in hand," he added, -taking his greasy pocket-book from the bosom of his old grey coat. - -The specified amount was handed over to each of the three villains, who -received the bank-notes with immense satisfaction. - -"Three or four more things like Torrings's and this," observed Tim the -Snammer, "and we shall be able to set up in business as genelmen for the -rest of our lives." - -"Now listen to me," resumed Old Death, his countenance expressing an -infernal triumph, as if his vengeance were already more than half -consummated. "In the first place I must tell you that I'm going to move -to-morrow morning up to Bunce's house, in Earl Street, Seven Dials; and -to-morrow night must you perform the first duty I require of you." - -"And what's that?" demanded Josh Pedler. - -"You know that a few weeks ago a certain person, named Thomas Rainford, -was hanged at Horsemonger Lane Gaol," proceeded Old Death, glancing -rapidly around from beneath his shaggy, overhanging brows. - -"The very prince of highwaymen—a glorious fellow,—a man that I could -have loved!" exclaimed Josh Pedler, in a tone the enthusiasm of which -denoted his heart's sincerity. - -"Well—well," said Old Death, impatiently: "but he's put out of the -way—dead—and gone—and it's no use regretting him. I suppose," he added, -"that if you saw Tom Rain's body here, you wouldn't mind spitting in the -face of the corpse, or treating it with any other kind of indignity, if -you was well rewarded for your pains!" - -"Why—my respect for the man while he was living wouldn't make me such a -fool to my own interests as to refuse to do what you say now that he's -dead," answered Josh Pedler. "Besides, a dead body's a lump of clay, or -earth—or whatever else you may choose to call it: at all events it can't -feel any thing that's done to it. But what in the world has made you -touch on such a queer subject?" - -"Because it is with Tom Rain's body that you will have to come in -contact to-morrow night!" responded Old Death, in a low, sepulchral -voice, and now fixing his eyes as it were on all the three at the same -time. - -And those three men started with astonishment at this extraordinary and -incomprehensible announcement. - -"Yes," proceeded Benjamin Bones: "it is just as I tell you—for the late -Thomas Rainford was the elder brother of the Earl of Ellingham, and was -legitimately born!" - -This declaration excited fresh surprise on the part of the three men to -whom it was addressed. - -"And therefore," continued the aged miscreant, his countenance -contracting with savage wrinkles, "it must be by the desecration of the -corpse of Tom Rain, that the Earl will be alike exposed to the whole -world and goaded to desperation by the insult offered to the remains of -his brother. Now do you begin to understand me? No! Well, then I will -explain myself more fully. It is known that the Earl demanded of the -Sheriff the corpse of the highwayman—that his request was complied -with—and that the body was interred privately in consecrated ground. I -set people to make enquiries; and it was only this morning—this very -morning—I learnt that a coffin, with the name of THOMAS RAINFORD on the -plate, was buried in Saint Luke's churchyard. This intelligence my -friend Tidmarsh gleaned from the sexton of that church. To-morrow -night," added Old Death, "it is for you three to have up that coffin and -convey it to the Bunces' house in Earl Street, Seven Dials." - -"Do you want us to turn resurrectionists?" demanded Josh Pedler, in -unfeigned surprise. - -"I wish you to do what I direct, and what I am going to pay you well -for," answered Benjamin Bones. "If you refuse, give me back my money, -and I'll find others who will be less particular." - -"Oh! I don't want to fly from the bargain," said Josh; "only you'll -allow me the right of being astonished if I choose—or rather if I can't -help it. As for the resurrection part of the business, I'd have up all -the coffins in Saint Luke's churchyard on the same terms." - -"I thought you were not the man to retreat from a bargain," observed Old -Death. "Well—when you have brought the coffin to Earl Street, we'll take -out the body, put a rope round its neck, and a placard on its breast: -and that placard shall tell all the world that _it is the corpse of -Thomas Rainford, the famous highwayman who was executed at Horsemonger -Lane Gaol, and who was the rightful Earl of Ellingham_! This being done, -it will be for you to convey the body to Pall Mall, just before -daybreak, and place it on the steps of the hated nobleman's mansion." - -"There will be danger and difficulty in performing that part of the -task," said Tim the Snammer. - -"Not at all," exclaimed Old Death. "A light spring cart will speedily -convey the burthen to Pall Mall; and it will be but the work of a few -moments to achieve the rest. Besides, at that hour in the morning there -is no one abroad." - -"All this can be managed easy enough," observed Jeffreys. "I don't -flinch, for one. Is that every thing we shall have to do?" - -"No—no," replied Ben Bones, with a grim smile: "I can't quite give three -hundred pounds for one night's work. But since we are on the subject, I -may as well explain to you what else I require in order to render my -vengeance complete." - -The three men replenished their glasses and their pipes; and Old Death -then proceeded to address them in the following manner:— - -"From certain information which I have received, I am confident that the -Earl of Ellingham experiences a great friendship towards Esther de -Medina, who was, I am pretty certain, Rainford's mistress." - -It must be remembered that Benjamin Bones knew nothing of those -incidents which have revealed to the reader the existence of Tamar—her -beautiful sister's counterpart. - -"This Esther de Medina is now in London, having been absent for a short -time with her father. Another important point is that the newspapers -some weeks ago announced the intended marriage of the Earl of Ellingham -and Lady Hatfield. We are therefore aware of these two facts—that the -Earl is attached to Esther de Medina as a friend, and to Lady Hatfield -as her future husband." - -It may also be proper to remind the reader that as Old Death knew -nothing more of the position in which the nobleman and Georgiana stood -with regard to each other, than what he had gleaned from the fashionable -intelligence in the public prints,—so he was completely ignorant of all -the circumstances which had tended to break off the alliance thus -announced. - -"Now," resumed the malignant old fiend, his eyes glistening with -demoniac spite, as he glanced rapidly from Josh Pedler to Tim the -Snammer, and from Tim the Snammer to John Jeffreys,—"now, it is my -intention to wound the heart of that hated Earl—that detested nobleman, -through the medium of his best affections! Yes—by torturing those -ladies, I shall torture him: by subjecting them to frightful inflictions -I shall punish him with awful severity. For to-morrow night, my good -friends, your occupation is chalked out: for the night after, the task -will be to inveigle Esther de Medina to the house in Earl Street; and on -the night after that, Lady Hatfield must also be enticed thither. How -these points are to be accomplished, I will tell you when the time for -action comes." - -"And what do you mean to do with the two ladies when you get them -there?" demanded Tim the Snammer. - -"What will I do to them?" repeated Old Death, his features animated with -a malignity so horrible—so reptile-like, that he was at the moment a -spectacle hideous to contemplate: "what will I do to them? I will tell -them all I have endured—all I have suffered at the hands of the -hated—the abhorred Earl of Ellingham;—and you three will be at hand to -hold them tight—to bind them—to gag them,—so that I, with a wire heated -red, may——" - -"What?" demanded Jeffreys impatiently. - -"Blind them!" returned Old Death, sinking his voice to a whisper, which -sounded hollow and sepulchral. - -The three villains—villains as they were—started at the frightful -intention thus announced to them. - -"Yes—I will put out their beautiful eyes," said Benjamin Bones, -clenching his fists with feverish excitement: "then I will leave them -bound hand and foot in the house, and will send a letter to the Earl to -tell him where he may seek for them! Will not such vengeance as this be -sweet? Did you ever hear of a vengeance more complete? The Earl I leave -unhurt, save _in mind_—and _there_ he will be cruelly lacerated! But -_he_ must have _his eyes_ to see that those whom he loves are blind—he -must be spared _his_ powers of vision, that he may read in the -newspapers the account of those indignities which will have been shown -to the corpse of his elder brother!" - -And, as he feasted his imagination with these projects of diabolical -vengeance, the horrible old man chuckled in his usual style,—as if it -were a corpse that so chuckled! - -The three miscreants, whom he had taken into his service, expressed -their readiness to assist him in all his nefarious plans; for the reward -he had promised them was great, and the earnest they had received was -most exhilirating to their evil spirits. - -The infernal project having been fully discussed, and it having been -agreed that Tidmarsh should proceed with one of the three villains in -the morning to Saint Luke's churchyard, to point out the precise spot -where the coffin bearing the name of Thomas Rainford had been -interred,—all preliminaries, in a word, having been thus settled, the -old housekeeper was summoned to place the supper upon the table. - -The meal was done hearty justice to; and when the things were cleared -away, Old Death, who was anxious to conciliate his friends as much as -possible by a show of liberality, commissioned John Jeffreys to compound -a mighty jorum of punch, the ingredients for which were bountifully -supplied from the cupboard, the wash-hand basin serving as a bowl. - -And now the four villains—four villains as hardened and as ready for -mischief as any to be found in all London—dismissed from their minds -every matter of "business," and set to work to do justice to the punch. - -"Come—who'll sing us a song?" exclaimed Tim the Snammer. - -"Don't let us have any singing, my dear friend," said Old Death: "we -shall alarm the neighbours—and it's better to be as quiet as possible." - -"Well, we must do something to amuse ourselves," insisted Timothy -Splint. "If we get talking, it will only be on things of which we all -have quite enough in our minds; and so I vote that some one tells us a -story: I'm very fond of stories—particklerly when they're true." - -"I'll tell you a true story, if you like," said Jeffreys: "for I don't -mind about smoking any more. In fact, I'll give you my own history—and a -precious curious one it is, too." - -"Do," said Josh Pedler. "But mind and don't introduce no lies into -it—that's all." - -"Every word is as true as gospel," observed Jeffreys. - -The glasses were replenished—Old Death snuffed the candles with his -withered, trembling hand—and Jeffreys then commenced his narrative, -which, as in former instances, we have modelled into a readable shape. - ------ - -Footnote 37: - - Changed the notes. - - - - - CHAPTER LXXXV. - THE HISTORY OF A LIVERY-SERVANT. - - -"My parents were very poor, but very honest; and I was their only child. -My father was a light porter in a warehouse, earning fifteen shillings a -week; and my mother took in washing to obtain a few shillings more. We -lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, -which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of -life, the things moreover being all their own. My father had a good suit -of clothes, and my mother a nice gown, bonnet, and shawl, for Sundays -and holidays; and they also took care to keep me neat and decent in my -dress. Neither of them ever went to the public-house except just to -fetch the beer for dinner and supper; and they were always regular in -their attendance at church. In addition to all these proofs of good -conduct and respectability, they put by two or three shillings a-week as -a provision against a rainy day; and you may be sure that to be able to -do this, they lived very economically indeed. In fact a more industrious -couple did not exist than my father and mother; and you will admit that -they deserved to succeed in the world. This much I have heard from -people who knew them; for they died when I was too young to be able to -understand their ways or judge of their merits. - -"It seems that my mother was a very pretty young woman. She had been a -servant in the family of the merchant in whose warehouse my father was; -and, an attachment, springing up between them, they married. The -merchant, whose name was Shawe, had a son—a dissipated young man, -addicted to gaming and bad company, and consequently a source of great -uneasiness to his parents, who were highly respectable people. During -the time that my mother was in service at the merchant's, Frederick -Shawe was on the Continent, his father having sent him to a commercial -establishment at Rotterdam, in the hope that he would amend his ways -when under the care of comparative strangers. But this hope, it appears, -was completely disappointed; and the young man was after all sent back -to his father's house as irreclaimable. At this time my parents had been -married three years, and I was two years old. My mother was in the habit -of taking my father's dinner to him at the warehouse, whenever his -duties prevented him from running home to get it; and on one of these -occasions, Frederick Shawe saw her as she was going out of the -establishment. He followed her, made insulting proposals, and behaved -most grossly. She had me with her; and this circumstance rendered his -conduct the more abominable, if any thing was wanting to aggravate it. -Indeed, his persecution was carried to such an excess, that she was -obliged to take refuge in a shop, where she went into hysterics through -fright and indignation. Shawe sneaked away the moment he found that the -master of the shop was disposed to take my mother's part against him; -and when she was a little recovered, she was sent home in a -hackney-coach. On the return of my father in the evening, she told him -all that had occurred; and it seems that she had scarcely made an end of -her narrative, when Frederick Shawe entered the room. He declared that -he had come to express his sincere penitence for what he had done, and -to implore that his father might not be made acquainted with his -behaviour. He seemed so earnest, and so excessively sorry for his -infamous conduct, that my parents consented to look over it. He thanked -them over and over again, and took his departure. My father, however, -desired his wife never to come to the warehouse to him any more, as he -was unwilling to expose her to even the chance of a repetition of the -insult. - -"A few weeks after this occurrence Frederick Shawe one evening, when -under the influence of liquor, called at our lodgings, my father being -absent, and renewed his outrageous conduct towards my mother. An alarm -was created in the dwelling—a constable was sent for—and the young -gentleman was taken off to the watch-house. Of course the matter was now -too serious to be hushed up; and the elder Mr. Shawe necessarily learnt -all the particulars. His son was fined and held to bail to keep the -peace towards Mrs. Jeffreys; and my father obtained another -situation—for though the old merchant knew that his son was alone to -blame, yet my father thought that he could not prudently remain in a -place where he must daily meet a person who, he felt convinced, was now -his sworn enemy. And such indeed did Frederick Shawe prove to be; for by -misrepresentations and heaven only knows what other underhand means, he -so successfully avenged himself that my poor father soon lost his new -situation, and was totally unable to find another. The most infamous -reports were circulated concerning him; and he took the cruel treatment -he had received so much to heart, that his spirit was completely -broken—he fell ill, and died in a few weeks. - -"Poverty and despair thus seized upon my mother at the same moment. She -saw all her happiness suddenly blasted by the agency of a reckless -villain; and, to add to her afflictions, the only friend who showed any -compassion for her or who came forward to assist her in the midst of her -wretchedness—namely, the old merchant—was suddenly snatched away by the -hand of death, ten days after the earth had closed over my father's -remains. The poor woman was unable to bear up against her sorrows: she -languished for a few months, and then departed this life, leaving me a -friendless and unprotected orphan at the tender age of three years! You -may guess what then became of me: I was taken to the workhouse! - -"I have sketched these circumstances just to show you how unfortunate I -was in my earliest infancy. My parents would have lived to thrive and -prosper had it not been for the miscreant Frederick Shawe; and under -their protection I should have been happy. However, it was destined that -my father and mother should be cut off thus early; and their cruel fate -threw me as a pauper-child upon the parish. At the workhouse I remained -until I was thirteen; and it was from an elderly couple whom distress -brought to the same place, and who had known my parents well, that I -learnt all the particulars which I have related to you. Well, at the age -of thirteen I was transferred to the care of a surgeon and accoucheur, -who took me into his house to clean the boots and shoes, run on errands, -and beat up drugs in the mortar. Finding me active and, as he said, a -good-looking lad—for I was not then seared with the small-pox as I am -now—he put me into the regular livery of a doctor's boy after I had been -with him a few months; and I was then entrusted with the delivery of the -medicine. My master was an old man; and his wife was a bustling, active, -elderly lady, in whom implicit confidence might be placed as long as she -was well paid for her services and her secresy. You will understand what -I mean very shortly. In fact one day I noticed a great deal of -whispering between the doctor, his wife, and the housekeeper; and their -looks were mysterious and important. Certain preparations, too, -commenced, which showed me that a visitor was expected; for I was a -shrewd and observing boy for my age. I was ordered to clean the windows -in the spare bed-room and the well-furnished little parlour -communicating with it; and while I was thus occupied, the housekeeper -put the two apartments into the nicest possible order. I asked her if -any one was coming to stay at the house, and was desired to mind my own -business. I accordingly held my tongue; but my curiosity was only the -more excited in consequence of the answer I received and the mystery in -which the motive of the preparations in progress was involved. At an -earlier hour than usual I was ordered to retire to my own room; but as -it commanded a view of the street—it was Brook Street, Holborn—I sate -up, watching at my window—for I felt sure that I had not been dismissed -to my attic without some good reason. Nor was I mistaken. At about -half-past ten a hackney-coach drove up to the door: two trunks were -carried into the house, and a lady, muffled in a cloak, was assisted to -descend from the vehicle by the doctor and his wife, who seemed to treat -her with the greatest respect. I was able to notice all that passed, -because the moon was bright and I was looking out of the open window. -The lady accompanied the doctor and his wife in-doors; and the coach -drove away. - -"Next morning I saw the housekeeper take up a breakfast-tray to those -rooms which I had now no doubt were occupied by the lady who had arrived -the night before; but I was cautious not to appear even to notice that -any thing unusual was going on, much less to ask questions,—for I -remembered the rebuff I had already received in this latter respect. The -cook and housemaid were as mysteriously reserved as the housekeeper -herself; and I could not for the life of me make out what it all meant. -To be brief, a month passed away; and though I never saw the tenant of -the spare-rooms all the while, yet I knew that a tenant those rooms had; -for the meals were regularly taken up—the doctor looked in there two or -three times a day—and his wife passed hours together there. At length -the housemaid, who was a pretty, wicked-looking girl of about nineteen, -undertook to initiate me into the secret which so much puzzled me; and, -taking advantage of a Sunday evening when she and I were alone together, -the other servants having gone out, she explained how some young lady, -who was not married, was about to become a mother—and how the -spare-rooms were always kept for lodgers of that kind.—'Have you seen -her?' I asked.—'No,' she replied; 'nor am I likely to see her. I have -been four years in this house, and during that time there have been -eight or ten ladies here in the same way; but I never caught a glimpse -of the face of any one of them. They pay, or their friends pay for them, -a good round sum to master for the accommodation; and that is the manner -in which he has made so much money; for you can see that his regular -practice is not very great. But you must not tell any body that I have -been talking to you in this style, John; or else I shall lose my -place.'—I promised her not to betray her.—'How old are you, John?' she -asked.—'Going on for fourteen,' I said.—'You are a pretty boy,' she -continued. 'Would you like to give me a kiss?'—'You would think me very -rude,' I answered.—'No, I shouldn't: try.'—'But I should feel so -ashamed,' I said.—'Then you are a fool, John,' exclaimed the pretty -housemaid; and she got into a pet, which lasted all the rest of the -evening. - -"I lay awake a long time that night thinking of what I had heard -concerning the lady in the private apartments; and, I can't say how it -was—but I felt an extraordinary longing to catch a glimpse of her. The -more I reflected on this wish, the stronger it grew: and at last I -determined to gratify it somehow or another. Having come to this -resolution I fell asleep. Next morning the twopenny postman at eight -o'clock brought a letter directed to my master; but in the corner were -two or three initials which I could not quite make out. I took it into -the parlour, where the doctor was seated alone at the time; and, when he -had glanced at the address, he said, 'Oh! it is to go up stairs: give it -to the housekeeper:'—and he went on reading his newspaper. Here was an -opportunity which presented itself almost as soon as my desire to see -the tenant of the spare-rooms had been formed; and, without any -hesitation, I hurried upstairs. I knocked at the door of the parlour -communicating with the bed-chamber; and a sweet voice said, 'Come in.' I -accordingly entered the room and beheld a beautiful creature of about -seventeen or eighteen, dressed in a morning wrapper, all open at the -bosom, and reclining in an arm-chair. She uttered an exclamation of -surprise when she saw me, and drew the wrapper completely over her -breast. It was evident that she had expected to see either the -housekeeper or my mistress. I handed her the note, stammered out -something about 'Master having told me to bring it up,' and then -retired, awkward and embarrassed enough. A few minutes afterwards the -bell of the spare-rooms was rung rather violently; and the housekeeper -went up. She shortly came down again, and went into the parlour, to -which I was presently summoned. The doctor and his wife were seated at -the breakfast-table, looking as gloomy and solemn as possible, and the -housekeeper was standing in the middle of the room. I suspected that a -storm was brewing. 'John,' said the doctor, 'what induced you to take -such a liberty as to enter the apartments of a lady who is lodging in my -house?'—'Please, sir,' I answered, as boldly as possible, 'you told me -to take up the letter; and I did so.'—The doctor, his wife, and the -housekeeper looked at each other by turns; and then they all three -looked very hard at me. 'Well,' said the doctor, 'I suppose it _was_ a -misunderstanding on the boy's part;'—for I did not blush nor seem at all -confused while they were all staring at me.—'But you must not tell any -one that you saw the lady up stairs, John,' exclaimed my mistress.—'I -don't know a soul who would care about knowing such a simple thing, -ma'am,' I replied, pretending to be very innocent indeed. I was then -told to withdraw; and thus passed off this little affair. - -[Illustration] - -"Throughout that day I saw the pretty housemaid showing great anxiety to -speak to me alone; but circumstances so occurred, that we had not an -opportunity of exchanging a word in private together. At half-past nine -I went to bed as usual, an hour before the other servants; and I soon -fell asleep. But I was awoke by some one shaking me gently; and I was -also startled by seeing a light in the room. In another moment my fears -subsided; for my visitor was the pretty servant-girl in her night-gear. -She sate down on the edge of the bed, and asked me what I was called -into the parlour for in the morning. I told her all that had occurred. -'You are a dear boy,' she said 'not to have confessed that I had put you -up to any thing; for that was what I was afraid of:'—and she gave me two -or three hearty kisses. Then she asked me a great number of questions -about the lady I had seen—what she was like—how old—the colour of her -hair and eyes—and all sorts of queries of that kind. I replied as well -as I could; and she seemed vastly to enjoy the idea of my cool impudence -in taking up the letter just for the sake of getting a peep at the lady. -In fact she was so much pleased with me, that she kept on kissing me; -and all this ended just as you might suppose—for the pretty housemaid -shared my bed during the remainder of the night. This occurrence was -most unfortunate to us both; for we over-slept ourselves,—and the -housekeeper, doubtless having vainly searched for us down stairs, came -up to look after us. We were discovered fast asleep in each other's -arms; and a terrible scene ensued. The housekeeper alarmed the doctor -and his wife with her cries—for I suppose the old lady was quite -scandalised, though she herself had often chucked me under the chin in a -tender manner. The result was that the pretty housemaid was packed off -without delay; and I was stripped of my livery, compelled to put on my -workhouse clothes again, and sent back to the parish officers. - -"At the very moment when I was conveyed into the presence of the -overseers by the doctor, a middle-aged lady, magnificently dressed, was -returning to her carriage which waited at the door. She immediately -recognised the doctor as an acquaintance, and he addressed her by the -name of Mrs. Beaumont. The exchange of a few remarks led the lady to -observe that she had applied to the parish officers for a -well-conducted, genteel-looking lad to take the place of a page in her -household; and, as she spoke, she eyed me very attentively. The doctor -informed her that I had been in his service and was a good boy in all -respects save one:—and he explained to her the indiscretion which had -compelled him to part with me; adding, 'The lad was no doubt won over by -the young woman herself; but as my professional success depends on the -reputation of my house, I could not overlook this occurrence.'—The lady -declared that she entertained great compassion for me, and said what a -pity it was that such a nice boy should be thrown back on the parish. In -a word, the business ended by her agreeing to take me on trial; and, -before the doctor left me, he whispered in my ear, 'You see, John, that -I have not ruined your character as I might have done; and therefore you -must be a good lad, and never mention to any one that you saw the lady -who is now lodging at my house.'—He then took his departure; and Mrs. -Beaumont, having arranged with the overseers relative to receiving me -into her service, desired that I might be sent to her abode in the -evening. The instructions were obeyed; and I entered my new place, the -first appearances of which pleased me much. - -"Mrs. Beaumont was a widow-lady of about six-and-forty, and was still a -very handsome woman considering her age. Her house was in Russell -Square; and she lived in an elgant style—keeping a butler, a footman, -and three female domestics. She had a Miss Stacey residing with her as a -companion; and this lady was about five or six-and-twenty—somewhat -stout—and rather good-looking. The moment I entered my new place, I was -supplied with a page's livery, and was informed that I was to consider -myself at the orders of the butler. I soon found that I had got into -very comfortable quarters; for the best of provisions were consumed in -the kitchen as well as in the parlour, and the butler, who was fond of a -glass of good liquor himself, often treated me to some likewise. Mrs. -Beaumont saw a great deal of company; and there were dinner-parties or -evening-parties at least three or four times every week. I had not been -many days in this place, before I began to notice that both Mrs. -Beaumont and Miss Stacey treated me with much the same kind of innocent -familiarity which the housekeeper at the doctor's had shown towards me. -They would pat me on the cheek, or chuck me under the chin, and tell me -I was nice boy: but this they never did before each other—only when I -happened to be alone with either one of them. Indeed, when they _were_ -together, and I entered the room to answer the bell or for any other -purpose connected with my duties, they would both appear as indifferent -towards me as if they had never shown any other feeling in my behalf. Of -the two I liked Miss Stacey much the best, because she was younger; and -I felt a strange excitement come over me whenever she began to toy about -with me in the way I have described. One day, when I entered the drawing -room, where I found her alone at the time, she said to me, 'John, you -are a very nice boy; and here is half-a-guinea for you to buy what you -like. Only don't let any one know that I gave you the money.'—'Certainly -not, Miss,' I replied.—'And now, John,' she continued, 'I want you to -answer me a question which I am going to put to you. Will you tell me -the truth?'—I of course declared that I would.—'Then tell me,' she said, -patting my face, and looking full at me with her large blue eyes, 'does -Mrs. Beaumont ever play about with you as I do?'—'Oh! never, Miss,' I -answered immediately, and without undergoing the least change of -countenance.—'You are a good boy, John,' she said; and pulling me -towards her, covered me with kisses. A double-knock at the front-door -interrupted her amusement, which, as you may suppose, I took in very -good part; and she hurried me out of the room, enjoining me not to tell -any one that she played about with me. - -"The next day Mrs. Beaumont was rather indisposed, and kept her own -chamber until the evening, when she descended to the drawing-room. Miss -Stacey had gone out to a party at a married sister's; and, the footman -being absent likewise, it devolved upon me to take up the tea-tray. -'Well, John,' said my mistress, 'are you comfortable in your present -place?'—'Quite, thank you, ma'am,' I replied.—'You like it better than -the doctor's?' she continued, smoothing down my hair, and then passing -her hand over my face.—'Oh! a great deal ma'am.'—'But do you not miss -the pretty servant-girl, John?' she asked, with a sly look and a half -smile. 'Why, what a naughty boy you must be, and at such an age -too!'—'It was all the young woman's fault, ma'am,' I said; 'and I hope -you do not think any the worse of me for it.'—'If I had I should not -have taken you into my service, John,' she answered. 'And to show you -that I am really attached to you and consider you to be a very good boy, -here's a sovereign for you. It is not on account of your wages, mind; -but a little gift. You must not however tell any body that I gave it to -you, or else you will make the other servants jealous.'—'I'll be sure -not to tell, ma'am,' I said: 'and I thank you very much.'—'And now, -John,' continued Mrs. Beaumont, 'I have one question to put to you, and -you must tell me the truth. Does Miss Stacey ever speak kindly to you? I -mean, does she ever do any thing to show you that she likes you better -than the other servants?'—'No, ma'am,' I replied. 'On the contrary, I -fancy she sometimes speaks sharp to me.'—'Oh! indeed,' said Mrs. -Beaumont; and she then subjected me to the same kissing process that I -had undergone on the part of Miss Stacey—only I did not like it quite so -well. The old lady hugged me very tight, and seemed as if she wanted to -say something, but did not exactly like to do so. At last she spoke out -plainly enough, though in a whispering tone. 'John,' she said, 'I just -now gave you a sovereign, because you are a good boy; and I will give -you another if you will do what I ask you and not tell any one about it. -Should you like to have another sovereign?'—'Very much indeed, ma'am,' I -answered.—'Well, then,' continued Mrs. Beaumont, 'you must come to my -room to-night, when the house is all quiet; because I want to speak to -you very particularly indeed.'—'But I promised the servants, ma'am, to -sit up to let Miss Stacey in,' I answered.—'So much the better,' -observed Mrs. Beaumont. 'Miss Stacey has promised to be back by twelve -at latest; and as soon as you have let her in, you can go up to your own -room, and then a few minutes afterwards come down to mine.'—I promised -to do exactly as I was desired; and, having received a few more kisses -and pawings about, was suffered to return to the kitchen. - -"The footman came back at eleven; and as Mrs. Beaumont had already -retired to her chamber, all the servants except myself went off to -theirs. I then remained alone in the kitchen, thinking of what had -occurred between my mistress and myself, and not half liking the idea of -sleeping with her—for I knew very well what her object was in asking me -to go to her room. I wished it had been Miss Stacey who had made such an -appointment with me; for, young as I was, I was greatly smitten with -that lady; and I thought she had never looked so well as when I saw her -that evening dressed for the party to which she had gone. She had on a -very low gown, and her neck was so beautifully white, and her naked arms -seemed so plump, that I was really quite in love with her. It gave me -great pleasure to think that I had been chosen to sit up for her, and I -longed for her return. The clock struck twelve; and a few minutes -afterwards a vehicle stopped at the door. I knew it must be Miss Stacey -who had come back; and I did not wait for the knock and ring, but -hurried to the hall to admit her. She seemed pleased when she saw who it -was that opened the door for her; and I observed that her countenance -was rather flushed, as if she had been drinking an extra glass of -champagne, of which I knew she was very fond. The moment I had closed -and bolted the door, she asked me in a low whisper, whether any of the -other servants were up. I answered in the negative.—'Does your mistress -know that you are sitting up for me?' she next inquired.—'No, Miss,' I -unhesitatingly said.—She began to caress me, and I found that she smelt -rather strong of wine; but she looked so nice that I did not care about -that; and I was so excited that I kissed her in return.—'Light me up -stairs, John,' she at length said; 'and let us go as gently as possible, -so as not to make any noise, on account of Mrs. Beaumont, who is -unwell.'—I led the way up stairs, my heart beating violently; for I more -than half suspected that I should not keep my appointment with my -mistress that night. Nor was I mistaken: for, on reaching the door of -Miss Stacey's chamber, she took my hand, drew me towards her, and said -in a low, hurried whisper, 'Come down to my room in about a quarter of -an hour: I wish to speak to you very particularly indeed.'—I promised to -do so, and hurried up to my own chamber, Miss Stacey having previously -lighted her candle and said, 'Good night, John,' in a tolerably loud -voice, but making a sign to convince me that it was only a precaution on -her part. When I reached my room, I sate down on the bed to think how I -should act. My inclination prompted me to keep the appointment with Miss -Stacey: my fears urged me to keep the one given me by Mrs. Beaumont. I -cared nothing about the sovereign promised me by my mistress, now that I -had received such an invitation from her pretty companion; and I thought -that it would be very easy to excuse myself to Mrs. Beaumont, should she -question me next day, by saying that I fancied her to be only joking, or -perhaps trying me. So, at last, I resolved to follow my inclinations, -and disregard my fears; and I acted in pursuance of this determination. -I accordingly repaired to Miss Stacey's room, and was completely happy. - -"We had been an hour together, when a knock at the door alarmed us. Who -could it be? what could it mean? We remained silent as the dead. The -knock was repeated, and was immediately followed by Mrs. Beaumont's -voice, saying, 'Miss Stacey, dear! Miss Stacey!'—'Good God! what can she -want?' whispered Miss Stacey to me; 'she is perhaps unwell, and will -come into the room to speak to me. John, my dear boy, you must get under -the bed, and keep as quiet as a mouse.'—This was done in a moment, and -Miss Stacey bundled my clothes under the bed after me. She then opened -the door, and, sure enough, my mistress entered the room, saying, 'I am -sorry to disturb you, my dear; but I am so unwell I cannot sleep. I have -got such nervous feelings that I am really afraid to be alone.'—'Had I -not better call up one of the servants and send for the doctor, my dear -madam?' asked Miss Stacey, her voice trembling; I could well conjecture -why.—'No, thank you, dear,' answered the lady; 'if you have no -objection, I will pass the remainder of the night with you.'—'Oh! with -pleasure, ma'am,' exclaimed Miss Stacey. 'I will accompany you to your -room directly.'—'We may as well remain here,' replied Mrs. Beaumont; and -it struck me that there was something strange in the way that she spoke. -Miss Stacey urged that it was very injurious for persons in delicate -health to change their beds; but Mrs. Beaumont declared it to be a mere -prejudice. Miss Stacey invented some other frivolous excuse, and I -suppose that this confirmed Mrs. Beaumont's suspicions; for she -immediately exclaimed, 'Really, one would suppose that you wished to get -rid of me, Miss Stacey!'—'To speak candidly, my dear madam,' was the -reply, 'I can't bear sleeping with another person.'—'Indeed!' said Mrs. -Beaumont. 'Hey day! what shoes have we here? Why, surely these cannot be -your's, my dear?'—I have noticed that the more spiteful ladies are -together, the more they '_dear_' each other.—'It must be some oversight -on the part of one of the servants,' said Miss Stacey, in a faint -tone.—'It's very strange!' cried Mrs. Beaumont; and I heard her stoop -down and take up the unfortunate shoes. Oh! how I did shiver and -tremble! and how sincerely I wished both the amorous ladies at the devil -at that moment! But matters grew speedily much worse; for, in stooping -down to pick up the shoes, Mrs. Beaumont had spied my trowsers; and -these she fished up in another moment. Miss Stacey shrieked; Mrs. -Beaumont raised the drapery hanging round the bed to the floor—and, -behold! by the light of the candle which had been left burning in the -room, she discovered unfortunate me! - -"I cannot tell you what a scene ensued. Mrs. Beaumont raved like a -mad-woman, and Miss Stacey protested her innocence. The house was -alarmed—the other servants came down to the door—and Mrs. Beaumont's -reproaches and upbraidings, levelled against Miss Stacey and myself, -made every thing known to them. I scarcely know how I had pluck enough -to play the part which I did play; but it is, notwithstanding, a fact -that I was resolved to screen Miss Stacey, and throw all the scandal on -Mrs. Beaumont. I accordingly begged to be allowed to explain; and when I -could obtain a hearing, I swore that Mrs. Beaumont had given me a -sovereign, and promised me another to sleep with her—that I had mistaken -the room—and that the moment I had seen Miss Stacey enter and perceived -my error, I had managed to creep under the bed, unnoticed by her. Mrs. -Beaumont went into strong hysterics at this accusation, and was conveyed -away to her own apartment by the female servants, while I hurried off to -my own room. You may suppose that I scarcely slept a wink all the -remainder of the night. I knew that I had lost both my place and my -character—but I felt satisfied in having done all I could to screen poor -Miss Stacey, though it did not strike me at the time that my version of -the business could not possibly be taken as a very probable story. Next -morning the butler came up to me very early, and in a long, humbugging -speech, assured me that, out of good feeling towards me, Mrs. Beaumont -had consented to keep me in her service, and look over the affair, if I -would confess the truth. I however persisted in my original statement, -and displayed the sovereign that Mrs. Beaumont had given me. The butler -went away, telling me not to leave my room until he came back. Half an -hour passed before he returned, and again he tried to argue me into his -views; but I was obstinate, and the interview ended by his desiring me -to pack up my things and leave the house directly. This I very willingly -agreed to, and in a few minutes my preparations were complete. 'Where -are you going to, youngster?' asked the butler, when he had paid me the -amount of wages due.—'I don't know,' was my reply.—'Well,' he said, 'I -should advise you to take a room at the family washerwoman's. She has -got one to let, I know; and if you hold your tongue about what has -occurred in this house, I will try and get you another place.' I readily -gave the required promise, and also followed the advice relative to the -lodging, in which I was installed in another half hour. - -"In the evening the butler came to me, and gave me the addresses of -several families in whose service pages were wanted. 'You will have to -apply to the butlers at those houses,' he said, 'and therefore you can -refer them to me. I will endeavour to make it all right for you, as I -should be sorry to see a promising young lad ruined for want of a -character.' I thanked him very much, pretending to see nothing but pure -friendship in his conduct, although I was quite enough experienced in -the ways of the world to understand that Mrs. Beaumont herself had -instigated this lenient treatment as a means of sealing my lips. I -ventured to ask him about Miss Stacey, and he at once told me that she -had left the house at a very early hour in the morning. I longed to -enquire if he knew where she was gone, but dared not. On the following -day I called at the various addresses which the butler had given me, and -was not considered suitable at any. At one I was thought too young—at -another too old: here I was too short—there I was too tall. In fact, the -objections were trivial, but fatal. I was returning to my lodging along -Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, when I saw in a shop window a notice -that a livery boy was wanted, and that applications were to be made -within. I entered the shop, and received the address of a house in the -same street. There I went, and was shown into a small parlour, where I -was kept waiting for nearly a quarter of an hour. At last a gentleman -and lady—an elderly couple—entered the room, and I was immediately -subjected to no end of questions, all of which I answered in the most -satisfactory manner, because I did not hesitate to say 'Yes' when an -affirmation was required, and 'No' when a negative was necessary. At -last the gentleman said to the lady, 'Well, my love, what do _you_ -think?'—'What do _you_ think, my dear?' asked the lady.—'I think, my -dear——' began the gentleman.—'So do I, Mr. Turner,' exclaimed the lady, -without waiting to hear what her husband _did_ think. It however -appeared that they perfectly well understood each other; for the lady, -turning towards me, said, 'We will give you a trial if the butler at -your last place speaks as well of you as you assure us he will. But you -will have to be very active here, for I must tell you that this is a -boarding-house——'.—'A boarding-house of the highest respectability,' -interrupted the gentleman, looking very solemn indeed, as if he was -afraid that I was going to say I didn't believe him.—'And there are many -ladies and gentlemen to wait upon,' continued Mrs. Turner: 'but we shall -see.' I then withdrew. Mr. Turner went about my character in the -evening, and found every thing satisfactory; and next day I entered my -new place, wondering what adventures would befal me here. - -"This boarding-house proved to be the hardest place I ever was in. I had -to get up at five in the morning to clean six pairs of boots and ten -pairs of ladies' shoes. If they did not shine well, I was blown up on -all sides; and if I did make them shine well, Mrs. Turner blew me up for -wasting the blacking. Then I had to bees-wax heaven knows how many -chairs and tables, and to clean the windows from top to bottom at least -twice a-week. In the middle of my work I was constantly interrupted by -knocks at the door, or errands to run upon. Then at meal-times something -was always wanting—something had always been forgotten. The cleaning of -knives and plated forks and spoons would have alone been a good four -hours' work for a strong man. If I did them properly and devoted time to -them, I was scolded for being slow and lazy: and if I knocked them off -in a hurry, they were sure to be found fault with. Sometimes the bells -of half a dozen rooms would ring in the morning, when the boarders were -getting up, all at the same instant; and if I was long in taking up any -particular gentleman's hot water to shave, or any lady's shoes, I was -certain to hear of it when Mrs. Turner came down into the kitchen. In -fact, it was a hard life, and an unthankful office; for when I did my -best, I could not give satisfaction; and yet the cook and housemaid—the -only servants kept besides myself—were candid enough to declare that I -was the best lad that had ever been in the house during their time. - -"There was one elderly lady—a Miss Marigold—who seemed to have taken a -particular hatred for me; and only because when, one day, she began to -caress me in the same way that Mrs. Beaumont and Miss Stacey had done, I -laughed in her face and told her to keep her wrinkled old hands to -herself. From that minute she grew desperately malignant against me, and -was always finding fault. I determined to have my revenge, and waited -patiently for the opportunity. That occasion came at last. One evening -Miss Marigold retired earlier to bed than usual; and Mrs. Turner rang -for me in the parlour. I went up and found my mistress alone. 'John,' -she said, 'go directly with this box,'—pointing to a round paste-board -one on the table—'to the hair-dresser's, and tell him that you will call -for it at eight precisely to-morrow morning. Then, in the morning, when -you come back with it, send it up by the housemaid to Miss Marigold's -room.'—I took the box, which was tied round with string, and was -particularly light. It immediately struck me that it must be Miss -Marigold's wig: for I was convinced she wore one. Accordingly, as I went -along the street, I stepped up an alley; and by the light coming from -the window of a house, unfastened the strings to peep inside. Sure -enough, it was Miss Marigold's wig. It immediately struck me that her -going to bed earlier than usual was only an excuse to be able to send -her wig in time for the hair-dresser to do it up that night; and this -circumstance, joined to the fact that she wanted it the very next -morning, convinced me that Miss Marigold had but one wig belonging to -her. I therefore resolved that some accident should occur to the wig -before it went back to her; but in the meantime I took it to the -hair-dresser. He seemed to understand what it was; for without opening -the box, the strings of which I had carefully re-fastened, he promised -me that I should have _the article_ when I came back in the morning, -shortly before eight. - -"I must now inform you that there was an elderly gentleman at the -boarding-house, whose name was Prosser. Captain Prosser he was called; -and a jovial kind of old bird he was too. He was amazingly fond of -breaking out now and then, staying away all night, and coming home -between six and seven in the morning, so precious drunk that he could -not see a hole through a ladder. But he was always sensible enough to -know that he must not make a noise; and when I let him in on these -occasions, he would put his fore-finger by the side of his nose in such -a comical fashion, as much as to say, 'Don't let any body know it!' that -I could scarcely keep from laughing. Well, on this very night, when the -affair of the wig occurred, the Captain went out for a spree; and it -happened that he came home rather later than usual the next morning. I -had just returned with the wig-box, and had it still in my hand, when -the Captain's low sneaking knock at the door summoned me to open it. He -came in worse than I had ever seen him before: he could scarcely keep -upon his legs, and his head rolled about on his shoulders just as if he -had no bones in his neck at all. His hat, too, was smashed completely -in; and his coat was slit completely up the back to the very collar. -Such a comical figure I never saw in my life. He staggered into the -hall, seeming quite to forget where he was, or what he wanted there. A -thought struck me, and I resolved to put it into execution. He was so -uncommonly drunk, and yet so quiet and tractable, that I saw I could do -with him just as I liked: so I led him into the parlour where the long -table was laid for breakfast; but no one had come down yet. I seated him -on the sofa in such a way that he could not fall off, and in a few -moment he was in a sound sleep. I removed his hat, took the wig from the -box and fixed it all awry upon his head, purposely tumbling all the -curls, so as to make it appear as if he had thus adorned himself with -his own hand. I then stole away from the room; and, having suffered -about ten minutes to elapse, so as to bring the time nearer to breakfast -before the exposure should take place, I went into the kitchen to tell -the housemaid that there was a box in the parlour which she must -presently take up to Miss Marigold. But she, not knowing what the box -might contain, waited a few minutes more to finish something that she -was about; and I did not choose to hurry her. At last Miss Marigold's -bell rang; and I laughed in my sleeve to think that the poor lady would -vainly wait for her wig. The housemaid hastened to answer the summons, -and I followed her as far as the parlour, under pretence of taking up -some plates for the breakfast-table. But just before we reached that -room, seven or eight of the boarders, ladies and gentlemen alike, came -pouring down stairs to breakfast; and the moment they entered the -parlour, such screams of amazement burst from the women, and such roars -of laughter from the men. The housemaid hurried into the room, and I -behind her; and almost immediately afterwards in came Mr. and Mrs. -Turner, and all the rest of the boarders, except poor Miss Marigold! - -"And what a sight burst upon their view! The screams and the roars of -laughter had awoke Captain Prosser; and he was sitting, propping himself -up, in the corner of the sofa, and looking stupidly about him, as if -quite unconscious of where he was, and certainly ignorant of the reason -which drew all eyes upon him. Such a comical spectacle as he was, with -the wig perched all crooked upon his head! At length the ladies began to -give vent to their indignant feelings. 'Shameful!' said one.—'Well, I -never!' cried another.—'And _this_ in a respectable boarding-house!' -exclaimed a third.—'It all comes of having such a monster as the Captain -in the place!' observed a fourth.—'But whose wig is it?' cried one of -the gentlemen, a humorous fellow in his way; and, approaching the -leather box, he took it up. 'MISS MARIGOLD!' at length he exclaimed, his -eyes catching some writing in the inside.—Mrs. Turner, who had suspected -the ownership of the wig, declared that she should go into hysterics; -but her husband begged her not to do any thing of the kind; and so she -followed his advice. Of course no suspicion fell upon me. When -questioned, I said that I had brought home the box without knowing its -contents; that I had put it on the sofa; and that before I had gone down -stairs to tell the housemaid to take it up to Miss Marigold, I had -opened the front door to let in the Captain. The thing was therefore -clear:—the Captain had come in, in a state for which he ought to be -ashamed of himself; and nothing would please him but he must decorate -himself with poor Miss Marigold's wig! Such was the explanation agreed -upon by all present; and while two or three of the gentlemen conveyed -the Captain up to his own room, the wig having been previously removed -from his head, Mrs. Turner went up to break the fatal news to Miss -Marigold. To make an end of this part of my story, I need only say, that -Miss Marigold left the house on the sly the moment her wig was done up -again by the hair-dresser; and Mrs. Turner easily persuaded the ladies -to forgive the Captain, on condition that he would stand a dozen of -wine—which he did. - -"Several months passed away after this incident without any adventure -worth relating. It was a most unpleasant place; but there was amusement -in it; and moreover there was a certain love-affair in progress, in -which I felt interested, and the end of which I was determined to wait -and see. Not that I was an actor in it at all; but only a go-between. -The fact was, that amongst the boarders there was a widow-lady, of about -seven or eight and twenty—a very pretty woman, whose name was Percy. -There was also a young gentleman of very effeminate appearance, but -possessing a handsome—or rather a beautiful countenance, and a very -slight figure. He was also short—a complete doll of a man; for he was -within four years as old as the widow. His name was Hulse. This couple -fell in love with each other: or rather, I think, the love was all on -the side of the young gentleman, who possessed some little property and -better prospects, whereas the widow was notorious as a husband-hunter -ever since she had been in the boarding-house, and was moreover very -poor. She was however sweetly pretty; and she had such wicked eyes that -it gave me strange sensations to meet her looks. It was in this way that -I came to know of the love-matter existing between Mr. Hulse and Mrs. -Percy. About the time when the adventure of the wig took place, Mr. -Hulse one evening asked me to give a letter privately to the widow-lady; -and he slipped half-a-crown into my hands. You may have already seen -that I possessed no small degree of curiosity, and I longed to know what -that letter could possibly contain. I took it up into my own room with -me, and tried to catch a glimpse at the writing inside; but it was so -carefully folded that I could not. At last, to my joy, I perceived that -the wax was stamped with a seal which was invariably left lying in the -ink-stand drawer in the parlour, for the general use of the boarders. I -therefore hesitated no longer to open the letter, breaking the wax as -carefully as possible. The letter was a declaration of love, the writer -stating that he had not courage to make the avowal in words; and he -implored a written answer, observing that the lad John was to be -trusted, as he seemed a quiet steady youth. I was much amused by the -letter, and early next morning I re-sealed it by means of the stamp in -the ink-stand drawer: then, watching the opportunity when Mrs. Percy -descended to breakfast, I gave it to her as she was coming down stairs. -In the evening she put into my hands an answer, accompanied by a -shilling for myself; and as she smiled significantly, and showed her -pretty white teeth, I felt that I could do any thing to obtain a kiss -from that sweet mouth. Fortunately this letter was also fastened with -the house-seal, and I was therefore able to read its contents. It -thanked Mr. Hulse for the favourable opinion he had entertained of her, -and stated that she felt she could love him, but that she required a -more explicit avowal of his intentions. This letter I re-sealed and gave -to the young gentleman. A reply was ready in the evening; and another -half-crown was slipped into my hand. This letter I likewise read, and -found that Mr. Hulse professed the most honourable intentions, but -begged that their engagement (should the correspondence have that -result) might be kept a secret, as he had an uncle (from whom he had -considerable expectations) to consult, but who was at present abroad and -would not be in England again for several months. The lady's answer, -which also passed through my hands, was quite satisfactory; and in the -course of a few days I saw that the tender pair exchanged significant -looks when they thought themselves unperceived, and that Mr. Hulse was -gradually losing much of his bashfulness. Nevertheless frequent notes -passed between them, and several presents were made to the lady by the -young gentleman, all of which went through my hands and were duly -inspected by me. It may seem strange that two people living in the same -house should require the aid of a go-between; but such was the fact—for -I believe Mr. Hulse to have been one of the very sentimental and -romantic class of lovers who are fond of mystery and of tender -correspondence. - -"This absurd courtship went on for several months; and the lovers little -suspected that I was as well acquainted with its progress as themselves. -At length I perceived by one of Mr. Hulse's letters that his uncle was -expected home in a few days, and he spoke of the necessity which would -compel him to go on a visit to the old gentleman, but also expressed his -hopes that the result would be according to the wishes of the lady and -himself. And in less than a week he did depart on the proposed visit, -having previously exchanged most tender and affectionate letters with -the widow. The very next morning a new boarder arrived—a gentleman who -in every respect was quite different from Mr. Hulse. He was tall, -largely-made, and wore a great deal of hair about his face. Without -being handsome, he was a very fine man; and he talked away at a rapid -rate, getting on good terms with all the other boarders by the time -breakfast was over, and very intimate indeed before the cloth was -removed after dinner. He sate next to the widow, to whom he paid great -attention; and she appeared very well satisfied with his civilities. In -fact, in one single day he made more progress in thrusting himself into -the good graces of Mrs. Percy than Mr. Hulse had done in a week. The -name which the gentleman bore at the house was Jameson; but I did not -believe it to be his right one, because his hat had the initials of F. -S. in it; the same letters were marked, as I heard from the housemaid, -on all his linen; and they were also described by means of brass nails -on the lid of his trunk. However, a few days passed; and I saw that Mr. -Jameson and Mrs. Percy were becoming more and more intimate. They sate -together at meals—they lounged together on the sofa in the -drawing-room—and, as I watched them narrowly, I saw that they exchanged -glances which convinced me that Mr. Hulse had been forgotten by the -faithless lady. Somehow or another I took an immediate hatred to Mr. -Jameson, the moment he set foot in the house; and this feeling was -increased by his harsh and commanding ways towards me. I was moreover -sorry for Mr. Hulse, who had been kind and generous in his behaviour to -me; and I longed to do Jameson some evil turn. The opportunity arrived -sooner than I expected; for one morning—about a fortnight after he had -arrived at the establishment—I was accosted in the street, when going on -an errand, by an ill-looking fellow who was loitering about, and who -said he wanted to speak to me particularly. I asked him his business; -but he would not exactly explain it. He however said he was very anxious -to learn some tidings of a certain gentleman, and that he had received a -hint of the person alluded to being at a boarding-house in Great Russell -Street, under a feigned name. It instantly struck me that the gentleman -thus enquired about was Jameson; and I was moreover convinced, by the -appearance of the enquirer, that he had no good intentions towards the -individual whom he was seeking. I therefore readily gave such -information as convinced the man that Mr. Jameson was the person he was -looking for; and I then learnt, to my astonishment, that this Mr. -Jameson's real name was Frederick Shawe! I now showed myself so much -interested in the affair, and expressed myself in so hostile a way -relative to Mr. Frederick Shawe, that the man at last admitted to me -that he was a sheriffs'-officer's follower, and had a writ against the -man who, I was convinced by all I now heard, was the same that had -treated my deceased parents in so scandalous a manner. We did not part -before we came to an understanding together; and I returned to the -boarding-house, overjoyed to think that the moment of vengeance was not -very far distant. - -"The dinner-hour was five o'clock; and on the day of which I am -speaking, there was company present besides the boarders. Mr. Jameson, -as usual, sate next to Mrs. Percy; and his attentions were of the most -amiable description. Had Mr. Hulse returned at the moment, he would not -have been very well pleased at the way in which she received them. But a -storm was brewing over the head of the successful rival; and I was -longing for it to burst. Towards the close of the meal Jameson asked me -for a glass of porter. I pretended not to hear him, and waited on some -one else. He called me again; and when I at length drew near his chair -to serve him, he said in a harsh voice, 'You're very neglectful, John; -and I wonder how Mrs. Turner can keep such a stupid boy in the -house.'—'Then why don't you ask her to discharge me, _Mr. Shawe_?' I -said.—You should have seen how he turned—first as white as a sheet, and -then as red as scarlet.—'_Mr. Jameson_ you mean, John,' exclaimed Mr. -Turner. 'Call gentlemen by their proper names, and don't be rude, sir, -or you shall leave the house directly.'—'I did call _this gentleman_ by -his proper name, sir,' I answered: 'and that name is _Shawe_.'—'The poor -boy is labouring under a mistake,' said Shawe, dreadfully confused and -stammering as he spoke; 'but don't be harsh with him: he did not intend -any harm.'—'I do not want _you_ to speak in favour of me, sir,' I -exclaimed; 'and perhaps you'll guess why, when you know that my name is -_Jeffreys_.'—The villain's countenance now showed the most awful dismay; -and the scene produced great excitement amongst all present. But at that -moment, a knock at the front-door was heard; and I ran to answer it, -well knowing who were there. How my heart beat with joy when I admitted -the officer and his follower (the man I had seen in the morning) into -the house; and, without caring how my master and mistress might take it -on my part, I threw open the dining-room door, led the officers in, and, -pointing to the person they wanted, said, '_This_ is Mr Frederick -Shawe!' The officers instantly arrested him; and a scene of -extraordinary confusion followed. Mrs. Turner fainted in right earnest, -and while several of the ladies flocked round her, others began -tittering and whispering, and Mr. Turner requested Mr. Shawe to pay his -bill before he went to prison. But the conduct of Mrs. Percy was the -most extraordinary part of the whole performance. It is, however, most -probable that she acted in the way she did to conceal her vexation and -annoyance. For, bursting out into a loud laugh, and casting a look of -contempt at the man with whom she was on such good terms a few minutes -before, she expressed her surprise that '_fellows of his stamp_ should -dare to force their way into _genteel society_!'—To be brief, Mr. Turner -could not get the amount of his claim on Shawe, whose trunks he -accordingly detained; and the scoundrel was conveyed away by the -officers. I followed the party to the street-door, and took good care to -let Shawe know that it was I who had betrayed him. The exposure of this -person caused such a sensation in the house, that my share in it created -a feeling of curiosity; and, when questioned by Mr. Turner before all -the company, I explained how he had treated my parents, so that I was -rather praised than blamed for what I had done. But Mrs. Percy applauded -me the most, and spoke warmly in my favour—at which I was very much -pleased. - -"Two or three days after this occurrence, Mr. Hulse returned—but only -for a few hours; and during that time he was alone with Mrs. Percy in -the parlour. The nature of their interview was soon known throughout the -house; for it appeared that the news he had brought from his uncle were -favourable, and their engagement was now no longer kept secret. It was -fortunate for the widow that he did not remain in the boarding-house -until their marriage; for, if he had, some kind friend would have been -sure to tell him of the flirtation that had gone on between herself and -the scoundrel Shawe. As it was, every thing turned out well: Mr. Hulse -took and furnished a nice house in Bloomsbury-square, and in a few weeks -he and Mrs. Percy were married. My former services were not forgotten by -either; but, on the contrary, were rewarded on the wedding-day by a -guinea from the gentleman and half that sum from the lady. I had thus -seen the end of this very extraordinary courtship, and being thoroughly -tired of my place, began to look out for another. I accordingly made the -usual enquiries, and heard of several vacancies. My very first -application was successful, and I was engaged by the Honourable Mr. -Ilverton, Mr. Turner giving me a good character and expressing no -dissatisfaction at my desire '_to better myself_.' - -"The Honourable Mr. Ilverton resided in St. James's Square. He was a -gentleman of about forty years of age, and was on the point of marriage -with a lady much younger than himself, and who was one of the numerous -daughters of the Marquis of Mountcharlton. But as Mr. Ilverton was very -rich, and the Marquis was but a poor peer, the match was considered a -very desirable one by the friends of Lady Hortensia Stanhope. I heard my -fellow-servants in my new place say that she was a very beautiful -creature; and I longed to see her; but six weeks were yet to elapse -before the celebration of the marriage. The place was a very nice one; -and the establishment was on a large scale. There were six female -servants, and four men, besides the butler and coachman. Two of the -footmen were constantly on duty in the hall, that is, they had nothing -to do for the four hours that their turn lasted, but to look out of the -hall-windows, and attend the front-door. When their four hours expired, -the other two took their place for a like interval. There was a great -deal of aristocratic feeling amongst these servants. The butler had -_his_ room, and the housekeeper had _her_ room; and they took their -meals apart from the rest. The other servants were obliged to say -'_Sir_' to the butler, and '_Ma'am_' to the housekeeper. The cook and -the two housemaids were likewise above the kitchen-maids, who said -'_Miss_' when addressing either one of them. The footmen also considered -themselves above the coachman; but they allowed the latter to take his -meals at their table. As for myself, I was looked upon as a mere child -by the men; and probably by the women too—for they were very much -addicted to fondling me when I happened to be alone with either one of -them. - -"Well, the six weeks passed away; and the day came on which Mr. Ilverton -was to be married. The ceremony was performed at St. George's, Hanover -Square; and the 'happy couple,' as the newspapers always call -new-married people, started off for Mr. Ilverton's country-seat. A -fortnight elapsed; and then came the day when the town-mansion was to -receive its new mistress, whom I had not yet seen. I remember the -profound curiosity which I felt on that occasion, my fellow-servants, -who had frequently beheld her, having spoken so high of her beauty. It -was about six o'clock in the evening when they were expected to arrive, -dinner having been provided for seven. I stationed myself in the hall to -obtain as early a view as possible of Lady Hortensia Ilverton; and -shortly after six the carriage drove up to the door. From the -hall-window I saw her ladyship alight; but she had a veil over her face. -I was, however, enabled to admire the beauty of her figure, which was -very finely proportioned; and I thought, as she stepped from the -vehicle, that I had never before seen such a charming foot and ankle. -The loveliness of her form rendered me the more anxious to behold her -face; and this curiosity on my part was soon gratified. For, on entering -the hall, the lady threw back her veil;—but no words can explain the -full extent of my astonishment, when I beheld the very same charming -creature of whom I had once before caught a hasty glimpse at the -doctor's house in Brook Street! A faint exclamation of surprise escaped -my lips; no one however heard it—and I instantly mastered my feelings. -Lady Hortensia passed through the hall, leaning on her husband's arm, -without looking either to the right or to the left;—and as she did not -therefore observe me, I had no opportunity of knowing whether she would -remember me or not. - -"It was a part of my duty to help to wait at table; and I longed for the -dinner-hour to arrive, to clear up that point. At length my doubts were -set at rest;—dinner was served up—the lady saw me; and I felt convinced -that she had completely forgotten my face. I was not however quite a -year older than when I saw her at the doctor's, and therefore not much -changed: nevertheless, she evidently did _not_ know me again. I really -felt relieved on her account; for she was such a beautiful creature, and -seemed so amiable, that I should have been sorry for her to have -experienced any annoyance or vexation on my account. During the whole of -dinner, I took my station near her chair, and watched her attentively; -and though she conversed pleasantly enough with her husband when he -started a subject, or addressed himself to her, yet it struck me that -she was not altogether happy—for she seldom commenced a topic of her own -accord, but seemed rather to love silence; and I now and then fancied -that she sighed in a subdued manner. I don't know when I ever felt a -deeper interest in any one than I did in this lady; and it seemed to me -as if I could do any thing to serve her. But I am afraid that I am -tiring you with this long story;"—and Jeffreys abruptly broke off. - -"Not at all, old fellow," exclaimed Tim the Snammer. "It's only just -struck twelve by St. George's; and we don't mean to separate yet -awhile." - -"No—not quite yet, I should hope," observed Josh Pedler. "Besides I'm -getting deucedly interested in that Lady Hortensia of your's. I all -along expected that the beautiful young creature at the doctor's would -turn up again somehow or another." - -"To be sure," said Old Death: "it wouldn't be a regular romance if she -didn't." - -"It's all as true as gospel!" cried Jeffreys. "Do you think I could -invent such a pack of curious adventures? If you don't believe what I've -told you already, I'm sure you won't believe what there is to come; and -so I'd better hold my tongue." - -"Now don't be angry, my dear boy," said Old Death: "I was but joking. I -like your story amazingly: so pray finish it. We're in no hurry, and -there's plenty of drink." - -Jeffreys accordingly complied with the solicitations of his comrades, -and proceeded uninterruptedly to the end of his narrative. - - - - - CHAPTER LXXXVI. - CONCLUSION OF THE HISTORY OF A LIVERY-SERVANT. - - -"I am now going to take a leap of about six months in my story; because, -during that time, nothing of any importance occurred in the -establishment of the Honourable Mr. Ilverton. I may, however, observe -that my suspicion relative to the unhappiness of his wife was confirmed -the more I saw of her; for she was often dull and melancholy—and once or -twice I saw that she had been shedding tears. Her husband was very kind -and attentive to her; but he was a great deal from home, as he had large -estates in the country which he was frequently obliged to visit, and he -was also canvassing a borough for the approaching elections. Her -ladyship preferred remaining in town, because she could then enjoy the -society of her mother and sisters, who were almost constantly with her. -Well, as I just now said, six months had passed away without any -adventure of importance, and I was already wearied of the sameness of -the life I was leading, when something occurred which tended to excite -my curiosity and interest. It was about four o'clock, one summer -afternoon that the little incident took place; and this was it. A letter -came, addressed to her ladyship; and the hall-porter gave it to me to -take up into the drawing-room. I went up stairs, and my hand was on the -drawing-room door, when sounds of sobbing and low whispering, coming -from inside, met my ears. I stopped and listened. 'My God! you know that -I love you, Herbert,' said the voice of Lady Hortensia, who no longer -spoke in a whisper.—Then another voice made some reply which I could not -catch; and several minutes passed in a whispered conversation, not one -single word of which did I overhear. At last I could judge that the -visitor was about to take his leave; and I entered the room, first -making as much noise as I could with the handle of the door so as to -warn those inside that some one was coming in. But a single glance was -enough to show me that Lady Hortensia was in great confusion, while a -tall, handsome, young gentleman who was with her turned aside and walked -towards the window. They were both standing when I went in; but her -ladyship seated herself the moment after I entered and passed her -handkerchief rapidly over her charming face. I endeavoured to appear as -if I saw nothing to excite my curiosity, handed my mistress the letter, -and retired. I waited in the hall to catch another glimpse of the -gentleman when he went out; and in a few minutes he took his departure. -I asked the hall-porter who he was. 'I never saw him before,' was the -answer; 'but I heard him desire the footman to announce him by the name -of Mr. Herbert Remington.'—'Well,' thought I to myself, 'Mr. Herbert -Remington is a very fortunate man to be loved by such a beautiful lady.' -But I did not breathe to a soul what I had overheard, nor any thing that -I knew concerning my mistress. - -[Illustration] - -"Mr. Ilverton was in the country at this time; and I now observed that -Mr. Remington called regularly every day at about four o'clock. The -other servants did not appear to notice it as at all extraordinary; but -I had my own reasons for thinking a good deal on the subject. Several -times, on the occasion of these visits, did I creep to the drawing-room -door, and listen; and much of their conversation did I thus overhear. -From that I gleaned that Mr. Remington and Lady Hortensia had been -attached to each other for a long time; but that their marriage had been -rendered impossible by his poverty. I also learnt enough to convince me -that he was the father of a child of which she had been delivered at the -doctor's house, but which had died a few hours after its birth. I felt -no small degree of importance in knowing myself to be acquainted with -all their secrets; and I considered myself not only bound to keep those -secrets to myself, but also to assist them in any way I could, if an -opportunity served to render my humble aid available. And the time to -put me to that test soon came. Mr. Ilverton returned home from the -country much sooner than was expected; and the servants, when talking -together in the kitchen, said that he had come back in a very queer -humour. He was, however, more amiable than ever with her ladyship at -dinner on the day of his return; and I saw nothing to prove the truth of -what I had heard down stairs. Lady Hortensia retired early that evening, -saying she was unwell; and her maid observed on returning to the -servants' hall, after attending on her mistress in her bed-chamber, that -her ladyship appeared very unhappy. Then for the first time did the -servants speak of the constant visits of Mr. Remington; and as they -talked on the subject, suspicions seemed to spring up in their minds. -But the entrance of the housekeeper put an end to the gossip; and soon -afterwards the drawing-room bell rang. I hastened up to answer the -summons, and found Mr. Ilverton walking up and down the apartment in so -excited a manner that he did not even notice my entrance. At length he -perceived me; and, throwing himself in a chair, beckoned me towards him. -'John,' said he, laying his hand on my shoulder, and speaking in a -strange tone of voice, 'I think you will tell me the truth, if I ask you -a few questions,'—I said that I would.—'And will you keep to yourself -whatever I am going to say to you?' he asked.—'I will, sir, certainly,' -was my answer.—'I thought you were a good and discreet lad,' he -continued, putting a couple of sovereigns into my hand: 'act as you -ought towards me, and you shall never want a friend. Now, tell me, my -boy, whether a gentleman named Remington has called here every day -during my absence this last time?'—'Not every day, sir, I should think,' -was my reply; for I saw that a storm was brewing, and felt determined to -screen my mistress as much as possible.—'Yes, but he has though,' -returned Mr. Ilverton sharply; 'you may not, however, have observed it,' -he added immediately afterwards, in a milder tone: 'now answer me truly -my next question; and don't be afraid that I shall be angry, or shall -say any thing about it if you reply in the affirmative. Do the servants -talk amongst themselves of Mr. Remington's visits?'—'I have never heard -a word said on the subject, sir,' was my answer.—'Then I am not laughed -at in that quarter!' he muttered to himself; but I heard his words plain -enough, although he seemed to forget that he had spoken them a minute -after they had left his lips. 'John,' he continued, his fingers actually -griping my shoulder, 'you can do me a great service if you will; and I -will reward you handsomely.'—'It is my duty to do all I can for you, -sir,' I replied.—'Yes,' he said; 'but what I now require is something -out of the way of your ordinary duties, and is rather the part of a -friend, than a servant towards a master.'—'I will do any thing I can, -sir, to oblige you,' I exclaimed.—'And you will swear solemnly not to -breathe to a soul a word of all that now takes place between us, or that -you may have to do for me, unless I call upon you to proclaim any thing -in a court of justice.'—'I will obey you in all things, sir,' I -replied.—'You are a good lad,' he said; 'and I am not mistaken in you. -To tell you the truth,' he continued, 'I have received an anonymous -letter, creating the most painful suspicions in my mind. This letter -assures me that a gentleman whom I do not know, and whose name is -Remington, is a too frequent visitor at this house. But before I act, I -must be satisfied that his visits are injurious to my honour. Do you -understand me, my boy? You see, I am obliged to be open and candid with -you, as I require an important service at your hands.'—'I understand you -perfectly, sir.'—'What, then, do I mean?'—'Why, sir, that my lady should -not receive that gentleman's visits so often, and while you are away,' I -answered, pretending first to reflect for a few moments.—'Exactly so!' -he cried. 'And now I will explain what I require of you. To-morrow at -about half-past three o'clock,' he continued, 'I will give you a letter -addressed to some friend of mine at a little distance; and you must tell -the butler you are going to take it, and that you shall be upwards of an -hour away. By these means you will not be missed by the servants. But, -instead of leaving the house, you must steal up to the drawing-room, and -conceal yourself under the sofa. There must you lie as quiet as -possible, and listen to all that may take place between Lady Hortensia -and Mr. Remington, who, not knowing of my return, will be sure to call -at his wonted hour.'—'But suppose, sir,' I said, 'that I should be -discovered?'—'Then leave it to me to extricate you from the difficulty, -which is not likely to arise,' answered Mr. Ilverton.—'But,' I again -argued, 'if her ladyship should happen to come down earlier to the -drawing-room than usual, how shall I be able to conceal myself beneath -the sofa?'—'Should this occur, I will devise some means to induce Lady -Hortensia to quit the room for at least a few minutes, at about -half-past three. Be you on the watch.'—'I will sir,' was my answer.—'And -if you serve me faithfully, John,' he added, 'you will find a friend in -me; but if you disobey me in one single point, I will find means to -punish you somehow or another.'—I, of course, made all the necessary -promises; and he dismissed me, apparently well satisfied with my -assurances of fidelity. - -"I slept but little all that night. I saw that a dreadful storm hung -over the head of my mistress; and I lay awake, planning a thousand -schemes to avert it. It was very easy for me to hide myself under the -sofa; and, whatever I might overhear, afterwards assure my master that -not a word had been said which he could possibly be angry at. But I was -experienced and cunning enough to fear that Mr. Ilverton wanted a -witness; and that though I might be listening under the sofa, he would -also be listening at the door, and would burst into the room in case his -suspicions respecting his wife should receive confirmation. Even if he -should not adopt this plan, but merely use me as a means of ascertaining -whether his wife was faithful or not, and take my word respecting the -particulars of the anticipated interview between herself and Mr. -Remington,—nevertheless, I saw the necessity of warning my mistress that -such suspicions did exist concerning her, and put her fully upon her -guard. This I resolved to do; and at last I made up my mind to speak -frankly to her next day. But when that day came, I saw no chance of -having an opportunity of carrying my intention into effect;—for her -ladyship did not come down stairs to breakfast nor to luncheon, she -being still indisposed, as I heard from her own maid. I loitered upon -the landing near the drawing-room as much as I dared; and once or twice, -when my master went up or down stairs, he nodded approvingly of my -conduct, thinking that I was there only to serve his interests. At last, -just as the clock had struck three, to my joy I saw Lady Hortensia -descend from her own chamber, and enter the drawing-room. Not a moment -was to be lost. I rushed in after her, closed the door, and said, 'My -lady, listen to me for one instant, I implore of you.' She looked at me -with mingled surprise and anger; for my manner must have appeared not -only strange, but also boisterously rude. I am sure I do not recollect -now—for I did not remember ten minutes after this scene occurred—what -words I used, or how I introduced the subject; but it is very certain -that I told her how I was the very lad who had seen her at the doctor's; -how her husband had bribed me to watch her; how I was determined to warn -her of the plot in progress against her; and how I would do any thing in -the world I could to serve her. She seemed perfectly astounded at all I -told her: she sank on the sofa, turned red and white a dozen times in a -minute, and then burst into tears. I dared not say a word: the idea of a -poor servant like me venturing to console a great lady like her was -ridiculous. But I was in a dreadful state of alarm lest Mr. Ilverton -should come in.—'John,' she said at last, wiping away her tears, 'if all -you have told me is true, you are one of the best lads that ever lived. -But how am I to know that this is as you represent it?'—I understood -what she meant: she feared lest it was only a trap to ensnare her into -something amounting to a confession.—'My lady,' I answered, 'if I wished -to injure you, could I not have at once revealed to Mr. Ilverton all -that took place at the doctor's house in Brook Street?'—'True!' she -said, blushing scarlet. 'Yes—you are faithful!' and she put her purse -into my hand. I returned it to her, declining to take any reward; but -she forced it upon me, and I was compelled to accept it. 'Now retire,' -she said hastily; 'and follow your master's bidding in respect to -concealing yourself. I shall afford you an opportunity,' she added: -then, turning away, she again burst into tears. - -"I hastened from the room, well pleased with the success of my interview -with her ladyship, and feeling myself so important a person that I -scarcely knew whether I stood on my head or my heels. The secrets of the -family were in my keeping,—in the keeping of a boy not sixteen years -old; and it was enough to make me proud. Besides, I felt so satisfied -with my conduct in respect to her ladyship, that it seemed to me as if I -had done a great and a glorious deed. Well, on quitting the -drawing-room, I went up to my own chamber, to compose my feelings; for I -was really so much elated as to be quite unfit to meet my master for a -few minutes. But at the expiration of that time I hastened down stairs, -received the letter which he had in readiness for me, and, after looking -in at the servants' hall for a moment, just to say I was going out on an -errand, stole up to the drawing-room, where I found no one. I therefore -thrust myself under the sofa, and awaited anxiously the termination of -the adventure. Just as the time-piece on the mantel struck four, her -ladyship returned to the room; and almost immediately afterwards Mr. -Remington was announced. Hasty whispers were exchanged between them in a -language—most likely French—which I did not understand; and then they -seated themselves on chairs at some distance from each other, Lady -Hortensia having previously rung the bell. I was surprised at this -proceeding: what could she possibly mean? But I was more astonished -still, when, on the entrance of one of the footmen, she said, 'Ask your -master if he will have the kindness to favour me with his company for a -few minutes.' The servant retired to execute this command; and I was now -frightened lest her ladyship intended to accuse her husband of his -stratagem, and thereby expose my want of faith towards him. But second -thoughts convinced me that this was not the case; because her ladyship -must remember that it was in my power to ruin her effectually if she -meditated any treachery towards me. A few minutes elapsed, during which -Mr. Remington and my mistress conversed on the most common-place -subjects—such as the weather, the new opera, and so on; and at length -Mr. Ilverton entered the room. 'I am sorry to disturb you, my dear,' -said Lady Hortensia, speaking in her most amiable manner, 'since I know -that you are so fully engaged with election matters and other important -business; but I have a favour to ask of you. This gentleman is Mr. -Remington. Mr. Remington,' she added, 'Mr. Ilverton:' thus calmly and -quietly introducing them.—I do not know how my master looked, but I -could fancy that he felt very queer: at all events, he said -nothing.—'Mr. Remington, my dear,' continued Lady Hortensia, speaking -with a tranquil affability that quite astonished me, 'is a gentleman to -whom our family are under the greatest obligations; for it was he who -saved my brother Edward's life at Oxford a few years ago.'—'I remember -to have heard that your brother Edward had a narrow escape from being -drowned in the river on a boating excursion,' said Mr. Ilverton; 'but I -was not until now acquainted with even the name of the gentleman who so -generously risked his life to save him.'—'It was a deed which scarcely -deserves such warm praise, sir,' observed Mr. Remington.—'On the -contrary, Mr. Remington,' exclaimed Lady Hortensia, 'Mr. Ilverton must, -as my husband, experience the same gratitude which I feel towards you, -and ever shall, for your noble conduct.'—'Certainly, most decidedly,' -exclaimed my master, who, I could very well suppose, was now feeling -particularly sheepish.—'And I am convinced, my dear,' continued her -ladyship, addressing herself altogether to her husband now, 'that you -will approve of certain steps which I have taken in order to convince -Mr. Remington of the gratitude of the near relatives of him whom he -saved from a premature death. Mr. Remington has a sister who has been -left a widow, and who is anxious to turn her accomplishments to a good -account. She is desirous of entering some family as a governess; and I -have supplied Mr. Remington with letters of introduction on behalf of -his sister to several of our friends and acquaintances. He has this day -called to inform me of his sister's success in obtaining the situation -she requires, by means of one of those letters.'—Mr. Ilverton expressed -his entire approval of this proceeding on the part of her ladyship; and -Mr. Remington rose, and took his leave in that formal manner which -seemed to show that he did not even pretend to be considered in any -other light than a mere acquaintance. - -"When he was gone, Lady Hortensia said, 'I am really glad that I have -been able to serve that young man's sister, for they are both very poor, -it seems and the service which he rendered our family in saving the life -of my brother was not one that should have gone unrewarded.'—'Oh! -decidedly not, my love,' said Mr. Ilverton. 'But will you accompany me -to the library now, and see the new picture that I bought some weeks -ago, and which has been sent home this morning? It was kept to be -framed.'—'Certainly,' answered Lady Hortensia; and she quitted the room -with her husband. I of course understood that he had purposely enticed -her away to allow me an opportunity of leaving my hiding-place; and I -was very glad to get from under the sofa, where I was most terribly -cramped, not having dared to move, and scarcely able to breathe free -through fear of being heard. I was highly delighted at the clever manner -in which Lady Hortensia had got herself out of the serious scrape that -for a time seemed to threaten her with total ruin; and I was heartily -glad to think that her husband must be thoroughly ashamed of having -exposed himself so completely to me. At dinner-time Lady Hortensia gave -me a glance which seemed to thank me again for the part I had acted -towards her; whereas Mr. Ilverton never once looked me in the face—not -even when I was close by his side and he ordered me to serve him with -any thing. Shortly after dinner her ladyship retired to the -drawing-room; and the moment I was alone with my master, he beckoned me -to approach him, and said in a low tone, 'John, what took place between -your mistress and that gentleman before I came in?'—'Mr. Remington said -he came to thank her ladyship for her kindness towards his sister,' I -answered, taking my cue from what I had heard before; 'and then her -ladyship said that you was at home, sir, and she would introduce Mr. -Remington to you.'—'Then I have been altogether misled, John,' he -observed: 'and mind that you never breathe a syllable of what has passed -to a living soul.'—'Certainly not, sir,' I replied. He put a couple of -sovereigns into my hand, telling me I was a good boy, and repeating his -injunction of strict secresy. - -"I was now a very great favourite with both my master and mistress, -though, in each other's presence, they neither showed any particular -kindness towards me. Mr. Remington came no more to the house; but her -ladyship now and then gave me letters to put privately into the post for -her, and which were addressed to him. Thus three months more passed -away; and the general election came on. Mr. Ilverton went out of town; -and he had not left the house an hour, before Lady Hortensia gave me a -note to convey by hand to Mr. Remington's lodgings in Sackville Street, -with directions to wait for an answer. Mr. Remington seemed greatly -delighted at the contents of the note, and gave me the reply, which, in -his hurry and joy, he omitted to seal, although he had lighted a taper -on purpose. I hastened away, and went into a public-house to read the -letter. To my surprise I found, by its contents, that an appointment had -been made for the lover to pass the night with Lady Hortensia, she -having already admitted her maid into her confidence, thereby arranging -for his admission into the house at twelve o'clock. I was now dreadfully -annoyed at being no longer treated as a confidant, I who had done so -much to protect them from exposure! My interest in behalf of my mistress -suddenly turned to hate; and I thought seriously of revenging what I -considered to be a slight. I however ran back to Mr. Remington's -lodgings, and said to him, 'Sir, you have not sealed this letter; and I -would rather not take it like this to her ladyship, for fear she should -think I had read it, which I would not do for all the world.'—He looked -very hard at me, and seemed dreadfully confused at his oversight; but, -perceiving that I did not change colour, and that I met his gaze -steadily, he was more satisfied. Having sealed the letter, he returned -it to me, putting half-a-guinea into my hand; and I then hastened away -with it to my mistress, from whom I received double that sum. But a -wonderful change had come over my mind. I saw that I was made a mere -tool of; whereas so long as I thought myself important as a confidant, I -was happy. I had moreover hoarded near twenty pounds, by means of the -presents I had received; and I thought how foolish I was not to turn my -knowledge of certain secrets to account, and extort a good round sum -from her ladyship. In a moment I grew avaricious and spiteful. I know -how it was: while my vanity was flattered, I was contented; but the -instant I saw that I was a tool, and not a confidant, I was mortified, -and therefore changed. It did not strike me then that delicacy would of -course prevent Lady Hortensia from making use of me to give admittance -to her lover; and I looked on myself as a person badly used. I did -nothing that day; but I lay awake during the best part of the night -settling in my mind how I should proceed. Thus, while the lovers were in -each other's arms—as I had no doubt they were—a storm was brewing -against them in a quarter from which they little expected it. - -"The very next day I went into the drawing-room when I knew that her -ladyship was there alone, and, shutting the door, advanced in a resolute -manner towards her. She seemed astonished, and asked me what I wanted. -'A hundred pounds,' I answered in a dogged style.—'Do you mean to -request that sum as a favour, or to demand it as the price of the -secrets you have promised to keep faithfully?' she said in a mild and -reproachful way, which made me more than half repent of my conduct; but -I had gone too far to retreat.—'Whichever your ladyship likes,' I -replied.—'I will give you _two_ hundred if you will leave the house this -minute, and let me make what excuse I choose for sending you away,' she -said.—The offer was too tempting to be rejected; and I immediately -accepted it. Two hundred pounds! it was a fortune, and I fancied that I -should never be able to spend it.—'Pack up your boxes, and prepare to -depart,' said Lady Hortensia, 'If the servants ask you any questions, -steadily refuse to answer them, beyond merely stating that I have -ordered you to leave immediately; and if you will call on Mr. Remington -this evening at eight o'clock, he will give you two hundred pounds in -gold.'—I was overjoyed at this arrangement, and gladly took my departure -on such terms, caring little what reason her ladyship might allege for -the abruptness with which I left. Two hundred pounds to be received in a -few hours! Oh! how happy I was!—and what castles did I build in the air! -I removed my trunk to a public-house in St. Martin's Lane; and having -had a pint of wine to celebrate the occasion, strolled out to purchase -new clothes—for I had of course left my livery at Mr. Ilverton's house, -and was not overwell dressed. Having bought all I required, thereby -making a considerable hole into the twenty-five pounds which, with my -hoardings and wages, I had in my pocket when I came away, I returned to -the public-house, and put on my new things. I then went out again to -while away an hour till eight o'clock, it being now seven. As I was -going along Piccadilly, I saw an elegantly dressed lady step out of a -carriage at a shop-door; and to my joy I recognised Miss Stacey. She -immediately knew me; and, seeing me so well attired, did not hesitate to -stop and speak to me. We conversed together for a few minutes, during -which I told her that I was no longer under the necessity of working for -my living, as fortune had been kind to me. She expressed her pleasure, -gave me her address, and asked me to call upon her; telling me, however, -that I must be sure to come between two and seven, and at no other time. -I promised to visit her; for she looked sweetly pretty and very -amorous;—and we parted. - -"Precisely as the clock struck eight, I knocked at Mr. Remington's -door,—none of your sneaking single knocks; but a good loud double -one—for I felt all the importance of a man who has two hundred pounds to -receive. Mr. Remington was at home, and I was shown up into his room. He -desired me to be seated; but in a very cold tone and with a haughty -manner. I did not however care one fig for that: the idea of the two -hundred pounds rendered me as independent as possible. When I sate down, -Mr. Remington rose from his chair; and, advancing close up to me, he -said in a low, savage tone, 'You are a contemptible villian!'—'I did not -come here to be abused,' I exclaimed insolently: 'give me my money, and -let me be off.'—'Your money, indeed!' he cried: 'not one farthing will -you receive of me, or of Lady Hortensia Ilverton. Now, listen, young -man, and be cautions how you act. Had you conducted yourself fairly, you -would always have found friends in me and her ladyship; but you have -shown yourself a villain, and we are determined to crush you at once. -You think you have us in your power; but you are mistaken. Her ladyship -has already stated to her entire household that you were discharged -suddenly for an atrocious attempt to extort money from her: and say but -one word of scandal, utter one syllable against her, and you will be -handed over to justice. Begone, sir; and take care how you conduct -yourself. One word, by the way, before you leave me—and that is a word -of friendly warning. The hall-porter in St. James's Square has -instructions to give you over to the care of a constable, if you present -yourself again at that mansion.'—'You cannot bully me,' I exclaimed; 'I -know too much! Every thing shall now be made known to Mr. -Ilverton.'—'And he will not believe a word you utter,' answered -Remington. 'This night's post bears to him a letter in which Lady -Hortensia declares that you threatened to expose both him and her if she -did not give you a sum of money; and that you dared to assert that her -husband had bribed you to conceal yourself under a sofa. _She_ of course -pretends to think her husband incapable of such mean and cowardly -conduct; and he will be sure to deny it; at the same time he will never -forgive nor believe you.'—'But there is the affair at the doctor's house -in Brook Street,' I cried.—'The doctor will deny that such a lady was -ever there,' returned Mr. Remington, with a triumphant smile.—'And the -maid who knows that you passed an entire night with her mistress?' I -said, my courage sinking rapidly.—'You had better ask her what she knows -of the business! Now, mark me, young man; every precaution is taken to -put you to confusion. You are forestalled in every possible way. Say -what you will, positive contradictions and denials will meet your -assertions; and the result will be to you transportation for life, for -attempting to extort money! Now, then, reflect well before you plunge -yourself headlong into difficulties.'—'But I am thoroughly ruined!' I -exclaimed, tears starting into my eyes, as I saw the truth of all he -said. 'I have lost my place and my character!'—'It is your own fault,' -replied Mr. Remington. 'At the same time,' he added, after a few moments -consideration, 'I do not wish you to be crushed completely down to the -very mire. I will give you one chance. Sign a paper, stating that all -your accusations are so many falsehoods, and that you make this -acknowledgment to save yourself from being handed over to justice; and I -will then present you with fifty guineas.'—Thus speaking, he took out a -handful of notes and gold, to tempt me to conclude the bargain.—'But -every thing I can state is true!' I exclaimed.—'Never mind _that_,' he -answered: '_we_ can prove it to be all false. So, haste and decide: my -time is precious.'—What could I do? I wanted money, and I saw that he -was determined to resist all attempts at positive extortion. I therefore -expressed my readiness to sign the paper, which was already drawn up; -and, having done so, I received the fifty guineas promised.—'Now,' said -he triumphantly, as he folded up the document and placed it in his -pocket-book, 'you know the consequence of a single slanderous -whisper!'—I took my departure, terribly nettled, but still somewhat -consoled by the possession of the fifty guineas; for I thought that one -third of the sum at first expected, was better than none at all. - -"I longed to be revenged on Lady Hortensia and Mr. Remington; but I knew -not how. I smarted dreadfully under the treatment I had received;—I -uttered bitter words against my folly in consenting to leave the house -before I had the money paid down; and I pondered on a thousand different -ways of venting my spite on my enemies. For several days I rambled about -by myself, racking my brain with devices. At last I resolved to abandon -the idea, at least for the present; and then I set to work to enjoy -myself—or rather to see how soon I could make away with my money. A few -weeks beheld the bottom of my purse—and I was astonished to think that -so many guineas should have disappeared in so short a time. I was now -seriously troubled what to do for a living; because I had no character. -Suddenly I bethought myself of Miss Stacey's invitation, and hastened to -call on her, it being then about three o'clock in the day. I found her -living in elegant lodgings in Maddox Street: and she received me most -kindly. I told her, word for word, all that had occurred to me since I -last saw her; and she was equally candid with me. In fact, she was then -in keeping by one of the Cabinet Ministers, who allowed her ten guineas -a week, paid her rent, her milliner's and her wine-merchant's bills, and -also the hire of her carriage. We soon came to an understanding -together; she wanted a page, or tiger, just at that moment, and I -accepted the post. The very next day I entered my new place—the most -comfortable I had ever yet been in, because I shared my mistress's bed -nearly every night. But I soon discovered that the Cabinet Minister and -myself were not the only persons who enjoyed the favours of Miss Stacey. -Several gentlemen called during those hours when she knew there was no -chance of her 'friend' making his appearance: in fact, the lady had -become a regular wanton. It was not however for me to make any -observations on her conduct: I was well satisfied with my place—and that -was enough. I learnt from her that Mrs. Beaumont had died a few months -previously, having just before married her butler, who came into -possession of all her fortune and had set up as a gentleman, driving his -cab and finding plenty of people to honour his champagne parties with -their presence. Miss Stacey also gave me a little sketch of herself. She -had been seduced, when only fifteen, by the husband of a lady with whom -she was placed as companion; and she unhesitatingly admitted that in all -the families where she had lived, she had maintained an intrigue with -some one, either master, man-servant, or page. Since she had left Mrs. -Beaumont she had been in keeping with the Cabinet Minister;—'but,' she -added with a smile, 'you see that I am not particular where I take a -fancy.' She was indeed a licentious woman, but very good-natured, and -possessing a temper that nothing could ruffle. - -"I had been with her about three months, when I saw in the newspaper an -account of the sudden death of the Honourable Mr. Ilverton, M.P., who -was found a corpse in his bed one night by the side of his wife. There -was a Coroner's Inquest; and the verdict was 'Died of apoplexy.' I -however had my suspicions that some foul play had been practised. In a -little less than a year afterwards, I learnt, by the same channel of -intelligence, that Lady Hortensia Ilverton had become the wife of -Herbert Remington, Esq. About the same time I met Mrs. Hulse—the pretty -lady, you remember, who played such pranks with her two lovers at the -boarding-house. She stopped and spoke to me. I inquired after Mr. Hulse; -and she said that he was quite well, and that they lived very happy -together. I then asked her slyly if she had seen Mr. Frederick Shawe -lately.—'What!' she exclaimed, 'do you not know all that happened to -him?'—I assured her I did not.—'He committed a forgery some months ago,' -she replied, 'and was hanged for it. It was down in the country; but I -forget where. The whole account was, however, in the papers at the -time.'—I was delighted to hear that the enemy of my parents had come to -such a miserable end. Mrs. Hulse gave me half-a-sovereign, and bade me -good bye. - -"A short time after these little incidents, and when I had been in Miss -Stacey's service nearly eighteen months, the Cabinet Minister suddenly -withdrew his protection from her—I never heard why. It is however more -than probable that her numerous intrigues reached his ears. The -immediate result of the stoppage of funds in that quarter was a bolt -from the lodgings, my mistress being over head and ears in debt. She -removed to Norfolk Street, Strand: and I accompanied her. It was at this -time that I was attacked by the small-pox, and obliged to leave. I went -to the hospital, where I remained dangerously ill for several weeks; -and, when I did recover, I was marked as you now see me. I may therefore -say without vanity, that before this unfortunate occurrence I was a very -good-looking lad; and it was no wonder that the women used to take a -fancy to me. Well, I left the hospital with only a few shillings in my -pocket, which I had about me when I went in; and my first step was to -enquire after my late mistress in Norfolk Street. But there I learnt a -sad tale. She had been greatly reduced in circumstances, and had made -away with the things in her ready-furnished lodgings. The landlady gave -her into custody; she was committed for trial, and sentenced at the Old -Bailey to transportation for seven years. But this sentence was commuted -to imprisonment for two years, by an order from the Home Office, -although the judge who presided at the trial declared it to be a most -aggravated offence. I thought I could understand the secret of this -leniency; nor was I mistaken; for, on calling upon my poor mistress in -Newgate, where she was imprisoned, she told me that she had written to -her late 'friend,' the Cabinet Minister, who had procured the alteration -in her sentence. She was very happy, and made me promise to call and see -her again. But I never had the opportunity; for some Member took up the -case in the House of Commons, and asked the Home Secretary the reason -why the original sentence was not carried out, seeing that the jury had -given no recommendation to mercy, and that the judge had pronounced a -strong opinion on the matter. The affair made such a noise, and the -_Weekly Dispatch_ took it up in such strong terms, that the Government -was obliged to order the sentence of transportation to be put into -immediate effect.[38] The consequence was that the poor lady was sent -out of the country as soon as possible; and I never saw her any more. I -felt for her deeply: she had been kind to me—and, with all her faults, -there were many excellent points in her character. But, somehow or -another, I never did meet a woman who, let her be ever so bad, had not -some redeeming qualities. I have met hundreds of men so thoroughly bad, -that they had not a single thing to recommend them: but it has not been -so in my experience with the other sex. I don't believe that any woman -can become so utterly depraved, as not to retain a little amount of good -feeling about her. I wish I could say as much for men. - -"But let me make haste and bring this story to an end. I was now a -miserable, friendless wretch in the world, and knew not what to do for a -living. I had no character, and could not get a place. At last, when -driven to desperation, I resolved to call on the person whom Mrs. -Beaumont married, and who was for many years her butler. I accordingly -went up to Russell Square, and knocked at the well-known door. A servant -in splendid livery answered the summons; and I was shown into the hall, -where I was kept waiting for nearly two hours. At last I was shown up -into the drawing-room, where the ex-butler lay lounging on the sofa, -reading the _Morning Post_. 'Just sit down, young man, for a moment,' -said he, with an affected drawl, although he was an old fellow of sixty, -'while I finish the _Fashionable Intelligence_; because, you see, I'm -interested in it.'—So I took a seat, and was kept waiting for another -half-hour. At last the _gentleman_ laid aside the paper, and enquired my -business. I told him who I was, and how distressed was my position. He -stared at me for a long time, as if to make sure that I was really the -John Jeffreys whom he had once known—for I was cruelly disfigured; and -when he was convinced that I was no impostor, he gave me half-a-guinea, -saying that he had been a looser by the late Derby, and had lent his -friend Lord Mushroom so much money lately, that he could do no more. I -thanked him very sincerely and went away. I walked on to Great Russell -Street, being in the neighbourhood, and called at the Turners' -boarding-house. But I learnt from the servant that Mr. Turner was dead, -and Mrs. Turner had _declined_ business in consequence, and would see -nobody. I went away with a heavy heart; for I knew that the half-guinea -would not last for ever. At length I was so tired with walking about, -that I entered a public-house to get some refreshment. Two men were -sitting in the parlour, drinking ale; and their conversation, singularly -enough, happened to turn on a friend of theirs who, as I heard them say, -had just got a situation as footman in a good family.—'But how the devil -did he manage, though?' asked one; 'since he only came out of quod for -stealing that plate, you know, ten days ago.'—'Why, he got a character -of that chap who lives at the house with the balcony, up in Castle -Street, Portland Place, to be sure,' was the answer.—'You don't mean old -Griffiths, do you?' said the other.—'Of course I do,' replied his -friend: 'he's been in that line now for the last six months, and makes -an excellent thing by it. I've recommended several poor devils of -men-servants to him.'—'The deuce you have!' I exclaimed: 'I wish to God -you would recommend me!'—'Are you out of place and got no character?' -demanded the man.—'Just so,' I answered; 'and if I don't get a situation -soon, I shall starve.'—'Have you got any tin about you?' asked the -man.—'Ten shillings, when I've paid for what I've had,' I -replied.—'That'll just do the trick!' cried the man: 'you must stand a -pot to me and my friend here; and you'll have to pay seven-and-sixpence -entrance fee to old Griffiths. Then you'll have a trifle left to take -you on till to-morrow.' I readily paid for a pot of the best ale; and -when we had disposed of it, I received a note of recommendation to the -Mr. Griffiths spoken of. He was an old, respectable-looking man, with a -bold crown, and grey hair at the back and sides of his head; and he was -sitting in a neat office, with a large book before him. He read the -note, which explained my business, and then demanded the entrance fee. -This I paid; and he put down my name in the book. 'I will give you the -addresses of several families who require a young livery-servant,' he -said; 'and you may refer them to Captain Elphinstone, No.—, Mortimer -Street, Cavendish Square. You may say that you lived with that gentleman -for three years, and only left him on account of ill health. And now I -must tell you the nature of the bargain which exists between you and me. -You are sure to obtain a situation; and when your first quarter's wages -are paid, you must bring me a sovereign; and a sovereign from second -quarter. You will then always have me as your friend, and need never be -afraid of remaining long out of place. But if you do not keep faith with -me, I shall find means to make you repent it.'—I assured the old -gentleman I would do the thing that was right; and took my leave of him, -rejoiced at the prospect of obtaining a situation. - -"Next morning I made myself as tidy as I could, and called at the places -pointed out by Mr. Griffiths. I was soon successful, and gave Captain -Elphinstone as my reference. The gentleman of the house said he would -call on the captain in the course of the day, and I was to return in the -evening for the answer. This I did, and found that an unexceptionable -character had been given of me. I was therefore admitted into the -gentleman's service at once. It was a quiet place, and a small -establishment, only consisting of myself and two female servants—a cook -and housemaid; for Mr. Farmer, our master, was an elderly bachelor. -There I stayed for several years, and was very happy and comfortable -indeed. But one day Mr. Farmer took it into his head to marry the cook; -and as she could not bear to have in her house the same people who had -known her as a fellow-servant, the housemaid and myself both got our -discharge. We, however, had good characters, but we did not avail -ourselves of them—for, having each scraped up a little money, we agreed -to club our savings, and open a shop in the chandlery line. We had long -been intimate enough to render the parson's services quite unnecessary -in enabling us to live together; and so we commenced business, passing -ourselves off as man and wife. The thing did not, however, succeed; and -care drove me to the public-house. It was then that I met you, Mr. -Bones; and you suggested how much good might be done if I would go back -into service, and give you notice of any little things worth your -knowing. This I resolved to do; and, leaving my female companion to do -what she liked with the shop, I took leave of her. We parted very good -friends; and by the aid of old Griffiths I very soon obtained a place. I -need not say any more,—unless it is that since then I've been in -situations at many houses, and have generally managed to do a pretty -decent amount of business with Mr. Bones." - -Jeffreys ceased speaking; and his three companions expressed the -amusement they had derived from his narrative. - -A few more glasses of grog were drunk, as well as a few more pipes -smoked; and it was not until past three in the morning that Old Death's -visitors left him. - - * * * * * - -We cannot close this chapter without a few observations relative to that -large and important class—domestic servants. - -And first of female servants. It is said that great numbers of them are -immodest, and that from their ranks the class of unfortunate women, or -prostitutes, is largely recruited. We believe that the immorality of -female servants is considerably exaggerated by these representations, -and that the cases of frailty are the exceptions and not the rule. There -are thousands and thousands of females amongst this class as respectable -and well conducted as women ought to be, and who take a pride not only -in maintaining a spotless character, but in so behaving themselves that -there shall be no chance of its becoming tainted. And this is the more -creditable to them—the more to their honour, inasmuch as the temptations -to which they are exposed are very great. Sent out on errands at all -hours—compelled to go to the public-houses to fetch the beer and spirits -for the use of the family—constantly placed in contact with the -serving-men belonging to the family's tradesmen—exposed to the chance of -sustaining insulting liberties at the hands of the visitors to the -house—and often persecuted by the lustful addresses of some male inmate -of the establishment, such as a brother or son of the master, and -perhaps the master himself,—what strength of mind—what moral courage -must the servant-maid possess to resist these temptations and escape -from so many perils! We mean to say, then, that if she do fall, there is -far more scope for pity and a far greater amount of extenuation on her -behalf, than on that of the lady who surrenders herself, unmarried, to -the embraces of her lover! - -And in many—too many instances—what a life of slavery is that of the -female servant!—and how little enviable is the lot of the poor -maid-of-all-work! Talk of the hard fate of the negress—think of the hard -fate of the maid-of-all-work! Excellent saint of Exeter Hall! you need -not send your sympathies travelling some thousands of miles across the -sea: there is plenty of scope for their exercise at home, if you be -really sincere—which we know you are _not_! Look to the -maid-of-all-work—up at five in the winter, and heaven only knows when in -the summer,—compelled to keep an entire house neat and decent—to black -all the boots and shoes—to run on all the errands—to put herself in -awful peril by standing or sitting outside the windows which she is -compelled to clean—and very frequently half-starved by those whom she -serves so assiduously and so faithfully,—what a life is hers![39] - -Female servants are treated with much greater kindness in France than in -England. In the former country they are considered rather in the light -of humble friends of the family than as mere slaves, which is the -estimation in which they are usually held, we are sorry to say, in the -British Islands. Let them be treated with kindness and forbearance: they -have much to try their patience and sour their tempers by the very -nature of their condition and the miscellaneous character of their -avocations. A man or a woman who is unkind to a servant, is a wretch -deserving obloquy and execration. But a master or a mistress who, -through petty spite or sheer malignity, refuses to give to a discharged -servant the good character which such servant may in reality deserve, is -a very fiend, unfit to remain in civilised society. - -[Illustration] - -Before we take leave of this subject, we cannot resist the opportunity -of expressing our opinion relative to a practice adopted at Court: we -mean the fact of the Queen being waited upon in her private apartments -by ladies of high rank and good family, instead of by female servants. -Who is Queen Victoria, that a Duchess must select her gown, and a -Marchioness hook it? Is she a goddess that a Countess must help her to -put on her shoes, and a Baroness tie them? Must not royalty be touched -by the hands of a female servant? Alas! we strongly suspect that Queen -Victoria is a woman made of the same flesh and blood as the most -ordinary mortals: and we feel confident that the practice of attaching -ladies of rank and title to her august person is as pernicious to her, -as it is degrading to the ladies themselves, and as flagrantly insulting -to the entire class of well-conducted ladies'-maids. But royalty in this -country must be idolized—deified: no means must be left untried to -convince the credulous public that royalty is something very different -from commonalty. This delusion shall, however, be dispelled;—the people -must be taught to look on Victoria as nothing more than the chief -magistrate of the country, deriving her power from the nation at large, -and holding it only so long as the majority of the inhabitants of these -realms may consider her worthy to retain it. The contemptible farce of -firing cannon to announce her movements—of illuminating dwelling-houses -on her birth-day—of cheering her whenever she appears in public, just as -if she cared two figs for the bawling idlers who gaze on Majesty with -awe and astonishment,—all this miserable humbug should be abolished. -_The more a Sovereign is deified, the more the people are abased._ -Instead of the nation being obliged to Queen Victoria for ruling over -it, Queen Victoria ought to be very much obliged to the nation for -allowing her to occupy her high post. For the only real _sovereign -power_ is that of the people; and the individual who looks on royalty as -something infallible—divine—supernally grand and awe-inspiring, is a -drivelling, narrow-minded idiot, unworthy of the enjoyment of political -freedom, and fit only to take his place amidst the herds of Russian -serfdom. - ------ - -Footnote 38: - - This incident is founded on fact. Many of our readers will doubtless - recollect the case of J——N——and her mother, who were convicted of - robbing ready-furnished lodgings about ten years ago. Miss J——N——had - been the mistress of a noble lord who was a Cabinet Minister at the - time of the condemnation of her mother and herself, _and who is a - Cabinet Minister at the present moment_. The affair created a great - sensation at the time; but the _Dispatch_ and other independent - newspapers took it up; not in order to persecute the unhappy women, - but on public grounds. The result was that the original sentence - passed upon them, and which Ministerial favouritism sought to commute - to a much milder penalty, was carried into force. The entire business, - so far as the noble lord was concerned, was vile and scandalous in the - extreme. - -Footnote 39: - - We avail ourselves of the opportunity afforded us by the glance which - we are taking at this subject, to recommend to perusal an admirable - little work, written by our esteemed and talented friend, Mr. John - Taylor Sinnett, and entitled "The Servant Girl in London." It is - published by Hastings, Carey Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields; and is a - little book which should be found in all families, as it contains - sentiments and precepts useful alike to the employer and the employed. - - In a work from which we have frequently quoted in the Notes belonging - to the present Series of "THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON,"—we allude to - "Poverty, Mendicity, and Crime,"—we find an important passage bearing - strongly upon the subject of the text. It runs as follows:—"We must - now direct attention to the class of female servants, and they form no - insignificant number: from these the higher ranks of our prostitutes - are recruited. Thirst for dress and finery, which has crept on to such - a degree that it is not a very rare sight to behold them waiting on - their mistress in the morning, bedecked in silks and ornaments equal - to the young ladies themselves, even where the ladies are of the - highest class of the community. Great censure is due to ladies, - especially those who are mothers, for not restraining their servants - from squandering away the whole of their money, loss of place ought to - be the consequence of not laying by a small portion of wages to - sustain themselves in the event of illness or other unforeseen - calamity; the dress of a female servant ought to be good, but - perfectly void of ridiculous ornament and frippery. The ladies' maids - of our aristocracy are a race the most highly culpable of their sex, - aping all the pride and airs of their lady, and desiring to appear - abroad with equal _éclat_, to effect which, the wardrobe of the - mistress is not unfrequently resorted to, and the purse not always - held sacred, or she becomes a prostitute whilst under the roof of her - employer, till descending from one false step to another she at length - links her fate to some favourite of the swell mob, to whom she at - first listened as a suitor, and ends in her being accessary to robbing - the family which had fostered her. It is ascertained, beyond doubt, - that most of the houses that are robbed, arises from the connexion and - intimacy which the servant has contracted with some of the petty - workmen who have been employed about the premises, many of whom are - thieves themselves, or connected with some gang of villains who resort - to that expedient to learn what property is kept on the premises, and - how it is disposed of at night. 'A great deal of crime,' says Mr. - Nairn, in his evidence, 'is generated in consequence of the tradesmen - who employ journeymen to work for them, in gentlemen's houses, not - taking care to inquire into their character: by getting acquainted - with servants, they get a knowledge of those parts of the house where - anything valuable is kept. A number of men that were in the prison - were painters, plasterers, and bricklayers, they were in the practice - of communicating with thieves, and it is in that secret manner that - they get information where property is kept.'—_Vide J. H. Nairn, p. - 370, 2nd Report, Lords, on State of Gaols, 1835._ - - "There is a most infamous conspiracy existing between the purveyors or - housekeepers of the aristocracy and their tradespeople, the latter - paying the former a large per centage on the bills for the sake of - 'gaining their custom.' Twenty per cent. is often given, and it has - been known to rise as high as fifty; unfortunately, the nobleman - considers it as derogatory to his high rank to look into his pecuniary - domestic affairs; but taking it in a moral point of view, it is his - duty to do so for the sake of preventing this species of peculation, - which is an absolute theft and one of the stepping-stones to crime - generally, as the money so attained is mostly as lightly spent, and - the servants out of place for a length of time, the difficulty to - procure the wherewithal to keep alive their former extravagance makes - them not hesitate to become _regular thieves_, the fine sense of - honesty having been destroyed by the transaction with the tradesman, - who had not failed, in his turn, to make out a bill more than - sufficiently long to cover merely his generosity in bestowing - Christmas boxes upon the domestics of his patron. These tradesmen are - a rank disgrace to their more honest fellow shopkeeper; they are worse - than fences, and it is greatly to be regretted that a complete - _expose_ cannot take place, and all such tradesmen dealt with - according to their merit. - - "Another evil in society that is pregnant with mischief is giving a - false character to servants, which ladies are constantly in the - practice of doing, to avoid being plagued, or 'perhaps,' as they say, - 'insulted by the discarded servant,' whose character, if correctly - stated, would not be such as easily to procure a new situation; thus a - pilferer having once had the luck to start off in a private family - with a good name, is from this shameful habit let loose upon the - public to commit his depredations at leisure and convenience, with the - chance of blame falling upon an honest individual, through the crafty - machination of the wicked. By making servants conscious that they - would only procure such a character as they really deserve, great good - would accrue to the public generally, and the servants themselves - would be taught to curb their temper and other bad propensities, by - which they would become infinitely more contented and happy beings, - and valuable members of society. - - "It is too often the case that servants are looked upon as little - better than slaves, and so to treat them. To say the least of such - conduct it is unwise, for in proportion to the kindness with which - they are treated, so will they study in return to make us enjoy - numberless little comforts so delightful to experience, and which it - is in their power to give life to or destroy. Humanity ought to - suggest that the situation in which these persons are placed, - witnessing nightly those scenes of pleasure, without being permitted - to join in them, is sufficiently grating, for they all have their - feelings, in common with the best of us, and it ought to be one of the - first cares of the heads of families to lighten, as far as consistent - with the rules and shades of society, the state and labours of their - dependants. In France the servants are in an enviable condition - compared with those of England, and if the plan were followed in this - country, giving them their little pleasures, many a one, whose - propensities were wavering, would be confirmed in virtue, and become a - useful member, instead of a disgrace to society." - - - - - CHAPTER LXXXVII. - THE BLACKAMOOR. - - -Upon quitting Old Death's abode, Tim the Snammer and Josh Pedler -proceeded together in the direction of Blackfriar's Bridge; while John -Jeffreys, having wished those worthies "good night," pursued his way up -Horsemonger Lane, and plunged into the maze of narrow, obscure streets -lying at the back of the prison. - -Although he had said "_good night_" to his companions, it was in reality -_morning_; for the clock of the gaol chimed a quarter-past three as -Jeffreys passed by that dismal-looking establishment. - -Having reached the door of the house in which he lodged, and which was -in one of the streets above alluded to, he drew a pass-key from his -pocket, and was about to apply it to the lock, when the sounds of -footsteps close by fell upon his ears, and almost at the same moment a -heavy hand was laid upon his shoulder. - -The conscience of Mr. John Jeffreys was not quite so free from sources -of alarm as to prevent him from being painfully startled by this -occurrence; and turning suddenly round towards the individual who had -thus accosted him, he found himself face to face with a blackamoor. - -"Fear not—no harm is intended you," said the negro, in a deep, solemn, -and sonorous voice, but without the least peculiarity of accent; "that -is," he added, "if you follow my directions." - -"And who are you?" demanded Jeffreys, reassured by the certainty that he -was addressing no myrmidon of the law. - -"It is not for you to question, but to answer," said the Black in a cool -and authoritative manner which seemed to indicate the consciousness of -possessing the power to enforce his will, even against any resistance -that might be offered. "But I have no time to waste in unnecessary -discourse. You must accompany me whither I shall lead you." - -"And if I refuse?" asked Jeffreys, trembling he scarcely knew why. - -"Then I shall summon to my aid those who are ready at hand, and who will -carry you off by force," calmly replied the Black. - -"But if I raise an alarm," said Jeffreys, gradually yielding to a -sensation of awe in the presence of the mysterious stranger who spoke -with the confidence of power and authority, "the neighbours will come to -my rescue, and——" - -"A truce to this argument," interrupted the Black, sternly. "If you -accompany me of your own free will, it will be to your advantage, and no -harm shall befall you: but if you venture to resist me, I shall -unhesitatingly make you my prisoner by force; and we shall then see what -account John Jeffreys can give of his long and intimate connexion with -Old Death." - -"I will go with you—I will do any thing you command," said the villain, -trembling from head to foot. "Only——" - -"Again I tell you that you have nothing to fear and much to gain," -observed the Black; and taking Jeffreys' arm, he led him hastily back -towards Horsemonger Lane, neither of them uttering a word as they thus -hurried along. - -The night—or rather morning, was dark and sombre, and there were no -lamps in the streets which they were threading. Thus, although -arm-in-arm together, Jeffreys could obtain but a very imperfect view of -his companion's features: nevertheless, it struck him that though the -stranger's countenance was black as that of an African negro, the facial -outline was not characterised by the protuberant thickness of lips and -hideous flatness of nose which usually belong to that race. But Jeffreys -was too much alarmed—too much bewildered by the sudden and mysterious -adventures which had befallen him, to be able to make any very steady -reflections; and whenever he threw a furtive glance towards his -companion's countenance, he was instantly met by eyes the pupils of -which seemed to glare upon him from their brilliant whites like those of -a basilisk. - -It was, indeed, an awe-inspiring and most uncomfortable situation in -which Jeffreys found himself placed. Having numerous misdeeds upon his -conscience, he shuddered at the idea of coming in contact with the law; -and if he offered any resistance to his strange companion, such contact -was the alternative with which he was menaced. But who was this strange -companion? who was this Black that spoke with a tone of authority, and -acted in a manner denoting a consciousness of power? For what purpose -was he now hurrying Jeffreys along through the darkness of the silent -night? and whither were they going? Even had the man been armed with -conscious innocence, his position was one calculated to engender acute -suspense, painful doubt, and wild apprehension;—but, knowing that he had -been guilty of many deeds any one of which would be sufficient to -involve him in serious trouble with regard to the law, the miserable -wretch had every thing to fear, and scarcely any thing to hope. - -It was true he had received assurances that no harm should befall him; -and that the incident would, on the other hand, prove advantageous to -him. But the influence of those assurances was completely absorbed in -the vague and terrible alarms which the dread mystery of the adventure -was so well calculated to excite. Conscious guilt made him a complete -coward; and his ideas became so confused—his nervousness so great—his -excitement so wild, that he began to fancy he was in the power of some -unearthly being of evil nature and design. As this impression grew -stronger in his attenuated mind, he cast in his terror more frequent -glances at his companion;—and now it seemed as if the black countenance -were rapidly changing—becoming hideous to behold, and lighted up with -eyes that burnt in their sockets like red hot coals! - -John Jeffreys felt his legs failing beneath him—his brain whirling—his -reason going;—and he was on the point of falling to the ground, overcome -by the terror that oppressed him, when his companion's voice suddenly -broke upon his ear, dispelling all the superstitious portion of his -alarms, and recalling him to his senses. - -"Step in!" said the Black;—and Jeffreys found himself by the side of a -hackney-coach which was waiting beneath the wall of Horsemonger Lane -gaol. - -He obeyed the command issued in that authoritative tone which he dared -not resist; and the Black followed him into the vehicle, which -immediately drove away. - -"I must now blindfold you," observed the mysterious stranger; "and I -warn you not to attempt to discover the road which we are about to -pursue. Even in the darkness which prevails in this coach, I shall be -able to distinguish all your movements." - -"Where are we going?—what are you about to do with me?" asked Jeffreys, -in an imploring voice. - -"If you are such a coward as you now seem to be, you will prove of -little service to me, I am afraid," said the Black, as he fastened a -handkerchief over his prisoner's eyes. "Cheer up, man," he added, in a -tone not altogether free from contemptuous disgust: "if I meant to -deliver you into the hands of justice, for your numerous misdeeds, I -should not take this round about manner of accomplishing the task. Once -more I tell you that the result of this adventure depends wholly and -solely on yourself. It may prove a fortunate occurrence for you, if your -conduct be such as to beget confidence and merit forbearance and -protection." - -"Then you wish me to do something for you?" said Jeffreys, considerably -reassured by the words just addressed to him. - -"A great deal," was the laconic answer. "But we will not continue the -discourse at present, if you please." - -This intimation was followed by profound silence; and the vehicle rolled -along at a rapid rate. Jeffreys was now so far relieved of the -oppressive fears which had recently paralysed his intellectual energies, -that he could even smile at the superstitious alarm which had seized -upon him; and he endeavoured to follow in imagination the route pursued -by the coach. But he soon became aware that it was taking such a -circuitous and tortuous way as fully to destroy all possibility on his -part of instituting any clue to its course; and he at last threw himself -back in the vehicle, to give way to reflections on another subject—thus -abandoning the idea of studying the direction in which he was being -hurried along. - -For an hour did the coach proceed, making numerous turnings into fresh -streets, and often appearing to retrace the way it had previously -pursued. At length it stopped; and, one of the doors being immediately -opened, the Black took Jeffreys' hand and assisted him to alight. The -mysterious guide then hurried his prisoner into a house, up a flight of -stairs and into a room, where he conducted him to a seat. - -"Remove the bandage from your eyes," said the Black. - -This command was instantly and cheerfully obeyed; and Jeffreys, casting -a rapid glance around, found himself to be in a well-furnished -apartment, of which he and his mysterious guide were the only occupants. -The curtains were drawn completely over the windows; and Jeffreys had -not the least idea of the locality to which he had been brought. - -Opposite to him, but in such a manner that the light of the candles did -not fall upon his countenance, sate the Black, whose person Jeffreys was -now enabled to examine more narrowly than when they were walking -arm-in-arm in the neighbourhood of Horsemonger Lane Gaol; and that -survey showed him a man of middle height, well-built, and dressed in -good but plain attire. His features were too delicate to be of the negro -cast: he had no whiskers, and his hair was of the glossiest jet and -seemed to curl naturally. On the table near him lay a pair of pistols; -and over the mantelpiece two swords hung cross-wise, beneath a -formidable blunderbuss. - -The Black allowed Jeffreys leisure to examine the apartment, probably -with the view of convincing him, by the appearance of the weapons -distributed about, that he was in a place where treachery could be -punished in a moment, and that it would be prudent for him to resolve -beforehand to accept any conditions that might be proposed to him. - -After a short pause, the Black assumed an attitude significant of his -intention to open the business of the morning's adventure. - -"John Jeffreys," he said, in his calm but imposing manner, "I am well -acquainted with all that concerns you; and I know your readiness to -serve those who pay you well. Now, however well Old Death may have -already paid, or may promise to pay you, for any thing you may have done -or may have to do for him, I will pay you better. Do you choose to enter -my service—my service exclusively, remember; because, in serving me, you -can really serve none other?" - -"You seem to know me well, indeed, master," said Jeffreys, assuming a -familiar tone, now that he began to fancy the Black to be no better than -he should be. - -"Dispense with jocularity, sir," exclaimed the other sternly; and -Jeffreys shrank from the severe look fixed upon him and the haughty -manner which accompanied the words just uttered. "Look you," continued -the Black,—"I may as well inform you at once that the companionship -which you may expect to enjoy with me, will not be of the kind to which -you are accustomed with such men as those from whom you parted an hour -ago. If you serve me, you must become my slave: you must execute my -bidding without even pausing to reflect on the motives which may -instigate the commands I shall give you. You must consent to become a -mere automaton in my hands—a machine that is to move only as I choose to -direct. There will be no familiarity between us—no friendship. All will -be enveloped in the strictest mystery; and you will often have to act -without comprehending what you are doing, or the objects you are -destined to accomplish. You will moreover be watched by invisible -spies—at least by persons whose supervision you will not suspect; so -that the least attempt at treachery on your part will be sure to meet -with instantaneous punishment—and that punishment is _death_." - -"I see nothing to object to, sir, in all that," said Jeffreys, now -speaking in a respectful tone, "providing the advantages are as great as -they ought to be." - -"The advantages to you will be immense," resumed the Black; "and I will -explain them. In the first place, there is nothing criminal in my -service—nothing that can make you tremble when a stranger taps you on -the shoulder. On the contrary, I will protect you even from the effects -of the crimes which you have already committed, should they transpire by -accident or by the treachery of any of your former accomplices. Your -salary shall be liberal and regularly paid; and thus you will be freed -from those vicissitudes which make such men as you rich to-day and poor -to-morrow. When the time shall come—which it must—that I no longer need -your services, I will settle on you an income for the remainder of your -days. These are the advantages which I offer you." - -"If you only fulfil one tenth part, sir——" began Jeffreys, delighted at -the prospects opening before him. - -"I am not in the habit of promising more than I can perform," -interrupted the Black haughtily. "If my service suits you, you enter it -from this moment." - -"I accept the terms with joy and gratitude," said Jeffreys. - -"Good!" exclaimed the Black; and tossing a well-filled purse towards his -new servant, he said, "There are a hundred pounds to confirm the -bargain. One piece of advice I must give you:—indeed, it involves a -condition on which I must insist; and this is, that you do not, through -idle vanity, display your gold to those persons who may be likely to -suspect that you have not come honestly by it. For you will not be able -to give any satisfactory explanation; and I do not choose you to get -into any difficulty just that I may have the trouble of getting you out -of it again. Why I say that you will be able to give no satisfactory -explanation relative to the source of your prosperity, is because you -will not know who your master is—nor where he lives—nor any thing -concerning him. You will have no one to refer to, in case you fall into -difficulty: at the same time, I should hear of it, and would hasten to -assist you, if you be worthy of my regard—if you deserve that I should -care for your welfare." - -"But how am I to receive your orders, sir, if I do not know where you -live nor who you are?" inquired Jeffreys, his astonishment and awe -increasing with every word that came from the lips of his new master. - -"Shall not I know where _you_ live?" said the Black, smiling for the -first time since they had met: "and can I not come to you when I require -your services? Will not the post convey my letters? and have I not -messengers to dispatch to you? Leave all those matters to me; trouble -not yourself relative to the means of communication between us: and ask -no questions which do not bear upon the mechanical and even blind -service which you are to devote to me. You will find me a good and -liberal master, if you prove faithful, diligent, and sincere; but should -you attempt to practise perfidy against me—should you deceive me in any -one single thing, however trifling, I shall become a terrible and -implacable enemy." - -"I can have no interest in deceiving you, sir, considering all the -advantages your service holds out," said Jeffreys: "and yet I should -like to know a little more of the nature of what you will require at my -hands—what I shall have to do, indeed." - -"No—I will explain nothing," returned the Black. "I have already assured -you that my service is safe, so far as the laws of the country are -concerned, and that you will never be called upon to do a deed of which -you need be ashamed—supposing that you have any shame in you. I say -this, because I know that you have hitherto pursued evil courses—that -you have maintained a desperate connexion with Benjamin Bones—and that -many robberies have taken place through your instrumentality, if not -actually perpetrated by your hands. But if you remain in my service, I -hope to render you a better man—I hope to see the day come when you will -know what proper shame is, and will blush at many of the actions of your -earlier years. Of this enough, however, for the present. I did not bring -you hither to listen to moral lectures or sermons from my lips. Neither -do I believe that precepts are of much benefit to a man who has pursued -a long career of vice and error. Example does much more—but experience -most of all. When you shall have learnt the value of good conduct and -the advantage of fidelity to him whom you serve, you will see how far -preferable it is to dwell without the fear of incurring the resentment -of outraged laws than to lead an existence of harassing excitement -produced by the perpetual dread of falling into the grasp of justice. -But, again I say, of this enough. Do you still adhere to your desire to -enter my service?" - -"I do, sir," was the answer, delivered in a firm tone. - -"I must then warn you," resumed the Black, "that though I exact the most -complete fidelity from you—and though I should punish, in a terrible -manner, the least perfidy on your part,—yet, in respect to others, you -will often be compelled to exercise stratagem and practise plots which -at first sight may appear treacherous. You will have to wage war, -perhaps, against some of your old companions—to defeat their -projects—even to betray their schemes. Are you prepared to agree to all -this?" - -"I am prepared to obey your orders in all things," was the reply. - -"Without even questioning my motives?" - -"That was a condition already imposed by you, and agreed to by me." - -"And you will undertake never to breathe to a single soul a word -relative to the secret service in which you are engaged? Remember," -added the Black, hastily, "I merely mention this as a warning; because I -should immediately detect any treachery on your part, and should not -hesitate to punish it terribly." - -"I wish you would at once put me to the test in some way or another, -sir," said Jeffreys. "You seem to know all about me—but in what way you -got your information, is of course a mystery to me. However, you _do_ -know me well—and, having that knowledge of me, I can perfectly -understand that you do not feel disposed to trust to my bare word in any -thing. Now give me something to do—put me on trial in some way or -another—and then judge whether I am the man to serve a good paymaster, -or not." - -"You speak to the point—and I will at once put you to the test you -solicit," returned the Black; "and mind how you reply to my -questions—because, even were you to amuse me with deceptive answers now, -in a few hours I should discover the real truth, and my vengeance would -overtake you—aye, even in the midst of those companions whom I am about -to ask you to betray. In a word, then, what was the nature of the -business which took you and two other men to Old Death's lodgings last -evening, and detained you there a great portion of the night?" - -"One word, sir, before I answer the question!" exclaimed Jeffreys. "If I -reveal to you every thing which took place between myself, those two men -and Old Death last night, will you not think that in the same manner I -shall betray to them what is now taking place between you and me?" - -"I have already told you that the greatest proof of faithful service -towards _me_ is to betray _others_," returned the Black; "and I have -given you ample assurance that if you attempt to betray _me_ to -_others_, certain vengeance will overtake you." - -"Then if you consider my treachery towards others as a proof of fidelity -to you, sir," continued Jeffreys, "I am content to be put to such a -test. You ask me what took place between Old Death, Tim the Snammer, -Josh Pedler, and myself last night; and I will tell you word for word. A -few weeks ago one Thomas Rainford was hanged at Horsemonger Lane gaol, -and was buried in St. Luke's churchyard. To-night Old Death means to -have the coffin dug up, and conveyed to the house of certain people -named Bunce, in Earl Street, Seven Dials; to which house he himself will -move to-day. It seems that this Rainford was the eldest brother of the -Earl of Ellingham, against whom Old Death has a dreadful spite; and so -he intends to have the body of Tom Rain taken out of the coffin, a rope -put round its neck, and a placard on its breast, stating that the famous -highwayman was the Earl's brother. The body is then to be conveyed to -Pall Mall, and placed on the steps of the nobleman's house. This is one -part of the scheme concocted last night, and which me and the two other -men were engaged to execute." - -"Go on," said the Black, in a low tone. - -"The part that's to come is worse than what I've already told you, sir," -observed Jeffreys; "and I am afraid that if you know I consented to -serve in the matter——" - -"Go on—go on," exclaimed the Black, impatiently. - -"Well, sir—since I must, I will tell you all," continued Jeffreys. "Old -Death has found out that a lady, named Esther—Esther—I forget——" - -"Never mind! Go on, I say," cried the Black, more impatiently than -before. - -"I was saying that Old Death had found out that this lady was the -mistress of Tom Rain, the famous highwayman, and that the Earl has a -great esteem for her. He has also heard that the Earl _is_ going—or -_was_ going—to marry another lady, named Hatfield; and he has made up -his mind to have these two ladies carried off and conveyed to Bunce's -house in Seven Dials. When he has got them there, sir, he intends——But I -really——" - -"Go on, man!" exclaimed the Black. "What does he mean to do?" - -"To put their eyes out," replied Jeffreys, in a low tone, and speaking -with considerable hesitation. - -"The fiend!—the monster!" ejaculated the Black, starting from his chair; -but instantly composing himself, he resumed his seat, saying, "Was that -the full extent of the atrocity planned and agreed upon last night?" - -"That was the whole scheme, sir," answered Jeffreys. "Benjamin Bones -agreed to give us each a hundred pounds for serving him in those -matters, and he paid us each thirty on account." - -"Show me your share," said the Black, abruptly. - -Jeffreys hesitated, and turned pale. - -"Beware how you deceive me—take care how you trifle with me!" exclaimed -his master. "If you received those thirty pounds from Old Death, you -must have them about you now; for _I know_," he added emphatically and -significantly, "that between the time you left his lodgings and stopped -at your own door, whither I followed you expressly to ascertain where -you lived, you entered no place at which you could have deposited the -money." - -Jeffreys no longer dared to hesitate; but taking a large roll of -Bank-notes and a quantity of gold from his pocket, he spread them upon -the table, saying, "The thirty pounds I received from Old Death last -night are amongst this lot." - -"And whence did you obtain such a large sum?" demanded the Black, -hastily glancing over the amount, "there are several hundreds of pounds -here!" - -"Well, sir," said Jeffreys, completely over-awed by the tone and manner -of his new master, as well as by the mystery which surrounded him; "I -will tell you all about it—and then you will be convinced that I am -ready and anxious to secure your good opinion. I was until very lately -in the service of a Mr. Torrens——" - -"Ah!" exclaimed the Black, starting as if with sudden surprise at the -information he had just received: then, again composing himself, he said -in his usual calm, but authoritative manner, "Proceed." - -"This Mr. Torrens was paid a sum of money a few days ago—about fifteen -hundred pounds," continued Jeffreys; "and I put Old Death up to it." - -"Benjamin Bones again—Benjamin Bones at the bottom of every villainy!" -cried the Black, in an excited manner. - -"Well, sir—and so Old Death sent two men—the very same men who was with -me at his lodgings last night—to rob Mr. Torrens of the money. They -succeeded, and Old Death changed the large notes into small ones and -gold; because large notes are useless to such men as Tim the Snammer and -Josh Pedler. If they attempted to change a fifty pound note, they would -get taken up in a moment; whereas they can manage to smash small notes -at the public-houses where they deal. So Old Death had his share of the -plunder; and mine is part of that heap. I have now told you every thing, -sir——" - -"No—not every thing!" said the Black, in a more serious and solemn tone -than he had yet adopted during his interview with Jeffreys. "Mr. Torrens -is in Newgate—charged with a fearful crime," he continued; "and his -daughter Rosamond is in a state bordering on despair at the house of -kind and generous people with whom I am acquainted." - -"Good God! who are you?" exclaimed Jeffreys, surveying his master in -terror and amazement. "You know every thing—every body! The least word -that is uttered leads to a subject with which you are sure to be -acquainted! Oh! sir—if you have had me brought here to do me a -mischief—to get me into trouble—to make me confess things—" - -"Fear not, Jeffreys!" interrupted the Black, in a reassuring tone. "I am -acquainted with Mr. Torrens' version of the history of that murder—and I -know that suspicion rests not upon you. But I now perceive clearly that -the tale which Mr. Torrens has told to his daughter, and which his -daughter has repeated to those friends of mine who have granted her an -asylum,—I perceive that this tale is, alas! too true, strange and -incredible as it at first appeared. Yes: Mr. Torrens did not deceive his -daughter! The house was entered by two men and robbed, as he described -the occurrence—and those two men were the real murderers of Sir Henry -Courtenay! Jeffreys," continued the Black, in a lower and more measured -tone, "you are now completely in my power. Nay—start not—fear not: it is -far from my intention to harm you. But it is as well for you to know -that you are now bound to me in two ways: first, because I pay you for -your services—secondly, because I will denounce you as an accomplice and -an accessory before the fact, in respect to that murder, if you hesitate -to fulfil my orders! On the other hand, if you remain faithful—if you -serve me with that blind obedience and implicit zeal which I exact from -you, you have nothing to fear, but every thing to hope." - -"Before I was in your power I had made up my mind to serve you in the -manner you state," said Jeffreys; "and now of course I am compelled to -do so. Give me your orders—what is there for me to undertake? Shall I -inform against Josh Pedler and Tim Splint? or shall I go and set the -constables upon Old Death, who was an accomplice in the robbery, since -he sent those two men to commit it." - -"Silence, Jeffreys!" exclaimed the Black imperiously: "it is not for you -to suggest any thing—but to perform what is suggested by myself! And -remember—I will not allow you to take a single step in these matters, -unauthorised by me. Stir not of your own accord—or you will only involve -yourself in ruin. See the position in which you are placed! If the two -men who murdered Sir Henry Courtenay, be surrendered up to justice, they -may confess all—and their confession would implicate you and Benjamin -Bones. Nevertheless, an innocent victim shall not be sacrificed to the -blood-thirsty law which authorises the punishment of death: Mr. Torrens -must be saved! This is an affair which demands the greatest caution; and -if you utter a word more than I direct you to speak, or take a single -step unknown to me, you will be undone! But time has passed rapidly—more -rapidly than I had expected, while we have been thus conversing -together," added the Black, looking at his watch. "It is now -day-light—and you cannot depart hence until the evening." - -He knew by the hour that morning had dawned some time; but the -window-shutters were closed, and the curtains were thick and ample, so -that not a gleam of sunshine penetrated into that apartment, where the -candles were still burning. - -"Yes—you must remain here until the evening," repeated the Black. "At -what time was it arranged that you should meet the other agents of Old -Death in order to visit St. Luke's churchyard?" - -"To-night at eleven," answered Jeffreys; "and the place of appointment -is at the back of the burial-ground. But do you intend, sir, that I -should fulfil my agreement with Benjamin Bones?" - -"Ask me no questions!" cried his master, evidently much excited—if not -absolutely perplexed by the various ideas that were agitating in his -brain. "I have not yet resolved how to act: I must be alone for some -hours to meditate! In the meantime you no doubt stand in need of rest? -Follow me." - -With these words the Black took up a candle and led the way into an -adjoining room, which was fitted up as a bed-chamber. There also the -shutters were closed, and the curtains drawn over the windows. - -"This will be your apartment until the evening," said the Black: "but as -I am accustomed to adopt all proper precautions to ensure the complete -carrying out of my views, I shall be compelled to place some one with -you, and I most moreover request that those shutters remain closed -throughout the day." - -Jeffreys' new master rang a bell; and in a few minutes a tall, thin, -genteel-looking lad, but of a complexion as dark as his own, answered -the summons. - -"Cæsar," said the elder Black, addressing the lad, "you will stay in -this room until I give you permission to leave it; and you will see that -Jeffreys, whom I have taken into my service," he added significantly, -"is supplied with every thing which he requires in the shape of -refreshments." - -"Yes, sir," replied the youth, in a respectful manner. - -The Black then quitted the room; and Jeffreys remained with the lad who -had been addressed by the name of Cæsar. - - - - - CHAPTER LXXXVIII. - SCENES AT THE BLACKAMOOR'S HOUSE. - - -When the Black returned to the parlour where he had received from the -lips of Jeffreys revelations which had produced a strange effect upon -his mind, he threw himself upon the sofa, and gave way to his -reflections. - -Although he had been up all night, yet he experienced no sensation of -weariness: he possessed a soul of such indomitable energy that by a -natural kind of sympathy between mind and matter, it sustained even the -physical powers to a wondrous degree. - -We must follow him in the train of meditations into which he was -plunged; for the affairs in which he suddenly found himself interested, -through the confessions of John Jeffreys, were of so complicated and so -difficult a nature,—involving, too, so many delicate points,—that to a -mind endowed with one whit less of courage, or with one gleam less of -clearness, those affairs would have appeared to be entangled beyond all -possibility of a safe and prudent unravelling. - -Let the reader bear in mind that there were two distinct affairs in -question; although they might at a first glance be confounded, because -certain persons who were connected with one were also involved in the -other. - -The first of these affairs was the scheme of Old Death to avenge himself -on the Earl of Ellingham,—a scheme involving many frightful details, -such as the exhumation of a coffin, the capture of Esther de Medina and -Lady Hatfield, and the atrocity of blinding those fair and interesting -creatures. - -The other affair was the accusation of Mr. Torrens of a crime which he -had not committed, and the necessity of proving his innocence. - -"If those miscreants Tim the Snammer and Josh Pedler be informed -against," reasoned the Black within himself, "they will be certain that -either Benjamin Bones or John Jeffreys has betrayed them, and they will -accordingly give a full and complete explanation, the result of which -would be that the whole four would swing together. But I am bound to -save Jeffreys from that terrible fate; and God forbid that that I should -be the means, direct or indirect, of sending Benjamin Bones to the -scaffold! And yet, on the other hand, knowing all that I have elicited -from Jeffreys, and acting in the true spirit of that mission which I -have voluntarily undertaken, I dare not allow this innocent man Torrens -to be condemned by a frightful combination of circumstantial evidence, -when the utterance of a single word will prove him guiltless and fix the -crime on those who really perpetrated it. How stands the matter, then? -Torrens must be saved on the one hand; but the real murderers must be -allowed to escape on the other! Oh! this is a fatal necessity—a dreadful -alternative; and yet it is imperious!" - -The Black rose and paced the room with slow and measured steps. He -reflected profoundly. He separated all the details of the two -complicated matters which occupied his thoughts, and examined them one -by one. - -"In respect to the vengeance of Benjamin Bones,"—it was thus that his -musings were continued after a time,—"_that scheme_ must be completely -strangled at once—annihilated at its very commencement. Not for worlds -must aught scandalous or degrading occur to Arthur, Earl of -Ellingham!—not for worlds must the relationship subsisting between him -and Thomas Rainford be published and proclaimed! Yes—Benjamin Bones must -be rendered powerless for the future;—and yet how can this be -accomplished without permitting a legal tribunal to seize upon him?" - -The Black continued to pace the room, his sable countenance denoting by -its workings the searching keenness with which his mind seized upon and -examined each successive project that suggested itself as a means to -accomplish all his objects and carry out all his aims in a manner -certain to produce the results which he was anxious and resolved to -bring about. - -At length one particular scheme flashed to his mind; and the smile which -appeared on his countenance, as his imagination seized on that project, -was an augury of its subsequent adoption. He weighed it well in all its -details—he calculated its consequences—he minutely examined all its -certain results,—and he arrived at the conviction that, though a large -and even a dangerous measure, it was the only one whereby all his -designs could be effected. - -Having resolved to carry it into execution, the Black felt his mind -relieved of a considerable load;—and, seating himself at the table, he -wrote the following letter:— - - "The account which Rosamond Torrens received from her father - relative to the assassination of Sir Henry Courtenay, and which that - unfortunate girl recited to you, is strictly and substantially - correct. Accident has enabled me to discover the real perpetrators - of the crime; _and Mr. Torrens shall be saved!_ You will know in - what terms to convey this assurance to that poor, suffering creature - whom you have taken under your protection." - -The Black sealed this note, and addressed it to "_Miss Esther de Medina, -Manor House, Finchley_." He then repaired to the room where he had left -Jeffreys and Cæsar together, and found that the former, having partaken -of some refreshments, had thrown himself on the bed and fallen into a -profound sleep. - -"Cæsar," said the Black, "you must hasten to Finchley with this letter. -Take your horse and delay not. On your return, come back by way of -Grafton Street, and tell Dr. Lascelles that I desire to see him as soon -as he can possibly visit me." - -Cæsar immediately departed to execute these commissions; and the Black -seated himself by the side of the bed on which Jeffreys was sleeping. - -Nearly an hour passed, and the man did not awake. The Black rang the -bell, and a domestic in plain clothes answered the summons. - -"Wilton," said his master, "remain here, and keep watch upon this -person,"—pointing to the sleeper. "When he awakes, ring the bell." - -The servant bowed obedience to these instructions; and the Black left -the room. - - * * * * * - -Several hours had passed away, and it was three o'clock in the -afternoon. - -Cæsar had returned with letters for his master, who had scarcely made an -end of their perusal when Dr. Lascelles was announced. - -"Well, my dear friend," said the physician, "what new scheme have you -now in view? in what new project do you require my assistance?" - -"Sit down, Doctor, and listen to me attentively," observed the Black; -"for many and strange incidents have occurred since I saw you last. But -perhaps you have been to Finchley; and in that case, one of those -circumstances to which I allude will have been made known to you." - -"No, my dear friend," replied Dr. Lascelles, depositing his hat and -gloves on one chair and himself in another: "I have not had time to call -upon the Medinas since they removed to their country residence. I have -been experimentalising on a most splendid brain which the surgeon of St. -Bartholomew's Hospital was kind enough to send me as a present. But of -what nature is the circumstance of which I should have heard at -Finchley, had I called? Nothing disagreeable, I hope?" - -"I will explain it to you in as few words as possible," answered the -Black, seating himself opposite to the physician. "The day before -yesterday—at about five o'clock in the evening—Mr. de Medina and Esther -were walking along the high road in the immediate vicinity of the Manor, -to which they had removed, as you are well aware, in the morning, when -they saw a beautiful young creature sitting on the step of a stile, and -evidently a prey to the most heart-rending anguish. They accosted -her—spoke kindly to her—and at length induced her to tell just so much -of her sorrowful tale as to enlist their warmest sympathies in her -behalf. They took her to the Manor; but on their arrival, the poor girl -was so overcome by illness, fatigue, and distress of mind, that Esther -insisted on her retiring to rest. Yesterday morning she was so far -recovered as to render it unnecessary to send for you in your medical -capacity; and Esther assured her that she might not only look upon the -Manor as her home, but that she should be treated with all the kindness, -attention, and respect, due to her misfortunes. It then appears that the -poor creature made a confidant of Esther, and revealed her entire story, -which shows how deeply she is to be pitied, and how cruel were the -circumstances that had driven her from her home, and made her resolve to -fly from London as from a city of pestilence. The entire details of that -story I will give you presently. Yesterday afternoon I repaired to the -Manor, and the particulars connected with the young lady were -confidentially narrated to me by Mr. de Medina. Last night the -metropolis rang with the rumours of a dreadful murder having been -discovered——" - -"The assassination of Sir Henry Courtenay," remarked the physician; "and -the murderer, a gentleman named Torrens, is in Newgate." - -"The _alleged_ murderer, you mean, doctor," said the Black, -emphatically. "And now prepare yourself to hear an amazing -revelation—for the young creature who found an asylum at Finchley Manor, -is the daughter of that _alleged murderer_, and her name is Rosamond." - -"But surely she could not have been in any way implicated——" - -"Patience, doctor—patience," said the Black. "On hearing last night of -the arrest of Mr. Torrens, I immediately dispatched Cæsar to Finchley -with a note to Mr. de Medina, containing the sad intelligence; and I -find by letters which I have just received," he added, glancing towards -the documents which lay open on the table, "that the news were broken as -delicately as possible to the unhappy girl: nevertheless, she is, as you -may suppose, a prey to the most lively grief; and it has been with the -greatest difficulty that Mr. de Medina and Esther have restrained her -from flying to Newgate to console her father. Let me now relate her -history to you." - -The Black then detailed those incidents in connexion with Rosamond, -which are already known to the reader—save and except the dreadful fact -that Mr. Torrens had sold his daughter's virtue to Sir Henry Courtenay; -for though the unhappy girl had confessed the outrage which had been -perpetrated on her, she knew not—as the reader will remember—that her -own father had been an accomplice in the fearful deed. - -"I have now some further explanations to give you, doctor," continued -the Black; "and then I shall have completed my long, long preface to the -business which induced me to request your presence here now. In -pursuance of that grand and difficult project, the nature of which is so -well known to you, I resolved to enlist one of Old Death's confederates, -or rather instruments, in my own service. Accordingly, last night, as -soon as I had dispatched Cæsar to Finchley with the note containing the -intelligence of Mr. Torrens' arrest, I went into the Borough, and -watched in the neighbourhood of Old Death's lodgings: for I informed you -a few days ago, if you recollect, that Cæsar had succeeded in -discovering the abode of that terrible man. Well, I kept not my watch -uselessly; for I soon beheld three men enter the house in Horsemonger -Lane, individually and at short intervals. Two of them were unknown to -me—although I have since found that their names were by no means -unfamiliar; but the third was a fellow of whom I knew something. This -was John Jeffreys—once a servant in the employ of Sir Christopher Blunt. -Now it immediately struck me that this was the very man who would suit -my purposes; for he is crafty—intelligent—and always ready to serve the -best paymaster. I accordingly resolved to enlist him in my employ; and -to this determination I was the more readily brought, because I felt -convinced that mischief was brewing under the auspices of Old Death. The -fact of the three men arriving so mysteriously—singly and at short -intervals, on the same evening, evidently by appointment—and the length -of time they remained in the place, were sufficient arguments to prove -to a far less experienced person than myself, that a council of -desperate men was being held for no good purposes. It was not until past -three this morning, that the villains separated. I had already made up -my mind how to act, and a hackney-coach was ordered by me to wait -beneath the wall of Horsemonger Lane. I fancied that Old Death's -visitors would depart singly as they had arrived; and my expectations -were so far realised that Jeffreys went off by himself. I resolved to -follow him home first—for I suspected that he lived at no great -distance; because, I thought that if I could not succeed in inducing him -to accompany me, I should at least know where to find him on another -occasion. At his own door I accosted him; and, by working on his fears -by means of my mysterious behaviour, as well as by holding out to him -vague threats that I was prepared to carry him off by force, if he -should resist me, I succeeded in bringing him blindfold to this house." - -"Well done!" exclaimed the physician. "And so I presume you have -regularly enlisted the respectable Mr. Jeffreys into your -service—thereby securing the aid of a spy in the enemy's camp." - -"The very object aimed at—the very point gained!," cried the Black, -"Jeffreys, under the joint influence of bribery and menaces, is -completely mine: and he gave me proofs of his fidelity by revealing to -me many interesting matters. Indeed, it was providentially fortunate -that I got him into my power and service just at this particular time; -as you shall judge for yourself." - -He then related the details of the damnable conspiracy planned by Old -Death, and to be executed by his myrmidons, against the peace of the -Earl of Ellingham and the happiness of Lady Hatfield and Esther de -Medina. - -"This man is a perfect monster!" ejaculated Dr. Lascelles indignantly. -"How is it possible that you can have any forbearance, my dear friend? -Set your retainers to watch for him—have him captured—and lock him up -for life in one of the dungeons which he himself doubtless rendered -serviceable to his own purposes on more than one occasion." - -"Patience, doctor," said the Black: "nothing must be done rashly nor -without due consideration. Besides, you are well aware that my object is -to endeavour to reform that bad man——" - -"Reform the devil!" cried the physician impatiently. "You know very well -that I ridiculed the idea when you first started it." - -"And I intend to try the experiment, doctor," observed the Black, calmly -but firmly. "In the meantime, pray listen to me. In the course of the -conversation which I had with Jeffreys this morning, he mentioned the -name of Torrens; and to my surprise I found that he had lately been in -that gentleman's service. When Rosamond told her story to Esther, the -poor girl alluded several times to her father's man-servant, as I stated -to you just now; but as she did not happen to mention his name—or if she -did, it was not mentioned to me—I was unaware of the identity of that -domestic and Jeffreys till the latter himself suffered the fact to -transpire. Then was it that I also received a corroboration of the truth -of the version which Mr. Torrens had given his daughter of those -circumstances that led to the death of Sir Henry Courtenay; for Jeffreys -instigated the robbery at Torrens Cottage—Benjamin Bones appointed two -men to execute it—and those men assassinated the baronet." - -[Illustration] - -"You have thus become the depositor of a very agreeable secret, my dear -friend," said the doctor, somewhat ironically. "How do you intend to -act? For my part, I consider the position to be embarrassing; for if -those two men are arrested, they will perhaps inform against Jeffreys -and Old Death,—and, in this case, you lose not only your new dependant, -but also the opportunity of trying your great moral theory—which I call -great moral nonsense—upon the respectable Mr. Benjamin Bones." - -"Doctor—doctor," exclaimed the Black, in a reproachful tone: "is this -your friendship for me? is this the way in which you fulfil your promise -of assistance?" - -"Pardon me, my dear fellow," cried the good-hearted physician, wringing -his companion's hand violently. "If I talk to you in that fashion, it is -simply because I am deeply anxious for your welfare, and that—in -consequence of certain circumstances which we need not specify—I look -upon you just as if you were my own son. You know that I am ready to -serve you by day and by night—that you may command me at all times, and -my purse to its fullest extent——" - -"A thousand thanks, doctor, for these proofs of generous friendship," -interrupted the Black. "Your assistance I indeed require: on your purse, -thanks to the liberality of Mr. de Medina and the Earl of Ellingham, I -shall not be compelled to make any inroad." - -"Then in what way can I assist you?" demanded the physician. - -"I will explain myself," continued the Black. "But first I must tell you -that the very two men who murdered Sir Henry Courtenay, are of the gang -employed by Old Death to persecute the Earl and the two ladies in whom -we all feel an interest—I mean Georgiana Hatfield and Esther de Medina." - -"This makes the business more complicated," said the doctor: "because if -those two men are arrested on the charge of murder, they may perhaps -confess not only that Old Death urged them to the robbery and that -Jeffreys was an accomplice in it; but they may also state the services -which Benjamin Bones hired them to perform respecting the Earl and the -two ladies,—thereby at once publishing to the world that Thomas Rainford -was indeed the elder brother of the Earl, and propagating the infamous -scandal relative to Esther de Medina having been the said Thomas -Rainford's mistress." - -"You embrace the whole difficulty—or rather the greater portion of it at -once, my dear doctor," exclaimed the Black, delighted to find that his -friend entered so minutely and with such keen perception into the -affair. "The business presses in every way. In the first place, it is -necessary that an innocent man should be relieved as speedily as -possible from the dreadful charge hanging over his head; and secondly, -the exhumation of the coffin in Saint Luke's churchyard must be -prevented this night." - -"Certainly it must;" observed Dr. Lascelles. "For if once Old Death knew -that the coffin contained not the remains of Thomas Rainford, the -discovery might engender certain suspicions in the mind of such an -astute old scoundrel as he." - -"In a word, doctor, Torrens must be saved; and yet the two men, who -rejoice in the names of Joshua Pedler and Timothy Splint, must not be -handed over to justice," observed the Black. - -"Such ought to be the policy adopted," said the physician: "and, -remember, that though these two men are not to be rendered up to -justice, they must be taken such care of for the future as to commit no -more murders and accept no more employ in the service of such miscreants -as Old Death." - -"Of that I shall indeed take good care," said the Black. - -"But how will it be possible to save Torrens without handing Splint and -Pedler over to justice in his place?" demanded the physician. "You will -be a clever fellow if you accomplish that difficulty." - -"I am prepared to encounter it, doctor," returned the Black; "and you -must aid me in the business. Are you so intimately acquainted with any -magistrate or justice of the peace, that you could invite him to -dinner?" - -"What an extraordinary question!" cried Dr. Lascelles, laughing. "How -will my asking a magistrate to dinner serve your purposes?" - -"Only thus far," responded the Black: "that you would have the kindness -to walk a little way with him on his return home in the evening, and -that I should have you both very quietly kidnapped, blindfolded, and -carried off to some place where you would both have to receive and -witness the statements made by two men named Joshua Pedler and Timothy -Splint, whom I shall have safe in my own custody within a few hours." - -"I understand," said the physician, laughing heartily. "Capital! -capital! But, by the bye,—when I think of it—your old friend Sir -Christopher Blunt was gazetted two days ago to be one of his Majesty's -Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex. Would he not serve -your purpose? or do you think——" - -The physician paused and looked the Black steadfastly and significantly -in the face. - -"He will answer admirably!" exclaimed the latter, after a few moments' -reflection. "Yes—better than any other, all things considered! I will -undertake to get him into my power without giving you the trouble to ask -him to dinner. But I must request, doctor, that to-morrow night at -eleven o'clock you will take a lonely walk in some very retired spot, -and at a good distance off too, so that you may lose all trace of the -path pursued by your kidnappers." - -"You do not require two persons, surely?" said Lascelles. - -"Yes—it will be better," responded the Black; "a Justice of the Peace, -and a competent and credible witness. Do you happen to have any patient -in the neighbourhood of Bethlem, for instance?" - -"Let me see," said the doctor, in a musing manner. "Yes," he cried: "an -old lady whom I have not visited for some time." - -"Very good," observed the Black. "Then you can call on her to-morrow -evening; and between ten and eleven, as you are returning on foot—on -foot, remember—you will be set upon by half a dozen ruffians," he -continued, laughing, "who will blindfold you, shove you into a chaise, -and carry you off—you never will be able to say whither." - -"I understand you, my dear friend," said the physician, laughing -heartily also. "Your scheme is admirable and certain of success." - -"Thus far, then, the business is settled," observed the Black. - -At that moment Cæsar entered the room, and informed his master that the -man Jeffreys had just awoke, having slept uninterruptedly for many -hours. - -"But you have not left him alone, Cæsar?" exclaimed the Black. - -"No, sir—Wilton is with him," was the answer given by the youth. - -"Good!" observed his master: then, turning towards the doctor, he added, -"If that fellow were to open the shutters and look out into the street, -he might recognise the locality; and I intend to allow him no -opportunity of playing me false." - -"You act wisely," said the physician, who then took his departure, while -the Black repaired to the chamber where Jeffreys was remaining. - -The man rose and bowed respectfully on the entrance of his master, who, -having dismissed Wilton, seated himself and proceeded to address his new -dependant in the following manner:— - -"I have resolved how to act in the emergencies which have arisen, and to -which I have devoted my best consideration. You will not only be saved -from the consequences of your connivance with the robbery which took -place at Torrens Cottage, and which ended in so tragic a manner; but you -will likewise be rendered secure from the possibility of being in any -way implicated hereafter. My promises will be faithfully kept, if you -prove faithful. But if, on the other hand, you deceive me, I will find -you out wheresoever you may hide yourself; and you shall assuredly -perish on the scaffold! For you cannot conceive the extent of my power -to reward, nor of my ability to punish." - -"I have seen enough, sir, to be convinced that you are some great -person," said Jeffreys, "and I assure you that you will find me faithful -and devoted." - -"Act according to your words, and you will bless the day when you first -encountered me," observed the Black. "And now listen to my instructions. -Soon after it is dark you will be conveyed away from this house; and, at -the proper hour, you will keep your appointment to-night with Pedler and -Splint. You say that you are to meet them behind St. Luke's church. Do -you mean in the road which separates the two burying-grounds from each -other?" - -"That is the place of meeting, sir," was the answer. - -"Very well," continued the Black. "Is there any chance of Old Death -forming one of the party?" - -"Not the slightest, sir. He loves to plan and plot; but he usually pays -agents to execute." - -"I could have wished it had been otherwise. However, you will meet your -two friends according to agreement; and you will endeavour to keep them -in conversation for a few minutes in the road between the two -burial-grounds. This will give my people time to surround them, as it -were: for it is my intention to arrest those two men this very night." - -Jeffreys looked alarmed and said, "They will be sure to think that I -have betrayed them, sir." - -"Leave all that to me," returned the Black. "I will take care that they -shall never have the opportunity of injuring you. Wilton—the servant who -has just left this chamber—will conduct the expedition to night; and he -will allow you to escape. You will then proceed as quickly as possible -to Seven Dials, where Old Death, according to what you told me this -morning, must have already taken up his abode;—and you will tell him -that when it came to the last moment, Tim the Snammer and Josh Pedler -were afraid to undertake the business of digging up the coffin, and -resolved to have nothing more to do with him or his affairs. But you -will assure him that you remain faithful to him, and that you can -recommend two friends of your own who will be delighted to do all he -requires for a quarter of the sum he agreed to pay Pedler and Splint. If -he accepts the service of your pretended friends, you will make an -appointment to meet him in some, low neighbourhood the day after -to-morrow, in the evening. Let the time named be a late hour; and should -he wish you and your friends to call on him in Earl Street, raise -objections, as it does not suit my purpose that the appointment should -be there. It must be a place of meeting _from which he has to walk home -afterwards_." - -"I understand all your commands, sir," said Jeffreys; "and you may -depend upon them being faithfully executed." - -"I rely upon you," observed the Black; and, after a few moments' -consideration, he added, "To-morrow evening at nine o'clock, punctually, -you must be in Wilderness Row, beneath the wall of the Charter House -gardens; and I shall send some one to receive an account of your -proceedings with Old Death, and give you further instructions. But once -more I say, be faithful—be prudent—and avoid any vain or foolish display -of your money." - -"I wish you would have more confidence in me, sir," exclaimed Jeffreys: -then, after a brief pause, he said, as an idea struck him, "I have a -great deal of money about me, sir—and I wish you would take care of it -for me." - -"Now I am convinced of your honest intentions, my good fellow," said his -master, in a kinder tone than he had yet adopted towards the man. "If -you propose to leave your money with me as a guarantee of your good -faith, I do not now require any such security: but if your object be to -place it in safety, I will accept the trust." - -"Well, sir—let it be in the way you have just mentioned," returned -Jeffreys. - -"Here is a drawer—lock up any thing you choose therein, and take the key -with you," said the Black. - -Jeffreys did as he was desired: Wilton was again summoned—an excellent -dinner was supplied the new dependant and the servant who was appointed -to remain with him;—and the Black retired to his own apartment. - -Soon after it was dark, Jeffreys was blindfolded and conducted to a -private carriage, which was waiting. Wilton accompanied him in the -vehicle, which, after driving about for nearly an hour, stopped at last; -and Jeffreys, on removing the bandage from his eyes, and alighting, -found himself in an obscure street in the immediate vicinity of -Shoreditch Church. - - - - - CHAPTER LXXXIX. - THE SURPRISE.—JEFFREYS AND OLD DEATH. - - -The deep tones of St. Luke's bell, proclaiming the hour of eleven, -oscillated though the gusty air, as Tim the Snammer entered the narrow -road dividing the two burial-grounds belonging to the church. John -Jeffreys was already at the place of appointment; and not many moments -had elapsed after those two met, ere Josh Pedler joined them, bringing -with him the necessary implements for the work of resurrectionists, and -which he instantly threw over the wall. - -"What a windy night it is," said Tim the Snammer; "and how precious -dark." - -"All the better for our business," observed Josh Pedler. "I should have -been here a little earlier; but I had such a cursed deal of trouble to -get rid of that bothering wench 'Tilda. She wouldn't let me come out at -first; and swore that if I did, she'd foller me." - -"And did she follow you?" demanded Jeffreys. - -"Deuce a bit," answered Josh. "I was obliged to give her a good drubbing -because she whimpered, and then another to make her hold her tongue; and -afterwards we kissed and made it up—and so she went quietly to bed. What -strange things women are, to be sure! If you beat 'em, they're sure to -love you all the more." - -"Well, are we going to stand here talking all night?" cried Tim the -Snammer. "Who knows but what there's a watchman about here?" - -"I know there isn't," said Jeffreys: "because I made the enquiry in a -careless kind of way at a public-house close by, where I bought some -brandy in a pint bottle." - -"That's capital!" cried Tim. "Give us a dram, old feller." - -"I got it on purpose to keep the cold out and our spirits up," said -Jeffreys, playing his part admirably so as to gain time, in obedience to -the orders he had received from his master. "Who was it that came with -Tidmarsh this morning to see the place where Tom Rain is buried?" - -"I did," answered Tim the Snammer, smacking his lips in approval of the -brandy, and handing the bottle to Josh Pedler. - -"Ah! Tom Rain was a fine fellow!" said Jeffreys. "I knew him well. In -fact, I was with old Sir Christopher and Frank Curtis the night he -robbed them. What a bold, dashing, and yet cool-headed chap Rainford -was!" - -"The finest highwayman that England ever had," observed Josh Pedler, -returning the bottle to Jeffreys. - -"Beat your Dick Turpins and your Jack Sheppards all to nothink!" added -Tim the Snammer. "I say, Josh, let you and me take to the road when -we've done Old Death's business for him, and sacked the blunt he's still -got to pay us." - -"Well—well, we'll see about it, Tim," answered Pedler. "But—hush! here's -some one coming. Let's pretend to be walking on: we haven't time to jump -over after the tools." - -The three accordingly put themselves in motion; but Jeffreys knew pretty -well that the critical moment was now at hand. Tim the Snammer affected -to whistle a tune in a careless way; and Josh Pedler began talking loud -on some indifferent subject. - -Meantime, the footsteps advanced; and it was evident that more than one -person was approaching. In fact, there seemed to be three or four; but -Josh Pedler and Tim Splint had not the least suspicion of impending -danger: they thought that a party of jovial fellows were returning from -the public-house—an idea that was excited by the merry song which one of -the persons now approaching was singing. - -A few minutes brought the two parties within ten paces of each other; -when a sudden and suspicious noise was heard, as of a rustling of -clothes against the walls which bounded the road. Both Tim the Snammer -and Josh Pedler stopped short, alarmed and irresolute: the next instant -they, as well as Jeffreys, were seized by two persons who leaped upon -them from the walls, and by those who had advanced along the road. - -Jeffreys was liberated the moment he mentioned his name; and he hurried -away as quickly as possible from the scene of the surprise and -capture;—but not before he had witnessed enough, even in the obscurity -of the night, to convince him that Josh Pedler and Tim the Snammer were -gagged and rendered powerless in the grasp of the agents of the -mysterious Blackamoor. - -And such was indeed the fact. Before they were able to offer the -slightest resistance, or even utter a cry, they were reduced to the -condition just described. Their captors immediately divided into two -parties, each bearing off a prisoner, so that the villains had not even -the consolation of remaining together. - -So well were all the arrangements made to ensure the complete success of -the affair, that a vehicle was waiting in the vicinity of each end of -the road separating the burial-grounds; and the moment the prisoners -were thrust inside, bandages were tied over their eyes. - -Tim the Snammer was the first who arrived at the place of the villains' -destination. At the expiration of an hour from the time of his capture, -the vehicle, which had purposely driven about in a circuitous manner, -stopped at a house, into which the prisoner was hurried. Up a flight of -stairs he was then led—through several rooms—and at length down a long -spiral descent of stone steps, a trap shutting with a crashing sound -above, and a huge door opening and closing with the din of massiveness -below,—then along a place in which the rapid tread of the numerous feet -echoed with a gloomy and hollow sound, as if in a paved and vaulted -passage,—and lastly into a dungeon, where the wretched man was -deposited, unbound, and left to himself, the huge door closing upon -him,—such was the hurried progress and ultimate destination of Tim the -Snammer in the strange and unknown place to which his captors had borne -him! - -The treatment experienced by Josh Pedler was precisely the same, save -that he did not enter his prison-house until a good half hour after the -arrival of his companion in iniquity. - - * * * * * - -In the meantime, John Jeffreys proceeded to Seven Dials, and found Old -Death seated with Mrs. Bunce, Toby having been dismissed—as was usual -when Mr. Bones had business to transact in Earl Street—to the -public-house to amuse himself with his pipe and his pint. - -Old Death was surprised and alarmed when he beheld Jeffreys make his -appearance so early, and unaccompanied by Tim Splint and Josh Pedler. - -"Is any thing the matter?" enquired the ancient miscreant, as Mrs. Bunce -carefully closed the room door. - -"No great harm—only something to delay your business," replied Jeffreys. - -"Well—if it's no worse, there isn't much harm done," said Old Death. -"But where are the others?" - -"It's just on account of them that nothing has been done to-night," -answered Jeffreys. "In two words, they funked over the affair and have -given it up." - -"What!" cried Old Death, his countenance becoming grim and ghastly with -rage and disappointment: "those scoundrels have received my money—my -good money—thirty pounds each, in advance—and have given up the -business! You are joking, Jeffreys,—you are bantering me! Why, Tim the -Snammer would go through fire and water for such a sum of money as I -promised him; and Josh Pedler would sell his skin for half the amount." - -"All I can say is this, Mr. Bones," continued Jeffreys, "that I was -punctual at the place of meeting at five minutes to eleven; and when Tim -Splint and Josh Pedler made their appearance, they said they had changed -their minds and should not proceed farther in the business, and that I -might come and tell you so if I liked." - -"The villains!—the rascals!" growled Old Death, clenching his fists, and -working his toothless jaws about horribly as he spoke. - -"I asked them what had made them come to such a resolution," proceeded -Jeffreys; "and they said that on account of Torrens's affair they had -plenty of money, and it was useless to risk transportation by turning -resurrectionists, at least before it was all spent. I argued with -them—but it was all in vain: they went away to some public-house; and as -I couldn't do the job myself, I started off here to tell you what had -occurred." - -"Those men don't know me, or they would not attempt to play their tricks -in this fashion," murmured Old Death: then, turning towards Jeffreys, he -said in a louder tone, and in a conciliating manner, "But you are a good -fellow—you are faithful and true, as I always found you; and I am -pleased with you. The day will come when Tim the Snammer and Josh Pedler -shall bitterly repent of their conduct! But in the meantime I am not to -be disappointed in my vengeance—I will not be foiled: I have set my mind -on a particular course—and I will follow it." - -"There are other men in the world who can do all you require, Mr. Bones, -besides Tim the Snammer and Josh Pedler," said Jeffreys. "I wish you had -spoken to me first of all——" - -"Why so?" demanded Old Death, hastily. - -"Because I could have got a couple of chaps to help me to do all the -business, and who would have been contented with a quarter of the money -you promised those sneaking scoundrels Splint and Pedler," answered -Jeffreys. - -"Indeed!" cried Old Death eagerly. "You are a good fellow, Jeffreys—an -excellent fellow; and you may always calculate upon having me as your -friend. But where are these people that you speak of?—who are they?" - -"You don't know any thing of them, I fancy," was the reply. "They are -like myself—servants out of place; but they are a precious sight worse -off than me in respect to money-matters, and would be glad to do any odd -job for a ten-pound note or so." - -"And when can you see them?" demanded Old Death. - -"When can I see them?" repeated Jeffreys in a musing tone, as if he were -giving the matter his most serious consideration: "why—I might hunt them -up to-morrow night—in fact, I'm sure I could——" - -"And you can make an appointment for me to see them the night after?" -said Old-Death, with fiendish eagerness to consummate the atrocious -vengeance which he had planned. - -"I will undertake to do that, Mr. Bones," returned Jeffreys. "Shall I -explain to them the nature of the business before they see you, or not?" - -"No—let me see them first!" said Old Death. "Or stay—you may sound 'em -about the resurrection business—but mention no names at all. Don't tell -them who has employed you to treat with them——" - -"Mr. Bones is a good judge of people's faces," observed Mrs. Bunce; "and -knows by their looks whether they're to be trusted or not." - -"Generally speaking, I do—generally speaking," said Old Death. "Now, for -instance," he added, staring from beneath his shaggy, overhanging brows, -full upon the countenance of Jeffreys, "I know that you're faithful—and -I can trust you." - -The man to whom these words were addressed, met the searching look fixed -upon him with an unchanging cheek and eyes that quailed not; although -for a moment he feared lest Old Death had suddenly entertained some -suspicion concerning him. But it seemed that the ancient miscreant, with -all his boasted skill in reading the human physiognomy, was on this -occasion completely at fault. - -"To tell you the truth, Jeffreys," he continued, "I never liked the -looks of the Snammer: but I thought that good pay would make him -faithful. However, he will yet repent his conduct towards me—and so -shall Josh Pedler. If it wasn't for their infernal treachery, my -vengeance would be by this time in a fair way towards prompt and speedy -gratification. For if that Earl was allowed to go scot-free—if I didn't -punish him—aye, and fearfully too—for all the injuries he has done to -me, I should go mad! My property all destroyed—my riches taken from -me—the very house that was so useful to me——" - -"Don't take on so, Mr. Bones!" interrupted Mrs. Bunce, in a coaxing -manner. "Come—shall I put a leetle brandy on the table?" - -"No—gin!" ejaculated Old Death savagely: then, turning towards Jeffreys, -he said, "You won't bring those friends of yours here, mind, the night -after to-morrow: it will be quite time to let them know where I live and -where business will afterwards lead them to meet me, when I have -satisfied myself that they are of the right sort." - -"You don't think I would ask you to employ any one that I wasn't sure -of?" exclaimed Jeffreys, affecting an angry tone. - -"No—no, my good fellow," hastily responded Old Death: "but -experience—experience teaches us much; and my experience is greater than -yours. Come—take a glass of gin-and-water, and don't be annoyed. I -didn't mean to vex you." - -"Say no more about it, then," observed Jeffreys. "Where shall we meet -the night after to-morrow?" - -"Let me see," mused Benjamin Bones aloud: "I have an appointment for -that evening in the actual neighbourhood of St. Luke's Church; and -there's a flash ken in Helmet Row, called the _Stout House_. We will -meet there between ten and eleven." - -"Agreed," said Jeffreys. "Have you any farther instructions?" - -"None—none, my good fellow," answered Old Death: "only don't promise -your two friends too much for the services required of them. You see how -I have lost already by those scoundrels Pedler and Splint: but I will be -even with them—I will!" - -"The two persons I shall introduce to you will do your work well and -cheap, Mr. Bones," replied Jeffreys; "and I am sure you will be -satisfied. I shall now be off—because I may perhaps find them to-night. -At all events we meet at the _Stout House_, Helmet Row, the night after -next." - -"Exactly," said Old Death. "By the way, if you run against Tim the -Snammer or Josh Pedler, just try and find out where they are to be met -with, and let me know." - -"I'll bear it in mind," answered Jeffreys. - -He then took his departure, well pleased at the success which had -hitherto attended his proceedings in working out the designs and -fulfilling the instructions of his master. - -But who was that master?—and where dwelt the mysterious personage? Ah! -these were points which defied all conjecture. - - * * * * * - -On the following evening, shortly before nine o'clock, Jeffreys was -pacing Wilderness Row, in obedience to the appointment arranged by his -employer. - -He was not kept waiting many minutes, ere the youth Cæsar accosted him. - -"Our master," said the lad, "has sent me to inquire of you the result of -your interview with Old Death; and he desires me to assure you that he -is well satisfied with your conduct of last night, inasmuch as you -effectually amused your companions until their captors came up. But what -of Old Death?" - -"He has completely fallen into the snare laid for him," answered -Jeffreys; "and will meet me and _my two friends_," he added -significantly, "at the _Stout House_, Helmet Row, to-morrow night -between ten and eleven." - -"Good!" observed Cæsar. "Wilton and another of our master's retainers, -both dressed in a suitable manner, will meet you at that place to-morrow -night shortly before ten, so that you may have time to arrange the plan -of proceeding together, before Old Death makes his appearance." - -"I shall not fail to be there at a quarter to ten," answered Jeffreys. -"Have you any further orders for me?" - -"Yes," replied Cæsar: "listen! To-morrow you must endeavour to find out -the abode of one Tidmarsh, a friend of Old Death's." - -"That will be easily accomplished to-morrow night when I meet Benjamin -Bones," said Jeffreys. "You are aware that the object of my appointment -with him, is to introduce to him two friends of mine who will undertake -to dig up the remains of Tom Rainford, the famous highwayman." - -"Yes—yes," said Cæsar hastily. - -"Well," continued Jeffreys, "I am supposed to be the leader of the party -by whom that task is to be performed; and I shall tell Old Death that he -must send Tidmarsh with me in the morning to point out the place where -Rainford is buried. He will then let me know where Tidmarsh lives; or -else will at once make him write a note to that person to arrange an -appointment." - -"I understand," said Cæsar. "But suppose that Old Death will do neither, -alleging that he will call himself on Tidmarsh and send him to meet you -on the following morning at some place named? In this case all will be -wrong, because Old Death is to be captured to-morrow night on his way -home. Had you not better call in Seven Dials to-morrow morning, tell Old -Death that you have found your friends and made the appointment with -them for the evening, and then ask him to let Tidmarsh at once afford -you the clue you will require to—to—the grave of Rainford?" asked the -lad, his voice trembling and hesitating slightly as he uttered the -concluding words of his question. - -"I understand you perfectly, Cæsar," replied Jeffreys. "Leave it to me -to manage as our master desires: I will undertake to be able to give -Wilton good news of Tidmarsh to-morrow night." - -"Our master will rely upon you," said the youth. "Meantime -farewell;"—and he hurried rapidly away, Jeffreys not offering to follow -him. - - - - - CHAPTER XC. - THE NEW JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. - - -Sir Christopher Blunt was seated in his library, on the same evening -which saw the interview between Cæsar and Jeffreys; and his countenance -was animated with a glow of indescribable delight as he glanced his eyes -over several letters which he opened one after another. - -He was dressed in a very elegant manner; though he had somewhat punished -his corns by persisting to wear tight boots in order to make his feet -look small, and he might have felt a trifle or so easier at the waist if -he had not tied his waistcoat strings so tight. But if Sir Christopher -Blunt chose to enhance the fascinations of his appearance by converting -himself into a voluntary victim of that all-powerful Inquisition called -"Fashion,"—if Sir Christopher Blunt, like a great many other silly, old -gentlemen of this age, smiled at his self-martyrdom with the equanimity -of a saint broiling on a gridiron,—it is no business of any body save -the Sir Christopher Blunt aforesaid. - -In spite of the pinching boots end the excruciating tightness of the -figured silk waistcoat, the worthy knight was in a most glorious humour. -It was not because fortune had favoured him with great wealth: he was so -accustomed to riches by this time that a little poverty might have -proved an agreeable variation, if only for the excitement of the thing. -Neither was it the pleasing fact that his dear spouse had been in such a -hurry to present him with a son and heir, that she could not wait longer -than three months after their marriage;—for Sir Christopher was already -accustomed to the cries of the child, and somehow or another was growing -less and less proud of his paternal honours every day, the reasoning of -Dr. Wagtail relative to the premature birth appearing more and more -illogical each time he sate himself down to reflect upon it. "Then, what -_was_ the cause of the worthy knight's joyousness and good humour on the -evening in question?" demands the impatient reader: to which query we -hasten to reply—"Sir Christopher Blunt had just been placed in the -commission of the peace, and congratulatory letters from his friends -were pouring in on all sides!" - -"Well, upon my word, this is very pleasant," said Sir Christopher to -himself: "I should not have thought that I was so beloved! Not a man in -England has such a host of dear, disinterested friends as I seem to -possess. Scarcely does my name appear in the _Gazette_, when—whisk! in -come the letters, by twopenny post and general—by hand and by -conveyance! And some too are from people that really had no particular -cause to be so devoted to me—people that I never spoke to six times in -my life! But let's see—what have we here? A sheet of foolscap completely -covered—and crossed in some parts. God bless me! what a letter. Why, it -must have taken the man an hour to write it; and I am sure it will take -me two to read it. But who does it come from? _Henry Atkins!_ Henry -Atkins—who the deuce is he? Oh! I remember—the gentleman who allowed me -a seat in his pew at Hackney, when I went to lodge there four years ago -for the benefit of my health. Well, it's very kind of him to write me -this long letter of congratulation—for I never exchanged ten words with -him in my life. But let's see what he says. '_My dear Blunt._' Very -friendly indeed! '_It was with indescribable delight and supreme -satisfaction that I heard of your appointment to a position which no man -in Europe can fill with more suitable dignity than yourself._' Well, -come—that's a good beginning. '_Your business habits, your high standing -in society, your great name, your unblemished character, your brilliant -talents, and your immense benevolence, render you most eligible to fill -that office, and most competent to discharge its functions._' Upon my -honour, it's very prettily worded—quite sonorous! It reads admirably. -And this sincere and heart-felt congratulation is from a man whom I -scarcely know. But he seems to know me well enough, however. '_In these -times of agricultural distress and commercial embarrassment—in this age -when England's heaven is overcast with lowering clouds, and the storms -of anarchy and discontent menace us imminently—it is delightful to -reflect that authority is so judiciously entrusted as in your case._' -That's the best rounded period I ever met with in my life. What a -clever, far-seeing, shrewd man this Atkins must be: and what an idiot I -have been not to cultivate the acquaintance of such a sincere friend! -'_But it is chiefly your_ _benevolence—it is principally your boundless -charity, which is the theme of all praise, which is chanted by all -tongues, and which is hymned beneath every roof throughout the length -and breadth of the land._' Well, I could not have believed that I was so -famous—particularly on that score. However, it must be so, since Atkins -says it is. '_Yes, my dear Blunt_,'—very friendly indeed!—'_it is your -boundless charity, your anxiety to do good to deserving persons, that -will hand your name down to posterity, and send it floating like an -eternal bark, over the waves of Time._' Egad! that's splendid. Milton -never wrote any thing finer. I have never read Milton, it is true; but I -am sure Atkins can beat him. Let us see how it goes on. '_It is under -these impressions, and acting in obedience to these convictions, that I -have ventured to address you._' And I am very glad he has: I'll write to -him presently and tell him I shall always be delighted to hear from him. -Let's see—where was I? Oh!—'_ventured to address you for the purpose of -soliciting your aid under very peculiar circumstances_.' Hem! I don't -like that sentence so much as the others. '_I am a man possessing a -large family and very limited means; and business having been lately -indifferent, I have fallen into sad arrears with my landlord._' The -style gets worse—that's clear! '_At this present moment I have an -execution in my house for forty pounds; and when I look around me, I -behold a distracted wife on one side, and a grim bailiff in possession -on the other._' This is the least interesting part of his letter: that -period was not at all well turned. Milton beats him hollow there.—'_If, -then, my dear Blunt_,'——damned familiar, though, with his '_dear -Blunt_,' upon my honour!——'_If, then, my dear Blunt, you would favour me -with the loan of fifty pounds for three months_,'——Confound his -impudence!" ejaculated the knight, throwing the letter into the -waste-paper basket. "A man I know nothing of—who knows nothing of me—who -never saw me ten times in his life—to ask me for fifty pounds! It is -absurd—preposterous!" - -And the knight's countenance underwent a complete change, which lasted -for several minutes, until its joyous expression was gradually recalled -by the perusal of letters which contained congratulations only, without -soliciting favours. - -Presently a servant entered the room, and stated that a gentleman named -Lykspittal requested an interview with Sir Christopher Blunt. - -"Show him up—show him up immediately!" exclaimed the knight. "I have -been expecting the gentleman this last half-hour," he added, looking at -his watch. "It is now nine—and he was to have been here soon after -eight." - -The domestic withdrew, and speedily returned, ushering in a thin, pale, -elderly, sneaking-looking man, dressed in a suit of black which would -not bear too close an inspection in the day-time, but passed off well -enough by candle-light. - -"Sit down, Mr. Lykspittal—pray sit down," said the knight, looking, in -contrast with the visitor, just like a wax figure recently added to -Madame Tussaud's exhibition, so bright was the red of his animated -cheeks, so glossy his coat and trowsers, and so stiff and starch his -attitude. "You have been well recommended to me, Mr. Lykspittal, by a -friend to whom your literary labours have given complete satisfaction, -and who speaks highly of you as a man in whom implicit confidence may be -placed." - -"I am very much obliged to you, Sir Christopher, for the kind opinion -you have formed of me," answered the visitor in a tone of the deepest -veneration and respect, and appearing by his manner as if he did not -dare to say that his soul was his own. "Allow me to congratulate you, -Sir Christopher, on your appointment as one of his Majesty's Justices of -the Peace. I am convinced a worthier selection could not have been -made." - -"Well, you're very kind, Mr. Lykspittal," returned the knight. "All my -friends seem to agree that the Lord Chancellor acted in a wise and -prudent manner in placing my name before his most gracious Majesty for -the purpose: and it will be my endeavour, Mr. Lykspittal," added Sir -Christopher, pompously, "to discharge the duties of my office with -credit to myself and benefit to my country." - -"It is not every one who possesses your advantages, Sir Christopher," -observed his visitor, in a cringing tone and with a sycophantic manner -which would have disgusted any person endowed with good sense and proper -feeling; but which were particularly pleasing to the shallow-pated, -self-sufficient old beau. - -"At the same time," said Sir Christopher, "whatever advantages I may -possess—whatever be those merits which have placed me in this—this——" - -"Enviable and responsible," suggested Mr. Lykspittal, meekly. - -"Enviable and responsible position," continued the knight, adopting the -epithets as coolly and quietly as if they were prompted by his own -imagination;—"at the same time," he said, "it will not be amiss if -certain measures be adopted to—to——" - -"Enhance the popularity of your name," observed Mr. Lykspittal, in the -same low, cringing, and meek tone as before. - -"Just so," exclaimed the knight. "In fact, I mean to take a high stand -in the county—to put myself more forward than I have hitherto done—to -attend public meetings and——" - -"Public dinners," suggested Mr. Lykspittal. - -"Exactly," said Sir Christopher: "in a word, I want to—to——" - -"Become a public man," added the ready-witted gentleman, whose business -it was to furnish ideas to those who furnished him with cash in return. - -"You understand me as well as I understand myself, Mr. Lykspittal," -observed the knight. - -"It's my business, sir," was the answer. "Besides, you are so -enlightened and enlightening a man, Sir Christopher, that you may be -regarded as a lamp constantly diffusing its lustre even upon the darkest -and most chaotic ideas. Pardon me, Sir Christopher, for being so bold as -to express my opinion: but it is the truth—and I never flatter." - -"I am convinced you speak with sincerity, my dear sir," said the new -Justice of the Peace, playing with his eye-glass. "Well, then, Mr. -Lykspittal—to go back to our original subject—the subject of this -interview—I think you fully comprehend me: indeed, I know that you do. -It is my object and my determination to take a high position in the -county—so that I may in a short time reckon upon the honour of being one -of its representatives in Parliament." - -"Very easily managed, Sir Christopher," said Mr. Lykspittal. "The -electors would be proud of such a man as yourself:—pardon me for making -the observation—but I never flatter. In the first instance, however, it -is necessary that they should know you well." - -"Now we are coming to the point, my dear sir," exclaimed the knight. - -"Will you permit me to offer my suggestions?" asked Mr. Lykspittal, in a -tone of insinuating meekness. - -"Certainly—by all means. Proceed." - -"Well, Sir Christopher, in the first place I should propose that a -pamphlet be written on some taking subject, and addressed to your -worship," continued Mr. Lykspittal. "Suppose we say the _Corn Laws_—or -_Prison Discipline_—or _Catholic Emancipation_—or _Church Extension_—or -_Parliamentary Reform_—or _Labour in Factories_——" - -"All good subjects, Mr. Lykspittal—all good subjects," observed the -knight. "But I do not mind telling you in private, that I know nothing -about any one of them." - -"Of course not, Sir Christopher," exclaimed Mr. Lykspittal. "It is not -to be expected that a man of your standing will trouble himself about -the details of such trivial matters. But which side will you take—the -Liberal or the Tory?" - -"Oh! the Tory, by all means!" cried Sir Christopher. - -"Very good, my dear sir," said Mr. Lykspittal. "It is all the same to -me—I can write on one side as well as on the other. Suppose, then, we -take up the subject of _Catholic Emancipation_, which begins to make a -great noise.[40] A pamphlet must be got up, supposed to be written by -'_A Friend to the Established Church_,' and it must be in the shape of a -letter addressed to yourself. I should begin by saying,—'SIR,—_The -interest which you are known to take in this great and important -question—the perseverance you have manifested in making yourself -acquainted with all the bearings of the case, its certain results and -its inevitable influences—the stanch and long-tried ardour which you -have evinced in maintaining and upholding the institutions of the -Established Church—the numerous proofs which you have given of your -attachment to the Protestant Faith—and the fact that the eyes of the -whole country are upon you as a man resolved, at any personal sacrifice, -and at all individual risks, to oppose all dangerous innovations and -resist all perilous changes,—these motives, sir, have induced me to -address the following pages to you._'" - -"Nothing can be better, Mr. Lykspittal!" exclaimed the knight. "I -should, however, be glad if you will, in the course of the pamphlet, -allude especially—and more than once, too—to the fact that I have been -the artificer of my own fortune—that I raised myself from nothing—and -that the greatest mistake the livery-men of Portsoken ever made was to -reject me as a candidate for the aldermanic gown of that ward." - -"I shall not forget, Sir Christopher," observed Mr. Lykspittal. - -"And you may add, my dear sir," continued the knight, pompously, "that -you are well aware that circumstances have since occurred to make me -rejoice at that rejection." - -"I will declare it to be a well known fact amongst all your friends," -said the accommodating literary gentleman. - -"And you may touch upon the zeal—the ability—and the efficiency with -which I performed the duties of the shrievalty—the very arduous duties -of that office," observed the new Justice of the Peace. - -"I shall certainly do so, Sir Christopher," replied Mr. Lykspittal; "and -it will only be telling the exact truth." - -"You may likewise touch upon the reward which it graciously pleased the -illustrious Prince to confer upon me," continued the magistrate: "I -mean—the honour of knighthood." - -"As a matter of course, my dear sir; and never was that title bestowed -upon a gentleman better calculated to wear it worthily." - -"I thank you, Mr. Lykspittal," returned Sir Christopher, "for your very -flattering opinion of me. When can the pamphlet be got ready?" - -"I shall set about it immediately, sir," was the answer. "The moment it -is published, you must seize upon some point, which I shall purposely -leave open for discussion, and write a letter to a morning newspaper, -declaring that you agree with the general tenour of the work, but that -you totally dissent from that particular doctrine." - -"Decidedly," said Sir Christopher. "You will then write a reply, through -the same channel, and signed '_A Friend of the Established Church_.'" - -"That is my intention. We shall thus excite an interest relative to the -pamphlet, and your name, Sir Christopher, will be kept before the -public. The discussion may lead to a second pamphlet——" - -"Stay!" exclaimed the knight, smiling with the brightness of the idea -which had just struck him: "we will manage better than all that! You -shall write a pamphlet which you must address to me in the terms just -now specified by you; but the work must contain throughout opinions -totally opposed to mine, and the object of the pamphlet must seem to be -my conversion to your particular way of thinking. Then I must write -another pamphlet in answer—or rather, you must write it for me; and you -must cut up, hip and thigh, and completely refute all the doctrines set -forth in the first pamphlet. In fact, you must start a theory in that -first pamphlet, and knock it down altogether in the second, which must -be supposed to come from me." - -"A very ingenious idea, my dear sir," said Mr. Lykspittal, "and just -such an one as I should have expected from a man of your enlightened -mind. I admire the plan amazingly; and will set to work at once." - -"Very good," exclaimed Sir Christopher. "I will write you a cheque for -thirty guineas on account. You will of course make all the necessary -arrangements with the printer and stationer, and you may apply to me for -money as you require it. I shall do the thing handsomely, and spend -fifty pounds at least in advertising each pamphlet." - -Mr. Lykspittal coincided altogether in the propriety of these -intentions—indeed, he never was known to differ from a patron in the -whole course of his life; and, having received the cheque, he took his -leave, walking backwards to the door in homage to the great man who had -just been placed in the commission of the peace. - -Almost immediately after the departure of Mr. Lykspitttal, a servant -entered, announcing Captain O'Blunderbuss. - ------ - -Footnote 40: - - The reader will observe that this was said in the year 1827, _before_ - the emancipation of the Catholics took place. - -[Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER XCI. - CAPTAIN O'BLUNDERBUSS AGAIN.—ANOTHER - STRANGE VISITOR. - - -Sir Christopher Blunt was a man having many antipathies. Since his -rejection for Portsoken he had disliked all aldermen, individually and -collectively; and since his union with the present Lady Blunt, he had -conceived a violent aversion for all lady's-maids. He abominated Italian -organ-players, and hated mendicants. Many other dislikes had Sir -Christopher Blunt;—but of the whole batch, none was more settled, more -genuine, and more sincere than his antipathy for Irishmen generally, and -Captain O'Blunderbuss in particular. - -His interview with Mr. Lykspittal had left complacent smiles upon his -countenance;—but these suddenly yielded to clouds of the darkest -description when the domestic announced the name of that dreadful and -dreaded man. - -"Be the powers, and how is your wor-r-r-ship?" roared Captain -O'Blunderbuss, at the top of his stentorian voice, rattling the r most -awfully, as he strode towards the knight with outstretched hand: "tip us -your fin, my hearty—and allow me to congratulate ye on your appintment -to the Commission of the Pace!" - -Thus speaking, the captain shook with such exceeding violence the member -which he metaphorically designated as a fin, that the wretched Sir -Christopher groaned aloud, while tears started into his eyes. - -"Be Jasus! and it's proud I am to own ye as my frind, Sir Christopher!" -continued the gallant officer, not observing the pain which his proof of -extreme cordiality inflicted upon the worthy knight: then, throwing -himself into a chair, he exclaimed, "That rascal of a lacquey of your's -told me you was out; but I wasn't to be desayved in such a gross fashion -any how. So I just tould him my mind—" - -"And what was that, captain?" asked the knight, in a half terrified—half -sulky tone. - -"That he was an insolent blackguard, Sir Christopher," returned -O'Blunderbuss emphatically; "and be Jasus! I was just on the point of -taching him how to behave towards his superiors, when I saw the -gentleman who was last with ye coming out, and he tould me that your -wor-r-r-ship was at home." - -"But I—I am very particularly engaged, captain," said the knight; "and -if you would excuse me now—another time I shall be happy—when you are -passing this way——" - -"Be the holy poker! and there's no time like the prisint!" interrupted -the captain; "and as I want just to have a little cozie chat with you, -my dear frind, may be ye'll orther up the whiskey at once, and so save -us the throuble of talking dry-lipped." - -"Really, Captain O'Blunderbuss," stammered the knight, "as a -gentleman—as a—ahem—a person being in the Commission of the Peace—I—must -protest against—this—this intrusion——" - -"Inthrusion do ye call it?" vociferated the captain: then, after a few -moments' pause, during which he surveyed Sir Christopher in a most -ferocious manner, he suddenly assumed a milder demeanour, and, coolly -ringing the bell, said, "Be Jasus! I'll save ye the throuble of giving -any orthers at all, my frind." - -"Captain O'Blunderbuss," cried Sir Christopher, plucking up a spirit, "I -will not be treated in this manner! One would think that I am not master -in my own house. I have already told you that I am very particularly -occupied with business—in consequence of my recent appointment to——" - -"To the Commission of the Pace!" added the captain. "Well, my frind—and -we are going to dhrink success to the Commission and the Pace and all -the rist of it. My good fellow," he continued, addressing himself to the -footman who now entered the room, "bring up the whiskey and hot wather; -with the sugar and a lemon—d'ye hear?" - -"Don't do any such thing," exclaimed Sir Christopher, now in a furious -passion. "Who are you, sir, that thus dares to give orders in the house -of—of an ex-sheriff and an actual magistrate?" demanded the knight, in a -stern and pompous tone, for the presence of the servant seemed to be a -kind of protection beneath the shield of which the old gentleman grew -every moment more valourous. - -"Be the powers! and that same is soon answered," said the captain, -rising from his chair and drawing himself up to his full height. "Is it -myself that ye are afther enquiring about, Sir Christopher? Be Jasus, -then—it's Capthain O'Bluntherbuss, I am—of Bluntherbuss Park, Connemara; -and it's a pair of pisthols I've got for any man who dares to insulth -that same Capthain O'Bluntherbuss. So, if you're for war-r-r, Sir -Christopher-r-r," roared the gallant gentleman, "it shall be war-r-r; -and if ye're for pace, let it be pace—and potheen!" - -The captain looked so very terrible—grew so awfully red in the -face—seemed to swell out so tremendously at the chest—and raised his -voice to such a thundering tone, as he enunciated his name and that of -his imaginary estate, that Sir Christopher's valour, like the courage of -Bob Acres, oozed rapidly away, and the servant drew back as near the -door as possible so as to be able to beat a retreat, in case of need, -without any assistance from the warlike Irishman's foot. - -"Is it war-r-r, or pace?" demanded the captain, seeing that the enemy -was discomfited. - -"Peace—peace, captain,—by all means," returned the knight, in a -tremulous voice. "You'll alarm Lady Blunt—and—and make the dear baby -cry—" - -"It's pace—and potheen, sirrah," said the military gentleman, addressing -himself in a tone of stern determination to the domestic, who instantly -disappeared. "Now, my dear frind, ye're too impatient be half," -continued the captain, resuming his chair and again speaking to the -knight: "you don't give me time to explain to ye the nature of my -business and the rayson of me calling; for sure and it was to tell ye -how plazed your nev-vy Misther Frank Curtis is to think that ye're put -in the Commission of the Pace—and how sorry he is to think that ye -should have lost any thing by that scounthrel Howard—and how plazed he -is to learn that your son and heir is flourishing just like a green -bay-leaf—and how sorry he is to think that your frind Torrens should -have got himself into such a tirrible pother—and how plazed he is to be -able to send ye back the thrifling amount of five hunthred pounds which -ye was kind enough to advance him t'other day—" - -"Oh! he has done _that_, has he?" said Sir Christopher, rubbing his -hands, and evidently getting into a better humour. "Well, I am glad he -has fulfilled the little engagement, at all events; and I shall not -hesitate to receive it, because—because I am sure he would not have sent -it, if he couldn't have spared it." - -"Your nev-vy, my dear sir, is a man of honour-r—like myself!" cried the -captain, striking his breast very hard, so that it gave forth a hollow, -rumbling sound, as if he had a small drum buttoned inside his -frock-coat. "But, be the powers! here's the potheen; and it's over the -glass that we'll settle the little business of the five hunthred -pounds." - -The servant placed the tray upon the table, and withdrew. Sir -Christopher then, with the politeness of a man who is about to receive -the payment of money which he had never expected, did the honours in a -most affable manner, and only seemed contented when the captain, having -poured half a tumbler of scalding hot toddy down his throat, declared -that it was excellent! - -"And now for the little business," resumed the gallant gentleman; and he -forthwith began to fumble in his pockets, producing various pieces of -paper, and discarding them one after the other as soon as he -consecutively glanced at their contents. "That's not it, be the powers!" -he said, laying down a piece of a play-bill;—"and that's not it, be the -holy poker!" he added, throwing aside an old account of his -washerwoman's: "nor yet that, be Jasus!" he continued, similarly -disposing of a tailor's bill. "Why—what the blazes could I have done -with the note?" - -"Dear me, captain," observed Sir Christopher, in a tone of gentle -remonstrance, "it is very imprudent of you to carry notes about loose in -that way." - -"So it is, my dear frind," returned the gallant gentleman; "but it's a -fashion I have, d'ye see—and it's hard to break one-self of habits of -the kind. Be the powers! and here it is at last!" - -"All right—all right," said Sir Christopher, rubbing his hands. - -"Ye can give me change out of a thousand pounds, can't ye, my dear -frind?" demanded the captain, crunching a bit of paper in his hand as he -spoke. - -"Oh! I can write a cheque for the difference, you know," returned the -knight. "I presume it's a note for a thousand pounds?" - -"Just so," responded the captain; "and as good as a Bank of England -note, be the powers—although 'tisn't quite payable at sight." - -"Not payable at sight!" exclaimed Sir Christopher, in astonishment. -"Why—I never heard of the Bank of England issuing notes that weren't -payable on demand." - -"Egad, nor I!" said Captain O'Blunderbuss. "But sure it isn't a Bank of -England note at all, at all: it's just my own acceptance——" - -"Your acceptance!" groaned the knight, his countenance becoming suddenly -blank. - -"Yes—be Jasus! and here it is, my dear frind," returned O'Blunderbuss, -thrusting the rumpled slip of paper into Sir Christopher's hand. "It's -as dacent a note for a promissory one as ever you'd wish to see, and as -good as any of the palthry flimsy stuff that the Bank of England ever -issued—or the Bank of Ould Ireland either: and that's not even saying -enough for it." - -Sir Christopher—looking indeed like a knight of the rueful -countenance—turned the document over and over in his hands, having -glanced impatiently at its contents, which were drawn out in the usual -style of a bill of exchange, Captain O'Blunderbuss having accepted it in -favour of Frank Curtis, for the amount of One Thousand Pounds, and at -three months after date. - -"Well, Sir Christopher, and what d'ye say to that, my old buck?" cried -the captain, apparently surprised that the knight had not already -expressed his admiration at the whole proceeding. - -"What—what would you have me do with this?" asked Sir Christopher, in a -hesitating manner; for the fact is, he could not think well of it, and -he dared not speak ill of it. - -"Is it what you should do with it?" vociferated the captain. "Arrah! and -be Jasus, man, pay yourself out of it and write me a cheque for the -balance." - -"But, captain—I—I am no discounter," remonstrated the knight. "This -little slip of paper is no use to me." - -"Why! sirrah, and just now you was prepared to pay me the difference if -it had been a Bank-note!" cried O'Blunderbuss. "D'ye suspict the thing, -my frind? For if you mane to infer that it isn't as good as a Bank-note, -it's a direct insult to myself; and, be the Lord Harry! it's me that'll -resint it." - -With these words, the captain assumed a most menacing attitude; and Sir -Christopher was already in a dreadful fright lest he should be compelled -to submit to this new demand on the part of the extortioner, when the -footman entered to announce that a gentleman was waiting in the parlour -down stairs to speak to him upon very particular and urgent business. - -"You must excuse me for a few minutes, Captain O'Blunderbuss," said the -knight, rising to quit the apartment. - -"By all manes," cried that gentleman. "We can finish the little matther -prisintly; and during your absence I'll pay my respicts to the potheen." - -Sir Christopher accordingly repaired to the ground-floor parlour, where -he beheld a venerable old man who rose from the sofa whereon he was -seated, to greet him. - -The stranger's aspect was indeed most imposing and respectable. From -beneath a black silk skullcap flowed hair as white as silver; and his -form seemed bowed by the weight of years. He was dressed in a complete -suit of black, having knee-breeches, silk stockings, and shoes with -large silver buckles. He supported himself by means of a stick, and -appeared to walk with considerable difficulty. - -"Pray be seated, sir," exclaimed the knight, already prepossessed in -favour of his venerable-looking visitor, who resumed his place on the -sofa in such a manner that the light of the lamp should not fall upon -his countenance, which however appeared to be very pale and drawn up -about the mouth with the wrinkles of age. - -"Sir Christopher Blunt," said the old gentleman, in a tremulous voice, -"I have ventured to intrude myself upon you, for the purpose of -soliciting a very great favour. It is not of the ordinary nature of -boons—it involves nothing of a pecuniary kind; for, thank heaven! I am -placed far above the necessity of requiring such succour. Indeed, I may -say that I enjoy affluence." - -"Be assured, my dear sir," returned the knight, whose respect for his -visitor was amazingly enhanced by this announcement,—"be assured that if -I can serve you in any way—compatible with my honour as a man, and with -my position as an individual in the Commission of the Peace——" - -"It is just because you are a magistrate, Sir Christopher," interrupted -the old gentleman, his tone becoming slightly less tremulous as he -continued, "that I have now visited you. Not that any other magistrate -would have failed to answer my purpose; but I have heard so much in your -favour—the admirable manner in which you filled the office of -Sheriff—the becoming way in which you presented the address to his -present Majesty, when Prince Regent, and which was so very properly -rewarded by the honour of Knighthood—the dignified manner in which you -left the ungrateful livery-men of Portsoken to ruminate over their folly -in bestowing their votes on your unworthy rival in that grand -contest,—in a word, Sir Christopher, the whole tenour of your life, from -the period when you were poor and friendless until now that you are a -rich, esteemed, and influential member of society——" - -"My dear sir—my dear sir," cried Sir Christopher, absolutely whimpering -for joy at hearing his praises thus chanted by a gentleman of so -venerable and saint-like an appearance; "I really must know you -better—I—I—am quite at a loss to express my thanks—my——" - -"No thanks are required by one who proclaims the truth," said the -stranger, shaking his respectable old head in a solemn and imposing -manner. "You will yet be a great—a very great man, Sir Christopher; or -my experience, which is of four-score winters, is miserably—miserably -deceived." - -"Do you really think so, my dear sir?" exclaimed Sir Christopher. "Well, -I suppose you know—or perhaps you may not—that I am a very stanch and -sincere friend to the Established Church—that I am entirely opposed to -Catholic Emancipation—that I have made the subject a profound study, and -have devoted——I wish to God Lykspittal was here to prompt me," he -muttered in an under-tone to himself. - -"I was not exactly aware of all that, my good—my worthy Sir Christopher -Blunt," responded the old gentleman; "but I respect you all the more now -that I am acquainted with those facts. Indeed, I am proud and delighted -to have the honour of your acquaintance—an honour for which I have long -craved urgently. But let me return to the subject of my visit? I was -saying that you could render me a great—a very great favour, and at the -same time convince the world how zealous, how active, and how worthy a -magistrate you are." - -"My dear sir, I shall be quite delighted to serve you," cried Sir -Christopher, catching also at the idea of serving himself by performing -some duty which would put him in such a comfortable and desirable light -before the world. - -"The fact is, most estimable man," continued the stranger, his voice -again becoming very tremulous, as if with deep emotion, so that Sir -Christopher was positively affected in no ordinary degree, "two men, -stained with a dreadful crime, and now in a position which precludes the -possibility of their appearing before a magistrate, are anxious to -confess their enormity to some competent authority; and I have selected -you for the reasons which I mentioned just now." - -"You have done me infinite honour, my dear sir," cried the knight. "I -presume that this confession will be published to the world——" - -"Decidedly so," interrupted the venerable stranger; "and your name will -go forth as that of the zealous, trustworthy, and highly respectable -magistrate who was selected under such peculiar circumstances to receive -the confession." - -"Really this is no favour which you ask of me, my venerable friend," -exclaimed Sir Christopher, rejoiced at the lucky chance which thus gave -promise of publishing his name in so remarkable a manner. "I shall be -delighted to serve you in that or any other way. When do you require me -to visit these unhappy men?" - -"Immediately—at once," answered the old gentleman. "My own carriage is -at the door; and we can proceed to the place of destination with a -privacy which the nature of the circumstances renders imperative." - -Sir Christopher rose and signified his readiness to accompany his -venerable visitor, the joy which he experienced entirely obliterating in -his mind all remembrance of the fact that he had left Captain -O'Blunderbuss in his library. - -Giving his arm to his new friend, who walked with considerable -difficulty, Sir Christopher led him into the hall, where the knight only -stopped for a moment to take down his hat from a peg. They then issued -forth together, and Sir Christopher assisted the old gentleman to ascend -the steps of the vehicle which was waiting. He then leapt in himself; -and the footman belonging to the carriage had just closed the door, when -Captain O'Blunderbuss rushed from the house, exclaiming, "Be the powers, -and this is the greatest insulth 'twas ever my misfortune to mate with -in all my life!" - -"Oh! the dreadful man!" murmured the knight, throwing himself back in -the carriage in a state of despair. - -"Sir Christopher-r-r!" cried the captain, thrusting his head in at the -carriage window: "Sir Christopher-r-r!" he repeated, with a terrible -rattling of the r: "is this the way ye mane for to trate a gintleman? -Now, be the holy poker! if ye don't come forth and finish the little -business——" - -At this moment the captain was abruptly stopped short in a most -unexpected manner; for the old gentleman, growing impatient of the -delay, and perceiving that Sir Christopher was cruelly annoyed by the -presence of the Irishman, suddenly dealt so well applied and vigorous a -blow at the gallant officer, that his countenance disappeared in an -instant from the window, and he rolled back upon the pavement, -exclaiming, "Blood and thunther!" in a tone of mingled rage and -astonishment. - -At the same moment the coachman whipped his horses, and the vehicle -rolled away with extraordinary rapidity; while a merry laugh burst from -the lips of the venerable old gentleman who had so successfully -discomfited the warlike captain. - -As soon as Sir Christopher Blunt had recovered from the alarm and -excitement which the conduct of Captain O'Blunderbuss had caused him, he -was seized with a strange surprise, not altogether unaccompanied by -vague fear, at the sudden demonstration of vigour and strength made by -his companion. This feeling was enhanced by the youthful tones of the -merry laugh, which lasted long after the performance of the pleasant -feat; and the knight began to tremble with apprehension, when that same -mysterious companion hastily drew up the windows and the wooden blinds -of the carriage, the interior thus being thrown into a state of utter -darkness. - -"My dear Sir Christopher Blunt," said a voice, now tremulous no more, -but still evidently disguised, "you will pardon me for having practised -upon you a slight deception, which would indeed have been sustained -until the end of the present adventure, had not the chastisement which I -was tempted to administer to that bullying fellow convinced you that I -cannot be an old gentleman of four-score. In all other respects no -duplicity was practised upon you; for I am a great admirer of your -character—the object I have in view is precisely the one I named to -you—and I selected you to receive the confessions of the two men, -because I knew no magistrate better qualified to answer the purpose in -every way." - -A faint degree of irony marked the manner in which these last words were -uttered; but Sir Christopher Blunt observed it not—for he was now a prey -to oppressive fears and vague apprehensions. - -"Do not alarm yourself, my dear sir," resumed the stranger: "I pledge -you my most solemn word of honour that no harm shall befall you. -Circumstances which I cannot disclose render it necessary to observe all -possible mystery in respect to the present transaction. To you the -results will be just as I ere now promised. You will receive and attest -the confession of two criminals; and in forty-eight hours the contents -of that confession, coupled with an account of how you became possessed -of it, will appear in every London newspaper. Thence the whole -transaction will be transferred to the provincial press; and in less -than a week, the name of Sir Christopher Blunt, Knight, and Justice of -the Peace, will be published and proclaimed throughout these islands." - -"And you really mean me no harm?" said Sir Christopher, considerably -reassured as well as consoled by this intelligence. - -"Give me your hand, my dear sir," exclaimed his companion. "There! And -now I swear that as there is a God above us, you hold the hand of -friendship in your's; and may that hand wither if I forfeit my word, or -do you harm." - -"I believe you, sir—I believe you," said the knight, pressing the hand -which he held, with convulsive ardour. "But who are you that act thus -mysteriously? what is your name? where do you live? and whither are we -going?" - -"Not one of those questions can I answer," was the reply; "and it is -expressly to prevent you from ascertaining the route which we are -pursuing that I have drawn up the wooden blinds. I must also inform you -that ere we alight at the place where you will have to receive the -confession of the two men, I must bind a handkerchief over your eyes, so -that you may obtain no clue to the point of our present destination. -Recollect, the event of this evening will give you an immense -popularity: you will become the hero of one of the most romantic—one of -the most extraordinary—one of the most unheard-of adventures that have -ever occurred, or will again occur in this metropolis. You will be -courted by all the rank, beauty, and fashion of the West End, to learn -the narrative from your own lips; and if you write a novel founded upon -the occurrence," added the stranger, again in a slight tone of -unperceived irony, "you will instantaneously become the most popular -author of the day." - -"Upon my honour—my dear sir," said Sir Christopher, rubbing his hands, -"I am not altogether sorry that—that—ahem!—that you should have pitched -upon me to become the hero of this adventure: at the same time you must -confess that never was a hero placed in a position so well calculated to -alarm him." - -"The character of a hero is not to be bought cheaply in the world," -observed the knight's companion. "To become such a character, one must -necessarily pass through extraordinary circumstances; and extraordinary -circumstances are never without their degree of excitement." - -"Very true, my dear sir—very true," said Sir Christopher. "But I don't -care how extraordinary the circumstances may be, so long as I run no -risk. It's the risk—the danger I care about; and I shall be very happy -indeed, if I can become a hero—as you are pleased to call it—without -undergoing any such peril." - -"You shall become a hero, Sir Christopher, without having undergone the -slightest danger," returned his companion; "and that's even more than -can be said by people who go up in balloons or by men who put their -heads into lions' mouths in menageries." - -"Upon my honour, your observations are most true—most just," exclaimed -the knight, now finding himself almost completely at his ease. "I -suppose that if I do get my friend Lykspittal to write me——I mean, if I -do write a novel founded on the occurrences of this night, you will have -no objection to my putting in all our present conversation?" - -"Oh! not the least!" cried the stranger. "It is however a great pity -that the night is calm, serene, and beautiful." - -"Why so?" enquired Sir Christopher, in a tone of profound astonishment. - -"Simply because it would be such scope for a splendid opening, if there -were a fearful storm, with all the usual accessories of thunder and -lightning," observed the stranger, in a cool, quiet, but dry way. "Only -fancy, now, something like this:—'_It was on a dark and tempestuous -night—the wind blew in fitful gusts—the artillery of heaven roared -awfully—the gleaming shafts of electric fluid shot in eccentric motion -across the sky_;'——and so on." - -"Upon my honour, that commencement would be truly grand!" cried the -knight, altogether enraptured by the turn which his companion had given -to the discourse. "And, after all, as it would be a novel, I might -easily begin with the storm. Let me see—I must recollect that sentence -which you composed so glibly. How did it run? Oh! I recollect:—'_It was -on a dark and tempestiferous night—the wind roared—the artillery blew in -fitting gusts—the streaming shafts of electricity shot across the -eccentric sky_.' Eh? that will do, I think," exclaimed Sir Christopher, -rubbing his hands joyously. "You see I have not got such a very bad -memory, my dear sir." - -"Not at all," answered the stranger; "and I should certainly advise you, -Sir Christopher, not to lose sight of the novel. If you publish it by -subscription, you may put down my name for half a dozen copies." - -"But I don't know your name," cried the knight. "And yet," he added, -after a moment's pause, "I suppose you must have one." - -"I believe that I have," responded the stranger, in a tone suddenly -becoming solemn—even mournful; and it struck Sir Christopher that his -ear caught the sound of a half-stifled sigh. - -But he had not many instants to reflect upon this occurrence—nor even to -continue the discourse upon the topic which had so much interested him; -for the carriage suddenly stopped, and his companion immediately said, -"Now Sir Christopher, you must permit me to blindfold you." - -The operation was speedily completed; and the stranger led the knight -from the vehicle, into a house, the door of which immediately closed -behind them. Up a flight of stairs they then proceeded, and entered a -room, where the stranger desired Sir Christopher to remove the bandage. - -As soon as this was done, and the knight had recovered his powers of -vision, he found himself in a well-furnished room, with the shutters -closed, the curtains drawn, and a lamp standing in the middle of a table -spread with wine and refreshments of a luxurious description. - -His companion still retained the garb and disguise, but no longer -affected the decrepitude of old age; and, seating himself with his back -to the light, he invited Sir Christopher to take wine with him. - -They then sate chatting for upwards of half an hour, when the sound of -several footsteps ascending the stairs fell upon their ears: the door -opened—and two men entered, leading between them a gentleman with a -bandage over his eyes. - -The two men retired,—and the stranger desired the gentleman to remove -the bandage, adding, "Dr. Lascelles, you will pardon this apparent -outrage, the motives of which have doubtless been explained to you by my -dependants." - -"I am led to believe that my presence is required to witness the -confession of two criminals," said the physician, affecting complete -ignorance alike of the mysterious master of the house and his affairs; -"and if no treachery be intended towards me, I do not feel inclined to -complain much of the treatment I have already received." - -"I am delighted to hear you express yourself in these moderate terms," -observed the prime mover of those widely ramified schemes which are now -occupying the reader's attention. "Allow me to introduce you to a -gentleman whose name is doubtless familiar to you—Sir Christopher -Blunt:" then, turning towards the knight, he added, "Sir Christopher, -this is Dr. Lascelles, the eminent physician." - -"I think I have had the honour to meet Sir Christopher Blunt on a former -occasion—at Lady Hatfield's," said the doctor, offering the knight his -hand. - -"It is therefore a strange coincidence which has thus brought you -together again under such circumstances as the present," observed the -stranger. "But you are both no doubt anxious to depart hence as speedily -as possible, and I will not detain you longer than is absolutely -necessary." - -He then rang a bell; and in a few minutes four of his dependants entered -the room, leading in Tim the Snammer and Josh Pedler, both strongly -bound with cords, and having handkerchiefs over their eyes. These -bandages were removed—the two villains cast rapid and searching glances -around them—the stranger ordered them to be seated and his dependants to -retire—and the business of that memorable night commenced. - - - - - CHAPTER XCII. - THE CONFESSION. - - -"Sir Christopher Blunt," said the stranger, "in your capacity of one of -his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, you will have the kindness to -receive the confession of the two men now before you; and you, Dr. -Lascelles, as a gentleman of the highest respectability, will witness -the present proceedings." - -Thus speaking, he drew a writing-table close up to the place where Sir -Christopher Blunt was sitting; and the knight, inflated with the pride -of his official station, and conscious of the importance of the part -which he was now enacting, assumed as dignified and solemn a deportment -as possible. A Bible was produced; and he directed the two prisoners to -be sworn, the stranger administering the oath. - -"Now, my men," said the Justice of the Peace, "it is my duty to hear and -receive any confession which you may have to make to me. But I give you -due warning that it is to be published, and, from what I have already -been told, will be used elsewhere. Remember, also, that you are now upon -your oaths; and you must consider yourselves in just the same position -as if you were in a regular police-court, under usual circumstances." - -Having thus delivered himself of what he believed to be an admirable -prelude to the proceedings, Sir Christopher glanced complacently towards -Dr. Lascelles, as much as to say, "That was rather good, I flatter -myself;" and the physician responded with a sign of approval. The knight -then fixed his eyes in a searching manner upon the two prisoners, who, -however, appeared to be much less in awe of the magisterial dignity than -of the presence of the mysterious stranger, at whom they from time to -time cast furtive looks of terror and supplication. - -"Sir Christopher Blunt," said that individual, who throughout the -proceedings spoke in a feigned tone, and sate in such a manner that the -light never once fell fully upon his countenance, "it is now necessary -to remind you that a gentleman with whom you are well acquainted, and -whose name is Torrens, is now in a criminal gaol, charged with the -murder of Sir Henry Courtenay." - -"I heard the news with grief, and indeed with incredulity as to the -truth of the accusation," observed the knight. - -"Ask those men, sir," said the stranger, in a low and impressive voice, -"what they know of that foul assassination." - -"God bless me!" exclaimed Sir Christopher, much agitated: "surely these -men now before me are not the—the——" - -"The real murderers of Sir Henry Courtenay!" added the stranger -solemnly. - -"Is this possible?" cried the Justice of the Peace, surveying the -prisoners with apprehension and horror. - -"That's the confession we have to make, your worship," said Tim the -Snammer, in a dogged tone. - -"Dreadful! dreadful!" murmured the knight: then, somewhat mastering his -emotions, he asked, "What is your name?" - -"Timothy Splint, your worship," was the reply. - -"And your's?" demanded Sir Christopher, making notes as he proceeded. - -"Joshua Pedler, your worship." - -"Where do you live?—and what are you?" were the next questions. - -"Where we _did_ live, your worship means," said Tim the Snammer; "but it -doesn't much signify answering that query—since we don't live now where -we used to do; and as for what we are, your worship can pretty well -guess, now that we've confessed having murdered Sir Henry -Courtenay—which was all through a mistake." - -"A mistake!" repeated Sir Christopher. - -"Yes, sir," continued the Snammer; "and I'll tell you all about it." - -"Speak slow—very slow," said the knight; "because I shall commit to -paper every word you utter, remember." - -"Well, sir," resumed Timothy Splint; "it happened in this way. Me and my -companion here, Joshua Pedler, took it into our heads to break into -Torrens Cottage, for no good purpose, as you may suppose." - -"To rob the house—eh?" said Sir Christopher. - -"Just so, your worship. Well, we reached the Cottage between twelve and -one o'clock at night—or nearer one, I should think—and looking through -the chinks of the shutters, for there was a light in the parlour, we saw -a pile of gold and a heap of notes on the table, and a gentleman asleep -on the sofa." - -"You follow this man, Dr. Lascelles?" said Sir Christopher, turning -towards the physician. - -"Word for word," was the reply. - -"Go on, then," exclaimed the knight. - -"We opened the front-door in a jiffey, your worship, and without making -any noise," continued Splint; "and we went into the parlour. Josh Pedler -secured the notes and gold; and I held my clasp-knife close to the -throat of the gentleman sleeping on the sofa." - -"Did you know who he was?" demanded the knight. - -"Not a bit of it, your worship. We took him for Mr. Torrens, as a matter -of course," continued the Snammer. "Josh Pedler went to ransack the -side-board, and upset a sugar-basin, or some such thing in the drawer. -The gentleman awoke, and was just on the point of crying out, when I -drew the clasp-knife across his throat." - -"Merciful goodness!" exclaimed Sir Christopher, shuddering from head to -foot, and glancing uneasily around him. - -"Shocking! shocking!" said the doctor, with unfeigned emotion. - -"The very knife that I did it with was in my pocket," observed Tim the -Snammer, "when we was made prisoners and brought here." - -The stranger, who had remained silent for some time, now rose from his -seat, and took from the mantel the fatal weapon, which he laid upon the -table before Sir Christopher, saying, "This is collateral evidence of -the truth of the deposition now made." - -"Well, upon my honour," observed the knight, recoiling from the -ominous-looking instrument, "I have commenced my magisterial functions -in an extraordinary—I may say, unheard-of manner. But let the prisoner -proceed with his confession." - -"I've very little more to say, your worship," answered the Snammer. "As -soon as the deed was done, I could have wished it to be undone; and I -know that my companion in trouble here, wished the same. We didn't go -with the intention of doing it: it come upon us by itself, like—and I -hope mercy will be showed us," he added, with a significant glance of -appeal towards the mysterious individual of whom he seemed to be so much -in awe. - -"You and your comrade then left the house immediately, I suppose?" said -Sir Christopher, interrogatively. - -"Exactly so, your worship," replied Timothy Splint. - -"And do you," continued the knight, addressing himself to Joshua Pedler, -"admit the truth of all that your companion now states?" - -"Every word of it, your worship," answered the man. - -"We must therefore suppose," observed Dr. Lascelles, "that Mr. Torrens, -upon discovering the dreadful deed, feared lest suspicion should fall -upon himself, and buried the corpse in the garden where it was found." - -"True!" said Sir Christopher. "And now, Joshua Pedler, you will inform -me what you did with the money which you took away with you." - -"I divided it, sir; and the big notes was changed into small ones," was -the answer. "When me and my companion here was made prisoners, we had -ever so much of the money about us; and it was took from us." - -The stranger produced from his pocket a small parcel which he handed to -Sir Christopher, saying, "There is the amount taken from the two -prisoners." - -"Very good," said Sir Christopher: then, after a few moments' profound -reflection, he turned towards Dr. Lascelles, in whose ear he whispered -these words, "To me it is very clear that those men have confessed the -truth, and that they are the dreadful villains they represent themselves -to be. But, as this statement is to be published, in connexion with our -names, we must render the evidence _against_ those fellows as complete -and satisfactory as possible." - -"I am perfectly of your way of thinking, Sir Christopher," returned the -doctor, also speaking in a low whisper. "Since we are here on such an -unpleasant business, we must do our duty effectually." - -"Then those men should be examined separately in respect to the very -minutest details of their self-accusing evidence," said the knight, -still addressing himself in an under-tone to the physician; "or else the -world will immediately declare that the whole thing was a mere farce, -contrived by some of Torrens' friends to save him, and of which you and -I were the dupes and the instruments." - -"A very just fear on your part, Sir Christopher," observed the doctor, -who, from the little he knew of the knight, would not have given him -credit for so much penetration and forethought. - -"But—but," said Sir Christopher, "I hardly like to propose it to the -gentleman who had us brought here——" - -"Oh! I will take that duty upon myself," interrupted Dr. Lascelles; and, -immediately turning towards the stranger—who was however no stranger to -him—he said in a loud and firm tone, "We wish to examine these men -separately." - -"Certainly," was the reply; and the mysterious master of the house -forthwith rang the bell. - -Wilton answered the summons, and was ordered to conduct Joshua Pedler -into an adjoining room. - -When this command was obeyed, and the domestic had led the prisoner -away, Sir Christopher proceeded to question Timothy Splint again. - -"You said just now that when you looked through the window, you saw a -gentleman sleeping on the sofa? Now, did your companion also peep -through the crevices in the shutters?" - -"He did, your worship," was the answer. - -"And which way was the gentleman lying?" - -"With his feet towards the window, and his head on that end of the sofa -which was nearest to the door." - -"And when you both went into the house, who entered first?" - -"Myself, your worship." - -"And when you went away again, who departed first?" - -"I think Josh Pedler was in advance—in fact, I'm sure he was, because I -remember shutting the front-door behind me." - -"Which side of the table were the pile of gold and the heap of notes -on?" inquired Sir Christopher, racking his brain for as many minute -questions as possible. - -"The money was all lying on a large book at that end of the table next -to the window, your worship," responded Tim the Snammer. - -The knight put several other queries of the same trivial, but really -important nature; and Splint was then removed from the room, Joshua -Pedler being led back again to his place. - -Precisely the same questions which had been asked of the Snammer, were -now put to the other villain; and the answers corresponded in the -minutest particulars. - -"There is no possibility of doubt as to the genuine character of the -present scene," whispered the knight to Dr. Lascelles. - -"I have been all along of that way of thinking," replied the physician. -"At the same time I admire the precautions you have adopted, Sir -Christopher, and the skilful manner in which you have examined and -cross-examined these self-inculpatory scoundrels." - -"You really are of opinion that I have done the thing well—eh, doctor?" -said the Justice of the Peace, with a complacent smile. "Well—I am -rejoiced to perceive that I have given you satisfaction. Our unknown -friend there may now have the other villain brought back again; so that -the two partners in crime may sign these depositions." - -Dr. Lascelles intimated the knight's desire to the stranger, who -forthwith caused Tim the Snammer to be reconducted to his place in the -room where this extraordinary scene was enacted. - -Sir Christopher then read over, in a slow and measured tone, the whole -of his notes—containing the voluntary confession of the miscreants, and -the subsequent examination. - -"You, Timothy Splint, and you, Joshua Pedler," he said, when that task -was accomplished, "will now sign, or otherwise attest, this document." - -The unknown rang the bell twice, and the four dependants who had -conducted the two prisoners into the room in the first instance, -immediately re-appeared; and, on a signal from their master, they -loosened the cords which confined the hands of the villains, in such a -way that the latter were enabled to affix their signatures to the -depositions, Dr. Lascelles acting as the witness. - -"You may now remove those men altogether," said the unknown. - -The four dependants immediately blindfolded them, and led them away from -the apartment, carefully closing the door behind them. - -"I presume that Sir Christopher Blunt and myself are now at liberty to -depart?" said the doctor. - -"Not before you have each given me a solemn pledge that you will not -publish nor even hint at the occurrences of this night until twenty-four -hours shall have elapsed," returned the stranger. - -"For my part I don't at all object to give the promise required," -exclaimed the knight hastily; for the mystery of the whole proceeding -had imbued him with the utmost awe in respect to the unknown. - -"And I will as readily pledge my solemn word of honour to maintain that -condition," observed the doctor. - -"In that case, gentlemen," said the stranger, "you shall be conveyed -hence without delay. I need hardly enjoin you to use that confession, -which you will take away with you, in the manner alone calculated to -save the life of Mr. Torrens and relieve him from the dreadful charge -hanging over his head." - -"Rest assured that all shall be done which the emergency of the case -requires, and which we have now the means to effect," said Sir -Christopher. "And now, with your permission, I shall take a draught of -wine and water—for I feel somewhat exhausted with these proceedings." - -While Sir Christopher was helping himself at the table, Dr. Lascelles -stepped up to the individual whom circumstances compel us to denominate -"the stranger" or "the unknown," and said in a low and hasty whisper, -"What is the reason of this delay of twenty-four hours in respect to the -proclamation of Torrens' innocence?" - -"Because Old Death and others must be in my power, ere the occurrences -of this might be published," was the answer, likewise spoken in a -hurried whisper; "or else _they_ will suspect _where_ these scenes have -been enacted." - -"But are you sure of capturing them?" demanded Lascelles. - -"Confident," was the brief but emphatic reply. - -The unknown then rang the bell, and significantly intimated to Wilton, -who answered the summons, that his guests were ready to depart. The -domestic bowed and withdrew: but in a few minutes he returned, -accompanied by another dependant; and the two domestics proceeded to -blindfold both the doctor and the knight, the unknown apologising for -the necessity of renewing this process. He himself then conducted them -to the carriage which Wilton had ordered round to the door, and into -which the stranger followed them. - -It then drove away at a rapid rate; and, after taking sundry windings, -stopped, at the expiration of an hour, opposite St. James's church, -Piccadilly, just as the clock struck two in the morning. - -The knight and the doctor descended, having already bade farewell to the -mysterious individual whom they left inside; and the carriage -instantaneously drove off. - - - - - CHAPTER XCIII. - NEWGATE. - - -Yes—'twas two o'clock in the morning; and the hour was proclaimed by the -iron tongues of Time, from the thousand steeples of the mighty -metropolis. - -How solemnly does the sound of those deep, sonorous, metallic notes -break upon the dead silence of that period when darkness spreads its -sable wing over an entire hemisphere! - -And though 'tis the time for rest, yet repose and slumber are not the -companions of every couch. - -Crime, sickness, and sorrow close not their lids in balmy sleep, weighed -down with weariness though they be: too much happiness has likewise an -excitement hostile to the serenity of the pillow. - -For sleep is a fickle goddess, who succumbs not to every one's wooing at -the hour when her yielding is most desired: now coy and coquettish, she -hovers around, yet approaches not quite close:—now sternly and -inexorably obstinate, she keeps herself at a great distance, in sullen -mood. - -And when the iron tongues of Time proclaimed the hour of two, were the -eyes of the wretched Torrens or his miserable, guilty wife closed in -slumber? - -No—no: beneath the same roof, though in compartments far asunder, they -writhed and tossed upon their hard pallets, in feverish -excitement—craving, longing for sleep to visit them,—and sleep would -not! - -In those hours of wakefulness, and amidst the solemn stillness and utter -darkness of the night, how terrible are the trains of thought which pass -in rapid procession through the guilty mind,—as if imagination itself -were being hurried along an endless avenue of horrors—grim spectres, -hideous phantoms, and appalling sights on the one hand and on the other! - -Then with what tremendous speed does memory travel back through the -vista of a mis-pent life, all the foul deeds of which become personified -in frightful shapes, and muster themselves in terrible array on either -side! - -[Illustration] - -In his narrow stone-cell, the wretched Torrens felt as if he were in a -coffin, suffocated, hemmed in around;—and yet his imagination possessed -boundless space wherein to raise up the awful shapes that haunted his -pillow. - -Was it possible that he was there—in Newgate? Did he dream—was he the -sport of a hideous phantasy? Could it be true that he was dragged away -from his comfortable home—snatched as it were suddenly from the world -itself—and flung into a felon's dungeon? - -No—no: it was impossible—absurd. Ha! ha! the folly of the idea was -enough to make one laugh! - -But—oh! merciful heavens!—he extended his arms, and his hands touched -the cold—rugged—uneven wall: thence they wandered to the iron of the -bed-stead—and came in contact with the coarse horse-cloth which covered -his burning, feverish limbs! - -Then a dreadful groan burst from him,—a groan which, even were he ten -thousand, thousand times more guilty than he really was, would have been -lamentable, heart-rending to hear,—a groan of such ineffable anguish -that Satan himself might have said, "This man hath suffered enough!" - -Suffered!—holy God, how deeply—deeply has he suffered since the massive -door of that mighty stone sepulchre first closed upon him,—appearing to -shut out the pure air of heaven, the golden light of day, and to mark a -point where even human sympathies could follow no farther! - -Suffered!—the wretched felon whose foot is upon the first step of the -scaffold, never suffered more than the crushed, ruined, accused -Torrens;—for all his guilt had arisen from the lack of moral courage to -meet misfortune face to face; and now that misfortune had thrust itself -upon him, and compelled him to gaze on its pale and death-like -countenance, he was completely weighed down. - -His infamy in respect to Rosamond, lay as heavily upon his conscience as -would have lain the crime of murder, had he really perpetrated it; and -he suffered more on account of the deed which he had committed, but for -which the law _had not_ touched him, than on account of the charge of -which he was innocent, but for which the law _had_ seized upon him. - -Miserable—miserable man! Darkness—silence—and sleeplessness were indeed -terrible to him,—so terrible that, as he lay tossing upon his feverish -pallet, he wished that he was dead:—yet, had he possessed the means of -inflicting self-destruction, he would have been afraid to die! - -He was not placed in a ward along with other prisoners; because the -charge against him was so black and terrible—the charge of murder—that -he was lodged in a dungeon by himself—a cell that had seen many, many -previous occupants, most of whom had gone forth to the scaffold! - -For in Newgate the possession of a room to oneself—if a room such a -coffin of masonry can be called—is the horrible privilege of him who is -accused of _murder_; and those whose alleged offences are of a less deep -dye, herd together in common wards, where a fetid atmosphere is the -medium of communicating the foulest ideas that words can convey or ears -receive. - -Oh! what a plague-spot is that horrible gaol—that pandemonium of -Newgate—upon the civilisation of the metropolis of these realms! - -Shame—shame, that it should be allowed to exist under the management of -an incapable, ignorant, and monstrously corrupt body—the Aldermen of -London:—shame, shame that it should be permitted to remain as a -frightful abuse of local jurisdiction, just because no statesman has yet -been found bold enough to wrest a barbarian charter from an overgrown, -bloated, and despicable corporation! - -The wife—the newly married wife of Mr. Torrens,—that woman so well known -to our readers by the name of Martha Slingsby,—was not lodged by -herself:—being accused of a crime one degree less heinous than that of -murder, she was placed in a ward with several other females. - -And she also heard the iron tongue of Time proclaim the hour of two in -the morning;—and she also tossed upon a hard, sleepless, and feverish -pallet. - -For she had not even the solace of conscious innocence as an anodyne for -her lacerated heart and wounded spirit: she knew that she was guilty of -the crime imputed to her—and that knowledge lay upon her soul like a -weight of lead. - -And—O horror! she was well aware that the black deed of forgery would be -indubitably fixed upon her: and the penalty of that deed was—_death_! - -Yes:—death by the hand of the common executioner—an ignominious death -upon the scaffold! - -She knew that almost her very minutes were now numbered—that, as the -clock struck eight on some Monday morning, not very far distant, she -must be led forth to die—that after her trial, which was sure to end in -her condemnation, she should be consigned to the condemned cell—that -from this cell she must proceed through several dark and dismal passages -to that door upon whose very threshold would appear the gibbet, black -and sinister—that she would have to ascend, or perhaps be carried up, -the steps to the platform of the horrible machine—that she should see -myriads and myriads of human beings crowding around to behold her dying -agonies—that she would be placed upon a drop soon to glide away from -beneath her feet and leave her suspended in the air—that the few minutes -during which she must stand upon that drop, while the chaplain said the -parting prayer, would comprise whole years, aye, centuries of the -bitterest, bitterest anguish—that her attentive ear would catch even the -sound caused by the finger of the executioner, when he touched the bolt -of the drop an instant before he pulled it back—and that her soul would -be yielded up in the agonies of strangulation! - -Thus—thus, in spite of herself, did the wretched woman's imagination -picture in frightful detail the whole of the dreadful ceremony of a -violent death: thus—thus did she shadow forth, in imagination, every -feature—every minute particular of the appalling ordeal;—and, in -imagination also, did she now pass through it all, as vainly she craved -for sleep in the silence and the darkness of the prison-ward! - -The dread routine of the whole ceremony assumed an historical -exactitude, a palpable shape, and a frightful reality in her mind. - -Terrible—terrible was it for her to think upon what she now was, and -upon what she might have been. - -Not a hope was left to her in this world: she must be cut off in the -meridian of her years;—she must bid adieu for ever to all the pleasures, -the enjoyments, the delights of society and of life! - -Oh! for the power—oh! for the means to avert her maddening, harrowing -thoughts from the prophetic contemplation of that fatal morning when she -must walk forth to the scaffold—when the close air of that prison would -suddenly change to the fresh breeze of heaven, as she stepped forth from -the low dark door which the passer-by outside ever beholds with a -shudder,—and when she should raise her eyes to that black and ominous -frame-work, with the chain hanging from the cross-beam, and her own -coffin beneath the drop! All this was horrible—horrible,—sufficient to -deprive the strongest mind of its reasoning faculties, and to paralyse -the boldest with excess of terror! - -For, oh! the reward of crime is dispensed in two ways upon earth,—by -the law, and by the criminal's own thoughts;—and far—far more dreadful -is the punishment inflicted by the guilty conscience than by the -vengeance of outraged justice. Even the horrors of the scaffold, -immense—tremendous though they must be in the reality, are magnified a -hundred-fold by the terror-stricken imagination! - -From the examples of the wretched man and the guilty woman of whom we -have been speaking, and on whose heads afflictions and miseries fell -with such frightful rapidity and crushing weight,—from their examples -let the reader judge of the _folly_—setting aside the _wickedness_—of -crime. - -Gold—deceitful gold—was the will-o'-the-wisp which led them on through -the devious ways of iniquity, until they suddenly found themselves in -Newgate! - -For the woman forged for gold—and the man sold his daughter's virtue for -gold; and from the moment when Torrens consented to that vile deed, -every thing went worse with him—nothing was bettered—and the -circumstances resulting from that one act, combined to overwhelm him -with afflictions, and even to fix upon him a horrible charge of which he -was really innocent! - -To err, then, is to be foolish, as well as wicked;—and this grand truth -has doubtless been felt and acknowledged, when too late, by many and -many a wretched being within those very walls and that sombre enclosure -of Newgate! - -Newgate!—what numberless ties have been severed on its threshold;—and -what countless thousands of individuals, on entering that dread portal -one by one, have gnashed their teeth with rage at the folly, even though -they have felt no compunction for the guilt, of the career which they -pursued and which had its natural ending there! - - * * * * * - -It was ten o'clock in the morning, when a hackney-coach stopped at the -door of the governor's house, which stands in the centre of the front -part of Newgate; and a fine, tall, handsome young man, having leapt -forth, assisted a closely veiled lady to alight from the vehicle. - -They were almost immediately admitted into the office of the governor, -the young lady clinging to her companion's arm for support, for she was -labouring under the most dreadful mental anguish. - -These persons were Clarence Villiers and his beauteous bride, Adelais. - -Returning from Devonshire, whither they had been to pass the honeymoon, -they heard on the road, ere they reached the metropolis, the astounding -intelligence that the aunt of the one had been committed to Newgate on a -charge of forgery, and that the father of the other was consigned to the -same place under an accusation of the murder of Sir Henry Courtenay. -They also learnt at the same moment and for the first time, that the -wretched pair had only just been united in matrimonial bonds when this -fearful fate overtook them; but they were too much shocked by the more -grave and serious portion of the tidings which thus burst upon them, to -give themselves even leisure to express their surprise at the less -important incident of the marriage of Mr. Torrens and Mrs. Slingsby. - -They had arrived in London on the preceding evening, and had repaired -direct to Torrens Cottage, hoping—and, indeed, expecting as a matter of -course—to find Rosamond there. - -But they were disappointed—cruelly disappointed that anticipation! - -The female servant and the lad were, however, still at the Cottage; and -from the former they learnt tidings which enhanced, if possible, the -grief that already rent the heart of Adelais, and which excited vague -but terrible suspicions in the mind of Clarence. - -For the servant informed them that Miss Rosamond went to stay with Mrs. -Slingsby almost immediately after the wedding—that she remained there -almost ten days, and came home the very night when the murder was -committed, and seemed dreadfully unhappy during the short time that she -did remain at the Cottage—and that she departed no one knew whither, the -second day after her return, leaving a note for her father. - -While Adelais sate weeping at these tidings, to her so completely -inexplicable, a torrent of suspicions and terrible ideas rolled through -the mind of her husband Clarence. For he knew—as the reader will -remember—that Sir Henry Courtenay was not only the paramour of his aunt, -but that he had likewise cast lustful looks upon Rosamond; and he was -equally aware that the young girl's imagination had been excited and -inflamed by the false representations his aunt had made in respect to -the character of the baronet. Then that second visit of Rosamond to Old -Burlington Street—her unhappiness on returning home—the assassination of -Sir Henry Courtenay at Torrens Cottage—the sudden marriage of two -persons who were almost entire strangers to each other—and the -contemporaneous flight of Rosamond from her home,—all these incidents -seemed of so suspicious and terribly mysterious a nature as to strike -Clarence with dismay. - -The version which Mr. Torrens had given Rosamond of the particulars of -the murder—and which, as the reader is aware, was the true one so far as -the actual perpetration of the deed itself was concerned—was unknown to -Clarence, inasmuch as it had not been published in the newspapers;—for, -when arrested by Dykes and Bingham, Mr. Torrens had immediately sent for -able counsel, to whom he told his story previously to the examination -before the magistrate, and by the advice of his legal assistant, the -prisoner had contented himself by simply declaring his innocence, -stating that he should reserve for his defence the explanations whereon -that assertion was founded. - -Thus Clarence Villiers could not help believing that Torrens was really -guilty of the murder; and he shuddered at the idea which forced itself -upon him, that his aunt was an accomplice in the crime. In fact, it -naturally appeared as if that woman and that man had suddenly blended -their congenial spirits for the purpose of working out deeds of the -blackest dye; and he dreaded lest the honour of Rosamond had been -wrecked in the frightful convulsion produced by that association. - -But none of his awful misgivings did he impart to Adelais. On the -contrary, he strove to console her by assurances of his hope that her -father must be the victim of a terrible junction of adverse -circumstances, and that his innocence would yet transpire. Such ideas he -was in reality very far from entertaining;—but it cut him to the quick -to behold the anguish of his young wife—and he uttered every thing of a -consolatory nature which his imagination was likely in such a case to -suggest as a means of imparting hope and affording comfort. - -They remained at the Cottage that night; and on the ensuing morning -repaired to Newgate, as we have already stated. - -The governor, upon learning the degree of relationship in which Mrs. -Villiers stood towards Mr. Torrens, expressed himself in terms of the -kindest sympathy, and offered to proceed in the first instance to the -prisoner's cell to prepare him for the meeting with his daughter and -son-in-law. This proposal was thankfully accepted; and the governor, -after remaining absent for about ten minutes, returned to conduct the -young couple into the presence of the prisoner, with whom he left them. - -Adelais threw herself into her father's arms, embraced him with a -fondness that was almost wild and frantic, and sobbed bitterly upon his -breast,—while Clarence Villiers stood a deeply affected spectator of the -sad—the touching scene. - -"My child—my dear child," exclaimed the father, more moved by paternal -tenderness than he ever yet had been,—"I am innocent—I am innocent!" - -"Almighty God be thanked for that assurance!" murmured Adelais, as she -fell upon her knees, and bent her burning face over her father's -emaciated hands:—for Mr. Torrens had become frightfully thin—altered—and -care-worn,—and his entire appearance denoted how acute his mental -sufferings had been. - -"Clarence," he cried, after a few moments' pause during which he raised -his daughter, and placed her upon a seat,—"Clarence, did you hear my -declaration? I am innocent!" - -"I heard it—and I rejoice unfeignedly—oh! most unfeignedly," returned -the young man, not knowing what to think, but speaking thus to console -his heart-wrung wife. - -"But whether I can prove my innocence—whether I can triumph over the -awful weight of circumstantial evidence which has accumulated against -me," continued Mr. Torrens, "is a point which God alone can determine." - -An ejaculation of despair burst from the lips of Adelais. - -"For heaven's sake, compose yourself, dearest!" said Villiers. "You have -heard your father declare his innocence——" - -"Yes—yes," she cried: "but if the world will not believe him? It is not -sufficient that _we_ should be convinced of that innocence! Oh! my -God—wherefore has this terrible affliction fallen upon us?"—then, -suddenly struck by another idea, she exclaimed, "And Rosamond, dear -father—what has become of my sister Rosamond?" - -Mr. Torrens turned away, and burst into tears—for that question revived -a thousand agonising reminiscences in his mind. - -"My father _here_—my sister _gone_," mused Adelais, her manner suddenly -becoming strangely subdued, and the wild intensity of her earnest eyes -changing in a moment to an expression of idiotic vacancy;—"and -Clarence—where is he? Methought he was with me just now——" - -"Merciful God! her senses are leaving her!" exclaimed Villiers, in a -frantic tone: then, throwing his arms around her, he said, "Adelais—my -beloved Adelais—Clarence is here—by your side! Oh! look not at me so -strangely, Adelais—do you not know me?—speak—speak!—I am Clarence—your -husband—he who loves, who adores you! My God! she does not recognise -me!" - -And the young man started back, dashing his right hand with the violence -of despair against his forehead; while Adelais remained motionless in -the chair, gazing on him with a kind of vacant wonderment,—and the -miserable father staggered against the wall for support, murmuring in a -tone of ineffable emotion, "Great God! where will all this end?" - -But at that moment the heavy bolts were drawn back—the door -opened—Adelais uttered a scream of mingled amazement and delight—and in -an instant Rosamond was clasped in her arms. - -Long and fervent was that embrace on the part of the sisters: nor were -Torrens and Clarence Villiers alone the witnesses thereof—for the heavy -door of the stone cell had, ere it closed again, given admittance to -Esther de Medina. - -Fortunate for Adelais was it that Rosamond appeared at such a moment,—a -moment when the reason of the young bride was rocking on its throne, and -the weight of an idea no heavier than a hair would decide whether it -were to be re-established on its seat or overturned for ever! - -Faint and overcome by the sudden revulsion of feeling produced by this -sudden meeting with her sister, Adelais slowly disengaged herself from -Rosamond's arms, and falling back in the chair, beckoned Clarence -towards her, saying, "My dearest husband—keep near me—stay with me—for I -know not what dreadful ideas have been passing in my mind;—and it seemed -to me for a time that I was in utter darkness—or that I was buried in a -profound sleep." - -"But you are better now, dearest?" exclaimed Clarence, overjoyed at this -sudden return of her senses. - -"Yes—I am better now," said Adelais; and, falling upon her husband's -neck, she burst into a flood of tears. - -Meantime Rosamond was weeping also in her father's arms; and the eyes of -the generous-hearted—the amiable Esther de Medina were overflowing at -the contemplation of this mournful and touching scene. - -"Father—father," murmured Rosamond, her voice almost suffocated with the -sobs which agitated her bosom,—"there is hope—every hope——" - -"Hope!" ejaculated Mr. Torrens, catching at the word as if the halter -were already round his neck and the cry of "a reprieve!" had fallen on -his ears. - -"Hope, did you say?" exclaimed Adelais, now so completely relieved by -the issue her pent-up anguish and shocked feelings had found in copious -weeping, that all the clearness of her intellect had returned. - -"Hush—Rosamond!" said Miss de Medina, advancing towards the group: -"hush—my dear madam," she added, turning hastily towards Adelais; "that -word must not be breathed here aloud _yet_! Nevertheless, it is true -that there _is_ hope—and every hope—nay, even certainty——" - -"Great God! I thank thee!" cried Adelais, clasping her hands together in -fervent gratitude, while Mr. Torrens was so overcome by emotions of joy -and amazement that he sank upon that prison-pallet whereon he had passed -a night of such horrible watchfulness. - -"I implore you to restrain your feelings as much as possible," said -Esther, speaking in a low and mysterious tone, which made Torrens, -Clarence, and Adelais suddenly become all attention and breathless -suspense; "the proofs of your innocence, sir," she added, looking at the -prisoner, "have been obtained! Nay—give utterance to no ejaculation—but -hear me in silence! Within twenty-four hours from this time your -guiltlessness will be proclaimed to the world. Already are the proofs in -the hands of a magistrate but circumstances, with which I am not myself -altogether acquainted, render that delay imperiously necessary. It -would, however, have been cruel to have left you in ignorance of this -important circumstance; and——" - -"And this admirable young lady, at whose father's house I found a home," -hastily added Rosamond, "would not refuse me the joy—the indescribable -joy of being the bearer of these tidings. Nay—more: she offered to -accompany me——" - -"God will reward you for all your kindness to my sister, dear lady," -said Adelais, embracing Esther with heart-felt gratitude and affection. - -"You are doubtless anxious to learn how the proofs of Mr. Torrens' -innocence have been obtained," resumed Esther, after a pause: "but my -explanation must be very brief. Suffice it to say that in this mighty -metropolis, which contains so much evil, there is a man bent only on -doing good. Accident revealed to him certain particulars which convinced -him of your innocence, sir," continued the beautiful Jewess, addressing -herself now especially to Mr. Torrens: "upon the information which he -thus received, he acted—and he has succeeded in obtaining and placing in -the hands of a Justice of the Peace the confession of the real -perpetrators of the awful deed——" - -"Then the murderers are in custody, doubtless?" exclaimed Clarence, -astonished and delighted at all he heard. - -"They are not in the grasp of justice," answered Esther. "But on this -head you must ask me no questions. Rest satisfied with the assurance -that the innocence of Mr. Torrens will completely and unquestionably -transpire—that he will soon be restored to you all—and that his secret -friend watches over him even from a distance. Who that individual is, -you cannot know—and perhaps never may. All the recompense he demands at -your hands is the subduing in your minds of every sentiment of curiosity -that may prompt you to pierce the mystery which shrouds his actions; and -remember also that every syllable I have now uttered, is to remain a -secret profoundly locked up in your own breasts until the proclamation -of innocence shall be made from that quarter to which the solemn duty of -publishing it has been entrusted." - -"We should be wanting in common gratitude, indeed, to him who has thus -interested himself in behalf of the innocent, were we to act in -opposition to those injunctions," said Clarence Villiers. "But through -you, lady, do we each and all convey our heart-felt thanks for that -generous intervention which is to produce so vitally important a -result." - -"Yes—and to you also, dearest Miss de Medina, is our eternal gratitude -due!" exclaimed Rosamond—an assurance that was immediately and sincerely -echoed by Adelais, Clarence, and Mr. Torrens. - -Hope had now returned to that prison-cell,—hope in all her radiance and -her glory,—with her smiling countenance and her cheering influence! - -The name of Mrs. Torrens—late Mrs. Slingsby—was not mentioned by a soul -during this meeting: her husband uttered it not—Clarence, through -motives of delicacy, remained silent likewise in that respect—and the -sisters had too much to occupy their thoughts relative to their father's -position and the hope of his speedy release, to devote a moment's -attention to that woman. - -For the interview was necessarily short, in consequence of the severity -of the prison regulations; but when Mr. Torrens was again alone in his -cell, he could scarcely believe that so sudden a change had taken place -in his prospects. - -On leaving the gaol, after having taken a tender and affectionate leave -of their father, the sisters looked inquiringly at each other, as if to -ask whither each was going. - -"We have taken up our abode at the Cottage," said Adelais, breaking -silence; "where we shall remain, doubtless," she added, glancing towards -her husband, "until our father shall be restored to us." - -Clarence signified his assent. - -"I should be grieved to separate you from your sister immediately after -your unexpected meeting to-day," said Esther, addressing herself to -Adelais; "but if Rosamond will continue to make our house her home——" - -"Yes—yes, my dear friend," exclaimed Rosamond, hastily: "I will intrude -a little longer upon your hospitality—for I feel that my nerves have -been too much shaken by recent occurrences to allow me to return to the -Cottage, at least for the present." - -The reader need scarcely be informed that the young lady desired to -avoid the painful prospect of being alone with her sister and Clarence: -for what explanation could she give of her flight from home?—an -explanation which she knew would naturally be required of her. - -Adelais, indeed, felt somewhat hurt at the decision which her sister had -made in respect to remaining with Miss de Medina: but she concealed her -vexation, and they parted with an affectionate embrace. - -Thus, Clarence and Adelais proceeded to Torrens Cottage, while Esther -and Rosamond returned in Mr. de Medina's carriage to Finchley Manor. - -During their ride home in the hackney-coach, Villiers and his wife -discussed all the incidents which had just occurred; but during a pause -in the conversation, Adelais bethought herself for the first time that -day of her mother-in-law. - -"Clarence," she said, laying her hand upon her husband's arm, "we have -been sadly culpable——" - -"I know to what you would allude, dearest," interrupted Villiers. -"To-morrow I shall call upon my wretched aunt; but it is by no means -necessary for you to accompany me. Your father did not once mention her -name during the interview: we will not seek to penetrate his motives for -that silence—but we will endeavour to imitate him in that respect as -much as possible." - -"I do not clearly understand you, Clarence," said Adelais, gazing at him -enquiringly. - -"I mean that the less we speak concerning my aunt, the more prudent it -will be, my love," responded Villiers; "for I fear that _she_ will not -prove to be innocent of the crime imputed to her—and, under all -circumstances, you can owe her no sympathy nor respect, either as my -relative or your mother-in-law." - -Adelais made no answer; and Clarence immediately changed the -conversation. - - - - - CHAPTER XCIV. - "THE STOUT HOUSE." - - -London is a wondrous city for the success with which the most flagrant -quackery is accomplished. Things not only improbable, but absolutely -impossible, are puffed off with matchless impudence; and, what is more -extraordinary still, they obtain an infinite number of believers. Thus -we have snuffs which will cure blindness when the most skilful oculists -are at fault,—oils and pomatums that will make the hair grow in spite of -nature's denial,—cosmetics that will render every skin, though tawny as -a gipsey's, white as a Circassian's,—pills so happily compounded as to -be an universal panacea, annihilating diseases of even the most opposite -characters, and effecting for thirteen-pence halfpenny what all the -College of Physicians could not accomplish for millions,—lozenges by -which a voice cracked like a tin-trumpet, may become melodious as a -silver bell,—ointments that will cure in a week ulcers and sores which -have baffled all the experience of famous hospital-surgeons for a -quarter of a century,—decoctions prepared on purpose to prolong life, -although the _elixir vitæ_ of the alchemists has long been regarded as -an absurd fable,—boluses competent to restore to all their pristine -vigour constitutions shattered by years and years of dissipation and -dissolute habits,—pulmonic wafers efficient to wrestle against the very -last stage of consumption, and restore lungs entirely eaten away,—tonics -so wonderful that they will even give new coats to the stomach, though -the old ones have been destroyed by ardent spirits,—and heaven only -knows how many more blessings of the same kind! - -Seriously speaking, it is deplorable to perceive how tremendously the -millions are gulled by all these details of an impudent and most -dishonest quackery. The coiner who passes off a base shilling, -representing it to be a good one, is punished as a felon and stigmatised -as a villain. But the quack who sells articles which he announces to be -capable of performing physical impossibilities, is not tangible by the -law, nor does he become branded in the opinion of the world. Such are -the conventional differences existing in civilised society! - -Of all the demoralising species of quackery practised now-a-days, -certain medical works are decidedly the worst. We allude to -those beastly things which are constantly announced in the -advertisement-department of newspapers, but which, with a scintillation -of good taste on the side of the printers, are invariably -huddled together in the most obscure nook. It is evident that -newspaper-proprietors are ashamed of the filthy advertisements, although -they cannot very well refuse to insert them. But we warn all our readers -against suffering themselves to put the least confidence in the -representations set forth in the announcements alluded to. The works -thus puffed off are contemptible as regards medical information, -demoralising in their very nature, and delusive in all their promises. - -An amusing species of quackery exists with repect to many public-houses. -Passing along a thoroughfare, or visiting some fresh neighbourhood -springing up in the outskirts of the metropolis, you will probably see a -new building, destined for the "public" line, and with the words—"NOTED -STOUT HOUSE"—painted on a board, or cut in the masonry. The cool -impudence of proclaiming an establishment to be famous for a particular -article, before it is even finished, is too ludicrous to provoke serious -vituperation. The merit of the place is agreed upon beforehand between -the architect and the proprietor. Never mind how worthless the beer to -be retailed there may eventually prove, it is a Noted Stout House all -the same! But so accustomed are the inhabitants of London to behold such -things, that the springing up of such a structure causes no sensation in -its neighbourhood: good, easy people that we are now-a-days—we take -every thing for granted and as a matter of course! - -The _Noted Stout House_ in Helmet Row, St. Luke's—called by its patrons, -for abbreviation's sake, the _Stout House_—was one of those flash -boozing-kens which are to be found in low neighbourhoods. And noted it -indeed was—not on account of its beer, unless the fame thereof consisted -in its execrable nature—but by reason of the characters frequenting it. -The parlour was large, low, and dark; and in the evening it was -invariably filled with a miscellaneous company of both sexes. -Prostitutes and thieves—old procuresses and housebreakers—dissolute -married women, and notorious coiners,—these were the principal -supporters of the _Stout House_. - -Had Machiavelli once passed an evening there, he would not have declared -as a rule that "language was given to man for the purpose of disguising -his thoughts;" inasmuch as no attempt at any such disguise at all was -made in that place. Every one spoke his mind in the most free and open -manner possible,—calling things by their right names—and expressing the -filthiest ideas in the plainest phraseology. If foul words were capable -of impregnating the air, the atmosphere of the _Stout House_ parlour -would have engendered a pestilence. - -At about half-past nine in the evening, John Jeffreys sauntered into the -establishment, took a seat at the table, and gave his orders to the -waiter for the beverage which he fancied at the moment. - -Whenever a new-comer appears in a public room of this kind, the company -invariably leave off talking for a minute or so, to enjoy a good stare -at him; and they measure him from head to foot—turn him inside out, as -it were—and form their rapid and silent conjectures regarding him, just -as a broker "takes stock" in his mind, with a hasty survey around, on -putting an execution for taxes or rates into a defaulter's house. - -We cannot exactly say what opinion the company present on this occasion -at the _Stout House_ formed of John Jeffreys; but we are able to assure -our readers that, much as he had seen of London, and well as he was -acquainted with its vile dens and low places of resort, he thought to -himself, as he glanced about him, that he had never before set eyes on -such a dissipated-looking set of women or such a repulsive assemblage of -men. - -"Well, and so Mother Oliver's place is broke up at last," observed one -of the females, addressing herself to another woman, and evidently -taking up the thread of a conversation which the entrance of Jeffreys -had for a few moments interrupted. - -"Yes—and the poor old creature has been sent to quod by the beaks at -Hicks's Hall, till she finds sureties for her good behaviour in future," -was the reply. - -"What—is that the Mother Oliver you mean, as kept the brothel in Little -Sutton Street, t'other side of the Goswell Road there?" demanded a man, -desisting from his occupation of smoking, for a few moments, while he -asked the question. - -"To be sure it is," returned the female, who had previously spoken; "and -a bad thing it is for me, I can tell you. I was servant there—and a good -living it were. But I'll tell you how it all come about. It was a matter -of six or seven weeks ago that a young feller came to the house, quite -on his own accord, as you may suppose; and he stayed there three whole -days, for he was quite struck, as one may say, with a fair-haired gal -which had been lodging with us for some time. Well, he orders every -thing of the best, promising to pay all in a lump; and so Mother Oliver -gives him tick, like a fool as she was. But at last she wanted to see -the colour of his money; and then he bullied, and swore, and kicked up a -row, and went away without paying a mag. Well, the debt was given up as -a bad job, and we thought no more about it, till we heard a few days -afterwards that the house was to be indicted. So off Mother Oliver goes -to the Clerk of the Peace: but, lo and behold ye! the young gentleman -was a clerk in his office; and not content with reglarly robbing the -poor old o'oman, he must try and ruin her into the bargain. Mother -Oliver got to see the Clerk of the Peace, and began to tell him all -about the trick his young man had played her; but he said he knowed -every thing already, that she had enticed the young feller into her -house, and that was the reason she was to be indicted. So the thing come -on yesterday before the Middlesex magistrates at Hicks's Hall, and -Mother Oliver was sent to gaol." - -"There's been a reglar rooting out of them kind of cribs all over the -parish," observed one of the company; "and it's the same in a many other -parishes." - -"Yes: but I'll tell you what it is," exclaimed the woman who had related -the above particulars; "it's only against the poor sort of houses that -these prosecutions is ever got up. Lord bless you! before I went to -Mother Oliver's, I was servant in a flash brothel at the West-End—a -reglar slap-up place—beautifully furnished, and frequented by all the -first folks. It was kept—and still is kept—by a Frenchwoman. I was there -as under-housemaid for a matter of seven year; and should have been -there till now, only I was too fond of taking a drop the first thing in -the morning, to keep the dust out in summer and the cold out in winter." - -"Ah—I des say you was always a lushing jade, Sally," observed an -individual in his shirt-sleeves, and who seemed to know the woman well. - -"Well, old feller—and what then?" cried she, for a moment manifesting a -strong inclination to draw her finger-nails down the cheeks of her -acquaintance: but, calming her anger, she said, "It don't matter what -comes from your lips—so I shan't be perwoked by you. Howsomever, as I -was telling you, I was servant in the flash house at the West-End for -upward of seven years; and such scenes as I saw! The old Frenchwoman -used to entice the most respectable gals there by means of -advertisements for governesses, ladies-maids, and so on; and they was -kept prisoners till they either agreed to what she proposed, or was -forced into it by the noblemen and gentlemen frequenting the place. And -all this occurred, I can assure you, in one of the fashion-ablest -streets in London. But there was never no notice taken by the -parish-authorities; and as for the Society—what's its name again?—that -prosecutes bad houses, it didn't seem to know there was such a brothel -in existence. And I'll tell you how _that_ was, too. The Frenchwoman -gave such general satisfaction to her customers, and was always treating -them to such novelties in the shape of gals, that she was protected by -all the gay noblemen and gentlemen at the West-End. Lord bless you! some -of her best customers was the Middlesex magistrates themselves; and two -or three of the noblemen and gentlemen that I spoke of, was members of -the Committee of that very Society which prosecutes brothels. So it -wasn't likely that the house would ever be interfered with. I recollect -the old Frenchwoman used to laugh and joke with the great Lords and the -Members of the Commons that patronised her, about the way they talked in -the Parliament Houses, and the bother they made about the better -observance of the Sabbath, and so on. It used to be rare fun to hear the -old lady, in her broken English, repeating to them some of their fine -speeches, which she'd read in the newspapers; and how the gals used to -laugh with them, to be sure!" - -"You don't mean to say that them Lords and Members, which is always -a-going on about the Sabbath, used to frequent the brothel you speak -of?" exclaimed a man. - -"Don't I, though?" cried the woman, in a tone of indignation at the bare -suspicion against her veracity implied by the question: "I do indeed, my -man; and I should think you ought to know the world better than to be -astonished at it. It was through having the patronage of all them great -people, that the old Frenchwoman never got into trouble. But none of the -fine brothels at the West-End are ever prosecuted: no one would think of -such a thing! It's only the low ones in the poor neighbourhoods." - -"Well, I always heard say that poverty is the greatest possible crime in -this country," observed the man who had recently spoken; "and now I'm -convinced on it." - -"I never had any doubt about it," said another. "A rich man or a rich -woman may do anythink; but the poor—deuce a bit! That's quite another -thing. Why, look at all these Bishops, and great Lords, and Members of -the Commons, which are constantly raving about Sunday travelling: don't -they go about in their carriages? and ain't Hyde Park always more filled -with splendid vehicles on a Sunday than on any other day? The very -Bishops which would put down coaches on a Sabbath, goes in their -carriages to the Cathedrals where they preach." - -"By all I can hear or learn," observed another individual present, -"there's a precious sight more religious gammon in the Parliament Houses -than anywheres else." - -"I should think there is too," exclaimed the woman who had told the tale -relative to the brothel-keepers. "Some of them noblemen and gentlemen -that I spoke of was the most terrible fellows after the young women that -I ever see in all my life; and they was always a bothering the -Frenchwoman to send over to France, or down into the country, to entice -more gals to the house. The Frenchwoman used to send out agents to -entrap innocent creatures wherever she could—farmers' and clergymen's -daughters, and such like. I remember what a spree we had with one of the -religious Members of the Commons one night. He had been bringing in a -bill, or whatever you call it, to protect young females from seduction, -and had drawed such a frightful picture of the whole business, that he -made all the other Members shed tears. Well, as soon as he'd done, he -came straight off to our place, and asked the old Frenchwoman if she had -got any thing new in the house. That very day a sweet young gal—a poor -marine officer's daughter, who wanted to be a governess—had been enticed -to the brothel, and the Member that I'm speaking of gave the old -Frenchwoman fifty guineas for the purchase of that poor creatur'." - -The woman was entering into farther details, when Wilton and another of -the retainers of Jeffreys' mysterious master entered the parlour of the -_Stout House_, both disguised as servants out of place. The place was -too much crowded to enable them to converse at their ease: they -accordingly all three repaired to a private room, Jeffreys having left -at the bar a suitable message to be delivered to Old Death who was well -known at that establishment. - -Wilton ordered up glasses of spirits-and-water; and when the waiter had -retired, after supplying the liquor, Jeffreys proceeded to acquaint his -colleagues with the promised tidings relative to Tidmarsh. - -"I called at the Bunces' house in Earl Street, Seven Dials, this -morning," he said, "and saw Old Death, who was quite delighted when I -assured him that I had already found the two friends of whom I had -spoken to him, and that that they would be here punctual this evening at -half-past ten. I then told him that as the resurrection affair in St. -Luke's churchyard would most likely come off to-morrow night, and as I -should be engaged the best part of to-morrow on my own business, he had -better let Tidmarsh go with me at once and show me the exact spot where -Tom Rain was buried. The old man bit directly, and said, '_Well, -Jeffreys, you're a faithful and good fellow, and can be trusted. -Tidmarsh lives here now, and is up stairs at this moment._'—So Tidmarsh -was sent for; and away him and me went together to St. Luke's. In the -course of conversation I found out that Tidmarsh, Bunce, and Mrs. Bunce -were to go out with Old Death on some business this evening; and that -while Old Death came here to meet me, the other three were to wait for -him at another flash house in Mitchell Street close by." - -"This is admirable!" said Wilton. "We have now the whole gang completely -in our power. Fortunately, I have several of our master's people in the -neighbourhood; and I will go at once and give them the necessary -instructions. Wait here, Jeffreys, with Harding," he added, indicating -his colleague with a look; "until I return. My absence will not be -long." - -Wilton left the room, Jeffreys and Harding remaining alone together. - -In a quarter of an hour the Black's trusty dependant returned. - -"All my arrangements are now complete," he said, resuming his seat; "and -the entire gang must inevitably fall into our hands." - -Jeffreys then acquainted Wilton and Harding with the exact nature of the -proposal which would be made to them by Old Death; and scarcely were -these preliminaries accomplished when the ancient miscreant made his -appearance. - -"This is business-like indeed—very business-like, my good fellow," said -Old Death, taking a chair, and addressing himself to Jeffreys while he -spoke. "And these, I suppose," he continued, fixing a scrutinizing -glance upon the others, "are the friends you spoke of." - -"Just so," replied Jeffreys. "This is Bill Jones," he added, laying his -hands on Wilton's shoulder; "and there's no mistake about him. T'other -is named Ned Thompson, and knows a thing or two, I rather suspect." - -"All right—all right!" chuckled Old Death, rubbing his hands joyfully -together. "I'm glad to make your acquaintance, Mr. Jones—and your's too, -Mr. Thompson." - -"And we're not sorry to form yours, Mr. Bones," said Wilton, affecting a -manner and tone suitable to the part he was playing. "Our pal Jeffreys -here has told us quite enough to make us anxious to know more of you." - -"And so you shall, my dear friends," exclaimed Old Death. "I can always -find business for faithful agents—and I can pay them well likewise." - -"Jeffreys has told us _that_," observed Wilton. - -"And I've also explained to them what you want done to-morrow night, Mr. -Bones," said Jeffreys. - -"Good!" ejaculated Old Death. "Well—is it to be done?" - -"There's no manner of difficulty that I can see," said Harding; "and as -for any risk—why if the reward's at all decent——" - -"The reward shall be liberal—very liberal," interrupted Old Death -hastily. "What—what should you say to a ten-pound note a-piece?" - -"Deuce take it!" cried Wilton, thinking it would look better to haggle -at the bargain: "remember, there's the chance of transportation—and my -friend and I are not so desperate hard up——" - -"No—no—I understand," observed Old Death, fearful that his meanness had -disgusted his new acquaintances and that he should lose their services -unless he immediately manifested a more liberal disposition: "I meant -ten pounds each on account, and ten pounds more for each when the job is -done. Besides," he added, "there's other business to follow on: this is -only the first scene in the play that I'm going to get up, and in which -you must be prominent characters." - -And the aged miscreant chuckled at his attempt at humour. - -"What you have now said," observed Wilton, "quite alters the case. -Twenty pounds each, and the chance of more work, is a proposal that we -can accept. What say you, Thompson?" - -"I say what you say, Jones," replied Harding. - -"Now then we understand each other, my friends," continued Old Death; -"and I will at once give you the earnest-money." - -Thus speaking, he drew forth a greasy purse, and presented the two men -each with ten sovereigns, which they appeared to snatch up with much -avidity. - -"I have now nothing more to say to you," resumed Benjamin Bones, his -fierce eyes sparkling beneath his overhanging brows with the hope of -speedy vengeance on the Earl of Ellingham. "You must place yourselves at -the disposal of your friend Jeffreys here, who will inform you how to -act and show you precisely in what way my wishes are to be executed. I -must now leave you: but to-morrow evening," he added, in a tone of -savage meaning, "I shall see you in Earl Street with the coffin!" - -"You may rely upon us, Mr. Bones," replied Wilton. - -"But won't you stay and take a glass with us?" demanded Jeffreys. - -"Not to night—not to night," was the answer. "I took something short at -the bar as I passed by; but to-morrow night, my friends—to-morrow -night," he exclaimed emphatically, "you shall find a good supper ready -for you in Earl Street when you come, and a drop of the right sort." - -"So much the better," said Jeffreys: "I like a good supper. But what's -your hurry at present, Mr. Bones?" - -"To tell you the truth, my dear boy," answered the old man, "I have got -three friends waiting for me at a ken in Mitchell Street; and I promised -not to keep them longer than I could help. So you must excuse me on this -occasion; and, therefore, good bye." - -Old Death shook hands with the three men, and took his -departure—chuckling to himself at the idea of having secured the -services of Jeffreys' friends at so cheap a rate, inasmuch as he would -cheerfully have given them, griping and avaricious as he was, three or -four times the sum stipulated in order to secure their services in the -scheme of carrying out his atrocious plans of vengeance. - -[Illustration] - -But for once, Old Death! the laugh was against yourself—as you speedily -discovered to your cost! - -We must not however anticipate. - -The moment the old man had left the room, Wilton, Harding, and Jeffreys -exchanged glances of satisfaction and triumph. - -"Bunce, Tidmarsh, and Bunce's wife are all three at the flash house in -Mitchell Street—that is quite clear," said Jeffreys. - -"Yes," observed Wilton: "and the moment for action is now at hand. Let -us depart." - -The three men accordingly left the tavern, and hastened in the direction -which they knew Old Death must pursue in order to reach Mitchell Street. - -As they passed by another public-house in Helmet Row, Wilton bade them -pause for a moment, while he went in to give the necessary instructions -to the persons who were associated with him in the expedition of this -night, and whom he had ordered to remain there until his return. He -speedily rejoined Jeffreys and Harding; and all three were once more on -the track of Old Death. - -At the same time, half-a-dozen men, dressed as labourers, issued from -the public-house at which Wilton had called; and, dispersing themselves, -hurried singly by different ways towards the road separating the two -burial-grounds. - -Precisely at the corner where Mitchell Street joins Helmet Row, and just -as he was in the act of turning into the former thoroughfare, Old Death -was suddenly seized by three men, and gagged before he had time to utter -a single exclamation. The moon shone brightly; and his eyes flashed the -fires of savage rage and wild amazement, as their glances fell upon the -countenances of Wilton, Harding, and Jeffreys. He stamped his feet in a -paroxysm of fury, and then struggled desperately to release himself: but -his efforts were altogether unavailing—though he exerted a strength -which could scarcely have been expected on the part of so old and feeble -a man. He was borne off to the Black's carriage, which was waiting close -by; and, being thrust in, was immediately bound and blindfolded by two -persons who were already seated inside the vehicle, which drove away at -a rapid rate. - -This important feat being accomplished, Wilton desired Jeffreys to -proceed to the flash-house in Mitchell Street, and induce Tidmarsh and -the Bunces to accompany him into the ambush prepared for them. - -Jeffreys accordingly repaired to the boozing-ken alluded to, where he -found the objects of his search seated at a table, and occupied in the -discussion of bread and cheese and porter. - -"Sorry to interrupt you, my friends," said Jeffreys; "but you must come -away with me directly. Mr. Bones has sent me to fetch you——" - -"Is anything the matter?" asked Mrs. Bunce, in a low but agitated voice, -as she glanced towards the strangers present in the room. - -"I can't say what's the matter," replied Jeffreys, "because I don't -know. But Mr. Bones seems much excited—and he's walking up and down the -road between the burying-grounds. He told me to desire you to come to -him directly." - -"Is he alone there?" inquired Toby Bunce, looking particularly -frightened. - -"Yes—quite alone. There's no danger of any thing, if that's what you -mean: but I think Mr. Bones has met with some annoyance. Come on!" - -Tidmarsh and the Bunces accordingly rose, paid for what they had -ordered, but which they had not time to finish, and repaired with -Jeffreys to the place mentioned by him. - -"Where _is_ Mr. Bones?" demanded Mrs. Bunce, in her querulous voice. - -But ere Jeffreys had time to give any answer, his three companions were -set upon and made prisoners by the Black's retainers. - -It is only necessary to state, in a few words, that they were gagged, -blindfolded, thrust into a second vehicle which was in attendance, and -conveyed to the same place whither Tim the Snammer, Josh Pedler, and Old -Death had preceded them. - -Wilton, having superintended this last transaction, remained behind -along with Jeffreys, to whom he addressed himself in the following -manner, as soon as the carriage had departed:— - -"I am commissioned by my master, who is also your's, to state to you his -entire approval of your conduct. Measures have been taken to save Mr. -Torrens, in a manner which cannot implicate you. Keep your own counsel: -be prudent and steady—and you may not only atone for past errors, but -become a respected and worthy member of society. For a few days it will -be necessary for you to remain as quiet as possible at your own -lodgings; and whatever extraordinary reports you may hear concerning the -affairs of Mr. Torrens—however wonderful the means adopted to proclaim -his innocence of the crime of murder may be—keep a still tongue in your -head! So much depends upon your implicit secrecy, that you would not be -now left at large, did not our master entertain a high opinion of your -fidelity. But beware how you act! You have had ample proofs not only of -his power, but likewise of his matchless boldness and unflinching -determination in working out his aims." - -"For my own sake, Mr. Wilton," said Jeffreys, "I shall follow all your -advice." - -"And you will live to bless the hour when you first encountered our -master," was the answer. "It is not probable that your services will be -required again for some days: but should it be otherwise, a letter or a -messenger will be dispatched to your abode. Our master retains in his -hands the money that you left with him; and the next time he has -occasion to see you, he will advise you in what manner to lay it out to -your best advantage. In the meantime he has sent you a moderate sum—not -from your own funds, but from his purse—for your present wants; and so -long as you remain in his service, your wages will be liberal, but paid -in comparatively small and frequent sums, so that the possession of a -large amount may not lead you into follies. By this course he will train -your mind to recognise the true value of money honourably obtained, and -fit you for the position in which the funds he holds of your's may -shortly place you." - -Jeffreys and Wilton then separated, the former more astonished than ever -at the bold and yet skilfully executed proceedings set on foot by his -mysterious master. - - - - - CHAPTER XCV. - CLARENCE VILLIERS AND HIS AUNT. - - -The church of Saint Sepulchre on Snow Hill, was proclaiming the hour of -nine on the following morning, when Clarence Villiers again entered the -office of the governor of Newgate, and solicited permission to see Mrs. -Torrens, representing the degree of relationship in which he stood with -regard to that unhappy woman. - -We have before stated that Mrs. Torrens had been placed in a ward where -there were several other prisoners of her own sex; and the governor, -animated by a proper feeling of delicacy, and supposing that the -interview of relatives under such circumstances was likely to be of a -nature which it would be cruel to submit to the gaze of curious -strangers, immediately conducted Clarence into his own parlour, whither -the guilty aunt was speedily conducted. - -When they were alone together, Clarence endeavoured to find utterance -for a few kind words; but his tongue clave to the roof of his mouth—and -he burst into tears. - -Mrs. Torrens threw herself into a chair, covered her face with her -hands, and expressed the anguish of her soul in deep and convulsing -moans. - -"Oh! my dear aunt," exclaimed Clarence at length; "in what a frightful -position do I find you! What terrible changes have a few short days -effected!" - -"Do not reproach me, Clarence—Oh! do not reproach me," said the wretched -woman, extending her arms in an imploring manner towards him: "I am -miserable enough as it is!" - -"My God! I can well believe you," cried Villiers, speaking in a tone of -profound commiseration, and forgetting for a moment the iniquity of -which his aunt had been guilty: for she was frightfully altered—her -plumpness was gone—her cheeks were thin and pale—and she even stooped, -as if with premature old age. - -"Oh! yes—I am indeed very, very miserable," she repeated, in a tone of -intense bitterness, and clasping her hands together in the excess of her -mental agony. "Such nights as I have passed since I first set foot in -this dreadful place! No human tongue can tell the amount of wretchedness -which I endure. In the day-time 'tis too horrible—oh! far too horrible -to think of: but at night—when all is dark and silent, and when my very -thoughts—my very ideas seem to spring into life and assume ghastly -shapes——" - -"Oh! my dear aunt, do not allow your imagination thus to obtain dominion -over you!" interrupted Clarence. "Endeavour to compose yourself a -little—if only a little—for it does me harm to see you thus! Besides, I -have so much to say to you—so many questions to ask you—so much advice -to give you——" - -"Alas! the only counsel you can give me, Clarence," said the wretched -woman, shaking with a cold shudder, though the perspiration stood in big -drops upon her brow,—"the only counsel you can give me, Clarence, is to -bid me prepare for another world." - -"Is it possible?" cried Villiers, shocked by the appalling significance -of these words: "have you no hope—no chance——" - -"Would you believe me were I to assure you that I am not guilty of the -crime imputed to me—the forgery of a draft upon the bankers of the late -Sir Henry Courtenay?" demanded Mrs. Torrens, fixing her sunken, -lustreless eyes upon her nephew. "No—no: you are convinced that I _am_ -guilty—and a jury will pronounce me to be so! Think not that I blind -myself against all the horrors of my position! I know my fate—I know -that I must die eventually by the hand of the executioner——" - -"God have mercy upon you!" exclaimed Villiers, pressing his hand to his -brow as if to calm the dreadful thoughts which his aunt's language -excited in his brain. - -"Yes, Clarence—that must be my fate," she continued: "unless I obtain a -short respite—of a few months—by confessing——" - -"Confessing what?" cried Clarence impatiently. - -"Oh! no—not to you can I make that avowal!" she exclaimed, in a -shrieking tone. - -"But I understand you! Yes—a light breaks in upon me—and——" - -"Do not spurn me altogether, Clarence!" said the wretched woman, -throwing herself upon her knees before him and grasping one of his hands -with convulsive tightness in both her own. "Oh! I know what you would -reproach me with! If not for my own sake—yet for that of the unborn -child which I bear in my bosom, I should have avoided this awful -risk—recoiled from that fatal crime! But I was so confident of -success—so certain of avoiding exposure,—and my affairs, too, were so -desperate—without resources—Sir Henry Courtenay having disappeared in -such a mysterious manner——" - -"Aunt," interrupted Clarence, in a firm and solemn tone, as he raised -her from her suppliant posture, and placed her in a chair,—"answer me as -if you were questioned by your God! Are your hands unstained with the -blood——" - -"Holy heavens! would you believe me capable of murder?" cried Mrs. -Torrens, in a penetrating, thrilling tone of deep anguish. "Listen, -Clarence," she continued, her voice suddenly becoming low and hollow, as -she rose also from her seat and laid her emaciated hand upon his -arm,—"listen, Clarence, for a few moments. I have been of all hypocrites -the most vile—I have led a dissolute life, the profligacy of which has -been concealed beneath the mask of religion—I have subsisted upon the -wages paid to me by a paramour for the use of my person—I have forged—I -have become the accomplice of the ravisher of innocence,—but a -murderess—no—never—never!" - -"God be thanked for that assurance, which I now sincerely believe!" -exclaimed Clarence. "But you speak of being the accomplice of the -ravisher of innocence? Is it possible—answer me quickly—that Rosamond—my -sister-in-law——" - -"Oh! kill me—kill me, Clarence!" cried the miserable woman, again -throwing herself at his feet in the anguish of her soul: "kill me, I -say—for that was the blackest crime which one woman ever perpetrated -towards another!" - -"Then all my worst fears are confirmed!" groaned Clarence; and, turning -abruptly away from her in sudden loathing and horror, he broke forth -into violent ejaculations of rage. - -But in less than a minute the sounds of grief, more bitter than his fury -was terrible, forced themselves on his ears; and glancing round, he -beheld his aunt lying prostrate on the floor, her face buried in the -carpet, and her whole frame convulsed with an anguish which in a moment -renewed all the feelings of commiseration in his really generous heart. - -Springing towards the spot where she had fallen when he burst so rudely -away from her, he raised the wretched creature in his arms, conveyed her -once more to a seat, and endeavoured to address her in terms of -consolation and kindness. He even implored her pardon for what he termed -his brutality towards her. - -"Oh! you have no forgiveness to ask of me, Clarence," she murmured, in a -faint and half-suffocating tone. "Your indignation is most natural—and I -am the vilest being in female shape that ever cursed the earth with a -baleful presence, or brought dishonour on a glorious sex! My God! when I -look back and survey all my crimes—all my misdeeds, I despair of pardon -in another world!" - -"And now you add another wickedness to those of which you spoke," -exclaimed Clarence: "for the mercy of God is infinite! It must be so—it -would be an awful sin, a monstrous impiety to believe otherwise! A great -and good Being, possessing omnipotent power and a will which there is -none to question, can have no pleasure in casting your soul—poor, frail, -crushed-down woman!—into a lake of eternal fires! Oh! believe me—there -is hope even for greater criminals than yourself! But every atonement -which it is possible for you to make upon earth, _must_ be made; and, -whatever be your fate amongst beings who forgive nothing, you will -experience the blessings of salvation at the hands of a Being who -forgives every thing!" - -"I am penitent—oh! believe me, Clarence, I am very penitent!" exclaimed -his aunt. "Would to God that I could live the last twenty years of my -life over again! Not an error—no, not even a frailty should stain my -soul! But these thoughts come upon us when it is too late to take them -as the guides of our conduct." - -"Alas! such is indeed the case!" said Clarence, mournfully. "And now, -aunt, I am about to ask you to perform a duty which will perhaps -lacerate your bosom—revive a thousand bitter reflections—" - -"I understand you, Clarence," interrupted Mrs. Torrens, subduing her -emotions as much as possible, and speaking in a comparatively tranquil -tone: "you require from my lips a true and faithful narrative of all -that has occurred since you left London with your beautiful bride? -Well—that narrative shall be given. Sit down by me—and listen: but, in -so listening, you will only receive fresh proofs of my black turpitude! -For systematically and coolly—not in the excitement of moments when evil -passions were more powerful than reason—have I perpetrated those crimes -which now weigh so heavily upon my soul!" - -Clarence took a chair by his aunt's side, and prepared to hear her story -with an earnest but mournful attention. - -His aunt then related to him the particulars of the dreadful conspiracy -which had been devised by herself, the late Sir Henry Courtenay, and Mr. -Torrens against the honour of Rosamond; and Clarence now learnt for the -first time that Mr. Torrens had only consented to his marriage with -Adelais in order to get them both out of the way, so that the younger -sister might be completely in the power of those who had thus leagued -against her happiness and her virtue. - -"Although I deplore that such motives should have been the favouring -circumstances which led to my union with Adelais," said Clarence, "yet I -rejoice that my charming and adored wife is safely removed by the fact -of that marriage from the power of such a monster of a parent." - -Mrs. Torrens sighed profoundly, and then entered upon those details -which explained to her nephew how she became acquainted with Mr. -Torrens—the whole particulars of the murder of Sir Henry Courtenay, as -she herself had heard them from the lips of Mr. Torrens—the forgery of -the cheque, to which crime that individual was privy—the way in which -she had compelled him to marry her—and the flight of Howard, the -attorney, with the produce of the crime for which she was now in a -felon's gaol. - -"And you believe that Mr. Torrens is really innocent of the black deed -imputed to him?" said Clarence, inquiringly—for he was now anxious to -ascertain whether the tale which he had just heard in explanation of -that mysterious event, would correspond with the proclamation of Mr. -Torrens' innocence which was to be that day made to the world, according -to the assurances given on the preceding morning by Esther de Medina. - -"I am confident that the account given by Mr. Torrens, and which I have -now related to you, is correct," answered Mrs. Torrens: "for," she -added, after a few moments' hesitation, "when once we understood each -other—when once our hands were united—there was no necessity to maintain -any secrets from each other. We plunged headlong into crime, -hand-in-hand—and felt no shame in each other's presence. Besides, he had -no motive to perpetrate such a deed: on the contrary, he deprived -himself of a friend whose purse was most useful to him." - -"True!" observed Clarence, struck by the truth of this reasoning. - -"In respect to myself," resumed the unhappy woman, "I have made up my -mind how to act. I shall not aggravate my enormity by denial: I shall -plead guilty to the charge of forgery—and without implicating that -wretched man on whom the charge of murder now presses with such a -fearful weight of circumstantial evidence. No—I shall not mention him in -connexion with that deed of mine; so that if he escape from the cruel -difficulty in which he is now placed, no other accusations, beyond those -of his own conscience, may injure his peace." - -"You have determined to adopt the course which I should have -counselled," said Clarence. "It would be useless to attempt the defence -of that which is so clearly apparent. The forged signature had not the -baronet's private mark attached to it; but the clerk who cashed it for -you, did not think of scrutinising it so closely at the moment, as you -were well known to him. A subsequent examination of it proved the -forgery. Stands not the case so? At least, it was thus reported in the -newspapers." - -"The statement is correct," answered Mrs. Torrens, mournfully; "and I -feel convinced that I shall possess a greater chance of obtaining the -royal mercy, by pleading guilty at once and confessing my error. Oh! to -escape death—a premature death—a horrible death!" she cried, suddenly -becoming nervously excited again. - -"Compose yourself, aunt—compose yourself!" exclaimed Clarence; "for you -have an act of justice to do towards an innocent man. In a word, I wish -you to sign the account of the murder of Sir Henry Courtenay, as you -received it from the lips of Mr. Torrens, and as you have now related it -to me. I will draw it up briefly; and no one can tell of what benefit -the existence of such a document may prove to your unhappy husband." - -Clarence hastened to procure writing materials from the governor's -office; and, on his return to the parlour, he drew up the statement, -combining it with a confession of the forgery, though not mentioning the -name of Mr. Torrens in connexion with that latter crime. The penitent -woman then signed the paper in a firm handwriting; and it immediately -appeared as if a load were taken from her mind. - -Villiers now informed her that Rosamond had found an asylum with some -kind friends of the Jewish persuasion; but, faithful to his promise to -Esther de Medina, he did not drop even so much as a hint of the hopes -which that admirable young lady had held out with regard to the expected -proclamation and existing proofs of Mr. Torrens' innocence. It struck -him, however, that the paper which he had that moment received from his -aunt might assist the steps that were in such mysterious progress -elsewhere to remove from the head of his father-in-law the dreadful -charge which rested upon it. - -"I must now leave you, aunt," said the young man, rising from his seat. - -"Shall you visit Mr. Torrens?" she inquired, in a hesitating manner. - -"Not to-day," was the answer. "The prison regulations do not permit -visitors to call on the same inmate of this gaol two days consecutively. -In fact—for I abhor every thing savouring of duplicity—I will candidly -inform you that Adelais, myself, Rosamond, and the young lady with whom -that poor girl is staying, saw Mr. Torrens yesterday." - -"You visited him first!" murmured the wretched woman. "But I do not -blame you—I cannot reproach you, Clarence," she added hastily. "It was -natural that your wife should wish to see her father—and equally natural -that you should accompany her. Besides, I know that it must have cost -you a painful effort, to enter the presence of one so stained with -crime—so polluted—so infamous as I!" - -"Your contrition has obliterated from my mind all feelings save those of -regret and commiseration," returned Clarence warmly. "Would that justice -could so easily forget the past as I!" - -"Oh! I thank you for those generous assurances," exclaimed Mrs. Torrens, -bursting into tears; "for sympathy in such a place as this is dearer to -the soul than all the enjoyments which the great world outside could -possibly bestow! The kind word—aye, and what is more, the word of -forgiveness—is the holy dew of heaven. For years and years, Clarence, -was I a vile hypocrite, and such sentences as those flowed glibly from -my tongue—because they were the means whereby I deceived the world. But -now—oh! now, I feel all I say; and whatever may be my doom, I shall at -last appreciate the sublime truths of that religion which I so long used -as a mask. Clarence," she added, in a more measured tone, "always -suspect the individual who makes a display of his religion. Be assured -that true religious feelings do not obtrude themselves in all -unseasonable moments upon society. The man or the woman who enacts the -part of a _saint_, is nothing more nor less than a despicable hypocrite; -and I believe that more profligacy is concealed beneath such a mask as I -so long wore, than can possibly exist amongst those who make no outward -display of religion. But I will not detain you longer: I know that -Adelais must be cruelly shocked by all that has lately happened. One -word, however, before we part:—you will not—you can not acquaint _her_ -with—with——" - -"With the ruin of Rosamond!" cried Clarence, seeing that his aunt -hesitated. "Oh! no—no: it would kill my poor wife! Not for worlds would -I allow her to learn that dreadful secret! And now I understand full -well wherefore Rosamond preferred to remain with her new friends, rather -than accompany her sister and myself." - -Mrs. Torrens and Clarence embraced and separated; the former returning -to her ward in company with the matron, who had waited in an adjacent -room during this interview;—and the latter repairing to the office of -the governor, to whom he handed the document which his aunt had signed. - -The young man then proceeded to the house of some friends dwelling in -the City, and with whom he had left Adelais during his visit to Newgate. - -We should observe that he was fully enabled thus to dispose of his time -according to his own will, he having obtained six weeks' leave of -absence from the Government Office to which he belonged. - -In the course of the morning, he called at the lodgings which he had -occupied in Bridge Street, Blackfriars, previously to his marriage with -Adelais, to see if there were any letters lying there for him. There was -only one; and the contents of that ran as follow:— - - "_Pall Mall West._ - - "The Earl of Ellingham presents his compliments to Mr. Villiers, and - requests that Mr. Villiers will, on his return to town, favour the - Earl with an interview relative to private business of some - importance." - -"There must assuredly be some mistake in this," observed Clarence, as he -showed the letter to Adelais, "for I am totally unacquainted with this -nobleman, and cannot understand what private business he can possibly -have to transact with me. However, I will call to-morrow or next day and -ascertain the point, when the excitement connected with your father's -situation shall have somewhat subsided by the declaration of his -innocence." - -We need hardly say that Clarence had communicated to his beloved wife -the fact that his aunt had narrated to him the particulars of the manner -in which Sir Henry Courtenay came by his death, and that he had drawn up -the narrative, which, upon being signed by her, had been deposited in -the hands of the governor of Newgate. - - - - - CHAPTER XCVI. - SIR CHRISTOPHER BLUNT A HERO. - - -It was about mid-day when an extraordinary rumour began to spread like -wildfire throughout the metropolis. - -The report was, that between ten and eleven o'clock that morning, Sir -Christopher Blunt and Dr. Lascelles had presented themselves to the -sitting magistrate at Bow Street, and had not only communicated to that -functionary a surprising account of certain adventures which had -happened to themselves, but had likewise placed in his hands a document -which proclaimed the innocence of Mr. Torrens, who was lying in Newgate -under an accusation of murder. - -The adventures alluded to were of such an amazing character, that, had -they been related by persons of a less honourable reputation than Sir -Christopher Blunt and Dr. Lascelles, they would have been treated as a -pure invention on the part either of maniacs or unprincipled friends of -the accused. - -But the known integrity of those two gentlemen gave no scope for even -the slightest breath of suspicion; and their tale, though wonderful, was -so consistent in all its parts, that it was received as one of those -truths which are "stranger than fiction." - -The entire metropolis was in amazement! - -Two respectable gentlemen—an eminent physician and a wealthy Justice of -the Peace—had been conducted, blindfolded, to a house where they had -received the depositions of two men who confessed themselves to be the -murderers of the late Sir Henry Courtenay. There was no appearance of -fraud in that confession. The men had been cross-examined apart, and had -agreed in the minutest details. Every one therefore believed that Mr. -Torrens was indeed innocent; and the sitting magistrate at Bow Street -expressed the same opinion. - -But who was the individual that had caused Sir Christopher Blunt and Dr. -Lascelles to be thus made the recipients of the confession of the -murderers? Where was the house to which those gentlemen had been taken? -What motive was there for screening the assassins? Why was so much -mystery observed in the entire transaction? And wherefore had Sir -Christopher and the physician been enjoined to withhold the publication -of the matter for twenty-four hours after its occurrence? - -These questions were in every body's mouth; but no one could suggest any -thing resembling even the shadow of a satisfactory solution. - -The weapon with which the crime had been perpetrated, and a portion of -the proceeds of the robbery effected at Torrens Cottage at the same -time, accompanied the depositions placed by Sir Christopher Blunt in the -hands of the magistrate; and a surgeon, on examining the corpse which -had been removed to the deceased's house previous to receiving the rites -of Christian burial, declared that the throat must have been cut by such -an instrument as the one thus produced. - -But this was not all. The moment the rumour of what had occurred at Bow -Street reached the prison of Newgate, the governor hastened to the -police-office, and submitted to the magistrate the confession made that -morning by Mrs. Torrens. - -This confession not only admitted her guilt in respect to the -forgery—but gave such a version of the murder, as completely tallied -with the depositions made by Timothy Splint and Joshua Pedler. - -Looking at the entire case, as it thus stood, there was no doubt of the -innocence of Mr. Torrens; and all that gentleman's friends—who, by the -bye, had hitherto kept aloof from him—crowded to Newgate to congratulate -him on the facts which had transpired. - -The sensation created by the affair, throughout the capital, was -tremendous; and when the evening papers were published, the copies were -greedily caught up in all directions. It was a fine harvest for those -journals; and their sale that day was prodigious. - -An individual often spoken of, but never yet seen—namely, "the oldest -inhabitant in the metropolis"—was duly mentioned on the occasion. - -"Never," said each of the evening papers—as if the reporters had all -been suddenly struck by the same idea,—"never, within the memory of the -oldest inhabitant of the metropolis, has so extraordinary a case -transpired." - -And certainly no event for many years had produced such a powerful -excitement, animating even the most callous and indifferent dispositions -with a desire to know more, and setting a-thinking many who had quite -enough in their own affairs to occupy all their thoughts. - -The taverns, public-houses, and coffee-shops became the scenes of loud -and interesting discussions, but even the knowing-ones found no -opportunity of displaying their sagacity, for the mystery of the whole -affair positively defied conjecture. - -"But who can the man be that is at the bottom of all this? and where can -his residence be situated?" were the questions which every tongue -uttered, and to which no one could reply. - -That such an extraordinary incident could occur in the metropolis, -without leaving the faintest trace or the smallest clue to the -elucidation of the enigma, appeared almost incredible. - -As for Sir Christopher Blunt—he certainly did not appear to know whether -he stood upon his head or his heels. The Home Secretary sent for him in -the course of the afternoon, and received from his lips a full and -complete statement of the whole occurrence; for the Government was -naturally indignant that any individual should unwarrantably usurp the -functions of the proper authorities by holding murderers in his own -custody and adopting his own course to prove the innocence of a man in -the grasp of justice. Sir Christopher was, however, unable to afford the -slightest information which was likely to lead to the discovery of that -individual, or of his place of abode. - -On his return to his own house in Jermyn Street, Sir Christopher found -several noblemen and influential gentlemen, including three or four -Members of Parliament, waiting to see him; and he instantly became the -lion of the company. - -No pen can describe the immense pomposity with which he repeated his -narrative of the mysterious transaction: no words can convey an idea of -the immeasurable conceit and self-sufficiency with which he described -the cross-examination of the murderers. - -In fact, the knight made himself so busy in the matter—was so accessible -to all visitors who were anxious to gratify their curiosity by asking a -thousand questions—and was so ready to afford the newspaper-reporters -all the information which he had to impart respecting the incident, that -no one thought of applying to Dr. Lascelles in a similar manner. This -circumstance was the more agreeable to the physician, inasmuch as he not -only disliked wasting his time in gossip, but was well pleased at -escaping the necessity of giving vague answers or positive denials in an -affair the details of which were in reality no mystery to him. - -To all his visitors Sir Christopher Blunt took care to speak in the -following terms:—"You see, the individual who is the prime mover in this -most extraordinary proceeding, required the assistance of no ordinary -magistrate. He wanted a man of keen penetration—the most perfect -business-habits—and of the highest character,—a man, in a word, who -would probe the very souls of the two miscreants to be placed before -him, and on whose report the world could implicitly rely. _That_ was the -reason wherefore I was pitched upon as the Justice of the Peace best -qualified to undertake so difficult a business." - -Sir Christopher became a perfect hero, as the mysterious stranger had -predicted; and during the remainder of that memorable day on which the -innocence of Mr. Torrens was proclaimed, Jermyn Street was literally -lined with carriages, the common destination being the knight's -abode;—so that a stranger in the metropolis would have supposed that -such a scene of animation and excitement could only be occasioned by the -arrival of some great foreign prince, or that the Prime Minister lived -in that house and was holding a levée. - -When all Sir Christopher's visitors had retired, and he found himself -alone in his drawing-room at about half-past ten that evening, he threw -himself on a sofa, exclaiming aloud, "Egad! that old fellow, who knocked -down the Irish Captain and afterwards turned out to be a young man, was -quite right. I am a hero—a regular hero! This popularity is truly -delightful. I really do not envy the Duke of Wellington his having won -the battle of Waterloo. No, indeed—not I! Sir Christopher Blunt is a -greater man than his Grace, although only a knight." - -Scarcely had the worthy gentleman arrived at this very satisfactory -conclusion, when Mr. Lykspittal entered the room, holding his portfolio -in his hand, and bowing so low at every third step which he took in -advancing towards the knight, that it really seemed as if he were -anxious to ascertain how close to the floor he could put his nose -without rolling completely over like the clown at Astley's. - -"My revered patron," began Mr. Lykspittal, "I have taken the liberty of -bringing the first half dozen pages of the manuscript of the pamphlet——" - -"The deuce take the pamphlet, Mr. Lykspittal!" shouted Sir Christopher, -leaping from the sofa, and, in the exuberance of his joy, kicking the -portfolio from the literary gentleman's hands up to the ceiling, so that -the papers all showered down upon the head of their author, who stood -amazed and aghast at this singular reception. - -But in the next moment it struck the discomfited Mr. Lykspittal that Sir -Christopher Blunt had suddenly taken leave of his senses—or, in other -words, had gone raving mad; and he rushed to the door. - -"Stop—stop!" cried Sir Christopher, darting after him. "What the deuce -is the matter with the man?" - -"No—don't—don't injure me!" roared Mr. Lykspittal, falling upon his -knees, as the knight caught him by the arm. - -"Injure you, my good fellow!" exclaimed Sir Christopher, surveying him -with the utmost amazement. "What could possibly put such a thing into -your head? I am not angry with you: I'm only mad——" - -"I know you are!" cried Mr. Lykspittal in a tone of horror, while his -countenance expressed the most ludicrous alarm. - -"Yes—mad—literally mad—insane—my dear fellow!" vociferated Sir -Christopher, quitting his hold upon the literary gentleman and -absolutely dancing round him. - -"O Lord! O Lord!" groaned Mr. Lykspittal, still upon his knees and -nailed by terror to the spot. - -"Insane—mad with joy!" cried the knight. "But get up—and don't be -frightened. I am not angry with you. But I suppose that the idea of -entering the presence of a man like me is too much for you, my poor -fellow," added Sir Christopher, stopping short in the midst of his -capering antics, and surveying the literary gentleman with immense -commiseration. - -"Oh! only mad—with joy?" murmured Mr. Lykspittal, considerably relieved -by the assurance, and starting to his feet: then, dexterously catching -at the suspicion which Sir Christopher, in his boundless self-conceit, -had expressed, the literary gentleman suddenly resumed his usual -cringing manner, and said in a tone of deep veneration, "Pardon me, my -excellent patron, if—for a moment overcome by your presence—the presence -of a man whose name is upon every tongue——" - -"Say no more about it, my good fellow!" cried the knight, with all the -bland condescension of a patron. "To tell you the truth, I am quite -beside myself with joy; but I should not expose myself thus to any one -save yourself. You are, however, a privileged person—behind the scenes, -as it were; and you know how necessary popularity is to me. Egad! Mr. -Lykspittal, I little thought when I began life as a poor boy, that I -should one day become a great——" - -"A _very_ great," meekly suggested the sycophant. - -"A very great man," added Sir Christopher, emphatically, as he surveyed -himself in a neighbouring mirror. "I tell you what, Mr. Lykspittal—those -vulgar citizens of Portsoken must now be ready to cut their throats——" - -"A person _did_ expire in that ward very suddenly to-day, Sir -Christopher," observed the literary gentleman, drawing upon his -imagination for this little incident, which he knew would prove most -welcome to the knight's vanity; "and there's every reason to suppose -that his death was caused by vexation." - -"No doubt of it!" exclaimed the Justice of the Peace, playing with his -shirt-frill. "Don't you see that there will be now no necessity for the -pamphlets?" - -Here Mr. Lykspittal's countenance fell. - -"But you shall write instead," continued the knight, "a complete -narrative of my most romantic and extraordinary adventures." - -Here Mr. Lykspittal's countenance brightened up again. - -"No—you shan't, though," cried his patron, an idea striking him. - -Again the sycophant's brow became overcast. - -"You shall write the history of my life!" added Sir Christopher. - -And again the literary gentleman's brow expanded. - -"Yes—_The Life_——" - -"And _Times_," suggested Mr. Lykspittal. - -"_The Life and Times of Sir Christopher Blunt_," exclaimed the knight -triumphantly. - -"In three volumes, large octavo, with portraits," added the sycophant. - -"Egad! that's a capital suggestion of your's—the portraits, I mean," -said Sir Christopher. "But you must show that, although I began the -world with nothing, yet I am of an ancient and highly respectable -family——" - -"Certainly, my dear sir. There was no doubt a Blunt at Crecy or -Agincourt," observed Mr. Lykspittal. "At all events it is easy to say -there was, and in a note put '_See M.S.S., British Museum._' That is the -way we always manage in such cases, my dear Sir Christopher. The British -Museum is a most convenient place——" - -"What—to write in?" asked the Justice of the Peace. - -"No, sir—to furnish pedigrees for those who haven't got any." - -"Ah! I understand!" cried Sir Christopher, chuckling. "Capital! capital! -Well, my good fellow, set about the _Life and Times_ directly. But, by -the bye, I wish the work to begin something in this way—'_It was on a -dark and tempestiferous night—the wind roared—the artillery flew in -fitting gusts—the streaming shafts of electricity shot across the -eccentric sky_,'—and so on. That's a pretty sentence, you perceive; and -being entirely my own composition—striking me, in fact, at the -moment—and not suggested by any other person——" - -"It does you infinite credit, Sir Christopher," interrupted Mr. -Lykspittal, with an obsequious bow; "and with a _leetle_ correction——" - -"Oh! of course you will use your discretion. Well, now we understand -each other, Mr. Lykspittal; and you will begin the work immediately. Of -course you must introduce a great quantity of correspondence between -myself and the leading men of this age, but who are now all dead." - -"Have you any such letters by you, sir?" enquired the literary -gentleman. - -"Not I!" ejaculated Sir Christopher Blunt, speaking bluntly indeed. - -"Oh! that's no matter—I can easily invent some," observed Mr. -Lykspittal. "I thank you most sincerely for your kind—your generous -patronage, my dear Sir Christopher. In fact, I can never forget -it—I—I——" - -And Mr. Lykspittal, by way of working his sycophancy up to the highest -possible pitch—or, shall we not say, down to the lowest degree of -self-abasement—affected to burst into tears and rushed from the room. - -"Poor fellow! he's quite overcome by his feelings," murmured Sir -Christopher to himself. "That's what I call real gratitude, now!" - -And, having mused upon this and divers other matters for some few -minutes, the worthy knight went up stairs to see his affectionate spouse -and the baby, ere he retired to his own apartment. - - - - - CHAPTER XCVII. - CARLTON HOUSE. - - -We are now about to relate an incident which, at present, may appear to -have little to do with the thread of our narrative, but which, we can -assure our readers, will hereafter prove of immense importance in the -development of the tale. - -On the evening of that day when the innocence of Mr. Torrens was -proclaimed, as related in the preceding chapter, King George IV. gave a -grand entertainment at Carlton House. - -This splendid mansion was that monarch's favourite residence—not only -when he was Prince of Wales and Regent, but likewise while he wore on -his unworthy brow the British diadem. - -Execrable as the character of this unprincipled voluptuary and -disgusting debauchee notoriously was, he unquestionably possessed good -taste in choosing the decorations of a drawing-room, selecting a paper -of a suitable pattern to match particular furniture, and superintending -the fittings of a banquetting-hall. Carlton House was accordingly -rendered a perfect gem of a palace under his auspices; and there the -King loved to dwell, passing his evenings in elegant orgies and his -nights in lascivious enjoyment. - -The interior of Carlton House was indeed most sumptuous in all its -arrangements. The state-apartments were fitted up with a grandeur -properly chastened by elegance; and convenience and comfort were studied -as much as magnificence. The entrance-hall was paved with veined marble, -the roof being supported by Ionic columns from the quarries of Sienna. -The west ante-room contained many fine portraits by Sir Joshua Reynolds. -But the most splendid of all the apartments was the Crimson -Drawing-room, which was decorated in the richest and yet most tasteful -manner. The rich draperies, the architectural embellishments, the -immense pier-glasses, the chandeliers of cut glass, and the massive -furniture all richly gilt, evinced the state of perfection which the -arts and manufactures have attained in this country. - -Adjoining the Crimson Drawing-room was the Rotunda, the architecture of -which was of the Ionic order, every part having been selected from the -finest specimens of ancient Greece. The ceiling was painted to represent -the sky, and was in the shape of a hemisphere. Another beautiful -apartment was the Rose Satin Drawing-room, fitted up after the Chinese -fashion, and in the middle of which stood a circular table of Sevres -porcelain, the gift of Louis XVIII. to the King. Many pictures by the -old masters likewise embellished that room. - -We must also mention the Blue Velvet Room, remarkable for the refined -taste displayed in its decorations,—and the Library, Golden -Drawing-room, Gothic Dining-room, Bow Room, Conservatory, Armoury, -Vestibule, and Throne Room, the last of which was fitted up with crimson -velvet, and produced, when illuminated, a superb effect. - -This rapid glance at the interior of Carlton House may serve to afford -the reader a general idea of the splendour of that palace,—a splendour -almost dazzling to contemplate, if we consider it for a few moments in -juxta-position with the deplorable misery of thousands and thousands of -cottages, huts, and hovels in which so large a number of the working -population are forced to dwell! - -But kings and queens care nothing for the condition of their people. So -long as their selfish desires can be gratified and all their childish -whims or extravagant caprices can be fulfilled, the industrious millions -may rot in their miserable hovels, crushed by the weight of that -taxation which is so largely augmented by the wants of Royalty! - -It is absurd to venerate and adore Royalty; for Royalty is either -despicably frivolous, or vilely arbitrary:—and he who admires or adores -it, is an enemy to his own interests. - -Let us, however, return to the subject of this chapter. - -It was ten at night; and carriage after carriage, in rapid succession, -set down the noble and beauteous guests at the entrance of Carlton -House. - -The palace itself was a blaze of light; and the brilliant lustre, shed -throughout the spacious rooms by the magnificent chandeliers, was -reflected on the numerous pier-glasses and enhanced by the splendour of -the diamonds worn by the ladies. - -Upwards of four hundred guests—constituting the _élite_ of the -fashionable world—were there assembled; and amongst them moved the King -himself—undoubtedly a polished gentleman, although the few—the very few -qualifications which he did possess have been greatly exaggerated by -writers of the Lykspittal school. - -It was a _re-union_ of beauty, rank, and fashion, of the most brilliant -description, though on a limited scale. A full band was in attendance; -and dancing commenced in the drawing-rooms shortly after ten o'clock. - -Amongst the guests was the Earl of Ellingham,—conspicuous by his fine -form and handsome countenance, and more deserving of respect on account -of his noble nature than by reason of his noble name: for a title is a -thing which any monarch can bestow—but God alone can create the generous -heart and the glorious intellect! - -Lady Hatfield was likewise there; for, averse as she was to the -assemblies of fashion, yet having received a card of invitation to this -_re-union_, she could not refuse to obey the "royal commands." - -And beautiful she appeared, too—with diamonds sparkling on her hair, and -in a dress which enhanced the loveliness of her complexion and set off -her graceful figure and rounded bust to their utmost advantage. - -She had accompanied the ladies of a noble family with whom she was -intimately acquainted; and when the party was presented to the King, he -contemplated Lady Hatfield with an admiration which he did not attempt -to conceal. Indeed, he addressed himself particularly to her during the -few minutes that he remained in conversation with the party to which she -belonged. But other guests speedily demanded his attention, and he moved -away, not however without bestowing another long and even amorous look -upon Georgiana, who felt relieved when the monarch was no longer near. - -[Illustration] - -The Earl was speedily by Lady Hatfield's side, as soon as she was -seated; and, after a few cursory observations upon the entertainment, -she said to him, "Have you lately visited Mr. de Medina?" - -"Not for the last two or three days," he replied. "I have been kept much -at home by the necessity of preparing materials for the speech which I -shall have to make on Monday evening next, on moving, according to the -notice which I have already given in the House of Lords, for certain -papers calculated to throw some light on the state of the industrious -classes." - -"You at last intend to shine as a great statesman, Arthur?" said Lady -Hatfield, with a smile. - -"I intend to apply myself to the grand subject of proposing those -measures which may ameliorate the condition of millions of human -beings," answered the Earl. "Do you not remember, Georgiana, that I told -you how one whose name I need not mention, adjured me to do my duty as a -British legislator? and have you forgotten that I explained to you the -deep impression which his language on that occasion made upon me?" - -"I have forgotten nothing that you ever told me," answered Lady -Hatfield; "and I am rejoiced to hear that you are now seriously resolved -to apply your great talents to so useful a purpose. You must give the -necessary orders to enable me to obtain admittance to the House of Lords -on Monday evening next; for I would not for worlds be disappointed in -hearing your sentiments upon so grand and important a question." - -"If we were not in the light of sister and brother to each other, -Georgiana, I should say that I am flattered by your words," remarked the -Earl: "but, as it is, I can only assure you that I receive the -expression of your desire to be present in the House of Lords next -Monday, as a mark of that sincere attachment—that profound friendship -which you bear towards me, and which is so entirely reciprocated." - -"And have you reflected upon the conversation which occurred between us -the other day relative to Miss Esther de Medina?" enquired Georgiana. - -"I have," was the answer; "but as yet I have arrived at no decision." - -"The next time you call upon me, then," said Lady Hatfield, smiling, and -yet subduing a sigh at the same moment, "I shall repeat to you all the -arguments in that respect which I used on the former occasion. Now give -me your arm, and we will walk into the next room through the open -folding-doors of which I catch a glimpse of some fine paintings." - -To the adjacent apartment they accordingly proceeded, and inspected -several fine pictures, some by the old masters, and others by the most -celebrated professors in modern art. - -While they were thus engaged, the King approached them, greeted the Earl -with urbane cordiality, and proceeded to point out to Lady Hatfield the -best compositions amongst the works which she was admiring. The monarch -then proposed that she should visit the Armoury; and as, when he had -first approached, she had, through deference to Royalty,[41] -relinquished the arm of the Earl of Ellingham, she was now compelled to -accept that of the King. His Majesty, however, implied by his manner -that Arthur was to accompany them; and the young nobleman accordingly -followed the monarch and Georgiana to the Armoury. - -As they passed through the rooms leading thither, many an envious glance -was bent upon Lady Hatfield by the wives and daughters of aristocracy, -each of whom would have given ten years of her life to obtain so much -favour in the eyes of Royalty; although the King was, at this period, -upwards of sixty-four years of age. - -There was, nevertheless, nothing in Lady Hatfield's manner which -indicated a consciousness of triumph: her deportment was modest, yet -dignified—and manifesting that ease and self-possession which constitute -such important proofs of good breeding. - -"This is the first time that I have seen your ladyship at Carlton -House," remarked the King, as they passed slowly on towards the Armoury. - -"I have never had the honour of visiting your Majesty's palace until the -present occasion," was the reply. - -"You must not be forgotten in future," said the King: then slightly -sinking his voice, he added, "A palace is the fitting region to be -adorned by beauty such as your's." - -Lady Hatfield affected not to hear the observation; and the Earl of -Ellingham actually did not. - -"I am an enthusiastic admirer of female loveliness," continued the King; -"and I envy those who possess the talent of pourtraying upon canvas the -features which are most dear to them. By the way," added his Majesty, as -if a sudden idea had just struck him, "I intend to have a Diana painted -for my Library. Beautiful Lady Hatfield, you must be the original of my -Diana! Grant me that favour—I shall esteem it highly; and to-morrow Sir -Thomas Lawrence shall call upon your ladyship to receive your commands -relative to the first sitting." - -"Your Majesty will deign to excuse me," said Georgiana, in a cold but -profoundly respectful tone. - -"Indeed, I shall receive no apology," observed the King, laughing. "But -here we are in the Armoury; and it will give me infinite pleasure to -direct your attention to those curiosities which are the worthiest of -notice." - -George the Fourth then pointed out to Lady Hatfield and the Earl of -Ellingham, the swords which had belonged respectively to the Chevalier -Bayard, the great Duke of Marlborough, Louis XIV., that glorious patriot -Hampden (would that we had such a man at the present time!), General -Moreau, Marshal Luckner, and other heroes. There was also a hunting -knife which had belonged to Charles XII. of Sweden; and in addition to -these curiosities, there were many military antiquities, especially in -costume, all of which the King explained to the lady and the Earl. - -From time to time it struck Lady Hatfield that her royal companion -pressed her arm gently in his own, and not in an accidental way, as he -addressed himself to her; and he also looked at her more than once in a -very peculiar manner. Had he been of a less exalted rank, she would have -instantaneously quitted him; but she reflected that it would be an -evidence of insane vanity and conceit on her part were she to interpret -in a particular way attentions which after all might have nothing more -than a common significancy. She however remained cold, but respectful; -and if the King really meant any thing more than the usual courtesy -which a gentleman naturally pays to a lady, he received not the -slightest encouragement. - -"Ellingham," he said, turning abruptly towards the Earl, "do you carry a -snuff-box?" - -"I do not, sire," was the answer. - -"That is provoking! I left mine on the porcelain table in the Chinese -Drawing Room." - -The young nobleman understood the hint, bowed, and departed to fetch the -box—not however for a moment suspecting that the King had any sinister -motive in sending him away from the Armoury, where his Majesty and -Georgiana now remained alone together; for that museum had not been -thrown open for the inspection of the guests generally. - -"Beautiful Lady Hatfield," said George the Fourth, the moment the -folding-doors had closed of their own accord behind the Earl, "you will -consent to allow Lawrence to copy your sweet countenance for my Diana?" - -"Your Majesty will deign to excuse me," was the cold and now reserved -answer; for Georgiana's suspicions, previously excited in a faint -degree, had gathered strength from the fact of her royal companion -having got rid of the Earl in the manner already described. - -"No—I will not excuse you, beautiful lady," exclaimed the King, -enthusiastically—or with affected enthusiasm. "Your's is a countenance -which, being seen once, leaves behind a desire to behold it again; and -as I shall have no chance of often viewing the original, I must content -myself with the contemplation of the picture." - -"Your Majesty is pleased to compliment me thus," said Georgiana, more -coldly than before: "and your Majesty is of course privileged. But such -words, coming from a less exalted quarter, would be deemed offensive." - -"I am unfortunate in not being able to render myself agreeable to Lady -Hatfield," observed George the Fourth, drawing himself proudly up to his -full height—for he was really piqued by the lady's manner—he who never -sued in vain for a beauteous woman's smiles! But, probably reflecting -that his haughtiness was little suited either to his previous conduct -towards Georgiana or to his aims with regard to her, he immediately -unbent again, saying in his blandest and most amiable tones, "Not for -worlds would I offend you, charming lady: on the contrary, I would give -worlds, did I possess them, to be able to win a single smile from those -sweet lips." - -Georgiana withdrew her hand from the King's arm, and became red with -indignation. - -"Forgive me—pardon me," said the monarch hastily: "I perceive that you -are vexed with me—and I am very unfortunate in having offended you." - -Thus speaking he again proffered his arm, which Lady Hatfield took, -saying, "Would your Majesty deign to conduct me back to the company?" - -At this moment the Earl of Ellingham returned to the Armoury, and handed -the King his snuff-box. The party then retraced their way to the -splendid saloons, the monarch conversing the while in a manner which -seemed to indicate that Lady Hatfield had no ground to fear his -recurrence to subjects that were disagreeable to her. At length he -resigned her to the care of Lord Ellingham; but ere he turned away, he -gave her a rapid and significant look, as much as to say, "I throw -myself upon your generosity not to mention my conduct towards you." - -The King now withdrew from the apartments thrown open for the reception -of the company, and remained absent for nearly an hour. When he -returned, his countenance was much flushed; and it was evident that he -had been enjoying a glass or two of his favourite curaçoa-punch, in -company with a few boon-companions, who had been summoned to attend him -in a private room remote from the state-saloons. - -One of the boon-companions just alluded to, was a certain Sir Phillip -Warren—an old courtier who was supposed to enjoy the confidence of the -King, and who, it was rumoured, had been the means of extricating his -royal master, when Prince of Wales, from many a difficulty in financial -matters as well as from the danger of exposure in divers amatory -intrigues. Without any defined official position about the person of the -King, Sir Phillip was nevertheless a very important individual in the -royal household—one of those useful, but mysterious agents who, while -enjoying the reputation of men of honour, are in reality the means by -which the dirty-work of palaces is accomplished. In appearance, Sir -Phillip Warren was a stout, red-faced, good-humoured-looking man; and -not the least of those qualifications which rendered him so especial a -favourite with the King, was the aristocratic faculty that he possessed -of taking his three bottles after dinner without seeming to have imbibed -any thing stronger than water. - -Such was the courtier who, accosting the Earl of Ellingham, shortly -after the King's return to the drawing-rooms, drew that nobleman aside -with an intimation that he wished to say a few words to him in private. - -Taking the Earl's arm, Sir Phillip Warren led him away from the -brilliantly lighted saloons, and introduced the nobleman into the Blue -Velvet Closet—a small but elegantly decorated room, where a single lamp -was burning upon the table. - -"His Majesty has been speaking to me concerning your lordship," said Sir -Phillip Warren, when Arthur and himself were seated alone together in -the Closet; "indeed, our royal master has been graciously pleased to -intimate that he is much prepossessed in your favour." - -The Earl bowed a cold recognition of the compliment,—for he was far too -enlightened a man not to feel disgust at the sycophantic language in -which that compliment was conveyed—and he was likewise convinced that -there was some ulterior object in view. - -"A young nobleman such as your lordship, may rise to the highest offices -in the State by means of the royal favour," continued Sir Phillip. "Your -talents are known to be great—and your influence in the House of Lords -is consequently extensive. But his Majesty regrets to learn that your -lordship seems inclined to proclaim opinions so far in advance of the -spirit of the age as to be dangerous to the institutions of the -country—those institutions which the wisdom of our ancestors devised, -and which the experience of ages has consecrated." - -"Really, Sir Phillip Warren," said the Earl, unfeignedly surprised at -this address, "I am at a loss to conceive wherefore you should seek to -lead me into a political discussion on such an occasion as the present." - -"I will explain myself," returned the courtier. "His Majesty retired -just now, with a few of his faithful servants, amongst whom I have the -honour to be included, to partake of a little refreshment; and while we -were thus engaged, his Majesty made an observation highly in favour of -yourself. A nobleman present thereupon informed his Majesty that your -lordship had placed a certain notice upon the books of the House of -which your lordship is so distinguished an ornament. The nature of that -notice is displeasing to his Majesty, who is graciously pleased to think -that the common people already consider themselves of far greater -importance than they really are." - -"If, sir, by the contemptuous phrase '_the common people_,' you mean -that enlightened and respectable body—_the working classes_," exclaimed -the Earl indignantly, "I must beg to declare that I differ totally from -the opinion which his Majesty has expressed concerning them." - -"Well—well, my dear Earl," said Sir Phillip, in a conciliatory tone: -"every one has a right to his own opinion—we are aware of _that fact_. -But permit me to represent to you that you will gain no personal -advantage, by espousing the cause of the masses." - -"I seek no personal advantage," cried Arthur, with an impatient gesture, -indicative of his desire to terminate the interview at once. "I am not -putting myself forward as a factious demagogue—I seek not the honours of -a democratic championship: but _this_ I intend and contemplate, Sir -Phillip Warren—to exert all my energies, use all the little influence I -may possess, and devote any amount of talent which God has given me, for -the purpose of directing the attention of the Legislature to the -neglected, oppressed and impoverished condition of that fine English -people which constitutes the pillar of the State." - -"By adopting such a course, my lord," remonstrated Sir Phillip, "you -will offend his Majesty, who is now so well disposed towards you, that -were you inclined to enter his service in the sphere of diplomacy, your -wishes might be complied with at once. Indeed, the post of Envoy -Plenipotentiary to the important Grand Duchy of Castelcicala is at this -moment vacant; and if your lordship——" - -"In one word, Sir Phillip Warren," interrupted the Earl of Ellingham, -rising from his seat, "you are desirous to tempt me into a compromise. -Wherefore do you not frankly explain yourself at once, and say, -'_Withdraw your notice from the books of the House of Lords, and depart -as Ambassador to the Court of Angelo, Grand Duke of Castelcicala_:' to -which I should immediately reply, '_No possible reward which an earthly -monarch can give, should induce me to abandon that task which a sense of -duty has imposed upon me_.'" - -Sir Phillip Warren was astonished at the firmness and boldness with -which the Earl spoke; for such manly independence was quite unusual in -the atmosphere of a corrupt Court and venal political world. The fact -was that Sir Phillip had undertaken the task of effecting the desired -compromise with the Earl: the King had specially entrusted the matter to -him;—and the courtier trembled at the idea of being compelled to report -the total failure of the negotiation to his royal master. He was -therefore cruelly embarrassed, and knew not what course to adopt. - -But suddenly an idea struck him;—for he perceived that the Earl was not -a man to be tempted by reward; but he thought that the nobleman might -perhaps be overcome by the powers of eloquent reasoning. - -"My dear Earl," he accordingly said, "you are too honourable and too -highly-principled a statesman not to yield to conviction. Grant me, in -common justice, one favour: I ask it in the name of his Majesty." - -"Speak," exclaimed Arthur, resuming his chair to show that he was -prepared to listen with courteous attention. - -"The Prime Minister is present at the _re-union_ this evening," said Sir -Phillip: "will you hear any argument which he may address to you upon -the subject of your notice for next Monday night, and consider whatever -may pass between you to be strictly confidential?" - -"I should be unreasonable to refuse to listen to any observations which -so high a functionary as the Prime Minister may address to me," answered -the Earl; "and I shall consider our interview to be private and -confidential, on condition that no insult be offered to me in the shape -of temptation or promise of reward. If it can be shown by fair argument -that I am wrong in pursuing the course which I have adopted, I will -yield to conviction; but I shall spurn with contempt and indignation any -other means that may be adopted to induce me to withdraw my notice from -the books of the House." - -"The Interview shall take place upon the condition your lordship has -stipulated. Be kind enough to await my return with the Prime Minister." - -Sir Phillip Warren then withdrew, closing the door behind him. - -But scarcely had he left the Blue Velvet Closet, when the lamp upon the -table suddenly grew dim; and in a few moments the light expired -altogether, doubtless through lack of oil—leaving the room in total -darkness. - -The Earl was uncertain how to act; and while he was still deliberating -with himself whether to leave the Closet in search of a servant to -procure another light, or await the return of Sir Phillip Warren, the -door opened. - -"This room is in darkness, sire," immediately said a female voice, which -the Earl of Ellingham recognised to be that of Lady Hatfield. - -"I pledge you my royal word that I was ignorant of the fact when I -conducted you hither," returned the King. "But, pray enter, beauteous -lady: we may at all events converse at our ease for a few minutes." - -And to the amazement of the Earl, Georgiana complied with the King's -request, accompanying his Majesty into that dark room, the door of which -was immediately closed. Indeed, so astounded—so shocked was Arthur by -this incident, that he sate motionless and speechless in his chair at -the further extremity of the apartment. - -"My dearest Lady Hatfield," said the King, "I thank you most sincerely -for having thrown aside that chilling—freezing manner which you -maintained in the early part of the evening, when I sought to make you -understand the profound admiration with which your beauty has inspired -me. How unfortunate are princes! They cannot obey the dictates of their -hearts—they dare not bestow their hand where their affections are -engaged. But society is justly lenient in their behalf; and thus the -lady who becomes a monarch's favourite, is regarded with envy and -respect, and not with contumely or reproach." - -"But no lady who entertains the slightest feeling of self-respect," -observed Lady Hatfield, in a low and tremulous tone, "will abandon -herself in a moment even to a monarch. There must be proofs of real -attachment on his side——" - -"Granted, beauteous Georgiana," interrupted the King impatiently. "Show -me how I can demonstrate my affection towards yourself—ask me any boon -which I have the power to grant, and which I dare accord——" - -"Oh! if your Majesty would only fulfil this pledge!" exclaimed Lady -Hatfield joyfully. - -"Do you doubt me?" demanded George the Fourth. "Put me to the test, I -say—and you shall be convinced of my readiness, my anxiety to prove how -deeply I am attached to you, although the impression made on my heart be -so sudden." - -"Sire," resumed Lady Hatfield, "I shall be so bold as to take your -Majesty at your word. To-morrow your Majesty will receive a certain -paper; and I warn your Majesty beforehand that its contents will be most -singular." - -"I shall ask no farther explanations than you may choose to give, -beauteous Georgiana," observed the King. "But when I receive the paper, -what next do you require?" - -"That your Majesty shall affix to it your royal signature, and likewise -direct your Majesty's Secretary of State for the Home Department to -countersign it," responded Lady Hatfield. "This being done, the document -must be returned to me." - -"All that you have stipulated, shall be carried into effect," said the -King: then, sinking his voice and assuming a tender tone, he added, "But -will there be room for me to hope, sweet lady——" - -"Your Majesty must remember the observation I made ere now," interrupted -Georgiana. "Before a woman, whose affection is really worthy of being -possessed, can consent to surrender herself entirely even to one so -highly placed as you, sire, her heart must be won by kindnesses shown—by -proofs of attachment given——" - -"I accept the condition implied, charming Georgiana," exclaimed the -King. "You imagine that I am now influenced by a sudden caprice—that the -love which I bear for you is the phantasy of a moment. Well—I will -convince you to the contrary; and when I shall have proved to you that -my passion survives the passing hour—then—then, sweet lady, you will not -suffer me to hope in vain! Come—let us return to the drawing-room; and -believe me when I declare that you have made me supremely happy. But, -ere we again seek that society where a cold ceremony must keep us under -a rigid restraint, allow me to seal upon your lips that pledge for which -I have already given my royal word." - -"No, sire—not now—not yet!" cried Lady Hatfield, in a tone which showed -that she felt herself to be in a position to dictate to her regal -admirer. - -"Cruel charmer!" said the King: "but I suppose you must be permitted to -have your own way. Send me the paper to-morrow—let it be addressed to me -under cover to Sir Phillip Warren;—and you shall see by the haste with -which it will be returned to you, that I shall count every minute an -hour, and reckon every day to be a year, until that happy moment comes -when you will be wholly and solely mine." - -George the Fourth then opened the door, and led Georgiana away from the -room in which this singular scene had taken place. - -But what of the Earl of Ellingham? - -So completely stunned and stupified was he by all that had occurred, -that he never moved a muscle and retained his very breath suspended -while his ears drank in every word that passed between the King and Lady -Hatfield. Thus did he become an unwilling and unintentional listener to -a discourse which created the most painful emotions in his breast. - -Was it possible that the Lady Hatfield whom he looked upon as the very -personification of virtue, in spite of the terrible misfortune which had -deprived her of her chastity,—was it possible that she, whose soul he -had imagined to be so pure, though dwelling in a body polluted by the -ravisher,—was it possible that she had already suffered herself to be -dazzled by the delusive overtures of royalty? and was she seriously -about to resign herself to the King's arms—to become the mistress of -that regal debauchee of sixty-four? - -"My God!" thought the Earl: "I, who had such an exalted opinion of -female virtue!" - -Then he remembered that portion of the conversation which had turned -upon the document Lady Hatfield was to send to the King for his royal -signature, and which she had prepared him to find of a most singular -character. Of what nature could that document be? Conjecture was vain -and useless. - -The first impulse of the Earl was to inform Lady Hatfield that he had -overheard her conversation with the King, and conjure her to reflect -seriously ere she committed a fatal step of which she would assuredly -have to repent for the remainder of her life. But second thoughts -convinced him that he must retain profoundly secret the fact of his -acquaintance with the understanding existing between Georgiana and the -monarch; for in confessing himself to have been an eaves-dropper, he -should have to blush in the presence of one whom he was to take to task. -He saw it would be difficult to make the lady believe that he himself -was so stupified by her conduct, as to be totally unable to declare his -presence in a room where a private conversation was in progress; and she -would naturally upbraid him, he thought, for what might be looked upon -as a proof of mean and contemptible curiosity on his part—although, as -the reader is aware, he was indeed animated by no such vile sentiment. - -Moreover, in resigning all claim to her hand—or rather, in recognising -the impossibility of contracting an alliance with a woman whom his -brother had ravished—the Earl had ceased to enjoy any right to advise or -control her in respect to her moral conduct;—and it now struck him that, -painfully situated as she was—unable to become the wife of any -honourable and confiding man—she had accepted overtures which would -render her a monarch's mistress. In a word, he conceived that he should -best consult her happiness, as matters stood, by affecting a complete -ignorance of the understanding so suddenly established between herself -and George the Fourth. - -Having come to this determination, he quitted the Blue Velvet Closet, -and was retracing his way to the scene of brilliant gaiety, when he -encountered Sir Phillip Warren in the corridor. - -"I searched every where for the Minister, and was unable to find him," -said the courtier. "At last, upon making enquiries, I learnt that he had -taken his departure." - -"I am not sorry that it is so," returned the Earl of Ellingham; "for I -feel convinced that no argument, although I should have listened to it -as a matter of courtesy, could deter me from advocating the cause of the -working classes." - -With these words the nobleman bowed coldly to Sir Phillip Warren, and -passed on to the state-apartments, in one of which he found Lady -Hatfield seated with the friends in whose company she had arrived at the -entertainment. - -Her manner was calm and collected; and if there were any change, it was -in the slight—the very slight smile of triumph which played upon her -lip:—at least, it struck the Earl that such an expression her rosy mouth -wore, as he approached her. But it disappeared as she began to converse -with him; and he so subdued his own feelings, that she did not observe -any thing to lead her to suppose that he was aware of her understanding -with the King. - -Precisely at midnight the supper-rooms were thrown open; and a -magnificent banquet was served up. We need scarcely say that the most -costly wines, the most expensive luxuries, and every delicacy that gold -could procure, appeared upon the board, which absolutely groaned beneath -the weight of massive plate, superb porcelain, and brilliant crystal. - -The festivity was kept up until a late hour: indeed it was past two in -the morning before the company began to separate. - -But when the Earl of Ellingham was once more at home, and had retired to -his chamber, sleep would not visit his eyes, fatigued though he -were:—the scene which had occurred in the Blue Velvet Closet was so -impressed upon his mind, that he could not divert his thoughts into -another channel. It was not that he was jealous of Lady -Hatfield:—no—circumstances had changed his love for her into a sincere -and deeply-rooted friendship. But he felt disappointed—he felt deceived -in the estimate he had formed of her character: he had believed her to -be possessed of a mind too strong to be dazzled by the splendours of -Royalty, and to yield herself up to a man whom it was impossible for her -to love, merely for the sake of becoming a King's mistress. - -Had George the Fourth been estimable on account of character, amiable in -disposition, and worthy of admiration as a sovereign, the Earl thought -that there would in this case have been a shadow—but even then, only a -shadow—of an excuse for the conduct of Georgiana. The reverse, was, -however, the precise fact;—for the King was notoriously a hardened -profligate—a confirmed debauchee—a disgusting voluptuary—and an -unprincipled monarch,—in a word, such a man as a refined and -strong-minded woman would look upon with abhorrence. - -So thought Lord Ellingham;—and when he recalled to memory the frightful -behaviour of George the Fourth towards the unhappy Caroline, against -whom his vile agents trumped up the most unfounded accusations, and who -was hunted to death by the blood-thirsty instruments of a hellish system -of persecution,—when the Earl reflected upon all this, his amazement at -the conduct of Lady Hatfield increased almost to horror. - -At length his thoughts wandered to Esther de Medina—or rather, the -beautiful Jewess became mixed up with them; for it was impossible that -the scene in the Blue Velvet Closet could be entirely banished from his -mind;—and, as he pondered upon _her_ innocence—_her_ artlessness—_her_ -amiable qualities, his confidence in woman revived, and he exclaimed -aloud, as he lay in his sumptuous couch, "Oh! wherefore do I delay -securing to myself the possession of such a treasure? Yes, -Esther—dearest Esther—thou shalt be mine!" - ------ - -Footnote 41: - - It is contrary to Court etiquette for a lady and gentleman to remain - arm-in-arm when conversing with a Royal personage. - - - - - CHAPTER XCVIII. - AN ACQUITTAL AND A SENTENCE. - - -The Blackamoor, in his mysterious abode, beheld the successful progress -of his grand schemes; and while all London was busy with conjectures -relative to the daring unknown who seemed to have constituted himself -the instrument of justice and the champion of innocence wrongly accused, -the object of this general interest and curiosity remained in impervious -concealment. - -The Secretary of State offered a reward of two hundred pounds to any one -that should give such information as to lead to the discovery of the -person who had enticed Sir Christopher Blunt to his unknown abode, and -who had caused Dr. Lascelles to be conveyed thither by force; and the -most astute Bow Street agents were employed in instituting enquiries in -every part of the metropolis with a view to find out the dwelling of the -individual in question. - -The newspapers teemed with the most absurd and contradictory reports on -the subject; and a thousand wild rumours were constantly circulating -throughout the metropolis. The result of all this was that those who -were employed in the enquiries above alluded to, were so mystified and -bewildered, that they worked like drunken men in the dark,—taking up and -following any ridiculous information which they obtained either from -wags or from persons who wished to appear more knowing than their -neighbours,—and pursuing what at first might seem to be a clue, but -which invariably led to nothing satisfactory at last. - -The Blackamoor's own retainers, who were all faithful to their master, -augmented this confusion of rumours and ideas, by mingling amongst the -gossips in places of public resort, and gravely propagating reports -which were sure to direct the attention of the Bow Street runners from -the very point where its object lay; and all that Dr. Lascelles had been -known to hazard in the shape of conjecture in the matter, was a hint -that, to the best of his belief, the carriage in which he had been borne -away on the memorable night of the confession, had eventually stopped in -one of the most easterly suburbs of the metropolis. The consequence of -this suggestion was, that Wapping, Whitechapel, Bethnal Green, and Globe -Town were regularly explored by the Bow Street officials—but entirely -without success. - -Although the innocence of Mr. Torrens was universally believed, yet, as -he had been committed for trial, it was necessary that he should undergo -the ordeal. This ceremony took place a few days after the publication of -the confession of the real murderers—indeed, on the very Monday -following the grand entertainment at Carlton House. - -The prisoner was arraigned on the charge of having assassinated Sir -Henry Courtenay; and the Recorder of London presided on the bench. The -counsel for the prosecution merely stated the particulars of the -discovery of the corpse of the deceased baronet, and the circumstances -which had led to the prisoner's committal; but he did not for a moment -insist that those circumstances were conclusive against him. Sir -Christopher Blunt then detailed in evidence all that he had given in -narrative at Bow Street; and Dr. Lascelles corroborated his statement. -The confession signed by Joshua Pedler and Timothy Splint, and likewise -the one in which Martha Torrens had attested to certain facts in favour -of the prisoner, were read by the clerk of arraigns; and the counsel for -the defence was about to address the Court, when the jury declared that -their minds were already made up. - -The _acquittal_ of the prisoner immediately followed; and the first -person who shook hands with him as he was released from the dock, was -Sir Christopher Blunt. - -Mr. Torrens accepted a seat in the knight's carriage, and repaired to a -friend's house in the neighbourhood, where Clarence Villiers, Adelais, -Rosamond, and Esther de Medina were assembled to welcome his acquittal, -relative to which none of them had felt at all uneasy. - -But it was evident that, although thus relieved from the dreadful charge -and appalling danger which had recently hung over him, Mr. Torrens was -an altered man. He had received a blow which had shaken his constitution -to its very basis:—his mental energies were impaired;—and instead of a -hale man of between fifty-five and fifty-six, which was his actual age, -he seemed to be a feeble, tottering octogenarian. - -When the excitement produced by the meeting with his family after his -release had somewhat subsided, Mr. Torrens said with nervous impatience, -"Rosamond, my dear child, I shall leave England this very day. Will you -accompany your father?" - -"Leave us the moment you are restored to us!" exclaimed Adelais, -bursting into tears. - -"Yes—yes," returned the unhappy man: "I cannot—dare not remain in -England. Though released from a criminal gaol, yet I am in danger of -being plunged into a debtors' prison; for I am ruined, as you all -know—totally, irredeemably ruined. Besides—never, never again could I -dwell in that house where so many frightful things have occurred. Yes," -he repeated, "I must leave England at once; and you, my poor Rosamond," -he added, with tears trickling down his sunken cheeks, "will have to -support your father, by means of your accomplishments, in a foreign -land." - -"No—that must not be," said Esther de Medina, passing a handkerchief -rapidly over her eyes: "Rosamond has friends to whom, although they have -known her but for so short a period, her welfare is dear. Foreseeing -some such decision as that to which you have now come, relative to -leaving England, my father has desired me to place a thousand pounds at -your daughter's disposal," continued the beautiful Jewess, addressing -herself to the wondering Torrens, and at the same time placing a sealed -packet in Rosamond's hands. - -"Oh! my generous—my excellent-hearted friend," exclaimed Rosamond, -embracing the Jewess tenderly: "how is it possible that I could have -merited this kindness—this extraordinary bounty at your hands?" - -"We are fellow-creatures, though of a different creed," said Esther -modestly;—but she was compelled to receive the thanks of the astonished -Torrens and of the admiring Clarence and Adelais. - -Villiers now drew his father-in-law aside, and spoke to him concerning -Mrs. Torrens. - -"I cannot see her, Clarence—I cannot meet her again," he replied. -"Besides, an interview would be useless. Our marriage was not one of -affection, as you are well aware: and, moreover——But," he added, -suddenly interrupting himself, and looking tremblingly in the young -man's face, while his voice sank to a low, hollow whisper,—"she has -doubtless told you _all_?"—and then he glanced toward Rosamond, who was -conversing with Esther de Medina and Adelais at the farther end of the -room. - -"Yes—I know _all_," returned Villiers; and the words seemed to convulse -his wretched listener with horror. "But it is too late to amend the -past—and it is not for me to reproach you _now_. Your own conscience, -Mr. Torrens, will prove a sufficient punishment for the frightful wrong -you have done to that poor girl. And fear not that I shall impart the -sickening truth to my wife, who is already too deeply affected by all -that has lately occurred." - -"Thank you, Clarence—thank you, at least for that assurance," said the -old man, his voice almost suffocated with terrible emotions. "You -perceive how impossible it is that I should remain in England—with so -many dreadful reminiscences to make me ashamed to look those who know me -in the face. This very instant will Rosamond and myself set out on our -way to a foreign land: you will be kind enough to send my trunks after -me to Dover." - -"I do not attempt to dissuade you from this step," observed Villiers; -"because I can see no more agreeable alternative." - -Mr. Torrens' decision was then communicated to the three ladies: and the -farewell scene between the sisters was affecting in the extreme. Nor -less did Adelais deplore the necessity which compelled her to separate -from her father; but she at least had a consolation in the midst of her -grief—a solace in the possession of a husband who loved her devotedly, -and whom she adored. - -A post-chaise was speedily in attendance: and Mr. Torrens took his -departure from the English capital, in company with his younger -daughter. - -Esther de Medina did not take leave of Clarence and Adelais before she -had made them promise to pay her an early visit at Finchley Manor; and -the young couple returned to Torrens Cottage more than ever prepossessed -in favour of the beautiful Jewess, who seemed to delight only in doing -good. - - * * * * * - -On the ensuing day Martha Torrens was placed in the dock, before the -Recorder of London, charged with the crime of forgery. - -The court of the Old Bailey was crowded with persons belonging to those -religious associations of which the prisoner had lately been so -conspicuous a member. There was Mr. Jonathan Pugwash, President of the -_South Sea islands Bible-Circulating Society_, not only with a face -indicative of its owner's attachment to brandy, but also with a breath -smelling very strongly of that special liquor: there also was the -Reverend Malachi Sawkins, looking so awfully miserable at the scandal -brought by the prisoner's conduct on the religious world, that a -stranger would have supposed him to be at least her brother, if not her -husband;—and there likewise was the Reverend Mr. Sheepshanks, who, -having made his peace with the members of the above-mentioned Society, -had latterly come out much stronger than ever in the shape of a saint. -Many other sleek and oily, or thin and pale, religious gentlemen were -present on this occasion; and in the gallery were numerous old ladies, -all belonging to the ultra-evangelical school, and who appeared to -divide their attention between the task of wiping their eyes with white -cambric handkerchiefs and strengthening their nerves by means of -frequent applications to little flasks or bottles which they took from -their pockets or muffs. - -Mrs. Torrens was supported into the dock by two turnkeys of Newgate; for -she was overcome with shame and grief at the position in which her crime -had placed her. She was indeed a pitiable object; and it was evident -that, whatever penalty the Bench might award, her punishment in this -world had already begun. - -The indictment being read, she pleaded _Guilty_ in a faint voice; and -the prosecutors strongly recommended her to mercy. - -The Recorder[42] put on the black cap, and proceeded to address the -prisoner in a most feeling manner. His lordship said that the law left -him no alternative but to pronounce sentence of death. He however -observed that, considering the contrition manifested by the plea of -_Guilty_ and the intercession of the bankers who had been defrauded of -their money by the forgery, he should recommend the prisoner to the -mercy of the Crown. His lordship concluded by an intimation that she -must make up her mind to pass the remainder of her days as an exile in -the penal settlements, but that her life would be spared. - -She was conveyed in a fainting state away from the dock; and the -religious gentlemen present gave so awful and simultaneous a groan, that -the judge was quite startled upon the bench, and the jury were horrified -in their box. - ------ - -Footnote 42: - - At the period of which we are writing, this high civic functionary - tried cases involving capital penalties as well as those of a less - serious nature. Since the establishment of the Central Criminal Court, - the great judges of the kingdom preside at the Old Bailey to try - prisoners charged with grave offences. - - - - - CHAPTER XCVIX. - THE CONDITION OF THE WORKING CLASSES. - - -In the afternoon of that same Monday on which Mr. Torrens was acquitted -and his wife condemned, vast crowds collected in the vicinity of the -Houses of Parliament. - -The multitude consisted chiefly of members of the industrious classes, -many individuals being accompanied by their wives and children. They -were attired in the best raiment that they possessed; and their conduct -was most orderly and creditable. - -At about a quarter to five o'clock, the carriages began to arrive and -set down at the respective entrances the Members of the two Houses of -Parliament: some, however, proceeded thither on horseback; and others on -foot. The crowds neither cheered the popular, nor hissed the unpopular -legislators who thus passed through the mass which had divided to make -way for them; until at last one long, hearty, and glorious outburst -welcomed the appearance of the Earl of Ellingham, as he proceeded on -horseback, attended by his groom, to St. Stephen's. - -The young nobleman acknowledged this outpouring of a people's -gratitude—not with a patronising condescension, but with an affability -which seemed to say, "I am one of yourselves—we're all equal—and I am -proud of being considered your _friend_!" - -Long after he had entered the portals of the House of Lords, and was -lost to the public view, did the cheering continue outside; for the -multitudes appreciated all that was great and generous in the task which -a member of a proud aristocracy had undertaken to perform that day in -their behalf. - -There was a full attendance of Peers, Temporal and Spiritual; and the -strangers' galleries, overlooking the throne and the woolsack, were -crowded with fashionable gentlemen and elegantly dressed ladies. Amongst -the audience there assembled, were Lady Hatfield, Mr. de Medina, and -Esther. Georgiana was not however seated near the Jew and his daughter, -she being unacquainted with them otherwise than by name, as the reader -is already aware. - -Soon after five o'clock the Earl of Ellingham rose from his seat, -advanced towards the table, and proceeded to address the House on the -motion of which he had given notice. - -[Illustration] - -He began by expressing a regret that so important a subject as that -which he proposed for discussion—namely, the condition of the -industrious population—should not have been taken up by some noble -lord more competent than himself to do it adequate justice; and he -declared most solemnly that no selfish idea of obtaining popularity -had influenced him in the course which he was pursuing. He then -proceeded to expatiate upon the state of the working classes, and to -urge upon the House the necessity of adopting measures to ameliorate -their lamentable condition. It was too frequently alleged, he -observed, that those classes were thoughtless, improvident, -ungrateful, and intellectually dull; but this assertion he -emphatically denied. Despair, produced by their unhappy condition, -naturally led to dissipation in many instances; but were the -working-man placed in a position so that his livelihood should be -rendered less precarious than it now was—were his labour adequately -remunerated—were he more fairly paid by the representatives of -property—were a scale of wages established, having a fixed _minimum_, -but no fixed _maximum_, the increased comfort thus ensured to him -would naturally remove from his mind those cares which drove him to -the public-house. His lordship would have no fixed _maximum_ of wages, -because wages ought always to be increased in proportion to the value -of productive labour to employers: but he would have a _minimum_ -established, to obviate the cruel and disastrous effects of those -periods when labour exceeded the demand in the market. This could not -be considered unfair towards employers, because when the markets were -brisk and trade was flourishing, they (the employers) reaped the -greatest benefit from that activity, and enriched themselves in a very -short time: therefore, when markets were dull and trade was stagnant, -they should still be compelled to pay such wages as would enable their -employed to live comfortably. The profits gained during prosperous -seasons not only enabled employers to enjoy handsome incomes, but also -to accumulate considerable savings; and as the best wages scarcely -enabled the employed to make any thing like an adequate provision for -periods of distress, it was not fair that the representatives of -property should use the labour of the working classes just when it -suited them, and discard it or only use it on a miserable recompense -when it did not so well suit them. For the labour of the employed not -only made annual incomes for the employers, but also permanent -fortunes; and the value of that labour should not be calculated as -lasting only just as long as it was available for the purpose of -producing large profits. Labour was the working man's _capital_, and -should have constant interest, as well as money placed in the -funds—that interest of course increasing in proportion to the -briskness of markets; but never depreciating below a standard -value—much less being discarded as valueless altogether, in times of -depression. A thousand pounds would always obtain three per cent. -interest, under any circumstances; and, at particular periods, might -be worth six or seven per cent. Labour should be considered in the -same light. Stagnant markets diminished the profits of employers, but -did not ruin them: if they did not obtain profit enough to live upon, -they had the accumulations of good seasons to fall back upon. But how -different was the case with the employed! To them stagnation of -business was ruin—starvation—death;—the breaking up of their little -homes—the sudden check of their children's education—the cause of -demoralisation and degradation—and the terrible necessity of applying -to the parish! The supply and demand of labour were necessarily -unequal at many times, and in many districts; and the Government -should therefore adopt measures to prevent those frightful -fluctuations in wages which carried desolation into the homes of -thousands of hard-working, industrious, and deserving families. In -fact, a law should be passed to ensure the working-man against the -casualty of being employed at a price below remuneration. In England -the poor were not allowed to have a stake in the country—there were no -small properties—the land was in the possession of a few individuals -comparatively; and thus the landed interest constituted a tremendous -monopoly, most unjust and oppressive to the industrious classes. The -only way to remove this evil influence, and ameliorate the condition -of the working population—the only way to countervail the disastrous -effect of that monopoly, short of a Revolution which would treble or -quadruple the number of landed proprietors,—was to compel property to -maintain labour as long as labour sought for employment and -occupation. The noble Earl then proceeded to state that if the -working-classes were thus treated, they would not be driven by their -cares and troubles to the excessive use of alcoholic liquors: they -would not become demoralised by being compelled to migrate from place -to place in search of employment—going upon the tramp, sleeping in -hideous dens of vice, where numbers were forced to herd together -without reference to age or sex: they would not be unsettled in all -their little arrangements to bring up their children creditably and -with due reference to instruction;—they would not be made -discontented, anxious for any change no matter what, vindictive -towards that society which thus rendered them outcasts, and sullen or -reckless in their general conduct. But as things now were, the -industrious man never felt settled: he knew that the hut which he -called his home, was held on the most precarious tenure;—he felt the -sickening conviction that if he had bread and meat to-day, he might -have only bread to-morrow, and no food at all the day after. It was -positively frightful to contemplate the condition of mental -uncertainty, anxiety, and apprehension in which millions of persons -were thus existing; and those who reproached them with recklessness or -sullenness, should blame themselves as the causes of all that they -vituperated. Lord Ellingham next proceeded to show that although there -had been a vast increase of wealth and comfort amongst the middle and -upper classes, yet the condition of the industrious millions was not -only unimproved, but had positively deteriorated. The population was -increasing at the rate of 1000 souls a day—and pauperism was keeping -pace with that increase. Unrepresented in Parliament—without any means -of making their voice heard—positively incapacitated from having a -stake in the country, the industrious millions were the mere slaves -and tools of the wealthy classes. Thus an immense mass of persons was -kept in bondage—in absolute serfdom by an oligarchy. Was such a state -of things just? was it rational? was it even humane? The millions were -ground down by indirect taxes, in which shape they actually -contributed more to the revenue, in proportion to their means, than -the rich. The only luxuries which the poor enjoyed, and which had -become as it were necessaries,—namely, tea, sugar, tobacco, beer, and -spirits,—were the most productive sources of revenue. If noble lords -reproached the poor for dirty habits, as he well knew that it was -their custom to do, he would ask them why soap was made an article -subject to so heavy a tax? It was a contemptible fallacy to suppose -that because the poor contributed little or nothing in the shape of -direct taxation to the revenue, they were positively untaxed. He would -again declare that the poor paid more in indirect taxes than the rich -did in both direct and indirect ways, when the relative means of the -two parties were taken into consideration. From these subjects the -Earl passed to the consideration of the inequality of the laws, and -the incongruity, severity, and injustice of their administration -towards the poor. Every advantage was given to the rich in the way of -procuring bail in those cases where security for personal appearance -was required; but no poor man could possibly give such security. He -must go to prison, and there herd with felons of the blackest dye. -Perhaps on trial his innocence would transpire; and then what -recompense had he for his long incarceration—his home broken up during -his absence—and his ruined family? It was possible—nay, it often -happened that a man would lie thus in prison for four or five months -previously to trial; and during that period it would be strange indeed -if he escaped gaol contamination. Then, again, there were offences of -a comparatively venial kind, and for which penalties might be -inflicted in the shape of fines, the alternative being imprisonment. -These fines were insignificant trifles in the estimation of a rich -man; but the smallest of them was quite a fortune in the eyes of the -poor. Even a person with a hundred a-year would pay a fine of five -pounds rather than go to prison for a month or six weeks: but a -labouring man, earning ten or twelve shillings a week, could no more -satisfy the demand thus made upon him than he could influence the -motion of the earth,—unless, indeed, he pawned and pledged every -little article belonging to him; and the infliction thereby became a -blow which he never afterwards recovered. Did a poor man offend a -clergyman, he was forthwith put into the Spiritual Court, as the -common saying was; and the expensive proceedings, which he could not -stay, involved him in utter ruin. When a poor man was oppressed by a -rich one, it was vain and ludicrous to assert that the Courts of Law -were open to him: law was a luxury in which only those who possessed -ample means could indulge. In a case where some grievous injury was -sustained by a poor man—the seduction of his wife or daughter, for -instance—redress or recompense was impossible, unless some attorney -took up the case on speculation; and this was a practice most -demoralising and pernicious. But if left entirely unassisted in that -respect, the poor man could no more go to Westminster Hall than he -could afford to dine at Long's Hotel. With regard to the subject of -education, the noble Earl declared that it was positively shocking to -think that such care should be taken to convert negroes to -Christianity thousands of miles off, while the most deplorable -ignorance prevailed at home. The Church enjoyed revenues the amount of -which actually brought the ministers of the gospel into discredit, as -evidencing their avaricious and grasping disposition;—while the people -remained as uneducated as if not a single shilling were devoted to -spiritual pastors or lay instructors. He boldly accused both Houses of -Parliament and the upper classes generally of being anxious to keep -the masses in a state of ignorance. Where instruction was imparted -gratuitously, it was entirely of a sectarian nature; just as if men -required to study grammar, history, arithmetic, or astronomy on Church -of England principles. The whole land was over-run by clergymen, who -lived upon the fat of it—Universities and public schools had been -richly endowed for the purpose of propagating knowledge and -encouraging learning,—and yet the people were lamentably ignorant. It -was a wicked and impudent falsehood to declare that they were -intellectually dull or averse to mental improvement. Common sense—that -best of sense—was the special characteristic of the working classes; -and those who could read, were absolutely greedy in their anxiety to -procure books, newspapers, and cheap publications for perusal. The -fact was, that the mind of the industrious population was a rich soil -wherein all good seed would speedily take root, shoot up, and bring -forth fruit to perfection: but the apprehensions or narrow prejudices -of the upper classes—the oligarchy—would not permit the seed to be -sown. Now, as the soil must naturally produce something, even of its -own accord, it too often gave birth to rank weeds; and this was made a -matter of scorn, reviling, and reproach. But the real objects of that -scorn—that reviling—and that reproach, were those who obstinately and -wickedly neglected to put the good soil to the full test of -fertilization. Lastly, the Earl of Ellingham directed attention to the -state of the criminal laws. These were only calculated to produce -widely spread demoralization—to propagate vice—to render crime -terribly prolific. A man—no matter what his offence might have -been—should be deemed innocent and untainted again, when he had paid -the penalty of his misdeed; because to brand a human being eternally, -was to fly in the face of the Almighty and assert that there should be -no such thing as forgiveness, and was no such thing as repentance. But -the nature of punishments in this country was so to brand the -individual, and so to dare the Majesty of Heaven. For the gaols were -perfect nests of infamy—sinks of iniquity, imprisonment in which -necessarily fastened an indelible stigma upon the individual. He -either came forth tainted; or else it was supposed that he must be so. -Under these circumstances, he vainly endeavoured to obtain employment; -and, utterly failing in his attempt to earn an honest livelihood, he -was compelled perforce to relapse into habits of crime and -lawlessness. This fact accounted for an immense amount of the -demoralization which the Bishops so much deplored, but the true causes -of which they obstinately refused to acknowledge. The criminal gaols -were moral pest-houses, in which no cures were effected, but where the -contagious malady became more virulent. Society should not immure -offenders solely for the sake of punishment—but with a view to -reformation of character. The noble Earl then summed up his arguments -by stating that he was anxious to see measures adopted for a _minimum_ -rate of wages, to prevent the sudden fluctuation of wages, and to -compel property to give constant employment to labour:—he was desirous -that indirect taxes upon the necessaries of life should be -abolished;—he wished the laws and their administration to be more -equitably proportioned to the relative conditions of the rich and the -poor;—he insisted upon the want of a general system of national -education, to be intrusted to laymen, and to be totally distinct from -religious instruction and sectarian tenets;—he desired a complete -reformation in the system of prison discipline, and explained the -paramount necessity of founding establishments for the purpose of -affording work to persons upon leaving criminal gaols, as a means of -their obtaining an honest livelihood and retrieving their characters -prior to seeking employment for themselves;—and he hoped that the -franchise would be so extended as to give every man who earned his own -bread by the sweat of his brow, a stake and interest in the country's -welfare. The noble Earl wound up with an eloquent peroration in which -he vindicated the industrious millions from the aspersions, -misrepresentations, and calumnies which it seemed to be the fashion -for the upper classes to indulge in against them; and he concluded by -moving a number of resolutions in accordance with the heads of his -oration. - -The Earl's speech was received with very partial cheering by the -assembled Lords, to whom its tenor was most unpalatable: but such was -its effect upon the auditors in the strangers' galleries, that, contrary -to the established etiquette, it was loudly applauded by them. The Lord -Chancellor immediately called to order; and in a few minutes a dead -silence reigned throughout the House. - -The leading Minister present then rose to answer the Earl's oration; -which he did in the usual style adopted by official men under such -circumstances. Entirely blinking all the main arguments, he declaimed -loudly in favour of the prosperity of the country—dwelt upon the -happiness of English cottagers—lauded the "wisdom of our -ancestors"—uttered the invariable cant about our "glorious -institutions"—spoke of Church and State as if they were Siamese twins -whom it would be death to sever—and, after calling upon the House to -resist the Earl of Ellingham's motion, sate down. - -Several noble Lords and Right Reverend Fathers in God took part in the -discussion; and at length the House divided, when the Earl's motion was -of course lost by an overwhelming majority against it. Arthur was by no -means disappointed: he had foreseen this result—but he had made up his -mind to renew the subject as often as he could, in the full hope that a -steady perseverance would ultimately be crowned with success. - -The House adjourned—the strangers' galleries were speedily cleared—and -the Lords, Spiritual and Temporal, rolled home in their carriages, the -multitudes, who still remained assembled in the vicinity of St. -Stephen's, preserving a profound silence, until the Earl of Ellingham -was observed to issue forth by those persons who were nearest to the -Lords' entrance. Then arose a shout more loud—more hearty even than that -which had greeted his arrival a few hours previously: it was the voice -of a generous and grateful people, expressing the sincerest thanks for -the efforts which the noble patriot had exerted in their cause. - - - - - CHAPTER C. - THE EARL OF ELLINGHAM AND ESTHER DE - MEDINA. - - -It was about two o'clock in the afternoon of the day following the scene -just described, that the Earl of Ellingham and Esther de Medina were -walking in the gardens attached to Finchley Manor. - -The beautiful Jewess leant upon the arm of that fine young nobleman who -had suddenly appeared before the world in the light of the champion of -the industrious classes. - -Never had Esther seemed so ravishingly lovely as on this occasion:—a -rich carnation hue tinged her cheeks, beneath the clear, transparent -olive of her complexion; and her fine large black eyes mirrored the -enthusiasm of her soul, as she listened to her companion, who was -expatiating upon the wrongs and sufferings endured by the sons and -daughters of toil. - -Her generous heart beat in entire sympathy with his own in this respect. -Until the previous evening she had known little more of the condition of -the people than is generally gleaned by young ladies of good education -from the works which they peruse. But the Earl's lucid and convincing -exposure had shed a marvellous light upon her soul: she comprehended how -much the industrious millions were neglected by the Government—how -sorely they were oppressed by a selfish, grasping, greedy oligarchy—how -noble a task it was which the Earl had imposed upon himself. - -His brilliant eloquence—his logical reasoning—the tone of deep -conviction in which he had spoken—the conscientious earnestness of his -manner—and the honest fervour that animated him when, having disposed of -the more argumentative portion of his speech, he burst forth in his -impassioned peroration,—all this had made a profound impression upon -Esther de Medina. For hitherto her gentle heart had loved him for all -those qualities of person and of mind which usually engender tender -feelings in the maiden's bosom: but now she felt that she could adore -him—that she could worship him as a hero who had stood forth in honest -championship of a cause which it was so glorious to undertake. - -Therefore was it that her cheeks were tinged with the carnation glow of -youthful enthusiasm: therefore was it that her fine dark eyes flashed -with the fires of so generous a fervour, as she now dwelt upon every -word that the nobleman was uttering in reiteration of those sentiments -which he had so boldly enunciated the night before. - -But by degrees the conversation took a different and more tender turn; -and as they entered an avenue of trees verdant with the foliage of an -early Spring, the nobleman found himself speaking in obedience to those -feelings of admiration which he experienced towards the beautiful -Jewess. - -"It was not to treat you with a political disquisition, Miss de Medina," -said the Earl, "that I came hither to-day. I had another and very -different object in view; for I am about to ask you to bestow upon me a -boon which, if accorded, shall ever—ever be most highly prized. -Esther—dearest Esther," added the nobleman, sinking his voice to a -tender whisper, and gazing upon her affectionately, "it is this fair -hand which I solicit!" - -"Oh! my lord," murmured Esther, casting down her swimming eyes, while -she felt that her cheeks were burning with blushes, "you have not well -considered the step which you are now taking." - -"I have reflected deeply upon the course which I am adopting," answered -the nobleman, "and I am convinced that my happiness depends upon your -reply. Tell me, Esther dearest—can you love me? Will you accept me as -your husband?' - -"Did I consult only my own heart, my lord," replied the beautiful -Jewess, her countenance still suffused in virgin blushes, and her voice -tremulously melodious, "I should not hesitate how to reply—oh! how could -I? But I cannot forget, my lord, that I am the daughter of a despised—a -persecuted—a much maligned race,—that the prejudices of your country and -your creed are hostile to such an alliance as this, the proposal of -which has done me so much honour." - -"You are well aware, my beloved Esther," said the Earl, "that I have -none of those absurd prejudices. The proudest Christian who wears a -crown might glory in being the son-in-law of such a man as Mr. de -Medina; and, even were he otherwise than what he is, it were a worthy -aim of ambition to become the husband of his daughter Esther." - -"I am well aware, my lord," resumed Esther, "that your heart harbours -every noble and ennobling sentiment—that you are all that is great, and -liberal, and good. Proud and happy, then, must that woman esteem herself -who shall be destined to bear your name. But not for me, my lord—not for -the despised Jewess must that supreme honour be reserved. No," she -continued, her voice faltering, and her bosom heaving convulsively,—"no, -my lord,—it may not be!" - -"Esther," exclaimed the Earl of Ellingham, in an impassioned tone, "tell -me—I conjure you—is this the only motive which induces you to hesitate? -Is it simply on account of those absurd prejudices which my illiberal -fellow-countrymen entertain in reference to your race? is it solely on -this account that you deny me the boon I demand?" - -"That reason—and another," murmured the lovely Jewess, in a -low—hesitating—and tremulous tone. - -"Ah! that _other_—I can divine it!" cried the young nobleman. "You know -that I was engaged to Lady Hatfield;—but that engagement exists no -longer—has ceased to exist for some time! I will not attempt to persuade -you, dearest Esther, that I did not love Georgiana;—but I now feel that -my passion in respect to her was very different from the affection which -I entertain for you. Georgiana was the idol of my imagination—you are -the mistress of my soul. My attachment to her was wild and passionate—to -you it is tender and profound. Dazzled by her splendid beauty, I was -bewildered—captivated—held in thraldom: but such a love as that -contained not those elements which might render it durable. Your modest -and retiring charms, sweet Esther—your amiability—your gentleness—your -goodness, all combine to render my love permanent and impossible to -undergo diminution or change. Moreover, circumstances which I need -not—cannot explain to you, suddenly transpired to alter my sentiments in -respect to Lady Hatfield—to make me look upon her as a sister, and never -more in any other light. But if you will give me your love, my Esther, -you shall experience all the happiness which can arise from an alliance -with one who will make your welfare the study of his life. Indeed, if -you still hesitate on the score of those prejudices to which we just now -alluded,—then—sooner than resign my hope of possessing this fair hand of -your's, I will renounce the society in which I have been accustomed to -move—I will dwell with you, when heaven's blessing shall have united us, -in some charming seclusion, where we shall be all in all to each other—I -will devote myself entirely to you and to that task which I have taken -upon myself in respect to the industrious classes—that fine English -people, in whom my sympathies are so deeply interested—" - -"Oh! my lord," murmured Esther, in a joyous though subdued tone, "how -have I merited all the proofs of attachment which you now lavish upon -me?—how can the obscure Jewess flatter herself that she is worthy of -becoming the bride of one of England's mightiest nobles?" - -"Then you _do_ consent to become mine, Esther?" cried the handsome young -peer; and, reading her answer in her eloquent eyes, he caught her in his -arms—he pressed her to his heart—and on her virgin lips he imprinted the -first kiss which Esther had ever received from mortal man save her own -father. - -A few minutes elapsed in profound silence,—a few minutes, during which -the happy pair exchanged glances of sincere, and pure, and hallowed -love. - -Suddenly the sound of footsteps drawing near fell upon their ears: they -turned, and beheld Mr. de Medina approaching down the avenue of trees. - -Then the Earl of Ellingham, taking Esther's hand, advanced towards the -Jew and said in a firm and manly tone, "Mr. de Medina, I am glad that -you have come hither at this moment, for I have a great boon to beg of -you—a precious gift to solicit!"—and he glanced tenderly towards the -blushing maiden who stood by his side. - -"I understand you, my dear Arthur," returned Mr. de Medina, smiling. -"But I presume that the whole business is already settled and arranged -between you," he added, looking slily and benignantly at his daughter. - -"Miss de Medina has consented to bestow her hand upon me, my dear sir," -answered the nobleman; "and I scarcely dread a refusal on your part." - -"A refusal!" ejaculated Mr. de Medina, the tears of joy and gratitude -starting to his eyes: "there is indeed no danger of that! On whom would -I consent to bestow my jewel, my pride, if not upon you—_you_, my dear -Arthur, who are all that an Englishman ought to be? Yes—I give you my -daughter; and may God ensure your happiness!" - -The venerable Jew embraced the Earl and Esther; and the happiness of -those three deserving and admirable persons was complete. - -The Earl of Ellingham passed the remainder of that day at Finchley -Manor; and it was past eleven o'clock in the evening when he alighted -from his carriage at the door of his own abode. - -On the ensuing morning Clarence Villiers called upon the nobleman, by -whom he was most courteously received; and the Earl proceeded to explain -to him the nature of the business which had induced him to request the -favour of that interview. - -"Mr. Villiers," said Arthur, "it will be sufficient for me to inform you -that I had reasons for experiencing a more than common interest in -behalf of Thomas Rainford, with whom you were somewhat intimately -acquainted. What those precise reasons were, you, as a gentleman, will -not enquire: but I believe that you have in your possession a particular -letter, which Thomas Rainford entrusted to you; and circumstances now -render it necessary that this document should pass from your hands into -mine." - -"The high character of your lordship commands immediate compliance on my -part," said Villiers, producing the letter from his pocket-book and -tendering it to the Earl. - -"I thank you for this proof of confidence, Mr. Villiers," observed the -nobleman: "but to set your mind completely at rest, I can show you a -written authorization, signed by Thomas Rainford, to enable me to -receive the paper from you." - -"It is not at all necessary, my lord," answered Clarence, rising to take -his departure. - -"One moment," said the Earl, much struck by the frank, candid, and -gentlemanly demeanour of Villiers: "any one who felt an interest in -Thomas Rainford—especially one in whom he reposed sufficient confidence -to entrust with that letter—has a claim on my friendship. I should -therefore be delighted to serve you, Mr. Villiers; and let this -assurance tend to convince you that I am animated by no idle curiosity -in enquiring relative to your position in life. I believe you hold a -situation in Somerset House?" - -Villiers answered in an affirmative. - -"And the salary you at present receive is only ninety or a hundred -pounds a-year?" continued the Earl. "You see that Thomas Rainford made -me acquainted with your circumstances, and that I have not forgotten -them. Indeed, he requested me to exert myself in your behalf; and I am -anxious to fulfil his desire. I called at your lodgings in Bridge -Street, and learnt that you had been very recently married. Now, ninety -or a hundred pounds a-year," continued the Earl, with a smile, "are -little enough to enable you to support your changed condition in -comfort; and the state of political parties forbids me to ask any -favours of the men in power. I will make you a proposal, which you may -take time to reflect upon. I require a private secretary: and that post -I offer to you. The emoluments are four hundred a-year, and a house -rent-free. The dwelling is a beautiful cottage belonging to me, and -situate at Brompton. Moreover, I will give you three hundred guineas for -your outfit and furniture." - -Clarence Villiers was astonished—nay, perfectly astounded by the -liberality of this offer; and, unable to utter a word, he gazed upon the -Earl with eyes expressive of the most sincere gratitude, mingled with -admiration at his generous behaviour. - -"I know," resumed the Earl, "that a government situation is a certainty, -and that you have every chance of rising in your present sphere: think -not, therefore, that I now offer you a precarious employment. No—whether -I continue in that activity of political existence on which I have just -entered—or whether I be compelled by circumstances to renounce it,—you -shall be duly cared for." - -"My lord, I accept your generous proposal," exclaimed Clarence, at -length recovering the power of speech; "and I shall exert myself -unweariedly to deserve your lordship's good opinion of me." - -"The bargain is therefore concluded," said the nobleman. "I will give -you a note to my solicitor, who will immediately put you in possession -of the lease of the house at Brompton." - -The Earl seated himself at a writing-table, and penned the letter to his -professional agent: he also wrote a cheque on his bankers for three -hundred guineas; and the two documents he handed to Clarence Villiers, -who took his leave of the kind-hearted nobleman, his soul overflowing -with emotions of gratitude and admiration. - -How joyous—oh! how joyous a thing it is to carry glad tidings to the -beloved of one's bosom,—to hasten home to a fond, confiding, adoring -wife, and be able to exclaim to her, "The smiles with which thou -greetest me, dearest, will not be chased away from thy sweet lips by the -news which I have in store for thee! For God is good to us, my angel—and -happiness, prosperity, and buoyant hopes are ours! From comparative -poverty we are suddenly elevated to the possession of affluence; and we -enjoy the protection of one who will never desert us, so long as we -pursue the paths of rectitude and honour!" - -Oh! to be enabled to say this to a loved and loving creature, is -happiness ineffable; and that felicity was now experienced by Clarence -Villiers, and shared by his charming wife. - -Wealth in the hands of such a man as the Earl of Ellingham was like -anodynes in the professional knowledge of the physician who attends the -poor gratuitously:—the power to do good is the choicest of the unbought -luxuries of life, and far more delicious than all the blandishments that -gold can procure. - -From the midst of a selfish and bloated aristocracy, how resplendently -did the Earl of Ellingham stand forth as a glorious example of -generosity, manliness, and moral worth! He was the true type of a -sterling English gentleman—an Englishman of education, enlightened soul, -and liberal sentiments;—not one of those narrow-minded beings, who -believe that birth and wealth are the only aristocracy, and whose ideas -are limited as the confines of the land to which they belong. Your -prejudiced Englishman is a most contemptible character:—borrowing so -much as he does from foreign nations—even to the very fashion of his -coat and hat, or his wife's gown—he boasts in his absurd and pompous -pride, that England is all and every thing in itself. Britain is indeed -a wonderful country; but Britain is not the whole world, after all. In -all that is useful as far as the solid comforts of life are concerned, -she stands at the head of civilisation; but she cannot compete with -France in the refinements and elegancies of existence, nor in the -progress of purely democratic principles. If Great Britain be a -wonderful country, the French are a wonderful—aye, and a mighty and -noble nation, likewise; and in France at least the principles of -equality are well understood, and the battering ram of two Revolutions -has knocked down hereditary peerage—class distinctions—religious -intolerance—and that vile _prestige_ which makes narrow-minded -Englishmen quote the "wisdom of their ancestors" as a reason for -perpetuating the most monstrous abuses! - -But let us return to the Earl of Ellingham, who, having terminated his -interview with Clarence Villiers, repaired to the dwelling of Lady -Hatfield. - -Georgiana was at home, and Arthur was immediately admitted to the -drawing-room where she was seated. - -He had not now the same feelings of pleasure which had lately animated -him, when entering the presence of one whom he had sought to love as a -sister: the scene at Carlton House haunted him like an evil dream;—and -as he contemplated the calm and tranquil demeanour of Georgiana, he felt -grieved at the idea that beneath this composure must necessarily reign -the excitement experienced by a woman who had resolved on becoming the -King's mistress. - -Nevertheless, in pursuance of the resolutions already established in his -mind, he conquered—or rather, concealed his sentiments; and, though a -bad hand at any thing resembling duplicity of conduct, he managed to -greet her without exhibiting any thing peculiar in his manner. - -"I have two important communications to make to you, Georgiana," he -said, as he seated himself opposite to her. "The first relates to a -delicate subject, which we will dispose of as soon as possible. In a -word, I have this morning seen Mr. Villiers; and he has given me this -paper." - -Lady Hatfield eagerly received the document from the hands of the -nobleman, and ran her eyes rapidly over it. Her countenance grew deadly -pale, and tears trickled down her cheeks, as she murmured in a tone of -subdued anguish, "My God! they were in want—they were starving—that -woman and my child—and I——" - -Then, stopping suddenly short, she threw herself back upon the sofa, -covered her face with her hands, and no longer sought to repress the -outpourings of her grief. - -The Earl interrupted her not: he understood the nature of those emotions -which constituted a subject of self-reproach on the part of the unhappy -lady, who was so deeply to be commiserated; and he thought within -himself, "She possesses a kind—a feeling heart!" - -At length Georgiana broke the long silence which prevailed. - -"Yes—there can be no doubt?" she exclaimed: "that boy is my child—and he -is now with his father! May heaven bless him!" - -"Rest assured that he is with one who will treat him kindly, although -some weeks must elapse ere _he_ can learn who the boy really is," -observed the Earl of Ellingham. "And now for the second communication -which I have to make to you, Georgiana," continued the nobleman, -desirous to change the topic as speedily as possible. "I have taken your -advice—I have followed your counsel——" - -"And Esther de Medina is to become the Countess of Ellingham?" said Lady -Hatfield, in a low and mournful tone of voice. - -"Esther has consented to be mine," added the Earl; "and her father has -expressed his joy and delight at the contemplated alliance." - -For a few moments Georgiana turned aside her head, and appeared to -struggle violently and painfully with the emotions which filled her -bosom. - -"Arthur," she said at last, evidently scarcely able to stem the flood of -her agitated feelings, "I am happy to learn these tidings. You will be -blessed in the possession of one who has been represented to me in such -an amiable—such an estimable light. I congratulate you—and _her_ -likewise. You deserve all the felicity which this world can give; and -she who is destined to be—your bride," added Georgiana tremulously, -"must feel proud of you. Yes, Arthur—your high character—your -talents—your generous disposition—your noble nature——" - -She could say no more: in summing up all his good qualities, she seemed -to be reminded how much she had lost—and she burst into tears. - -Arthur was painfully affected: he had not expected such a scene as this! - -Was it possible that a woman who, either yielding to the cravings of a -voluptuous disposition or dazzled by an ignoble and false ambition, had -consented to become the mistress of a King,—was it possible that such a -woman could manifest so much true and profound feeling on learning that -he whom she had once loved was about to wed another, she herself having -counselled the alliance? Was it possible that he was still so dear to -her, and that her own generous nature had suggested that union through a -conscientious belief that it would result in his happiness, though she -herself sacrificed all her tenderest feelings in urging him to adopt a -course which must necessarily interfere even with the friendship which -had conventionally succeeded their love? He had indeed, in the first -instance, fancied that the advice which Georgiana had given him arose -from the best and kindest motives; but the scene at Carlton House had -made him mistrustful of her. Now, then, all his good opinion of her -revived in its pristine strength;—and yet he was bewildered when he -thought that one, who was susceptible of such noble conduct, could have -become so suddenly depraved as to consent in a single hour to resign all -the purity of her soul in homage to the advances of a royal voluptuary. - -But Georgiana understood not what was passing in his mind; and she -supposed, by his embarrassed manner and air of profound thought, that he -felt only for her in regard to the position in which they had been -formerly placed. - -"Let no thought for me mar your happiness, Arthur—dear Arthur," she -said, in a voice of solemn mournfulness. "Believe me, I have your -welfare sincerely—deeply at heart—far more than perhaps you imagine," -she added, with strange yet unaccountable emphasis. "At the same time, I -am but a poor weak woman, and cannot altogether restrain my feelings. I -rejoice that you are about to form an alliance with an amiable and -beautiful young lady, who is so well deserving of your love: at the same -time, my memory—oh! too faithful memory—carries me back to those -days—indeed, to only a few months ago, when _my_ hopes were exalted and -_my_ prospects of happiness bright indeed. However," she added hastily, -"let me not dwell upon that topic—and pardon my momentary weakness, -Arthur. May God bless you!" - -With these words, Lady Hatfield hurried from the room; and the Earl of -Ellingham took his departure, grieved and bewildered by all that had -just occurred. - -"If Georgiana be really serious in resigning herself to King George the -Fourth," thought Arthur, as he returned in his carriage to Pall Mall, -"she sacrifices the purity of the most generous—the tenderest—the -noblest heart with which woman ever was endowed,—save and excepting my -own well-beloved Esther!" - - - - - CHAPTER CI. - THE BLACKAMOOR'S STRANGE ADVENTURE. - - -It was about nine o'clock in the evening of the same day on which the -above-recorded interview took place between the Earl of Ellingham and -Lady Hatfield, that the Blackamoor, clad in a very plain—almost a mean -attire, sauntered along Pall Mall West, and stopped for a few moments in -front of the nobleman's house. - -He gazed wistfully at the windows—murmured something to himself—uttered -a sigh—and passed on. - -His appearance attracted the notice of two gentlemen who were walking -arm-in-arm in the same direction; and, as they examined him more closely -by the light of an adjacent lamp, one said to the other, "Since his -Majesty has taken it into his head to have a black servant, I really -think that the very man to suit the purpose is now before us. He is a -well-made, good-looking fellow." - -"My dear Warren," said the gentleman thus addressed, "you are positively -absurd with your notions that you have only to _ask_ in a King's name in -order to _have_. How do you know that this man wants a situation?" - -"He looks as if he did, Harral," replied Sir Phillip Warren. "See—he -lounges along as if he had no fixed object in view—his clothes do not -appear to be any of the best—and his whole demeanour gives me the idea -of a lacquey out of place." - -"My dear friend," whispered Sir Randolph Harral—who, like his companion, -was one of the King's courtiers, "you are really wrong. That man is -something far superior to what you conceive him to be: there is even an -air of subdued gentility about him——" - -"Pooh! pooh! Harral," interrupted Sir Phillip Warren: "you do not -understand these matters so well as I do. At all events there is no harm -in questioning that fellow—for I should rejoice to be able to fulfil -to-night a whim which our royal master only expressed this afternoon -when he saw the French Ambassador's splendid black _chasseur_." - -"Well, as you please, Warren," observed Sir Randolph Harral: "but as I -do not wish to get myself knocked down for insulting a person of a -superior class to what you imagine, I shall leave you to pursue the -adventure alone." - -This conversation had been carried on so close to the Blackamoor, that, -although the two courtiers had spoken in a very low voice, and had not -of course intended that their remarks should be overheard, yet scarcely -a word had escaped his ears. Affecting, however, all the time to -continue his lounging, listless walk, he took no apparent notice of the -gentlemen behind him, and even pretended to start with surprise when Sir -Phillip Warren—Sir Randolph Harral having re-entered Carlton -House—tapped him on the shoulder. - -"My good man," said the courtier, in a patronising fashion, "I wish to -have a few moments' conversation with you." - -"Certainly, sir," exclaimed the Blackamoor, touching his hat just like a -lacquey, and assuming the tone and manner of one. - -"I thought so—I knew I was right?" exclaimed Sir Phillip, rubbing his -hands in proof of his satisfaction; then, attentively scanning the Black -from head to foot, by the aid of the lamp at the door of a neighbouring -mansion, he said in a less excited tone, "I suspect you, my good fellow, -to be a person in search of employment——" - -"Yes—sir," interrupted the Blackamoor, now enjoying the farce that he -was playing; "I should very much like to obtain a good situation, and -can obtain a first-rate character from my late master." - -"The very thing!" cried Sir Phillip Warren, hugely delighted at the -opportunity of crowing over his friend Sir Randolph Harral: then, once -more addressing himself to the Black, he said, "Now what should you -think if I proposed to you to enter the household of his most gracious -Majesty?" - -"I should be afraid that the offer was too good to be realized, sir," -was the answer, delivered in a tone of deep respect; although the -Blackamoor was laughing in his sleeve the whole time. - -"It all depends upon me, my good fellow," said Sir Phillip: "and if _I_ -am satisfied with you, the matter is settled immediately. But we cannot -continue to talk in the open street: so follow me to my own apartments -in the palace." - -Thus speaking, the courtier led the way to Carlton House, the Blackamoor -following at a respectful distance, and saying to himself, "What object -I propose to myself in embracing this adventure, I know not. It, -however, tickles my fancy, and I will go on with it. Besides, having an -hour to spare, I may as well divert myself in this way as any other." - -Accordingly, he followed Sir Phillip Warren into the royal dwelling; and -in strict silence did they proceed, until they reached an ante-room -leading to a suite of apartments which were occupied by the old -courtier. In that ante-room they stopped; for Sir Phillip was -immediately accosted by his valet, who, starting from a seat in which he -had been dozing, said, "If you please, sir, his Majesty has sent twice, -during the last half-hour, to desire your presence." - -"Very good, Gregory," exclaimed Sir Phillip: "I will attend to the royal -command this moment; and do you take the present of hot-house fruit at -once to my sister, Lady Maltoun. Her ladyship requires it for her grand -supper to-night. Tell her that I am enabled to send it through the -goodness of my royal master." - -"Yes, sir," answered the valet, and instantly took his departure. - -"My good fellow," said Sir Phillip Warren, turning towards the -Blackamoor, "you perceive that it is impossible for me to speak to you -at present. You must sit down and wait patiently until my return. I -shall not be very long away; but, in any case, wait!" - -Sir Phillip Warren, having issued these injunctions, hastened into the -inner apartments to amend his toilette after his evening's stroll; and -in a short time he came forth again, with knee-breeches and silk -stockings, all ready to attend upon the king. In passing through the -ante-chamber he repeated his command that the Black should await his -return; and the latter promised to obey. - -When left alone, this individual seated himself, and gave way to his -reflections, forgetting for a time where he was. At length he started -up, looked at his watch, and found that upwards of half-an-hour had -elapsed since the old courtier had left him. He was already wearied of -waiting; but a natural love of adventure and of the excitement of -novelty induced him to remain a little longer to see the issue of the -affair which had led him thither. He accordingly whiled away another -half hour with a newspaper which lay on the table; and, that interval -having passed, he began to think of taking his departure without farther -delay. - -Issuing from the ante-room, he proceeded along a well-lighted corridor, -from the extremity of which branched off two smaller passages, one to -the right, and the other to the left. The Blackamoor was now at a loss -which path to pursue; for he could not, for the life of him, remember by -which passage the old courtier had led him on his arrival an hour -previously. - -He was not, however, a man at all capable of hesitating to explore even -a royal palace, in order to find a mode of egress, when it did not suit -him to wait for the return of his guide: and taking the passage to the -right, he hastened on until he reached a pair of colossal folding doors. -Perfectly recollecting to have passed through those doors on his -arrival—or at all events through folding-doors exactly like them—he -pushed them open, and entered a large ante-room, well lighted, and -containing four marble statues as large as life. - -"Now," thought the Blackamoor, "I am mistaken; for I do not remember to -have seen those statues as I followed the old gentleman into the palace -just now. And yet I might have passed through this room without noticing -them. At all events, I well recollect those large and splendid -folding-doors; and so I must be right." - -It happened, however, that he was altogether wrong in the path which he -had pursued in order to find an egress from the palace; and he was -deceived by the fact that at each end of the long passage, from the -middle of which the corridor branched off, there were folding-doors of -an uniform shape, size, and appearance. But, conceiving himself to be in -the right road, he crossed the ante-room, and, pushing open a door at -the farther extremity, found himself in a magnificent apartment, the -furniture of which was of the French fashion of King Louis the -Fifteenth's time. The hangings and drapery were of crimson velvet, of -which material the cushions of the chairs and the sofas were also made. -Several fine pictures, by old masters, and vast mirrors with elaborately -decorated frames, graced the walls; and the whole was displayed by a -rich, subdued, golden lustre, diffused throughout the room by lamps, the -globes of which were of very thick ground glass. It was a mellow light, -sufficient, yet without glare—misty, without being positively dim—and -calculated to produce a lulling sensation of voluptuous indolence, -rather than to dazzle the eyes with a wakeful brilliancy. In fact, there -was altogether something ineffably luxurious in the general appearance -of this apartment, which was magnificent without being spacious, and the -perfumed atmosphere of which stole like a delicious languor on the -senses. - -The Blackamoor forgot for a few moments that he was an intruder—or, if -he remembered the fact, he was indifferent to it: and, though the -instant he entered this apartment he saw that he had indeed taken a -wrong path, yet he could not help advancing farther into it to admire -its sumptuous elegance and fine pictures. He was thus gratifying his -curiosity, when he heard voices in the ante-room through which he had -just passed; and, obeying a natural impulse, he slipped behind the rich -velvet curtains drawn over the immense window, near which he happened to -be standing at the moment. - -The door opened, and two persons entered the apartment. - -"I will await her here, Warren," said one, in a commanding and -triumphant tone: "and see that during our interview, we are secured -against interruption of any kind." - -"Your Majesty shall be obeyed," answered Sir Phillip. "Have you any -farther orders, sire?" - -"None, my faithful friend," returned the King. "Stay—have I the -document?" - -"I gave it to your Majesty ere now, after having myself fetched it from -the Home Office," said the courtier. - -"True! I have it safe," said George the Fourth. "And now hasten to -receive the fair one, Warren: it is past ten o'clock, and I am impatient -to behold her charming countenance again." - -Sir Phillip departed; and the King, throwing himself upon one of the -voluptuous ottomans, exclaimed aloud, "Now for a new pleasure! I know -not how it was, but I never before took so sudden and ardent a fancy for -any woman, as for this Georgiana Hatfield. There is something truly -bewitching—ineffably captivating in her sweet countenance; and the calm -repose which characterises the general expression of that face, has for -me an influence profoundly voluptuous. Then her bust—oh! her bust—_that_ -is charming indeed,—so full—so richly proportioned—and yet evidently so -firm! She has never been married, and Warren says that her reputation is -untarnished. It will be a luxury of paradise to revel in her virgin -charms. And yet, somehow or other, the joys of love are not generally -unknown to ladies in the fashionable world who have reached the age of -four or five and twenty. No matter! be she virgin or not, she is an -adorable woman; and I am madly impatient for her coming." - -The King rose from the ottoman, and walked slowly across the apartment, -stopping opposite a mirror in which he surveyed himself. His admirably -fashioned wig was entirely to his taste: there was not a curl nor a wave -which he could have wished otherwise than it was. His false teeth were -white, fixed firmly in his mouth, and had a perfectly natural -appearance. The tie of his cravat—borrowed from the fashion set by his -once all-powerful favourite, Beau Brummell—was unexceptionable. The -white waistcoat had not a crease, so perfectly did it fit the portly -form of the royal voluptuary. The above-mentioned Beau Brummell could -not, even in his ire against the King, have found the shadow of an -excuse for a cavil against the black dress-coat, so artistically was it -made. No tailor in the famous city of Paris could have achieved a -greater triumph in respect to the pantaloons: and as for the polished -dress-boots——O immortal Hoby! - -Well satisfied with the result of his survey, George the Fourth returned -to the ottoman, and relapsed into a train of voluptuous imagings with -respect to Lady Hatfield. This current of thought, whereby, in his -emasculated old age, he endeavoured to invigorate his physical powers -through the medium of an excited and heated imagination, led him to -reflect upon all the beauteous women—and their name was Legion—who had -ever surrendered themselves to his embraces; and his ideas naturally -wandered to the enjoyments, luxuries, and pleasures which his exalted -rank and immense resources enabled him to procure. Then he chuckled with -triumphant delight at the egregious folly of the great and powerful -English people tolerating a King at all. But he likewise knew that his -own conduct and example had done more harm to the cause of Monarchy than -all the republic pamphlets or democratic disquisitions ever published. -He was well aware that, without intending to be so, he was the most -effectual means of opening the eyes of the civilised world to the -insanity and madness of maintaining monarchical institutions: and, -though he foresaw that the industrious millions of this realm must -inevitably, sooner or later, overthrow Monarchy and establish a pure -Democracy, yet he consoled himself, in his revolting selfishness, with -the conviction that "the throne would last during his time, at all -events." - -[Illustration] - -It was about half-past ten, when the door opened; and the Blackamoor, -peeping from behind the curtains, beheld a lady, closely veiled, enter -the room, the door immediately closing behind her. - -"Adorable Georgiana!" exclaimed the King, hastening forward to receive -her, and then conducting her to a seat: "I am rejoiced that you have -thus yielded to my wishes—that you have come to me this evening." - -"But wherefore, sire, did you insist upon this visit?" asked Lady -Hatfield, in a low and tremulous tone. "Our compact stipulated that I -was first to receive a certain document, as a proof of your Majesty's -sincerity——" - -"Dearest Georgiana, raise that odious veil—lay aside that invidious -bonnet, which conceals your charming countenance!" exclaimed the -monarch, in an impassioned voice. - -"Oh! sire, I have taken a step at which I tremble," said Lady Hatfield, -raising her veil, but retaining her bonnet. "On my way through the -corridors, guided by Sir Phillip Warren, I met two or three of your -Majesty's retainers; and if they recognised me—in spite of the thick -veil——" - -"Fear not on that account," interrupted the King. "I admit our compact -was as you just now stated it to be, and that the paper should have been -forwarded to you. But I was so anxious to see you soon again, that I -could not resist the temptation of that idea which suggested to me how -much better it would be to solicit you to come hither this evening and -receive from my hands the document which you so much desire. Here it is, -beloved Georgiana—signed by myself, and countersigned by the Secretary -of State." - -The King presented the paper to Lady Hatfield, who received it with joy -flashing from her eyes: and she immediately secured it about her person. - -"My curiosity prompts me to ask an explanation of the extraordinary -contents of that document," said the monarch; "but, on the other hand, -delicacy forbids." - -"And I thank you for this delicacy, sire," exclaimed Lady Hatfield, with -earnest sincerity. "It were a long tale to tell—and an useless one——" - -"Yes—useless, indeed, when we have a far more interesting topic for our -discourse," interrupted George the Fourth, throwing one of his arms -round the lady's neck. - -"Sire!" cried Georgiana in a reproachful tone, as she hastily withdrew -herself from that half-embrace, and retreated to the further end of the -ottoman. - -"Oh! wherefore play the coy and the cruel?" exclaimed the King. "Have I -not given you a signal proof of my attachment, by affixing my signature -to a paper the contents of which I scarcely understand, and by ordering -the Minister to legalize it with his name? And think you, sweet lady, -that it was an easy task to induce that responsible functionary to obey -me in this respect? But I menaced and coaxed by turns; and all this for -your sake! Do I not, therefore, deserve the reward of your smiles—the -recompense of your caresses?" - -"I recognise all that is generous in the conduct of your Majesty towards -me in respect to this document," said Lady Hatfield: "but were I to -succumb to you now, sire, I should loathe myself—I should become -degraded in my own estimation—I should feel that I had been purchased by -a bribe! No—sire: I cannot renounce every consideration of purity—every -sentiment of propriety, in a single moment." - -"What further proof do you require of my attachment?" demanded the King, -in a tone of vexation which he could not altogether subdue. - -"No other proof, save your forbearance on this occasion," answered -Georgiana. "Remember, sire, what I told you the other night: I am not a -woman of impure imagination—no—nor of depraved character; and I cannot -consent to become your mistress, without a mental effort on my -part—without wooing on your's. In yielding myself to your Majesty, it -will be as a wife who is forced to dispense with the ceremony which -alone can make her one in reality; and if your Majesty deem me worth the -winning, let me be won by means of those delicate attentions which would -be shown in honourable courtship." - -"Perdition!" ejaculated the King, who was as much unaccustomed to hear -such language as he was to sue at the feet of beauty: "how long will you -keep me in this suspense, fair lady?—how long must I endure the tortures -of deferred hope? Consider—I love you madly: you are so beautiful—so -sweetly beautiful! Oh! to press you in my arms——" - -"Pardon me, sire, for daring to interrupt you," said Georgiana; "but if -there be nothing save the impulse of the senses in this _liaison_ of -ours, your Majesty will soon become wearied of me—and I shrink in horror -from the idea of becoming the cast-off mistress of even Royalty itself. -Let me seek to engage your affections, as you must endeavour to enchain -mine; so that our connexion may be based upon the sentiments and -feelings of the heart." - -"But I already love you sincerely—devotedly, cruel Georgiana!" cried the -King, his eyes greedily running over the outlines of the exquisitely -proportioned form of the lady, and the rapid survey exciting his desire -almost beyond endurance. - -"Not with a love calculated to be permanent," said Georgiana quietly; -"and unless I become the object of such an affection, never—never shall -I so far forget myself——" - -"This is cruel—this is maddening!" exclaimed the King; and he extended -his arms towards Lady Hatfield. - -"Sire, do not treat me with outrage," she said, rising from the ottoman, -and speaking in a dignified manner. "If your Majesty supposed that your -sovereign rank would so far dazzle my imagination as to make me throw -myself into your arms at the very first words of encouragement which -fell from your lips, your Majesty has sadly misunderstood the character -of Georgiana Hatfield." - -"Be not angry with me, adorable creature!" exclaimed the King: "I love -you too much to risk the chance of losing you by any misconduct on my -part. Name, therefore, your own terms. Or rather, let me ask whether you -will consent to visit me every evening for an hour, and allow us an -opportunity to become better acquainted with each other?" - -"Now your Majesty speaks in a manner calculated to win my esteem," -observed Lady Hatfield, avoiding a direct reply to the question put to -her; "and when the esteem of a woman is once secured——" - -"I understand you," interrupted George the Fourth, hastily: "her love -speedily follows. Be it as you say, sweet lady," he continued, in a -slower tone; "and let us secure each other's affections. You shall find -me docile and obedient to your will—and this is much for _me_ to -promise. But let me hope that the period of probation will not be -long—that the hour of recompense is not far distant——" - -"Hush, sire!" exclaimed Georgiana, in a reproachful voice: "this is the -language of sense—whereas you must secure my affections by the language -of sentiment. If you treat me as a woman who is to be purchased as your -mistress, let our connexion cease this moment: but if you will woo me as -a wife should be won—although I am well aware that your Majesty's wife I -can never be——" - -"Would that I could marry you this moment!" cried the King, fixing his -eyes upon her beauteous countenance; "for you are ravishingly lovely! I -would give a year of my life to obtain all I crave this night. Oh! -Georgiana, be not so coy and cruel with me—for you madden me—my veins -seem to run with molten lead. Be mine at once—and render my happiness -complete. Behold that small low door in yonder corner: it opens into a -room which may serve as our nuptial chamber. Come, then, dearest -Georgiana—let me lead you thither—not cold, hesitating, and -resisting—but warm, and impassioned, and prepared to revel in the -delights of love! Our privacy will be complete: no intruder need we -fear;—and the world will never know that you have become mine." - -"Sire, this language on your part—in spite of all the arguments and -remonstrances which I have used," exclaimed Lady Hatfield, "is unworthy -of a great King and a polished gentleman." - -"The madness of love knows nothing of regal rank nor the shackles of -etiquette," said the monarch, speaking in a tone of great excitement; -"and, in spite of the promises which I just now so rashly made, I cannot -endure delay. No—sweetest lady—you must be mine at once!"—and he wound -his arms around Georgiana's form, the fury of his desires animating him -with a strength against which she could not long have resisted. - -But at that moment succour was at hand! - -Forth from his place of concealment sprang the Blackamoor; and an -ejaculation of surprise and rage burst from the lips of the King, while -a cry of joy emanated from those of Lady Hatfield. - -"Who are you? and what signifies this intrusion?" demanded George the -Fourth, instantly releasing his intended victim at this sudden -apparition. - -But, without answering the monarch, the Blackamoor hastily led the -half-fainting Lady Hatfield to the door—opened it to allow her to pass -out of the room—and, closing it behind her, placed his back against -it,—the whole being effected with such speed, that Georgiana had -disappeared before the King could recover from the astonishment into -which the very first step of the bold proceeding had thrown him. - -"Villainous negro!" cried the disappointed monarch, at length recovering -the power of speech: "do you know who I am, that you have thus dared to -outrage me?" - -"I know full well who you are, sire—and I am grieved to the very soul at -the idea of being compelled to acknowledge you as my King," returned the -Black, in a calm—collected—and somewhat mournful tone. - -"This insolence to me!" ejaculated George the Fourth, becoming purple -with rage. "Make way, sirrah, for me to pass hence!" - -"Not until I have allowed Lady Hatfield sufficient time to escape from -this house which the country has given as a palace for your Majesty, but -which seems to be used for purposes too vile to contemplate without -horror," was the firm reply. - -The King fell back a few paces in speechless astonishment. Never before -had he been thus bearded:—but in that momentary interval of silence, a -crowd of recollections rushed to his mind, warning him that the -individual who thus seemed to defy his rank and power, had been present -during the whole of the interview with Lady Hatfield,—and that this -individual had learnt how the Royal and Ministerial signatures had been -given as a means of propitiating a coy beauty, without any reference to -the interests of the State:—when the King remembered all this, he was -alarmed at the serious manner in which he suddenly found himself -compromised. For that Blackamoor could make revelations of a nature to -arouse against him the indignation of the whole kingdom; and, reckless -as George the Fourth was of public opinion, he trembled at the idea of -exciting public resentment. - -Thus did a few moments of reflection show him the precipice on which he -stood, and carry to his mind a conviction of the necessity of making -terms with the sable stranger who had obtained such a dangerous power -over him. But the mere thought of such a compromise was sorely repugnant -to the haughty spirit of George the Fourth: and yet there was no -alternative! He accordingly addressed himself with the best grace he -could assume, to the task of conciliation. - -"My good sir," he said, approaching the Black, "I seek not to deal -harshly with you: and yet you owe me an explanation of the motives which -induced you to penetrate into the palace, and the means by which you -gained access to my private apartments." - -"I feel bound to answer your Majesty with candour and frankness, in -order to clear myself from any injurious suspicion which my concealment -in this room might naturally engender," was the reply. "The explanation, -sire, is briefly given:—I was accosted by an elderly gentleman in Pall -Mall, and asked if I required a situation. In truth I do not; but it -being intimated to me that the proffered place was in the royal -household, curiosity prompted me to follow the gentleman into the -palace. He left me alone in his ante-room for upwards of an hour; and, -growing weary of waiting, I sought a means of egress. But, losing my -way, I found myself at length in this room; and almost immediately -afterwards your Majesty entered with the very gentleman I am speaking -of, and whose name I learnt to be Warren. I concealed myself behind the -curtains—with no bad intention; and indeed I was about to come forth and -explain the reasons of my presence to your Majesty, when certain words -which fell from your Majesty's lips made me acquainted with the fact -that Lady Hatfield was expected here every moment. That name nailed me -to the spot—and I was prompted by an uncontrollable curiosity to wait -and satisfy myself whether Lady Hatfield could have become so depraved -as to surrender herself to your arms." - -"You are acquainted with her, then!" exclaimed the King. "And yet," he -added, a moment afterwards, "she did not appear to recognise you." - -"No, sire—she did not recognise me," returned the Black. - -"But you must know her well, since the mere mention of her name rendered -you thus anxious to see the issue of our interview?" said the King, -impatiently. - -"I know her well, sire," was the guarded response: "and yet she knew not -me." - -"Who _are_ you, then?" demanded George the Fourth, fixing a searching -look upon the stranger. "You certainly are not what Sir Phillip Warren -took you for——" - -"I must firmly, though respectfully, decline to give any account of -myself," said the Blackamoor. "Your Majesty will now permit me to -withdraw." - -"One moment," cried the King. "How stand we in respect to each other? Do -you constitute yourself the enemy of your sovereign?—will you publish -your knowledge of all that has transpired here this evening?—or can I -offer you some earnest that I myself am not offended by the manner in -which you ere now thought fit to address me?" - -"I have no interest in making known to the public those secrets which -have so accidentally been revealed to me," answered the Blackamoor. "It -is never a pleasing task to an honest man to publish the frailties or -failings of a fellow-creature—much less when that fellow-creature is -placed at the head of the nation. As for any reward—or rather _bribe_, -to induce me to remain silent, none is necessary. At the same time," he -added, hastily correcting himself as a second thought struck him, "it -may be as well that I should avail myself of your Majesty's offer; for -it might so fall out that the privilege of claiming a boon at your royal -hands——" - -"May prove serviceable to you some day or another—eh?" added the King, -impatiently. "Well—be it so; and, stranger though you be to me, I rely -in confidence upon your solemn pledge to place a seal on your lips -relative to the incidents of this night." - -Thus speaking, the monarch seated himself at the nearest table, and -opening a drawer, took forth writing materials: then, with a haste which -showed his desire to put an end to a painful interview, he penned the -following lines on a slip of paper:— - - "We acknowledge a sense of deep obligation to the bearer of this - memorandum, the said bearer having rendered us especial service; and - we hold ourselves bound to grant him any boon which he may demand at - our hands, so that it be not inconsistent with our royal honour, nor - prejudicial to the interests of the State. - - "Given this 3rd of March, in the year 1827. - - "GEORGE REX." (L.S.) - -The King lighted a taper, and affixed his royal seal to this document, -which he then handed to the Blackamoor, saying, "You perceive what -confidence I place in you: see that the good name of Lady Hatfield on -the one side, and your Sovereign's honour on the other, be not -compromised by any indiscreet revelations on your part." - -"Your Majesty may rest assured that I shall maintain the incidents of -this evening a profound secret, and that I shall not abuse the privilege -conferred upon me by this paper which bears your royal signature." - -The Blackamoor bowed, and retired from the presence of King George the -Fourth, whom he left in no very pleasant humour at the turn which his -meditated attack upon the virtue of Lady Hatfield had taken. - -On this occasion, the Black had no difficulty in finding the way to the -private staircase up which Sir Phillip Warren had originally introduced -him; and he was about to issue forth from Carlton House, when he -suddenly encountered that old courtier and Sir Randolph Harral in the -hall. - -These gentlemen were disputing in a loud tone; but the moment the -Blackamoor appeared, Sir Phillip Warren sprang towards him, exclaiming, -"Why, where have you possibly been? But no matter," he added, in a -triumphant tone, "since you are here at length to settle the question -between me and my friend." - -"The fact is, my good sir," said Sir Randolph, "I have laid Sir Phillip -Warren twenty guineas——" - -"Yes—twenty guineas," interrupted Sir Phillip hastily, "that you are——" - -"That you are _not_——" cried Sir Randolph. - -"I say that you are!" exclaimed Sir Phillip. - -"And I say that you are _not_!" vociferated Sir Randolph. - -"Gentlemen, pray explain yourselves," said the Blackamoor. - -"Well—I say that you are a lacquey out of place," observed Sir Phillip -Warren. - -"And I say that you are _not_," cried Sir Randolph Harral, in his turn; -"whereupon we have bet twenty guineas." - -"And you must decide who has won," added Sir Phillip. - -"Then, gentlemen," said the Blackamoor, in a merry tone, "I can soon set -the matter at rest. So far from being a lacquey out of place, I have -upwards of a dozen dependants of my own. I wish you a very good night." - -"Why—I am robbed as if it were on the highway!" exclaimed Sir Phillip -Warren, his countenance suddenly becoming as awful and blank as such a -Port-wine visage could possibly be. - -"Ha! ha!" chuckled Sir Randolph: "robbed or not—please to hand me over -twenty good guineas." - -And the cachinnation of the winning courtier was echoed by the merry -laugh of the Blackamoor, as this individual issued forth from Carlton -House. - -Again, as he passed along Pall Mall, did the Black pause for a few -moments opposite the splendid mansion of the Earl of Ellingham, and gaze -at it with the attention of no common observer. He was about to continue -his way, when two men, belonging to the working class, stopped likewise -for an instant in front of the house; and one said to the other, "That -is where the Earl lives. God bless him!" - -"Yes—God bless him!" repeated his companion, with the emphasis of -unfeigned sincerity: "for he is the people's friend." - -The two men then passed on. - -"Who dares to say that the industrious millions have no gratitude?" -murmured the Blackamoor to himself, as he also pursued his way. "O -Arthur! you are now indeed worthy of the proud name which you bear: and -I likewise exclaim from the very bottom of my heart, '_May God bless -you!_'" - - - - - CHAPTER CII. - A STATE OF SIEGE. - - -Return we now to Frank Curtis, his excellent wife, and Captain -O'Blunderbuss, who were living in a complete state of siege at the house -in Baker Street. - -The captain was the commandant of the garrison, and superintended all -the manœuvres and the devices which it was necessary to adopt to keep -out the enemy. The front-door was constantly chained inside; and every -time there was a knock or a ring, John the footman reconnoitred from the -area. Whenever any one was compelled to go out to order in provisions, -the captain stood at the door, armed with the kitchen poker, and looking -so grim and terrible that the officers who were prowling about in -different disguises, dared not hazard an encounter with the warlike -gentleman. - -The grocer, the butcher, and the baker lowered their respective -commodities down the area by means of a rope and basket provided for the -purpose; but they all took very good care to receive the cash first. The -milkman and pot-boy were enabled to supply their articles through the -opening afforded by the door with the chain up inside; and they likewise -strenuously advocated the ready-money principle. - -This condition of siege was a source of great delight to Captain -O'Blunderbuss. He was completely in his element. Little cared he for the -opinion of neighbours: _his_ feelings were by no means concerned. The -house, from the first moment he set foot in it, was in a state of -perpetual excitement. He was constantly ordering the servants to do -something or another: a dozen times a-day did he perform what he called -"going his rounds," armed with the poker in case a bailiff should have -crept into the place through some unguarded avenue;—and it was indeed -with the greatest difficulty that Mrs. Curtis could divert him from a -plan which he had conceived and which he declared to be -necessary—namely, the drilling of all the inmates of the house, male and -female, including the five children, for an hour daily in the yard. As -it was, he compelled John, the footman, to mount sentry in the yard -aforesaid, every morning while the housemaid was dusting her carpets and -so forth—indeed during the whole time that the domestic duties rendered -it necessary to have the back-door open. If John remonstrated, the -captain would threaten, with terrible oaths, to try him by a -court-martial; and once, when the poor fellow respectfully solicited his -wages and his discharge, the formidable officer would certainly have -inflicted on him the cat-o'-nine-tails, if the cook had not begged him -off—she being the footman's sweetheart. - -Mrs. Curtis took a great fancy to the captain, and allowed him to do -pretty well as he chose. She considered him to be the politest, -genteelest, bravest, and most amusing gentleman she had ever known; and -it soon struck her that his various qualifications threw her husband -considerably into the shade. Whenever she felt low-spirited, he had a -ready remedy for her. If it were in the forenoon, he would exclaim, -"Arrah and be Jasus, Mim, it's no wonther ye're dull, with the inimy -besaging us in this way: and it's a nice mutton chop and a glass of -Port-wine that'll be afther sitting ye to rights, Mim." Then forthwith -he would ring the bell, and order three chops, so that himself and Frank -might keep the dear lady company. If it were in the evening that Mrs. -Curtis was attacked by those unwelcome visitors termed "blue devils," -the captain would recommend "a leetle dhrop of the potheen, brewed -afther the fashion in ould Ireland;" and while he exhausted all his -powers of eloquence in assurances that it should be "as wake as wather, -and not too swate," he would mix the respectable lady such a stinger, -that her eyes would fill with tears every time she put the glass near -her lips. Sometimes he would undertake to amuse the children up in the -nursery, by going on all fours and allowing them to play at -horse-soldiers by riding on his back; and then, what with his shouting -and bawling, and their laughing and screaming, it was enough to alarm -the whole neighbourhood—and very frequently did. - -All these little attentions on the part of the captain either to herself -or her children, gave Mrs. Curtis an admirable opinion of him; and he -rose rapidly in her favour. His success in obtaining the five hundred -pounds from Sir Christopher Blunt was considered by her as sublime a -stroke of mingled policy and daring as ever was accomplished; and his -tactics in opposing a successful foil to all the stratagems devised by -the sheriff's-officers to obtain admission into the dwelling, made her -declare more than once that had _he_ commanded the Allied Army at -Waterloo, it would have been all up with the French in half-an-hour. - -The female servants in the house did not altogether admire the position -in which they were placed; but, they were so dreadfully frightened at -the captain, that they never uttered a murmur in his hearing. They -moreover had their little consolations; for Sir Christopher's five -hundred pounds enabled the besieged to live, as the captain declared, -"like fighting-cocks,"—so that the kitchen was as luxuriously supplied -with provender as the parlour; and no account was taken of the quantity -of wine and spirits consumed in the establishment. - -We have before hinted that the house was a perfect nuisance in Baker -Street. And no wonder, indeed, that it should have been so considered; -for it seemed to be the main source whence emanated all the frightful -noises that could possibly alarm nervous old ladies or irritate gouty -old gentlemen. No sooner did the day dawn, than Captain O'Blunderbuss -would fling up the window of his bed-room, which was at the back of -the house, with a crashing violence that made people think he was mad; -and, thrusting forth his head with a white night-cap upon it, he would -roar out—"John! John! to arms!" as lustily as he could bawl. This was -not only to save himself the trouble of repairing to the footman's -chamber to summon him, but also for the purpose of letting the -sheriff's-officers, if any were in the neighbourhood, know that he was -on the alert. Then John would poke his head out of another window, and -answer the captain's call; and a few minutes afterwards the back-door -would open and shut with a terrific bang, and John would be seen to -sally forth to mount sentry in the yard, with shouldered poker. Then -an hour's interval of comparative silence would prevail, while the -captain turned in again to take another nap; but, at length, up would -go the window again—out would come the head—and, "John! hot wather!" -would roll in awful reverberation throughout the entire neighbourhood. - -The confusion and dismay produced by these alarms were terrific; and the -neighbours all threatened their landlords to give warning on the next -quarter. For it was not only in the morning that the noise prevailed, -but throughout the entire day—aye, and the best part of the night also. -Sometimes the captain would take it into his head to discharge his -pistols in the yard: or else he would have a fencing-match with Frank -Curtis, the weapons being pokers, which made a hideous clang. Then there -were the rows in the nursery, which were truly awful; and, by way of a -variety, Captain O'Blunderbuss would occasionally show himself at the -drawing-room windows and vociferate the most appalling abuse at any -suspicious characters whom he might happen to behold prowling about. -These exhibitions frequently collected crowds in front of the house; and -the captain would harangue them with as much earnestness as if he were a -candidate at a general election. On one of these occasions the -parish-beadle made his appearance, and from the pavement remonstrated -with the gallant officer, who kept him in parlance until Frank Curtis -had time to empty a pitcher of water over the enraged functionary from -the front bed-room window. - -But the worst part of the whole business consisted in the goings-on at -night-time. Just when sedate and quiet people were getting cozily into -their first sleep at about eleven o'clock, Mr. Frank Curtis was getting -uncommonly drunk; and, though the captain seemed proof against the -effects of alcohol, no matter in what quantity imbibed, he nevertheless -grew trebly and quadruply uproarious when under the influence of poteen. -Thus, from eleven to twelve the shouts of laughter—the yells of -delight—the cries of mirth—and the vociferations of boisterous hilarity, -which came from the front parlour, made night perfectly hideous: but no -amount of human patience ever possessed by good and forgiving -neighbours, could possibly tolerate the din and disturbance which -prevailed during the "small hours." Then would the captain and his -friend Curtis rush like mad-men into the yard, shouting—roaring—and -bawling like demons, so that the residents in the adjacent houses leapt -from their beds and threw up their windows in horror and alarm, -expecting to find the whole street in a blaze. These performances on the -part of Frank and O'Blunderbuss were intended to show the officers that -they were upon the alert; and they not only had the desired effect, but -accomplished far more—inasmuch as they produced an absolute panic -throughout an entire neighbourhood. - -Thus it was that Mr. Curtis's abode—lately so serene and quiet in the -time of Mrs. Goldberry—became a perfect nuisance and a scandal; and had -Bedlam in its very worst days been located there, the noise and alarm -could not have been greater. - -It will be remembered that the captain's plan, when first he took up his -residence in Baker Street, was to get Mr. and Mrs. Curtis and the -children away on a Sunday night, and sell off all the furniture on the -Monday morning. But this scheme was postponed at first for one week—then -for another, because the officers kept such a constant look-out, that -the captain saw the necessity of standing the siege until the creditors -should be completely wearied of paying those disagreeable spies to watch -the premises. This determination was the more readily come to, inasmuch -as the five hundred pounds obtained from Sir Christopher Blunt, supplied -sinews to carry on the war in grand style. - -When the captain paid the second financial visit to the worthy knight -with a view to the effecting of a further loan on the assignat which -himself and Frank Curtis had resolved to issue, it was not because money -was scarce in Baker Street; but simply because the captain admired "the -fun of the thing," and also considered it prudent to raise as ample a -supply of bullion as possible. The rage which he experienced at his -discomfiture on this occasion, can be better conceived than described; -and, firmly believing that it was Sir Christopher himself who had dealt -him from the carriage window the tremendous blow which sent him -sprawling on the pavement in a most ignominious manner, he vowed the -most deadly vengeance against the new Justice of the Peace. Picking -himself up as well as he could—for the gallant gentleman was sorely -bruised—he repaired to the nearest public-house, to "cool himself," as -he said in his own mind, with a tumbler of the invariable poteen; and, -having reflected upon the insult which he had received, he thought it -best not to communicate his dishonour and discomfiture on his return to -Baker Street. Accordingly, having returned to "the garrison," into which -he effected an easy entry—for no one dared approach the door when it -opened to give _him_ egress or ingress—he assured Mr. and Mrs. Curtis -that the knight was out of town, and would not be back for a week. -However, in a couple of days, the wonderful adventures of Sir -Christopher Blunt and Dr. Lascelles burst upon the metropolis like a -tempest; and, as the morning newspapers were duly dropped down the area -of the besieged dwelling in Baker Street, the entire report was read -aloud by Frank Curtis at the breakfast table. It therefore being evident -that Sir Christopher was not only in town at that moment, but was -likewise in London when the captain had called upon him, the gallant -gentleman affected to fly into a violent rage, swearing that the knight -was denied to him on purpose, and vowing to make him "repint of his -un-gintlemanly conduct." O'Blunderbuss did not, however, in his heart -mean to do any such thing as call again in Jermyn Street; for he had -despaired of inducing the knight, either by threatenings or coaxings, to -advance a further supply; and, now that the worthy gentleman was a -Justice of the Peace, the captain thought that it would be somewhat -imprudent to visit him for the mere sake of committing an assault and -battery. He accordingly invented divers excuses, day after day, for -remaining in "the garrison;" and as funds were abundant, no one urged -him to undertake another financial mission to Sir Christopher Blunt. - -The reader must remember that Messrs. Mac Grab and Proggs were very -roughly handled by captain O'Blunderbuss, when they visited the house in -Baker Street for the purpose of arresting Mr. Frank Curtis; and, the -honour of a sheriff's-officer being particularly dear to its possessor, -those worthies considered their's to be at stake, unless they fully -vindicated it by capturing the aforesaid Mr. Curtis in the long run. -They therefore had recourse to all kinds of devices to obtain an entry -into the house, being armed not only with a writ against that -gentleman's person on behalf of Mr. Beeswing, but also with an execution -against the furniture at the instigation of another of Mrs. Curtis's -creditors. - -The tricks practised by these worthies to obtain an entry into the -besieged domicile, were as varied as they were ludicrous. On one -occasion, Mr. Proggs, dressed for the nonce as a butcher, and carrying a -leg of mutton in a tray on his shoulder, hurried up to the door, gave -the loud, sharp, single knock peculiar to the trade, and shouted -"T-cher!" in the most approved style. But the parlour window was thrown -up, and out popped the head of the ferocious O'Blunderbuss, the -countenance as red as a turkey-cock, and the mouth vomiting forth a -torrent of abuse; so that the discomfited Mr. Proggs was compelled to -retreat with all the ignominy of a baffled strategist. On another -occasion, Mr. Mac Grab, attired as a general postman, rushed along the -street, stopped at the door of the besieged house, gave the two clear, -rapid strokes with the knocker, and immediately began to look over a -bundle of letters with all the feverish haste of the functionary whose -semblance he had assumed. But John came forth from the area; and again -was the sheriff's-officer's object completely frustrated. Next day, -however, two sweeps appeared in the street, as black as if they had -never known soap-and-water, and were accustomed to lodge, eat, and sleep -in chimneys as well as cleanse them; but upon arriving opposite the -parlour-windows, they beheld the captain and Frank Curtis "taking -sights" at them, the two gentlemen having "twigged the traps" without -much difficulty. Thus, defeated in all their endeavours to accomplish -their aims by cunning, Messrs. Mac Grab and Proggs worked themselves up -to the desperate resolution of using force; and they accordingly took -their post at the front-door of Curtis's house, with the apparent -determination to rush in the first time it should be opened. But, when -it _was_ opened as far as the chain inside would permit, and they -beheld, to their horror and dismay, the terrible captain wielding the -poker, they exhibited that better part of valour which is denominated -_discretion_. At last, however, they could no longer endure the jeerings -of their friends exercising the same agreeable and lucrative profession; -and moreover, the attorneys who employed them in the Baker Street affair -spoke out pretty plainly about gentlemen bribing bailiffs not to execute -writs, and so forth. All these circumstances induced Mr. Mac Grab and -his man Proggs to hold a council of war over two four-penn'orths of -rum-and-water; and the result was a determination, that as the various -devices and stratagems they had practised to enter the dwelling had -failed, and as they feared to carry it by storm, the stronghold must be -reduced by a _surprise_. - -It was on the very evening when the Blackamoor experienced so strange an -adventure at Carlton House, that the following scene took place in Baker -Street. - -The clock had struck ten; and, supper being disposed of, the whiskey, -hot water, glasses, and _et ceteras_ were placed upon the table, at -which Frank Curtis, his amiable wife, and Captain O'Blunderbuss were -seated—as comfortable a trio as you could wish or expect to see, -especially under such adverse circumstances. - -"John!" vociferated the captain, as the domestic was about to leave the -room; "stop a moment, you rogue, and answer me this. Is the area all -safe?" - -"Yes, sir," was the ready response. - -"And the kitchen-windows—and the back-door—and the yar-rd gate—all -right, eh—John?" - -"All right, captain: I've just been the rounds." - -"And all the provisions in the garrison, John?—plenty of potheen?" -demanded O'Blunderbuss. - -"Plenty, sir. There'll be no more going out again to-night." - -"That's a blissing!" exclaimed the gallant captain. "John!" - -"Yes—sir." - -"Take a glass of whiskey, mate—and slape with the kitchen poker-r under -your pillow, my frind," enjoined the officer. "We must be ar-rmed at all -pints, be Jasus!" - -"I shan't forget, sir," said John: and having tossed off the spirit, he -quitted the room. - -"Now then to make ourselves cozie," observed the captain, drawing his -chair a little closer to Mrs. Curtis. "Pray, Mim, how d'ye feel your -dear self this evening?—is it in good spirits ye are, Mim?" - -"Thank you, captain," returned Mrs. Curtis, "I am quite well—but the -least, least thing nervous. This strange kind of life we're leading——" - -"Strange, Mim!" ejaculated the captain: "it's glor-r-ious!" - -"Glorious, indeed!" cried Frank. "I only wish the Marquis of Shoreditch -was here along with us—how he would enjoy himself!" - -"You will permit me, Mim!" said the captain, grasping the bottle of -whiskey, and addressing the lady in an insinuating manner. - -"Now, really, captain—if I must take a very _leetle_ drop——" began Mrs. -Curtis, with a simper. - -"Well, my dear madam, it shall be the leetlest dhrop in the wor-rld, and -so wake that a baby of a month old might dhrink it and niver so much as -thrip up as it walked across the room," exclaimed O'Blunderbuss, whose -knowledge of the physical capacities of infants was evidently somewhat -vague and limited. "There, Mim!" he added, placing before the lady a -large tumbler, the contents of which were equal portions of spirit and -water: "you may tell me I'm a Dutchman and unwor-rthy of ould Ireland, -if that isn't the purtiest dhrink iver brewed for one of the fair six." - -"You're very kind, captain," said Mrs. Curtis, in a mincing—simpering -manner. - -"It's you that's kind to say so, Mim," remarked the captain, placing his -foot close to that of the lady, and ascertaining by the readiness with -which she returned the pedal pressure, that the tender intimation he -wished thereby to convey was by no means unwelcome. - -Frank did not of course notice what was going on under the table, and -the conversation progressed in the usual manner—the captain and Frank -vieing with each other in telling the most monstrous lies, and the -silent interchange of love's tokens continuing with increasing warmth -between the gallant gentleman and the stout lady. Mrs. Curtis's spirits, -however, seemed to require a more than ordinary amount of stimulant on -this occasion: she declared herself to be "very low," although she -contrived to laugh a great deal at the captain's lively sallies and -marvellous stories;—but as the clock struck midnight and she rose to -retire to her chamber, she found that the _three_ glasses of toddy which -she had been persuaded to imbibe, had somewhat unsettled the gravity of -her equilibrium. The captain sprang from his seat to open the -parlour-door for her; and as he bade her "good night," she pressed his -hand with a degree of tenderness which, as novel-writers say, spoke -volumes. - -"Curthis, my frind," said the captain, as he returned to his seat, "be -the holy poker-r! you possess a rale jewel of a wife. She's the most -amiable lady I ever knew and takes her potheen without any nonsense. Be -Jove! she's an ornamint in a jintleman's household; and we'll dhrink her -health in a bumper!" - -"With all my heart," exclaimed Frank, already more than half-seas over. -"But, I say, captain—do you know that I'm getting very tired of the life -we're leading? I wish we could put an end to it somehow or another." - -"Be the power-rs! and that's the very thing I was going to recommend to -ye, Frank!" cried the captain, who was more affected by liquor on this -particular night than ever he had been before since the first moment he -had taken up his abode in Baker Street. - -"But—how can it be done?" hiccoughed Curtis. - -"Is it how the thing's to be done!" cried O'Blunderbuss. "Can't ye, now, -bolt off to France to-morrow night, and lave me in charge of the house? -I'll manage to sell every stick to a broker; and then it's myself -that'll bring over the wife, the children, and the money to ye as safe -as if they were all my own!" - -"I don't like the idea of going away alone, captain," observed Frank, as -he refilled his tumbler. "But suppose we talk the matter over -to-morrow—when we've slept off the effects of the toddy!" - -"Be Jasus! the toddy has no effects upon me!" exclaimed O'Blunderbuss, -who nevertheless sate very unsteadily in his chair, his body swaying to -and fro in spite of all his efforts to the contrary. - -The conversation now languished; but the drinking was maintained, until -Frank Curtis suddenly fell from his seat in a vain attempt which he made -to reach the whiskey-bottle. The captain burst out into a roar of -laughter, and while endeavouring to pick up his companion, rolled -completely over him. He however managed, by means of many desperate -efforts, to place the young gentleman upon the sofa, where he left him -to repose in peace; and, taking up a candle, he staggered out of the -room, muttering to himself, "Be the power-rs! if I didn't know—hic—that -it was impos—sossible—hic—I should say that I—hic—was—dhrunk!" - -This was a conclusion which the captain was by no means willing to -admit; and, in order to convince himself that he was perfectly sober and -knew what he was about, he proceeded to examine the front-door according -to his invariable custom ere retiring to rest. - -"Well, be the power-rs!" he murmured, as he stood contemplating the door -with all the vacancy of inebriation; "it's John that's a clever -fellow—hic—afther all—hic! Be Jasus! and it's two chains he's put up—and -two bolts at the top—hic—and two bolts at the bottom—hic—and, be the -holy poker-r!" exclaimed the captain aloud, his face expanding with an -expresion of stupid joy; "the house is safe enough—hic—for there's two -doors!" - -Supremely happy at having made this discovery, and moreover fancying -himself to be lighted by two candles—in a word, seeing double in every -respect,—the gallant officer staggered along the passage, and commenced -the ascent of the staircase, which appeared to have become wondrously -steep, ricketty, and uneven. Stumbling at every step, and muttering -awful imprecations against the "thunthering fool of a carpenter that had -built such a divil of a lath-er," Captain O'Blunderbuss contrived to -reach the first landing in safety; but, his foot tripping over the -carpet, he fell flat down, extinguishing the light of the candle, though -at the same time giving his head such a knock against the balustrades, -that a million meteoric sparks flashed across his visual organs. - -"Blood and hounds!" growled the gallant gentleman; "there must either be -an airthquake—hic—or else, be the power-rs! I'm—hic—raly—hic—dhrunk!" - -Picking himself up, the captain groped about for the staircase; and, -finding it with some little trouble, he continued his ascent in a -pleasing state of uncertainty as to whether he were walking on his head -or on his feet, but with the deeply settled conviction that he was -spinning round at a most terrific rate. - -"Capthain O'Bluntherbuss," he said, apostrophising himself, as he -staggered along, "is this raly you or another person? If it's -yourself it is—hic—I—I'm ashamed of ye, be the holy poker-r; and -I've a precious good mind—hic—to give ye a dacent dhrubbing, -captain—hic—O'—hic—Bluntherbuss." - -Thus soliloquising, the martial gentleman reached the second landing; -but here he paused for a few minutes in a state of awful doubt as to -which way he should turn in order to reach his own room. He knew that -his door must be somewhere close at hand; though whether to the right or -to the left, he could not for the life of him remember. At length he -began to grope about at a venture; and, having encountered the handle of -a door, he hesitated no longer, but entered the chamber with which the -said door communicated. - - - - - CHAPTER CIII. - THE SURPRISE.—A CHANGE OF SCENE. - - -It was about half-past three o'clock in the morning, and profound -silence reigned in Baker Street, when four men, bearing a ladder upon -their shoulders, passed like phantoms through the obscurity of the -thoroughfare, and halted in front of Mr. Curtis's house; where their -operations, so far from being at all ghost-like, assumed very much the -appearance of those proceedings which are carried on by creatures of -flesh and blood. - -Thieves, however, they were not: but sheriff's-officers they were,—being -our old friends Mac Grab and Proggs, assisted by two other queer-looking -fellows of the species which chiefly abounds in the tap-rooms and -parlours of public-houses in Chancery Lane. - -Mr. Mac Grab having satisfied himself by a close scrutiny of the number -on the front-door, that they had pitched upon the right house, the -ladder was forthwith placed against the little iron railings forming the -balcony at the drawing-room window; and Mr. Proggs was ordered to mount -first. But Mr. Proggs, having perhaps recently studied some book upon -etiquette, would not think of preceding his master; and Mr. Mac Grab was -doubtless too meek a man to take upon himself the post of honour. As for -the two underlings, they very bluntly assured Mr. Mac Grab that they -would see him unpleasantly condemned before they would venture first; -and thus the entire project was threatened with discomfiture, when -Proggs, overcoming his fears, consented to lead the way. - -Up the ladder did this hero accordingly drag himself; and had he lost -his life in the desperate deed, the epic muse would have been compelled -to deplore the death of the last of the famous house of Proggs. But -fortune beamed upon Proggs, though the moon did not; and he reached the -balcony in safety. Mac Grab ascended next—and the two subordinates -followed,—by which time the intrepid Proggs had obtained admission into -the house by the simple process of cutting out a pane with a glazier's -diamond, and thrusting in his hand to undo the fastening of the window. - -And now, behold the four men safe in the drawing-room—in actual -possession of the place,—four heroes who had just carried a strongly -fortified castle—by surprise! - -A lanthorn, which Mr. Proggs took from his pocket, was lighted; and a -flask of rum, which Mr. Mac Grab took from _his_ pocket, was drunk. The -heroes then stole gently from the apartment—descended the stairs—opened -the front-door—and laid down the ladder along the area railings, so that -the watchman, on going his rounds, might not raise an alarm of -"thieves." This being accomplished, they re-entered the house, and -fastened the street-door, the key of which Mr. Mac Grab secured about -his own person. - -The officers next entered the parlour on the ground floor, where they -found Frank Curtis lying asleep upon the sofa. - -"That's our chap," said Mac Grab, in a tone of deep satisfaction, as he -threw the light of his lanthorn full upon the young gentleman's -countenance. "I shall take him off at once, with one of the men; and -you, Proggs, will remain in possession along with t'other." - -"Two on us isn't enow to keep possession agin that devil of an Irisher," -exclaimed Proggs, bluntly; and the loudness with which he spoke -disturbed Mr. Curtis. - -Starting up, Frank rubbed his eyes—then stared around him with the -stupid vacancy of one who had only half slept off the fumes of -whiskey—and at last, as the truth gradually glimmered upon him, he said -in a hoarse, thick tone, "Well—who the devil are all you fellows?" - -"You'll know soon enow who we be," growled Mac Grab. "Come—get up, young -genelman; and don't sit there a-staring at us, as if you was a stuck pig -and we was ghostesses." - -"So you've got in at last—have you, old fellow?" said Frank, with an -awful yawn. "But I feel precious seedy, though. Can't you let me sleep a -little longer." - -"You won't sleep no more till you gets to Chancery Lane," returned Mac -Grab; "and then you can have a turn-in if you like." - -"What o'clock is it?" demanded Frank, his teeth chattering and his whole -frame shivering alike with the cold and the unpleasant petition to which -he had been awakened. - -"It's getting on for a quarter to four, or thereabouts," said Mac Grab, -consulting a huge silver watch of the turnip species. - -"Then I must have been asleep here for some time," mused Frank aloud; -and, glancing at the table, he added, "Oh! I remember—I was precious -drunk last night——" - -"Well, I'm blest if I didn't think you was," said Proggs, expressing his -opinion with more bluntness than politeness. "You'll find a many lushing -coven over in Spike Island." - -"Spike Island?" ejaculated Frank: then, as a light broke in upon him -through the mist and fumes of whiskey, he added, "Oh! I understand—the -Bench, eh? Well—never say die, my boys; as my friend the Crown Prince of -Holland used to observe. If it must be the Bench, it must: but you'll -let me tell my wife what's happened." - -"We won't let you rouse that Irisher, young gentleman," said Mac Grab. -"Let us get you safe off, and then he may wake up, and be damned to -him." - -"I pledge you my word I will not attempt to rouse the Captain," -exclaimed Curtis: "but I must speak to my wife." - -[Illustration] - -"Well, that's only fair and reasonable," said Mac Grab; "although you -don't deserve no good treatment at our hands, seeing how we was served -by that owdacious Irish friend of yourn. Howsomever, you shall speak to -your good lady; but mind, I ain't going to lose sight on you." - -"You can come with me as far as the bed-chamber door," observed Frank; -"and I shan't keep you many minutes." - -"Proggs, you'll come along with me," said Mac Grab. "And now, mind, Mr. -Curtis, what you're up to. We've got pistols with us; and blowed if we -don't use 'em in self-defence if that Irish friend of your's happens to -wake up and tries it on again with any of his nonsense." - -"It wasn't my fault that he acted as he did the last time you was here," -returned Frank. "But come along, you two—if you must go with me." - -Curtis lighted a candle, and led the way gently up stairs, Mac Grab and -Proggs following close at his heels. They reached the second landing, -where Frank stopped at a door, which he was about to open, when the -first-mentioned officer said in a low tone, "Now, mind—no nonsense!—we -won't be done a second time, remember." - -"I assure you this is my wife's room," returned Curtis, also speaking in -a whisper; and he entered the chamber, the two bailiffs remaining at the -door, which was left ajar. - -Frank, carrying the light in his hand, approached the bed, and was just -on the point of saying, "My dear—my dear!"—when he stopped -short—aghast—stupefied—his mouth wide open—and every faculty which he -possessed, save that of sight, entirely suspended. - -For there—by the side of his wife—lay Captain O'Blunderbuss! - -Both were fast asleep; and the countenance of the gallant officer seemed -absolutely on fire, so red was it in contrast with the white pillow. - -"By Jove—this is too bad!" exclaimed Curtis, at length recovering the -powers of speech and movement; and, influenced only by the sudden rage -which took possession of him, and which rendered him bold and courageous -for the instant, he seized a water-jug from the washing-stand and dashed -the contents completely over Captain O'Blunderbuss. - -"Blood and thunther!" roared the man of war starting up in a towering -passion;—and, springing from the bed, he was about to inflict summary -chastisement on his friend, when a shriek issued from the couch—and the -captain, stopping short and looking around him, ascertained where he -was. The cause of Frank's conduct towards him was instantly apparent; -and, subduing his anger, he exclaimed, "Be Jasus! and it was all a -mistake, me boy! I dhrank too much of the potheen——" - -"The Irishman, by goles!" growled a hoarse voice in the landing outside. - -"Well—never mind, Proggs!" cried another voice: "if he touches us, we'll -fire. Holloa! you fellows down there—come up!—come up!" roared Mac Grab. - -And now the whole house was in confusion. - -Mrs. Curtis lay screaming and shrieking in bed—the captain rushed upon -the landing, with nothing on save his shirt, and looking as if he had -just sprung out of a water-butt—Curtis followed, sulky and not half -satisfied with the apology he had received relative to the presence of -the officer in his wife's chamber—the two men who had been left down -stairs were running up as hard as they could—and the servants were -calling from the garrets to know what was the matter, but rather -suspecting something very much like the real truth in respect to the -invasion of the bailiffs. - -"Down—down with ye, wild bastes that ye are!" vociferated the captain, -as the light which Curtis still carried showed the gallant officer the -well known faces of Mac Grab and Proggs. - -But the two men, who had worked their courage up to the sticking point, -produced each a heavy horse-pistol; at the appearance of which -formidable weapons the captain hung back, and Curtis shouted out in -alarm, "No violence! I'll keep my word and go off with you quiet -enough." - -"Be Jasus! and you shan't though, my dear frind!" cried O'Blunderbuss, -looking rapidly round in search of some object which he might use as an -offensive weapon against the invaders; but the two men from down stairs -now made their appearance, and Curtis put an end to all further -hostilities by surrendering himself to them without any more ado. - -"Frank! Frank!" shrieked his wife from the bed-room. - -"Curthis, my frind—don't be a fool!" roared the captain: "we'll bate 'em -yet!" - -The young gentleman, however, took no notice either of his wife's appeal -or his friend's adjuration, and rapidly descended the stairs, followed -by the sheriff's-officers. He was not only afraid of the pistols; but he -was likewise too much annoyed at the bed-chamber scene to care about -remaining in the house any longer. Not having courage enough to resent -the wrong which he conceived to have been done him, he was nevertheless -unable to endure it passively; and here signed himself, moodily and -sulkily, to the lot which circumstances had shaped for him. - -Mac Grab and one of the subordinates accordingly departed with their -prisoner to the spunging-house in Chancery Lane; while Proggs and the -other man remained in possession of the dwelling in Baker Street. - -It was about half-past four o'clock on that dark and chilly morning, -when Frank Curtis entered the lock-up establishment owned by Mr. Mac -Grab, the sheriff's-officer. A racking head-ache, the result of the -preceding night's debauch—a cold nervousness, amounting almost to a -continuous shiver,—and thoughts of by no means a pleasant nature, all -combined to depress the young man's spirits to a very painful degree; -and, as the door of the spunging-house closed behind him, he murmured to -himself, "Oh! what a fool I have been!" Fortunately, he had plenty of -ready money in his pocket; and, putting a guinea into Mac Grab's hand, -he said, "Let me have a private room; and have a fire lighted directly." - -"Please to sit down for a few minutes in the office here," observed the -bailiff, pocketing the coin, "while I call up the servant." - -In the meantime the subordinate had lighted a lamp in the little, dirty, -cold-looking place, dignified by the name of "the office;" and while Mac -Grab went to summon the domestic, Curtis, who was a prey to that fidgety -sensation which seems the forerunner of something dreadful, endeavoured -to divert his thoughts from gloomy topics by scrutinizing the objects -around him. - -A sorry desk, much hacked about with a pen-knife and stained all over -with ink—a small shelf containing a few old law books—a law-almanack -with thick black lines in the calender denoting Term-times—a list of the -sheriffs and undersheriffs of England and Wales—printed papers showing -the arrangements of the Courts for the sittings in and after Term—two or -three crazy chairs—and a Dutch clock, which ticked with a monotony -calculated to drive a nervous person out of his senses,—these were the -objects which met his view. Every thing appeared musty and -worm-eaten;—the office looked as if it never were swept out;—and there -was an earthly smell of a peculiarly unpleasant nature. - -In this miserable place—so cold and cheerless—Frank Curtis was kept -waiting for nearly half-an-hour; while the man who remained with him -sate dozing in a chair, and every now and then awaking with a sudden -dive down and bob up of the head which painfully augmented the -nervousness of the prisoner. At last Mr. Mac Grab returned, smelling -very strong of rum, and followed by a dirty-looking old woman, who -seemed to have huddled on her clothes anyhow, and to be in a -particularly ill-humour at being disturbed so early in the morning. - -"Now then," she said, in a short, sulky tone, addressing herself to -Curtis, without however looking at him: "this way." - -Frank followed her into a short passage, and then up a narrow staircase, -the miserable candle which she held in one hand and shaded with the -other on account of the draught, affording only just sufficient light to -render apparent the cheerless aspect of the premises. It was not that -there was any thing mean or poor in the interior of the dwelling, the -office excepted: but there was an air of deep gloom, and also of dirt -and neglect, which struck even so superficial an observer as Mr. Frank -Curtis. - -The old woman led the way into a moderate-sized front room on the second -floor, where she lighted two candles, and then set to work to persuade a -few damp sticks smothered with small coal to burn up in the grate. The -apartment was fitted up as a sitting-room, but had a bed in it. The -walls were hung with numerous pictures the frames of which were an inch -thick in dust and cob-webs; and there was a side-board covered with -old-fashioned cut glass. The carpet was worn out in many places, and was -also much soiled with grease and beer: the table-cover was likewise -stained with liquor and spotted with ink. The curtains, which were of -good material, were completely disguised in dust; and the windows were -so dirty that at mid-day they formed a pleasantly subdued medium for the -sun-light. Altogether, there was an air of expense mingled with the most -cheerless discomfort—an appearance of liberal outlay altogether -neutralized by neglect and habits of wanton slovenliness. - -The fire burnt feebly—the old woman slunk sulkily away—and Frank Curtis -threw himself upon the bed. He was thoroughly wretched, and would have -given all the money he had left in his pocket for a few hours' tranquil -repose. But sleep would not visit his eyes; and, after tossing about for -some time in painful restlessness, he got up as the clock struck eight. - -His burning, feverish countenance craved the contact of cold water; and -the idea of a refreshing toilette rendered him almost cheerful. But the -jug was empty; and there were no towels. He rang the bell: five minutes -elapsed—and no one came. He rang again; and at last, another five -minutes having gone tediously by, the old woman made her appearance. His -wishes were expressed; and the harridan took away the jug. A third -interval of five minutes passed, ere she returned. Then she had -forgotten the towels; and now a quarter of an hour dragged its slow -length along before she came back, bringing with her a miserably thin -rag of about a foot square. She was about to leave the room again, when -Curtis discovered that there was no soap; and ten minutes more were -required for the provoking old wretch to produce a small sample of that -very necessary article. Yet for all this _discomfort_, the prisoner had -paid a guinea in advance! - -"Pray let me have some breakfast us soon as you can, my good woman," -said Frank, humiliated and miserable. - -"As soon as the kittle biles down stairs," answered the servant, in a -surly tone, as she turned to leave the room. - -"And how long will that be?" demanded Curtis. - -"Don't know: the kitchen fire ain't alight yet:"—and she hobbled away. - -In a fit of desperation the prisoner addressed himself to his toilette: -but the feeling of utter discomfort still clung to him. The water seemed -thick and clammy, instead of cool and refreshing; and the towel was so -small that it became saturated in a few moments, and he was compelled to -dry his face with a corner of one of the sheets. Having no nail brush, -he could not cleanse his hands properly; and the want of a comb left his -hair matted and disordered. In fact, he positively felt more -uncomfortable and dirty after his ablutions than he did before he began -them; and that disagreeable sensation kept him dispirited and wretched. - -He walked about the room, examining all the pictures one after the -other, until he became as thoroughly acquainted with their subjects as -if he had lived for years in that room. He then posted himself at one of -the windows, and watched the people passing up and down the street. It -was now nine o'clock, and the law-clerks were proceeding to their -respective offices. Seedy-looking men were hurrying along with -mysterious slips of paper in their hands; and now and then a -better-attired person, in a suit of black, would be seen wending his way -towards the Chancery Court, carrying the blue bag of his master, a -barrister. Small parties of threes or fours would likewise pass up the -lane, affording to the initiated the irresistible idea—which was also -the true one—of tipstaves conducting insolvents to the court in Portugal -Street. - -At the public house, opposite the barred window from which Curtis was -gazing, a small knot of very shabby men had collected; and it required -but little knowledge of the specimens of animated nature in Chancery -Lane, to recognise their especial calling. In fact they were individuals -who belonged to the outworks of the strong entrenchments of the -law,—process-servers, sheriff's-officers' assistants, and men who hired -themselves out to be left in possession at dwellings where executions -were levied. When not actively engaged, they regularly haunted the -public-houses, of which they seemed the very door-posts; and if they -stepped inside to take something, which was very often indeed, they -appeared on intimate terms with the landlord, said "Miss" to the -bar-girl, and called the waiter by his Christian name. They had a dirty, -seedy, mean, and cringing look about them; and yet, if not adequately -recompensed by the unfortunate victims of the law with whom they had to -deal, they would become doggedly insolent and grossly abusive. - -Half-an-hour passed away; and Chancery Lane grew more attractive. A few -barristers, in all the imposing dignity of the black gown and the awful -wisdom of the wig, were seen moving along to the Rolls' Court: -well-dressed attorneys alighted from their gigs, cabs, or phaetons at -the doors of their offices;—and articled clerks, having thrown away -their cigars when within view of the windows of their places of -business, made up for lost time by cutting briskly over the pavement, -flourishing short sticks, and complacently surveying their polished -boots, tight-fitting trousers, and flash waistcoats. - -Frank Curtis sighed as he beheld so many, many persons in the enjoyment -of freedom;—but his mournful reverie was at length broken by the -entrance of the old woman with the breakfast-tray. His throat was -parched, and he had been unable to drink the water: he now, therefore, -eagerly applied himself to the tea. But it was wretched stuff; and even -extreme thirst could not render it palatable. He tried to eat a piece of -toast; but the butter was so rank that his heart heaved against it. He -broke open an egg: it however tasted of straw, and nearly made him sick. - -Having forced himself to swallow a couple of cups of tea, Frank rang the -bell and ordered the woman to bring him a sheet of paper. This command -was complied with, after a long delay; and, by the aid of a worn down -stump of a pen and ink which flowed like soot and water, Frank managed -to pen a brief note to a lawyer whom he knew, and who dwelt in Carey -Street hard by. After a great deal of trouble, a messenger was found, -who, for the moderate reward of eighteen pence, undertook to convey the -note to its place of destination—just fifty yards distant; and in the -course of half an hour, Mr. Pepperton, the legal limb alluded to, made -his appearance in the shape of a short, thin, sallow-faced man, with -small piercing eyes, and very compressed lips. - -"Well, Mr. Curtis," said the lawyer, as he entered the room; "got into a -mess—eh?" - -"Rather so," replied the young man. "But I don't care so much about -that, as on account of being locked up in this cursed place. The fact is -I must go over to the Bench; and I dare say Sir Christopher won't let me -lie very long there." - -"You require a _habeas_, you know," observed the lawyer. "But are you -sure that you're sued in the Court of Queen's Bench? because, if it is -in the Common Pleas or Exchequer, you will have to go to the Fleet." - -"The devil!" ejaculated Frank. "But here's a paper which Mac Grab gave -me——" - -"Ah! that's right," said Mr. Pepperton, examining the document placed in -his hands. "Yes—it's in the Bench, safe enough. Holloa!" he exclaimed -suddenly, after a few moments' silence: "here's an error in the -description. Your name is Francis, and not Frank." - -"Just so!" cried the prisoner, his heart fluttering with the vague hope -which his legal adviser's words and manner had encouraged. - -"Well—I think—mind, I _think_ that it is highly probable we may set the -caption aside," continued Pepperton. "At all events it would be worth -the trying. But I must apply to the Judge in Chambers this afternoon; -and if we _do_ happen to fail—mind, I say _if_ we _do_—why, then you can -pass over to the Bench to-morrow." - -Somehow or another, persons locked up in spunging-houses always feel -confident of getting out on the slightest legal quibble that their -ingenious attorneys may suggest. They do not apprehend the chance of -failure, and of disbursing two or three guineas, which they can so ill -afford, for nothing: the process of applying to a Judge in Chambers -seems so certain of a triumphant issue, and there is such a spell in the -bare idea, that the door of freedom appears already opening to the -touch. - -Frank Curtis was not an exception to the general rule which we have -mentioned; and he forthwith desired Mr. Pepperton to adopt the necessary -steps, although this gentleman assured him that nothing could be done -until the after part of the day. - -Poor, deluded captive! Little did he think Mr. Pepperton was well aware -beforehand that there was not the shadow of the ghost of a chance of -success; but that his only motive in suggesting these proceedings was to -make as much out of his client as possible. - -When Pepperton had left the room, Frank Curtis began to pace it as if he -were a Wandering Jew confined to a very miniature world; and he examined -the pictures over and over again, until they seemed the most familiar -friends of the kind he had ever known. Then he returned to the window, -and beheld Mr. Mac Grab and one of his men just starting in a -queer-looking gig upon a suburban expedition; and having watched the -equipage until it was no longer visible, he bethought himself of asking -for a newspaper. He accordingly rang the bell, and intimated his wishes -to the old woman, who, after keeping him in suspense as usual for ten -minutes or a quarter of an hour, returned with a _Weekly Dispatch_ a -fortnight old and a _Times_ of ten days back. Curtis could scarcely -control his indignation; and, tossing a shilling to the harridan, he -desired her to send out and buy him a morning paper. She departed -accordingly, and in half-an-hour returned with that day's _Times_, -whereby Mr. Frank Curtis was enabled to divert himself until two -o'clock, when he partook of an execrable chop nearly raw, a potato that -seemed as if it were iced, and a pint of wine which appeared to have -been warmed. - -Then how heavily, heavily did the weary hours pass away; and Curtis more -than half regretted that his friend O'Blunderbuss did not call upon him. -He felt that, for the pleasure of his society, he would overlook and -forget the treatment he had received at his hands. But the gallant -officer came not; and, what with another examination of the pictures, a -complete spell of the advertisements (the news being already disposed -of) in the _Times_, and a cigar or two, Frank managed to dispose of the -time, though miserably enough, until five o'clock. - -Mr. Pepperton then came back; and Frank awaited the report in -excruciating suspense. - -"Well, my dear fellow," said the lawyer, flinging himself in a chair as -if regularly worn out by hard work, "we have lost the point; but we have -this consolation——" - -"What?" demanded Curtis, in the anxious hope of seeing another loophole -promising emancipation. - -"Why—that we as nearly gained it as possible," returned Pepperton. "It -was old Justice Foozlehem that was at Chambers to-day; and, when I -argued the point, he rubbed his nose with the feather-end of the pen—he -always does that when the thing is very ticklish——" - -"Damn Judge Foozlehem!" emphatically cried Mr. Frank Curtis. "A miss is -as good as a mile; and that was what the Prince of Malabar said when my -bullet whistled close by his ear at that duel which him and me fought at -Boulogne three years ago. But, to speak seriously of business—I suppose -that there's nothing left for me to do——" - -"Save to pay the debt or go to the Bench," added the lawyer, putting the -alternatives in as nut-shell a compass as possible. - -"Well—the Bench it must be, then!" ejaculated Frank. - -"I will take out the _habeas_ to-morrow," observed Mr. Pepperton; "and -at about five o'clock in the afternoon the tipstaff will be at -Serjeant's Inn waiting for you—or may be, you'll have to go over to him -at the public-house opposite." - -Curtis invited the lawyer to pass the evening with him: but Mr. -Pepperton was engaged elsewhere; and the prisoner was therefore -compelled to drink and smoke in solitude, occasionally varying the -occupation by another spell at the _Times_—another long gaze of envy -from the window—and another scrutiny of the pictures. - -At last, when ten o'clock struck, Mr. Curtis was thoroughly worn out by -feverish excitement, suspense, and annoyances of all kinds; and he -retired to rest with the fervent hope of enjoying an uninterrupted -slumber till morning. But scarcely had he begun to get drowsy, when a -tickling sensation commenced in a thousand parts of his body and limbs; -and, to his dismay, he found himself assailed by a perfect legion of -those abominable little torturers termed bugs. - -Now, Mr. Curtis was most peculiarly sensitive in this respect; and if -there were ever a flea or a bug in a bed, it was certain to find him -out—aye, and feast upon him too. But never, in the whole course of his -life, had he experienced such an attack as on the present occasion: -never till now had he known bugs so numerous, nor bites so pungent. - -At length he jumped up in rage and agony, and lighted a candle. But vain -was all search: not a bug could he find. The legion _appeared_ to have -suddenly _disappeared_. Like Destiny, they were always to be felt, but -never seen. He could not sleep with a light in the room; so, having -extinguished it, he laid himself down once more. - -For a few minutes he was suffered to remain quiet enough; but at last, -back came his tormentors by slow degrees; and scarcely had he torn the -skin off one part of his body, than he was compelled to flay another. In -this manner hour after hour passed; and, when he did at length fall -asleep between one and two in the morning, he was pursued by a legion of -bugs and sheriff's-officers in his dreams. - - - - - CHAPTER CIV. - THE VISIT.—THE HABEAS CORPUS. - - -Frank awoke at seven o'clock, depressed in spirits and unrefreshed in -body. His head still ached; and he was sore all over through having -nearly torn himself to pieces on account of the bugs. His face betrayed -marks of the ravages committed upon him by his little tormentors; and -his eyes were swollen from the same cause. He had not even the comfort -of copious ablutions; for the process of the toilette was not more -satisfactory on this occasion than it had been on the previous day. Thus -all circumstances conspired to make him wretched. - -Before he sate down to breakfast, he despatched a messenger to Baker -Street for a few necessaries which he required; and, as he did not -choose to write to his wife, and knew not whether O'Blunderbuss might -still be there, he sent a verbal intimation of his wishes. - -The breakfast of this morning was no improvement on its predecessor: -indeed, it struck Curtis that he had got from bad to worse by trying the -desperate experiment of ordering coffee instead of tea. He, however, -knew that it was useless to grumble; and so, having disposed of the meal -as best he could, he sent for the morning paper, with which he whiled -away an hour and a half until the return of his messenger, who came -laden with a portmanteau. - -"Well, who did you see in Baker Street?" demanded Frank. - -"Please, sir, I see Mr. Proggs and t'other man which is in possession," -was the answer. - -"And who else?" enquired Curtis. - -"Please, sir, I see a stout lady as give me a glass of gin, and a tall -genelman as give me a rap over the head," returned the man. - -"And what did he do that for?" cried Frank, laughing in spite of -himself. - -"'Cos he said, sir, that I didn't speak in a speckful way to him. But -here's a note as the genelman give me to give to you, sir." - -Curtis tore open a curiously folded letter which the messenger handed to -him, and the contents of which ran as follow:— - - "Be Jasus, my frind, and it's myself that has a right to complain of - unfrindly tratement. Here have I been waiting to resave a bit of a - note from ye, and divil a line or a word at all, at all. Your poor - wife's distracted and has lost her appetite, and all because of your - injurious suspicions; but I do all I can to consoul her. If you come - to reflict upon the matther, Frank, ye must admit that though - appayrances was against me, yet it isn't Capthain O'Blunderbuss that - would wrong ye. For, be the powers! and it's mistaken in the bed I - was—what with botheration and potheen and the candle's going out; - and divil a hayp'orth did I drame where I was, till ye powred the - wather all over me. So shake hands, me boy, and let us be frinds - again; and sure it's myself that will bring Mrs. Curtis down to dine - with ye at two o'clock this afthernoon, and we'll send in the dinner - and the potheen first. Proggs and his man are in possission; and I - feel like a defated ginral: but they're on their best behaviour, and - so I have not been forced to give either of them a taste of the - shillaylee. I'm sadly afraid that the chap you have sent up is a - fool; so if he should forget to give you this letter, mind you ask - him for it. Your wife sends you a million kisses through me; and - believe me, my frind, to remain - - "Ever yours, - "GORMAN O'BLUNDERBUSS." - -"Very good," said Frank Curtis, as he brought the perusal of this -curious epistle to an end: and having paid and dismissed the messenger, -he sate himself down to reflect upon the manner in which he ought to -receive his wife and the gallant gentleman. - -On the one hand was the sense of the injury he had received, or fancied -he had received; for he could not well embrace the double conviction -that Mrs. Curtis was _not_ faithless, and that the captain was _not_ -treacherous. On the other hand were numerous motives persuasive of an -amicable course,—the want of society, the shame of declaring himself to -be a cuckold—and last, though not least, the infinite terror in which he -stood of Gorman O'Blunderbuss. These reasons were weighty and powerful; -and they grew stronger and stronger as the dinner-hour advanced,—until -they became completely triumphant when a hamper was sent up, containing -cold fowls, ham, wine, dessert, whiskey, and cigars. - -No longer hesitating what course to pursue, Frank superintended the -laying of the cloth and the arrangement of the provisions upon the -table: he decanted the wine—tasted it—and found it excellent;—and, those -little proceedings having put him into a thorough good humour, he -received his wife and the captain, when they made their appearance, as -if nothing had occurred to ruffle his mind with regard to them. - -Mrs. Curtis thought it necessary to go into hysterics at the sight of -her beloved husband in a spunging-house; but she speedily recovered upon -the said beloved husband's kindly recommending her not to make a fool of -herself;—and the trio sate down to dinner, at which they made themselves -very comfortable indeed. The captain proposed that as the wine-glasses -were particularly small, they should drink their Sherry from tumblers; -and the motion was adopted after a feeble opposition on the part of the -lady. - -"Well, Cu-r-r-tis, me boy," exclaimed the gallant gentleman, when they -had made an end of eating, having done immense justice to the viands -provided, "what are ye afther now? It isn't staying here all your life -that you can be thinking of——" - -"Nor do I intend to stop in this cursed hole many hours longer," -interrupted Frank. "I expect to go over to the Bench, at five o'clock." - -"The Binch!" cried the captain, overjoyed at the plan chalked out: "be -Jasus! and it's the wisest thing ye can be afther, my frind! The Binch -is a glor-rious place—and ye'll be as comfortable there as at home. The -porther is the best in all London; and it's worth while to be in the -Binch for the pleasure of dhrinking it. Not that I'm a great admirer of -malt, Mim," he added, turning politely towards Mrs. Curtis; "but the -porther of the Binch is second best to rale potheen. Then the amusements -of the Binch, Mim, are delightful! There's the parade to walk upon—and -there's the racquet ground when ye're tired of the parade—and there's -the dolphin-pump—and the coffee-house, a riglar tavern——In fact," -exclaimed the gallant gentleman, quite lost in admiration of all the -beautiful views and scenes he was so enthusiastically depicting, "the -Binch is a perfect palace of a prison, and I only wish I was there -myself." - -"I'm sure I should be most happy to change places with you, captain," -observed Frank Curtis drily. - -"I wouldn't deprive ye of the pleasure, me boy, for all the wor-r-ld!" -cried O'Blunderbuss, in a tone of the utmost sincerity. "But what's to -be done next? Those bastes of the earth are in possession of the -garrison, and every stick will be sould up by them—the ragamuffin scamps -that they are!" - -"The wife and children must take a lodging over the water, close by the -Bench," said Curtis; "and if Sir Christopher won't come forward to -assist me, I must either get the Rules or go through the Insolvent's -Court—I don't care much which. My friend, the Earl of Billingsgate, did -both——" - -"Be the holy poker-r! and it's myself that will call on Sir -Christopher-r in such a strait as this," vociferated the captain; "and -although he did knock me down from the carriage window, the last time——" - -"What!" ejaculated Frank, as much amused as astonished at the -information which the gallant officer had so inadvertently let slip; -"Sir Christopher knocked you down!" - -"Blood and thunther!" roared the captain, becoming as red as scarlet; -"and was it afther making a fool of myself that I was? For sure and it -was Sir Christopher that was knocked down—and I didn't like to tell ye -about it before, seeing that he's your own nat'ral uncle. But it's -myself that will call upon him and offer the most abject apology; and -I'll skin him alive if he don't come for'ard as he ought to do, and pay -all your debts, my dear boy. So you persave that there's some use in -having such a frind as Gorman O'Bluntherbuss, of Bluntherbuss Park, -Connemar-r-ra, Ir-r-reland!" added the martial gentleman, with an awful -rattling of the r's. - -"The sooner I move over to the neighbourhood of the Bench, the better," -said Mrs. Curtis; "for I am sick and tired of living in Baker Street. -Just now, when I came out, it seemed to me that all the people I met -laughed in my face, as if they knew our circumstances." - -"I wish I had seen them dar-r to laugh!" cried Captain O'Blunderbuss, -lifting up an empty bottle, and flourishing it over his head: "I'd have -sent them slap into the middle of next week, so that they should miss -resayving their money next Saturday night." - -In such pleasant chat as this, did the trio while away the time until -about a quarter to five, when Mr. Pepperton made his appearance to -announce that the office had been searched, that three detainers had -been found, and that the _habeas corpus_ was all in apple-pie order. - -Frank Curtis accordingly rang the bell, and ordered his bill. In about a -quarter of an hour it was brought;—and thus it ran:— - - MR. CURTIS'S ACCOUNT. - - _s._ _d._ - - Room 10 6 - - Breakfast 3 0 - - Eggs 0 6 - - Messenger to Carey Street 2 6 - - Reading Newspapers 1 0 - - Dinner 5 0 - - Porter 0 6 - - Gin and Cigars 5 6 - - Bread and Cheese for Supper 2 0 - - Porter 0 6 - - Room 10 6 - - Breakfast 3 0 - - Eggs 0 6 - - Messenger to Baker Street 3 0 - - Use of table-cloth, knives, and forks, &c., gentleman 2 6 - providing his own dinner - - Extras 5 0 - - —— —— —— - - £2 15 6 - - —— —— —— - -"Why, my good woman," exclaimed Frank Curtis, amazed as such a terrific -attempt at imposition, "this account is absurd. Besides, there are two -things in it that I paid for myself—I mean the messenger yesterday and -to-day." - -"Master says it's all right, sir," observed the harridan. - -"And then you charge a shilling for reading two newspapers a fortnight -old," cried Frank, more and more bewildered as he studied the items of -the bill: "and five shillings for _extras_! Why—what the devil are the -_extras_, since it seems to me that you have taken precious good care to -omit nothing?" - -"The extras is soap, and candles, and so on," said the woman, growing -impatient. - -"Then, be Jasus! and just let me soap over Mr. Mac Grab with a -shillaleh!" ejaculated Captain O'Blunderbuss, starting from his seat. -"It's afther robbing my frind, ye are—ye bastes of the earth!" - -Mr. Pepperton however interfered, and represented to the two gentlemen -that there was no possibility of obtaining redress—that -sheriff's-officers might charge exactly what they liked—and that it -would be much better to pay the bill without any haggling. The amount -was accordingly liquidated, and the old woman received half-a-crown as a -gratuity, which she took in a manner most unequivocally denoting that -she had expected at least four times as much. - -"Well," exclaimed Frank Curtis, as soon as she had left the room, "of -all infernal impositions this is the greatest! Supposing I was a poor -devil——" - -"Then you would have been bundled straight off to Whitecross Street at -once," observed Pepperton. "Lord bless you, my dear sir—there's an -aristocracy amongst debtors as well as in every thing else in this -country." - -"I always thought the law was the same for rich or poor," said Curtis. - -"You never were under a greater mistake in your life," returned the -solicitor. "Money is all-powerful in England, and makes the gentleman; -and gentlemen are treated quite differently from common people. Such -establishments as the Bench and the Fleet[43] are for those who can -afford to pay for a _habeas_: while those who cannot, must go to the -County Gaol. These spunging-houses, too, are places of accommodation, -for the use of which people must pay liberally." - -"Or rather be robbed vilely," said Frank. "But never mind—it can't be -helped. When shall I have to go over to the Bench?" - -"The tipstaff is no doubt already waiting at the public-house opposite," -replied the lawyer. - -"Then I'll be off at once," exclaimed Curtis, rising from his chair. - -"Be the power-rs! but we'll see ye safe over to the Binch," cried -Captain O'Blunderbuss; "for it may be that I shall have to thrash the -Marshal or skin a tur-rnkey to renther the people dacently civil in that -iligant istablishment." - -"Yes—you come with me, captain," said Frank, who had been thinking of -some means to separate his amiable wife and his devoted friend. "You can -put Mrs. C. into a hackney-coach; and to-morrow morning, my dear," he -added, turning towards his spouse, "you can look out for a lodging -somewhere in the neighbourhood of the prison." - -"But you don't mean me to remain all alone to-night in Baker Street, -with those odious officers in the house?" exclaimed Mrs. Curtis, not -admiring the proposed arrangement. - -"It would not be proper for the captain to stay in the house now that I -am away," said Frank, hastily, and without daring to look at his gallant -friend: indeed, scarcely were the words out of his mouth, when he was -surprised at his courage in having dared to utter them. - -Fortunately the captain took the observation in good part, and even -expressed his approval of it; for it struck the martial gentleman that -he should stand a much better chance of amusing himself with Frank -Curtis in the Bench, with the interior arrangements of which he was -pretty well acquainted from old experience, than in the society of Mrs. -Curtis in Baker Street. The lady could not, therefore, offer any farther -opposition to the arrangement proposed; but she darted an angry look -upon the captain, who responded by one of earnest appeal to her mercy. - -She now took leave of her husband, and was escorted by Captain -O'Blunderbuss to the nearest coach-stand; and as some time elapsed ere -he returned to the spunging-house, it is presumable that he had a little -difficulty in making his peace with her. - -At length, however, he did re-appear; and, the messenger having conveyed -the portmanteau over to the public-house opposite, for which he only -charged a shilling, the prisoner proceeded thither in company with Mr. -MacGrab and Captain O'Blunderbuss, Pepperton bidding them farewell at -the door. - -In a little front parlour on the first floor of the public-house alluded -to, sate half-a-dozen seedy-looking men, who were delectably occupied in -smoking cigars and drinking hot gin-and-water. Their conversation was -doubtless very amusing to themselves; but it would have been very boring -to strangers;—for the topic seemed entirely limited to what had taken -place that day at the Insolvent Debtors' Court, or at the Judges' -Chambers. There, in that same room, were those men accustomed to meet -every afternoon (Sunday excepted), at about the same hour; and their -discourse was invariably on the same subjects. They were tipstaffs—or, -more properly speaking, perhaps, tipstaves: they lived in the atmosphere -of debtors' prisons and law-courts;—and all their information was -circumscribed to the transactions thereof. When they were not hovering -about the lobbies of the Fleet or the Bench, they were "down at -Westminster," or "up at Portugal Street;" and if not in any of those -places—why, then they were at the public-house. - -It was to one of these worthies that MacGrab introduced Mr. Francis -Curtis; and as the tipstaff thus particularised had not finished his -cigar nor his gin-and-water, Mr. Frank Curtis and Captain O'Blunderbuss -sate down to keep him company till he had. Half an hour afterwards a -hackney-coach was sent for; and the prisoner, his gallant friend, and -the officer were speedily on their road to the King's Bench prison. - -Curtis spoke but little during the transit: he felt nervous at the idea -of going to his new home. But the captain rattled away as if he were -determined to speak for himself and his friend both; and the tipstaff -was still in a state of uncertainty as to whether he should set the -gallant gentleman down as a very extraordinary personage, or as a most -wondrous liar, when the vehicle stopped at a little low door in a gloomy -brick wall. - -"Be Jasus! and here's the Binch already," exclaimed Captain -O'Blunderbuss, thrusting his head out of the coach-window. "That house -there, with the trees before it, Frank, is the Marshal's—and a very -dacent berth he's got of it: I shouldn't mind standing in his shoes at -all, at all. But come along, me dear frind." - -Thus speaking, the captain leapt from the vehicle, followed by Frank -Curtis and the tipstaff; and, having traversed an enclosure formed by -the gloomy-looking wall above alluded to and the high spike-topped -boundary of the prison itself, the trio ascended a few steps which led -them into the upper lobby of the King's Bench. - ------ - -Footnote 43: - - Within the last few years the Fleet has been suppressed, and the - Bench, under the general name of the Queen's Prison, has become the - receptacle for all metropolitan debtors who are enabled to purchase - the luxury of a _habeas corpus_. - - - - - CHAPTER CV. - THE KING'S BENCH PRISON. - - -The upper lobby was a small, dirty, and sombre-looking outwork of the -vast establishment. A huge clock hung against one of the walls—a -roasting fire burnt in the grate—and a stout, elderly turnkey, who spoke -with a provincial accent, was seated on a high stool near the inner -door, watching the persons who came _out_ of the prison, and on whose -countenance the glare of a powerful light was thrown by a tin reflector. -Grouped near him were several char-women and messengers, engaged in the -double occupation of discussing a pot of the best ale and the scandal of -the Bench; while another turnkey—a short, active, bustling little -fellow, who rejoiced in the nick-name of "Buffer"—was seated inside a -small enclosure formed by wood-work breast-high, examining a greasy and -well-thumbed book containing sundry hieroglyphics which were supposed to -be entries of the prisoners' names. - -To Mr. Buffer was Mr. Frank Curtis duly introduced by the tipstaff; and -the young gentleman's appellations were forthwith inscribed in the -greasy book. He was then desired to pay his gate-fees, which he -accordingly did; and, these little matters being settled, Mr. Buffer -politely informed him that he might "go inside." The head turnkey—who -was the stout, elderly man above alluded to—thereupon opened the door at -which he was seated; and Captain O'Blunderbuss led the way, first across -a small yard, next through the lower lobby—and thence into the grand -enclosure of the King's Bench itself. - -Captain O'Blunderbuss turned sharp round to the left, and stopped in -admiration before a low building with a roof slanting down from the high -wall against which it stood. - -"There!" cried the gallant officer, in an ecstacy of enthusiasm: "what -place should you be afther taking _that_ to be?" - -"Why—I should say it was the scullery or the coal-cellars," replied -Frank. - -"Be Jasus! me dear frind—and you're insulthing the finest fature in this -fine prison," exclaimed the captain: "it's the coffee-house." - -Mr. Curtis did not like to say how deeply he was disappointed at the -unpromising exterior of an establishment which his companion seemed so -especially to admire; and he therefore silently followed his guide into -the coffee-room, which was just large enough to contain four very little -tables and yield accommodation to about a dozen people at a time. - -There was nearly that number present when Captain O'Blunderbuss and -Frank Curtis entered the place; and as there were not two seats -disengaged, the gallant officer put his arms akimbo, fixed his eyes -sternly on a stout, inoffensive-looking old gentleman, and, without -positively addressing his words to him, exclaimed, "Be the holy poker-r! -and I should advise some one to be afther making room on a binch for my -frind and myself—or I'll know the rayson why!" - -The inoffensive-looking gentleman shrank dismayed into a corner, and, -two or three others pressing closer together, sufficient space was -obtained to afford Captain O'Blunderbuss and Mr. Frank Curtis seats; and -the former, as he took his place at a table, cast a particularly -ferocious glance around on the assembled company, as much as to say, "Be -the power-rs! and ye'd betther not be afther having any of your nonsense -with me!" But as no one at the moment seemed at all inclined to make -even an attempt to interfere with the gallant gentleman, his countenance -gradually lost its menacing aspect; and he ordered the waiter—a -slip-shod, dirty boy—to bring a bottle of wine, spirits not being -allowed. - -The company presented to the view of Mr. Frank Curtis rather a motley -aspect. There was a sample of nearly all kinds of social distinctions,—a -sprig of the aristocracy—a broken-down sporting gentleman—a decayed -tradesman—a bankrupt merchant—an insolvent parson—a ruined gamester—a -prize-fighter—a horse-chaunter—an attorney, who had over-reached -himself—a poor author—and one or two others who bore the vague and much -misappropriated denomination of "gentleman." All these were herding -together in a glorious state of democratic equality; for a debtors' -prison goes far to level distinctions, the lordling being very often -glad to obtain a draught of ale from the pewter-pot of a butcher. - -The entrance of Captain O'Blunderbuss and Frank Curtis, both of whom -were taken for new prisoners and stared at accordingly, seemed to have -interrupted a conversation that was previously going on;—and for a few -minutes a dead silence prevailed. But at last, when the wine which the -captain had ordered was brought in, and that gallant gentleman and -Curtis gave evident proofs of an inclination to enjoy themselves by -enquiring likewise for cigars, the company recovered the feeling of -hilarity on which the awful appearance of O'Blunderbuss had seemed for a -few minutes to throw a complete damper. - -"Well, how did Jackson get on to-day at Portugal Street?" enquired a -rakish, dissipated looking young gentleman, who was smoking a cigar and -drinking a pint of Port-wine. - -"He got sent back for six months," answered the person to whom the -question was put, and who was a stout, big man, in very seedy attire. -"It seems that his schedule was made up of accommodation bills, and the -opposition was desperate." - -"You talk of accommodation bills, Muggles," observed the young -gentleman; "why, all my debts are in paper of that kind. There's -seventeen thousand pounds against me at the gate; and I'd take my -affidavit that I never had more than three thousand in actual value. So -I suppose I shall get it from the old Commissioner?" - -"No, you won't, Pettifer, my boy," cried a short, elderly, -dapper-looking man, putting down a quart pot in which his countenance -had been buried for upwards of a minute before he began to speak; "your -father's a lord—and that's enough," he added, looking mysteriously -around. - -"Well, so he is," said the Honourable Mr. Pettifer, lolling back in a -very aristocratic manner, and speaking for the behoof of Captain -O'Blunderbuss and Frank Curtis; "it's true that my father is Lord -Cobbleton, and that I'm his second son. But, after all—what's a -nobleman's second son?" - -"Be Jasus! and what indeed?" cried the captain. "Why, my grandfather was -Archbishop of Dublin—and my father was his son—and I'm my father's -son—and yet, be the power-rs! I'm only a capthain now! But if I hadn't -half a million, or some thrifle of the kind locked up in Chancery, I -should be afther rowlling in my carriage—although I do keep a buggy and -a dog-cart, as it is—and my frind Curthis here, jintlemen, wouldn't be -in the Binch for two hunthred thousand pounds, as he is and bad luck to -it!" - -"Well—but you know, captain," said Frank, who was determined not to be -behind his gallant companion in the art of lying, and who therefore very -readily took up the cue prepared for him,—"you know, captain, that the -moment my god-father the Duke comes home, I shall be all right." - -"Right!—right as a thrivet, me boy!" vociferated O'Blunderbuss; "and -then we'll carry on the war-r-r with a vengeance." - -These remarks on the part of the captain and Frank Curtis produced a -deep impression upon the greater portion of the company present; but two -or three of the oldest prisoners tipped each other the wink slyly, as -much as to say, "Ain't they coming it strong?"—although they did not -dare provoke the ire of the ferocious Hibernian by any overt display of -their scepticism. - -"Speaking of Chancery," said an old, miserable-looking man, in a -wretchedly thread-bare suit of black, and whose care-worn countenance -showed an intimate acquaintance with sorrow,—"speaking of Chancery," he -repeated, leaning forward from the corner in which he had hitherto -remained silent and almost unobserved,—"you can't know Chancery, -sir—begging your pardon—better or more bitterly than I do." - -[Illustration] - -"Ah! tell the gentlemen your story, Prout," exclaimed one of the -company. "'Pon my soul 'tis a hard case, and a stain upon a civilised -country. - -"A stain!" ejaculated the old man, whose name appeared to be Prout;—"a -stain!" he cried, in a tone of painful irony:—"it is a horror—an -abomination—an atrocity that demands vengeance on those legislators who -know that such abuses exist and who will not remedy them! -Chancellors—Vice-Chancellors—Judges—Law-Lords—Members of -Parliament—Attorney-Generals—Solicitor-Generals—all, all for the last -two-and-twenty years, so help me God! have been familiar with my -case—and yet the Court of Chancery remains as it is, the most tremendous -abuse—the most damnable Inquisition—the most grinding, soul-crushing, -heart-breaking engine of torture that the ingenuity of man ever yet -invented! Yes—all that—and more—more, if I could find stronger language -to express myself in—is that earthly reflection of hell—the Court of -Chancery!" - -The old man had spoken with a volubility which had increased in -quickness and in emphasis until it positively grew painful to hear;—and -his countenance became flushed with a hectic, unhealthy red—and his -eyes, usually leaden and dull, were fired with an unnatural lustre—and -his chest heaved convulsively—and his lips quivered with the dreadful -excitement produced in his attenuated and worn-out frame by the -remembrance of his wrongs. - -Remembrance!—as if he ever forgot them! No—the Chancery Court was the -subject of his thoughts by day and his dreams by night: every thing he -heard, or saw, or read, was so tortured by his morbid imagination as to -bear some analogy, remote or near, to the proceedings of the Chancery -Court;—when he had a meal, he wondered that the Chancery Court had left -it to him—and when he had none, he said that the Chancery Court made him -starve;—if he felt in tolerably good health, it was because he heard of -some case in Chancery even more flagrant than his own—and that was a -consolation to his diseased mind; and if he felt ill which was nearly -always the case, he declared that the Chancery Court made him so:—in -fact, he was truly a victim, in every sense and way, of that tremendous -tribunal which has instruments of torture far more terrible for the -feelings than those which the Inquisition of Spain ever invented for the -body! - -"Yes," exclaimed Prout, after a few moments' pause, "and all that -diabolical tyranny is carried on under the semblance and with the solemn -forms of justice. You go into a fine court, where you see a man of -splendid intellect, fine education, and profound knowledge, seated in a -chair, with the wig and gown; and before him are rows of barristers -almost as learned as himself. Well—would you not think that you were in -a tribunal worthy of the civilisation of this country! Yet—better were -it if savages from the South Sea Islands became your judges; better to -die upon the threshold of that court, than enter its walls. It is a -damnable and a cursed tyranny, I repeat; and the English are a weak—a -pusillanimous—a spaniel-like race, that they do not rise in rebellion -against that monstrous tribunal!" - -Again he paused, overpowered by excitement:—but there was something -terribly real and awfully sincere—aye, and sternly true—in that man's -denunciations! - -"Yes—I say," he resumed, after having refreshed himself from a -pewter-pot near him—though there had been a time when he was accustomed -to drink wine,—"the English people are a nation of paltry cowards for -allowing this hideous Chancery Court to uprear its head amongst them. -Did not the French destroy their Bastille?—and was the Bastille ever -half so bad, in one way, as this Chancery Court is in another? It is all -useless for two or three people to declaim, or two or three authors to -write, against such a flagrant abuse. 'Tis a public grievance, and must -be put down by the public hand! The whole body of lawyers are against -law-reform—and the profession of the law has vast influence upon both -Houses of Parliament. From the Houses of Parliament, then, we have no -hope: the strong hand of the people must do it. You might as well ask -the Lords to abolish hereditary aristocracy, or the King to dethrone -himself, as expect the Houses of Parliament to sweep away the Chancery -Court." - -"But could we do without it?" enquired an attentive listener. - -"Do without it!" exclaimed Prout, indignantly—almost contemptuously, at -the nature of the question: "certainly we can! France does without -it—Holland does without it—Prussia does without it—Switzerland does -without it—and the United States do without it;—and where is the law of -property better administered than in those countries? There the transfer -of land, or the bequeathing of other property, is as simple as that of -merchandize or stock; but here—here, in England, which vaunts its -freedom and its civilization, the process is encumbered with forms and -deeds which leave the whole arrangement liable to flaws, difficulties, -and endless embarrassments. Talk of Equity indeed! 'tis the most -shameless mockery of justice ever known even amongst barbarians. But let -me tell you an anecdote? In 1763, a suit was commenced in Chancery -relative to some lawful property on which there was a windmill. The -cause was not referred to the Master till 1796—thirty-three years having -elapsed, and the lawyers, who had grown old during the proceedings, not -having been idle. In the Master's office did the case remain till -1815—though the new lawyers who had succeeded the old batch that had -died off in the meantime, were as active as the matter would allow them -to be. Well—in 1815 the Master began to look into the business; but, -behold! the windmill had disappeared—it had tumbled down—it had wasted -away into dust—not a trace of it remained!" actually shrieked out the -old man, in the excitement of his story.[44] - -"Thus the affair was fifty-two years in Chancery, and was knocked on the -head after all?" observed one of the company present. - -"While Law slept, Time was awake and busy, you see," said Prout, with a -bitter irony which actually chilled the hearts of his auditors. "But I -can give you plenty of examples of the infernal—heart-breaking delays of -Chancery—and my own amongst the rest presently," he continued. "There is -the case of _Bute_ versus _Stuart_: it began in 1793—and in 1813 _a -step_ was made in the cause![45] Then, again, you have the case of the -_Attorney-General_ versus _Trevelyan_: it commenced in 1685, and is an -affair involving an endowment for a Grammar-School at Morpeth. This -cause never will be finished![46] But how much property do you suppose -there is locked up in Chancery—eh? Ah! now I am going to tell you -something astounding indeed—and yet as true as the Gospel! _Thirty-eight -millions sterling_ are locked up in that dreadful tribunal. A -tribunal!—no—it is a sepulchre—a tomb—a grave in which all justice and -all hopes are interred! But you will say that this enormous fund is only -as it were in temporary trust, to be in due time portioned out to its -rightful owners. Pshaw!—nonsense! More than _one-third_ concerns persons -who are dead and have left no heirs, or else whose representatives are -ignorant of their rights. The Suitors' Fund is a bank of plunder—of -shameful, diabolical plunder effected under the _forms of the law_!" - -"But what about your own case, old fellow?" enquired the Honourable Mr. -Pettifer. - -"I'll tell you in a moment, gentlemen," cried Prout, rejoiced to observe -the interest created by his strictures on the most hellish tribunal that -ever disgraced a civilised country. "Twenty-five years ago," he said, "I -was a prosperous man, having a good business in the City; and I had -managed to save four thousand pounds by dint of strict economy and the -closest attention to my affairs. A lawyer—a friend of mine—told me of a -favourable opportunity to place the sum out at good interest and on the -best possible security. A gentleman, in fact, wanted to borrow just that -amount on mortgage, he having a capital estate. The matter was fully -investigated, and the security was considered unexceptionable. So I lent -the money; and for three years the interest was regularly paid, and all -went on well. The gentleman suddenly died; and his nephew, who inherited -the estate, hunted out an old entail, effected a hundred and fifty years -previously, and of the existence of such an entail no mention had been -made in subsequent deeds. So the nephew would not acknowledge the -validity of the mortgage, and refused to pay me a fraction of my four -thousand pounds. He would not even settle the interest. I was therefore -forced into Chancery; and seven years afterwards I got a decree in my -favour, but I was sent into the Master's Office on account of certain -details which I will not stop to explain to you. This was fifteen years -ago—and I am still in Chancery! I have spent three thousand pounds in -costs—and am totally ruined. The excitement and worry of law made me -neglect my business: my affairs fell into confusion—my creditors took -all my stock in trade—and here have I been eleven years for the balance -of my liabilities. Twenty-two years have I been engaged in _law_—and -have not yet got _justice_! And yet I am told that I live in a civilised -country, where the laws are based on consummate wisdom, and where the -meanest as well as the highest individual is sure to obtain justice. -Justice indeed!—such justice as one finds in the Chancery Court! My -original claim was for four thousand pounds—and I have spent three -thousand in costs, and owe my lawyer five hundred pounds more. But what -do you think of this? Eight years ago a _written question_ was put by -the Master to the respondent in the suit; and it is still a matter of -dispute whether he is to answer it or not! Here's law for you—here's -justice! Why—it is enough to make a man curse himself for belonging to a -country in which such things take place: it is enough to make me ashamed -of being an Englishman! Suppose a savage from the South Sea Islands came -to England—beheld all the glitter and glory of our outward appearance of -civilisation—studied our language, and was then told of such cases as -these? What would he think. He would say, '_After all, you are in -reality a very barbarous people; and I shall be glad when I get back to -my own far-off island!_'"[47] - -"As far as all this goes, you are right enough," observed an attorney, -who was one of the company present: "but had you gone much farther, you -would have been equally correct. You may denounce nearly all our laws -and statutes to be radically bad and a disgrace to civilisation. But it -is useless to hope that an efficient reform will be ever effected by the -Parliament; because the Parliament is loth to interfere with existing -usages, and is afraid to meddle with existing rights. Nothing short of a -Revolution can possibly accomplish a proper change." - -"Why—this is treason!" exclaimed the Honourable Mr. Pettifer, his -aristocratic feelings deeply wounded by the lawyer's bold and manly -declaration. - -"It may be treason—but it is nevertheless the truth," said the attorney, -with the cool firmness of a man entertaining an honest conviction of the -justice of his observations. "I declare most of our laws to be a -disgrace and a shame. In France all the laws are contained in one book, -accessible to every person: here, in this country, they are totally -inaccessible to the community in general. Do you think France would ever -have had her Code without a Revolution?[48] Do you know how silly, -absurd, and contradictory are some of our statutes—those statutes which -are approved of by the Law-Officers of the Crown, and enacted by wise -senators? There is a statute, for example's sake,[49] which decrees that -one half of the penalty inflicted in a particular case is to go to the -informer, and the other half to the King. And yet under this statute -Judges sentence men to transportation—say, fourteen years' -transportation, to be halved by the informer and the King! Then there -are statutes still upon the book, and which, though unrepealed, could -scarcely be put into execution without inflicting an odious tyranny. A -statute of Edward VI. forbids agricultural labourers to hire themselves -out, or be hired, by the day, and not for less than a year. By a statute -of William and Mary, no peasant may sell goods in a town, except at a -fair; and a statute of Henry VII. decrees, under severe penalties, that -no cattle shall be killed in a walled town, nor in Cambridge. There is -also a statute, I forget of which reign, enacting that no shoemaker may -be a tanner, nor a tanner a shoemaker. The laws relating to Marriage are -in many respects absurd, and in others obscure. A marriage contracted by -persons under age, by means of license, without the consent of their -parents, is unlawful; but such persons may contract a lawful marriage by -banns, although without the consent of their parents. Thousands and -thousands of persons have been led to believe that it is lawful for a -man to marry his deceased wife's sister; whereas it is _not lawful_, and -the issue of such a marriage is illegitimate." - -At this moment the learned gentleman was interrupted by the clanging of -a loud bell, carried by a person who was proceeding round the main -building of the prison, and who every now and then stopped ringing for -the purpose of vociferating as loud as he could—"Strangers, women, and -children, all out!" - -"Shall you have to leave?" demanded Frank Curtis, in a whisper to his -friend the captain. - -"Divil a hap'orth of it, me boy!" exclaimed O'Blunderbuss. "The person -who keeps the Coffee-house will be glad to give me a bed as well as -yourself; for money, frind Cur-r-tis, procures everything in this -blissed Spike-Island." - -Another half-hour was passed in discourse on various topics, the inmates -of the Coffee-house parlour having become wearied of commenting upon the -laws of their country; and, at the expiration of that interval renewed -shouts, now emanating from the immediate vicinity of the lower lobby, -warned all strangers to quit the prison. At the same time the parlour -was rapidly cleared, O'Blunderbuss and Frank Curtis alone remaining -there:—for it seemed to be a rule on the part of the prisoners to rush -to the gate, for the purpose of seeing the "strangers" take their -departure. - -The captain now gave a furious pull at the bell; and, when the slip-shod -waiter appeared, he demanded a conference with the keeper of the -Coffee-house. This request was speedily complied with; and satisfactory -arrangements were entered into for beds. Another bottle of wine was -ordered, the captain persuading Curtis that it would be better for him -to take his first survey of all the grand features of the Bench in the -morning, and to pass the evening in conviviality. This they accordingly -did until eleven o'clock, when the lights in the parlour were put out, -and the two gentlemen were shown to their respective bed-chambers—the -said chambers being each about twice as big as a coffin, and quite as -inconveniently angular. - ------ - -Footnote 44: - - The anecdote is a positive fact! - -Footnote 45: - - It is not terminated yet! - -Footnote 46: - - Mr. Prout's prophecy seems likely to be fulfilled; for the case pends - yet, having now lasted _one hundred and sixty-two years_!!! In 1710 - Lord Chancellor Harcourt made a decree commanding the boundaries of - the litigated land to be ascertained; and the commissioner appointed - to carry this decree into effect, reported that no boundaries could be - traced! Proceedings continued; and on the 25th of January, 1846, the - case was re-argued before Vice-chancellor Shadwell, eight counsel - being engaged for relator, lessee, trustees, corporation, and the - various other parties interested. The Vice-Chancellor of England - referred the matter to the Master's Office, where it is not likely to - be disinterred for the next half century! Really, we English are a - highly civilised people: a law-suit may be perpetuated through a dozen - generations, without any delay or fault on the side of the parties - interested—_the whole and sole blame resting upon the Chancery Court_. - -Footnote 47: - - Mr. Commissioner Fane, of the London Bankruptcy Court, was brought up - as a Chancery lawyer; and in a recent "Letter to Lord Cottenham" he - thus explains the causes of that shameful dilatoriness which - characterises Chancery proceedings:— - - "In Chancery the suitor applies first to the judge: every thing is - done in writing. The judge, after great expense has been incurred and - after a long delay, makes a decree: that decree tells the Master, in - endless detail, what he is to do (just as if he required to be taught - the simplest matters): the decree is drawn up, not by the judge, who - might be thought wiser than the Master, but by the registrar, who, in - teaching the Master, frequently omits some material direction; the - parties then adjourn to the Master's office; there the matter lingers, - month after month and year after year; at last the Master makes his - report, tells the Court what he has found, and sometimes what he would - have found if the registrar had authorised him to do so, and at last - the Court either acts or sends the matter back to the Master with new - directions. Meanwhile, as Lord Bacon said about two hundred years ago, - 'Though the Chancery pace be slow, the suitor's pulse beat quick.' I - know of nothing to which to compare this process except the game of - battledore and shuttlecock, in which the poor suitor plays the part of - shuttlecock, and is tossed from the judge to the Master, and from the - Master to the judge, over and over, till the scene is closed only too - often by despair, insolvency, or death." - -Footnote 48: - - "The _Code Napoleon_ is sometimes declared to be a failure; but it has - been no failure. In place of the previously differing laws of the - provinces of the ancient kingdom it has substituted a consistent - uniform code for the entire of France. But it is urged, that it has - been buried under a load of commentaries. Of course there has risen a - pile of judicial constructions, as must be the case with the text of - every code. But these constructions have a platform to rest upon, - framed in the light of modern science. Ours are wholly different; they - have no such foundation to settle upon: they rest upon a mingled heap - of rubbish and masonry, of obsolete laws and laws in force. Even the - basement storey has not been firmly laid, as in France. This, however, - it is that the nation requires to have done; it requires an entirely - new legal edifice to be erected. All that is good in the past it would - have preserved under a new and better arrangement; and then the mass - of statutes, reports, and text-books from which the analysis had been - made, and which had long embarrassed both the learned and - unlearned—declared by parliamentary authority to be no better than - waste paper—null and void, and no more citable for any purpose of - legal argument, illustration, or decision."—_Black Book of England._ - -Footnote 49: - - 53rd, George III. - - - - - CHAPTER CVI. - A FARTHER INSIGHT INTO THE KING'S BENCH. - - -At half-past seven o'clock on the following morning, the slip-shod -waiter knocked at Mr. Curtis's door, exclaiming, "Please, sir, you must -get up, and go down to the lobby by eight, 'cos you're wanted." - -"Who want's me there?" demanded Frank, leaping from his bed, and -suddenly animated by the hope that Sir Christopher had accidentally -heard of his predicament and had come to pay his debts. - -But the boy had hurried down stairs again; and Curtis was accordingly -compelled to hurry over his toilette in a state of profound suspense. By -the time his ablutions were performed and he was dressed, it was close -upon eight o'clock; and he repaired to the gate, having bestowed _en -passant_ a thundering knock with his clenched fist on the door of the -captain's crib. - -The gate of the lower lobby was not as yet opened; but in its immediate -vicinity several of the prisoners were collected—some in dressing-gowns, -others in their shirt-sleeves, and all having a certain air of seediness -not observable elsewhere. At length, when the massive portal _did_ -expand, in rushed a motley assortment of messengers, char-women, and -such itinerant venders as milk-men, water-cress boys, and the -fustian-clad individual who sold red herrings and shrimps. - -When this influx of varied specimens of animated nature had passed, -Frank Curtis entered the lobby and demanded of a one-armed turnkey -standing before the fire, "who it was that required his presence?". - -"Me and my partners, sir," was the reply. - -"And what for?" enquired Frank. - -"Just to take your likeness, sir," was the farther explanation given. - -"My likeness!" cried the young gentleman, glancing rapidly around in the -expectation of beholding an artist with pallet and brushes all ready; -but, not perceiving any such individual, he began to look very ferocious -indeed, under the impression that the turnkey had a mind to banter him. - -"We call it taking the likeness of a new prisoner, sir," observed the -one-armed functionary, who was really a very civil fellow, "when we have -him here by day-light just to take a look at him—so that we may know him -again," he added significantly. "You see, sir, there's between three and -four hundred prisoners in the college—we call it a college, sir, -sometimes—and it isn't a very easy thing to remember every new-comer, -unless we have a good look at him." - -"Oh! now I understand you," exclaimed Frank, laughing heartily at the -idea of having his likeness taken in such a style. - -While he was yet indulging in this expression of his mirth, the other -turnkeys made their appearance, and, each individually wishing him a -"good morning," they scanned him from head to foot—apparently committing -to memory every one of his features _seriatim_. Frank tried to look as -unconcerned as possible; but he nevertheless felt very uncomfortable, -and was heartily glad when the operation, which lasted about five -minutes, was over. The other turnkeys then withdrew; and Curtis remained -alone with the one-armed official. - -"Nice place this, sir, for a prison—ain't it?" asked the latter, taking -his seat on a stool near the door, which stood open, and whence the eye -commanded a view of the spacious racquet-ground and a small portion of -the main building. - -"Well—it might be a great deal worse," replied Frank. "You must have -some strange characters here?" he added, enquiringly. - -"I b'lieve ye!" exclaimed the turnkey, fixing his looks mysteriously -upon the young gentleman in a species of dim intimation that it was -indeed a very remarkable place. "You see that old feller in the rugged -blue coat, a-rolling the fust racquet-ground there? Well—he come here to -this prison twenty year ago in his carriage, and had his livery servants -to wait upon him; and now he's glad to drag that roller every morning -for a few pence." - -"And can't he manage to get out?" asked Frank, with an ominous shudder. - -"Lord bless you, sir," cried the turnkey, "he's his own prisoner!" - -"His own prisoner!" repeated Curtis. "What—do you mean to say that he -keeps himself in the Bench?" - -"I do, sir—and a many does the same," continued the turnkey, in a low, -mysterious tone. "These poor creaturs, sir, stay in prison so long that -all their relations and friends dies off; and if they went out, they -wouldn't have a soul to speak to, or a place to go to. So, if their -creditors dies too and their discharge is sent 'em, they keep it in -their pockets and never lodge it at the gate—'cos they prefer staying -inside, where they have companions and can get a bit of something to eat -in one way or another." - -"This is the most extraordinary thing I ever heard in my life," said -Frank. - -"There's many things more stranger still _here_," returned his -informant, who was pleased with the mysterious importance which his -position as narrator of these marvels gave him. "What should you think -of men putting themselves into prison, and making up their minds to stay -here all their lives perhaps?" - -"I should think you were joking if you said so," answered Curtis. - -"Joking! Lord bless you, sir, I wouldn't joke about no such a thing," -exclaimed the turnkey, with a spice of indignation in his manner. "But -I'll tell you how it is. There—you see that stout man in the -shooting-jacket a-bargaining for them bloaters with the chap that's -sitting on the bench outside the Tap? Well—he committed a forgery, or -summut of that kind; and, knowing there was a warrant against him, and -not choosing to run away from London for fear of being took in the -country, he got a friend to arrest him for debt. So he immediately -passed over to the Bench by _habeas_; and the warrant for felony was -lodged at the gate against him. But his debts must be paid before the -warrant can be executed; and as you see he's in a manner his own -detaining creditor—leastways, his friend outside is—he isn't likely to -have his discharge till the felony business can be settled somehow or -other." - -"The Bench is then a most convenient place for people who ought to be in -Newgate?" said Curtis. "But live and learn; and the more one sees of the -world——" - -"The more curiouser it is—ain't it?" cried the turnkey. "Well—now you -see that tall, stout gentleman there, walking up and down in front of -the State House with the stick in his hand? He's been here some years, -and is wery likely to stay a many years longer. His creditors allows him -three guineas a week for his kindness in remaining a prisoner in the -Bench." - -"What!" ejaculated Curtis, now more astonished than ever. "His -_creditors_ pay him for staying _here_!" - -"It's as true as you're alive, sir," was the reply; "and it's easy -enough to explain, too. That gentleman has got a good landed estate, -which is in the hands of his two or three principal creditors, who -manage it and receive all the rents for the purpose of paying themselves -their claims upon him. Well, now—if he went through the Insolvents' -Court, _all_ the creditors would come in for their share of the proceeds -of the estate; and so the two or three principals ones allow him three -guineas a week to keep him here and prevent him going through the Court. -It's a deuced good thing for him, I can tell you; and he's as happy as a -King. He has his wife—leastways, his lady with him,—we call 'em all -_wives_ here;—and he's got a batch of the loveliest and nicest children -you ever see. There they are, sir—the little innocents—a-playing there -in the mud, just as if there wasn't no such place as prison at all; and -yet they was all born up in that room there in the State House, with the -green safe at the window and the flower-pots." - -"And who is that lame, elderly man, running about with newspapers in his -hand?" enquired Frank. - -"He's the newsman of the Bench—and a prisoner like the rest on 'em," was -the answer. "Ah! some years ago he was a rich man, and in a flourishing -way of business. But he got into Chancery, and that's the same as -getting into the Bench; 'cos one always leads to t'other—for even to be -a vinner in Chancery, one must pass at least a dozen years or so here -fust. That seems to be the rule, as far as I can understand it. Well, -sir—now that lame man is obliged to turn newsman; so you see there's a -many rewerses in this world, sir. Ah! the world's a queer place, ain't -it?—almost as queer as the Bench itself!" - -What the turnkey's notions of the world might be, it is not easy to -conceive: but they were evidently somewhat dim and misty—inasmuch as he -seemed impressed with the belief that the Bench and the world were two -distinct places:—but, then, the Bench was _his_ world, though not a -prisoner there himself; and perhaps he established a distinction as -existing between the "world within" and the "world without." Alas! -many—many who _were_ prisoners did the same! - -"Who are those two ladies that have just come down to walk on the gravel -there, by the side of the racquet-ground?" enquired Frank Curtis, much -amused by the turnkey's gossip. - -"We call that gravel-walk _the parade_," observed the official. "Those -ladies are mother and daughter; and it's the daughter that's a prisoner. -She's a devilish fine gal; and the old woman stays with her to take care -of her. But she and the Honourable Mr. Pettifer are deuced thick -together; and the mother winks at it. Such things will happen in the -best regilated families—particklerly in the Bench, where no one ain't -over and above partickler. This isn't the shop for morals. Mr. Curtis: -all the young single women that comes here, is sure to get corrupted. -But that's no look-out of mine;"—and with this solacing conclusion, the -turnkey hit the lock of the door a tremendous blow with his key. - -"Be the power-rs! and is it afther staling a march upon me that ye are?" -vociferated a well-known voice at this moment; and the captain stalked -up to the gate, looking quite fresh and blooming after a good night's -rest and copious ablutions. - -"They had me down to take my likeness," cried Frank; "or else I dare say -I should have slept on till now." - -"Well—we'll just make the round of the Binch, me boy," exclaimed the -captain; "and by that time the breakfast will be ready. I've orthered -it—hot rolls and coffee, with kidneys, eggs, cresses, and such like -thrifles; and a walk will give us an appetite." - -Curtis accordingly took his friend's arm; and they set out on their -limited ramble. - -"That building on your right, Frank," said the captain, "is the State -House, where Government prisoners and such like spalpeens are kept—or -ought to be; but the prisoners for debt get hould of the rooms there, -and the divil himself can't turn 'em out. But here's the Tap: and this -is the first lion of the Binch." - -They entered a low and dirty-looking place, in which there were several -common tables of the roughest description, and the surfaces of which -were completely carved out into names, initial letters, men hanging, and -a variety of devices—these ingenious and very elaborate specimens of -wood-engraving having been effected by penknives. A tremendous fire -burnt in the grate, round which were assembled several of the poorer -class of prisoners and the messengers, eating their breakfast;—and, at -one of the tables just alluded to, the newsman was sorting his papers. - -As the captain and Curtis were retracing their way from an inspection of -the interior of the tap-room, the former stopped at the bar, exclaiming -to the man in attendance, "Two half pints, Misther Vernon—and good -mornin' to ye." - -"You would not drink malt liquor so early, will you?" asked Frank, with -a look of astonishment at his companion. - -"Be Jasus! and it's for you to taste the porther, me boy!" exclaimed the -captain. "Don't you remimber all I said yesterday in its praise? -Come—dhrink!" - -And Mr. Curtis was accordingly compelled to swallow half a pint of -porter, though malt liquor before breakfast was somewhat repugnant to -his taste. The beer was veritably of first-rate quality; and the captain -was as proud to hear the young gentleman's eulogy on its merits, as if -he had brewed it himself. - -"Now let us continue our ramble," said he;—and away they went, -arm-in-arm, the two or three poor prisoners who were lounging at the -door of the Tap respectfully making room for them to pass. - -Entering upon the parade, Frank now for the first time obtained a full -view of the front of the main building—a long, gloomy, barrack-like -structure, with half a dozen entrance-ways leading to the various -staircases. Fixed to the ledges of many of the windows, were safes in -which the prisoners kept their provisions; and in several instances -these safes were covered with flower-pots containing sickly plants. -Precisely in the centre of the building was the chapel; and over the -chapel was the infirmary. Most of the rooms on the ground-floor were -fitted up as little shops, the occupants being prisoners, and the -business carried on being entirely in the "general line." The -lumps of butter—wedges of cheese—red herrings—slices of -bacon—matches—balls of twine—candles—racquet balls—sweet-stuff—loaves of -bread—rolls—soap—eggs—and other articles of the nature usually sold in -such magnificent marts of commerce, were arranged so as to make the best -possible show, and carry out the spirit of competition which raged as -fiercely in that little community as in the world without. A peep -through the window of one of those miniature shops, showed the canisters -of tea and the jars of tobacco and snuff standing orderly upon the -shelves of three feet in length; and behind a counter, along which Tom -Thumb could have walked in two strides, stood the stout proprietor of -the concern, examining with rueful looks the wonderful increase of -chalk-marks which the morning's sales had compelled him to make upon a -slate against the honoured names of his customers. - -"Now look this way, me frind," cried the captain, as he forced Frank to -turn round towards the racquet-courts. "D'ye see nothing particular?" - -"Nothing but the high wall, with the spikes on the top, and the netting -to prevent the balls from going over," answered Curtis. - -"There—there, me boy!" vociferated O'Blunderbuss, impatiently pointing -in a particular direction. "Now d'ye see any thing worth looking at?" - -"Well—I see the pump there," said Frank, vainly searching after a more -interesting object. - -"Be Jasus! and that's jist what I wanted ye to see," exclaimed the -captain. "It's the Dolphin-pump, me boy—the finest pump in -Eur-r-rope—the pride of the Binch——But, be the power-rs! ye shall taste -the wather and judge for yourself!" - -Curtis protested that he would rather not;—the captain was however -resolute; and a tumbler was borrowed from a prisoner who was smoking an -early pipe at one of the ground-floor windows. Then the captain began to -pump away like a madman; and Frank was compelled to imbibe a deep -draught of the ice-cold water, which would have been pronounced -delicious by any one who did not admire alcoholic beverages much better -than Adam's ale. - -"Don't you mean to take a glass, captain?" enquired Frank. - -"Be Jasus! and I know it of ould," returned that gallant gentleman: "so -there's no need for me to pass an opinion upon it. Besides it's not to -astonish my stomach with any unusual dhrink that I'd be afther, Frank: -but you're a young man, and can stand wather better than me." - -Curtis did not consider the reasoning altogether conclusive: he however -refrained from farther argument;—and the two gentlemen resumed their -walk. - -Between the eastern extremity of the main-building and that part of the -wall which looked directly upon the Borough, was the market-place,—an -assemblage of miserable sheds, where a butcher, a fishmonger, a -greengrocer, and a vender of coals carried on each his peculiar -traffic—the said spirited traders being prisoners as well as the -shopkeepers above alluded to. - -At a stall in the centre of the market, and at which vegetables, fruit, -and fish were sold, stood a tall, thin, weather-beaten old woman, -resembling a gipsey in dress as well as in complexion, and having an -ancient bonnet perched most airily upon the top of her head. This -respectable female was denominated "Old Nanny," and was in such wise -greeted by Captain O'Blunderbuss, who informed Frank in a whisper that -she was not a prisoner, and, in spite of competition, had pretty well -the monopoly of the market. - -"The fact is, me boy," he said, "she has the advantage of money. Those -fellows in the sheds there, set up in business with a floating capital -of eighteen-pence each, and can't afford to give credit: and a tradesman -in the Binch who can't give credit, stands no more chance, be Jasus! of -getting custom than if he began with an empty shop." - -The captain now proceeded to show his friend the public kitchen, which -was in the immediate vicinity of the market; and thence they passed up -the back of the main building, O'Blunderbuss especially directing -Frank's attention to that quarter which was denominated "the Poor-Side." - -The Poor-Side!—Yes in every public establishment in England, is the line -of demarcation drawn between the rich and the poor,—in the debtors' -prison as well as in the church of God! Oh! what a disgraceful thing is -poverty made in this country! Why—the contamination of Newgate, if borne -by a man possessing a well-filled purse, will be overlooked in society; -while the rags that an unsullied character wears, are a ban—a stigma—a -reproach! "He has been in the workhouse," or "She has been on the -parish," are taunts as bitter in meaning and as keen in spirit, as the -phrase "He has been in Newgate," or "She has just come from the -treadmill." Aye—and even amongst the lowest classes themselves, it is a -deeper stain to associate a name with the workhouse, than to connect it -with the felons' gaol! Such is the dreadful—demoralizing consequence of -that example set by the upper classes, whose ideas of men's excellence -and worth are guided chiefly by the standard of the purse. - -The Poor-Side!—And for whom is the Poor-Side of debtors' prisons -instituted? For those who go penniless to gaol,—the best proof that they -have profited nothing by the losses of their creditors,—the best -evidence that their liabilities were legitimately contracted! But the -fashionable swindler—your man-about-town—your _roué_—your rake, who gets -into debt wherever he can, and without the slightest intention of ever -paying a single farthing,—_he_ drives down in his cab to the -prison—treats the bailiff to wine upon the way—and takes with him into -confinement all that remains to him of the plunder of duped tradesmen, -there to spend it in riotous living and in the best room which the best -quarter of the gaol can afford! If a debtors' prison have a _Poor-Side_, -it ought also to have a _Swnidlers'-Side_. - -No word in the English language is used so frequently and so -contemptuously as the monosyllable _Poor_. "Oh! he is a poor devil!" is -a far worse character to give of any one, than to say at once, "He is -dishonest." From the latter sentence there is a hopeful appeal in the -question—"But _can_ he pay?" "Yes—he can, if he chooses." "Oh! then, if -he _can_, we will trust him and risk it." But from the former sentence -there is no appeal; it is a judgment without qualification—a decision -too positive and weighty to admit of a doubt. The objection—"Well, he -may be poor; but he may also be honest," is never heard. The idea of -poverty being honest! Why—in the estimation of an Englishman, _poverty_ -is a word expressing all that is bad. To say that a man is _poor_, is at -once to sum up his character as every thing unprincipled and roguish. -Such magic is there in the word, that rich men, and men well-to-do in -the world, instantly button up their breeches' pockets when they hear it -applied to a person. They seem to consider that a poor wretch can have -no other possible object in view than to get the better of them. -Poverty, in their eyes, is something that goes about preying upon the -rich—something to be loathed and shunned—something that ought not to -intrude itself into respectable places. A man may just as well be -leprous, as be poor! - -So undeniable are these truths—so universally recognised are these -facts, that designing individuals always endeavour to seem well off, -even if they be insolvent. They dress well, because they know the -sovereign influence of a good coat. They talk largely—because they see -how necessary it is "to keep up appearances." They toss about their last -few guineas, as the only means of baiting a hook to catch fresh dupes. -It is impossible that a man, with fine clothes, well-polished boots, -elegant guard-chain, and lemon coloured gloves,—it is impossible that -such a man can be poor! Oh! no—trust him with anything! Why—what poor -man would be perfumed as he is?—the aristocratic odour of wealth -surrounds him as with an atmosphere peculiar to the rich. Trust him by -all means!—But that poor-looking devil, who sneaks along the shady side -of the way—who has a wife and half-a-dozen children at home—and who is -struggling from morning to night to earn an honourable crust,—don't -trust him—have nothing to do with him—don't assist him with the loan of -a single sixpence—on the contrary, give him a thrust farther down into -the mud, if you can;—because he is undisguisedly _poor_! - -Such appear to be the rules of conduct in this enlightened and glorious -country. God help the poor!—for poverty is a terrible crime in "merry -England!" - -The Poor-Side of the King's Bench struck Frank Curtis as being -particularly miserable:—it quite gave him the horrors! And no -wonder;—for the architect—a knowing fellow was he!—had so arranged the -building, that the windows of the Poor-Side should look upon the -dust-bins and the conveniences. Yes—a knowing fellow was that architect! -_He_ understood what the poor are worth in this free and civilised -land,—_he_ saw in a moment where they ought to be put;—and therefore he -arranged for their use a number of dens where the atmosphere was certain -to be one incessant pestilential odour; and where he would have been -sorry,—very sorry to have placed the kennel of his favourite hound! - -Yes:—well might Frank Curtis feel the horrors—callous and indifferent as -the young man naturally was—on beholding the Poor-Side. The ground-floor -rooms were even at mid-day in a state of twilight, the colossal wall -being only a few feet distant:—the windows were blackened with dirt; and -from the upper ones hung a few rags—the miserable duds of the miserable, -miserable inmates. Half-starved, pale, and emaciated women—the wives or -daughters of those poor prisoners—were loitering at the doorways,—some -with children in their arms—children, Oh! so wan and wasted—so sickly -and so death-like—that it must have made their parents' hearts bleed to -feel how light they were, and how famine-struck they seemed! And yet -those little, starving children had their innocent winning ways, as well -as the offspring of the rich; and they threw their skeleton arms around -their mother's necks—and their lips sent forth those infantile sounds so -sweet to mothers' ears;—but still the little beings seemed to be pining -rapidly away through actual want and in the prison atmosphere! "God help -the poor," we said ere now: but, Oh! with tearful eyes and beating heart -do we exclaim—"God help the children of the poor!" - -Frank Curtis and the captain, having now completed their walk round the -prison, entered the parlour of the Coffee-house, where an excellent -breakfast awaited them, and to which they did ample justice. - -The repast being disposed of, Captain O'Blunderbuss took a temporary -leave of Frank Curtis, it being arranged that the gallant officer should -proceed to Baker Street in order to induce the men in possession, either -by means of bribes or menaces, to allow Mrs. Curtis to remove as many -valuables from the house as possible; and, this notable aim being -achieved, the captain was to pay his respects to Sir Christopher Blunt. - -Frank Curtis, being now temporarily thrown upon his own resources for -amusement, strolled out upon the parade, and was gazing at the -racquet-players, when Mr. Prout accosted him. - -"Good morning, sir. Have you taken a survey of the Bench yet?" said the -Chancery prisoner. - -"I have been round the building, and seen all that's worth seeing, I -believe," replied Curtis. "But the Poor-Side appears to be a wretched -place." - -"Wretched!" cried Prout, in a bitter tone: "ah! you may well make that -observation, sir! But if my affairs do not end in a speedy settlement, I -shall have to move to that quarter myself." - -"How is that?" enquired Frank. - -"Do you not know—have you not yet learned that you must pay even to have -a room in this prison—a place to which you do not come of your own -accord?" said Prout. "A shilling a week is the room-rent; and he who -cannot pay it, must go over to the Poor-Side. This is English justice, -Mr. Curtis! You must pay to live in a prison!" - -"It seems to me monstrously unfair——" - -"Unfair! 'tis vile—rascally!" cried the Chancery prisoner. "But, talking -of the Poor-Side puts me in mind of a strange story connected with that -quarter of the Bench; and if you have nothing better to do for an hour -or so, and will step up to my room——" - -"I shall have great pleasure," interrupted Curtis; "for, to tell you the -truth, the time does hang rather heavy on my hands;—and till my friends -the Marquis of Aldersgate and the Prince of Paris, who is staying in -London, come over to see me, I may just as well amuse myself with your -story." - -Prout accordingly led the way to his room, which was in the front of the -building and commanded a view of the parade and racquet-grounds. It was -very plainly furnished, but neat and clean; and its owner informed -Curtis that he had a married daughter who visited him every day, was -very kind to him, and superintended his little domestic concerns. - -"But I will not detain you longer than I can help, sir," observed Prout; -"and I can promise you that you are about to hear a true tale of deep -interest. I have thought of it so often, and have so frequently repeated -its details to myself, in the solitude of this chamber, that I am -enabled to give you the whole story in a connected form; although it was -not in the same continuous manner that the vicissitudes I am about to -relate, became known to me. Alas! 'tis a sad—sad tale, sir; but I am -afraid that, bad as it is, it still is not the worst that might be told -of human nature." - -Frank Curtis seated himself opposite to the old man, who, after a short -pause, commenced his narrative in the following words. - - - - - CHAPTER CVII. - A TALE OF SORROW. - - -"It was about thirty years ago that a poor but respectable and -kind-hearted tradesman, of the name of Craddock, came up from Plymouth -to London to receive a hundred pounds which had fallen to him through -the death of a relative of whom he had not heard for years until he -received the lawyer's letter announcing his decease and the legacy. -Craddock was a linen-draper in a very small way at Plymouth: and though -industrious, temperate, and obliging, he never had succeeded in doing -any thing better than earning a mere living. He was about forty-five -years of age at the time of which I am speaking, and had long been -married to a woman as generous-souled as himself. They were childless; -and, in spite of their poverty, they often regretted that they had no -offspring to become the object of their affection, and to comfort them -when old age should overtake them. Indeed, it appears that they had -seriously thought of adopting some poor person's child: but -circumstances of various kinds had opposed this plan; and they at last -ceased to converse upon it—endeavouring to render themselves as happy as -they could in each other's society. And happy, for that matter, they -were too; for the mutual attachment which linked their hearts together, -was firmly established; and, as they advanced in years, they seemed to -become so necessary to each other, that when Craddock received the -lawyer's letter summoning him to London, it was with the greatest -difficulty his wife would allow him to set out alone. He however -succeeded in making her understand that a hundred pounds did not -constitute an independent fortune,—that it was absolutely necessary to -carry on the shop,—and that therefore she must remain at home to manage -it. Accordingly, the worthy dame tarried at Plymouth, and her husband -came up to London by the stage—at that period a journey of no -inconsiderable importance. - -"It was the first time Mr. Craddock had ever been in the metropolis: but -he did not stay a moment longer than his business absolutely compelled -him, which was four or five days. The lawyer with whom he had to -transact his little affair, was a kind and conscientious man—for there -_are_ many good lawyers as well as bad ones;—and he hastened the -business as much as possible. Accordingly, Mr. Craddock received his -money in less than a week; and he instantly went to the Belle Sauvage on -Ludgate Hill to take his place home again by the coach. There was only -one inside-seat vacant by the stage that was to start in the evening; -and Craddock secured it. He then returned to the little lodging where he -had slept during his sojourn in London, and which was somewhere in the -neighbourhood of Doctors' Commons. Having packed up his portmanteau, he -shouldered it, and was wending his way to the Belle Sauvage, when his -attention was drawn to a little boy who was sitting on a door-step in -one of the narrow, secluded streets in that district. The child, who was -very neatly dressed and about two years old, was crying bitterly. -Craddock stopped and spoke kindly to him; and though the boy was too -young to give any explanation of the cause of his grief, it was easy to -divine that he had strayed from home, or been lost by a negligent -servant. Two or three other persons stopped likewise; and some of the -neighbours came out of their houses: but the boy was unknown to them. -Craddock tried to console him; but the little fellow wept as if his -heart would break. By accident the parish-beadle passed that way, and, -on learning what was the matter, said, 'Oh! the best thing I can do, is -to take the poor child to the workhouse.'—Now, the mere name of a -workhouse was terrible to the ears of the kind-hearted Craddock; and, -obeying the impulse of the moment, he exclaimed, 'No, no: not while I -have a crust to give him, poor child!'—'Why don't you take him home with -you, then?' demanded the beadle: 'the parish will be very glad to be -quit of such a bargain as a lost child promises to be.'—'But I live at -Plymouth,' returned honest John Craddock.—'Never mind if you live at the -devil, so as you agree to take the child,' persisted the parochial -authority.—'Well, I have not the least objection: on the contrary, I -shall be delighted to do so,' said Craddock, his eyes filling with tears -as the poor boy's grief became more heart-rending. 'I will give you my -address; and if you hear any enquiries made by the parents of the child, -you can let me know.'—'Very good,' exclaimed the beadle, as he received -the card on which John Craddock's name, calling, and abode were printed -in bold type. The worthy linen-draper then took up the boy in his arms, -the beadle consenting to carry the portmanteau; and in this manner they -proceeded to the Belle Sauvage, the kind looks, soothing tone, and fond -caresses of Craddock having the effect of somewhat diminishing the -little fellow's grief. - -[Illustration] - -"The coach was just ready to start; and Craddock took his place, with -the child upon his knees. The beadle renewed his promise to write in -case he should hear any thing relative to the boy's parents; and the -stage rolled out of the old inn yard. It was evening—the shops glared -with light; and the scene, as well as the ride in the coach, amused the -boy, so that his violent weeping ceased—but frequent sobs agitated his -little chest, until at last he fell asleep in worthy John Craddock's -arms. It was now for the first time that the linen-draper had leisure to -reflect upon the step which he had taken; and it struck him that he had -acted imprudently. He was taking away the child from the city to which -he most probably belonged, and where he was alone likely to be found by -his parents,—taking him away to a far distant town. But, on the other -hand, he remembered the beadle's declaration that the lost child must be -conveyed to the workhouse; and he likewise felt certain that should the -little creature's parents make proper enquiries concerning their child, -the parochial authority would know what explanation to give. Craddock -therefore came to the conclusion that he had performed a Christian deed -and an Englishman's duty; and, having thus set all scruples at rest, he -began to reflect upon the pleasure which his wife would experience in -receiving the foundling. For the child was a most interesting one—with -curly flaxen hair, sparkling blue eyes, and a sweet complexion; and as -he lay sleeping in Craddock's arms, and the lights of the shops in the -outskirts of London, which the coach was then traversing, beamed through -the window upon the boy's countenance, the worthy linen-draper thought -that he had never seen a face so truly cherub-like. But tears came -afresh into the worthy man's eyes—for he reflected that an afflicted -father and a distracted mother might at that moment be calling upon -heaven to restore them their lost child; and, as he bent down and kissed -its cool and firm cheeks, on which the traces of weeping still remained, -he murmured to himself, 'If thy parents never succeed in recovering -thee, my boy, I will be as a father, and I know that my wife will be as -a mother to thee!'—The other inside passengers admired the child -greatly; but when honest John Craddock told them the story connected -with his possession of the boy, they merely hem'd and coughed drily as -if they thought him a very great fool for so burthening himself. -Craddock understood what was passing in their minds; and he only hugged -the child closer to his bosom. - -"During the night, the little fellow frequently awoke, and cried for his -papa and mamma; and the good linen-draper was indefatigable in his -exertions to console and comfort him—uttering all possible kind things, -and purchasing nice cakes for him at the way-side inns. Throughout the -following day, too, Craddock was compelled to persevere in this -affectionate and conciliatory treatment, which he, however, maintained -with a good heart; and as the long, tedious journey of two hundred and -sixteen miles drew towards a close, and evening was again drawing on, he -had the satisfaction of observing that his little charge seemed to -appreciate—or at least to understand his attentions. At last the coach -entered the famous sea-port; and in a very short time Craddock was set -down at his own door, the stage passing through the street in which he -lived. You may suppose that his wife was greatly astonished when she -perceived the present that the worthy linen-draper had brought her: but -she was not many moments before she took the child in her arms, and -covered it with kisses. Then how the kind-hearted dame wept when -Craddock explained to her the manner in which he had become possessed of -the boy; and as he spoke she pressed the little being all the closer and -all the more fondly to her bosom. The social tea-table was spread, and -the servant-girl was sent out to procure some cakes and other nice -things for the boy; and then how he was petted and made much of—and how -happy the good couple seemed when their attentions and caresses were -rewarded with smiles! - -"Several days passed, during which Craddock received no intelligence -from the beadle who had promised to write to him in case of enquiries -being instituted respecting the lost child:—weeks elapsed—and still no -tidings! The idea—I had almost said the fear—which the worthy couple -entertained that they might be compelled to part with the child just as -they were getting fond of it, grew gradually fainter and fainter; and at -length, when six months had passed and little Alexander (for so they -called the boy) had grown not only reconciled to his condition, but -appeared to have forgotten that it had ever been otherwise,—by the time -six months had passed, I say, Mr. and Mrs. Craddock ceased to -contemplate even the chance of being called upon to surrender their -charge. Not but that those excellent people would have rejoiced, in one -sense, to restore little Alexander to the arms of his parents; but in -another sense they could not quench in their secret souls the fond hope -that he might be left undisturbedly in their care. Thus time passed on: -Craddock's business, which had only required a little capital to give it -an impetus, exhibited every sign of improvement since the investment -therein of the hundred pounds received in London; and Alexander throve -apace. - -"I shall now take a leap of twenty years, which brings us up to a date -of only ten years ago; and at that time great alterations—but all for -the better—had taken place in the circumstances of the Craddocks. -Indeed, they had retired from business, having made a considerable -fortune; and were settled in a handsome dwelling at a short distance -from Plymouth—their native town. Craddock and his wife had, however, -descended tolerably far into the vale of life, sixty-five winters having -passed over their heads; but in Alexander—now a fine, tall, handsome -young man of twenty-two—they had a source of real comfort and happiness. -Though acquainted with the circumstance which had led to his adoption by -Mr. and Mrs. Craddock, and, therefore, knowing well that they were not -his real parents, his attachment to them was so great—his affection so -sincere—and his gratitude so boundless, that he never once manifested -any desire to quit them for the purpose of instituting enquiries -relative to his birth. His constant and unwearied endeavour was to show -himself deserving of all they had done for him,—the tender care they had -taken of him in his infancy—the excellent education they had given him -in his boyhood—and the affectionate consideration with which they -treated him now that he was grown to man's estate; for in all respects -did they regard him as their son, and in this light was he looked upon -by their friends and dependants. In fact, nothing was wanting to -complete the happiness of Alexander Craddock. He had become enamoured of -a beautiful girl, the orphan daughter of an officer in the Navy, and who -resided at Plymouth with an old aunt. Lucy Middleton had no fortune; but -she possessed the invaluable treasures of amiability of disposition—a -sweet temper—a kind heart—and those sterling qualities which fitted her -for domesticity, and gave promise that she would prove an admirable -housewife. Alexander loved her, and was loved in return; and his adopted -parents gave their consent to the match. Accordingly, one fine Spring -morning, when the heavens appeared as auspicious as the prospects of the -youthful pair, the hands of Alexander Craddock and Lucy Middleton were -united; and, after a six weeks' tour in Wales, they returned to Plymouth -to take possession of a commodious and handsome dwelling, which the -adopted father of the young man had furnished during their absence for -their reception. A year passed away, at the expiration of which Lucy -presented her husband with a lovely boy; but almost at the same time the -family experienced a severe loss in the death of old Mr. Craddock, who -was carried off in a moment by the lightning-stroke of apoplexy. -Alexander was dreadfully grieved at this shocking occurrence—a feeling -in which his excellent young wife largely shared; but they were -compelled to restrain their sorrow as much as possible, in order to -console the bereaved widow. Mrs. Craddock was, however, unable to bear -up against this heavy affliction: the suddenness of its arrival and the -awful manner in which her husband fell down dead at her feet, when as it -were in the midst of a state of perfect health, gave her a shock which -she never recovered. She was spirit-broken, and could not rally, in -spite of the tender devotion and unwearied attentions shown her by -Alexander and Lucy, as well as by the aunt of the latter. Thus was it -that in less than six weeks from the sudden demise of Mr. Craddock, his -affectionate relict was consigned to the same tomb which held his -remains. - -"When Alexander had so far recovered himself, after experiencing these -cruel inroads upon his happiness, as to investigate the affairs of his -late adopted parents, he found that he was left sole heir to the -handsome fortune acquired by their honest industry: but, though the will -and other papers were strictly correct and accurate in all points, he -found that certain circumstances connected with his inheritance would -compel him to repair to London, and probably retain him in the capital -for some weeks. He was not sorry at the idea of quitting Plymouth for a -time, his spirits having been deeply affected by the deaths of his -adopted parents; and he found Lucy and her aunt, who now lived -altogether with them, perfectly agreeable to shift their place of abode. -It was accordingly about eight years ago that this family arrived in -London, and took a house in a genteel but quiet neighbourhood. Alexander -found his income, chiefly derived from funded property, to be seven -hundred a-year; and on this he knew that he could live well, but not -extravagantly. A natural curiosity—which was the more lively now that he -had lost his adopted parents—prompted him to make certain enquiries in -the district of Doctors' Commons, with the hope of solving the mystery -of his birth. The only intelligence he gleaned, was, that the beadle who -figured in the opening of the tale, had been dead just twenty-two years; -and as Alexander was now twenty-four, he could calculate pretty -accurately that the parochial authority alluded to must have been -carried off by the hand of the destroyer within a few weeks, if not -within even a very few days, from the date when he himself, as a young -child, had fallen into the charge of Craddock. Beyond this fact -Alexander could ascertain nothing at all calculated to assist in rolling -away the veil of mystery which covered his parentage: none of the -inhabitants in the street where Craddock had found him sitting on the -door-step, remembered any thing of the loss of a child at the period -named;—no tradition of the fact remained. Alexander felt somewhat -disappointed with these unsuccessful results of his enquiries; but he -possessed too many elements of happiness—too many substantial -accessories to comfort and mental tranquillity—to remain long affected -or dispirited by the apparent permanence of that mystery which enveloped -his birth. - -"Alexander was naturally of an active disposition, and abhorred a life -of idleness. He had been married two years, and was the father of two -children; and contemplating the probability of having a numerous -offspring, he felt anxious to augment his worldly possessions. 'My -adopted father,' he would reason with himself, 'carried on business -until a late period of his life, and was happy in the occupation which -it afforded him. Why should not I embark in some eligible and safe -undertaking which will give me a few hours' employment every day and -yield a profit at the same time?' The subject of his musings was -communicated to his amiable wife and her aunt; and those ladies joyfully -encouraged a spirit so praiseworthy and so indicative of steadiness and -prudence. The matter had been under discussion one morning at the -breakfast-table, when the daily newspaper was brought in; and an -announcement, worded somewhat in this way, met Alexander's -eyes:—'ELIGIBLE INVESTMENT.—Any gentleman having a few thousand pounds -at his immediate disposal, and desirous to occupy a few leisure hours -each day in a highly respectable and advantageous manner, is requested -to apply to Edward Walkden, Solicitor, Bush Lane, Cannon -Street.'—Alexander read this advertisement aloud; and the ladies agreed -with him that the nature of it was tempting enough to prompt farther -enquiry. Accordingly, the young man proceeded in the course of the -morning to the address indicated, and found Mr. Walkden's establishment -to be large and having every appearance of respectability as well as -solidity. Half-a-dozen clerks were busily employed in the front office; -and the shelves were covered with japanned tin cases, containing the -papers of the most substantial clients. Upon being introduced into the -lawyer's private office, Alexander found himself in the presence of a -tall man, whose years were upwards of sixty, and whose countenance, once -handsome, wore an expression of mingled mournfulness and severity. He -was attired in a plain suit of black: his manners were cold and -reserved; but there was a business-like air about him and his office, -which augmented the good opinion already entertained by Alexander in -respect to the lawyer and his establishment. - -"Walkden was evidently a man of very few words; and therefore, when -Alexander had explained the object of his visit, the information he -sought was speedily given. 'I have a client,' said the lawyer, 'who has -taken out a patent for a particular purpose; and he requires five or six -thousand pounds to work it effectually. The person advancing the amount, -will become an equal partner with the patentee, and will find a few -hours of pleasant and agreeable occupation daily in superintending the -commercial branch of the concern, while the patentee directs the -manufacture of the article. There are the papers, sir: take them with -you, and read them at your leisure.' Walkden handed the young man a -bundle of documents tied round with red tape, and then bowed him out of -the office. On his return home, Alexander examined the papers, and was -highly delighted with the prospect which they opened to him. He felt -convinced that an immense fortune was to be made: the thing was as clear -as day-light! The patentee possessed the secret of effecting vast -improvements in the manufacture of broad-cloths, which he undertook to -produce not only of a superior quality, but likewise at a very reduced -price. The calculations showed that large returns were certain to follow -a comparatively small outlay, and that the business might be extended to -a wonderful degree in proportion to the capital advanced to work upon. -In a word, the whole affair was of the most roseate hue: Alexander, his -wife, and her aunt were in raptures at the brilliant prospect thus -fortunately opened to their contemplation; and it was resolved that he -should lose no time in securing a share in so excellent an undertaking. -Accordingly, on the following morning, he returned to Mr. Walkden, who -received him with cold politeness, and requested his speedy decision in -the matter—'as so promising a business had already attracted the notice -of several capitalists, who were eager and willing to embark their -funds.'—'And you will guarantee the respectability of your client, sir?' -enquired Alexander.—'I have been established in this profession for -upwards of thirty years, young man,' said the lawyer, almost sternly; -'and never have I allowed my office to be made the means of carrying out -an illegitimate transaction. My client, Mr. Scudimore, is a man of -integrity and honour; and whatever he promises, _that_ will he -perform!'—'In this case, Mr. Walkden,' observed Alexander Craddock, 'the -sooner I have an interview with Mr. Scudimore, the better.'—The lawyer -made no farther observation, but furnished his visitor with the address -of the patentee; and Alexander accordingly repaired to Mr. Scudimore's -dwelling, which was situated somewhere near Finsbury Square. - -"Mr. Scudimore was an elderly person—very well dressed—plausible in his -discourse, and over-polite in his manners. In fact, he seemed to be the -very reverse of his solicitor in respect to disposition; for he received -Alexander as if he had known him all his life; and the young man found -himself sitting at lunch, and on the best possible terms with his new -friend, almost before he had time to look round him. Then, if the affair -which thus brought them together, had looked well upon paper, it assumed -so glorious an aspect, when described in the glowing language of Mr. -Scudimore, that Alexander Craddock, generous, frank, and confiding as he -naturally was, came to a complete understanding with the patentee ere he -took his departure. On the following day Scudimore dined at his house; -and the ladies were quite charmed with their new acquaintance. Matters -progressed rapidly through the business-like attention which Walkden -devoted to the affair; and in less than a fortnight the deeds of -partnership between Alexander Craddock and James Scudimore were duly -signed at the lawyer's office, in Bush Lane, Cannon Street. Immediately -afterwards, Alexander sold out six thousand pounds, which he paid into a -bank to the joint account of Craddock and Scudimore; and in the course -of a few days the latter gentleman took his departure for a -manufacturing town, where he was to hire premises and establish a -factory without delay, Alexander remaining in London to prepare a -warehouse to receive the goods. For some months all appeared to go on to -the complete satisfaction of both parties: Scudimore wrote up the most -pleasing accounts from the country; and at last he informed his young -partner that the factory was in perfect readiness to commence -operations. It however appeared that more money was required; and -Alexander, after an interview with Walkden, threw a farther sum of four -thousand pounds into the business, all the funds being completely at the -disposal of Scudimore. But almost immediately after the advance of this -second sum, the letters from the provincial town ceased. Several weeks -passed away: no communications were received from Scudimore;—and Mr. -Walkden appeared to be as astonished as Alexander himself. A visit to -the banker created a vague suspicion in the mind of the young man that -all was not right;—for though Scudimore had drawn out the first amount -by means of a number of successive cheques, he had received the whole of -the second advance on one draught, and almost immediately after it had -been paid in. A little farther enquiry convinced Alexander that Walkden -had presented all the cheques for payment at the bank. Without, however -losing a moment by calling on the lawyer for an explanation, Alexander -proceeded post-haste to the provincial town where he expected to find -Scudimore; and there all his fears were speedily confirmed. No premises -had been hired by any such person—no factory established in such a name: -but Mr. Scudimore had resided at an hotel in the place for several -months, and had taken his departure, no one knew whither, at a date -which, on calculation, Alexander found to be precisely four days after -he had paid the second sum into the banker's hands. No doubt now -remained in his mind that he was the dupe of a designing villain; and he -was convinced that Walkden was an accomplice. To London he returned -without delay; and, on his arrival, he repaired direct to the lawyer's -office. That professional gentleman received him with his usual cold and -reserved politeness, affecting not even to notice the excitement under -which the young man was labouring. - -"'Your friend Mr. Scudimore, sir, is a villain!' exclaimed -Alexander.—'Such language is intolerable in my office, sir,' said -Walkden, in his chilling, phlegmatic manner.—'Intolerable or not, it -is the only language I can use under such circumstances,' cried the -young man. 'Scudimore has absconded with the whole sum of ten thousand -pounds which I advanced in this swindling concern; and it was through -you and your representations, sir, that I have been thus cruelly -deceived and basely plundered.'—'Softly, Mr. Craddock, if you please,' -observed the lawyer; 'because your language conveys an imputation -which I repel with scorn and contempt. My character is too well -established to be injured by the calumny of an obscure stranger. You -requested me to give you Mr. Scudimore's address in the first -instance: I did so; and it was with _him_ that you made all your -arrangements. You then both came to me, informed me that every thing -was settled between you, and employed me professionally to draw up -certain deeds.'—'But you gave me the highest character of your friend -Scudimore!' ejaculated Alexander.—'I spoke of him as I had always -found him up to that hour when you questioned me,' said Walkden: 'but -I never pretended to possess the power of prophesying that he would -continue honest up to the day of his death!'—'Contemptible, vile -sophistry!' exclaimed Alexander, his cheeks glowing with indignation. -'It is a base conspiracy to plunder me; and I will unmask you!'—'And -supposing that I have incurred a chance of losing as much as yourself -through this Mr. Scudimore?' said the lawyer, without losing his -temper, but with a smile of malignant triumph on his lips.—'_You_ lose -by him!' cried Alexander, in a tone of bitter irony: 'you knew him too -well to trust him.'—'At all events I may have somewhat calculated upon -_your_ joint responsibility,' observed Walkden, fixing his cold, grey -eyes upon the young man whom these ominous words startled.—'What do -you mean?' he demanded, his heart sinking within him.—'I mean,' -answered Walkden, 'that I have discounted your acceptances to the -amount of eight thousand pounds; that I have passed away those bills -of exchange in the course of business; that when they fall due -shortly, I shall be unable to take them up; and that the holder will -therefore look to you for the payment of them?'—Alexander sank, -speechless and powerless, into a seat as the whole scheme of villainy -was thus fully developed to his horrified contemplation.—'As you were -in partnership, and all the deeds establishing that partnership were -drawn up in the regular way and strictly binding, Scudimore had not -only a right to sign bills in your joint name,' proceeded the lawyer, -'but you cannot for an instant dispute your liability in respect to -them.'—'Is it possible,' gasped Alexander, 'that I can have been so -foolish and you so wicked? Oh! my poor wife—my beloved children, what -will become of you, now that I am ruined by my own madness and this -awful combination of villainies!'—'Mr. Craddock,' said Walkden, -drawing himself up to his full height, while his iron features -remained implacable and rigid, 'you must not allow your tongue a -license in respect to me. Again I tell you that my character is too -well established, and my reputation too substantially good, to be -injured by false calumnies. Indeed, I am not at all clear that I have -not some grounds to complain of conspiracy and villainy: for it -certainly looks suspicious—most suspicious that your partner should -obtain from me advances to the amount of eight thousand pounds, and -then abscond. You would not come out of court with very clean hands, -Mr. Craddock, I can tell you.'—'Wretch!' ejaculated the unhappy young -man, now goaded to desperation: 'how dare you hint at any connivance -on my part with the scoundrelism of your own friend—_you_ who -presented at the bank all the drafts for the money which I was insane -enough to lodge there!'—'I certainly received several sums on behalf -of Mr. Scudimore, to whom I duly remitted them,' said the lawyer, -still in that cold, reserved tone which so much aggravated the rage of -the ruined Craddock. 'But we will now put an end to this interview, -sir,' he added; 'as my time is precious.'—'Yes, I will leave you, -treacherous miscreant that you are!' exclaimed Alexander; and rushing -into the clerks' office, he vociferated with mad excitement, -'Gentlemen, if you wish to behold the greatest villian on the face of -the earth, go and look at your master!'—He then hurried away, the -victim of a mingled rage and grief which it would be impossible to -describe. - -"But how could he face his dear wife—her affectionate aunt—his -much-loved children? '_Ruined—totally ruined_:' how awfully do these -words sound upon the ears! A man, when alone in the world and with none -dependent on him or his exertions, may murmur those words to himself -with comparative calmness: but the individual who has a wife and -children looking to him for every necessary of existence—ah! _he_ indeed -feels his heart seared as with red-hot iron when his lips, expressing -the conviction which circumstances force on his startled mind, frame the -frightful words, '_Ruined—totally ruined!_' Miss Middleton (the aunt) -and Lucy were already acquainted with the unpleasant nature of the -suspicions which Scudimore's protracted silence had created in the mind -of Alexander; and they were likewise aware of the object of his journey -into the country. But they had yet to learn the fatal result of the -enquiries which he had instituted; and it was still left for him to -break to them the particulars of his interview with Walkden. On his -return home, his anxiety and mental suffering were betrayed by his -countenance,—for he was unskilled in the schools of duplicity, and knew -not how to conceal a lacerated heart beneath a tranquil exterior. The -ladies pressed him with questions: they saw that something dreadful had -occurred—and they implored him not to keep them in suspense. He told -them all,—told them how Scudimore had plundered him of ten thousand -pounds—how he remained liable to Walkden for eight thousand more—and how -the payment of this imminent liability would sweep away the whole of his -fortune, leaving him a ruined man! Then, in that hour of bitter trial, -he found how dear is woman as a 'ministering angel;'[50] and, having -been comparatively soothed and tranquillised by the consolatory language -of his Lucy and Miss Middleton, he proceeded to the office of his own -solicitor, whom he resolved to consult relative to the posture of his -affairs. - -"The moment he had left the house, Lucy and Miss Middleton held a hasty -council together. 'Do you think it would be imprudent or improper, my -dear aunt,' asked the young wife, 'if I were to call upon this Mr. -Walkden, and implore him not to press the payment of a debt which will -deprive Alexander of all the resources that he might render available -for the purpose of retrieving himself?'—'On the contrary, I approve of -the step,' was the reply. 'Alexander says that Mr. Walkden was stern and -severe; but then Alexander himself may have been hasty and indignant. -After all, this Mr. Walkden has perhaps been duped, as well as your -husband, by Scudimore.'—'I fear that this is not the case,' said Lucy: -'I am impressed with the conviction that the lawyer and Scudimore were -in league together. Nevertheless, as we are entirely at Walkden's mercy, -it would be unwise to irritate, but prudent to conciliate him.'—'Go, my -dear child,' exclaimed the aunt; 'and may you succeed in softening the -heart of this man who holds your dear husband in his iron grasp.'—Lucy -accordingly attired herself in a simple and modest manner, and proceeded -to the office of Mr. Walkden, who, happening to be disengaged at the -time, immediately received her. - -"'I have called, sir,' began Lucy, whose courage almost failed her when -she found herself in the presence of a man of such stern, cold, and -indeed forbidding aspect—for this was the first time she had ever seen -him,—'I have called, sir,' she repeated, 'on behalf of my husband, whose -ruin is certain unless you show him some degree of mercy.'—'Mr. Craddock -behaved in a manner the most insulting, and dared to utter suspicions -the must derogatory to my character, even in the presence of my clerks,' -observed Walkden, in a tone so chilling that it seemed as if the breath -which wafted those words to the young wife's ears, passed over the ice -of the poles.—'But surely, sir,' urged Lucy, the tears trickling down -her cheeks, 'you will make some allowances for the excited feelings of a -young man just entering the world as it were, and so cruelly struck on -its very threshold by the hand of misfortune? At least, sir, if not for -his sake, I implore you for that of his innocent children to be lenient -and merciful.'—'Law forms and ceremonies are not influenced by such -considerations, madam,' said Mr. Walkden. 'At the same time, I have no -objection to search the Commentaries; and if I there find leniency -recommended in filing a declaration, or mercy enjoined in signing -judgment, I have not the slightest objection to instruct my common-law -clerk accordingly.'—Lucy stared at the attorney in wild bewilderment and -uncertainty as he thus delivered himself in a measured tone of such -frigidity that it seemed as if an automaton of ice were speaking; but at -length she murmured, 'May I then hope, sir, that you will not press for -the payment of this heavy debt when the bills become due?'—Walkden fixed -his eyes upon the lovely and tearful countenance which was upturned so -imploringly towards him; and at the instant he thought within himself -that he had never before seen a female face of such surpassing beauty. -Then his glance slowly and deliberately wandered from the faultless -features to the contours of the well-formed bust, developed even by the -plaits of the thick shawl which Lucy wore; and thence his survey was -continued until his contemplation had embraced the wasp-like waist, and -the flowing outlines of a symmetrical form, terminating in feet and -ankles ravishingly modelled.—'You are doubtless much attached to your -husband, madam?' he said, his tone becoming the least thing more -tender—or rather losing one small degree of its cold severity.—'Attached -to him, sir!' exclaimed Lucy, perfectly astonished at the question: 'I -love—I worship him! He is the best of husbands and the best of -fathers!'—'Then you would make _any_ sacrifice to restore him to peace -of mind?' said Walkden, his voice becoming more tender still, and his -demeanour gradually unbending from its stiff formality.—'Oh! yes,' cried -the artless Lucy; '_any_ sacrifice would I make to see my Alexander -happy as he was wont to be!'—'_Any_ sacrifice,' repeated the lawyer, now -positively allowing his features to relax into a faint and significant -smile, while his voice was lowered and changed into a tone of soft -familiarity; 'consider what you say—_any sacrifice_! Well, then on that -condition'—and he took her hand.—A light broke instantaneously upon the -mind of Lucy; and, snatching back her hand as if from the maw of a wild -beast, she started from her seat, uttered a cry of indignation and -abhorrence, and disappeared from the office before the baffled and -disconcerted lawyer had time to make an effort to detain her. - -"Lucy's heart was still swelling with mingled resentment and anguish, -when she reached her home; and Alexander who returned at the same time, -saw in an instant that she was a prey to no ordinary emotions. Throwing -herself into her husband's arms, Lucy burst into tears—her pent-up -feelings no longer obeying the control of that restraint which she -sought to impose upon them. Then, by dint of questioning, Alexander -gleaned enough to convince him that his beloved wife had been flagrantly -insulted by the villain who had already heaped such grievous wrongs upon -his head. Maddened by this fresh injury, Alexander was about to rush -from the house and inflict some dreadful chastisement upon the -cold-blooded monster Walkden, when his wife and her aunt threw -themselves at his feet, and implored him, with tears and impassioned -entreaties, not to aggravate the perils and embarrassments of his -position by involving himself in a quarrel with their enemy. Alexander -was moved by the prayers of those whom he loved; and he faithfully -promised them not to suffer his indignant feelings to master his -prudence. When calmness and composure were somewhat restored, he -proceeded to explain the result of the visit which he had just paid to -his own solicitor. That gentleman had said to him, 'It is as clear as -day-light that you are robbed by Walkden and Scudimore conjointly; but I -really do not think that you could _prove_ a conspiracy in a criminal -court. I should, however, decidedly advise you to resist the payment of -the bills; and, as Walkden is tolerably sure to push the matter on to -trial, the verdict of a jury in the civil case will enable us to judge -how far we may hope to punish the scoundrel attorney in another manner.' -Alexander had accordingly placed himself entirely in his solicitor's -hands; and there rested the business for the present. - -"But a serious change took place in the disposition and habits of -Alexander Craddock. Smarting under the wrongs which he had received, he -grew restless and unsettled—experienced less delight than he was wont to -feel in the society of his wife and children—showed signs of -irritability, and an impatience of the slightest contradiction, however -trivial—and remained longer over his wine after dinner. Lucy beheld all -this, and wept in secret: but when with Alexander, she redoubled her -attentions, and sought every possible opportunity of proving her -devotion. She implored him to give up the house they then occupied, and -adopt a more economical mode of life; but his answers were at first -evasive—then impatient—and at last so sharp and angry, that she was -compelled, though with reluctance, to abandon the topic, at least for -the present. To add to Lucy's grief, her aunt, who had so long fulfilled -towards her the duties of a mother, was attacked with sudden -indisposition, which increased with alarming rapidity, and carried her -off in the course of a few days. Alexander manifested far less sorrow -than Lucy had expected him to have shown; and this proof of an -augmenting callousness on his part, pierced the heart of the amiable -young lady to the very quick. But scarcely had the remains of Miss -Middleton been consigned to the tomb, when a fresh misfortune occurred -to increase the irritability of Alexander. The bills for eight thousand -pounds fell due, and were dishonoured by him, in accordance with the -advice of his solicitor. He was immediately after arrested: and, as he -had resolved to defend the action, he paid into court the whole sum in -dispute, a proceeding whereby he could alone save himself from remaining -in prison until the trial. He had, however, gone through the ordeal of a -spunging-house, and he considered himself disgraced; the irritability of -his temper increased—he daily grew more attached to the bottle—and his -affections towards his wife and children were evidently blunted. Oh! how -ramified and vast are the evil effects of the villainy of one man -towards another,—striking not only the individual victim, but rebounding -and reacting on his wife, his children, and his friends! - -"Lucy again revived the expression of her wish that a cheaper dwelling -should be taken and a more economical style of living adopted. But -Alexander would not listen to the proposal. He declared his certainty of -gaining the suit and of recovering his money from the court—a result, he -said, which would enable him to employ his funds in some legitimate -commercial enterprise. On this subject he spoke so confidently, that -Lucy entertained the most sanguine hopes of beholding happiness restored -beneath a roof where naught save happiness had once prevailed; and it -was but with little apprehension that she marked the arrival of the day -fixed for the trial. The most able counsel had been retained on both -sides; and the cause excited immense interest. Walkden had been -established for years, and bore an excellent character: indeed, none of -his friends or clients could for a moment believe that he was an -accomplice of the villain Scudimore. The whole question, as presented to -the cognizance of the tribunal, was whether Mr. Walkden had given value -for the bills, and was a _bona fide_ holder of securities which he had -legitimately and honourably discounted in the course of business. The -evidence he adduced to establish these points was certainly of a nature -likely to prove most convincing to a jury, though Alexander knew full -well that Walkden had suborned the grossest perjury on the part of his -clerks and the other persons whom he put forward as witnesses. -Nevertheless, the verdict was in Walkden's favour; and Alexander -returned home a prey to the liveliest grief and the most bitter -resentment. Lucy did all that woman's goodness and ingenuity could -suggest to console him; but the excitement of his feelings gained upon -him with such overwhelming violence and rapidity, that he grew -delirious, and a brain-fever supervened. The best medical advice was -procured for him by the almost heart-broken Lucy; but weeks and weeks -passed away without enabling the physicians to pronounce him beyond the -reach of danger. During that period he had many lucid intervals, on -which occasions he recognised his wife and children—embraced them -tenderly—wept over them—implored heaven to bless them—and then, in the -bitterness of overwhelming reminiscences, desired them to look upon him -as one who was dead,—his excitement relapsing into delirium again. Poor -Lucy! seldom was it that she reposed her aching head upon a pillow, -throughout the period of her beloved husband's illness—and never until -completely crushed with the fatigue of long vigils and the burthen of a -grief beneath which she herself was sinking. At length—just as her -pecuniary resources began to fail, and the want of funds excited alarms -which augmented her afflictions—Alexander's malady took a sudden turn -which filled her mind with the most joyous hope; and when the delirium -had altogether passed away, his manner was so kind and gentle—his -language so endearing and affectionate—and his temper so entirely devoid -of irritability, that Lucy's heart became elate with the most cheering -aspirations and delightful visions. Alexander spoke of his misfortunes -with calmness and resignation; and said, 'Our property is all swept -away, dearest; but I am young, and shall soon be strong and active -again; and then I will work to obtain a livelihood for us all. And who -knows, my beloved Lucy, but that the bread of honest though perhaps -severe toil, may not prove the sweetest we shall have ever eaten?'—Then, -when his wife heard him discourse in this manner, she would throw -herself into his arms, and thank him—yes, thank him fervently for -becoming a consoler in his turn. - -"The fond pair had been conversing in this style one afternoon—the first -day on which Alexander was enabled to walk down stairs to the parlour -without assistance,—and their children were playing in a corner of the -apartment, when the door was suddenly and violently opened, and two or -three coarse-looking fellows unceremoniously made their appearance. -Their mission was soon explained. The money paid into court had only -just covered the amount of the bills of exchange which had formed the -ground of action; and Alexander was now arrested by Walkden for the -costs, which had been taxed at a hundred and odd pounds. The unfortunate -young couple had not the money; and Lucy had already made away with -their plate, jewellery, and other valuables in order to provide her -husband with every comfort and luxury in his illness. The furniture was -worth more than the amount of the costs: but arrears of rent were due to -the landlord. Lucy implored the bailiffs, with tears in her eyes, not to -remove Alexander for a few days, when he might have recovered the shock -of this new and unforeseen blow; but they were inexorable, intimating -pretty plainly that they were instructed to show no leniency of any -kind. She, however, by dint of entreaties—actually going down upon her -knees to the officers—succeeded in inducing them to wait while she -repaired to his own solicitor. But this gentleman was unable to assist -her to the amount she required: he nevertheless manifested the kindest -and most respectful sympathy towards her, giving her a few guineas for -immediate necessities, and promising to incur the expense of the -measures necessary to enable her husband to remove next day from a -lock-up house to the King's Bench. It was some consolation to the almost -heart-broken young lady, to find that Alexander possessed at least one -friend in the world; but even this faint and poor gleam of solace -vanished, and gave way to the keenest apprehensions, when on her return -she found her husband a prey to all that fearful excitement which had -proved the forerunner of his late dangerous malady. - -"What was to be done? There seemed but one alternative; and this she was -determined, in her affectionate solicitude and zeal, to adopt without -the knowledge of Alexander. Indeed, he scarcely appeared to be aware of -what was going on; but raved, talked wildly, and menaced and wept by -turns in the presence of the officers who surrounded him. Away sped Lucy -to Bush Lane; and a second time did she enter the establishment of that -individual who had brought such rapid—such signal—such unredeemable ruin -on the heads of a once happy family. Walkden received her in his private -office, and coldly desired her to be seated, a smile of infernal triumph -relaxing his stern and usually rigid features; while his eyes scanned -the wasted, but still touchingly beautiful and deeply interesting -countenance of that afflicted young lady. Lucy was for some minutes so -overcome by the intensity of her feelings, that she was unable to utter -a word; and when she did speak, it was a mere gasping forth of -disjointed sentences, broken by frequent sobs of convulsing agony. The -lawyer bent over her, like Satan whispering to a desperate creature the -terms on which wealth and power might be purchased,—bent over that -crushed, much-enduring, and amiable young wife, and murmured in her ears -_his_ terms of mercy towards her husband. She rose and looked at him in -amazement and horror. Was he a human being, or a veritable fiend? His -cold, grey eyes sank not beneath the reproachful and indignant glance of -that outraged lady; and a smile of demoniac triumph again played upon -his lip. Doubtless he thought that her anger was only momentary, and -that the sternness of necessity would force her to a compliance with his -will. But he knew not the mind of Lucy. 'Villain! monster!' she -exclaimed: 'has your infamy no bounds?' and she fled from the presence -of the cold-blooded scoundrel as if the atmosphere which he breathed -were fraught with the plague. - -"With what a heavy heart did she return home—that home from which her -husband must now be dragged immediately and before her eyes,—a home -which, perhaps, would not long remain so for herself and children. But -suddenly, and as if by divine inspiration, she remembered that all her -courage was now required to enable her to bear up against her -afflictions for the sake of Alexander—for the sake of her offspring;—and -it is astonishing how, in the midst of the deepest sorrows, woman can -ofttimes display an energy of which the stronger sex is altogether -incapable. And so it now was with Lucy Craddock. She even succeeded in -comforting her husband and soothing his excitement, by reminding him -that the more he appeared to be crushed, the greater would be the -delight of his savage and unrelenting enemy. This species of -remonstrance, so kindly—so gently administered, had the desired effect; -and Alexander, animated with a spirit of endurance, and fortified by the -example of his admirable wife, rose if possible superior to his -misfortunes, and proceeded with a feeling of proud resignation to the -lock-up-house. Thence on the ensuing day he was removed to the King's -Bench: and it was here that I first formed his acquaintance, when he -entered the prison six years ago. - -"Immediately after his arrival, his spirits gave way rapidly; and it was -necessary for his wife to take up her abode with him altogether. She -accordingly disposed of the furniture in their house, paid the landlord -and the few other small creditors, and brought her children over to the -small cheerless chamber in which her husband was lying on a bed of -sickness. Thus was this once happy family—like so many, many others, -reduced from a state of comfort, and even affluence, to poverty and a -prison-room. Heaven only knows what misery—what privations they had -undergone, when it was first whispered to me by a char-woman that the -Craddocks seemed to be in great distress. I was then a little better off -than I am now; and I immediately repaired to their room, inventing some -excuse for my intrusion. Oh! what a scene of destitution—what a -heart-rending spectacle met my eyes! The furniture which the Craddocks -had hired, had been all removed away in consequence of their inability -to pay for its use: Alexander, pale and emaciated, was sitting upon a -trunk; the two children, thin and wasted, were crying for food; and the -poor, heart-rent Lucy was looking over a few things in a hatbox, -evidently with a view to select the most likely articles to be received -by the pawnbroker—while her scalding tears fell fast upon her hands as -she turned over the only relics left of a wardrobe once extensive and -elegant. It went to my very soul to contemplate that scene! I shall not -pause to explain all the particulars which rendered me intimate with the -Craddocks: suffice it to say, that they accepted my assistance, and that -in a few hours their chamber once again wore an aspect of such comfort -as the restitution of the furniture and a well supplied table could -possibly afford in a prison. I did not learn their history -immediately—nor all its details at once: portions of it were -communicated by degrees—some of the particulars oozed out -incidentally—and the feelings and sentiments experienced by the -sufferers in the various phases of their eventful tale, transpired from -time to time,—until at length I gleaned all those facts which I have now -related to you. But by far the most terrible portion of the history of -the Craddocks is yet to come." - -Prout paused for a few moments, and then enquired of Frank Curtis if he -were wearied of the narrative. The young gentleman assured him that, so -far from being tired of the story, he was deeply interested in its -progress; whereupon the Chancery prisoner proceeded in the following -manner. - ------ - -Footnote 50: - - O woman in our hours of ease, - Uncertain, coy, and hard to please, - And variable as the shade - By the light quivering aspen made;— - When pain and anguish wring the brow, - A ministering angel thou! - - WALTER SCOTT. - - And such is woman's love—the secret power - That turns the darkest to the brightest hour; - That smothes the wrinkles care has learned to plough, - And wipes the trace of anguish from the brow! - And Oh! if spite of war and wasting pain, - Feelings so noble—so divine remain, - Where were the brighter star to cheer our gloom, - Make heaven of earth, and triumph o'er the tomb! - - UNIVERSITY PRIZE POEM. - - - - - CHAPTER CVIII. - CONCLUSION OF THE TALE OF SORROW. - - -"Although I was enabled to administer temporary assistance to this -unfortunate and persecuted family, and, under the delicate guise of a -_loan_ of money, _gave_ them the wherewith to make themselves -comparatively comfortable, it was nevertheless necessary for Alexander -to resolve upon some decisive step. To remain in prison was to bury his -talents in a manner so as to render them completely unavailable,—to -think of liquidating the enormous burthen of debt which lay upon his -shoulders, was ridiculous,—and to move the stony heart of Walkden was a -hopeless idea. The only alternative was the Insolvents' Court. Good -food, medical attendance, and the altered appearance of his wife and -children, who had all improved greatly, restored Alexander to some -degree of health and spirits; and he soon began to discuss with me and -Lucy his present position and plans for the future. The lawyer who had -enabled him to pass over to the Bench, returned to town at this precise -period, after some weeks' absence; and he not only agreed to provide the -funds to take Alexander through the Insolvents' Court, but also promised -to give him employment as a clerk on his release. Thus was it that this -good man infused hope into the bosoms of the Craddocks; and the -necessary steps were adopted to effect the emancipation of the prisoner. -But scarcely were the initiatory proceedings set on foot, when -intelligence was received to the effect that Walkden was resolved to -oppose Alexander's discharge by all the means that were within his -power. This intimation, which reached the prison through a private -channel, aroused Alexander's fury against the man who so unrelentingly -persecuted him; and it required all the attentions of his amiable wife -and all the manifestations of friendship which I was enabled to offer, -to restore him to comparative tranquillity. - -[Illustration] - -"Well, the day fixed for his examination at the Insolvents' Court -arrived; and Alexander proceeded thither in the usual charge of a -tipstaff. His case was called on at an early stage of the day's -business; and he found a formidable array of counsel employed against -him. I shall not pause to dwell upon all the details of the proceeding: -suffice it to say that Walkden was placed in the witness-box, and, being -examined by the barristers whom he had feed, made the entire case look -so fearfully black against Alexander Craddock, that he was remanded to -gaol for twelve months, his discharge to take place at the expiration of -that period. Fearful was the state of excitement in which he returned to -the Bench; and in the course of a few hours he was delirious. It was -frightful to hear his ravings, in which the name of Walkden was -uppermost, and associated with the bitterest imprecations and menaces. -Poor Lucy! I thought her heart would break, as she sate watching by her -husband's bed; but she was rewarded to some extent for her vigils and -her sorrow, when, on the return of his senses, he recognised her before -he even knew his own children, much less me—his humble friend,—and -manifested his purest love for her in the most impassioned language and -with the tenderest embraces. But though the delirium left him and -returned no more, he soon fell into a deep and brooding melancholy, from -which it was scarcely possible to arouse him. He fancied himself -dishonoured—permanently dishonoured by the sentence passed upon him by -the Insolvents' Court; and though the friendly lawyer and myself, as -well as Lucy, endeavoured to reason with him against the -belief,—pointing out every circumstance calculated to prove that he was -a victim, and not a culprit,—he took the matter so to heart that it was -evident his spirit was broken! - -"My own resources began to fall off at this period, and I was unable to -assist the Craddocks as much as I could wish. Moreover, Alexander and -Lucy both felt averse to remain dependant upon me; and the friendly -lawyer had proved so generous that they were naturally delicate in -applying to him. Lucy accordingly made up her mind how to act. She -proposed that they should remove over to the Poor-Side, and receive the -County money. They would thus obtain a room rent free, and a few -shillings a-week to purchase bread. Alexander's pride struggled against -this project; but he yielded at last to the entreaties and -representations of his excellent wife, who assured him that she felt no -shame in showing that she was poor, and that the only real disgrace lay -in dishonesty. 'Wherefore, then, should we contract any debts which we -cannot pay?' she enquired; 'and if we continue to live in this part of -the prison we must keep up certain appearances, which we have not the -means to do.'—Alexander succumbed, I say, to this reasoning; and to the -Poor-Side they accordingly removed. I never shall forget the day when -this change took place. Lucy had made the new chamber look as neat at -possible; and she endeavoured to maintain a smiling exterior as she -arranged the little furniture and the few things of their own which were -left to them. But every now and then she glanced anxiously towards her -husband, who sat in a musing—or rather an apathetic manner—watching her -proceedings; and I observed that a tear frequently started to her eye, -and that every now and then she caught up her children and pressed them -passionately to her bosom. I insisted upon providing dinner on that day; -and I did all I could not only to make this poor family as comfortable -as possible, but also to raise Alexander's spirits. But if he smiled it -was so faintly, or sickly, that my heart sank within me as if he had -been my own son. - -"A few weeks passed away, and I observed that Lucy managed to keep the -family pretty comfortably. They had no lack of plain and humble food—and -the children were always neat and clean. Whenever I called at their -room, I found Lucy busy in some way or another—either washing or mending -the clothes, or ironing out her husband's linen, or else plying the -needle at work which, though I know little of such matters, did not seem -to me to have any reference to the family wardrobe at all. One night I -could not sleep, and got up to take a walk round the prison. It was -between twelve and one; and, as I passed round by the Poor-Side, I -chanced to look up at the window of the Craddocks' room. To my surprise, -I observed a light burning; and the truth flashed upon me. Poor Lucy was -sitting up to work—to waste her youth, her health, and her spirits over -the needle, that she might obtain the means to purchase comforts for her -husband and children! The conviction went to my very heart like a pang; -and I thought how bitter is often the mission of a good and virtuous -woman in this world! I remember that I had no inclination to retire to -rest again that night; and I kept walking—walking round the prison, -impelled by some invincible influence thus to wander about the gloomy -place, as if to watch how long the feeble light would be burning in that -one room! It was nearly four o'clock when that light was extinguished; -and I heaved a sigh as I murmured to myself the name of poor Lucy -Craddock! When day came, and I was enabled to call upon Alexander after -breakfast. I examined the young wife and mother with more attention than -usual; and it then struck me that she was visibly wasting away. Her -health was evidently declining; and her spirits were entirely forced. -She was gay and lively as ever; but that gaiety and liveliness were -assumed, not real—artificial, not natural,—the veil which an excellent -and amiable woman—a most affectionate wife and the best of mothers—put -on to cover the secret of her breaking heart! - -"Three mouths of the year for which Alexander had been remanded, passed -away; and Lucy beheld her children drooping and pining through want of -proper air and exercise. This discovery was a new affliction. She would -not permit the little things to play about along with the ragged, dirty -offspring of the other prisoners on the Poor-Side; and she was unable to -spare the time to take them out herself. I understood the struggle that -was passing in her mind. If she devoted an hour or two each day to them, -she must give up some of the work which, as I found out, she had -obtained from a warehouse in the Borough; and by so doing their comforts -and those of her husband would be abridged. On the other hand, she could -not see those poor innocents confined to a close room and pining for -fresh air. She accordingly resolved to take them out for a certain -period each day, and to steal another hour or two from her repose. I -knew that she did this, because when I either walked about until very -late, or else rose early to take my ramble about the prison, I saw the -light in the chamber even at five o'clock in the morning! My God! It is -as true as I am here, that this poor, devoted woman at length limited -herself to only three hours' rest; and though her children improved in -health, her own was suffering the most frightful ravages. It was evident -that Alexander did not suspect the labour and toil which his wife -endured: he had sunk into a species of apathy which blinded him to a -fact that I discovered so easily, and which gave me the acutest pain. -You may be sure that I did all I could for the family, and in as -delicate a way as possible,—always proposing to join my dinner to -their's when I knew that I had a better one than they; but my own -resources were becoming daily more cramped; and my accursed Chancery -business not only lingered on, but absorbed all the funds I could raise -or my friends could muster in my behalf. Thus six months passed -away—Lucy in the meantime being worn down to a skeleton, and seeming -only the shadow of her former self. Still she grew not, slovenly: -dirt—that too frequent companion of poverty—was not the characteristic -of her little chamber; and her husband always had his clean shirt for -the Sabbath, and even decent apparel, considering that he lived on the -Poor-Side of the King's Bench Prison! - -"It was Term Time; and my business compelled me to take a day-rule. That -is to say, I obtained permission to go out for a day to attend to my -affairs, my friends giving security to the Marshal of the Bench for my -safe return. I resolved to avail myself of this opportunity to call on -Walkden, and represent to him the cruelty and absurdity of keeping -Alexander in confinement, when by withdrawing the detainer he might -restore him to freedom. I was prepared to find Walkden a severe and hard -man; but the reception I experienced was calculated to make me set him -down as a fiend in mortal shape. The moment I mentioned my business, he -stopped me short,—rising from his seat, and saying in a cold, icy -manner, 'The name of Craddock is abhorrent to me, sir. I was grossly -insulted by his injurious suspicions; and he shall rot in prison before -I permit him to escape my vengeance. He thinks that he will be freed in -six months' time; but he is mistaken.'—'No, sir,' I exclaimed -indignantly, 'it is you who are mistaken. The fiat of the Insolvents' -Court is stronger than your vindictive will.'—'We shall see,' observed -Walkden, in an implacable tone; and I was compelled to withdraw, not -only grieved at the ill-success of my visit, but filled with vague -apprehensions that fresh persecutions were in waiting for my unhappy -friend. But I did not breathe a word to either Alexander or Lucy -relative to the step which I had taken nor the fears thus excited within -me; although I could not banish the lawyer's dark menace from my -thoughts. Months passed away—Lucy still managing to keep the wolf from -the door, as the vulgar phrase goes; while her health was sinking -rapidly. - -"At length the period drew nigh when Alexander expected to obtain his -deliverance; and now his spirits began to rise. He gradually shook off -the apathy which had so long clouded his intellect and impaired his -energies; and he spoke highly of the prospect of release. But Walkden -watched him from a distance, and seemed to gloat over the new scheme of -vengeance which he had in store for this hapless family. Indeed, the -blow came on a day when Alexander had declared to me that he had not -felt his heart so light for a long, long time. A detainer was lodged -against him at the gate—a detainer for a thousand pounds! The fact was -that a mistake had been committed in Alexander's schedule, and an item -to that extent omitted. The judgment of the Court was therefore void and -null in respect to a debt not inserted in the schedule; for such is the -atrocious law, made on purpose to persecute those unfortunate debtors -who do not come within the meaning of the Acts which enable traders to -apply to the Bankruptcy Court. The way that I heard first of the -detainer being lodged at Walkden's suit was in this wise:—A char-woman -came to my room, saying that Mrs. Craddock, who appeared to be in great -distress of mind, wished to see me immediately. I hurried to the -Poor-Side, a misgiving preparing my mind to receive intelligence of -farther persecution on the part of the fiend Walkden. On entering the -Craddock's chamber, I found Alexander lying almost senseless on the bed, -deep and prolonged gaspings alone denoting that he was alive. Lucy was -on her knees, imploring him not to give way to despair; and the children -were crying piteously, although they were too young to understand the -nature of the misfortune which had fallen on their parents' heads. I -strove to awaken my unhappy friend to the necessity of enduring this new -affliction with courage; and in a short time my representations, joined -to Lucy's prayers and entreaties, succeeded to some little extent. 'You -must petition the Insolvents' Court again,' I said; 'and you are sure of -having no farther remand. In six weeks you will be free.'—'But the -means—the means to pass this ordeal a second time!' he exclaimed almost -frantically.—'The Marshal has some charitable funds at his disposal,' I -observed; 'and I will instantly wait upon him, and present the whole -circumstances of the case.'—Alexander was in that feverish state of -excitement which cannot endure suspense when any gleam of hope is -afforded in the midst of despair; and he urged me to lose no time in -seeing the Marshal. As I quitted the room, Lucy pressed my hand in a -manner expressive of deep emotion, as she murmured in a low tone, 'You -are our only friend!' - -"Within ten minutes I was seated in the Marshal's private office, -explaining the nature of my business. I unreservedly and frankly -revealed to him Alexander Craddock's whole history; and you may be sure -that I did not forget to dwell upon the admirable conduct of Lucy. The -Marshal is a humane man, although nothing more than a superior kind of -gaoler; and he listened to me with great interest. When I had concluded -my narrative, which was rather long, he said, 'Mr. Prout, I will lose no -time in calling myself upon Mr. Walkden, whom I know well by name, and -whose character has certainly appeared to me this day in a new light. I -am well aware that he is harsh and severe; but I do not think him -capable of keeping this man in prison under all the circumstances which -you have detailed to me. I will see him, and endeavour to excite his -compassion by unfolding to him all the particulars of Craddock's -history, as you have now related them to me. If he should persist in -retaining him in gaol, I will then from my own pocket advance the -necessary funds to enable your poor friend to petition the Court again. -In the meantime give Craddock this guinea.'—I returned my warmest thanks -to the Marshal for his goodness, and was hurrying back to the Craddocks -with the money and the hopeful intelligence I had in store for them, -when, as I passed through the upper lobby, my attention was directed to -a new prisoner who had just arrived; for on the turnkey asking him his -name, he replied—SCUDIMORE! A moment's scrutiny of the man convinced me -that he was the same who had plundered Craddock, a description of his -personal appearance having been frequently given to me by Alexander. I -was sorry to find that he had become an inmate of the same place as the -individual whom he had so deeply injured, and whose excited feelings I -feared might lead him to some act of violence towards the villain. Well -aware that Alexander could not be long before he must inevitably learn -the fact of Scudimore's arrest, I resolved to mention it to him without -delay, so as to prepare him to meet his enemy within the precincts of -the Bench. I, however, communicated my good news first; and Lucy was -overjoyed when she learnt that the Marshal had resolved to interest -himself in her husband's behalf. But Alexander's manner suddenly became -so strange—so unaccountably sombre and gloomy—and so menacingly -mysterious, when I revealed to him the circumstance of Scudimore's -presence in the prison, that both Lucy and myself grew terribly alarmed. -We implored him not to notice Scudimore even when they should meet; but -he gave no reply. I, however, whispered to Lucy my hopes that the -Marshal would succeed in inducing Walkden to liberate her husband at -once; and thereby remove her husband from the vicinity of the scoundrel -who had ruined him. I also resolved to be as much with Alexander as -possible; and I was delighted to find that he showed no inclination to -leave his room for the purpose of taking his usual walk up and down the -back of the prison-building. - -"In the course of a couple of hours the Marshal sent me in word that he -had not succeeded in finding Mr. Walkden at his office, but had made an -appointment with the head-clerk to call again in the evening, when the -result of his interview with the lawyer should be immediately -communicated to me, even if the gates were closed. I therefore saw that -the Marshal was in earnest in carrying out the business he had taken in -hand; and Lucy was inspired with the same strong hopes that I -entertained. But Alexander received the Marshal's message with an -apathetic coldness which filled me with alarm; and it was evident that -his mind brooded over other affairs, which I could not help thinking -were connected with the arrival of Scudimore at the Bench. I was, -however, glad to observe that Lucy did not participate in my fears to -the same extent as she did in my hopes: poor creature! the thought of -seeing her husband soon free was the absorbing sentiment in her mind! I -remained with the Craddocks on that eventful day up to almost nine -o'clock, when a letter which I received by the last post compelled me to -go to my room for a few minutes to look out a few papers connected with -my own case, and which my attorney required the first thing in the -morning. I assured Lucy that I would return as soon as possible, the -promised intelligence from the Marshal being now every moment expected -by us. - -"And now I come to a frightful portion of my sad tale. I had been about -five minutes in my room, and had just sealed up the packet which was to -be given to a messenger that night to deliver early next day to my -solicitor, when Lucy rushed in without knocking. She fell exhausted upon -the floor; and it was some moments before she could articulate a word. I -was cruelly alarmed; and my hand trembled so as I poured her out some -water that I could scarcely hold the glass. At length I learnt that -Alexander had suddenly started from his chair, a minute after I left -him, and seizing a knife, had rushed from the room. Before Lucy could -reach the bottom of the stairs, he had disappeared; and, in a state -bordering on distraction, she had naturally flown to me. While she was -gasping forth the few words which thus made me acquainted with the cause -of her visit, cries of horror suddenly burst from the parade-ground and -struck upon our ears. I cannot at this moment remember what we thought, -or what we said—no, nor how we got down the stairs: the next incident -that I _do_ recollect, after hearing those appalling cries, was finding -myself elbowing my way through a group of prisoners assembled on the -parade; and then, by the moonlight, what a spectacle met my eyes! A man -was lying on the ground, weltering in his blood; and another was passive -and motionless in the grasp of three or four prisoners. The former was -Scudimore: the latter was Alexander Craddock. Then female shrieks of -anguish rent the air; and Lucy threw herself wildly into her husband's -arms, exclaiming in a tone so piercing that it still rings in my -ears—'You did not do it, Alexander! Oh! no—you could not—you would not! -Tell me—I conjure you,—tell me that you did not do it!' - -"Almost at the same moment a cry was raised of—'The Marshall'—and -immediately afterwards that gentleman came up to the spot, accompanied -by _another individual_, whom, as the moonlight fell upon his -countenance, I instantly recognised to be Walkden. And that -countenance—how was it changed! No longer cold and implacable, every -feature bore the imprint of ineffable anguish and black despair. Then, -when in a few hurried words, the assassination of Scudimore was -communicated by the bye-standers to the Marshal and Walkden, and -Alexander Craddock was mentioned as the murderer, a scene of the most -wildly exciting interest ensued. For Walkden sprang towards the -guilty—unhappy young man, and throwing his arms frantically around -him,—poor Lucy shrinking back at his appearance,—exclaimed, 'My son!—my -dear, and long-lost son! Pardon me—pardon me—I am the cause of all -this—Oh! my God! how frightfully am I punished!'—and the wretched -Walkden fell heavily upon the ground, overpowered—stunned—crushed by -emotions too awful to be even conceived! - -"I must here pause for a few moments to give a word or two of necessary -explanation. The Marshal had found Mr. Walkden at his office in the -evening, and had begged him to grant Alexander's release. But the -miscreant was inexorable, alleging that he had received at the -prisoner's hands insults of a nature which rendered mercy impossible. -The Marshal, hoping to touch the man's heart by a recital of all the -interesting circumstances of Alexander's life, began to tell his story; -but scarcely had he explained how Alexander had been found by the late -Mr. Craddock in the neighbourhood of Doctors' Commons, when Walkden's -whole manner suddenly underwent an appalling change: he turned ghastly -pale—trembled like an aspen-leaf—and then, in another minute, covered -his face with his hands, exclaiming in a tone of the deepest anguish, -'_Merciful God! it is my own son whom I have plundered and persecuted -thus vilely! Oh! wretch that I am—miscreant, demon that I have -been!_'—The Marshal was naturally overwhelmed with astonishment at these -terrific self-accusations, which nevertheless appeared to be too well -founded; for it was indeed the only child of the miserable lawyer who -had been lost by a neglectful servant years ago in the neighbourhood of -Doctors' Commons; and the sudden death of the beadle happening the very -next day, had destroyed the only clue to the infant. Mrs. Walkden died -of a broken heart; and it was most probably these misfortunes which, -acting upon a morbid mind, rendered the attorney the harsh, severe, -merciless man which he had so effectually proved himself to be. - -"And what miseries had he piled up, to fall on his own head! He had -ruined his son—rendered him a murderer—and also endeavoured to seduce -that son's wife. Oh! it was a fearful scene, which took place on the -parade-ground on that eventful evening. Scudimore lay a corpse at the -feet of the man whom he had injured; and senseless by the side of the -corpse, fell Walkden who had made Scudimore his instrument and -accomplice in the iniquitous transaction which paved the way for this -accumulation of horrors. Alexander understood nothing that took place. -He saw it all—but comprehended it not. His reason had fled; and it is -most probable that he was already a maniac when he rushed from his room -armed with the fatal knife—and perhaps even when I observed the strange -change come over him on his learning from my lips that Scudimore was an -inmate of the Bench. As for Lucy—poor, crushed, heart-broken Lucy—she -had fainted when Walkden proclaimed himself her husband's _father_! But -I must hasten and bring my story to a conclusion. The Marshal speedily -gave the orders necessary under the circumstances which had occurred; -and, on Lucy being recovered from her swoon, she found that she had not -been the prey of a hideous dream, as she at first supposed—but that her -husband had been taken from her, and lodged in the strong-room—a maniac -and a murderer! Oh! what a heart-rending duty it was for me to implore -her to take courage for her children's sake! Walkden, who had in the -meantime been restored to his senses, begged her to make his house her -home in future, and look on him as a father;—but she shrieked forth a -negative in so wild a tone and accompanied by such a shudder, that the -wretched man could not be otherwise than deeply convinced how ineffable -was the abhorrence that she entertained for him. The Marshal kindly took -charge of the stricken woman and her young children; and the corpse of -Scudimore was conveyed to a room there to await the attendance of the -Coroner on the following day. - -"But little more remains to be told. During the night that followed the -deplorable events which I have just related, Alexander Craddock grew -furious with excitement, and became raving mad. A brain-fever -supervened; and in less than twelve hours from the moment when his hand -avenged his wrongs on the villain Scudimore, he himself was no longer a -denizen of this world! Ten days afterwards the Marshal received a letter -from Walkden, which he subsequently showed to me, and the contents of -which ran thus as nearly as I can recollect them:—'_I am about to quit -England, and shall never be again heard of by one who has to much reason -to shudder at the mere mention of my name. I allude to my deeply-injured -daughter-in-law. My share of the ten thousand pounds, of which Scudimore -plundered her husband, was precisely one half. This amount, with -compound interest, I have placed in the funds in her name; and I implore -her to forgive a man who is crushed and heart-broken, and who loathes -himself!_'—Lucy, who had only for her children's sake been able to -sustain anything like the adequate amount of courage necessary to -support her afflictions, was somewhat solaced—if solace there could be -in the midst of such bitter, bitter woe—by the certainty that those -children were now secure against want. She accordingly removed with them -into a small but comfortable dwelling near Norwood—but not before she -had called on me, to express all her gratitude for the kindnesses which -I had been enabled to show the family. She moreover endeavoured to -compel me to receive a sum of money, as she said in repayment for the -amounts I had at various times lent them; but that sum was a hundred -times greater than any I had ever been able to assist them with. I would -not receive a fraction; and I wept on parting with her, as if she had -been my own daughter. During the year which she survived the loss of her -husband—for she only _did_ survive it a year—she came frequently to -visit me, always accompanied by her children; and on every occasion she -brought me some touching and delicate memorial of her esteem. But her -health had been undermined by the long vigils—the deep anxieties—the -corroding cares—the serious toils—and the frightful shocks, which had -characterised her existence in this accursed prison; and she died in the -arms of an affectionate female friend, who dwelt in her neighbourhood, -and whose bosom her misfortunes had deeply touched. This friend promised -to be a second mother to the poor children; and she has fulfilled her -word. Two respectable gentlemen accepted the guardianship of the -orphans, so far as their pecuniary interests are concerned; and those -orphans will be rich when they become of age,—for Walkden died a short -time ago, leaving them all his fortune. Poor Lucy sleeps in the same -grave with her husband; and thus ends my TALE OF SORROW." - -The old man wiped away the tears from his eyes: and Frank Curtis was not -only deeply interested in the narrative which he had just heard, but -even affected by its lamentable details, on which he was about to make -some remark, when, happening to glance from the window, he espied the -captain on the parade staring about him in all possible directions. -Curtis therefore took leave of Mr. Prout, after thanking him for the -recital of the melancholy tale, and hastened to join his friend. - -Captain O'Blunderbuss had no good news to relate. The officers in -possession in Baker Street had positively refused to allow Mrs. Curtis -to take any thing, beyond wearing apparel, away with her; and the -excellent lady had accordingly moved, with her two trunks and her five -children, to a lodging in Belvidere Place. - -The captain had likewise been unsuccessful in his visit to Sir -Christopher Blunt. He had seen the knight, it is true; but neither -menaces nor coaxings had proved potent enough to induce that gentleman -to draw forth his purse or sign his autograph to a cheque. - -"What the devil, then, must I do?" demanded Frank Curtis, shuddering as -he thought of the Poor-Side. - -"Be Jasus! and go dacently and genteelly through the Insolvents' Court," -exclaimed the captain; "and I'll skin the Commissioners alive if they -dar-r to turn you back, my frind!" - -"I really think there is no other alternative left but to petition the -Court," observed Frank Curtis; "and therefore I'll make up my mind at -once to do so." - - - - - CHAPTER CIX. - THE PRISONERS. - - -We must leave Mr. Frank Curtis to adopt the necessary measures in order -to effect his emancipation from the Bench _viâ_ the Insolvents' Court, -and suppose that a month has passed since the period when the Blackamoor -consigned to his dungeons Tim the Snammer, Josh Pedler, Old Death, Mrs. -Bunce, her husband, and Tidmarsh. - -It was about nine o'clock in the evening, when the Blackamoor, attended -by Cæsar, who bore a light, entered the subterranean passage containing -the doors of the cells in which the prisoners were separately retained. -Wilton followed, bearing a large basket; and two more of the Black's -retainers brought up the rear, one carrying a naked cutlass and the -other a pair of loaded pistols in their hands. - -Opening the door of the first cell, the Blackamoor took the light from -Cæsar's hand, and stopping on the threshold, said, "Timothy Splint, -another sun has set, and the close of another day has come. Had you been -surrendered up to the justice of the criminal tribunals of your country, -you would ere this have ceased to exist: your guilt would have been -expiated on the scaffold." - -"Oh! I would rather it had been _that_," exclaimed the man, in a tone -which carried to the hearts of his listeners a conviction of his -sincerity,—"I would rather it had been _that_, than this frightful -lingering in utter darkness! The light, sir, is as welcome to me as food -would be if I was starving," he added with profound emphasis. - -"Are you afraid to be alone and in the dark?" enquired the Blackamoor. - -"It is hell upon earth, sir!" cried Tim the Snammer. "What! can you ask -me whether I'm afraid, when the place is haunted with dreadful -spectres?" - -"The spectres are created by your own guilty conscience," answered the -Black, mildly but solemnly: then, advancing farther into the dungeon, so -that the light fell upon the haggard countenance of the prisoner, he -said, "You see that there are no horrible apparitions now; and why -should they not remain here when you can enjoy the use of your eyes as -well as when you are involved in darkness?" - -"That is what I say to myself—that is what I am always asking myself," -exclaimed Timothy Splint. "And yet I can't help thinking that _he_ is -there—the murdered man, you know—with his throat so horribly cut——Oh! -yes—when I am alone and in the dark, I am sure he is there—just where -you are standing now. He never moves—he stands as still as death—and his -eyes glare upon me in the dark. It is dreadful—dreadful!"—and the -wretched criminal hid his face in his hands. - -"Are you sorry, then, that you killed Sir Henry Courtenay?" asked the -Black. - -"Sorry!" repeated Splint, in a thrilling—agonising tone. "I wish that I -could only live the last few months over again! I'd sooner beg—go to the -workhouse—break stones in the road—or even starve, than rob or do any -thing wrong again! Oh! I would indeed! For I see now that though a man -may only mean for to rob, he stands the chance of taking away life; and -it's a horrid—horrid thing to say to one's self, '_I am a murderer!_' -But it's more horrid still to see the dreadful spectre always standing -by one—quite plain, though in the dark—and never taking his cold eyes -off his assassin." - -"If you had a light, Timothy Splint, you would no longer think of your -crimes," said the Blackamoor; "and then you would be ready to fall back -into your old courses, if you had your liberty given to you once more." - -"Heaven forbid!" exclaimed the man, his frame convulsed with a horrible -shudder. "I wish I had never known such courses at all: I wish I could -live over again during the whole period that I've been so wicked. I am -sure I should be a good man then—if so be I had all my experience to -teach me to be so. I never thought it was such a shocking thing to be -wicked till I came to be left alone in darkness—yes, all alone with my -frightful thoughts! I would sooner be put to death at once: but—but—" he -added, in a hesitating manner—"I haven't the courage to brain myself -against the wall, because the spectre of the murdered baronet seems to -stand by to prevent me." - -"And have you, then, ever thought of suicide, since you first became a -prisoner here?" enquired the Blackamoor. - -"Often and often, sir—very often," exclaimed Splint, emphatically. - -"You never told me this before; and yet I have visited you regularly -every evening to bring you food and talk to you for a short time," said -the Blackamoor. - -"But you never spoke to me so kindly as you do now, sir," cried the -criminal, earnestly; "and when a man has been upwards of thirty -days—yes, I have counted your visits, and this is the thirty-first,—when -a man, I say, has been thirty-one days all alone and in darkness, except -for a few minutes every evening, he begins to feel the want of hearing a -human voice—and when that voice speaks in a kind manner——" - -Timothy Splint's tone had gradually become tremulous; and now he burst -into tears. Yes—the villain—the robber—the murderer wept; and those were -tears such as he had not shed for a long, long time! - -When the river is ice-bound by the cold hand of winter it seems -unconscious of the presence of the flower thrown on its impenetrable -surface; but when thawed by the warm sun, and flowing naturally again, -the stream opens its bosom to receive the rose-bud which it caresses -with its sparkling ripples, and wafts gently along as if rejoiced at the -companionship. So was it with the heart of this man; and the slightest -word spoken in a kind manner was now borne on by the current of feelings -thawed from a state of dull and long-enduring obduracy. - -"Your crimes are manifold and great," said the Blackamoor; "but there is -hope for even the vilest," he added, unable altogether to subdue a -profound sigh; "and contrition is all that remains for sinful mortals, -who cannot recall the past." - -"I _am_ penitent, sir—I _am_ very penitent, I can assure you," exclaimed -the man, in a tone of deep emotion. "A few weeks ago I should have been -ashamed to utter such a thing; and now it does me good to say so.—And -I'll tell you something more, sir," he continued, after a moment's -hesitation; "though I suppose you will not believe me——" - -"Speak frankly," said the Blackamoor. - -"Well, sir—I have tried to recollect a prayer; and last night when I -repeated it, I thought that the spectre gradually grew less and less -plain to the view, and at all events seemed less horrible. I was praying -again when you came just now—and I shall pray presently—for I know that -there is some consolation in it." - -"You do well to pray, Timothy," observed the Blackamoor. "Would you not -like to be able to read some book?" - -"If I only had a candle and a Bible, sir," exclaimed the man, speaking -under the influence of feelings deeply excited but unquestionably -sincere, "I think I should even yet be happy in this dreadful dungeon." - -"What makes you fancy that the Bible would render you happy?" enquired -the Black. - -"Because I used to read it when I was a lad, and I remember that it -contains many good sayings," answered Splint. "Besides, it declares -somewhere that there is hope for sinners who repent; and I should like -to keep my eyes fixed at times upon God's own promise. I am sure that my -mind would be easier; for though I know that the promise _is_ given, yet -I feel a desire to repeat it over and over again to myself—and also to -learn whether God ever forgave any one who was so bad as I am." - -"You shall have a light and a book," said the Blackamoor. - -"Oh! you are jesting—you are deceiving me!" cried Splint. "But that -would be so cruel, sir, on your part——" - -"I am not jesting—the subject is too serious to be treated lightly," was -the answer: then, making a sign to Wilton to step forward, he took from -the basket which that dependant carried, a lamp already trimmed and a -couple of books. "There is a volume of Tales—and there is the Bible," he -continued: "take whichever you prefer." - -"The Bible, if you please, sir," cried Splint, eagerly, while his -countenance denoted the most unfeigned joy. "I know not how to thank you -enough for this kindness!"—and tears again started from his eyes. - -"Had you chosen the Tales, you should not have had either book or -light," said the Black. - -Wilton now gave the prisoner a plate containing bread and cold meat, and -a bottle of water, while Cæsar lighted his lamp; and the door was then -again closed upon him. - -"That man is already a true penitent," whispered the Blackamoor to -Wilton. "Let us now visit his late companion in iniquity." - -The party proceeded to the next cell, in which Joshua Pedler was -confined, the two armed dependants stationing themselves in such a -manner as to be visible to the inmate of the dungeon when the door was -opened. - -"Thank God! you are come again," he cried, starting up from his bed the -moment the light flashed in upon him. "But why do you come with swords -and pistols in that fashion?" he demanded, savagely. - -"In case you should offer any resistance," answered the Blackamoor. "I -do not choose to put chains upon you; and therefore I am compelled to -adopt every necessary precaution when I visit you in this manner." - -"I really would not harm you, sir—I would not for the world," said -Pedler, in a milder tone. "You are not cruel—though severe; and I feel -very grateful to you for not giving me up to justice. I hope you are not -offended with me for speaking as I did: I try to be patient—I endeavour -to be mild and all that——" - -"What is it, then, that irritates your temper?" enquired the Blackamoor. - -"My own thoughts, sir," answered Josh Pedler, bitterly. "Just before I -heard the key grating in the lock, I was a thinking what a fool I have -been for so many years, and how happy I might be, perhaps, if I was a -labouring-man." - -"You are sorry that you have been wicked?" observed the Black, -interrogatively. - -"And so would any one be when he comes to be locked up here in the -dark," returned the man. "It is all very well when one is at liberty, -and has friends to talk to, and plenty of drink; because company and gin -_can_ prevent a body from thinking. But here—here—oh! it is quite -different; and my opinion is that a dark dungeon is a much worse -punishment than transportation—leastways, judging by all I've heard from -men which has been transported and has come home again when their time -was up." - -"Would you rather be transported at once, then—or remain here?" enquired -the Blackamoor. - -"I would sooner remain here, for several reasons," said Pedler. "In the -first place, I don't want to get into bad company again; because I'm -afraid I should go all wrong once more;—and, in the second place, I know -that the thoughts which I have are good for me, though they're not -pleasant." - -"But if you could this minute join some of your old friends to drink and -smoke with them, would you not gladly do so?" asked the Black. - -"I scarcely know how to answer you, sir," replied Pedler, musing. "I am -afraid I might—and yet I am very certain that I should be a fool for my -pains. I would sooner earn an honest living somehow or another: I should -like to have good thoughts——But that is impossible—impossible!" he -added, shaking his head gloomily. - -"Why is it impossible?" demanded the Black. - -"Because a man to have good thoughts, must do something that is good," -was the prompt rejoinder; "and I have been a wicked fellow for so many -years. I wish I had been good; but it is too late now!" - -"It is never too late to repent," said the Blackamoor. - -"I know that the Bible promises that," observed Pedler; "but then people -would never believe that a rascal like me could become good for any -thing. Besides, after all that has happened, I don't hope for any -opportunity of showing that I feel how stupid I have been to lead such a -life as I have done. Who would trust me with any work? what honest -person would associate with me? It's no use questioning me, sir: you see -that even you yourself don't feel comfortable in visiting this place, -since you come with armed people." - -"If you could obtain your liberty by killing me, would you not do it?" -asked the Black. - -"As true as you are there, I would not harm a hair of your head!" cried -Josh Pedler, emphatically. "I shudder when I think of that dreadful -business down at the Cottage yonder—in fact, I can't bear to think of -it. I don't say that I am actually afraid at being in the dark; but -darkness causes terrible thoughts. It seems as if the mind had eyes, and -couldn't shut them against particular things;—and now that I have found -out this much, I should be a long time before I did a wrong deed again, -even if I was turned out into the midst of London this very minute -without a penny in my pocket." - -"What would you do if you were set free this moment?" demanded the -Blackamoor. "At the same time, do not suppose that you are about to have -your liberty." - -"I am not mad enough to fancy it possible," replied Josh Pedler. "But if -such a thing did happen, I would go to Matilda—the gal that I spoke to -you about, sir——" - -"And who is now in a comfortable position," added the Black. - -"Yes—thanks to your kindness," said the man; "and I should like you as -long as I lived, if it was only on account of what you have done for -her. But, as I was going to tell you—supposing I was set free, I would -take 'Tilda with me into the country—as far away from London as -possible; and then I'd change my name, and try to get work. Ah! I should -be happy," he continued, with a profound sigh, "if I could only earn -enough to keep us in a little hut. But don't make me talk in this way -any longer: I feel just—just as if I—I was going to cry." - -The man's voice became faltering and tremulous as he uttered these last -words; and his lashes were moistened with tears. - -"Should you feel pleasure in writing a letter to Matilda?" asked the -Blackamoor, in a kind tone. - -"Yes—above all things!" eagerly cried the criminal. "I am no great -penman; but she could make out my scribbling, I dare say;—and it would -do me good to give her some proper advice—I mean, just to let her know -what my thoughts is at times. Besides, now that I'm separated from her, -I find that I liked her more—yes—a good deal more than I used to fancy I -did; and I should be glad to beg her forgiveness for what I made her do -when I was sick and in want." - -"You shall have a light and writing-materials," observed the Black. - -"You are a good man—I feel that you are, sir!" exclaimed Josh Pedler, -the tears now trickling down his cheeks. "If I had only fallen in with -such a person as yourself, when I was young, I shouldn't have turned out -as I did. But though people may never know that it is possible for a -fellow like me to alter, yet altered my mind _is_—and I don't look on -things as I used to do." - -Wilton gave Josh Pedler a supply of food, a lamp, and writing-materials, -the dungeon already containing a table in addition to the other -necessary but plain and homely articles of furniture. The criminal was -overjoyed at the indulgence shown him on the occasion of this visit: and -he saw the door close upon him with feelings which seemed to have -experienced a great relief. - - - - - END OF VOL. I. OF THE SECOND SERIES. - - - - - PRINTED BY J. FAUTLEY, "BONNER HOUSE," SEACOAL LANE, LONDON. - - - - - TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES - - - 1. Several entries in the Table of Illustrations are missing reference - page numbers, e.g. "For Woodcut on page 233 see page ___" - 2. Added missing anchor for footnote on p. 71. - 3. Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical - errors. - 4. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed. - 5. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mysteries of London, Volume 3 (of -4), by George W. M. 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