The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 371: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. leading out of Holbern. It was along this latter thoroughfare that Stephen Ashborne was about to continue his own way, when he was sud- denly struck by the appearance of a man who in company with another individual, passed him somewhat hastily at the moment. Ashborne glanced back, and lost sight of the two men as they turned into Hatton Garden. Ashborne hesitated: he thought he must be mistaken—but the next moment he mentally ejaculated, ‘No, I am not wrong! It must have been the fellow Gaffney! And here too, in this neighbourhood! Can it be possible that he is still employing such ruffians for any purpose of his own ?” Ashborne no longer hesitated to follow the two mev. He soon came within view of them again ; and as they were hastening along Hatton Garden, he was careful not to let them perceive that he was watching them. He was convinced that the recognition had not been mutual; for Gaffney had passed him by in a hurried and preoccupied manner which showed that he had something im- portant upon his mind. As for Peppercorn, Ash- borne did not know him; for be it recollected that the bailiff had not fallen in with the inferior villain ‘on the night when he had encountered the principal one at The Firs. Stephen Ashborne, still acting cautiously and warily, kept his eye upen the two men, and speedily saw them halt in front of a particular house, fling their regards around, and then look up at the windows of the habitation itself. ‘Yes, it is this house!” muttered Stephen to himself: ‘‘and it is therefore with him that their business lies! Yet can they have any evil in- tent? do they meditate any treachery or mischief against him ?” Such were the questions which for a moment flashed to Stephen’s mind: but the suspicions which engendered them were almost instanta- neously dispelled. He knew that the men had been employed—or at least one of them—by Mr. Casey to perform the particular service at The Firs in Dorsetshire; and ought it therefore to be looked upon as very extraordinary tbat they should now be seeking that same Mr. Casey ? Might he not have fresh employment to give them? Might they not be coming to that house according to his own appointment? Such was naturally the train of reasoning which now swept through the mind of Stephen Ashborne ; and if he were not perfectly convinced on the point, he at all events did not think fit to interfere—at least at this stage of the proceed- ings. But still he watched at a little distance, and from the shade of a doorway which effec- tually concealed his person from their view. Hatton Garden is no considerable thorough- fare, even in the daytime: but at night it is com- paratively deserted. There was not literally a soul to be seen by Tim Gaffney and Jack Pepper- corn as they once more swept their looks to and fro ere descending into the area of the house. Stephen Ashborne saw them disappear down those steps: he waited a minute or two—then he walked past—he looked over the area-railings— but the two men were already inside the dwell- ing. “Such prompt admission seems to prove that they were expected,” he said to himself. ‘ Alas, that he whom I am compelled to call my father 357 should still be pursuing those paths which render the assistance of such men necessary unto him!” With this reflection Stephen Ashborne was about to retrace his way, and interfere no farther in the proceedings which had up to this point interested him, when his mind was smitten with a certain vague misgiving; and retiring to 4 little distance, on the opposite side of the street, he paused and watched anew. But let us now follow in the footsteps of the villains whose conduct was more or less the sub- ject of perplexity with him. A skeleton-key had quickly unlocked the area-gate :—down the steps the two men had descended : and another of those implements so useful in the burglarious profession, had promptly procured admission into the front kitchen. For amongst the particulars which the prudent and foreseeing Mr. Gaffney had contrived to learn previous to undertaking the campaign, was the fact that no bolts were fastened inside the door that afforded this ingress. Once within the house, the burglars soon ascertained that all was still; and they delayed not their operations. A dark lantern was quickly lighted; and by the aid thereof the lower rooms were inspected— namely, the breakfast-parlour, the dining-room, and the little study or office specially appro- priated to Mr. Casey’s own use: “No silver, Jack! Nothink but plated ar- ticles !” whispered Mr. Gaffney, with a look and tone of infinite disgust, to his companion, after they had made a rapid search of the contents of the side-board in the dining-room. ‘ The silver forks and spoons is gone up-stairs—if so be they uses any at all. No wine neither! Nothink but a drain of sherry in this decanter”—placing it to his lips :—“‘ and blow me if even this isn’t Cape Madeira at one-and-three the bottle! Depend upon it, Jack, they’re werry mean people !” ‘* Misers’ families always is,” responded Mr. Peppercorn. ‘But it’s no use wasting time here ” “Not a bit, Jack,” interjected his comrade. ‘“‘ Come—let’s creep up-stairs to the miser’s room I know which it is. Here—hold the darkey while I get ready the settler :"—thus using the slang term for chloroform. The two ruffians, having made all the prepara- tions which they deemed requisite, crept noise- lessly up the stairs; and Tim Gaffney, who acted as leader, halted at length at a par- ticular door, where, with suspended breath, he and his companion listened. A complete si- lence prevailed within: but a peep through the key-hole showed that a rushlight or taper was burning in that chamber. Gently did Tim Gaffney now try the handle of the door: it was not locked—it yielded to his touch—and he opened it. But the moment his looks were plunged into the interior of that apartment, he gave a slight start as he beheld articles of female apparel scattered about. Then he glanced to- wards the couch ; and there, instead of the cada- verous and wrinkled countenance of the miser, he beheld the fresh and youthful face of a female of exquisite beauty. Gaffney’s first impulse was to withdraw,— when his attention was suddenly drawn to cer- tain articles which he beheld upon the toilet-table where the wax taper was burning. .These were a gold watch and chain, a purse, some rings, and ge ere eee ne = eee eee SS COMIGIOO Colin