The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 194: what you’re looking at

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‘] bare already said,” interrupted Charles, feep conviction, “thas aever—never could she ro- fume her empiro over me! Qh! my dear father, the lesson has been too terrible not to have served asa i rr ee a hideous serpent, than suffer myself to be allured back to the arms of Perdita. And—oh!” ejaculated the young man, a sudden reminiscence flashing to his mind, “I should have taken warning, days-and days ago; for I recollect a fearful dream which I had, and which I must now look upon as providen- tial! Madman that I was to noglect so solemn a foreshadowing of the truth!” “Compose yourself, Charles,” cried Mr. Hat- field; “and now let me finish my narrative. I had reached that point which related to my accidental interview with the officers at Dover, where I was compelled to pass the night—a night of cruel and torturing suspense! Next morning, I crossed to Calais, and there I obtained a traco of you at Dessin’s hotol, Without delay I took a post- chaise, and hurried on in pursuit. I reached Paris at five last evening, and put up atthe hotel whenca we started just now. ButI had not ary time to lose, for 1 felt con vinaed that you intended to marry Perdita. I accordingly hurried off to the British Embassy, cither to know the worst, if the worst were indeed already accomplished—or to take any moasures I could to anticipate the ceremony, in ease it should not have been as yet performed. But I could not obtain any satisfactory intelligence; noone to whom I addressed myself was able to state whether certain persons whom I described had been marricd during the day or not. I droye to the dwelling of the chaplain—bit he had gonoa few miles into the country. I found out the abode of his clerk—but this official was likowise from home. Almost distracted, I sped to the Prefecture of Police .to ascertain if it wero possible to dis- corer your address in Paris, knowing that tho land- lords ofall hotels are under the necessity of making daily returns of the names of their lodgers to tho proper authorities. But I found the Prefecture closed for the night; and I returned, exhausted with fatigue and disconsolate in mind, to the hotol. Summoning the commissionaire, I gaye him tho necessary instructions to make particular inquiries at the Prefecturo, the moment that establishment should open in the morning. This he promised to do, andI retired to bed—but not to rest }” “Oh! my dear father,” exclaimed Cliarles, seizing bis parent’s hand, and prossing it with fervour to his lips, “how can you ever pardon me for all the ancasiness I have occasioned you ?—and if you can, bow shall hope to receive tho forgiveness of my mother, when she learns all tho sorrow you havo endured on my account?” “Tt is not, perhaps, necessary that your mother should be made acquainted with everything,” observed Mr. Hatfield, emphatically: ‘but all this will depend upon circumstances — especially on the results of our previous and ‘private interview with Lord Ellingham. As for you and me, Charles, we haye already forgiven each other everything,” said Mr. Hatfield, in a solomn tone. “And now my narrative has reached its conclusion,” he added; “for shortly after eight o’clock this morning the com- missionaire came und informed me that he had THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. rpeaking with tho vebkemence of sincerity and of warning; and sooner would I seek the embrace of 187 discovered the hotel where you were residing. You know the rest.” Charles sighed, but mado no answer, and the journey was continued for a long time in profound silence, CHAPTER CLIV. MRS, FITZHARDINGE, - RETURN wo now to Mrs, Fitzhardinge, whom the officers of justice had arrested at Dover, on suspi- cion of being concerned in the murder of Mr. Per- cival, tlle miser, The old woman, when made acquainted with the cause of her apprehension, was completely thunder- struck; for, in truth, she had not even heard until that moment of the dreadful deed which had taken place. But the Dover constablesewho took her into custody, and who were in plain clothes, insisted upon her accompanying thom to London; and, yielding to the imperious necessity with as good a grace as possible, Mrs, Fitzhardinge cherished the consolation that her innocence must inevitably be- come apparent whon tho case should undergo a magisterial investigation. For a variety of reasons, sho made no mention of her daughter and Charles, who, she doubted not, had ombarked in safety; neither did she volunteer any explanations relative to her acquaintance with Mr. Percival, or tlhe business which she had with him on the night when, as it appeared, the murder was committed. She had already in her life passed through the ordeal of arrest—oxamination at a police-court—committal—trial—and condemnation —aye, and expiation also; and she was well aware that unseasonable garrulity, or explanatory remarks inconsidora‘ely volunteered,seldom benofit oven the innocent person when unjustly accused. She ac- cordingly shrouded herself, or, rather, took refuge in a complete silence, from which the officers did not seek to draw her, as they all proceeded toge- ther by railway to London, On their arrivalin the metropolis at a somewhat late hour in the afternoon, Mrs. Fitzhardinge was consigned to Clerkenwell prison, where she passed the night; and at ten o’clock on the following morning she was removed in acab to Marylebone police-court, to undergo an examination rolative to tho serious charge existing against her. The prisoner, who had rotained counsol in her behalf, and made other arrangements for her de fence, appeared perfectly cool and collected; and although the sinister expression of her countenanco might have told somewhat in her disfavour, in the estimation of common observers, yet, to the eye of the experienced magistrate, it spoke not of guilt in this instance. Nevertheless, that very experience ' which he possessed taught him not to judge either way by outward nppearances; and he therefore prepared himself to give the matter the most search- ing investigation. The first witness examined was Mrs. Dyer. who deposed ns follows:—‘ I occupy «# houso adjoining that of the deceased. At half-past eleven o'clock on thes night in question, I returned home from th.\ dwelling of a friend in the neighbourhood, \nd saw deceased at his door, taking leave >f two females. He had a light in his hand. 7Que of the women, who seemed by her figure and general appearance 9 | A A A A Perr (C(O) (C DOO SS (SO)