The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 217: what you’re looking at

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210 THE BLYSTDRIES OF LONDO. of the English peerage to be well aware that the | flight; and tho girl disappeared, leaving the place nobleman whom chance had thus thrown in her ]in utter darknoss. way was the second son of tho Marquis of Curzon, n peer of immense wealth, and who permitted his three male children—all fine young men—to enjoy each a soparate establishment for himself, for which purpose he allowed them handsome in- comes. Mrs, Mortimer was therefore well pleased at the encounter which sho had that evening made; and in moro ways than ono was she rejoiced at having visited thecottagein the neighbourhood of Streatham, —especislly as the purse which Lord William had given her contained thirty guineas, An omnibus passing at this moment, tho old wo- man entered tho vehicle, and alighted in the Bo rough, She was speeding homoward—that is to say, to the coffec-house whero sho had fixed her temporary abodo—when, as she was threading a nare row strect that offered her » short cut to the place of destination, she was suddonly struck by the cer- tainty that a man who was walking slowly in ad- yaneo, and whom she had nearly overtaken, was neither moro nor less than the object of hor search! For, as he had turned to cast a rapid, steaithy glance around, tho light of a lamp had beamod fully upon his countenance;—and that countc- nance, altered though it were, was too well known to the old woman not to bo immediately recog- nised. Yes: there indecd was Torrens,—there—in lier power—within a few paces of her;—and thus had accidont onco more materially served his malig- nant, evil-intenticned pursucr. Mrs. Mortimer was so excited by this sudden dis- corery, that sho was compelled to pause for a mo- ment and Jean against a wall for support. But, almostimmedinately afterwards recovering herenergy and presenco of mind, she hastened on, and came near enough up with Torrens to behold him enter a house of mean and miserable appearance. “Now you are in my powerl” muttered the old woman to herself, but in reality apostrophising the individual who was still her husband: and, without nnother moment’s licsitation, sho knocked at the door of the dwelling. Somo minutes elapsed before it was opened; and at length a dirty, slipsliod drab of a girl made her - appearance. “7 wish to speak toa the man who has jast entered here,” said Mrs. Mortimer, unceremoniously push- ing her way into the narrow, dark, and unpleasantly smelling passage, “Oh! you means old Mr. Smith what lives down stairs, I des say,” observed the girl, “T have no doubt of it,” returned Mrs, Mortimer, officiously closing the street-door. “Come, my dear, show me the way—and I will give you sixpence for yourself.” This promise acted liko magic upon the girl, who forthwith fetched a lighted candle from a room opening from the passage, and conducted tho old woman to a precipitate flight of steps, down which she pointed, saying, * There—right at the bottom: tho door faces you.” Mrs. Mortimer placed the promised gratuity in her hand, and the girl held tho candle high up to light her as sho desco ded. “That will do, my dear,” said tho old woman Defore the candle had been thus removed, how- ever, Mrs. Mortimer had hastily reconnoitred the locality; and, applying her hand to a latch, she opened a door, and in another moment found her- sejf in the presence of her lusband ! CHAPTER CX. THE HUSBAND AND WIFE. THE place where tho husband and wife met thus, after a separation of upwards of nineteen years, was what tho poor term “a kitchen,” but which rather merited the designation of “a cellar.” The roof was low and arched—tho rough brick-work of the walls, once smeared with white-wash, was now dingy all orer—and in the day-time a gleam ofligh was admitted by means of a miserably small win: dow protected and also darkoned bya grating set in tho foot-way of tho street. The den contained a fire-place, whero the inmato might cook his victuals if ho were able to bear the intolerable heat of a fire in the midst of summer; and at tho extremity facing tho window was asmall bed. A tablo, two chairs, a few articles of crockery, and awashing-stand, com- picted the appointments of this wretched place, which was dimly lighted by a solitary candle. The reader is already awaro that Torrens was much altered in personal appearance: nevertheless, his wife had recognised him in the street withont any difficulty, Dut it was not precisoly tho same on his part: had he met her in an accidental manner, ho would not hare known her, so remarkable was the change that had taken place in her. Yet he did know her now-—for ho had seen her in the little parlour at Percival’s house; and tho moment she stood before him on the threshold of his present hiding-place, s cry of horror and alarm cscaped his lips. Mrs, Mortimer closed the door, and, taking a chair, motioned her husband likewiso to be seated— n kind of command which he mechanically obeyed ; for something told him that lio was in the power of the woman whom he hated and abhorred, “We meet after a long, long separation,” sho sald, in a low tone, which left him still in utter doubt as to whether tho object of her visit was peace or war. “ Yos—yes," he observed, nervously. “but where- fore should we meet at all?” “Not to oxchange caresses and endearing words— not to unite our fortunes or our misfortunes, as husband and wife,” responded the old woman, “ Of that you may be well assured 1” ‘Then, again J ask—wherefore should wo meet?” demanded Torrens. ‘ Becauso this interview suits my purposes,” re- turned Mrs, Mortimer, with a malignant grin; “and I may as well commenco by assuring you that you are completely in my power.” af “In your power !”’ repeated the old man, casting n ghastly look of mingled apprehension and appea” on her who thus proclaimed her authority, aud wha seemed resolved to exerciso it. “Yos—in my power,” she exclaimed, in an im. pressive manner. “Do you know that I was ar- rested on suspicion of being the murderess, or at when sho had reached tho last stup of thodangerousi ajl evonts concerned in the murder—” EConnicloooks (CO)