The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 255: what you’re looking at

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— = 950 THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. Oe a ooo tended to increase the young nobleman'’s suspi- cions. “But Lord William Trevelyan is an intimate— a very intimate friend of Sie Gilbert,” said Mrs. Sefton. “Jt matters not, madam “my instructions were positire “Tt matters greatly, however, sir,” interrupted the lady. “ Your tale appeared to me strange and inconsistent from the very first—though IHeaven knows what motive vou can have in deceivizg me so cruelly, if decmt it be: but now my suspicions are painfully increased ——” “ Madam, you know not what rou are saying,” exclaimed Green: “ you aro insulting me, after all the trouble I have taken in this matter, But hare your own wey~—my presence is no longer necessary here.” And, rising from his seat, he was moving towards the door, when a light suddenly broke in upon Trevelvan’s miud—and it flashed to his recollection” that he had encountered this individual that very forenoon in the office of Mr. James Heathcote, the attorney. “Stop, sir!’ he cried, seizing the clerk by the collar of his coat, and forcibly detaining him: “ wo have met before—I know you now! Scarcely two hours have clapsed since you conducted me into the presence of Mr. Heathcote, who is doubticss your master.” “Mr. Ileathcote!’ ejaculated Mrs. Sefton, o deadly pallor covering her countensnee, “ Ah! then my suspicions are to be confirmed—and ho is persecuting me now 1” : “Be seated, sir,” said Trevelyan, pushing the diseomfited clerk bick into the chair whieh he had so recently teft. ©“ And now, madam,™ hoe con- tinued, turning towards the lady, “ will you have tle kindness to cxplain to mo all that this man has told you—the object of his visit, in fine t” * Oh! my Jord, what hideous treachery is at work!” exclaimed Mrs. Sefton, sinking upon a sofa, almost overcome by the varied emotions that agktated In hor bosom. “ This manintroduced him- self tome as Mr. Green of Liverpool, and as har- ing brought me tidings of Sir Gilbert. He repre- conted that Sir Gilbert, seized with a sudden terror through pecuniary difficulties, had fled to Ame- rica __"? “"Tis falso! falso as ever diabolical deceit could be!” cried Trevelyan, emphatically. “I will stake my existence that so far from being in any financial embarrassment, Sir Gilbert Ileathcote owes not a farthing In the world, and does not live pven up to his income.” “Your lordship takes too much upon yourself in making such random statements,” said Green: “since [am well assured of the exact truth of the story J have told the lady.” “This is a singular way for a man toexpress him- self, if he be an actual cinissary from Sir Gilbert,” obsecved Trevelyan, “ You ave well assured of the exact truth of your story—are you? Then you would have usinfer that yon had received it second- hand. But pray continue, madam :—what else did this fellow tell yon? We shall unmask bim alto- gether presently—and perhaps his next more will be from hence te the presence of a magistrate.” Mr. Green endeavoured to assume as much com- posure as he could possibly call to his aid: but he vid not at all admire tho aspect that things were observe t Mr, Green: “9 so plainly held ont. © Oh! my lord, what a snare has been spread for me!” exclaimed Mrs. Sefton, clasping her hands to- cetherin profourd thankfulness that she had escaped the danger. “This bad man who now trembles in your presence, would have induced me to accom- pany him with tho least possible delay to Liverpool, —thence to embark br myself in order to rejoin Siz Gilbert in New York. Ile has even abont his per- son the funds to bear the oxpenses of my voysge: —and ho would at once have hurried me away to Liverpool,—onls, in the first place, a vague suspicion was excited in my mind,—and, secondly, I had par- ticnlar—oh ! very particular reasons for remaining in London at least a few hours longer—~” Mrs, Sefton suddenly checked hersolf; sho was being hurried away by hor excited feelings into allv- stons or positive rovelations, on the verge of which sho thus stopped short. Trevelyan did not, however, comprehend tho motive of the abrupt pauso which she made, but attributed it to the influence of her orer-wwrought cmotions, “Mr, Green—or whatever your real name may be,” exclaimed the nobleman, turning round npor. tho clerk, “what explanation can you give, sir, in respect to all this?” “ I know not by what right you demand any ex- planation, my lord,” satd tho man, determined to put as good a face upon thie matter as possible, “TF will tell von by what right,” returned the patrician: “by tho right which every man has to protect and defend a lady against the machinations of her onemies—by tho right that every honest mem- 99 ber of society has to unmack a villain—— “Do you allude to mr, my lord?’ demanded Green, rising from his sort. “T do, sir,’ replicd Trevelyan. ‘ Yon are a vil- lain, because you have lent yourself to an infamous trick. Yon cannot haro been imposed upon—inas- much as you have told many deliberato and wilfol falsehoods. You pretend to have arrived straight from Liverpool, whereas rou aro undoubtedly a clerk in tho office of Mr. James Heathcote—for you enacted the part of a clerk when I called there ere now. You would hare induced this lady to quit Tiondon and repair to a foreign country, where nothing but disapprintmont—pcerhaps beggary— would have awaited hers and this act is so vile—so ntrocious—so horribly base, that I can scarcely con- trol my feelings—I can scarcely restrain my pa2- tience, while I thus upbraid you with your infamy. 7 Were you a younger man, Sir But tho nobleman stooped short, ashamed of wasting a monaco upon one so unworthy of the honest ire of a gencrous soul, “Now that your lordship has Javished all your abuse upon me, perhaps I may be permited to de | part,” said Green, with much apparent coolness, though in reality be was terribly alarmed, “Not until you have explained the meaning of this atrocious proceeding in which you have borne | tal:ing—nor did he feel comfortable under the throat | | | so prominent apart,” replied Lord William. “ Mako up your mind to answer my questions in a way tliat shall carry truth upon tho face of your words—or Trepare to give an account of your conduct to ths propor authority.” ©“What—what would you hare me do, my lord ¥” asked the miserable wretch. now unable to conecal his terror—unable also to subdue the trembling tf his limbs, — wo I ES TELS AP i p ee, EG EConnicloooks (CO)