The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 256: what you’re looking at

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

THE 23LYSTERIES “Vas foul play been adopted with regard to Sir Gilbert IHTeathcote?” demanded Lord William, epeaking in a measured tone, and fixing his eyes keenly upon the clerk. ‘‘Good God! Does your lordship suspect that he is murdered ?” exclaimed Green, horrified at the bare idea. “ No—no: thank Heaven—it is not so bad as that!” “Thank Heaven also!” murmured Mrs. Sefton, her heart experiencing a relicf so great and sud- den—for tho man was evidently speaking the truth—that she felt as if she were about to faint through excessive joy. “ I scarcely apprehended such a frightful alter- - native as my words may bave seemed to imply,” said Trevelyan. “But delay not, man —speak—tell me— tefl this afflicted lady also—where is Sir Gilbert Heathcote?” “ My lord, I dare not-——” “WWesitate not another moment, sir,’’ cried the nobleman, grasping the clerk vlolently by the collar of his coat: “hesitate not, I say—or I will drag you into tho presence of the magistrate. Tell me— whero is my friend ?—where is Sir Gilbert 2” “My lord—my lord ”—stammered the affrighted wretch, his countonance rendered hideous by its workings. “Speak—sir—I command you!” exclaimed Tre- velyan, in a tone of terriblo excitement. “ Trifle not with me—or I shall do you a mischicf. Where— where, I ask for the last time, is Sir Gilbert Heathcote ?” “ Tn——But you will kill me, my lord———’ “Speak, villain! Where is he?” demanded the infuriato noble. ‘In a mad-house!” was tho reply, absolutely wrung by terror from the clerk. A piercing scroam burst from the lips of Mrs. Sefeon—and in another momont she fell heavily upon the carpet, with a dead sound asif it were a corpse that had rolled from the sofa. Trevelyan —stupified by tho astounding words that had fallen upon his car—let go his hold on the wrotched clerk, on whom he stood gazing for a few moments as if he had become petrified—turned into 2 statue—paralysed—motionless, But sud- denly ho seemed to be struck with the conviction that Mrs. Sefton needed his assistance; and, for- getting in the agilatfon and excitement of his feel- ings to keep a watch upon the clerk, he hastened to raise the prostrate lady from the floor. Ho placed her upon the sofa, aud sprinkled water (of which there happened to bo a decanter full on the table) upon her countenance. In a few minutes she opened her eyes, and gazed wildly around her. Trevelyan drew back a few paces s0 that the air might circulate freely about her—when, sud- denly romembering the clerk, he looked hurriedly round. ; But the villain had stclen away! At this moment a bitter groan burst from the lips of Mrs. Sefton; for a remembrance of all that had just occurred came rapidly to her mind—and the horrible word “mad-house” seemed to echo in her ears and touch 3 chord that vibrated with a feeling of anguish to her very brain. Sho covered her face with her hands, while her boson heaved convulsively. ‘Compose yourself, madam, I implore you,” said ’ rte a a a a a ee OF LONDON: 251 acquired, is preferable to the suspenso previously endured.” “But is there hope, my lord—is there any hopo lefe for me?” sho inquired, removing her hands from her countenance—now so pale—and gazing up at the young patrician in a beseechful manner, “ Assuredly there 7s hope, my dear madam,” re- turned Trevelyan, emphatically, ‘I am confident that Sir Gilbert is in the possession of his intele lects as completely as ever, and that he is a victim— but nota maniac. Indeed, I sco through it all!” “Oh! now you inspira me with hope!” ox. claimed Mrs, Sefton, taking his hand and pressing it with-fervent gratitndo: and as her face was up- turned towards his own, it suddenly struck him,— struck him like a flash of lightning,—that thero was in that countenance an expression reminding him of Agnes Vernon,—although he had never beheld the features of the Recluse of tho Cottage otherwise than tranquil, calm, and serene. Nevertheless, tho idea seized upon him: butin the next moment ho said to himself, “It is mere fancy !”—and as Mrs, Sefton at that instant settled herself in such a manner upon the sofa that her back became turned to the window and the variation of light produced a change in the expression of her countenance, the idea was immediately absorbed in other and more important considerations in the mind of the young patrician. “Oh! now you inspire me with hope!” Mrs. Sefton had said; and her face brightened up—so that it was at the moment when this sudden lustre of joy was suffused upon her features, that tho above-mentioned idea had struck the nobleman, “Yes, nadam—there is every reason to hope,” ho responded. “The entire plot, in all its terrible in- iquity, is now before meas clear as the noon-day sun The brother is at the bottom of it all.” ‘Did I not tell your lordship that he was a vil- lain ?” asked Mrs, Sefton. “Yes, my dear madam,’’ replied Trevolyan: “ but Iam slow to form injurious opinions of any man. Now, however, I have the conviction of his turpitude —and I hesitate no longer to proclaim him to bo al that you represented him.” “But—merciful heavens! while we are wasting time in words,” exclaimed Mrs. Sefton, seized with a sudden access of wild excitement, “ Gilbort is in 2 horrible predicament—and we should be acting—not talking,” “Haste and precipitation will effect no good in this matter, my dear madam,” said Trovolyan. ‘*But wo must find out the place where he is con- fined—we must apply to the officers of justice—wo must relense him!” cried the Jady, her excitement increasing, “ Pray, my dear madam, listen to mo with some degree of composure,” said the young nobloman; “and I will explain to you how we must proceed, and why nothing can be done with that speed which would naturally be most consonant with your feel- ings,” _“J am composed—I am tr-quil now, my dear friend—for in such a light yo ~“_permit me to consider you,” observed Mrs. Se. cising as strong a control over her emotions as shu possibly could command. “In the first place I must tell you that I saw Mr. James Heathcote this morning,”’ resumed Tre frevelyan, “Kcen this certainty which wo have| velyan’ “and when I shink of bis cool villainy—nis J can read it as plainly as if it wore in a book,. 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