The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 263: what you’re looking at

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

——_— nr rr nr re i oe ee Oe yg am ee ee a Se er eS eee ease ee i A eS 258 EE TIE “Was it the old man who did this?’ asked the / landlady. “Yes: that ancient villain, with the palo face,” was thereply. ‘ But tell me—was not his counte- nance pale and wrinkled ?—and did he not scem nervously excited while speaking to you 2?” © Tust 50,” nuswered the landlady. Ah! I thought that I was not mistaken!” ex- claimed Mrs. Mortimer, in a tone that indicated a concentration of the most ferocious rage and diabo- lical hate in her cavage breast. “ But leave mo now —I must bo alone for a short time—I must ponder upon all this, and determino how to act. Tam not altogether without friends—nor yet without re- sources,” “Well, ma‘am,” said the landlady, “ I hope you won't think no more of what I told you just now— I mean, about leaving the place. Since thoso fellers wasn't officers, and you ain't 4 snspicious person, I’m sure I don’t want to got rif of you.” “T shall not leave you quite yet, my good woman,” responded Mrs. Mortimer; “and [am not angry on account of what you said just now, But pray Ict me be alone for tho present.” The landlady withdrew in obedicnee to this re- quest; and Mrs. Mortimer rate dawn upon tho bed to ruminate onthe misfortune that had produced so sudden and deplorable achango In her position. Seareely, howover, had sho brought her mind to reflect with somo degree of calmness on tho sitna- tion of her affairs, when she heard heavy and hasty footsteps ascending the staircase. Dreading Jest somo new calamity wero about to overtake her, sho started to her feet in trepidation and nerrous excitement: nor was sho reassured when tho door was unceremoniously opened, and 2 nan of most repulsive appearance bounced into the chamber, CHAPTER CLXANT, JACK RILY, THT DOCTOR. Tnc individual who thus intruded himsclf upon the presence of tho affrighted woman, was about forty years of age—of middlo height—somewhat stout—and of powerful form. Ilo was not corpu- lent; but his build cenoted immense strength,—his shoulders being broad and massive, and his limbs of large proportions. His neck was short and thick, lke that of a bull; and his huge hands, when clenched, appeared as if they could fell an ox or batter down a wall, His countenance was perfectly hideous, It was of dark complexion; and on the right cheek was a large sear of livid red, as If the flesh had been seared with a hot iron and left to heal withoutany surgical assistance. The low but broad forehead was over- shadowed with coarse, black, matted hair, which the man wore long, and which ho cvidently much neglected—so that it had a dirty appearance, in spite of its jetty hue. His eyes wero small and dark; and the whites—for we know not what other name to give them—were of a yellow hue,—so that an ominous fire seemed to animate those eyes, as if they reflected all the bad passions of a polluted soul, Tho nose, which was large, thick, and coarse, projected all on one side, and had cnormous nostrils, Add to all theso elements of ugliness a hare-lip, with an opening so large thatit displayed two of tho had some African blood in his veins, howover, the case;—ho was born in England and of English parents—aye, and had received an English education likewise. MYSTLRICS OF LONDON. aD, man’s large white teeth up to the very gum, and the reader may form a tolerably accurate idea of tho re- . pulsive aspect of this individual. Iie was dressed in a greasy velveteen. shooting- jacket, a rusty black waistcoat, corduroy trowsers, | and heary high-lows; a blue cotton handkerchief was negligently tied round his neck ;—and his shirt, which was nono of the cleanest, was open in front, tle buttons being defizient—so that a portion of his hirsute chest was visible, On his head ho wore an old fur cap of a tawny colour, but sadly stained with grease, as if it were tossed in any dirty nook or corner when not in use, As the man had no whiskers, ard his complexion was 80 dark, it might have been supposed that he Such was not, But naturo had given him a hideous aspect; nnd circumstances had imbued his soul with tho ferocity of a hyena and tho snbtlety of a serpent. Tt is not often that tho savage disposition is cha- racterised by a profound and latent cunning—be- cause tho violence of furlous passions usually absorbs all reflection in its eudden impulses and outbursts. But this man was ferocious by nature, and subtlo in consequence of possessing a powerful intellect and having received a good cducation, Not that Intelligence and inental cultivation en- gender craft and cunning: no—but thoy teach thre necessity of consideration and forcthought ;—and tho result, in respect to the individual whom wo nro describing, was that he know the world so well as to bo fully awaro that intrigue and machination frequently succeeded where brute forco could ac- complish nothing. Thus, when there was no need to have recourse to artifice, this man appeared as a very demon Iet loosa upon society: but when cunning could gain an end, he was enabled to control his savage pro- pensities and exercise a complete domination over his ferocious instincts, such was the person who burst upon the view of the terrified Mrs, Mortimer in the abrupt manner already doscribed, Sho had risen from her scat on the bed, and now stood gazing on him in speechless apprehension and amazement: but he, not heeding the alarm which his presence inspired, closed the door carefully behind him, and then, throwing his greasy cap on a chair, approached the old woman, saying, ‘So I understand you hare been robbed, ma'am? Well— don't give way to despair: I think Ican help you to the recovery of your money.” “Abt” ejaculated Mrs. Mortimer, considerably relioved by the hope thus abruptly held out, and at the same moment animated by the conviction that the man could not mean her any harm—as sho had never seen him before in her life; and, more- over, the house was neither deserted nor lonely, and it was now the broad noon-day,—under which circumstances crimes of violenco wero seldo'a perpetrated. “Yes—I think I can help you,” repeated the man. “But thoro is plenty of time before ws—and we must have achat over the matter in tho first instance.” Thus speaking, he seated himself in 2 free and easy fashion; and Mrs. Mortimer likewise took a chair—for she had now become deeply interested in Ae rrr ree cece ee tmp a a econmlelooolks (SO)