The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 308: what you’re looking at

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

TIE MYSTERILS or LONDON, wants, But if you mean me to plunder my husband of Lis plate—his watch~aud other things which are beyond all question his own exclusively, I de- clare once for all that J will not be a party to such a deed. It is sufficient,” she added, tears now burst- ing from her eyes, “that I am what I am, without Jeaving behind me the reputation of a thief.”—Lco- nard ground his teeth with rage: and again he had recourse to the wine-bottle— Pray recall the words that you have uttered,” exclaimed Ellen: “tell me that you wero joking, or that you only mado the proposal in order to try me !”—" J nevor Was more serious in my life,” said Leonard, brutally, —Oh! what do I hear?” cried the wretchod women, wringing her hands.—" Enough of this!” ejaculated the ruffian, starting from his scat. “Do you mean to accompany me, or do you not ?”—" Yes, yes; Ihave pledged myself to that s”—" And aro we to go empty-handed #”—“T have sixty or seventy e pounds in moncy, and my jewels are worth as much tnore,’-—“ And tho plate?” demanded Leonard.— “Ts always kept in a box beneath Mr. Gamble’s bed; and thoroforo you see how impossiblo it is to obtain it, even if I were disposed to plunder him of property which has been in his family for so many, many years.” Leonard reseated himself—poured ont more wine —drank it—and then fell into a deep meditation, Ellon watched his countenance, flattering herself that the reason she had alleged for forbearance in But she had only confirmed the ruffian in his resolution to possess it; inasmuch as she had committed herself Tirstly, slo had told him where it was? and secondly, by informing him that it had been in the family for many years, she had naturally left on his mind the impression that it was of con: siderable value—for heir-looms of that Bpecies are usually costly. What, then, was Leonard Mitchell respect to the plate would prove efficient. in two wavs, really thinking of—thinking of, too, under the in- fluence of the deep potations which he had im- bibed? Ile was revolving a hollish project in his mind. If he endeavoured to possess himself of the piate contrary to the assent of Ellen, a disturbance would ensue in the house, and his arrest as a de- serter might follow upon the discovery of his pre- senco there. To dopart without the plate was not at all suitable to his purposes: for if he repaired to a foreign country, it would not be to toil for a livelihood. ILow, then, was he to secure the coveted property, and Carry it away without the chance of noise or detection? Only if Ellen were removed from his path! Xes—this was the project now revolved in tho mind of the lost, depraved young man; and, having again fortified himsolf with liquor, he detormined to put his diabolical scheme into excention. Suddenly rising from his seat, he approached Ellen, and, taking her hand, said, “ For- give me, dearest, for what I dared to utter just now, We will delay our departure until to-morrow night; and teen you shall take with you just so much as you choose to select, and nothing more,”— “Y freely pardon you, Leonard,” she replied; and yet, as he bent over her, there was a wild gleaming in his cye and a peculiarity of expression in his countenance which caused vague apprehensions to sweep across her mind. “But how strangely you regard me, Leonard,” sho said: “is anything tho matter with you?”— Nothing, nothing, dearest,” ho responded, throwing his arms round her neck aud mressing her head as if in the fervour of affoe- AAA edly (icu against his bosom. All her alarms sere im- mediately dissipated; and, thrown completely off her guard, she returned the embrace, abandoning herself entirely to him. At thatinstant his right hand was Withdrawn; and, as he uttered somo words of en- dearment, he possessed himself of the carving knife, unperceived by her.—“ Let us now retire to rest Leonard,” she murmured, as her face lay buried on his chest: “it is growing late-—-Oh! heavens ——” And farther utterance was suddenly stopped; for, like a flash of lightning, the sharp blade, gleame ing in the rays of the lamp, was drawn across Jier throat—the murderer turning her head and throw- ing it back at the same moment in ordor to aid his fell design, Death was almost instantaneous; and the miscreant gently lowered the body upon the floor. For nearly halfa minuto did he stand gaz ing upon that corpse—unable to belicve that it was really what it seemed to be, and that ho had perpo- trated the deed. Then, as the awful conviction stared him fully in tho faco, and tho entire sense of his cnormity seized upon his soul, he would have given worlds, had he possessed them, to undo what was thero done! But it was too late—oh! too late: and he must save himself—ho must escape! A bumper of brandy gave him the courage of a brute: and, taking the lamp in his hand, he crept cau- tiously to Mr. Gamble’s bed-room. The door was unlocked, and tlie old man slept profoundly. Be- neath the bed was the plate-chest: but it was securcly fastened with a padleck. Leonard raised the chest, and, placing it on his shoulder, was ahont to quit the room, when ho espicd upon a chair the clothes which Mr, Gamble had put off when retir- ing to rest. These garments the murderer Hkewive self-appropriated, as well as a hat, which was stard- ing on a chest of drawors; and he noiselessly re- traced his way to the chamber where the corpse lay. Turning his back towards that appalling spec- tacle, he procecded to dress himself in Mr. Gumbtie's apparel, which fitted him quite well enough for his purpose, and was at all evonts a safer attire than his uniform. IIe next proceeded to break opon tho plate-chest—a task speedily effected by means of the same knife that bad ac- complished the murder. The contents of the chest, when rapidly scanned by his eager oyes, Were evidently of great value; and ho hastened to pack them up in towels, and lastly in brown paper. He then rified the jewel-box of his murdered paramour; and, in addition to tho costly articles which he found there, were tbe seventy pounds that the unfortunate woman had alluded to but a few ininutes before sho had ceased to exist. Leonard was satisfied with the booty thus acquired ; and he was moreover in haste to depart. IIaving secured the money and Jewels about his person, he took the parcel containing the plate under his arm, and stole cautiously down the Stairs. <All was silent throughout the house: several times did le pause to listen—but not a Sound wes heard ;--and he gained the street with- out interruption. When, however, he was in tho open air, he knew not whither to go—what plan to adopt,—whether to seck concealment in London until the coming storm should Kave blown over, or to make every effort to get out of England. Tho lattor plan appeared to be the moro dvisable; and he accordingly pushed on towards the Dover road It was shortly after sun-rise that Mr. Gambto. awaking from a sound sleep, beheld a deep stain on TT A A (C(O) (C DOO SS (SO)