The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 312: what you’re looking at

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

a Ny - ste ne tory ot crime which had been so elaborately de- tailed to her—tho thought that the very floors and the ceilings of the uppermost chambers in that house, bore testimony to the tale of blood—and tho idea that the ghost of the assassinated lady was wont to wander iu the depth of the night and on the scene of the crime,—it was all this that struck Mrs. Mortimer with awe and consternation, render- ing her incapable of serious reflection, ard levelling her strong mind as it wero beneath the influence of superstitious terrors. “Well—what the devil is the matter with you both?” demanded Vitriol Bob, after a pause. “How do you mean?” asked Jack Rily, reseat- -ing himself, and grasping tho brandy-bottle with & trombling hand. “ Why—you and the old Jady looked at each othor as if you already heard the light step and the rust- ling shroud of the apparition,” said tho murderer. “Hark! what was that?” ojaculated tho Doctor, once nore starting to his feet. “Tt certainly was a noiso somowhero,” observed Mrs, Mortimer, trembling from head to foot. ‘ “Perhaps the old man in the back-kitchen has fot up and is groping his way about,” said Vitriol Bob, speaking with an affectation of terror which was so natural that it cruelly enhanced the super stitious alarms experienced by his companions, “This is intolerable!” exclaimed Rily, looking in a ghastly manner towards the door, as if he mere than half expected to behold it suddenly thrown open, and some hideous form appear on the threshold. “TI can’t make out what it is that has come over mo to-night! Tis like a warning—and yet I never believed in ghosts until now.” “Wor I—nor I!” murmured Mrs. Mortimer.” “But to-night—I feel also as if “i “Hark!” suddenly cried Vitriol Bob: “there is a noise again !” “It must bo the old man!” ejaculated the Doctor. “Are you sure that you did for him thoroughly ?” “If anythink like him meets your eyes, Jack, it must be his ghost, I can assure you,” was the so- Jemn answer—although Vitriol Bob himself partook notin the slightest degree of the superstitious ter- rors that had grown upon his companions, but was on the contrary inwardly chuckling with malignant joy at their awe-struck state of mind. ‘There! did you hear it?” demanded Mrs. Mor- timer, in a hasty and excited tone. “Iam sure it was a noise this time: there could be no mistake about it!” aind she endeavoured to riso from her chair ;— but terror kept her motionless—paralysing every limb, though not placing a seal upon her lips. “Something dreadful is to happen to-night—I know it—I feel it!” said Jack Rily, in a tono which indicated remorse for a long career of crime and turpitude. ‘By God! ’tis the back-door of the houee that is opening a “Then this is serious indeed!” interrupted Vitriol Bob, now alarmed in his turn—but rather on tC count of constables than spectres, “ Unloose me— let us fight—resist——” “Silence!” muttered Jack Rily, in a low but imperious tone. There was a pause of nearly a minute, during which the three inmates of the kitchen held their becath to listen, in painful suspense. Suddenly the rattling of the crazy bannisters aquide fell upon their ears; and Jack Rily, worked Or rs ee eee eee THD MYSTERIES OF LONDON, 09 up to a pitch of desperation, seized the candle, Bay~ ing in a hoarse and dogged tone, “ By hell! I will face it, whatover it may be!” With these words he tore open the kitchen-door; —and, behold! before him stood a female form— clothed in white—with a countenanco palo as death —her hair flowing wildly and dishevelled over her shoulders—and with oycs fixed in unnatural bril- Wancy upon him. Tho ruffian was for a few moments paralyzed— stupified with horror: then, unable any longer to endure the spectacle which his fears converted into & corpse Wrapped in a winding-sheet, he exclaimed, “The ghost! the ghost !”"—and dropped tho candle upon the floor. Total darkness immediately ensued. At tho samo instant a piercing scream echoed through the house; and Mrs. Mortimer, now re- coyoring all her presence of mind, started to her feet, crying, “That is no apparition—savo of flesh and blood! Haste, Jack Rily—procure a light | Where are you, man? Jet us sco who it is?” “Here I am,” returned tho Doctor, likewise re- gaining his self-possession. ‘“ Bob, where aro tho lucifers ?” . “In my right-hand pocket,” growled the mur derer, who, in the excitement of the past scene, and in the tremendous but ineffectual exertions which he had made to release himself from his bonds the moment tho light was extinguished, had fallen from his seat and rolled upou tho floor, Nearly half a minute now clapsed cro the candle was found and lighted again; and thon Jack Rily, closcly followed by Mrs. Mortimor, hastened into the passage, where thoy beheld the form of a young female stretched senseless at the foot of the stairs. The old woman stooped down to raire her: but scarcely had sho caught a glimpse of the pale coun- tenance, on which tho finger of death seemed to havo been placed, when, Starting with surprise and joy, sho exclaimed, “’Tis Agnes Vernon, asI am a living being !” “ Agnes Vernon—who is she? do you know her?” demanded the Doctor, holding forward the light. “ By Jove! sho is a sweet creature, whoever sho is |! Thav’s right—raise her gently. But is she dead, poor thing ?” “No—no: her heart beats—and her lips already begin to move,” responded Mrs, Mortimer hastily, as sho held the still senseless maiden in hey arms. } “ Well—this isa lucky chance that has thrown her in our way—and thoro’s moncy to be made out of it.” “So much the better? Shall I geta little water?” asked ‘the Doctor. “Yes--and use despatch,”returnod Mrs, Mortimer, Jack Rily entered the kitchen, and filled a glass with water. “Who is it?” demanded Vitriol Bob, whom the Doctor had previously restored to his position in the chair, “a young lady that Mrs, Mortimer happens to know,” was the reply. “ There is no danger from other visitors, according to allappearances: go keep | quict, and don’t alarm yourself,” Lho Doctor hastened back into the passage, where Mrs, Mortimer was seated on the last step of the Staircase, supporting Agnes'in her arms, “Now, will you follow my advice, Mr. Rily ?” sha demanded in a rapid tone, af she sprinkled tho (C(O) (C DOO <S LL (SO)