The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 313: what you’re looking at

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308 water upon the pallid conntenance of the young lady. “Yes—if it scems feasible,” was the immediate answer. “ What is it ?” “That wo do not keep thie timid thing a moment longer in the house than is absolutely necessary,” continued Mrs. Mortimor. “ For our own sakes we must guard against her beholding tho, interior of that placo;” and, as she uttered these words in a low tono, she nodded significantly towards tho door of the back kitchen where the corpse of Torrons had been deposited. “ Yes—ves: I understand,’ said Jack Rily: ‘it might be thought that we were accomplices in the murder. In the same way it would do no good to let her seo Vitriol Bob bound neck and crop in the front kitchen.” “That is just what I was about to suggest,” ob- served Mrs. Mortimer. “ We must get her out of the house as soon as possible, and into a cab——” “Then don’t use any more means to recover her,” interrupted Jack Rily, snatching the glass of water from tho old woman’s hand. “ Let her remain for a short time longer in that trance: it will not kill hor, depend upon it—and you have tho advantage of possessing an /Ssculapius in me.” “What do you propose, then?” demanded Mrs. Mortimer, casting an anxious glance upon the coun- tenance of tho still senseless girl. “Don’t be frightened, I tell you,” repeated Jack Rily: “I will guarantee that she shall recover. But Jet us bo off at once. I will take her in my arms and carry her into Bonnett Street; the neighbour- hood is all quict and deserted at this hour ;—and you shall ordor round a cab from tho stand in the road. Thore aro always two or three in attendance through- out the night.” “Good!” exclaimed Mrs, Mortimer. bo off at once.” “This instant,” said Jack Rily, as he gently raisod the motionless, senseless form in his powerful arms, whilo Mrs. Mortimer took off her shaw] and wrapped it hastily over the head and shoulders of Agnes. Tho Doctor gavo a hurried intimation to Vitriol Bob that Molly Calvert should be sont to him as speedily as possible; and he then stole out of tho house, Mrs. Mortimer having proviously ascertained that tho coast was perfectly clear. Evorything was effected as Jack Rily had pro- posed. Ie gained Bennett Strect, with his lovely burthen in his arms; and there ho waited in tho deep darkness afforded by a largo gateway, until Mrs. Mortimer camo round with tho cab. The maiden was placed in the vohicle, which the old woman entered in order to take chargo of her; and Jack Rily, after having made an appointment with his accomplice for the next evening, bade her a tem- porary farowell. The cab drove away towards Park Square; and tho Doctor, on his side, hurried off to the lodgings of Pig-faced Moll. But the thread of our narrative now lies with Mrs, Mortimer and the beauteous Agnes Vernon. Scarcely had the cab moved away from tlie vicinity of the haunted houses, when Agnes began rapidly to recover; and, on opening her eyes, sho became aware that sho was reclining in tho arms of a female, and that they were being borne speedily along in a vehicle. For an instant it struck her that she must be with her mother: but in the nent momont the horrors of the night crowded rapidly “We will cen ent sy eye fn CS a into her memory,—and, starting up, she demandod in a hurried, anxious manner, “Where am I? and who are you ?” THE MYSYERIES OF LONDON. Scarcely were the questions put when the young maiden was enabled, by the silver moon-light, to catch a glimpse of the countenance of her com- panion; and she instantly recognised Mrs. Mor- timer. Her first emotions were of joy and gratitude ;— for she was delighted to find herself in the care of a fomale—ospecially one of whom she knew some- thing : and, taking the old woman's hand, she said, ‘Madam, IJ know not how to thank you—and am scarcely aware of what I hare to thank you for. But—if my impressions be correct—you must havo rescued me from something very terriblo! Yes— I recollect now—that door opening—a light appear- ing—and then that hideous, horrible face——” And, with a visible shudder, the maiden threw herself back in tho vehicle, pressing her hands to her throbbing brows in order to collect her still disjointed and somewhat confused reminiscences. “You are labouring under dreadful recollections my dear child,” said Mrs. Mortimer, in a soothing tone. “Know you not—can you not suspect that you wore in the power of a ruffian when I fortu- nately encountered you ?” But where—whoro?” demanded Agnes, impa- tiently, as her settling ideas seemed to coincido with that belicf. “T should rathor ask you, my swect maiden,” said Mrs. Mortimer, “iow you came to be in Stam- ford Street this night.” “My mother took mo thither—yes—I recollect it all now!” exclaimed Agnes. ‘She left mo at |- tho house of somo dear friends—and I was ungrate- ful onough to entertain the most injurious sus- picions respecting them,—yes—and relative to my own dear mother also.” “Your mother!’ repeated Mrs. Mortimer, in astonishment. “J thought you liad never known her—or that she liad died when you were in your infancy.” “Oht no—thank God! my mother is alire—and Iknow her now!” cjaculated Agnes, with all the enthusiasm of a strongly reviving affection—a powerfully resuscitating devotion for that parent whom she had s0 lately discovered. “ But where is your mother now?” Mortimer. “Ah! that I know not!” replied Agnes. “And this reminds me,” sho ecaclaimed after a few mo- ments’ pause, “that you must take me back to thie good kind ladies in Stamford Street, that I may remain there until my mother shall como to fotch me away to the new homo which sho has promisod to prepare for me.” “Who aro thoso good ladics ?” asked Mrs. Mor- timer. “Their name is Theobald, and they live in Stam- ford Street,” responded tho artless girl “You | may know tho house—or at least the driver ofe,the vehicle can find it out, when I describe it as being situated fourth from the corner of the Blackfriars’ Road, and next to three deserted—dilapidated— sinister-looking honses——” «Ah! then you must have found your way from the dwelling of your friends into one of those ruined places,” thought Mrs. Mortimer. “But. I am really at a loss, my dear young lady, to com- prehond all you tell me,” she said aloud. enquired Mrs. econmlelooolks (CO)