The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 363: what you’re looking at

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

ume eee et AS AED IP PPE ESAT TNLD PG ID PLPC LC TS 358 ee See anxious to while away an hour li foro she went to tho bank, so as not to prosent he:self too soon after the visit of the Marquis of Delmour to the cstablish- mont. Whon she had eaten and drunk as much as she cared for she addressed herself to the grand project which sho had in view, and in furtherance of which she had demanded tho private room and the writing muterials at the coffre-house, The writing of the Marquis was execrably bad; and it was not a very difficult matter to add ty to tho sfx, and transform the word hundred into thots- cand, in the bady of the cheque; while tho simple addition of 00 to the GOOL written in figures in tho corner, completed the forgery. The cheque, therefore, now stood for sixty thousand pounds, instead of stz hundred, payable to benrer, no particnlar name being mentioned as the intended recipient. When the old woman Led thus transformed the document, a plow of triumph animated her hideous countenanee: but ina few moments a chill—a cold, creeping tremor enue over her-as if a eclatamy snake were pradually coiling iteel? sround her form, underneath her clothes j-——for she remem ced all the censations whieh she had experienced when che committed the forvery of Sir Henry Courtenay’ namo nineteen vears previously | By a desperate effort the old worn chook off the painful feciing that thus influenced hers and, re- solving to allow herself no more leisure for te thee: tion, lest her thovahte shoul Dike a coward of hor, shy rang the bell—paid the tring amount ipeurred —and took her departure from the cotfee-hottee, Daring hee wall to the bank, which was clot at hand, she rapidly calculated in her tind all the vhanees of success. The Marquis had ungie tons ably been thither to give distractions relntive to the drate held by Laura as well at that which had been given to heeslf; and there was not the ebiedite ot rencon to fear that hee daughter trad followed so closely on her steps frum Paris as to have been able toovisit the bank during the bour that had just elapsed. As for the excellence of the forpery—or tate coef the alterations, Mrs. Mortimer entertained he apprehend tan on that ccore | snd thas, all things conaidered, the deetavd failure to be impo able. “ath aa appeirene outward comnposere, but with a palpttating beut, the old woman entered the bank, and prosented hereheque to one of the clerks, Hhe cucvesed at matrowly-—took it into the private office, or parlour, doubtle.s to rubmit it to one of the propre tor cat theestabls: fiment o7 Conte res pou th}e perron—and remained away upwards of two minute . Tyo minutes but that Interval was an sve—a pertect age im the imagination of the old woman? luwesan interval composed of such Intense fevlings that the hair of s young perron might have turned caddenly vrey,—feeclings of such barning hopo and rneh assful suspense, of cuch profound terror and forvid eapcetation, that white molten lead appeared to drop upon ony ldo of her heart, ice seemed to lay upon the other | At length the clerk came backs nnd Mrs, Mar- timer darted arapid—searching—penctrating glance at his countenanes. Nothing save respect and civility could ehe trace thervoly: and che instantly Know that she was safe ! Thenyame such a revulsion of feeling—such a ee es \ ee ES NR ST OY RANT OS THY MYSTERIES Or LONDON, a TS I ee PE subsiding of the terrors and such an oxaltation of the hopes which she had conceived—that it was ag if sho were shooting upwards from the profundity of a delugo of dark waters and suddenly breathed tho fresh air again and beheld the bright sun and the smiling heavens overhead. Tho clerk proceeded to count out bank-notos for the sum specified in the cheque; and as ho handed tho fortune—ves, literally a fortunc—over to tho old woman, he consideratcly gave her a cau tion to tako caro of the vilo characters who fre- quently lurked about tho doors of bani:ing-houses. Mrs, Mortimer thanked the clerk for his well- meant advice, and sallied forth from the establish- ment, with a heart so olate that sho could scarcely believe in the snecess of the tremendous fraud, now that it had passed triumphantly through the ordeal. But as she was crossing the threshold, she heard her name suddenly mentioned; and, hastily turning her head, she found herself face to face with Jack Rily, the Doctor! CHAPTER CNACIT, JACK RILY AND MES, MORTIMER. Tis individual whom Mrs, Mortimer thus unex- peetedly and unpleacantly encountered, had made a considerable improvement in his personal appears anee during the few days that had clapsed since she saw hist Inset. The olt fur cap, Che greasy velveteen shooting jacket, the rusty waistcoat, the corduroy trowsers, and the heavy high-lows, were exchanged fer a chining silk hat, a complete cuit of black clothe,, and a pair of Wellington boots: his shirt was dike sige new and clean, and he wore a catin stock in- stead of the blue cotton handkerchief tied loo cly round his nech. " He had evidently endeavoured to make Limself wok ast peetable as he could: bat the almost African hue of his complexion—the horrible hare- hip, through the opening of which the larce white teeth glistened up to the pums—and the yellow fire that seemed toshine in the small and restless cye!, gave him such a peeulisr aspect that it was scarcely possilde for any one who passed to avoid noticing him, Mee. Mortimer, my beloved tiger-cat, how are sou?’ ho exclaimed, prasping the old) woman's hand and shaking it siolently. “Very well, thank you, Mr. Rily: but pray do not detain me now, there’s a good coul—for Lhave not a moment to spare—=" “T shants detain you, old beauty,” interrupted Jacks “because PU just do myself the pleasure of walking slong with you. Come~take my arm— you necdn’t be ashamed to do so now: [think I’m Tins speaking, he glanced complacontly over his own person, aud then bestowed a look upon thie ontward appearance of Mrs. Mortimer, who, as we have already observed, was dressed with unusual gatety. “Come, my dear—take my arm,” exclaimed the Doctor Really, Mr. Rily, you must excuse me,” said the old woman, who was most anxious to get nway from tho vicinity of Cie bank, but by no means de- sireus of remaining in the company of the Dactor es I RE A I, COnn pretty tidily rigged—ch i” t, eT a YN A AE LL en eat” >> Saemniiied # cN NS PAL SEE TCT TRS OR A EY ENR OTST en cee pa Py SA ST a, a gee RE RATES TE PA rT ITO EAL a a SE ST TE SE ES TT GIOOKS (CO)