The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 367: what you’re looking at

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

362, And, as ho uttered this ejaculation, he suddenly quitted his hold upon Mrs. Mortimer, and pounced upon something that had rolled on the floor. It was the bundle of Bank-notes, which had failen from the old woman’s dress during the struggle. “ By Jove! here’sa treasurc—a fortune—a King’s ransom |”? ejaculated the Doctor, scarcely able to believe his eyes, as he hastily turned over the notes with his hands. “My God! it is impossible!” ho cried, his wonderment increasing to such a pitch, that he began to think he must bo insane: then, a sudden idea striking him, he turned abruptly to- wards Mrs. Mortimer, who had sunk back, ex- hausted and overwhelmed with rago and grief, into the chair, “Ah! I understand it all now,” he said, his voice changing in a moment to the low tone of soleran mystery: “ you are a nice old girl, you are! Yes—yes—I uuderstand it at last! These are all queer screens *—and you went into the bank to smash f soine of them. By Jove! it’s glorious.” Mrs. Mortimer, who was gasping for breath, could make noreply: her mouth was parched—her tongue was as dry as if she had beon travelling for hours over a desort without tasting water. “And yet,” resumed Jack Rily, scrutinising the notes more narrowly still, “ theso are precious good imitations—too good to be imitations, indeed. I know cnough of Bank-notes—ayo, and of forged ones too—to see that these are the genuine flimsices. Blood and thunder! what a glorious old’ wretch you aro!” he cried, again surveying her with a joy that was entirely unfeigned and amounted almost to admiration. “I supposo you have committed some splendid forgery. But of course it must be some- thing of that kind,’? he added, 2 sndden reminis- cenco striking him: “or elso you wouldn’t have been so deucedly alarmed when I threatened just now to kick up arow in the streets and attract the notice of the police. So, you perceive, that I was pretty keen in my surmises. I knew vou had money concealed in your bosom—and I was equally well couvinced you had not obtained it by means that would bear inquiry. However, here it is—in my possession—and it can’t be in safer hands. T’ll just sit down quietly, and count how much there is.” Thus speaking, the monster picked up his clasp- knife, which hoe closed and consigned to his pocket; and he next proceeded to inspect the Bank-notes. But when he discovered the enormous sum to which they amounted, his astonishment grew to such an extreme as oven to subduo his joy; and, shaking his head slowly, he observed, “ This is such a heavy affair that the police will leave no stone unturned to dotect the holdors of the notes. Whatever we do, must be dono at once; and in order that I | should be able to fudge what course to pursue, you must give me all the particulars of the transaction,” Mrs, Mortimer was struck by the truth of this observation : for she knew that the moment the for- gery was detected, payment of the uotes would bo stopped, and advertisoments announcing the usual caution would be inserted in the newspapers. “Well, I supposo there is no use in disguising the real truth,” sho exclaimed, recovering her self- possession; ‘and I will tell you all about itina few words. <A certain nobleman——” “Who is het” demanded Rily. “ Como—speak out plainly.” “The Marquis of Delmour, since you must know,” returned the old woman. =o * FJash, or fictitious, notes. t Pass off, or change. it quiet enough, I found out the secret. mcr. THE BLIYSTERTUS OF LONDON. “And what did he do,” asked the man, impas tienfly. “He pave me a cheque for six hnndred pounds for a particular service that I rendcrod him; and he also gave my daughter——”’ “Ah! you have got a daughter, ch?” exclaimed Jack Rily. “Is she anything like yourself?” ‘She is as beautiful as an angel,” answered Mrs, Mortimer, a scintillation of 2 mother’s pride flash- ing at the moment in ber bosom: “butas depraved and dissolute as a demoness,” sho added almost immediately. “ Well, this Marquis of Delmour was wheedled by her out of a cheque for sixty thousand pounds; and though my daughter, kept So away I sped—back to England I camco——” * Where did all this happen, then?’ demandea Jack. ‘In Paris—three ‘days ago,” replied Mrs. Mortis “On my arrival in London, my course was “You may almost say natural,” interrupted the Doctor. “I understand the business plainly enough at present. You altered your six hundred pound draft into one for sixty thousand—and you have thus forestalled your daughter 2?” “That is precisely how the matter stands,” said the old woman. * And when is it likely that your daughter will bo in London to present her cheque?” asked the Doctor. “*Y should say that I had about twelve hours’ start of her,’ was the responso; “and thon, as she would not travel by night—having a handsome young foreigner as her companion—the circum- stance of her stopping to sleep on the road would delay her pretty nearly another twelve hours. Bosides, she believes me to be still in Paris—she has not tho least idea of my sudden return to England; and therefore she has no particular motive to induce her to adopt any extraordinary speed,” “Well, well,” oni the Doctor, impatiently : “but all this palaver does not answer my question. When do you expect your daughter will reach London 2” “This ovening,” replied the old woman: ‘“ too late to present her cheque at the bank. And there are meoans—yes, there are means,” she con- tinued in a musing tone, “which, if skilfully adopted, would compel my daughter to refrain from offering her draft ot all, and likewise force her to leave us in undisturbed possession of the money,” “And those means?” demanded Jack Rily, his eves brightening. * Before I explain myself, Iet us como to a tho- rough understanding,” said Mrs. Mortimer. “ Will you restore mo one-half of the amount you now hold in your possession Iam content to abandon the other half to you.” tf “Yes, that is a bargain,” answered Jack Rily; for I seo that you do not relish the idea of living With me altogether, and that you will leave me when this matter is properly settled, Is it not so?” Well, such is indeed my intention,” respondcd the old woman. “Our relative position now stands in this man- ner,” continued Jack Rily: “there are sixty thou- sand pounds’ worth of good notes. With all my connexion amongst fences and recoivers of such flimsy, I could not manage to obtain gold for more (CO) GIOOKS (CO)