The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 372: what you’re looking at

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J ¢ TUE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. se ete Be ee _e __ head were speedily relioved, and jn a few moments tho front door closed behind tho old woman. Tho Count of Oarignano, who had watched her departuro from tho drawing-room} window, now hastened to join his lovely wife. ‘Tho interviow has been a long one—and, I fear, not altogether pleasant, dearest,” he exclaimed, as he clasped Laura in his arms. “My mother wished to exerciso over mo a dospot- ism to which I cannot yicld,” responded the bride- “ But wherefore did you conjecture that our mect- ing was disagreeable ?”’ “ Because your countenance is very pale, my love,” answered tlic Connt, in a voice full of tenderness. “Ah! now it is growing animated—and the colour of the roso is returning to your lovely checks.” * -Yos,” murmared the fascinating woman, as sho wound her snowy arms about her husband’s neck, “it is because your presence has restored me to happiness, and banished from my mind: the uuplea- sant impressions excited by my mother’s behaviour. But we shall seo her no more—and naught can now intorfero with our perfect felicity.” “This assuranco dolights me,” answered the Count, gazing with a joyous admiration upon the splendid creature who had that morning become his bride. CHAPTER CXCV. HORRORS, it will bo recollected that Mrs. Mortimer was far from being unprovided with money—her share of the spoil obtained from Torrens still being in her possession, with the trifling deduction of the few pounds sho had expended in travelling, clothes, and maintenance, during tho interval that had clapsed since the occurrences in Stamford Street. The bulk of the amount thus remaining to her had been carefully sewn in her steys, 50 that it had altogether escaped the notice of Jack Rily: and thus the old woman was not destitute of resources, But the sum in her possession was 2 mere trifle when compared with that which she had hoped to acquire from tho forgery; and she now resolved to Jeavo no stonu unturned——no measure unattempted, jlowever despcrato, in order to accomplish her aim. Besides, she longed—she craved to wreak a terrific vengeance upon her daughter,—yes—upon her own daughter: for the remorse and the softer feclings which had ere now found an avenue into her breast, when Laura renounced her, were only cranescent and short-lived. Wo have moreover scen that this teraporary weakness was speedily succeeded by the desperation produced by a terriblo resolve to which lier mind came as it were all in a moment ! Impelled by, this sinister influence, Mrs. Morti- mer lost no time in repairing to Roupel Street, where sho found Jack Rily lolling in a chair, smoking his pipo and enjoying a quart of half- and-half. “Well, my old tiger-cat, what news?” he ex- claimed, the moment Mrs. Mortimer made her appearance. ‘ Have you succeeded with your beautiful daughter ?” “Very far from it,” was tho answer. “And wow,” she added, cre the Doctor had time to give vent to the oath which rose to his lips through tho ‘wxation of disappointmont,—“ and now the matter 36? has come to that extreme point whon nothing buta desperate step can provent the presontation of the gonuine cheque to-morrow.” “Aro you sure it will not be precented to-day ?” demanded Jack Rily. **Yos3; my saughtor said that she should present it to-morrow,” responded Mrs. Mortimor; “and I have every reason to belicve that she will not go near the bank to-day. In fact, sho was married this morning to a young Italian nobleman, whom she loves deeply, and whom she will not therefore quit, oven for an hour, on her -wedding-day.” “Well, and what do you propose?” asked Jack Rily, fixing upon her a significant look, whfch shewed that he already more than half divined what was passing in her bosom. “ Aro you man enough to risk all— overy thing— for the sake of that thirty thousand pounds which will become your share if wo succeed ?” demanded the old woman, returning tho look with one of equally ominous meaning. “T am man enough to do any thing for such a sum !” ho answered, cinking his voico to 2 low whis- per, and laying down his pipo—a proof that ho con- sidered the topic of discourse to be growing too scrious to permit any abstraction of the thoughts. “Then you understand me?” said Mrs. Mortimor, leaning forward,and surveying him witha ponctra- tion which appeared to read the secrets of his in- most soul, “ Yos—I understand you, my tiger-cat,” replied the man; and ho drow his hand significantly across his throat. “Well, and will you do it?” she asked. * But it is your own daughter,” hoe observed, shuddcring at tle atrocity of tho woman’s mind Which could calmly contemplate such a fearful decd. “She bas renounced me,” was the laconic answer, “Nevertheless, you are still her mother,” per- sisted Jack Rily. “I discard her—for ever!” responded tho horrible old woman. “ Well—you astounded mo at first,” said the Doc- tor, in a slow tone, as ho reflected profoundly upon tho extremo step suggested: ‘but I can look at the business with a more steady cye now. I always thonght that Twas bad enough: but, by God! you beat anything I ever knew in tho shapo of wicked- ness,” “Then you refusc—you decline?” exclaimed Mrs, Mortimer, intcrrogatively, whilo rage convulsed her entire frame—for she dreaded lest the moncy should be lost, and Laura escape her vengeance. “By Satan!” cried the Doctor; “if you have pluck enough to propose, Iam not the man to re- fuso to executo the scheme. But how do I know that when the critical monient comes, remorso won't seize on you, and you'll cry off 2” When I have made up my mind to anything, Iam not to bo deterred by difficulty—danger—or compunction,” answered the old woman. “TI im- plored the ungrateful girl to givo mo a glass of water, when I was choking—and she refused. What mercy can I havo towards her 2?” “None,” responded Jack Rily. “But you must entor into farther explanations, old tiger-cat: be- cause at present I’m pretty well in tho dark rela- tive to the precise nature of your plans, and the way in which they are to be executed. It’s now four o’clock in the afternoon—and we must settle s A A (C(O) (C DOO <S LL (SO)