The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 379: what you’re looking at

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aged e bride, it was found that the dying womau was nous other than Mrs. Mortimer, the mother of tho Conntess, Medical assistance was promptly sent for; but before the nearest surgeon conld arrive, death had terminated the sufferings of the lamented lady. The horrible nature of those sufferings can be rondily understood, when, on surgical examina~- tion, it transpired that an {mmenso quantity of tho strongost vitriol had been thrown ovor her; and thore were proofs that the bottle containing the burning fluid had boon broken ovor her head. Tho affair is involved in some mystery: but it is presumed that, while ropalring to her daughter's abode, she must havo missed her way and got into tho Jano, where some murderous ruffian, undeserving of the name of a man, perpetrated tho frightful outrage. Our readers may romember that this is not the only caso of tho torrible use of vitriol which wo lave recently bean so painfully compslied to re- cord; and, from all we can learn, thero isn monster in lumaan shape, woll known to tho polico, and bearing the significant thongh horrible denominn- tion of Vitriol Robert—or moro familinrly, Vitriol Bob—-who has for somo time past infested the moe tropolis, and who makes uso of tho burning quid as an adjunct to bis predatory attacks on the un- wary in lone or dark neighbourhoods, The above aro all the particulars which we liave beon os yct able to obtain, owing to the advanced period of tho night when the diabolical outrage was perpetrated.” This narrative, detailed with al] the mannerism of an expert penny-a-liner, excited the jealous rago of the Marquis of Delmour simost to madness, The whole thing wes as clear as daylicht! Tho Mrs. Mortimer who had met her deatii in such a dresdful way, was cvidontly the old womnn whom he had seen on several occasions; and she was, after all, tho mother of Laura! Tho perfidions Laura herself had become tho wifo of another ;— and the Marquis was compelled to open his eyes to tho fact that he kad been most egrogiously duped by an adventuress. Hastily summoning his carringo, tho Marquis pro- cooded direct to his bankers’; where he found that the sixty thousand pounds had indecd.beer paid: but, on farther inquiry, he ascertained that on old woman had presented the cheque. ‘Tho description of the recipient was then given by the clerk who, cashed the draft; and the Marquis became con- vinced that sho was nonoother than Mrs. Mortimer, The bankers perceiving that ho was anxious to Jearn who had actually obtained the money, pro« duced tho chequo itsolf, the fomnle’s name being written on the back in token of acquittal; and thore wore the words—-MARTHA MoRrTIMER, -in & mechanical way, and while deliberating what step next to tako, the enraged nobleman cast his oyes over the draft; when he started convulsivoly for he instantly detected the forgery, or rether alteration, that had been effected: and then, in ais fnrions excitemont, the principal facts of the story came out—showing how ho had been induced to give the cheque. , All was now amazement and alarm in tho bank- parlour; and ono of the partners in the firm sug- gosted the propricty of repairing immediately to the dwolling of the Qount of Osrignano, forgtha pur- pose of communicating with the Countess relative to the transaction. But the Marquis, who by this time had grown somowhat more cool, began to reflect that any publicity which was given to the SHE MYSTERGS OF LONDON. matter would only cover him with ridicule; and as the monoy was not of such consequonce to hii as the avoidance of the shame nttendant on the busi- ness, he wisely resolved to hush up the whole effatr, The bankers were by no means averse to this amicable mode of adjustment, inasmuch ns it re« licved them from all doubt or uncertainty,and all possibility of dispute relative to the party on whom the loss consequent on the forgery was to fall; and thoy therefore readily consented to retain the trans- action profoundly secret. At the same time, they understood fully that they wore not to pay the genuine cheque for sixty thousand ponnds, in esse of its presontation; the Marquis resolving to tke time to consider what course he should pursue with regard to that portion of the business. Tho old nobleman drove home again; and, on bis arrival at his stately mansion, ho shut himsolf up in his own chambor to reflect upon the startling revelations of that day, Not for an instant did he entertain the iden of secking an interview with Laura. Such a step was useless: for she had no dopbt married, ho reasoned, according to hor taste, Morooyrer, his pride rovoltead at the bare idea of undergoing the humiliation and shamo of boing laughed at by one who would pro~ bably care nothing for any repronches that might be levelled againet her. But how was he to recover the cheque? It was valid in her bands; for oven if she had connived at hor mother’s forgery, the collusion could not be brought home to her. Still, tho Marquis did not at all admiro the idos of paying another sixty thon- sand—espccially for one who bad so grossiy deluded him. By degrees the old nobieman’s thoughts becamo so bewildering that ho felt as if he were going mad, Iie had lost his daughter-—lie had lost his mistress —ho bad been duped ont of his ‘moncy—and, vilo though Laura oridently was, ho nevertheless stil} adored her image with a devouring passion. He walked up and down his room in a state of oxcitement that was ee cruelly, and that produced a hurry in tho brain—a confusion in tho ideas—n delirium in the imagination, The fevor of his reflections angmented to such o height that he bogon to conjuro up 2 variety of ovils and saunoyances which did not really cxist. Ho pictured to himself bis bankers laughing heartily at his folly—rotailing the scandal ss an excellent joke —and propagating the most offensive rumours all ovor tho town, He fancied that ho beheld his friends and acquaintances cndeavouring to conceal their satirical smiles as thoy accosted him—he be- held the entire House of Lords forgetting their dignity and whispering together in o significant manner as he entered the assembly, ‘Then his thoughts suddenly travelled to Agnes; and all his ancient doubts and fears rolative to his paternity in respect to her, returned with overpowering ‘io- Ienca; until he felt convinced that sho was indeed the offspring of an adulterous tonnexion between his wifo and Sir Gilbert Heathcote, Lastly, by a rapid transition, his imagination wandered to the abode of the Count and QOountess of Oarignano; and he pictured the lovely-—seducing—voluptuous aura in the arms of a rival}! . All these reflections maddened tho old man— deprived him of his reason—rendered him desperate —nnd mado life appear to him a burthen of angalsh and an intolerable misfortune, Ot GIOOKS (CO) (CO)