The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 315: what you’re looking at

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i agreeab tiger roused from ia nap yy eee gerie-keeper. “If you mean * I mean nothing of the kind,” was the curt and decisive interruption. “On the contrary, you are just the very sort of man for whom I have been seek- ing these months past—and I am delighted that acci- dent should have thrown such a desperate fellow as ~ou are in my way.” “in the first place it was necessary, to a female from violence—even though that female be, as I understand from what passed, your own lawful wife: secondly, because it was equally necessary to prevent you from creating a disturbance calculated to alarm the household and expose the fact of my presence in Mrs. Brace’s bed-room ;—and thirdly, because I can put you in the way of earning a sum of money which shall be ample enough to render you independent for the rest of your days in a foreign “This last reason is one which I understand best of all,” eaid the Mageman. “ But are you in earnest ? —~or do you meditate some plant to entrap me?” “ Fool !” ejaculated the nobleman, contemptuously: “do you take me for a Bow Street runner?” — “T don’t know what the devil to take you for,” re- foined the Magsman. “Nor do I intend to enlighten you,” said the nobleman. “But although you could not see me in the bed-room just now, I had a good view of your precious countenance from behind the curtain—and if I were an artist, I could paint it from memory to-morrow, to the very life.” “You're complimentary, at any rate,” observed Warren, laconically. “But about this business you hinted at——” “ We cannot discuss it now: nor must your wife up-stairs—no, nor a living soul, save with my con- sent, become cognizant of what may pass between you and me on another occasion. You know the road in Hyde Park that runs along the border of “Ido. What next?” demanded the “Amuse yourself with a stroll up and down that voad next Sunday evening, frim nine to ten e’olock,” said the nobleman; “mind and be alone. You wil] then know more.” “ I shall not fail you,” answered Warren: * for this “At will prove a lucrative one to you, my good friend,” responded the nobleman. “Bat you must now be off as quickly as possible—and I shall see you as far as the front door.”’ aint; od euntn moved on in obedience to this t; fruitiessly di strain eyee to nettate the darkness and catch a glimpse of the anknown'’s sountenance. The obscurity was im- pervious ; and on groping their way into the shop, —_—_——— ee —(s—s—s—s—sSCSCC patron. “Good night,” said Warren, as he croased the threshold into Pall Mall: “ or rather good morning.’ “ Here—take your pistol,” whispered the aoble- man, placing the weapon in his hand. The Mageman muttered a word of thanks—thrust the pistol into his pocket—and took his departare at a rapid pace. CHAPTER LXXXV1 . THE ORPRAR. Ws have already, in a previous chapter of this narrative, glanced at the mase of vile and crowded streete lying in the immediate vicinity of West- minster Abbey: and it was into this morass of brick and mortar, swarming with human reptiles, that Camilla was led by the woman who had mani- fested so much apparent interest in her behalf. During the walk from the vicinage of St. James's Square, Camilla had ingenuously and frankly oon- fided to the woman enough of her history to show that she was an orphan—that she had a few hun- dred pounds standing in her own name at the Bank of England—and that she had been compelled, even at so late an hour in the night, to flee preci- pitately from an establishment in which she had been engaged but where she had suddenly enooan- tered treatment of the most dishonourable kind. She did not however mention the name of Mra. Brace—nor did she explain the manner in which she had escaped from her house: a lingering sen- timent of delicacy and forbearance rendered her silent on the former point—and she imagined that she should not be believed were she to enter into details respecting the latter. The woman expressed the sympathy oa Camilla’s behalf—declaring that it was fortunate the young lady had fallen in with her, as she take the greatest care of her until she cided what course to adopt—and concluding a strong eulogy on her husband whom she sented to be “the most kind-hearted of men, al- though his occupation of a drover hed somewhat marred his good looks by exposing him to all wee- thers and leaving him little leisure to attend to his personal appearance.” In fact, the woman spoke with an air of so much sincerity that Camilla not only placed implicit cea- fidence in her, but was even angry with herself for having allowed the sinister countenance of her hus- band to produce a disagreeable impreasion on ber mind or excite a momentary suspicion. Novertheless, when the woman led the way into that mase of sombre-looking streets, the sadden plunge at it were from the glorious moonlight into the obsecarity ef narrow lanes and the positive darkness of vile alleys, produced the effect of a sheck upon the young girl; and, catching her companion by the arm, she gtid in a tremulous tone, “ Whither are we going?” ECOMICOOOKS ©) CO