The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 319: what you’re looking at

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

‘08 “and when he had assured me that there would be no mistake on that head,” she continued, “I asked him whether he chose to lie down to rest or to partake of any refreshment.” : “And that was all that took place?” said the pattoner, still keeping his eyes steadily fixed upon er. “That was all,” she answered, the colour neither coming nor going now upon her cheeks, nor her lip betraying even the slightest uneasiness. “But ‘ whatever mischief may follow from this escape,” _ sho observed in a tone of vexation mingled with reproach, “you and the others have only got yourselves to thank for it. You should have made the door fast, and not left the bird an opportanity to fly out of his cage.” * By jingo! what you say is true enough, Nell,” oxclaimed the Buttoner, feeling how jastly merited was the remonstrance: then advancing to the door, which still stood wide open, he listened with sus- pended breath, while with straining eyes he en- deavoured to penetrate the pitchy blackness of the night. “Well, can you hear anything?” asked the young woman, as he tarned back again from the door, leaving it however wide open. “Nothing — not even the rustling of the branches,” he replied, with a terrible imprecation. *Do you know, Nell, this is a very serious busi- ness and may end cursed badly? Like infernal fools that we were, we once or twice let slip each other's names; and so, what with kaowing these, and being able to describe our precious faces, this swell cove, if he makes good his escape, will be able to give such information against us as shall make London too hot to hold us. Then, my eyes! won't Larry indeed have something to be down upon us for |” “How provoking,” ejaculated Nell Gibson; “and just at the time, too, that I was getting Larry Sampson into such a nice state of cre- duality, that a few days more would entice him into the trap as safe and sure as possible |” “Yes—it is deucedly provoking,” growled the Battoner: and once more he went ‘to the threshold and listened attentively. “ There's not @ sound, not even the waving of the trees:” and again turning away from the door, he tossed off a bamper of brandy. : “ What must we do?” inquired Nell, appearing to be very uneasy, although in her heart she knew full well that the Baronet would not be guilty of such biack ingratitude as to give any information to the authorities calculated to compromise her- self. “What must we do?” echoed her paramour: “why, if our pals come back without the swell cove, we must get away from here as quick as ever we can. Who knows but what he may cut across to Greenwich and come back at once with a whole posse of constables? Or perhaps he may meet some travelle@ on the road——.” “ Aye, truly!” cried Nell, affecting to be very seriously alarmed. “Let us go away at once. There's no use in staying here to be taken. Ben- onl! and the others will know very well how to shift for themselves, Soppose we ge down to the Jolly Wagqener, where Daniel Coffia aad his party are.” “Well, go up-stairs and put on your toggery,” interrupted the Buttoner, really beginning t» think that it was high time to make themselves scarce. Nell Gibson accordingly tripped up te the room above: but scarcely had she adjusted her bonnet and thrown her flauating scarf over her previously much exposed shoulders and bosom, when she heard the sounds of voices below—and recognising Ben- cull’s hoarse tones, she hastened down-stairs again, sick at heart with the apprehension that Sir Douglas had been re-taken. Bencull, Bob the Durrynacker, and the Mush- room Faker had indeed returned, as Nell had just expected: but instead of being accompanied by the Baronet, the first-mentioned of the three ruffians bore in his arms the inanimate form of as beautifal girl, while one of the others carried in his hand a bundle tied up in a shawl. “What in the devil’s name does this mean?” demanded the Buttoner, surveying his comrades with surprise and the senseless damsel with a look of admiration. ' “ Here's a present for Nell,” said Bencull, with a salacious leer as he looked down upon the still and placid countenaece of his fair burthen. “ Nell will break her in, in the usual style-——” * Aye, that will I!" exclaimed the young wo- mao, who was not only immensely relieved at finding her fears unfounded with regard to the re- capture of the Baronet, but who was algo much struck with the sweet, touching, and interesting beauty ‘of the fair stranger, whose charms she already resolved upon turning into gold. “ Mrs. Gale will give twenty guineas for this young crea- tare: and I daresay the Marqais of Leveson, who is Mrs, Gale’s best patron, will give her at least five times as mach, But come—briog her up ataira and lay her down on the bed: for this awoon is so deep that it may be dangerous.” Bencull accordingly bore the beauteous girl ia his arms to the chamber above; while Nell Gibson followed with the bundle which she took from the Mushroom Faker who was carrying it. The fair stranger was deposited softly and gently upon the heap of flook ; and Nell Gibson, stooping down, unfastened her bonnet, which was much crashed, so as to give her air. A luxuriant profusion of soft and fine flaxen tresses now flowed over the wretched ooverlid, whereon reclined the damsel’s beauteous head: and though all tint of vital colouriog had fied from her countenance, leaving it marble pale, and her eyes were closed as if in death, so still were the long brown lashes that rested on her cheeks,—yet was there an alr of such Madonna-like sweetness and angelic beauty about this lovely girl, that only a heart so in- tensely selfish as that of Nell Gibson, or so brutally ferocious as that of Benoall, could have remained inaccessible to the soft stealing influence and silent magic of such charms. The damsel was tall, slender, and of syliphid symmetry. Her apparel, though exceedingly plain, was very neat: and as she Jay stretched upon that sordid couch, her drapery, humble as it was, seemed to have settled itself in purely classie folds, developing the flowing outlines of the form which it concealed, and displaying the exquisite shape of the beautifully medelled limbs. It was not however in sach an cesthetio light that Nell Gibson contemplated the sweetly re. ee ne ee GOnMGoOO GO ( ,