The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 323: what you’re looking at

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

Naan ee EC TCT CA pp eeeneennegety 310 “aye—and very probable too. You see, sir, I am a farmer, living in these parts; and I have heard too much already of the dreadful character of the villains that infest Shooter’s Hill.” “Villains indeed, Lord have mercy upon us!” said the landlord, looking as grave and solemn as his semi-intoxicated condition would permit. “Poor thing, poor thing!” observed Sally Mel- moth, clasping her hands in apparent dismay at the picture which her imagination was conjuring up: then fixing her eyes with fearful meaning upon the Baronet, she said, “Ah! sir, it would be a dreadful thing indeed if the poor young woman who has just saved your life, should lose her own - on that very account!” “ By heavens, you have filled me with excru- ciating terrors!” exclaimed Sir Douglas, starting from his seat. “I did not think the young woman would run such a dreadful risk—or else not for worlds would I have abandoned her in a cowardly manner. But I see that you are right—they are indeed murderous miscreante—and if they should suspect the poor creature ———" “T can’t eit here quiet,” interrapted the Hang- man, also springing from his seat, “ while perhaps murder is being done. No—I can’t do it,” he cried, with an air and tane of blunt honesty. “T’ll go, even if I go alone—and prevent bloodshed there.” * No, brave man—you shall not go alone,” ex- claimed the Baronet, seizing Daniel Coffin’s hand and pressing it with an effusion of the warmest admiration and gratitude. “ We will go together —we will save that young woman if she be in danger: and at any rate wo will take her away from her vile companions. See—I am armed with a knife,” he added, unbuttoning his coat, and dis- playing the weapon which he had brought away with him from the hut. “ And I’ve fortunately got my barkers with me,” said the Hangman, producing a pair of pistols. “But come—let us be off. Jack,” he added, turning to the Foundling, “ of course you will come with us. The more we are, the stronger we shall be eee “Qh! you shall not leave me behind,” exclaimed Sally Melmoth. “I shall go with you. I long to be able to say a kind word to a woman who, though the companion of murderers, has dared to save a fellow creature's life at the hazard of her own.” “Well, you are a brave woman, wife,” said the Hangman, pretending to tap her affectionately on the countenance; “and so you shall come. Now then, tet us all be off.” The whole of this.colloquy-indeed the entire scene, from the instant Sir Douglas Huntiagdon croseed the threshold of the Jo#y Waggoner until he issued forth sgain— scarcely occupied ten minutes. The theme of the discourse was fall of excitement for the Baronet; and he found himself hurried, away by a torrent of terrible misgivings relative to Nell Gibson on the one hand, and a chivalrous anxiety to redeem his character from any imputation of cowardice on the other. His feelings, therefore, being kept in a whirl the whole time, he neither had calmness enough to perceive that there was anything sinister in the looks of his new scquaintances, nor leisure to reflect upon the honesty of their motives, But yielding to the im- pulse whch they had so artfully given to his feel- ings, he unhesitatingly sallied forth in company THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. with the Hangman, Sally Melmoth, and Jack the Foundling. They all proceeded across the fields, the Hang- man acting as the guide; and it was quite evident that, despite the Egyptian darkness which pre- vailed, he was well acquainted with the path. But then Sir Douglas Huntingdon remembered that the man had represented himself as a farmer be-' longing to the district; and it was therefore na-, tural enough that he should be thus familiar with every inch of the locality. They advanced at a pace which was so rapid as to sustain the hurry of the Baronet’s thoughts and the excitement of his: feelings : and thus he had neither leisure nor scope | for those reflections which would perbaps have.en- | gendered suspicions in his mind relative to the in-. tegrity of his present companions. ! “ There’s the hut!” said the Hangman, as they presently beheld a sight glimmering a-head. ! “ Had we not better approach with considerable caution ?” inquired the Baronet. “ 'Yes—let us creep as quiet as we can up to the place,” returned Coffin. ; : They accordingly advanced stealthily: aud as they drew nearer, they observed that lights were burning in the room abeve as well as in the apart-: ment below. On reaching the haf, they peeped through one of the windows on the ground floor : the candles were flaring with long wicks on the tables—but a0 one was in the apartment. “T suppose the ruffians are all out looking for. me,” said the Baronet, in a low whisper. | * Most likely,” resoonded the “Lat - us enter the cottage.” , He accordingly opened the door and passed in, ' followed by the Baronet, Sally Melmoth, and Jack the Foundling. But scarcely had the party thus entered the hag, whea the Hangman sprang at Sir Douglas Hant- ingdon like a tiger darting at its prey, and dashed him on the floor with such violence that he was stunned by the ruffianly outrage. The Hangman then tore open the Baronet’s coat; and taking away the knife which Sir Douglas had concealed about his person, the ruffian flung it to a distance. His next proceeding was to draw forth a piece of rope from one of his own capacious pockets, in order to bind the Baronet hand and foot. “Tl go up-stairs and see who’s there,” said Sally Meimoth, while her paramour was thus em- ployed. “Perhaps that traitress Nell Gibson is up above, asa light is burning there,” she added. “You had better take care,” observed the Hangman. “If she suspects that she’s found out, she may do you a misohief: for she’s not a woman to give ia easy, I can tell you.” “ Ah! then I had better prepare for a batile ?* exclaimed Sally: and flinging off her bonnet and oléak, she seized the knife in one hand and a candle in the other, her whole appearance suddenly denoting the natural ferocity of her disposition when her choler was once excited. ‘Now if that she-devil, who I always hated and also suspected, should attempt any of her nonsense, I'll plunge this deep down into her heart :”"—and she bran- dished the knife menacingly, her countenance, which was by no means bad looking, being now distorted with the workings of diabolical pas- sions. “Go with her, Jack,” said Daniel Coffin, who NOOKS COMMIUC CO