The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

On issuing forth from Acacia Cottage, the Earl of Curzon looked up and down the road in search of a hackney coach to take him home or whither- soever he meant to proceed,—when he was sud- denly accosted by Captain Tash. “How are you, my lord?” exclaimed the indé- dividual, orming a miktary salute with his stick. “Your lordship looks —" “Not at all,” said the Earl, abraptly. “Good afternoon, in—I am in a harry:"—and the | Captain— nobleman hastened on in the direetion towards the ae Gee BAGSar Gaeta. @ Pwewth ©) Sew « wna West End. “Beg pardon, my lord,” obeerved Captain Tash, instantaneously overtaking the Eari, whom he grasped by the arm: “ bat your lordship—-—” “Well, what is it?” demanded the nobleman, impatiently. “Itold you that I was in a hurry——" “And J shan’t detain you a moment,” said the in: then lowering his voice to a whisper and assuming a most mysterious look, he observed, “There's a poor apple-woman round the corner yonder, who's stall has been thrown down by some mischievous young rascal—by gad! it's true, my ford!—and the poor old wreéch is whimpering enough to break her own heart and make mine bleed with compassion. But as the devil would have it, I came out this morning in such a harry —<to breakfast with a certain noble friend, in faet— that I left my purse at home-——” “And so you want some sitver—eh? cried the Earl, with angry impatience—for he was ia no hu- mour to endure one of the Captain’s stories on the present occasion. “Just eighteen-pence-—neither less mor more f” said Tash. “That sam will enable me to make the Italian image-boy quite happy.” “J thought it was a frait-woman ” observed the nobleman, now scarcely able to repress a emile at the contradiction into which the gallant Captain had inadvertently fallen. “To be sure!” exclaimed the latter, altogether enabashed: “it is a fruit-woman—a poor creature with a wooden leg——” “By the way,” interrupted the Earl, as a sudden thought struck him, “I think you can dome a service, Captain; and instead of eighteen-pence, I may perchance be enabied to put as many pounds dato your pocket.” “Make use of me as you will, my lord,” exclaimed Tash, his rabicund countenance brightening up to gach a degree that it seemed as if it were on the point of blazing with spontaneous combustion. “Step aside with me,” said the Karl, drawing the Captain beyond the view of Venetia's windows: then stopping short, he astred, “Did you observe the house which I have just left?” “To be sure— Acacia Cottage,” replied Tash. “But do you know who lives there ”” demanded the Eari. “I can’t say that I am acquainted with her name, my lord,” was the response: “but as I was drinking all yesterday at the tavern opposite, I saw a beautiful lady once or twice at the windows; and I was told she was the mistress of the Cottage. Bat I did not think of inquiring her name——” “It is Venetia Trelawney” said the Earl. “And mow, the service which I need at your hands may be explained in a few minutes. But where is Robin 2” “There!” answered the Captain, pointing with his etick towards a shop that was closed, eff@ im the THR MYSTERIES OF THE COURS. en EEE Ol =P, door-way of which his man was half-cor ealed, just as a person stands up to avoid a shower rain—although on the present cocasiou the weather was gloricusly fine. “TI think Rebin is the very person to assist in carrying cut my views,” continued the Earl of Curson. “And those views! said Captain Tash, in- quiringly. “ Are to wateh all the acts, movemen and pro- ceedings of Misa Trelawney,” returned the noble- man. “It shall be done,” exclaimed Tash. “If she enly kills a fly upen her windew-ledge, the deed shall be duly reported to your lordship.” “Well, you may be as mmate es you rill in aspy- ing ail her actions and making motes of them,” pre- ceeded the Earl. “ Watch every ene w o visits her house, and write down e deseription of tham if yea cannot glean who they are: ebserve wh n they call —how long they remeia—and let Robin follow them te discover where they live. Then, let Venetia her- self be followed every time she goes cut- -—" “ Robin is the fellow for this part of the business,” interrupted Captain Tash, as he glanced compla- cently across the read towards the spot where his faithful dependant was still squeesing himself into the angle of the deor-way. ‘Your lordship may depend upon it thet Miss Trelawney shall never badge an inch witheut havieg Robin giid‘ng after her. By day and night—in her carriage ore foet-— fine weather or foulno matter what the ream- stanees are, the lady shall be watehed aathoro ghiy, as completely, and as unerringly as if she was uder the supervision of the Bew Street ranness.” “J perceive that you understand me,” said the Earl, a smile of satisfaction appearing upon relative to Mise Trelawney will preve of importance and value tome. There is a lady living with her, named Mra Arbuthnot: and ehe also must be watched. If you and Robia cannot manage all this between you,” comtinued the Earl, “do not hesitate to enlist the services of some discreet and trusty individual——” “Depend upon it, my lord,” exelaimed Tash, “that I aad Robia will prove adequate to the task. Why, Robin is ubiquitous :—he is here—there—and everwhere, all in the same mement. Nothing can eseape hie watchfal eye: if any living being cam see through a brick wall, he's the fellow. Another advantage im, that the landlord of the Gram Dragon, opposite Acacia Cottage, is a friend of mine—-I mean to-say, a pereon that I know: and he will render me all possible assistance. Concealed up in oxe of bis front rooma, I shall keep em incessant leok cat— while Robin does the same; and ali Miss Trelawney’s proceedings shall be as well known to your lordship, as if you lived in Acacia Cottage and saw with your own eyes everything that was going on.” ‘‘{ shall rely upon you,” said the Karl “And now take these ten guineas on account,” be added, placing the sum nened in the Captaia’s hand. “ Your lordship’s business is now my own, as com- pletely as if my life depended apon the issue,” eb- served Tash. They then seperated—the nobleman proceeding towards the West Kad, and the Captain returning to the public-house, into which he was immediatey followed by hie man Robin. CONNEC MOO SS COMM