The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

- a a rr ae a ee eer i aan —. _w- - bes “H= XYSTERIZS OF THE COURT. was snother masked individual present in the cham- ber, besides the leader who had just re-entered. Mo- ¢ionless and statue-like stood that other, close by the spot where the sable curtain covered the door which had admitted them into the room: there he stood—a mysterious sentinel as he was—with the black mask zpon his countenance and a pistol in each hand ! But how noiscleasly he must have entered !}—un- less indeed, he had all along been in the room—hav- ing perhaps followed the party in at the outset, and having remained concealed behind the drapery waich wae let down over the door, until the departure of the chief with the lantern was the signal for him to glide noiseleasly forth and guard the movements as well as listen to the discourse of the Marquis and the servants. But as they had neither budged an inch nor spoken a word, the precautions taken proved to be unnecessary. Nevertheless, the presence of the gentinel there convinced the nobleman and the do- mestics that the warning which they had received was no idle threat, and that they had acted prudently ia vielding obedience to its terms. The Marquis and the royal servants were both sur- ssised and alarmed when they saw the masked indi- vidual with the lantern return unacoompanied by the Prince Regent: and the old nobleman, plucking up a spirit, said, “ Where is his Royal Highness? Re- member that he is the son of your Sovereign ——" “ For which circumstance I care not a solitary fig,” ebeerved the chief, “ But you may make your mind sasy, my lord : the Prince is in excellent company, and no doubt as happy as possible,” he added, with a slight escent of sarcasm in his tone. ‘ When will he return to us?” inguired the Mar- quis: “and when, also, shall we be emancipated from this incomprehensible thraldom ?” “See what o'clock it is by your watch, my lord,” said the chief, approaching with the lantern. “Ten minutes to two,” observed the Marquis of Leveson, as he drew forth a superb watch ect with brilliants, and the value of which was at least a hun- dred guineas. “J will thank you for that bauble,” eaid the leader, in a cool off-hand fashion. “What!” ejaculated the nobleman, springing from his seat: “are you highwaymen after all? I had entertained a more lofty opinion of you ——” “ Then what did you take us for?” demanded the leader. “ Knights-errant of moderf times ?” “I could not, nor can I, conjecture the object which you had in view in bringing us hither,” said the Mar- quis: “but when I found that you did not rob us upon the spot where you assailed us in the frst instance, I maturally concluded that you had some aim beyond elunder |” “And so we have,” replied the chief. “But we mix up two or three agreeable things together and thus blend our avocations: don’t we, Daniel ?” “To be sare we do,” was the laconic answer given by the sentinel stationed near the door. “ And therefore, my lord.” continued the chief, “I will trouble you for that watch—and those diamond rings on your fingere—and likewise your purse, while you are aboat it.” , The Marquis of Leveson yielded with a good grace te these demands; for, considering his enormous wealth, the loss of the jewels and the money was not * matter calculated to break his heart—and, besides, he saw aew completely be was in the power of the depredator. “Oh! fie, my lord!* exolaimed this individual, ae he turned out the contents of the purse in the palm of his hand. “A nobleman of your rank and pro- perty to have only a poor, paltry fifty-three guineas about your person. Really it is incredible. But per- haps you have a pocket-book ?” “ Here it is,” said the Marquis, producing it with evident reluctance. “There may be a Bank-note or two—to which you are most weloome: but if there should happen to be any private papers———” “ Which there are, no doubt,” obeerved the masked leader: then, as he took the pocket-book, he said, “How much will your lordship give to have this returned to you just as it is, and unopened ?”" “Give it me back at onoe,” cried the Marquis eagerly clutching at the offer of a compromise, “and I will pay a thonsand guineas to-morrow to whomso- ever you may appoint to receive the same.” “Ah! then the pocket-book is worth at least a thousand guineas, according to your own admission.” said the desperado, with a quiet chuckle at the tact whereby he had succeeded in eliciting the offer. “Well, my lord, you will just donble that sum——” “ Double it!” exclaimed the Marquis. “ What? two thousand guineas for the pocket-book? Well— give it me at once—and—and—TI ll agree.” “ Two thousand guineas is the ransom-money, then ? But your lordship must not think that I can part with the security before I finger the cash.” “I pledge you my word as a nobleman and a gentleman that the amount shall be forthcoming——”* “And a Bow Street constable likewise, for the per- son who calls to receive it—eh ”” observed the masked leader. “ No, no, my lord—TI don't do things after this fashion. Daniel,” he said, turning towards the sentinel, “ procure a sheet of paper and some sealing- wax.” The man disappeared behind the drapery—and during his absence a solemn silence prevailed in the room. The Marquis paced backward and forward in deep and uneasy meditation—for he was cruelly an- noyed at the idea of his pocket-book falling into strange and unscrupulous hands :—the two servants exchanged significant looks, as if mutually asking where, when, and how the mysterious adventure was to terminate ;—and the unknown leader examined the costly watch and the diamond rings with looks that flashed joyfully through the eyelet-holes of the mask. _ In three minutes his man came back with the ar ticles required; and the leader said, “ Now, my lord, envelop the pocket-book in this paper—and seal it with your own signet.” “But you bave got all my rings,” exclaimed the “True! I will give back the one that has your crest engraved on the stone ; and you can seal the packet therewith. If it be returned to you with that seal unbroken, you will be satisfied 7” * Agsuredly,” eald the Marquis: and the pocket- book was enveloped and sealed scoordingly — thy leader of the band retaining the parcel, and the noble man restoring the signet-ring to his own finger. “ But now, when and by what means will the pocket-book be given back to me ?—and how ai I to pay the ran- som money ?” “Remain at home all day long on Wednesday.” was the reply; “and take care to have the two thou- sand guineas ready at band—indeed, abeat your per gon—and leave the rest to me.” er a a a TS Sa GF GSP a renetsad® * all day long on Wednesday,” ond the Marag | eS GORMGOOOKXS COMM