The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 154: what you’re looking at

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

LS SSA SSS Se aS Ss ss i ssl fe se ep -ween sees where he was for the instant, the Cannibal passed stealthily into the room. OF THE COURT. 14] For an instant Lady Saxondale was paralysed with terror: but her naturally strong mind almost So deep was Lady Sexondale’s abstraction, that , immediately regamed its self-possession—and she ahe perceived him not. Her looks were fixed on the book which lay open before her : but she saw not the pages themselvee—all her faculty of vision was as it were turned iaward with the abeorbing nature of ber meditations. For Lady Saxondale had this night experienced no inclination to retire to rest. The image of William Deveril a to haunt Ber. She loved him—and she hated him at one and the same time. She feared that she had taken a false step and compromised herself seriously, in having made the round of all her soquaintances and friends during the day and promulgated her story relative to that young man. Cunningly de- vised as the tale was, she trembled Jest the refuta- tation which Deveril would give when it reached his ears, might obtain credit; and thus though time, not only in torturing Lady Florina, but like- she was now apprehensive that the blow she had endeavoured to deal might rebound upon herself. In short, her feelings having been unnaturally ex- cited during the day, had since experienced a pro- portionate reaction ; and conscience, which “‘ makes cowards of us all,” was not permitting Lady Saxon- dale to be an exception to that rule. Besides, she was not only fearful that the tangled web she had been thus weaving, would in the long run enmesh herself; but she was tortured with the pangs of jealousy towards Floring. What was she to do in respect to her whom she thus regarded as her rival? Even apart from that hatred which the spirit of jealously had suddenly make her i for Florina, how could she possibly permit the en- gegement to continue between her son and that young lady ?—end yet, on the other hand, upon what pretext could she break off the engagement ? Altogether, Lady Saxondale’s position was one of i bewilderment, torture, and per- plexity; and in addition to the circumstances con- nected with Deveril and Florina which had thus eombined to make her wretched, there were others which struck their viper stings into her heart. This is not however the time nor place to analyse a} any great length the feelings and thoughts of Ledy Saxondale. The little which we have just said upon this subject, was merely for the purpose &f accounting for why she had not as yet sought her couch, and wherefore we find her seated alone in said in a voice that was strangely calm under such circumstances, “Remove that weapon: I will nots create an alarm.” Tony Wilkins now made his appearance; and Lady Satondale, perceiving that there were two ruffians, and thinking it quite probable that there might be even more, felt that anything like resist- ance would be altogether vain, and that if she at- tempted to raise the household her life would be in- evitably forfeited. For it was impossible to glance even for a single instant at Chiffin the Cannibal’s countenance, without reading in its hideous linesa- ments the most blood-thirsty propensities and brutal capacity for mischief. ' “Well,” he said, pointing the mussle of his pistol downwards, but not putting it away from her sight, “you seem an uncommon brave lady; and so I sup- pose you are just as prudentaone. Therefore we shall have no nonsense in dealing with you.” * What do you require P’ asked Lady Saxondale. “ But that question I need scarcely put: your looks bespeak your errand. You see I treat the matter with frankness; and therefore there is no need to keep that weapon in your hand in so threatening a manner.” “ How uncommon nice she speaks, don’t she ?” said Tony Wilkins in an under-tone as he sidled up to his companion. “’Cause she’s a lady of sense and knows what's what,” observed Chiffin aloud. “Now, ma’am, please to tell us which would be most convenient— to let us walk off with the plate and jewellery, or for you to pay us over such a handsome sum that we shall go away happy and contented with our night’s work, and be able to drink your ladyship’s health every day for the next six months ?” “Finding myself completely in your power,” returned Lady Saxondale, at the same instant fling- ing a quick and scarcely perceptible glance towards the mantel-piece, as if looking for some object, “I should prefer giving you a sum of money. But I must tell you beforehand, that I have not much in the shape of gold about my person, and should have to go to my own chamber to fetch the amount that you may require.” “‘ And how much,” demanded Chiffin, “may your ladyship happen to have in your own chamber ?” “Perhaps four or five hundred pounds alto- , gether,” returned Ledy Saxondale, after a few mo- that abstracted mood and at ao late an hour of the | ments’ consideration. night—or rather at so early a period of the morn- ing. In the depth of her di ; it was no wonder that she observed not the pre- sence of Chiffin the Cannibal; and as he, by making meditations | now, how much in the “ That’s little enough,” observed Chiffn. “And, purse ?”’ Lady Saxondale, who still preserved her presence of mind with an astonishing calmness, drew forth a short circuit in the room, was enabled to steal as ' her purse from a reticule which hung at the back of it were close up behind her before she was aware of | the chair; and handing it to Chiffin, said, “Count the intrusion, it was with a sudden start and s hor- | its contents for yourself.” rible access of terror that she felt a hand suddenly | “Eleven sovereigns, two ten-pound notes, one laid upon her eboulder. : five, and some silver,” said the Cannibal, as he Wildly she sprang up; and on beholding herself emptied the contente of the purse into his hand. confronted by that hideous-looking wretch, a | “Well, but all this is a poor lot. The family plate scream was about to burst from her lips: but it must be worth ten times as much. What's to pre- was stifled ero it broke forth, by the suddenness with , vent us cutting your throat, ma’am, and then res- which the Cannibal exclaimed, “ Silence, or you ate sacking the place for yourselves ?”” a dead woman!”—end « pistol, gleaming in his “The plate is in the butler’s own room,” was hand, was presented close to her forehead. Seely 6 eee 2 SRE ~~ CED ¢-aqgye —— EE ieee ele Te —_ ed ear ao =i Gee ww dw ep . are ro we neni epee Lady Saxondale’s calm and collected reeponee. Fd © ee ee (CO iin (G DOO (CO = ‘