The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 277: what you’re looking at

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

ee a ee — i i ek 966 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. all about Ralph Farefield’s business—and that is one ' gold:”—and Lady Saxondale spoke with feverish reason why you won't attempt todo mea mischief. rapidity. “Well, I will give you some. Tell me Another reason 2-——"”’ what you require——Be moderete however: for I Lady Saxondale started convulsively: it was a | departed somewhat hurriedly from London, and movement the abruptness of which, and acsompe- | have brought but slender resources with me.” nied as it was by another anguished look, seemed; ‘“ Wait a moment,” said Chiffin. .“ After what to say, “ What more, in heaven's name, can he | I know of your ladyship, I needn’t be over nice or know P” | sop stop to mince matters about myself. It’s all very ‘ Another reason is,” continued the Cannibal, well to tell me to be off from this place ; but how do observing the offect of his words, but takinga savage I knuw that I shan’t be running into the lion's delight in showing the great titled lady how com- | mouth P” pletely she was in his power—or ot least how much “What do you mean P” demanded the mistress of he considered her to be,—“ another reason why your the castle hastily. ladyship wouldn’t find it convenient to quarrel with en ‘Pek ag London might be rather too hot me, and why you needn't talk again of calling up to hold me, I trudged off—got a lift down by the the servants, because you won't do anything of the ‘coach—apd determined to take up my quarters sort——” here for a short time. T Knowet that half the place ‘“ But that reason?” oi Lady Saxondate, |e a, up ; and wanting a little country a, I agein speaking vehemently and impetaously: for | thought I cauldn’t do better than fix my quarters the anguish she endured was crucifixién itself. here. It didn’t strike me that those flunkeys and “Why, because as I heard a few days back in , ringletted damsels of your’s would come to dust London, there was that housskesper of your’s— | and sir all the rooms; and so I was nearly being There ! seo how you start agsin-——-why, you're as surprised. And I didn’t think either, that I should as death———” have the honour and pleasure of seeing your lady- “ Monster |” muttered Lady Saxondale between ship so soon. Howsumever, in one word, whether her set teeth: Dat her Reemo sas quivering all over, I go or stay just depends on what they say and visibly too. in London upon a certain business. By the byc, “What did you aay?” growled Chiffin, with a you don't happes|to have this morning's hewspeper ferocious leer. “Something not over polite, I dare | with you ?”’ say. But no matter. I'm precious tough, andcan| “What do you mean? to what is all this to lead ?” - bear hard names—’specially when I know the lady demanded Lady Saxondale, with lees excitement and which utters thetn is eo nice and comfortable in my | with more courage than before: for she was getfing power.” But as I was saying, there was that house- | accustomed to the horror of the present interview. keeper of your’n, which died so sudden. Wasthere| ‘Why, I mean is my name mentioned in any nothing queer about that? It struck me so at the | queeriah kind of way in connexion with & Bittle lit time: for a lady which has such excellent stupifying | of « job-——” stuff in her possession, perhaps knows what poison “ Ahi” ejaculated her ladyship, recoiling with a is :—or else, may be, that same staff poured down | dread loathing as the recollection of the barbarous the throat, will do the job in s twinkling.” murder on the canal, of which her eon had first “Enough of ali this!” said. Ledy Saxondale in a | spoken to her, but of which she had’ subsequently low hollow voice. “You, must know. that you are read, now flashed to her mind. inventing the most detestable calumnics——” “Stop! don’t go away!” cried the Cannibel, “’m afeard you would have some trouble to that she was about to beat a retreat. “ We prove ‘em so before the beak at the Old Bailey,’’ hav'n’t done our business yet. Will you answer was Chiffin’s cool response. “Why—do you think | me the question I’ve put? for the longer you delay, I’ve got no eyes? It was but a random sort of | the longer you will be kept here.” a shot that I fired when I talked about the house- | ‘“ Was that your dreadful work ?” inquired Lady keeper—just a suspicion that had been hovering in | Saxondale, gasping with horror as she looked upon my mind: but the shot took effect nevertheless—it | the perpetrator of the hideous crime to which she hit hame, and you felt it.” was alluding: for whatever her own guilt might “ Bmough, I say!” ejaculated Lady Saxondale, | really have been, she was accustomed to contem- now stamping her foot with passionate excitement. | plate herself, and therefore reeviled not from such “What are you doing here? why have you concealed | self-eontemplation: bat fiom another who was yourself in this place P There is already a suspicion deeply immersed in the blackest iniquities, she did of something rife amongst the servante—~” “Ah! then I suppose I was twigged yruterday by oe Wins-die canal scene? Yes: if you must that hulking footsan,” observed Chiffin, with a/| have it in-plain terms, it was my busines. And coarse laugh. “I rather suspected that he thought | let me thank your ladyship for the use of the stupily- he saw something : but I alipped down the steps ing stuff, which did me good service on the coca thete, and hid. myself. I dare say you think to/ sion. They meant to do for me; but I: done for yourself what « pity it was he didn’t draw the them instead. But now, one word. Is there a bolt and lock me in: but I dun’t throw away | hue and cry? is it knowed ? ain I suspected P” chances like that :”—and ashe thua spoke, the Oan-| “No-F declare aolomnly so, if I may j from nibal produced from his pocket his housebreaking | what I have heard and what I have read,” aa- implements,—adding, “ There's never a door in all swered Lady Saxondale. “Your name hes never Englend that I wouldn’t open somehow or an-, been mentioned in connexion with the deed. But other.” now, will you depart? Say but the word, and 1 “No matter! Tell me whet you are doing bere. | will give you means if you lack them.” Yeu must depart. I know you will ask me for| “Well, since your ladyship tells me that I an = pion © pam . @n--2 eorniclacolks : CO