The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 28: what you’re looking at

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_— hese ew we oe ee ewe oe ale -= - «-~@ THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 15 of that money ; and if you reform your mode of life, depend apon it that I will not be unmindful of you, to the extentof such means as, during the minority of my son, circumstances may place within my reach. But as a condition of what I am now doing for you, I insist upon your depar- ture from the castle; and what I may hereafter do is likewise subject to the condition that you never come near these walls again.” Of course Ralph Farefield readily promised everything that Lady Saxondale required: but his submiasivenees, his gratitude, and his contri- tion—all of which he took pains to exhibit—were but a detestable hypocrisy ; for in his own mind he was resolved fo take immediate possession of the whole twenty thousand pounds of which her ladyship had spoken. and in due time adopt fresh measures for removing the infant heir from his th. aah Now, Mr. Farefield,” continued Lady Saxon- dale, “‘ we are about to'proceed togetlier into the vaults beneath this chapel]: for there is the frea- gure concealed in a strong chest. But as I am thus compelled to trust myself in such a place and at such an hour, you will not think it im- prudent on my part to have adopted some little precaution. Take one of those candies, and just look forth from the*door. You need make no observation from your lips.” Ralph Farefield did as he was desired; and taking the candle, he advanced to the chapel- door—opened it—and looked forth into the pas- sage. There he beheld Mabel, her ladyship's confidential tirewoman, standing fn‘the middle of the corrider. “ Leave that door open,” said Lady Saxondale. Ralph obeyed this command Ikewise, and re- traced his steps to the spot where her ladyship was standing. Taking down her own candle from the niche, she said, “Now come with me. But I would rather you should proceed in front.” “Madam,” he answered, “I am sorry that you entertain such a dreadful opinion relative to me———” “J.et ns not make any unnecessary comments,” rejvined Lady Saxondale. “ Proceed.” “ Shall we not light one of these torches?” he asked, glancing towards a couple which rested in iron rings fastened to the wall: “for I presume we sre about to descend into the vaults——” “ No—the candles will do,” interrupted Lady Saxondale. “ Proceed.” Ralph accordingly led the way into the ves- tiary, Lady Saxondale following close behind. By her direction he opened the low door commu- nicating with the flight of stone steps leading into the vaults and they descended together. % ad * . » e s e 2 ® eS On the fourth night after the iucidents just re- lated, and as the clock was proclaiming the hour of twelve, the inmates of the castle were suddenly slarmed by acry that burglars had broken in. This cry emanated from Mabel, who was passing from her mistress's chamber to her own, and who ob- served the figures of three or four men creeping atcalthily along the corridor. In a few minutes the entire household was aroused; and the men-ser- vauts, arming themselves with such offensive and defensive weapons as came readily to hand, com- menced an immediate search over tho premises. In consequence of the vastness of the building and the number of rooms, passages, corridors, and nooks that had to be thus searched, the invecti- gation occupied a good hour; and though there were evident traces of a burglarious entry having been really effected, it seemed equally clear that the thieves had got safe off again—for they could not be discovered. These burglars were none other than Chiffin the Cannibal and three of his infamous associates. Having seen in a London paper the paragraph relative to the old lord’s illness, which had been copied from the Lincolnshire journal, Chiffin had at once called at Ralph Farefield’s lodging; but on arriving there, he learnt that Mr. Farefield had gone down the previous day into Lincola- shire. Chiffin, thinking that his servi ht possibly be required—or perhaps having fie in- tention of being one of the first to pay his re- spects to the new Lord Saxondale—set off with three of his associates into Lincolnshire. Bat on arriving in the neighbourhood of the castle and making secret inquiries, they learnt that Lady Saxondaloe had recovered her lost child—that the old lord was dead—and that Ralph Farefield had . departed suddenly after a stay of only a very few hours. Whatever Chiffin might have thought rela- tive to the restoratfon of the infant heir of Saxon- dale to its mother’s bosom, is of no consequence at present ; suffice it to say that finding, as he himeelf obeerved, it was “all up” with Ralph Farofleld, neither he nor his associates were the men to have come down into Lincolnshire for nothing. They accordingly resolved to pay a visit to the interior of the castle, and self-appropriate what- soever they could lay their hands upon. The burglarious entrance was effected; but as the four villains were creeping along one of the passages, the alarm was suddenly given by Mabel, as above described. To retreat by the same way they had entered was now impossible; and hur- rying along at random, the burglars reached the westerm side of the castle. There they paused— listened—and finding that all was still, took a rapid view, by means of a dark lantern, of the place where they had thus halted. A door was standing open a little farther on: they pursued their investigation, and found that it led into the chapel. From a window in the corridor they saw lights moving quickly about in the other parts of . the bufldings overlooking the quadrangle: it was therefore evident the household was on the alert. Without farther delideration they sought refuge | in the chapel, and found their way to the ves- tiary, which they at first fancied was a means of Opening the door leading down upon the flight of steps, they were about to prdsccute their search for an avenue of escape, when the lantern went out, the candle being allexbausted. They were now involved in the pitchy blackness of that place: but passing in upon the steps, they closed the door, resolving to wait the issue of events. Presently they heard voices ia the cha- pel, which the domestics were searching fs well as every other part of the premises. The ser- vants even penetrated into the vestiary; and the burglars resolved, if discovered, to make the most desperate resistance. But the servants, not fora moment fancying that the barglars were likely to CONNIEC|IOOO So COWM