The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 241: what you’re looking at

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230 enough to convince him that she was a crone bowed with age. He watched her movements, not choosing as yet to give any sign of life which might attract her attention, for fear lest she should be connected with the ruffians who had perpetrated the outrage, and that they might still be within the summoning range of her voice. Of the extent of this ou he was as yeti though he dreaded worst, because he beheld not his valet nor the pos- tilions, and because he recollected the violence of the blows and the report of the fire-arms whieh he had heard. Raising himself very, very gently upon his elbow, he endeavoured to penetrate more scrutinisingly through the gloom which prevailed around save and except where the lantern glim- mered like a will-o’-the-wisp. The crone was stoop- ing down: something dark underneath the lantern—Octavian shuddered with the horrible sus- picion which swept through his brain — but the next instant he shuddered more deeply and coldly still, as the rays of that lantern fell upon the white face of a human being——-and he recognised his own valet ! In a moment he was upon his feet: he towards the old woman, who shrieked out in affright ; and clutching her violently by the arm, ho ex- claimed in tiie French “'Wretch! are you plundering the dead whom your sccomplices have | Octa rh igal bid “No, air—no! heaven forbid!” responded the crone, with so sudden a regaining of her self- nocent of the charge he had levelled against her. “I am here to render assi if possible—but it is too late for the others—you only appear to be “Too Inte!” exolaimed Meredith, horrified at the idea which these words conveyed. “God for- bid! ‘Let us sce.” dently by a bludgeon; and farther on still was the other postilion, lying lifeless over the trunk of a tree which had been cut down in such a manner upon the unfortunate postilio had despatched him on the apot; for his likewise battered in. ; Such was the harrowing spectacié which 5 EF THE MYSTERIES OF THE OOURT. ghastliness and fearfulness of ite details was shadowed forth to the young nobleman by the light of the lantern. The horses, as we have al- ready said, were gone; Bethinking himself of something before smitten him, he felt about his person : his watch and his purse were gone—a pocket-book containing bank-notes had likewise been taken from him—the very rings from his fingers had been stripped off—he was completely i even to a gold pencil-case which he was wont to carry in his waistecat-pocket. He now examined the person of his valet: but as he had only too well anticipated, i¢ was similarly rified. The entire investigation of the scene and of all these parti- culars, had occupied but a few minutes :—stupen- duously shocking as the details were, there was, alas! no difficulty in ing them with a too frightful accuracy at a few rapid glances; and all the while Octavian so managed as not to lose aight of the crone. For if she had attempted to escape * How came you here?” he asked, narrowly watching her countenance as he held the lantern up for the purpose. “TI live in a cottage bard by,” she responded ; “and hearing a noise in the roed, I got up, dressed myself, and came out. I thought at first it was @ carriage which had upset: but on reach- ing the spot I found how dreadful was the work indeed her appearance was indicative of the ut- most poverty. Her tale ssemed probable enough ; anc Meredith was inclined to believe ii. “This is a dreadful crime which has been per- petrated,” he said; “and I am bewildered how to act. Are here no habitations nearer than the villages at the entrance and at the extremity of the forest P” “Only a few such poor cottages as the hut that I live in,” was the woman’s answer. “ Bat per- hape some of the mounted police may come this Way presen ” “ Does the forest bear a bad repute ?”’ inquired Meredith. “People have been sometnnes robbed here,” answered the woman; “ but they have generally been solitary tra either on horse or foot; and I never before knew of such a deaperate per- as this. I have lived for years and years of this forest—with my poor deceased for a long time—ané since his death by : but I never till now know of blood being I suppose it issome gang that has gathered in the forest: but the police will soon hunt them wa after such a crime as this.” Meredith suffered the old woman to go on talk- in the fife COMME HOG cS) (CO