The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 242: what you’re looking at

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

THES MYSTERIES OF THEN COURT. 931 ing without interruption, as he wished still to study her Jocks as much as possible in order to ascertain what degree of confidence he might place in her. Bhe continued to address him with the same air of rude, uncouth, but honest bluntness which he had previously remarked ; and thus his impression grew stronger and stronger in her favour. “Do you think,” he asked, “ that I should be Nkely to obtain the loan of a horse at any one of the cottages of which you speak? I would ip that case ride back to the village at the entrance of the forest——” . “A horse? No, sir! exciximed the woman. “ They are only poor people like myself, who have huts in this forest : they pet their little bit of a livelihood as woodmén——” —_ “Then what am I to dof” demanded Mere- dith, with a bewildered air. * : Indeed he was sorely perplexed, end had every reason to find himeelf so. he left that spot to walk to either of the villages, he might fall iri with the brigands, who Would most probably despatch him, as they already believed they had ddne and had intended ‘to do. ‘ If he remained where he was, to await the arrival of the monnted pdli¢e, the murderers might come back. His predicament was bewildering to a degree : he was utterly pen- niless—all his jewellery was gone-—his pocket- book, containing hfs paseport and other papers, had likewise —he had not even the means of proving his identity as an English noble- man and thus obtaining a supply of money at the next village if he were to bend his way thither. to ‘previous inquiries which he had made, he was full fifty miles from the chateau where his wife dwelt; ahd which he had hoped to reach ‘at an early hour on the following morning. Heo was cruelly shocked and distressed at the death of his valet and of the two unfortunate postilions; and he soffered severe pain from’ the blow received on the head. << After all,” he thoupht to himself, “ the best thing I can do is to remain in the forest for the night, if I can obtain an asylam where I shall be in safety ; and then in the morning I might get back to the village where the last relay was ob- tained. The landlord of the inn at which we stopped to take refreshments, would perhaps fur- nish me with funds to carry me forward to my destination : or the Mayor or some other local authority would have this much confidence in me. Even if the worst should happen, I could but re- main at the inn until I had time to communicate with Zoe.” Such were the thoughts thet now passed through the mind of the young nobleman; and having more or Jess come to a decision on the point, he again turned to the old woman, to whose hand be had in the meanwhile restored the lantern. “ Those villains have robbed me of everything ¥ poesess,” he eaid ; “ and I have not at this mo- ment the means of bestowing the slightest recom- pense upon any person at whose hands I might receive a civility. Do you think that one of the cottagers of whom you have spoken would give me an asylum for a few hours “fam sure they would !” answered the crone with her rough air of confidence. “Though we are all poor in these parte, yet we are not savages ” “Whose is the nearest cottage f* inquired Meredith. | ’ “ Mine, for that matter,” responded the old woman ; “and if you like to turn in and rest your- self there, you sre truly welcome. But I can offer nothing more that the humblest accomods:- tion ; and as for recompense, a civil word at part- ting is everything ‘that will be required by Dame uette.” | | You shall have the civil ‘word, Dame Ho- quette,” answered Meredith ; “and a mucb more substantial reward shall follow so goon as I obtain the means of bestowing it. We will not leave the remains of these unfortunate'men to become a prey to thé vermin or ‘birds of tho forest. Hold you the lantern whfle I drag the bodies into the ise This task was shortly accomplished ; and Mere- dith ther said, ~ Now lead the way, good dame, to your abode; and f will follow.” : The woman Roquette, carrying the lantern in ber hand, hobbled off from the spot, leaning upon her gtick; and pl g into thé deeper forest mazes which akirted 6 road, she proceedéd for a distance of about a mile. Meredith was just won- dering how the noise of the conflict in the road could’ possibly’ have reached the ears of the old woman if her dwelling-plece were thus remote, when she stopped at the door of what proved to be a little hovel. It stood so completely embowered in the depth of the forest, that everi im the day. time a stranger in the district would have feiled to notice that there waa a human habitation there unti] he came altogether upon if. Dame Roquette pushed open the door ; and Octavian followed her into the place. ° The hut was divided into two compartments— one containing « great quantity of the small brush- wood which the crone had gathered in the forest, and also a number of logs rudely chopped up. The other compartment—which was the larger of the two—dispidyed & m and Wretched assort- ment of furniture, all of the roughest materials. There was a bed in one corner; and the half- opened door of a cupboard showed a acanty sup- ply of food of the rhost | deactiption. “If it weren't for the kindness of the woodmen towards a lone body like me,” said Dame Ro- quette, “I dont’t know what would become of me. They give me logs for firing; and when they take their own faggots to the village in the hand-cart which half-a-dozen of them have in com- mon amongst them, they take mihe likewise. The forest-keepers are also good enough in their way; and often when I come home I find a loaf and a piece of cheese, with occasionally a hare or a rabbit, apon my table.” “ heavens! what a life for a human being to lead!” thought Meredith to himeelf. ‘“ How little do the dwellers amidst the luxuries of great cities and towns know of the fearful struggles which so many of their fellow-creatures have to make to keep body and soul together !"* “You can have this room, sir—and welcome,” continued Dame Roquette. “I will stretch myself on a bit of straw that there is amongst the faggots and logs.” “J will not deprive you, my good woman, of your resting-place. I could not do such a thing !” answered Meredith. “If will stretch myself on the COMME HOG cS) (CO