The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 82: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYCSTPRZES OF THE COURT. felt hie heart beating with so painful a violence that it appeared as if he had just been abruptly awakened out of a hideous dream. * Fool, fool that I am!” he said to himvelf: “at one instant bold to desperation !—at another the veriest coward that walks the face of the earth! Perhaps after all he is secreted elsewhere in the house: for bow, on that other occasion, could he have procured admittance within these walls. By heaven, I will not rest till I have searched the place throughout!” Again was the fortitude of the Dake of March- mont returning; and he was about to issue from the conservatory to return into the library and thence regsin the otber of the mansion,— when all of a sudden it struck him that he beheld a human eountenance looking in at him through the glass. The taper nearly fell from his band: the next instant the face was gone—but his ear distinctly caught the sound of rapidly retreating footeteps. Thus satisfied that it was indeed a living being, but having no particular idea of the appear- ance of that countenance which he had seen look- ing in upon him, the Duke hastened from the conservatory—sped through the library—and in a few moments reached the private door which was so frequently mentioned in earlier chapters of this narrative. Of this door he always had the key: he opened it—and leaving the taper in a recess, he rushed forth. “Now, by heaven! if it is he,” the Duke thought within his own breast-—-and he found himself nerved with an extraordinary strength of mind, or rather we should say, a satanic resoluteness of pur- pose,—* if it is he, death—death !” He stopped and listened : the sounds of footetepe reached his ear from a i direction ; and thither he sped with a swiftness that amazed him- self. He could however see nothing—for there was a thick fog: but he knew every inch of his own grounds well, and could thus keep to the gravel-walk even though rushing on at so fleet a pace. The retreating footsteps became more distinct. Marchmont then knew that he was in the vicinage of a grass-plot; and by transferring his route to the soft yielding turf, the sounds of his own steps were no longer audible. All of a sudden the footsteps of the other ceased : then in a few minutes, they appeared to be coming 71 * Move not another inch,” said the Dake, with , stern intrepidity: “or I send a bullet through | your brains !” “}’m only a poor feller,” responded the inteuder, “which has lost his way in this cursed fog: and I didn’t go for to do no harm.” “If that be the case,” answered the Dake, “I will do you no harm either. But tell me—how came you to look into that conservatory just now P” “Ah, well, I see you're the same gentleman which was in that place: bat I wasn’t after no ill. I saw the light—or should rather say, I came right bang agin the place in the midst of the fog, and should have gone smash through it giase and all, if so be that it wasn’t for that there glim as you carried in your hand.” ° During this brief colloquy, the Duke of March- mont had leisure to contemplate the intruder more narrowly as bis eyes grew accustomed to the ob- scurity which prevailed. <A suspicion arose in his mind; and another instant’s ecrutiny of that vil- lanous hangdog countenance confirmed it. He now knew beyond any farther doubt who this man was; and it appeared to him as if he were sud- denly thrown in his way in order to become an instrument in the carrying out of his designs. ‘© My poor fellow,” he said, assuming the most compassionating voice, * you are evidently a house- less wanderer: and so far from blaming you for having involuntarily intruded on my grounds, I pity you. What can I do for you? Do you require food P and shall I show you a Joft over the stable where you may reet yourself for the night P Be not afraid: I am the Duke of Marchmont— and I flatter myself that no poor man has ever had any reason to complain of harshness or un- kindness on my part.” “I’m werry much obleeged to your lordsbip,” was te intruder’s response ; “and if so be ‘tisn’t axing for too much at this time o’ night for a meal of wittels, I should be uncommon thankfal.” “Come with me, my poor man,” replied the Duke, in the same compassionating voice as be- fore; “and I will see what I can do for you. This way.” Marchmont acted as if he had not the slightest suspicion of the fellow’s true character; and in this manner he conducted him towards the private door of the house. ‘While proceeding thither, the hastily towards him; and the Duke stood still. | ill-looking intruder eyed the ncbleman askance, in Nearer came those steps: then they suddenly | ceased again, as if the individual was stopping short to listen; and then they came on once more. The Duke of Marchmont had a pistol in each hand; and he was resolved to fire the very moment he should obtain the certainty that it was he whom he sought—he whom he feared—he whose life he had made up his mind to take! Nearer came the footsteps: they were advancing more slowly along the gravel-walk: they were heavy steps, as if they were clumsy shoes or coarse boots that were thus treading ;—and Marchmont thought within him- self, “It cannot after all be he’ A few moments put an end to the Duke's un- certainty; for a figure was revealed to him through the mist; and be himself was simultaneously re- vealed to that individual. “ Hands off, whoever you are!” growled a fero- cious voice: “or I'll dash your brains out—blow me if I don't [” order to penetrate his purpose and assure himeelf that he was really safe: but he saw nothing on the part of the Duke to make him apprehend any treachery. His circumstances were desperate: for though he had money in his pocket, yet he was well nigh famished, from the simple fact that he had not dared approach any habitation during the day, much less enter any village or hamlet, in order to purchase food. He accordingly reevived to acoept the proffered kindness of the Duke: for he felt tolerably well convinced that he incurred no peril in so doing. Marchmont condtoted him over the threshold of the private door, which he immediately locked ; and taking the taper from the recess, he led the way towards the servants’ offices,—the ill-looking man following. Proceeding to the larder, the Dake said, “Take whatever you fancy: be not afraid—I do not things by halves.” The man lifted down a cold joint: another shelf ~ CONIC OOO <S |