The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 140: what you’re looking at

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at the time, THE MYSTERIES. 125 again. He muttered a few inarticulate words, and then began to gaze steadfastly upon me. I was forced to caress him—but he repulsed me with aver- sion; for he had by this time recovered sufficient power to enable him to use his hands feebly. I whispered to the old nurse that his brain was still wandering ;—-and she smiled faintly—I thought, in- credulously. Some medicine had been sent by the doctor—and I was resolved to make an effort to ac- complish the purpose in view. I accordingly ap- proached the mantel—turned my back towards the nurse in such a way that she could not see what I was doing—and hastily mixed some of the poison with the draught. Then, advancing towards the bed, I told the nurse to raise the patient in her arms, while I administered the dose. She obeyed me in- stantly—and I began to think that my idea of being suspected by her was unfounded. But never—never shall I forget the change that came rapidly over Ramsey’s countenance, as he sate up, supported by the old woman. He first gazed on me fur a few in- stants with the most steadfast earnestness: then his features expressed a horror which in less than a minute completely convulsed them—and all in a moment, like a flash of lightning, he recognised me !” “ What—did he say so?” demanded the young woman’s father. “No: but I saw it in his manner—in his coun- tenance,” responded Carrotty Poll. “ It was as easy to read what was passing in his mind, as if it was a printed book. And then his conduct showed that he knew who I was in spite of my disguise: for the in- stant I put the glass to his lips, he recovered power enough to dash it out of my hand, and exclaim, ‘ Vo / no!’ The nurse let him fall back upon his pillow; and he covered his face with his hands, moaning in a piteous manner. ‘ fis brain wanders still, I said to the old woman, as I threw the medicine into the _ fire-place-—* Why did you chuch it away ?’ she de- manded, fixing on me a look that seemed to pierce me through and through: ‘JZ could have made him take it’.—Now, you know that I am not wanting in presence of mind: but I admit that I grew so con- fused, I was at a loss what to do; and inventing some excuse—I really forget what—I left the room, not once looking back, for I felt convinced that the old hag was staring after me with her nasty grey eyes.’’ “ T dare say it was all fancy on your part, Poll,” said the Beggarman. “ ‘The crone’s ways were pecu- liar, p’raps - “ Well, it might be so,” interrupted the young woman: “but [ didn’t stop to make those reflections To tell you the truth, I was glad to get away; for I began to think that the nurse would _ alarm the house, and the landlord might keep me till he could send for a constable. Well, I left the room, as [told you: this was about an hour ago—and as the Mariners’ Arms is an early breakfast-house for labourers and colliers employed at the docks and _wharfs, the potman was taking down the shutters, ‘There was a light in the bar; and just as I was going out, who should come in to get a morning dram, but Joe Warren ?” “ He was up be-times, at all events,” observed the Big Beggarman. “Of course he recognised you!” “To be sure—in a moment,” answered Poll; “ be- cause he has often seen me decked out in this way. Before I could give him a look to prevent him from “speaking to me, he asked what the deuce was going on, and insisted on my taking a drop of brandy with him. Then the talkative potman began to inquire of me how the gentleman up-stairs was; and the fellow gabbled away at sucha rete that Joe Warren heard quite enough to make it impossible for me to tell him any liesaboutit. He followed me out; and I thought the best plan was to explain the whole matter to him, just for all the world as if neither you nor me ever meant to keep it a secret. He said he didn’t care much about Ramsey’s affair, and told me to mind and tell you to put away his share of the five hundred guineas; as everything relating to the Aylesbury bankers was a matter in which he had his claim for regulars,* I assured him that you had already done so; and the business was thus made square enough. He then ordered me to have Meagles and Lady Lade set at liberty the instant that I re- turned; and he said that you needn’t trouble your- self about Ramsey—as he'll attend to him. He also observed that he intended to make a call this even- ing in Pall Mall—you know where—and it is very likely you won’t see him again till to-morrow night. We then parted—and I found the Kinchin-Grand waiting for me at Execution Dock.” “ Well—and why the devil should you pretend to be disgusted with the whole affair?” demanded the Big Beggarman. “In my opinion, it’s gone off un- common well—especially since our friend Joe isn’t put out about it, and will undertake to keep Ramsey quiet.” “ Tam disgusted,” said Carrotty Poll, with vixenish acerbity, “because you have made a mull of the thing. You never ought to have played your tricks on Meagles and Lady [ade. One is a devilish good fellow—and the other is a nice woman; and they might have been good friends to us.” “Why didn’t you tell me all this before?” growled the Beggarman. “ Because when you had locked ’em up, it was too late. However,” she added, in a milder tone—for she saw that her father was in no humour to be up- braided,—*“ what’s done can’t be helped: but I am preciously annoyed at having lost so many hours in such a stupid affair as this expedition to the Ma- riners’ Arms—tired as I was already ;—and then that cursed old nurse annoyed me more than enough.” “ Well—go and sleep off your ill-humour, Poll,” said her father. “I shan’t be sorry to get to-bed myself.” The parent and daughter then retired to their chambers ;—and during the next three hours a pro- found silence reigned throughout the Beggar’s Staff, until the slipshod waiter rose at about nine to open the premises again—for, as It was a Sunday morning, he had snoozed a little later than usual. | TE CHAPTER XXXVI. MRS, BRACE AND HER VISITORS. Ir was the Sabbath evening; and Mrs. Brace was seated alone in her exquisitely-furnished parlour. Some of her young ladies had gone to pass the day with their parents or friends: others had obtained perniission to “go to church”—which meant that they had certain little amatory appointments to keep; and a few remained in their own apartment, chatting together or reading novels. * Yair proportion of the plunder. — Com Clooolks.<conn