The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 41: what you’re looking at

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26 prought with her, followed Page from the room, They ascended the flight of steps leading to the .oft; and there the woman replaced the trap-door and Page, having wished the Big Beggarman, his daughter, and the Gallows’ Widow good night, ‘ssued in safety from the Beggar's Staff. But scarcely had he proceeded ten yards up the —crossed over the way—and, keeping in the black shade of the houses on that side, cautiously dogged the steps of the commercial traveller. This individual pursued his way, quite uncon- scious of being thus watched, and wondering why Mr. Grumley and his men had remained so quiet,— a circumstance which he did not however regret, inasmuch as it had prevented a conflict wherein he himself might have been either killed or seriously injured. On reaching the corner of Horslydown, he turned into Pickled Herring Street, when some one, emerging from the very recess where he and the Gallows’ Widow had concealed themselves on their way to the Beggar's Staff, said ina low and hurried tone, “Is that you, Mr. Page?” “ Yes,” responded the commercial traveller, startled by the abruptness of the incident. “Then come here for a moment,” resumed the man who had spoken; and he half dragged Page into the recess, saying in the same whispering tone, “ Grumley set me here to watch for you. There’s another of us out tother end of Horslydown—and 50 we was sure not to miss you somehow. Grumley says the thing can’t be done to-night, evenif so be the Magsman is there—cause the place is too full. He must sce you at the office in Bow Street in the morning.” “Very good,” answered Page. “TI have settled everything—and it’s much better to put it off till to- morrow. ‘The Magsman will then be sure to fall into our hands.” “ That’s all right,” observed the officer. “ We was afraid youd be lurking about if you didn’t meet any of us at once—and p’rhaps some of them prigs would have seen you. That's why we stayed to keep a look-out for you.” “Thank’ee for your kindness,’ responded Page. “Twas indeed wondering why I didn’t hear or see anything of you. Good night.” “Good night, sir,” answered the constable ;— and they separated, the commercial traveller con- tinuing his way along Pickled Herring Street. But the whole of this colloquy was overheard by the spy set to dog Page’s footsteps; and five minutes afterwards every syllable was duly re- ported to those whom it concerned at the Beggar’s Staff. —_—_—_———— CHAPTER IX. MR. HARLEY. We must now return to Paradise Villas. Mrs. Mordaunt and Mrs. Smith, with their domes- yaramour ; and taking up the candle which she had which she covered with the straw. Thence they retraced their way to the little parlour down stairs ; street, when a man darted from the establishment Several hours had elapsed since the departure of tics, in the trayelling-carriage ; and the sisters were just sitting down to the afternoon repast in the back-parlour, when a hackney-coach drove up to THE MYSTERIES. the door. A middle-aged man, dressed in black, with a white neckcloth, and having the appearance of a valet, or “gentleman’s gentleman,” hastily alighted; and while he quietly traversed the little gardenand gave aloud knock at the door, the coach- man took two or three small hampers out of the ve- hicle. The char-woman having answered the summons, the individual in black requested to speak to Miss Clarendon ; and he was accordingly shown into the front-parlour, where the sisters immediately joined him. “JT have the honour to be in the service of Mr. Harley, ladies,” said the valet, with a low bow and speaking in a tone of deep respect. ‘ My master has direeted me to call in order to apologise for his abrupt departure the evening before last, but the cause of which he will satisfactorily explain when next he has the pleasure of seeing you. He has likewise made me the bearer of some game and hot-house fruit, which he hopes you will condescend to accept; and, lastly, he has desired me to inti- mate that if you are likely to be perfectly dis- engaged this evening, he will do himself the honour of waiting upon you for an hour, in order to give those explanations to which I have alluded.” “ You will have the kindness to give our respectful compliments to Mr. Harley,” said Octavia, whose heart palpitated with a joy till then unknown,— “and assure him that although we accept his hand- some present through proper courtesy, we are nevertheless grieved that he should have en- deavoured to make any return for such trifling hos- pitality as we were enabled to afford him. We are not aware of any engagement for this evening; but at the same time we must beg you to observe to Mr. Harley that it is quite unnecessary for him to take the trouble of calling merely for the purpose of explaining the motive of his sudden departure the other night.” * Your message, Miss Clarendon, shall be duly delivered,” said the valet, with another low bow. * My master instructed me to inquire after the ladies who met with the accident in their travelling- barouche. He hopes——” “ They were fortunate enough to escape without injury,” observed Octavia; “and they are no longer beneath our roof.” “Pardon me for having so long intruded upon you, Miss Clarendon,” said the valet; and, with an- other obeisance, he took his departure. The hampers which he brought with him, had been deposited by the hackney-coachman in the passage during the interval occupied by the pre. ceding colloquy ; and the sisters now proceeded to examine them. There was a quantity of the finest forced fruit, which could not have been purchased in Covent Garden Market for less than twenty guineas;—and there were two brace of pheasants and a couple of hares. The sisters were much gratified by the delicate attention exhibited by Mr. Harley; and Octavia’s heart smote her for haying so emphatically de« nounced his conduct in quitting them with such abruptness on the night when they first formed his acquaintance. She even looked forward withsecret pleasure to his promised visit for the evening; but she did not suffer this sentiment to become known to her sister. At about five o’clock Octaya proposed that they Ghooksscom COMA