The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 218: what you’re looking at

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eee eee ene nescence nn ee ence en ec sn THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 203 “Cruelly as I have been used, E seek not for re- ger and Spider Bill; whereupon they all three pro- venge.” | ceeded to rifle the persons of Lord Everton aad “My dear girl,” responded the amazonian lady Mr. Bellamy, despoiling them of their watchss, eurtly, “ you must leave us to manage after our own | their rings, and their purses: but they took no fashion. It is sufficient for you that these people ; notice of the fuotman, nor of Mrs. Martin and are no longer capable of injuring you, and that you | Susan. Henrietta surveyed these proceedings with shall be presently free to go where you will. Are there any other females in this house under circum- stances similar to your own?” “T cannot say,” responded Henrietta: “tut I am inclined to think not. There is however one individual in whom I am interested—a prisoner under mysterious circumstances——” “ Enough! he shall be delivered also,” cried Lady Bess. “‘No—you dare not perpetrate such a foul wrong,” exclaimed Lord Everton, in mingled rage end terror, as he literally writhed ia the chair to the most painful sensations: but she dared not give utterance to a word of remonstrance. “ Now, about this other individual whom you wish to have rescued?” said Lady Bess, once more turning to Henrietta. . “ You will have to search for kim. I know not in which part of the house he is confined.” “We will s90n discover that,’”’ responded the heroine. ‘ But you would do well to put on such clothing as you may intend to go forth with, as we shall soon take our departure.” Henrietta hurried to the door of the drawing- which he had been bound,—Bellamy and the foot- room, whieh she had to pass through to reach the anan having undergone a similar process. “Who is this old reprobate?” asked Lady Bess, turning towards Henrietta. “Is he the person named Bellamy ?” “Answer no questions, my good girl,” cried Lord Everton, in a voice of the most abject en- treaty: “I implore that you will not!” “ Yes—but she will,” was the cool response given | %ed-chamber : but that doer was locked—for Susan, be it remembered, had taken away the key. ‘This circumstance Henrietta at once named; and Susan produced the key from her pocket. The young damsel then took up one of the lights and pro- eceded to the bed-chamber. | The instant she had quitted tke room, Lord” Everton said to Lady Bess, “‘ Whoever you are, I by Lady Bess: “fer she will obey the dircctions ef beg that you will give me your attention for a few her deliverers.” Henrietta kad certainly no reason for showing any favour towards the old nobleman, nor indeed any one of the individuals who had been concerned ' in persecuting her; and she accordingly named them all one after the other. “Oh! then the suspicions exeited by your note and the result of the little inquiries which I myself have caused to be privately made during the day, are fully ecnfirmed. This then,” continued Lady Bess, “is nothirg more than one of those mansions of convenience which under some plausible disguise serve the infamous purpose of an aristocratic volup- tuary. Ah! what pretty things have we here ?”— and she advaneed towards the sofa where the jewel- casket which Lord Everton had intended as a temptation to Henrietta, was lying open. “ And here is a pocket-book too, with bank-notes in it. Come, you shall take charge of these little matters,” she added, turning towards Chiffin, whose eyes glis- tened at the sight of the diamonds. Henrietta now looked aghast, and a faint shriek escaped her lips: for all in an instant was she made aware that her deliverers, instead of being im- Henrietta refers pelled by the most disinterested purpose in respect | moments—in private, 1 mean—or else aside——” “Speak out,” cried the heroine: “ there need be no sccrets from my companions.” “In the first place be so good as to tell me,” said Lord Everton, “under what circumstances you came hither.” “They were ingenious enough,” was the reply, delivered with a smile. “A whalebone arrow, shot from one of the back windows of the house, con- veyed to me a note as I was riding on the river's bank; and the note gave me the intimation that there was a forlorn damsel to be rescued within the walls of this terrible fortress, whereof you, Lord Everton, appear to be the ogre: for assuredly you are not a giant either in courage or sige. And now, what more have you toe say ? for it is ridiculous enough that you should play the part of a ques- tioner and I that of the questioned.” “Are you not satisfied with what you have done ?” asked the nobleman, who was evidently a prey to the direst apprehensions. ‘“‘ You cannot think of giving his release to a wretched lunatic: for such indeed is the individual to whom this girl ” “A lunatic?” echoed Lady Bess. ‘From all I to herself alone, entertained .predatory views as ‘have heard and seen, I searcely think that Lord well. | Everton would in reality keep a private madhouse. “A thousand pounds—that’s what this here book No, my lord: I have fathomed the nature of this contains,” said Chiffin, who had hastily glanced seeluded mansion——” over the roll of bank-notes. ‘“‘T can assure you,” he promptly rejoined, “a is “My dear girl,” said Lady Bess, turning towards duly licensed as a lunatic asylum—it is not mine— Henrietta, “you really must not attempt te inter- fere with our proceedings. ourselves for the trouble taken on your account.” I have nothing to do with it—my friend Mr. Bel- We mean to reward lamy keeps it.” ‘Then wherefore are you, mylord, eo deeply in- “And considering all things,” added Chiffin, terested in the safe custody of this alleged iunatic glancing towards the prisoners, “they won’t dare in whose behalf my aid has been evoked?” asked to make a piece of work about it. So there’s no Lady Boss, with an incredulous smile. need to cut any throats or blow any brains out. | At this instant Henrietta re-appeared, with her But we may as well get as much as we can out of bonnet and shawl, ready for departure ; and having ’em.”’ Thus speaking, he made a sign to Mat the Cad- caught the last words which had fallen from Lady Bess’s lips, she at once comprehended that during DOOKS (CO) (CO)