The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 257: what you’re looking at

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

242 THE MYSTERIES CF THE COURT, “You were indeed. And now tell me, who is that had been at home at her cottage, whither the intel- Mrs. Martin ?” ligence had not penetrated either by report. or “Once a mistress of Lord Everton—Mr. Everton, ‘through the medium of the newspaper, of wtich as he then was, aad Mr. Everton as I expect he is she was no great reader. Afterwards, when she ukely to become again. Mrs. Mariin has been a went into town, her attention had been so much en: terribly profligate wonvin: she was once a brilliant grossed, as the reader has seen, by other circum- beauty about towu; std EF de believe now that her stances--the meetiug with her brother, the visit tu passions are as strong as ever and haveentirely out- Lord Petersfield, and the call upon Mr. Robson— lived her good looks. Ah! ma’am, she is an awful that she had had no opportunity of even catching the woman, and I do not think would hesitate at any shghtest floating whisper of the terrible occurrence. crime. She has a very comfortable berth at Beeck- ‘<n therefore she now heard these people at the Tree Lodge—plenty of money—govd clothes ani itiy Goat speaking of the murder of Tugs the barge- good food; and therefore she has not hesitated to man and his wife, and the death by suffueation of make herself uscful’'in any way to the old man. their child, she was instantaneously inspired with a As for Bellamy, he is another creature of the same deep and fearful interest ; and she flung a quick selfish sort ; and I suppose he has likewise feathered glance of inquiry at old Solomon, who was serving his nest pretty comfortably.” gin behind the bar. ‘*Do you know what has become of Lady Ever- | “ Please your ladyship to walk up-stairs for a ton, the mother of the unfortunate young man who minute,” said the landlord; and he accordingly led has so long been kept out of his rights ?” | the way up into that private room which has been “ Her ladyship is living in some seclusion, very before mentioned. strict, and a long way off—in Wales, I think—but | “Is all this true that I have heard?” asked Lady I really do not know. Concerning her we scarcely Bess, with ill-disguised horror. ever heard anything at Beoch-Tree Lodge. ButI| “Don’t be alarmed, my lady,” replied Paten, do happen to know that she is alive.” whose attempt thus to reassure and encourage the “You know that? So much the better. I am amazonian heroine was so obsequious that it would rejoiced!” exclaimed Lady Bess. ‘“ Now you must have been ludicrous were it not in reference to so do all you can to discover where she is. Take this dread a subject. “It is indeed too true that Chiffin sum of a hundred pounds:”’—and she gave him must have done this, ’cause why he was with ’em ai the notes she had that day received from Mr. Rob- = the time.” gon. “It is merely a trivial earnest of what shall | “Good heavens!” was the subdued ejaculation hereafter be done for you. Depend upon it your , which eame from the lips of Lady Bess; and she reward will be dealt out with no niggard oand; and literally stepprersd ovainst the wall, as if stricken whatavey explosion may take place measures shall w.th “fal remorse at ever having had anything to d0 adupted to ensure your safety. But 1 am in‘ do with such a miscreant as the Cannibal. hopes that the entire affair can be settled quietly, * Deary me, deary me, what is the matter with and without any explosion at all. Of course you | your ladyship?” asked old Solomon, thinking she will return to Beech-Tree Lodge, and watch well | was going to faint. “Shall I run and get a drop of everything that passes, so that you may be enabled brandy, or gin, or rum, or sherry ?” to report occasionally te me. But lose notimein: ‘“ No, no—be quiet—hold your peace,” answered *jscuvering Lady Everton’s abode, if possible.” ‘Lady Bess impatiently. “This is truly frightful: ‘I will do my best,” answered Theodore, highly Those poor people who sheltered and concealed him ! satisfied with the liberality already shown and the Old man,” she continued, in a voice tremulous with promises held forth; and after a little more conver- emotions, “there are certain degrees of wrong—l sation he took his departure. | may even say of crime, if you will—to which one It was now dusk; and Lady Bess, finding that becomes habituated. Such is my case: but from 2dolphus was sleeping soundly, and conjecturing any blacker turpitude my soul can recoil with as ‘hat after the excitement of his long discourse with deep a horror as that of the most dehcate creature aer, he would most probably sleep on for a consi- | _ utterly unacquainted with fault or misdeed.” lerable time, resolved to pay a visit to Bob Shakerly ' But your ladyship has always knowed that ~t once. She accordingly hastened to array herself Chiffin wasn’t over particular,” answered Solomon w her male costume, substituting the tight-fitting Patch; “and that story of his’n about eating human frock, the waistcoat, and the pantaloons, as well as flesh when he was a younker at sea re She neat-shaped boots and all the other requisites of | ‘ Henever dared tell it in my presence,” inter- the masculine toilet, for the silk dross ani et cetcriwe | rupted Lady Bess. “It is true that it had reached of the female gear. She then mounted her gallant : my oars-—but I set it down as an idle vaunt made by thesnut; and it being now quite dark, rode away him when in his cups. Of course I knew that in the direction of London. On reaching the dis- Chifin wis a desperado; but I did »oé know that trict of St. Pancras, she passed into Agar Town; his hanis were embrued with blood. Now I believe and alighting at Solomon Patch’s door, she entered the taie which hitherto I had regarded as an inflated ine house. There she hoard several persons talking boasi; and I consider him capable of the most about the double murder in the barge; but none of satanic deeds. Solomon, were he to enter the room them attributed the deed to Chiffin. In fact, those this moment I shou!d recoil from him in horror and who were thus conversing, had not the slightest aversion. But do not tell him this,” she imme- idea that the Cannibal had been concealed in the diately added, shuddering visibly, “if you should see barge at all, and consequently their suspicions foll him. I now dread that man—I would not provoke not upon him. tis rancour for worlds——unless indeed he did sud- This was the first that Lady Bess had heard ef only appear before me; and then I feel convinced the dreadful deed. During the whole morning sn ‘hat I could not restrain my feelings.” LL tennessee: CORICOOOKS.eEO)