The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 281: what you’re looking at

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266 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. all about Ralph Farefield’s business—and that is one gold:”—and Lady Saxondale spoke with feverish reason why you won’t attempt to do me a mischief. rapidity. ‘Well, I will give youssome. Tell me Another reason 18 a what you require Be moderete however: for I Lady Saxondale started convulsively: it was a departed somewhat hurriedly from London, and movement the abruptness of which, and accompa- have brought but slender resourees with me.” nied as it was by another anguished look, seemed | “ Wait a moment,” said Chiffin. “ After what to say, ‘“ What more, in heaven’s name, can he I know of your ladyship, I needn’t be over nice or know P” | stop to mince matters about myself. It’s all very “ Another reason is,’ continued the Cannibal, well to tell me to be off from this place; but how do observing the effect of his words, but takinga savage 1 know that I shan’t be running into the lion’s delight in showing the great titled lady how com- | mouth?” pletely she was in his power—or at least how much; “ What do you mean ?” demanded the mistress of he considered her to be,—“ another reason why your , the castle hastily. ladyship wouldn’t find it convenient to quarrel with | *‘T mean that as London might be rather too hot me, and why you needn’t talk again of calling up to hold me, I trudged off—got a lift down by the the servants, because you won’t do anything of the coach—and determined to take up my quarters sort ye here for a shorttime. I knowed that half the place “< But that reason?” ejaculated Lady Saxondale, | was shut up; and wanting a little country air, I again speaking vehemently and impetuously: for thought I couldn’t do better than fix my quarters the anguish she endured was crucifixion itself. »| here. It didn’t strike me that those flunkeys and “Why, because as I heard a few days back in ringletted damsels of yours would come to dust London, there was that housekeeper of your’s——— | and air all the rooms ; and so I was nearly being There! see how you start again why, you're as surprised. And I didn’t think either, that I should pale as death * _ have the honour and pleasure of seeing your lady- “Monster !”” muttered Lady Saxondale between ship so soon. Howsumever, in one word, whether her set teeth: but her frame was quivering all over, I go or stay just depends on ayhat they say and visibly too. iin London upon a certain business. By the bye, “What did you say?” growled Chiffin, with a you don’t happen to have this murning’s newspaper ferocious leer. ‘“ Something not over polite, I dare with you ?” say. But no matter. I’m precious tough, and can | “What do you mean? to what is all this to lead?” bear hard names—’specially when I know the lady demanded Lady Saxondale, with less excitement and which utters them is so nice and comfortable in my _ with more courage than before: for she was getting _ power. But as I was saying, there was that house- | accustomed to the horror of the present interview. keeper of your’n, which died so sudden. Was there pe Why, I mean is my name mentioned in any nothing queer about that? It struck me so at the queerish kind of way in connexion with a little bit time: for a lady which has such excellent stupifying of a job——” stuff in her possession, perhaps knows what poison| “Ah!” ejaculated her ladyship, recoiling with a is :—or else, may be, that same stuff poured down | dread loathing as the recollection of the barbarous the throat, will do the job in a twinkling.” murdcr on the canal, of which her son had first “Bnough of all this!” said Lady Saxondale in a | spoken to her, but of which she had subsequently low hollow voice. ‘ You must know that you are read, now flashed to her mind. inventing the most detestable calumnies——” “Stop! don’t go away!” cried the Cannibal, “Tm afeard you would have some trouble to | thinking that she was about to beat a retreat. “ We prove ’em so before the beak at the Old Bailey,’’ | hav’n’t done our business yet. Will you answer was Chiffin’s cool response. “ Why—do you think | me the question I’ve put? for the longer you delay, I’ve got no eyes? It was but a random sort of | the longer you will be kept here.” a shot that I fired when I talked about the house- “ Was that your dreadful work P” inquired Lady keeper—just a suspicion that had been hovering in | Saxondale, gasping with horror as she looked upon my mind: but the shot took effect nevertheless—it | the perpetrator of the hideous crime to which she hit home, and you felt it.” : was alluding: for whatever her own guilt might “Enough, I say!” ejaculated Lady Saxondale, | really have been, she was accustomed to contem- now stamping her foot with passionate excitement. | plate herself, and therefore reeviled not from such “What are you doing here? why have you concealed | self-contemplation: but fiom another who was yourself in this place? There is already a suspicion | deeply immersed in the blackest iniquities, she did of something rife amongst the servants 4 recoil. “ Ah! then I suppose I was twigged yesterday by | ‘ What—the canal scene? Yes: if you must that hulking footman,” observed Chiffin, with a/ have it in plain terms, it was my business. And coarse laugh. “I rather suspected that he thought Jet me thank your lad yship for the use of the stupify- he saw something : but I slipped down the steps | ing stuff, which did me good service on the occa there, and hid myself. I dare say you think to/sion. They meant to do for me; but I done for yourself what a pity it was he didn’t draw the/| them instead. But now, one word. Is there a bolt and lock me in: but I don’t throw away | hue and cry? is it knowed? am I suspected?” chances like that :’—and as he thus spoke, the Can-| ‘“ No—I declare solemnly xo, if I may judge from nibal produced from his pocket his housebreaking | what I have heard and what I have read,” an- implements,—adding, “ There’s never a door in all | swered Lady Saxondale. ‘ Your name has never England that I wouldn’t open somehow or an-! been mentioned in connexion with the deed. But other.” | now, will you depart? Say but the word, and 1 “No matter! Tell me what you are doing here. | will give you means if you lack them.” You must depart. I know you will ask me for; ‘ Well, since your ladyship tells me that Tam ee ee nee eee CORMICOOOKS. EO