The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 318: what you’re looking at

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304 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT, a full sense of the danger of which she had made him aware, but Kkewise the deepest gratitude to- wards herself,—“thank you, young woman, I would rather not. Presently—when I feel tired— I will avail myself of the offer.” And while Sir Douglas was thus speaking, in such a manner as perfectly to cover Nell’s whispered accents, she breathed in the lowest tone the following words :—‘ The door is not fustened— watch your opportunity — seize that knife — and escape!’—then, immediately afterwards, she said aloud, and in a calm placid voice, “ Would you like anything to eat, sir? We have provisions in the place; and because you are a prisoner iora few hours, there’s no reason why you should be starved.” “No, I thank you—I require nothing,” re- sponded the Baronet: and as he threw a rapid, furtive, sidelong glance towards the three men at the other end of the room, he saw in the sinister sigus they were making together, a horrible con- firmation of the dire alarms which Nell Gibson had excited in his breast. ‘‘T wish you good night, sir,” she said: and dart- ing upon him another look of intelligence, she turned away. Ascending the staircase to the chamber above, she re-appeared in the presence of the Buttoner, who was paying his respects to the brandy-bottle there. ‘ Well, gal—I see it’s no use?” he observed. “The swell cove wouldn’t be enticed up here—eh ?” “But he doesn’t suspect anything wrong,” re- turned the young woman with the most perfect com- posure of countenance. “ It is quite clear he fan- cies himself safe enougn from danger, and that he will be let loose again to-morrow when I come back with the money.” She then sat down by the side of the Buttoner, with an air as composed and self-possessed as if she had betrayed nothing of the contemplated hor- rors. In the meantime Sir Douglas Huntingdon had remained sitting at the table in the apartment below. Cold—ice-cold was the tremor that seized upon him as he reflected on the appalling perils by which he was surrounded. ‘Though no coward, he could not help shrinking in dismay from the chasm on the brink of which he appeared to stand. Ashe glanced furtively around upon the three men who were booz- ing at the other table, he fancied that murder was written upon their very countenances. Averting his eyes in dread horror, he cast them down upon the floor: and, behold! they settled on stains which instantaneously struck him to be those of blood. His looks were startled away from that hideous point of view: and as they swept in frightened ra- pidity around, they caught other stains upon the wooden wall, which likewise appeared to be the marks of blood! Shuddering to the very confines of his being, the Baronet felt as if he were indeed looking Death face to face. The pitchy darkness of the night that hung like a sable pall against the cottage-window—the awful stillness that prevailed around—the utter lone- liness of that hut —the evil reputation of the neighbourhood —the deep solemn hour of mid- night —and then those villanous countenances, which seemed more sinister and diabolical still as the faint flickering light played upon them,—all these influences and circumstances combined to fill his soul with a fearful consternation and a horrible dismay ! Scarce a quarter of an hour had elapsed since he had refused in disgust the dram of brandy which the Buttoner had offered to him: but now he hastened to pour it out and greedily swallow it to revive his drooping courage. In a moment the mere tw ee burning fluid appeared to flash like lightning | through his veins : it was the spark to a whole train of excitement which had been subdued for a few minutes by the weight of an overwhelming con- sternation. Yes--all was now haste in his thoughts—hurry in his ideas—a dizzy whirl in his brain. The red right arm of murder seemed tc be extended over him: the gleaming biade appeared to be ready to plunge down into his heart;—and his eyes swept wildly around to assure himself that the ruffians were not already standing behind him, or creeping stealthily towards him, No---they were still seated at the table, drinking and talking. ‘The man Ben- cull had thrown off his coat and appeared in. his shirt-sleeves. This in reality was because the night was close, the room was hot, aud much liquor had made him feverish: but to the excited imagi- nation of Sir Douglas Huntingdon it appeared as if the fellow were preparing himseif to do the work of murder, as a butcher prepares for the slaughter of an ox;—and now wrought up toa pitch of des- peration, the Baronet snatched up the knife—made but one bound from his seat to the door—lilted the lateh—and darted forth into the pitchy blackness of the night. With ejaculations of amazement and fury, Bencull, the Durrynacker, and the Mushroon- Faker rushed after the fugitive: and those cries of rage, reaching the chamber above, told Nell Gibson that the Baronet had escaped, and startled the Buttoner with the conviction that somethiug was wrong. Rushing down the stairs, he found the lower room empty and the door wide open: and he was about to dart forth and join in the pursuit, when an idea that flashed to his brain, struck him as it were with the sudden blow of a hammer, and made him stop short in the midst of his furious excite- ment, as a drunken man is sobered allina moment by some fearful announcement. _— ——s CHAPTER LXXX. THE FAIR STRANGER, THE thought which thus suddenly arrested the steps of the Buttoner and transfixed him to the spot, was that Neil Gibson had betrayed the murderous project to the Baronet. Our readers will remember a certain conversation which took place a fortnight previously to the pre- sent date of our story, between Bencull and the Hang- man relative to the employment of Nell Gibson to lead Larry Sampsonintoatrap. It will likewise be borne in mind that “to make sure doubly sure,” in a scheme of so dangerous and delicate a cha- racter, they had resolved to plant the Buttoner as a spy upon Nell Gibson’s actions. Being well pro- vided with cash and good clothes, the Buttoner had found these proofs of prosperity to be imme- diate passports to the favour of Miss Gibson; and he accordingly took up his abede with her at Mrs. — ee ee ee oe CORMICLOOOKS (€)