The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

—_ 142 THE MYSTERIES “Jt is securely kept,” added the agent, “and will one day, I trust, make it worth while for the earl to pay handsomely for its production. But without tiring you with a prolix explanation of the family history to which it refers, I may tell you sufficient to govern the proceedings which we should mutually take, for I will not deny that your assistance will be essential to procure the full advantages of the plan, and which therefore may be undertaken between us,” « Proceed,” responded Bazzini; “I am curious te learn the real state of the case.” “ Briefly, then,” rejoined Jarvis, “ from these old memoranda and other sources I found the present Earl of Winterton and his brother were at variance throughout the greater part of their lives; and | knew that this enmity extended even to the earl’s nephew, who, on the death of his father, was educated at his uncle’s cost, but carefully kept in ignorance of his real birth.” “Which has not yet been made known to him, | believe,” remarked Bazzini; “at least l presume so from the tenor of the earl’s communication.” “You are right,” was the reply; “and one of the principal objects that I have had in contemplatios was to trace out his residence, and inform him of tke good fortune that was in store. But my project was not then fully matured, and since the rupture with the earl has taken place I have Jost all clue to his dis- covery.” « And it is for the purpose of finding him out, so that you can drive an advantageous bargain with him, that you think my aid might be found useful?” Jarvis nodded and went on. “* At present he knows the earl only as a patron or guardian; and for some trifling indiscretion of youth the annuity which was allowed him after leaving the university was sus- pended, thus leaving him dependent on his own inge- nuity for a hving—gained, I have some reason to believe, in no very creditable manner since that allowance was withdrawn.” “And by what name does he pass?” inquired Bazzini. «“ Greene was the appellation under which the ear! always wrote to him, and 1 have no doubt that as it - was his mother’s maiden name, it is the one by which he is still known.” “Greene!” mused Bazzini; “1 have heard the name. His deseription?” ‘¢ He is now about thirty; tall, of dark complexion, and dark hair, and of good exterior.” “JT am certain, then, that I know him, and I will undertake to bring you to him at a moment’s notice.” “The better for our immediate benefit,” answered Jarvis, “for we can put ourselves in communication with him at once. But I have not yet told you all. The earl’s brother should have inherited the estate as being the eldest; but as the late earl was weak enough to yield to the wishes of bis countess, Arthur was not only brought up as the favourite, but, as they were born within eleven months of each other, and the difference in their ages was not perceptible, he was brought up to take the precedence of his brother, who was thus robbed of his birthright.” “ And how came you to acquire the knowledge of a fact that, for the sake of all parties, must have been so carefully coricealed?” interrogated Bazzini. “J tell you that accident proved my best friend,” was the reply of Jarvis, as he brought his cunning eyes to bear fully upon the face of his companion. “There was an old library at Bradley, which had long been closed, and where the late carl had frequently | — nce pnt CC CC A LLL ALLL LLL LLL, -_—-— es OF LONDON, passed his leisure hours. One day examining \ premises when they had been opaasl 5 Soasata esa 1 cabinet, ingeniously constructed in the wainscot, and which the earl had made use of as a repository for his private papers. I have no doubt that the unsettled state of his mind—for he was said to have been insane some time before he died—had obliterated it from his reeollection. It was among these that I found the entries of the births I spoke of, and foreseeing the power I should have, when any unforeseen event took place that might render it advisable for me te 6x ercise it, I silently took possession of the record, and it has remained in my custody ever since.” “But why have you waited till now before yeu acted upon a discovery of so much ce?” “T was well enough content with the profits that were rising out of my connection with the ea’, and I did not care to throw away the substance for the shadow. It was time to bring this forward when I felt my position required strengthening, and now tha time has arrived. Lord Walsingham, from his inti= macy with the brother of the present earl, had lo had, it appears, some suspicion of what I have tol you, and it was therefore necessary to make him @ confidant of the secret, as soon as an alliance between” the families was contemplated. Thoseletters in which | the admission was. made I could only obtain by t stratagem that you are aware of; and now I have ac: quainted you with the means that are at our : for dispossessing the earl of his claims, what was thé — plan you thought of for establishing mine?” are “You have already alluded to it,” said “for indeed there is but one way open to us. must find out the earl’s nephew, and make the b bargain we can with him, on the condition that help him by these papers to the title and estate.” = “ Precisely so; and you now see the imperative | necessity that exists for the immediate removal of | this Barrington from my path. It would be us to think of getting a fortune out of one man, when the next moment another could scatter it with breath.” “ And you are determined then upon his death ?” “It is my enly hope of safety; whilst he lives am at his mercy, and so deadly is the ? would have inflicted upon him, that he in agonies of torture, and suffer the most aC torment in his progress to the grave that human i genuity is capable of inflicting. You do not fear hen ur a ; ij » n oe * — power of doing this, or hesitate at its ment?” ‘ “ Not I,” answered the Italian, unshrinkingly; “it is my trade, and I take a pride in it, There is too little of what is called humanity about me to make — me have a scruple in such matters, and I have lived — too long at war with all the world to mind what | hellish deed J do, provided I yet paid for it: so, as I suspect you care not how soon the business is dis- pape, I “ye set aloes my errand at once.” s you have ved upon the which it is to be administered ?” 2 — J “ Fear not for that,” rejoined the miscreant; “it will _ be no difficult task. A few drops will suffice to pro- duce the effect we require, and I shall easily oe way to employ them.” “an , “ And you wit) feta or etd $0 tie e s accomplished,” said Jarvis, now opening door for the Italian to depart. , : = a “ You shall hear from me directly,” was thei “ Other business will require my ce el: but my messenger will bo a faithful ome, and Z “4 MEOMGOOOK —_ . e¢ | ae ~«* ACS om