The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

“* ——— eS —— eee eee eee LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF LONDON LIFE. ed eee owe = + 143 Send back word by him at what timo I shall seo you | he saw, with secret delight, the baronet receive his to-morrow concerning the esrl.’’ “TJ shall be anxiously expecting his arrival,” re- onded Jarvis; and with a rapid interchange of words bore reference to the minor details of the mur- derous deed that was contemplated, the two parted from each other on the stairs, and as the agent re- turned to his room to calculate on the future safety he expected to enjoy, and triumph in the effectual he had taken to secure it, the Italian went rate towards the residence of the 5 : likely to prove a profitable, as well as svliloquised Bazzini, as he quickened his the streets; “my meeting with Jarvis ought to put a few thousands into my pccket before the agent is out of my clutches, and to-night I i have a certain prize awaiting me at the villa. Then, when the gold is mize, I can away to the continent and laugh at the fools and knaves tha! have enriched me The house at which he finally stopped, obedient to | the direction he had received, was a fine old mansion quated pertions of the West End, and that have the ‘stamp of the last century indelibibly impressed upon them. There was nothing there of modern ornament to stare down the durable formalities of old-fashioned architecture, but a reputable aspect of gloomy gen- tility was settled alike on all. As the eye caught a vestige of bygone days in the conical extinguishers on the railings, and the recollection of the old flambeaux was restored with the accompanying adjuncts of link- boys and sedans, one might almost picture the old nobility in the court costume of the first and second Georges, dozing away their hundred years of som- niferous captivity in those quiet, sleepy-looking edi- fices, and doomed some day to wake up, sword, bag- wig, ruffles, and all, and take a wondering -urvey of this modern metropolis, with its perplexing growth of buildings and puzzling magnitude of improvements. As Bazzinirang the bell, an attendant, of a swarthy eastern complexion, and who was not distinguished _ by the usual livery, appeared in answer to his sum. mons, and ushered him into the hall. | intimated his desire to speak to the baronet on Having private business, the domestic, who exhibited but little of the menial in his appearance, at once ushered him upstairs into the drawing-room, and here he found he was in the presence of Sir Join Barrington himself. . With neither his intention changed from the ¢our- teous reception he received, nor with his confidence shaken by the keen eye that be found fixed upon him on his entrance, the ltalian proceeded to apologise for his intrusion, and explained that he had been | Taduced 10 call ‘rom a report of the baronet's liberality, and that he was deputed by a charitable institution, which he mentioned, to solicit Sir John’s name as an addition to their lists of subscribers. To give a colouring to his statement, he produced the books of | the institution that Jarvis had procured for him; and to show that his object was not that of fraudulently obtaining money, he said the name alone was all that he desired. , As, with well-feigned interest in the objects of the gociety, he drew the attention of the baronet to the t depressed condition of their fands, and en- upon the benefits that arose frem the distribu- - tion, through that channel, ef the public benevolence, statement without saspicion, and heard with ill-dis- guised satisfaction the announcement of his intention to become a donor to the institution he had so disin- terestedly advocated, Having thus accounted for his motive in calling, his next anxiety was to secure the accomplishment of the atrocious purpose for which he came, and to do this the utmost extent of his ingenuity and dissimulation was called into action. He had, however, resolved upon his plan beforehand, and he was determined to suffer no minor obstacles to thwart him in its com- pletion. But as if the temptation had been purposely thrown in his way, and the opportunity he desired was created for him by some demon power by ‘which he was aided, the baronet himself ordered wine to be placed upon the table, and a decanter and two glasses were promptly brought and deposited before them. “ You must permit me to offer you some trifling refreshment,” said Barrington; “it is a custom of mine to euffer no visitor to quit my house without having treated him asa guest. You will therefore do me the favour to take a glass of wine before you i- | leave.” Bazzini, with a gratification he could not wholly conceal, assented to the proposition that was made, and thanking the baronet for his kindness and unex- pected hospitality, he hoped that his host would him- self set the example. “ With pleasure,” answered the other, good-hu- mouredly; and filling his glass, he was about to raise it to his lips, when the door opened, and the swarthy attendant calling Sir John away for an instant to the adjoining apartment, he begged the Italian to excuse his company a moment, and left the wine untouched. The delight of Bazzini at this additional facility that was afforded him gave a glow of exultation to his sinister visage, as, with a preparatory glance round the apartment, to see that he was unobserved, he drew the poisonous compound from his vest. Dashing aside a portion of the wine on the tray, as if it had been spilled there by accident, he filled up the glass with the contents of the phial, and had scarcely finished congratulating himself on the success of his visit, before the baronet returned and resumed his seat. “I forgot to tell you,” be continued, after regretting the interruption that had taken place, “ that I have another custom whch I am scrupulous in maintaining under this roof, and one that even on such trifling occasions as these, where other ceremony is dis with, I am still accustomed to exact.” “Indeed!” cried the Italian, somewhat disconcerted by the tone of frigid politeness in which he was ad- dressed; “and pray may I inquire, Sir John, the nature of this custom you speak of ?” “It is ouly a foolish and fanciful habit of the Bast,” rejoined the baronet, with a courteous smile that yet seemed to be endowed with a peculiar significance; “but having been so long a resident there, I am whimsical enough to desire its introduction into my own country.” “‘ Indeed!” ejaculated the Italian, beginning to be alarmed at this strange preliminary, though he scarcely knew why; “and is it not known already among us?” “You shall see and decide,” was the reply, given in a deep emphatic voice, so different to his former silvery speech that the conscience-stricken criminal was startled by the contrast; “ the custom I speak of is that of exchanging glasses with my guests before we Me OMmilc nooo S) (E@) a