The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 217: what you’re looking at

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

against the guilty Moreton. e entrance hall beneath. | ‘the less, one monster in human shape the more. Moreton was terrified at the consequences of his | Tash violence. The fate of the late blooming Ellen n hearin; > the fall of the Lody, Prim, who had | been ‘aie with his employer in the library | below, waiting till the betrayed and unsuspecting | creature slept, started from his seat. He felt in- | stinctively that something dreadful had occurred ;— the noise was no ordinary one; there was death in } its leaden sound, Cautiously opening the door, he | ventured into the hall. The two wretched guardians | of the den of infamy were there before him, their aged cheeks blanched with terror. The lawyer saw |} in an instant what had occurred; indeed, the broken lass from the skylight sufficiently explained it, only he thought it a wilful murder instead of an accidental “ What a frightful accident!’ exclaimed the man Servant, who was more collected than his companion. “Say rather a murder,” interrupted the woman, whose conscience on beholding the crushed and ed body bitterly reproached her for the part she undertaken. “ Ridiculous!” said Prim, coolly taking a pinch of snuff. “ How should a. murder possibly occur here ? | There is no one bat his lordship above; and peers never commit murders; at least,’ he added, with a low chuckle to himself, they are seldom or ever found ” At this moment Lord Moreton, his hair bristling with terror, and his lately-filushed countenance pale as the features of the dead, rushed down the staircase, | To havé marked him as he entered the hall, one would have thought that the hissing snakes of the avenging iry’s lash had been raised over him. 7 Is she—is she dead?” he faltered. “Quite dead, my Jord,” replied the lawyer. © God!” said the young man, clasping his hands to his brow, “then I am a murderer!” The two servants exchanged looks with each other; Prim observed them, and said: | “ His lordship means morally, of course.” _ The observation recalled the peer somewhat to him- } self. With a stern voice he commanded the two do- “mestics to retire till he should ring forthem. They } were too much in his power to refuse, and the careful plewyer followed them to their chambers, and locked them in. He was one of those who seldom gave a thats away. This is a fearfal thing,” observed Moreton to his adviser, as soon as they were seated in the library. « An awkward thing, certainly,” replied the man of aw “in fact, I may say,’’ he added, with a peculiar | ihasts, “very awkward.” 4 Pit must be concealed.” Prim shook his head. Experience told him, as in s affair with Mrs. Mowbray, that it was more difli- eat as well as dangerous, to manage the concealment of a crime, than t to frustrate t the investigation of it. ae at ali, atl LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF LONDON LIFE. Crash, crash, went the glass and the s!ender iron Then there was a shriek—a wild, despairing ak—startling the ears of night, as it rose to borne on the accusing angel’s wings to be A dull heavy followed it, as the body of the desperate girl ll from the lofty roof upon the marble pavement of AM was over. Earth possessed one loving heart ; and he rushed from the roof to the n the faint hope tLat the life of his Z11 * What do you propose, then?” demanded his client. * An inquest,” replied the lawyer, “ by all means an inquest. It is not unusual for persons to walk in their sleep, or for a servant to fall by accident in cleaning a window, By-the-bye, 1 think I observed yesterday that the skylight wanted cleaning.” Then, as if more pleased with the idea, he added: “I am sure I did observe it—could swear I did.” “Still I do not see the necessity of the inquest,” observed the peer, whose coward nature trembled at the danger of exposure. “Ah, my lord, you are young—very young; and although one of the hereditary intelligences of the country, have not watched the beautiful operation of the laws you assist to make as closely as I have done, An inquest, successfully conducted, presents a moral, if not a legal, bar to further investigation ; and seeures, in the event of any untoward accident, a host of wit- nesses, both in the coroner and jurymen, in your fayour. Valuable witnesses,” he added; “ for few men have sufficient philosophy to see their proper judg- ment put upon trial without feeling an interest in its acquittal.” “Thou art an experienced villain, Prim,” Moreton, at length comprehending the idea. “‘ My professional services are chiefly amongst the aristocracy, my lord,” replied the lawyer. _ “You think this may be managed?” ““ Tam sure it can.” “ Be it so,” said the young noble. “For myself, I shall retire to France; I have long spoken of my in- tention to travel, therefore my departure will excite no surprise amongst my friends.” His adviser warmly approved of his resolution. Absent clients, he knew by experience, paid well, and Moreton was extremely wealthy. “ And what,” he demanded, “ would your lordship wish to be done with the child ?”’ “Return it to its father,” replied the half- repentant man. “Dangerous, my lord—dangerous; might lead to disagreeable inquiries. For my own part, asa matter of prudence, I should decline to move in it,” “Let it be honourably provided for, then,” pettishly exclaimed the harassed peer, who felt that he was being made a tool of by his agent. “I dare say you can find some one to receive it?” This was the very thing Prim wished for, as he saw that it would give him a constant hold upon his client. In his opinion there was nothing like having two strings to his bow, “T dare say I could,” slowly replied the tempter, his thoughts naturally reverting to his old acquaint- ance Gipsy George and the orphan child of the mur- dered Mrs. Mowbray; “but it will be very expen- sive.” ™ Doubtless,” observed his lordship. “ All that remains, then, is to summon the domeés- tics and instruct them in the necessary tale,” said Prim; “but can you trust them ?” ‘*] can hang them,” replied the peer. “Good,” said the man of business; “ I am glad your lordship has been so provident, and taken such excel- lent security for their behaviour. I perceive that you can trust them,” That very night Lord Moreton returned to town. As he lolled in his laxurious carriage his heart was ill at ease; the last fearful shriek of his victim stil! said (CE) im sued him; and he bore a portion (O11)