The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 311: what you’re looking at

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

prince bowed and smiled to him. That smile was of incalculable advantage to him with the jury, which Was composed principally of tradesmen. _ Aaron Wolf underwent a rigid cross-examination, ‘but nothing was elicited to shake his evidence. He ‘Stated again and again, upon oath, that Colonel ‘Hamilton was not the man, or in the least resembling him. During the scene the snuff-box of Mr. Prim a part; every time the Jew hesi- tated he tapped it and took a pinch; the sound of his fingers on the lid produced a reply favourable to the case of the plaintiff. _ From the failure of Wolf’s testimony the evidence for the defendant broke down so completely, that he | had not a leg to stand upon. The judge summed up with a visible leaning towards the plaintiff; and after @ day of intense interest, a verdict was returned which established at once the claim of Hamilton to the name of which he had been so long deprived. No sooner was it given than Prim marched out of court to pay a visit to the little churchyard in which the remains of his murdered child reposed. He had made one step towards reparation, and his heart felt lighter. _ As the Prince of Wales passed from the court, he shook the hand of the colonel warmly. ‘| “Let me, Mr. Mowbray,” he exclaimed, “be the | first to congratulate you on your restoration to the ‘| name of your ancestors, The miserable defence set | up by the husband of Mosine entirely failed.” | Colonel Mowbray—forsuch was now his legal appel- lation—could only bow; his heart was too full for | words; he longed to rush from the heated court and | give vent to his feelings in solitude. _ IT see that you are too much excited,” resumed the good-natured prince, “for conversation; let me see you in a few days at Carlton House.” _ Bat few words passed on the occasion between -Maybird and George. Knowing the errors and mis- fortunes 6f the life of his friend, the former had been equally agitated as the colonel himself when Mr Aaron Wolf made his appearance in the witness-box. _ “Vell,” said the Jew, as he directed his steps | towards home, which, our readers may recollect, laid in the purlieus of Westminster, somewhere at the back of the Abbey—* pretty day’s work! Lost a thousand 3 all through that cursed lawyer; and it will | cost me another, I dare say, to get that snuff-box out ofhis hand. I must have it,” he muttered, “ if it cost me half my fortune; there’s a halter in every stone it contains, I wonder where he keeps it—how the deyil he obtained possession of it.” _ At this moment a tall, rawboned, ragged creature, who had been amongst. the spectators in the court, slapped him on the back. The creature was half drunk, and called him a jolly trump. _ “I’m any thing buta trump. There, go away, good woman; I’ve nothing to give you.” _ “Who the devil expects it?” said the hag; “ and yet the time has been when Aaron Wolf would not have refused a crown bow! of punch when he wanted to wheedle a seeret out of Lizzy.” _ “What,” said the Israelite, “Lie of the Rising ‘un 2” _ “ Yes, and half a hundred slums beside. not forgotten me?” _ * Were you in court?” eagerly demanded the old ponnas You have _ “Ay, could have screamed with delight at the fun Mf the farce, only the sharks would have grabbed me. _ It was as good as a play to see the judges looking as as owls, while Prim was tapping the lid of his >» =m =. — . - - . - LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF LONDON LIFE. 509 ey as Ha, ha, ha! a pretty box that, Mr, Aaron olf.’ “Was it?” he answered carelessly. “I scarcely noticed it.” This was uttered with an air of pretended indif- ference, which only served to excite the risibility of the gaunt, wretched-looking object who kad addressed him, and of whom, since the discovery of her name, he evidently stood in some secret fear. “It’s a lie, Wolf—your eyes were riveted to it; the sight of it sent the blood from every vein in your coward carcase into that miserable thing you call your heart, for you felt that he could hang you.” “Hang me, Liz!” replied Aaron. “Pooh! you are drunk,” “Drunk or sober,” repeated the woman, pas- sionately, “I tell you he could hang you; and so could 1; and I will one day, perhaps, when the world grows dull, and I get crabbed for want of sport! It’s a fanny world, when two persons in it can hang so respectable a man as yourself.” “ Remember,” said the Jew, “that these words are actionable. I am a respectable man—pay rates and taxes. Who would believe such stuff, from a ragged drunken creature like yourself?” “Am 1?” said the woman, seizing him by the arm, for her evil passions were roused by the tone of defiance in which he spoke. “Ragged and drunk as I am, if I went before the beak with a certain lace cravat, which, twenty years since, you gave me to wash, and which I never did, but kept it—kept it with the marks of blood upon it—how long would the respectable Mr. Aaron Wolf remain out of prison ?” The old man turned fearfully pale at her words. “How long,” continued the virago, “before the beak with the black cap would say the cold-meat grace over you, and you’d take your last ride in the hangman’s cart?” “Hush!” said the terrified Aaron; “you may be overheard |” “Do you confess that I could hang you, then?” she continued. “You can hang me!” faltered the Jew, opening his purse, and offering her money. “Keep your brads—I don’t want them,” said the woman, pushing back the money with her coarse red hand. “Liz isn’t the girl to split on an old pal. But mind, no foul play to George; no plotting against him, or Pll send you to the gallows as sure as my name is Liz.” “You seem to take a great interest in the fellow,” observed the Jew, sarcastically; “I should scarcely have expected a tender passion from a woman of your ege and character, I thought such things were long since passed with you.” “TI love him,” replied the hag, “‘ because I nursed him when an infant; a hundred times has he sank to sleep with his curly head upon this withered bosom, his little hands clasped fondly round my neck, Had you breathed a word,” she added, fiercely, “ toinjure one hair of his head, I had strangled you, Aaron Wolf, like a worthless cur, as you are.” “Vell, veil,” observed the man, uneasily, for he was old and feeble, and not mach pleased at the idea of a struggle with the powerful old woman, who could easily bave fulfilled her threat; “we are all friends now. If George had any reason to complain of ma when he was a boy, I have done him justice now that heisa man. Father Abraham, forgive me for the lie I swore to, Cost timef a thousand pounds, Liz, But CORNICLOO <S) (E) m