The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 362: what you’re looking at

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

eee eC LLL LL LAD 360 THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. what it is. Wherever the guilty man directed his steps, | dancing master more than the appearance of a sailor. he found men’s eyes = fised upon him—that in- | Knavery was written in every glance of his keen, quiring glances sought to read him. He had lost | dark eye; and, despite his chetive appearance, there much of his former presence of mind. was an indication of courage in his features, which On reaching Dover he took a lodging in a small | were bronzed with the heat of meridian suns. house for the night facing the port, ordered tea, which | “‘ You shall wish to see me, sair?” he said, taking he could not taste, and seated himself near the win- | the chair which Faddle pointed to. dow, yet so shaded by the faded red curtains as to “ Why, yes—that is, I am partial to gentlemen of avoid observation, to watch the busy scene before him. | your country, and always happy to converse with The packet was not to sail till an early hour the fol-| them. I love France.” | lowing morning, and time hung like a nightmare en} “France is much honoured to your good love. | his hands, His attention was at last excited by the | Beautiful country! Sky—wine—women—all beautiful, sight of a man conversing mysteriously with a police- | Not that,” he added, with true French gallantry, man, who appeared to listen attentively to his dis- | “but England is a fine country too—that is, when course. He had seen the man’s face before, although | the sun shines—for it does shine sometimes; 1 have he felt it impossible, at; the moment, to recollect | seen it myself.” where. “But it is not France,’ observed Faddle, wishing “Damn the fellow!” he muttered, “how nervous] to propitiate him, for he well knew that there is he makes me! Every eye seems to be upon me—every | ne road to a Frenchman’s heart so sure as praising one to be trying to read me. There is nothing in my | his country. | | appearance to excite suspicion. I wish I had gone ‘Oh, no, it is not France. Do you want to go to to Folkstone, or embarked at London; both would | France?” he added, significantly. have been safer than here.” “To be candid with you—I do.” Suddenly he recollected where he had seen the} «(Quietly ?” man, and a tremor shook his frame. “ Quietly.” “By heavens, the fellow where.I bought the} «Well, I sail with the first tide. I dare say we clothes! What brings him here? Have I left any | shall: not make much difficulties for the price. thing that could betray me?” Cabin to yourself—food—wine, What you think of He eagerly searched his pockets; but all was safe; | gv» hundred francs?” | not an article was missing. The sum, twenty pounds, was a large one, but the . Although there was nothing in the man’s visit to} fugitive was in no cendifion to refuse; he agreed to it -}-Dover, so immediately after him, to excite suspicion, | at once, for he felt that, after having thus far opened still he dared not risk the meeting. Making the best | hismind te thecaptain, it would be dangerous to haggle of his way to the back of the house, he passed | about the price. | cas through the stables into a bye-street, with the in- “If, when you shall be safe in France, you like to tention of returning to London by rail, The hand | make mea gift, you can,” said the Frenchmaa, bow- of Fate was upon him; he felt that he could not, how- | ing. “ I know how generous are all milords Anglaise. ever he might prolong it, shun his destiny. It was|Itska a good many all safe—only sometimes they night when he arrived. From the low public-honse | fetch them back egain. "One very fine gentleman” by the water’s edge, where he took up his abode, he | they brought back, and hung him, poor man; he was saw a ship with Freneh colours lying ready to start | very generous, aud. leved France too.”") “> | with the tide. | 7 Although Faddle felt his heart beat at the observa- “ What vessel is that?” he demanded of the mis- | tion of the captain, he had sufficient command over tress of the house. : , his countenancs not to betray himself by any outward “The Belle Ville,” replied the woman, who knew | manifestation of agitation, for he felt that an inquir- almost every vessel in the port. ing eye was upon him, | | ‘* And when does she sail?” “T have no fear of thet,” he observed with a laugh, “At three in the morning,” said the woman, whe | “ whatever I may have of my creditors arresting me, began to smell a rat. “The captain is in the bar—would | for I may as well tell you the truth.” | “Of course you have not?” said the captain; “I merely mentioned it as an anecdote of some business. Monsieur has been unlucky in commerce?” “J have.” ‘. “Tt so often comes. I had one little speculation in a house at Bordeaux myself once; but it failed. However, I have made up for it since. I can feel for gentlemen in commerce,” | “ He is deceived,” thought the murderer to himself; “ he takes me for a bankrupt,” “The fool,” secretly muttered the Frenchman, “thinks he bas blinded me.” : It was finally agreed that the captain should send his boat for him to the neighbouring stairs at mid- night. Ten pounds was paid down as a deposit, and a cigar smoked over the bargain. As soon as it was | dark, Faddle drew his cleak around him, and prepared to leave the tavern, and wile away the time by walk- ing till the boat should be ready; he first asked for his bill—to his astonishment the woman demanded ten pounds, 3 you like to speak with him?” “ Who—1? no, certainly not,” replied Faddle, startled at the woman’s having read his thoughts; “ what should I want with him?” “There are many gentlemen who prefer sailing quietly with him to going by the regular packets; he is a trustworthy man, and knows what life is. You could see him quite privately in my room above.” “Well,” said her guest, “perhaps I may as well have a chat with him; but it is only for company. I have no idea of going to France.” “Of course not,” said the landlady, with a knowing look; “ but you may as well see him,” As Faddle made no reply, she left the room to inform her guest, rubbing her hands with glee, for she felt convinced that she should make something by the transaction. She had too often been employed in similar affairs not to understand all the fugitive’s hesitation. The captain soon after made his appearance, He was a meagre, dapper little man, with the air of a Eomichbooks..com