The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 365: what you’re looking at

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

“Can I trust you?” said the passenger. “Can you trust me!” repeated the captain, in a tone which was intended to convey how vay Bax felt hurt by the question ; ‘tof course you can Dieu! I am Frenchman and full of honour—never betray any thing in my life. Trust me! yes, with all the gold in the Bank of England; I would not run away with it.” “T believe you,” said Faddle, eyeing his spindle legs; “the weight of a tenth part of it would crush ‘The latter observation he kept to himself, for he ‘Knew that to offend a Frenchman’s vanity was the surest way to make him your enemy for life. “ And you will trust me?” demanded the former, his eyes sparkling with cupiiity. “T will.” They drew their stools closer together and re- plenished their tumblers. It was a contest of shrewdness between the two men—each wished to deceive the other; but as one was incited by avarice, and the other by tha love of life, the instinct of self- preservation, it is not wonderful that the more powerful motive prevailed. — Now then, my dear friend, perhaps you will be sick before you reach Calais—tell me all.”” “ Well, then,” sighed Faddle, “ I am a bankrupt.” “I guessed as much.” * But not a poor one.” “Of course not; poor bankrupis do not run away, they have nothing to conceal; dull rogues, who leave every thing to their creditors, and feel a fool’s pride in paying to the last sixpence. But you,” he added, “ are not one of thesas ; thers is too much finessg ia your coun “ You flatter me.” ” : “ No, on my honour, ~ Bat teil me, how can I serve you? Ah, my dear friend,.I am so impatient to prove to you that my attachment is sincere.” “ Unfortunately, the greater part of what I have saved from the wreck is in London.” “Diable! where did you leave it?” ‘In a small trunk at the western station, where it will remain till called for. Hore is tha ticket, on pro- ducing which they will deliver it up.” | The speaker produced an old luggage ticket, which ke happened to have in his pocket, and had not been jasked for when his Inggage had been given up. ofAnd what is it you require?” demanded the tain.. iA. faitbfal friend who would go over to England and demand. the trunk, I can aftord to pay him well for his services,” «fXoucmay ‘find: it difficult,” said the captain, y, “ta, change your notes in Paris. Most athe mum bers are a knowa and placarded on Bourse by this time.” of'A tan Baglish note in the trunk.” tthanr, gad? |o. LSdNos” said Faddle, aeatindnied at the eagerness Witheshich the:questidn: was) asked; ‘bills of the ayable-tn the begrer-—no questions Let me but once get them into my poh 7% and-Viblive ensegneiin’ rbagsd omoe solid eviv” “ Why did you not go for them yourself 2” dentaanded the; captains) io odT wid \Yece of beviile eao on ht Did, youevenhenr ofthe devil's lest. invention2’, waN peor eaten ig — & 608d bia 00 wort ; Os: |W waswit yiitead ow wer puiyd o hich-ann , wih Phe elestrice ibi ns ssp thas it catahes asked. | bellox od ;laulies) saimoed esinogs cil aioclle ali LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF LONDON LIFE. whatever is between it. I minus, knew that my treasure the office under pretence 9 an Way thought the clerk eyed me of making and though pe uestion was on my tongue, aud the paper in my I dared not speak it. I waa Rervous, too eal to risk it.” “T gnderstand you. J have felé nervous several times in my life myself.” “No time must be lost,” resumed the pretended bankrupt. “If youcan fiad me a messenger on whom you can depend, who will return to London by this uight’s packet, and bring me the treasure over, I will reward him liberally, make him independent of the world for life.’ “ How much does the trun contain?” “ One hundred thousand pounds.” “Whew! you have take away all mine breath. Why that is—let me see—yes, it is two mi five hundred thousand francs. My dear friend, I will go for it myself.” “ You are too kind,” said Faddle. “Not at all, no$ at all. My God! should the land-sharks got it, I should never forgive myself ! Let me have the paper; I will return by the boat to-night, We shall be in time, My God! two millions five hundred thousand francs t” “But where am I to wait your return?” “At my house,” replied the captain, hastily. “Do you think I would suffer a friend worth two millions five hundred thousand francs to go to an inn? should never forgivemyself. No, 1 havea little cottage just outside the gates, where you can remain as long as you please, They will not for your passport there, sd have no fears. I ain gla I have met you, very glad.’’ Had the speaker been able to read all that was passing in the mind of his passenger, he would have changed his opinion. By the time they reached Calais, the marderer’s courage felt re-assured, aad he began to blames him- self for his precipitate departure from England, The captain, who had a project of his own, which rendered it desirable that the person of his enger should not be recognised, persuaded him to pat on a sailor’s dress, and one of those coarse red duffl: shirts so common on board the French ships, Thus attired, soon after they had anchored, Faddle follewed the captain on shore, carrying his cloak and carpet-bag with him. Tho Custom-House officers and the police naturally thought he was one of the crew fellowing his commander with his luggage. As the captain was well known, a nod was all that passed between them. No questions were asked, or examination made; and in a short time they were both seated in the comfortable saloon of the Frenchman’s house, outside the walls of Calais, a well-spread table and a bottle of Bordeaux befors them. . “This I call comfortable,” said the host, “although it is not English comfort.” “T dont dislike it the worse for that just now,” ob- served his guest, with a faint smile, “TI dare say not. Your health, sair.” | And the captain drank off his bumper in honour of the supposed possessor of two million five hundred thousand francs. pai said Faddle, “ what time does the packet diy oc): | At anidnight.” | -Andiyow ara determined to proceed?” he added, ——_ ee Se 9 ee Ot sar they te | ing.an apxiousvioek upon him. EComichvoo acd mevit) .08us00 0st « 6S (EO) mM