Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 254: what you’re looking at

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

Tr ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. | 274 It is necessary for us, before we proceed further in our narration, to give some short description of this apartment. ; Its walls were panelled with oak, and garnished here and there with crimson hangings. The furniture consisted of large high-backed chairs, and a grotesquely carved table, near which stood an old-fashioned mirror, reflecting all the objects in its immediate neighbourhood. At the nether end of the room, a heavy stone wrought mantle-piece projected itself from the wainscoting some feet. Showing that the time had been when tt sent its huge fires blazing up the huge chimney—puffing many a volume of smoke over the heads of the jovial guests who might have frequented the tavern on such occasions. Poll Maggot having completed the task imposed upon her (to which we shall not allude at present) proceeded to open a curtain disclosing a small recess. Within it appeared the sleeping figure of Violet Tremaine, Suspended over her couch, a lamp threw a faint light upon her features, now deathly pale. Though she slumbered camly, her repose seemed to be induced rather by some narcotic than natural fatigue. This supposition would be correct, for the deep sleep which bound up the senses of Violet Tremaine was occasioned by the potent medicament that had been administered to her. After a time she awoke, to find herself in the chamber we have described. The stream of light descending from above first attracted her attention. Starting, her gaze was then fixed on vacancy, if a mind distraught and filled with strange images can be called so. In this musing attitude, and almost deprived by terror of consciousness, her confused memory pic- tured her late adventure. By degrees she called to mind that the captor had borne her down a flight of steps, and that for a considerable distance along a gravel walkand lawn. She remembered next, still as in a dream, being placed ina carriage, and driven with great swift- ness through a park, commanding a view of tangled shrub and foliage. The journey was so rapidly performed, that she expected the vehicle in which she was seated would be dashed every minute into pieces. She fancied that she then shrieked for assistance, but that her cry was stifled by an unseen hand placed over her mouth, Beyond this all was oblivion, darkness, for her mind wandered, and a torpor overpowered her, While yet meditating, she was aroused by a gentle tap on the shoulder. © Violet raised her eyes, and her glance fell upon Poll Maggot, The buxom hostess was beside, and supporting her from falling. She held a large goblet filled with liquid to her lips, and compelled her to swallow a portion of it. The stimulant revived Violet; but still it pro- duced a strange ex itement, against which she seemed vainly to struggle. *‘Who are you?” at length she demanded of her present companion. ‘‘T am the mistress of this hotise,” answered Poll Maggot, blandly, ‘‘and in the confidence of Sir Ranulph Gayton.” “Sir Ranulph Gayton !”’ echoed Violet, suddenly recollecting the name, cS Trembling from head to foot, she raised herself, and dashed aside her tresses, as if to gather her scattered senses. “Tt must have been a dream,” she cxclaimed, in a low tone; then, addressing Poll Maggot. con- tinued, ‘Sir Ranulph Gayton, you say, that is quite right ; he said he would attend me to the house of Lord Darnford ; then why am I here? Pray, let met me depart, or my friends will be alarmed.” : “What, go, my lady?” replied Poll Maggot, laughing; ‘‘that would never do—no, no. You assure me you know Sir Ranulph Gayton,” con- tinued the hostess; “I can hardly credit it, since you wish me to disobey his order.” “ His order—what order?” “Why the baronet would murder me outright,’ said Poll Maggot, “if I suffered you to depart.” ‘“TIndeed ! but as I am my own mistress, I insist upon quitting this place.” “ You cannot.”’ “How! am I, then, a prisoner ?” cried Violet, in fresh alarm. “T say not that; but the windows and doors of my house are barred.” ‘‘Gracious heaven! what a dreadful thought floats across my brain,’ muttered the terrified lady, ; She had been entrapped, deceived, and betrayed, The odious place of concealment must be some den of vice. What is her doom? To the last question Violet received the flippant answer of Poll Maggot, who explained away all doubt by stating that she believed Sir Ranulph Gayton to be a man ot honour, and that he intended we marry the person whom he had so foully carried off. “Yes, truly,” continued the imperturbable hos- tess; “I heard him bid the lawyer draw up a license, to be ready on his return to the inn,” “ Which will be——” Very shortly.” “Oh, woman,” exclaimed Violet, imploringly, ‘you are of my own sex, and should take pity on me. I'll repay you in such terms that my life will scarcely requite the debt.” “Lady, what you ask of me is impossible,” re- plied Poll Maggot. ‘Iam so in the power of your admirer, that I dare not for the world offend him.” * Will not this tempt you ?” As Violet spoke, she drew from her wrist a valu- able bracelet, and placed it in the hand of Poll Maggot, ‘Jewels, I declare,” said she, her eyes gloating upon the costly ornament. “ Well, I never saw any thing so beautiful,” ‘Woman like, vanity is her besetting sin,” mur- mured Violet to herself. “I shall succeed.” Perceiving the change that had taken place in the sentiments of Poll Magzot, and that the in- fluence of wealth and power enslaved her fancy, the captive again addressed her, ’ “Would not, I say, such a gift as those gems,” continued Violet, ‘‘induce you to have less terror of Sir Ranulph Gayton, and more consideration for me, his victim ?” “ Why, yes,” replied Poll Maggot, superciliously ; still regarding the bracelet which she had fastened on herarm, ‘As you say—it is not creditable to Sir Ranulph to—how they glitter to be sure—these gems must be worth at least -—” “Many hundred pounds,” said Violet, » “ They shall be yours, if you let me but escape from this terrible abode,” * . “I was about to remark,” continued the hostess, comiuichook Eom