Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 270: what you’re looking at

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972 SPRING-HEEL D JACK : THE TERROR OF LONDON. respect, the ruffian who would so debase himself} shook his head slowly, and again continued ae as to insult her, by word or deed, would rouse a devil here that could not easily be quelled !’’ He placed his hand upon his heart as he spoke, and continued his rapid and thoughtful walk about the little apartment. Suddenly he paused before Jane, and asked— ‘Has she ever hinted a desire. to leave this place ? ”’ “« Never.”’ “The question I felt was unnecessary,” said - Jack, ‘‘ yet something prompted me to ask it.” “ On the contrar Y; ‘she has said she never was so happy as she has been here. “Has anyone ever been here to see her?” asked Jack, after a pause. ‘None but yourself.’’ ‘‘ Has she made any acquaintances ?” ‘““ No. I never heard her speak of any. In fact, IT am sure she has none.’ f Something must be done to solve this mys-| tery,’ said Jack, after a long and thoughtful pause; ‘* but what ? There Tamata loss. > ‘‘T can think of nothing.” ‘‘ Well, do not grieve so much,” said Jack, as’ Jane began to cry again. “ You may be sure | that if she can be traced out she shall, and weep-| ing will only serve to make you ill. I will set forth at once and make inquiries, and I sincerely hope they will tend to elucidate the mystery. ‘‘ Heaven grant they may !”’ << Amen to that,” said Richard. ‘“‘T have inquired everywhere I ean think of,’’ said Jane. “ About this neighbourhood ?”’ * VYesw’ ‘““f will try the one from which she came, and those who know her. The rascal in whose house she lived may throw some light on this strange affair, perhaps,’ said Jack, as he thought of Bill Jackson. | But he did not think that he had had any hand in Ellen’s disappearance, for what had Bill to gain by it? Still, he knew her, and those who had often seen her while living in the locality where he resided. So Jack made up his mind to go at once to Jackson, believing the fellow would not recognise him in his ordinary attire, and minus his mask ; and, under the pretence of having work for her to do, seek to learn if he knew ought of her ‘whereabouts. Should this fail to put him on Ellen’s track, he resolved to seek the aid of the police; and exhorting Jane to be of good cheer and hope for the best, “he prepared to ‘take his departure, ac- companied by Richard, whose sudden good for- tuue had been so unexpectedly damped. Dispirited and disheartened the young man took his leave of Jane Slater, and silently walked on by the side of Jack in the direction of Bill Jackson’s dwelling. Jack’s face wore a gloomy expression. He knit his brows thoughtfully together, and walked at a rapid pace, and seemed to be unconscious of his companion’s presence till Richard, struck by a sudden thought, placed his hand upon his arm, and, in a sort of hissing whisper, said— “Do you think she is dead ? " Jack paused, looked at him for a moment,' keenly. rapid walk. CHAPTER XCIII. SCENE AT THE LAWYER'S CHAMBERS—A STRANGE DUEL. A WEEK passed, and no clue could be obtained of the missing Ellen, in spite of the exertions of Jack, Richard, and Jane Slater. . , Bill Jackson knew nothing of her, or cer- tainly the offer of a sovereign would have bought information from him. Mrs. Folder had been conveyed to her last resting place, followed by Richard, who, inspite of her wish that he might curse her, dropped tears upon the coffin-lid as 3 he took his last gaze upon the box which contained her remains. Though Jack’s principal anxiety was to dis- cover Ellen, he still found time to pay a few visits to Mr. Brief, the lawyer, who, at his recommend- ation, had undertaken to seek to get the property for Richard, now held by a Charles Lorain, a cousin of the libertine whose base deeds had brought him to a fearful and degrading doom within the dark walls of N ewgate. 3 The lawyer had given notice to Mr. Lorain of his intention to dispute his right to the title and. estates enjoyed by the unhappy murderer; a notice which he first treated with gone d Ve then looked upon with fear. At the advice of his solicitor, he accompanied | that gentleman to Mr. Brief’s chambers, and while there Jack made his appearance, and was introduced as the person who had placed the papers in the lawyer’s hands, and upon whose recommendation Mr. Brief had undertaken the case for his client. Jack, of course, had no. personal ill-feeling towards Lor ain, and although ata glance he read. the character of the man, treated him with the utmost respect and cour tesy. Lorain was a young man about seven-and- twenty years of age, tall in stature, and propor- tionately well- made ; but there was a something. in his movements and expression which stamped him at once as a man of violent passions, of an overbearing spirit, and a cruel and designing nature, aud Jack corfid see on the instant that however just might be the claim of Richard, it would not be yielded without a struggle, and with a bad grace, by his opponent. He bent his head coldly to Jack, in reply to his courteous greeting, and, with a supercilious curl of the lip, turned to his solicitor, who was conversing with My. Brief. ‘Well,’ he said, in an assumed tone, ‘have you persuaded the old gentleman that none but a. fool would undertake to dispute my right to the title and estates of my late lamented cousin?” | “Mr. Brief and myself will, doubtless, under- stand each other in good time, sir,” said the person addressed, somewhat sharply, evidently angered at the other’ S Manner. Lorain bit his lip at the rebuke, and frowned — scorningly upon Jack, who was observing him > 4 i Fo 4 Co nicbooks: co