The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 125: what you’re looking at

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

— RT LT A a yr i LO Ee po ee L1S whether I have any reason to believe that he has learnt aught which may have a tendency to diminish the re- spect he had until within these two days past main- tained fowards his parents? On this head I am of course unable to answer you positively: but my im- pression is that he is as much as ever in the dark re~ lative to the dread occurrences of the past. Indeed, how can he have possibly Iearnt a single fact —~” May not the discovery that he is your san, and not your nephew, have induced him to seck for further in- formation?” enquired the Earl of Eliingham. “ May not some sentiment of ardent curiosity have been awakened within him——” “But where could he address himself to this task of raising the veil from the mysteries of by-gone years— even if ho have the slightest ground to suspect that such mysteries do exist? ’ demanded Mr. Latfield, in- terrupting the Earl. “To what source could he repair for the means of elucidation? ” “Y know not: and yet—I am now mnpressed with suspicions of a most unpleasant nature,” observed the Earl. “It is very essential that some immediate step stould be talzen to redeem this fine young man from a career of error—perhaps of depravity-——” “Ohl yes—yes!” exclaimed Mr. Watfield. © My God! ifthe sins of the father Le im this case visited upon the son, life will become intolerable to me!— Rather would I at onco have a full and complete understanding with Charles,—tell him all—yes, al/,— reveal to him who I really am—open to him the means of a complete retrospection, embracing ell my sad history,—and then throw myself on his merey—im- ploring him at least to have pity upon his innocent mother, if not on me who am so guilty!” “No—no, Thomas; this humiliation may not be!” ajaculated the Karl, “For if, as you believe, your son has at present no euspicion of the past, it wonld de madness to make unneceseary revelations.” “Tam bewildered—cruclly perplexed: I J:now not how to act!” cricd Mr. [atfeld. “Oh! sf I were confident that he has no such suspicions—that he has Jearnt or surmised nothing calculated to diminish the tespest due to his mother and myself——” “ Yow can he have fathomed the obscurity which hangs over your former life?” demanded the lar). “And as to supposing that he could, by any possible means, obtain oven the shudew of an idea of your real birth and parentage " “No: for the papers—those important papers whieh I gave you years ago, and which I requested you to destroy,—those papors, I say," exclaimed Mr. Hat- field, “could alone make such important revelations to my son; and, thank heaven! they are not m existence.” ‘‘ My dear brother,” returned the Earl of Ellingham, taking Mr. Watfield’s hand, and speaking in a very serious tone, “I must frankly and honestly inform you that those papers have noe been destroyed. At the same time, they have been kept in a place of per- fect security—a secret recess known only to ny self——” ‘And wherefore were nut such dangerous docn- ments burnt—annihilated!”? asked Mr. Hatfield, in a yeproachful tone. “T dared not perform a deed which would argue co much selfishness on my part,” replied the Eatl of Ellingham, now spealung with a strong ermphasis— | the result and impulse of his generous, lofty, honour- able feelings. ‘So long as those papers remain in THE MYSTERIES "OF LONDON. _ ° ’ mee eee fay tome, ‘Lrepent of the step which I took in re- nouncing my just rights and privileges: and I now i claim then:’—and should you at any time thus address me, it would only be for me to produce the papers that establish your claims.” “Oh! Arthur, yon are gencrous—even to a fault!” exclaimed Mr. Watfield. “You know—or, at least, I again assure you for the hundredth time, that not for worlds would I heap disgrace on a noble name by +]; daring to assume it! ,Merciful heavens! shall the coronct which becomes you so well, be snatcheil from your brows, and transferred to those of-——” “Tush! Thomas—hush! this excitement is most unnecessary,” interrupted the Earl. “You must not blame me for the motives which induced me to keep - the documents s—and now—if you will haye them restored to you-——” “Yes—yes: give them to me, Arthur,” cried Mr. Hatfield, resolving to destroy the papers without farther delay, “You claim thei—they are your’s—and they shall at once bo returned into your hands,” said the noble- man. “Dut I conjure you to act not hastily nor rashly——” * Fear nothing, Arthur,” exclaimed Mr. ITatfield : “but give me the papers! There is no time to lose— tho Indics will be waiting for us at the breakfact- table——” “Truc!” ejaculated the Earl: and, approaching that helf at the back of which the seerct recess was formed, he said, “Once every year have I inspected this well concealed depository : once every year havo I assured inyself that the precious documents wero safez—and on those occasions, I have cleansed them of the dust which even accumulates in a place that is almost hermetically seated.” As the Earl thus spoke, he took down from the shelf the books which stood immediately before the recess; and Mr. Uatfield, receiving the volumes in his hands, placed them upon the table. While per-~ forming this simple and almost mechanical act, his cyes were suddenly attracted to the name and date of one of the books;—and his Jools were rivetted, as it were, on the words—“ Anata Meqister, 1827." For the nature of the volume and the date of the year whose incidents it recorded, suddenly revived the poignancy of many bitter recollections, the sharpness of which had been somewhat blunted by time: and it was in a moment of strange nervousness—~or idiosyncratic excitement, that he opened the bool: which thus had aroused those painful memaries. caped his lips: for he had lighted on the very page which contained the account of his 2rcution at Horse- monger Lane :—and at tho very same instant a cry of mingled amazement and alarm burst from the Earl of Etlingham. “Oh! is thisa mere accident ?” exclaimed Mr. Uat- field: “or a warning———” “ Merciful heaven—the papers!” ejaculated the no- bleman. . “A warning that my son has seen this 2?” added the unhappy father, almost distracted with the idea, “Some miscreant has done this!” cried the Earl, stainping his foot with rage: and it was seldom‘that he thus gave way to his passion. The brothers turncd towards each other—oexchany- ing hasty glances of mutual and anxious enquiry. “Tho papers are gone!” “7 paid the Earl, clasping his existence, you, my dear brether, can at any moment hands in despair. CE i 2 et tr Rep a An ejaculation of horror—irrepressible horror—es- ’ I RT EE EY ORO te Ga a ein tees oe rene, GIOOKS (SO) (SO)