The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 17: what you’re looking at

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+” /? 10 THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON, at receiving intelligence concerning him; suflice it to say that she rend his letter with tearful oyes, and gladly consented to reply toit. In the evening I took her anssver to the prisoner; and he wept over it like a child. I then know that his reformation was 2 certainty. Two or three days afterwards, he begged mo to allow him @ Bible; and his request was of courso complied with, Tho correspond- ence that passed botwoen him and Matilda was frequent and leszthy; and that he might focl himself under no restraint, I assured him that I neithor saw his letters nor his replics. "I was a falschood on my part——but o necossary, tind thoro- fore an innocont one, For I did poruso all this correspondence; and Matilda was“awaro of the fact by which J was onabled to watch the gradual but sudden chango that was taking placo in tho mind of that man, At longth I porceived that I inight in eafety think of providing for him elsowhero; and I Was as much embarrassed how to accomplish this aim, as I was in the case of Timothy Splint. But in the midst of my bowilderment I happened to no- tics an advertisement in a daily nowspaper, statiug that by o particular day two men, or a man and his wife, were required to undertake the caro of Iddy- stone Light-house. You may start with surprise, doctor—you may cren smile: but I assure you that this advertisement appoared most providentially to concur with the object I had in view, Without a momont's delay I spoke to Matilda respeoting tho matters and she exprossed her readiness to follow my advice in all things, so long as there was a pros- pect of her. being reunited to Josh Pedlet. Her consont being procured, it was no difficult task to obtain that of thea man. On the contrary, he ace ecptea the proposal with joy and thankfulness. Wilton soon mado the necessars enquiries nnd ar- rangemcents; and at this moment Joshua Pedler and tho young woman are tho sole inmates of tho Eddystone Light-houso!” “Thus, my dear friond,” said the physician, count- ing tho names of the persons upon his fingers, “you have disposed of Tidmarsh in Aldorncy—the Bunces are to go to Sark—Splint is bound as an emigrant to the Far West—and Joshua Pedler is on tho Eiddysto.e rock.” “And Podler is the only ono who is unaccompa- nied by an agent of mine,” observed the Black: “because Matilda isa good young woman; and I can rely upon her. Morcover I should toll you that I procured a license for them ; and Wilton saw them legally marriod at Plymouth, before thoy ombarked for the Light-house.” *T congratulate you upon tho success of your projects thus far,” said the physician. “It is truly wonderful low admirably you have mahaged thus to redeem and satisfactorily dispose of some of the greatest villinns that over lurked in tho low dens of this motropolis. But now, my friond, I wish to hear something of that arch-mlscroant, Old Death,” At this moment tho door opened; and onu of tho Black’s dependants entered the room. “Tho woman Bunco, sir” ho said, “is most anxious to communicate something to you before shoe quits London. She declares that she has asocrat preying upon her mind——” “A secrat?” oxclaimed the Black. “ Yes, sir—a secret which sho says sho must ro- veal to you, a8 1S is too heavy for her hoart to bon, She crled a groat deal, and implored me to come te you.” ** Doctor,” said the Biackamoor, after a few mo-< ments’ profound reficction, “you know wherefore I do not tish.that woman to behold my features~ even though thoy’ be thus disguised. During her incarceration I never spoko to her savo through the trap of her dungeon door; and since she has been an inmate of tho houso T have not visited her. It wil? bo as woll to continuo this precaution : do you, then, hasten to her and rocolye the confession, whaterer it be, which sho las to make,” . “Willingly, roplicod Lascolles; and ho fotlowed the servant from tho room. . CHAPTER OXI. THE CONVERSATION CONCLUDED, Drwanrps of a quarter of an honr Jiad clapsod, when Dr. Lascelles returned to tho apartmont in which ho had left the Blackamoor. “Yos,” oxelaimed the physician, throwing him- solf into tha chair which he had recontly occupied; “that woman fs indecd penitent—truly penitent!” What proof have you acquired of this fact, doctor?” demanded tho Black, “Tho confession whieh slo has just made to mo —or rather tho motivo which induced tier to make it,” answered Lascelles. “But not to keep you in suspense, my doar friond, she has revealed some- thing which only confirms a suspicion that you yourself lind long ago entertained, if I remembor right.” ; “ And that snspicion—-—” “Ts relative to Jacob Smith,” added Lascelles, “Ah! tho woman has confessed iti” exclaimed the Blackamoor. “Sho has confessed that Jacob Smith fs her own son, and that Benjamin Bones Is his father,” replicd the physician, in 2 solemn tone. “My God! what a parent that man has been !” cried the Black, his brows contracting, and his roice indicating the emotions of horror that were suddonly excited within him. “ Whon I recall to mind every dotail of tho history of poor Jacob,—his neglected infancy—his corrupted youth,— when I reflect that his own father was the individual who coolly and deliberately initiated him in tho ways of crime———Just heavens! I begin to think with you that the roformation of euch a monster is an impossibility t”” «Subduoe your excitement, my dear friend,” said tho doctors; “and lot us conversa calmly and rea- sonably upon these matters.” “First, then, explain to me the naturo of your interview with Mrs, Bunce,” observed the Black. “I shall liston with carnest attention.” “JT went up stairs to the room in which sho is located,” said Lascolles; “and she rose from a chair tho moment I entered: but sho started back in evident disappointment mingled with surprise whon shosawme. ‘Zé was not vou, sir,’ sho almost im- mediately observed, ‘that Iwanted to ste. Lenow that the master of this house is of dark complexion; for Ihave caught a glimpse ofhim when he has visited my dungeon below.—I explained to her that I was a friend of your's, and that yon had deputed ma to receive any confession which she haé to make. She _ appeared to hesitate for a moment, aud thee burst COMM GIOOKS (CO)