The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

12 “Explain yourself, my dear friend,” replied Las- celles; “and I will give you my advice candidly and frankly.” “Tn a word, thon, doctor,” continued tlic Diacke- moor, “TJ have such faith in the cot y urcuscien of woman, that I am balf inctined to csnjure Ecther de Medina to asset mein ¢i:- «cod work, Would sho but consont to visit tlic sreat sinuer—or rather to address him thr wrt. she slidine-3 ane! of Ids dungeon door, I am «tain that lure eloquence, aided by the musics! tones af ler veire and the deep focling which weuid characterice Les langrape, =e] am certain, F ras, that she wenld sueceed in touching a chord in hy heart, which no words—no appeal of mine can revel:.” Tho physician lear 1 with attention, aud bezan to reflect profoundly. “For my part,” continued the Diackamoor, “I belicro that the cloquence of women, when rightly used and properly directud, is endowed with an in- fluence and a power almost irresittible, Woman’e mission is to tamo and humanize tle ferocity of man's disposition; and tho more antavonistic are the charactors of two beings of opporite sexes thus to be brought in contact with cach other, the better for the purpose. Now, decidedly no two lising creatures eau be more dissimilar in al] respeets than Benjamin Boncs ond Esther de Medins,—tie former so savage and unrelenting; the latter so mild and forgiving,— the one possessing a sonal blackened by every pos- siblo crime; the other endowed with every virtue that approximates the nature of woman to that of the angel |” @Y like your project—I see not the leart objec. tion to it, my dear friend,” saul Dr. Lascelles, after z Jong pause, during wlach he pondired deeply on the plan suggested. “ Do sou think that Musde Mee dina would consent to ald you in this matter?” “I have no doubt of it,” returned the Black. “Yon perceive that tho dilemma is somewhat ecrious, and not slightly embarrarany. 1 cannot allow Benjamin Bones to go forth apain into the world, to rccommence his sile intrigues: besides, to sito him J:is liberty thus, would be to defeat the primary object which I had in siew in bicaking up his gang. To release him at preeent 15 therefore imporsibie; and I scarcely feel mreelf juctified in keeping lim locked up much longer in o dari dur- geon. It would be unsafe to remove him into one of the apartments of cither this house or that in Turninill Street; for such a crafty fox can alone be kept secure by massive stono walls and iron bolte. What, then, am 1 to do with him ?—how am | to disposo of him? Esther will assiet me in this diffi- enlty; and God rend that through her agency, some salutary impreecion may be made upon Od Death's mind !” “Bear In memory,” exclaimed the physician, wn Sidon suddenly rtriking him, " that one of this man's horrible rchemes was to nvengo himself on Lord Ellingham by tortering Esther de Medina.” “ And when he hears her sweet voice revealing to him her knowledge of his atrocious designs, and sincerely promising him her pardon, —when he discovers how much virtue and goodness thero is in woman,” continued the Diack, in an impassioned tone, “ho will be mored—he will be led to con- template the binckness of his own heart—ho will find himself placed in such frightfal contrast with that forgiving angel_—” a a aT rE rm A A a SA a TIS SD I OT ALE OT aT IEE IS FOE A TEE LOTTIE Sag rn a TE Te A a E:T I sO IGE SI IE I IT I IEE THD MISTERIES OF LONDON, 'Yes—yes!” cried the physician, emphatically: “it must bo dono! You have devised the only means to produce a real and effcetual impreerion an thet bad man's heart; and if he prove inarers. ‘ible ts tho perse citene.t of Esther's tenene, hit exce mas be leoked upon as hopeless.” The deep-toned bell of Clerkenwell church now ftruck the hour of cleven; and cearerly Lad tha soond died awayin tle silene of mpbt, when so rort-chaite drove up to the door cf the house. “Mrs. Bunco is now sbaut to take Ler depar- ture,” said the Black. “Faery thing is prepared in that respect—Ilarding and his wife have glrecds recuived full instructions and the necee-sry funds —and the sooner that the woman fs safe ont of tlt. mighty city of temptation, the tn iter.” The sounds of several footsteps were now hen detcending the stairs; and o minute afterwards, the post-chaise drove rapidly away from the hours. **Of all my prisoners, Old Death alone remuir= to be disposed of,’’ observed the Diack, as sven z= the din of tho wheels was no longer audible. “And it is to be hoped that Ae will not bea source of difficulty or embarrzsesment to you for many Weeks niore,” said the physician, rising to trke his departure. CHAPTER CNY ESTHER DIE MEDINA AND OLD DEAL It was on the third day after the caplanations given to Dr. Laceclics, and between five and fix o'clock in the evening, that Esther de Medina was condneted hy the Blackamoor into the subterranean passare, the latter holding s lamp in his hand. “Shall J remain near you, Esther? “ he enquired, ina whisper. “ No—it Is not necessary,” she answered. “Jam not afraid of being in this place, ploumy as it ap- pears; and since ] am mercly to addrers the mist t- able man through the trap-door of Lis dungeon, no harm can reach me.” Thus speaking, she turned and received the light from her companion,—her manner being calm and even resolute, though her countenaner was sery ale, : “Goad bless son, Esther!” sald the Blach, crr- phatically . “sour willineness to ald me in this im- portant matter js not the least ad.nirable trait in sour characte: !” “Tt is a duts—though a painful one,” respondid the beautifal Jewess. “And now leave me—! would rather proceed alone to the prisoner's cell.” * Remember,” eaid the Biackamoor, “ It is the last on the right hand side of this long subterranean pastace.” He then retraced his way up the stone-staircase communicating with the house in Red Lion Street, while Esther advanced along the gloomy cavern, in which the lamp shone but with fecble lustre. Ta less than a minuto she reached the door of Old Death's dungeon: and there she panced for nearly another minute, a sencation of loathing and horror proventing her from immediately announcing her presence to the terriblo inmate of that cell. For the Black, iu order to prepare her as fully and completely as porsible for her philanthropic mission, had been compelled to reveal to her all the details 5} (CO) GIOOKS (CO) =