The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 399: what you’re looking at

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SSB TIE MYSTPORICS OF LONDON. the part of Jack Rily—while Vitriol Bob was be- coming impatient of this delay in the gratification of his implacable vengeance. But delight filled tho soul of the latter when ho found that his companion was taking a direction that led into the open country; and, breaking tho long silence which had prevailed, he said tauntingly, “You aro getting tired, Jack.” “Not a bit,” replicd the Doctor, assuming a clicer- ful tone. “Oh! yes—you are, old feller, oxclafmed Vitriol Bob: “you drag your feet along as if you was.” “J could walk all night without being wearied 80 much as you are now,” returned the Doctor: and, thus speaking, ho mended his pace. “T never folt less tired than Iam at present, Jack,” said Vitriol Bob: ‘but you aro failing in spite of this protended briskness. You can’t keep it up.” “You shall see,” answered the Doctor, his irrita- tion augmenting fearfully. Vitriol Bob made no further observation upon the subject; and the two miscreants walked on, side by side, until they reached the Green Man at Blackheath, Thero was no tavern—no heer-shop open; nnd both were thirsty, alike with fatigue and the work- ings of ovil passions, Seating himself npon a bench fixed agsinst tho wall of a public-house, Jack Rily could uot help gnashing his teeth with rage; and as he maintained his looks fixed upon the countenanen of his enemy, his eyes glared with a savace and ferocious malig- nity, The moon-light enabled Vitriol Bob to catch tho full significancy of that expression which dis- torted the Doctor’s features; and, sitting down clase by his side, ho said, ‘' Yon are prowing des- perate now, Jacks: I knowed I should disturb your coolness and composure before long.” “By God! you'ro right, my man!" cjacuiated the Doctor, wnable to restrain his irritation. “IT had na enmity against vou at first—I would hive shaken hands with you and been as good friends as ever— tyo, and have given you more money than you've *ver yet Seen in all your life,—piven it to you as a present! But now I hate and detest you—I loathe and abhor you! Damnation! I could stick mr knife into you this very minute 1” "Two can play at that game,” returned Vitriol Rob, savagaly, ‘But remember that we're talking talerably loud just underneath the windows of this ‘ere publics and I don’t feel at all inclined to bo bauiked of the satisfaction “Ofs last and desperate struggle, eh?’ exclaimed the Doctor, starting up.‘ Well—we will not delay it much longer. Come along :—it is pretty near timo that this child’s play_swas put an end to—l am gctting sich, of it.” “Bless ye, I've no such excitement,” eaid Vitriol Rob, rising from tho bench and again placing him- self by tho sido of his companion: “I rayther like it than anythink else. Wo’vo had a nico walk—plenty of refreshments—and now and then acozie little bit of chat—besides tho advantage of hearing them political sermons in at the Bengal Arms: and so I don’t think yott can say we're spent the time wery disagrevably,” All this was said to irritate the Doctor still more: for Vitriol Bob, well acquainted with tho disposition of his enomy, know that when once ho was thus excited it wasimpossible for him to regain his com- posure, OO eae Feel Jack Rily made no answer—but continued hic * way in silence, weariness gaining upon his body as rapidly as bitter ferocity was acquiring a moro potent influence over his mind. eal CHAPTER CCIV THE CATASTROPUL. It was tivo o'clock in the morning when the Doctor and Vitriol Bob ascended Shooter's Till. Both were much fatigued—but tho former far more so than the latter. The moon rodo high in the heavens, which wera spangicd with thousands of stars; and every featuro of tho scene was brought out into strong rolief by the pure silvery light that filled the air. The countenance of Jack Rily was ghastly palo and hideous to gazo upon—his large tecth gleaming through the opening in his upper lip, and his eyes glaring like thoso of a wild beast about to spring upon its preys;—whereas the features of Vitriol Bob denoted a stern—dopreed—ferocious determinations Having reached tho top of the hill, the two men paused asif by mutual though tacit consent; and glancing rapidly along the road in each direction, they neither saw nor heard anything that threatened to interfero with tho deadly purpose on which they were now both intent. No sound of vehicles met their cars—no human forms dotted tho long highway which, with its white dust, had tho appearance of a river traversing the dark plains, ° "Well—aro vou pretty nearly tired ont, Jack 7” demanded Vitriol Bob, “Yam as fresh ns ever,” answered tho Doctor. “Put you’ra afraid, old feller,” exclaimed tho other, “Not afraid of vous? retorted Jack Rily, con- temptuonsly. : “You would have run away if vou could,” said his enemy. “You are a liar, Bob,” was the savago response. ‘“No—it’s you that tells tho lic, Jack. Tva watched you narrcrly—~and I could sco all that was a-passing in sour mind as plain as if it was a book.” ‘But vou can’t read a book, Bob, when you have it open before you.” “Thero you’ro wrong, Doctor: Ivo had my hedl- cation as well as you.” “And a pretty use you're mado of it! But 1 dowt geo any use in our standing palavering heres Iwant to get back to London—and so the sooner vou let mo polish rou off, the better.” “Tm as anxious to come to the scratch as you, Where shall it be 2” “In the field closo by, Bob. We may bo inter- rupted in the road.” * And yet there’s nothink and no one to be seen.” !“ Never mind, We'll make as sure as possible,” observed the Doctor, who throughout this rapid 3 ad laconic {colloquy had endenroured to appear as collected) and as composed ns possible: but his words had hissed through his tecth—for his mouth was as parched as if he bad been swallowing tho dry dust of the road. “Tat’s over the hedge, then,” sald Vitriol Bob. Tho two men accordingly made their way into tho adjoining ficld; and having proceeded to 3 short distance down the sloping meadow, they suddenly stopped short and confronted each other, EConnicloooks (CO)