The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 227: what you’re looking at

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€ ee nn re | 214 aid; but the falso Tarcar managed his exenpe, and in @ manner which created much surprise in the mind of my young fncend Ashton. It further appeared that ona previous bight, this very same disguiel Luscar stopped Lord Iiushbrook, and cither did actually rub bim or attempted to rub him -but whivh it rowlly was I cannot say; for his lordship—porhaps from falae pride—sought to hush up the matter. It in howevor Christian Ashton's opinion that the Viscount’s groom could tell more of the par- ticularas of that caro. Tho Viscount begged Ashton not to mention at Tudor House a single syliablo of any of theso circumstancos ; and ho advanced reasons which led Christian to romiso compliance with this entreatv. Hut ast ovening Miss Ashton was borself waylaid by tho saine villain: fortunately howover there was prompt succour at hand to rescuo her; and the false [ascar oxcaped. It hus now hocomo 80 evident that the follow is « most desperate and dangerous churacter, that | ropresentod to Aehton this morning that it was a posilive duty to Lord Kushbrook’s desiro for secrecy und silence, and to put you on your guard, inusmuch as twice in your neighbouf- i000 «=have this robber's uvoéations been exercised. Whether you will mention all these thinss to Lady Annstatio, isea mutter for your own consideration,” “To bo sure,’ said Sir) Frederick, whose heart sickened at the mere mention of Lady Anastatia’s name. “I am excerdingly obliged to you, Mr. Redeliffe, for all this information. Rushbrvok has not said a word of oither of {hose adventures, althouch I suw him yoster- diy But how came it that he and Mr. Ashton should the night before list have suf- fered tho villain to escapo them Pr” “T have already hinted,’ roplied Mr. Red- clife, “that the ovcurreneo 15° ronewhat su singular one. It appears that tho frlso Lascar was completoly yr the power of Lord lkushbrook and our young friend (Christinn : they had hold upon his garmenta. All of a sudden the Lasogre lookod very hurd ot the Viscount, and said those words — ‘What about that eafo aud cash-boa ?’— whoreupon tho Vis count suddenly let go hisehold upon the villain: he brol.c away from Christian, and thus escaped.” Sir Frederick Latham heard with a sudden astonishment the latter portion of this ex- lanution: the words “safe” and “ cauh- ox” all in on instant appeared Oy BumMe incomprehensible means to connectewhat the morchant was now listening to, with all that for the last fow hours had been so pninfully uppermost in his mind. ‘“ What wero the words he made use of?” inquired Sir Frederick of Mi. Redelitte. * T recollect perfectly well,” was tho lat- tor’s response, “that Christian Ashtun men- tioned them to me ase being precisely these~— ‘What about that safe and cush-box ?’—And then, it might have been. imasinuation on Christian’s part, bul ho as-urcs mo it strack him that Viscount Rushhrook secmed to stagger back a pace or two while he oer- tuinly let go of the man’s garments as if his hands had been auddonly smitien with parn- lysia. ‘his dosecription, moreover, seems to haya been corroboratea by what Rushbrook himedlé said immedintely afterwards, and which wes to the offect that ho had been sased with a digziness--n sudden sicknoss or sumething of the kind — and which he 22eGe,- pea eres weet eo. eS Be { eabeeweeotee wt 4 ew ER Ra a a aa are THE MYSTERIES OF TITH CCURT. altributed to the viands he had eaten at suppor having disagroed with him.” this appeared moro and more strango to Su Frederick Latham : tur with his know- lalge of Rushbrook’s character, ho was na- {urally Icd to surinise that he had some vury substantiul ruasona indced for kecping pilence, and cnjoining it to he kept im re- Bpect to tho iwo perilous adventures with the Lascar. And moreover, Sir Frederick could not holp thinking that what had been taken for a sudden paralysis of tho hands, | wes in reality e terror inspired by the words thrown from who lips of the falso Lascur: while the plea of sickness trom indirestion wa3 inerely an cxeuso to account for tho sane. But still the merehant was at ®& loss for any probable or feasible means of intelhigenco connecting the advonture in respoet to the Lascar with his own safe and cash-box whence all the money had disuppeared. “J cantassure you, Nir Ficderick,” added Mr. Redeliife, “our young friend Christian | was very uch annoyed that tho false Lascar shoull have escaped him—and all tho more so when*when ho heard that hy this escape the roaftian had remuned wt Jargo to ont. dompt an outrage against the youth’s sister Christina.” “1 will a»surodly giso orders to have my premises wirtched,” obspgived Sir) Frederick : “dor so desperate a character ag thus tulso Lascar, may attempt murder before bis exploits are cul short by the hind of justice.” The two gentlemen were now rejoine lL by Chiiniian and Chrisuia, who had been rane bling through the grounds; and the parry, takane thee Jeavo of Sur krederick, drovo away in the carriaco., Su Frederick econtinaed to walk in his grouuds, poudering overything that had hap- pened in tho carlicr part of the dav, us well as everything that he had just hoard. In reference to the snfe and eush bex le knew not what to think: the Lascar's allusion to those objects was so xtrange, it cogld not have been au mere comoidence. While he was thus in perplegify giving way to lus reflcetions, Lorl Rushbrook’s phaeton came dashing up the avenne,—lhe Viscount driving, the ,rvuom sented by his sire. ‘“'lhere is something singular in those fre- quent viits of iny brother-in-law,” said the merchaut 1 himself. “ilo was here yeslor. day — he is hero again to-day. lie cannot expect to get avy more money out of mo ao goon; and I am sure that it is not through lovo of either is sister or mysolf that he favorrs us with such frequent Virits.” And the merchant was right, though ho suspocted nol how: for Rushbrook had in- deed to ascertain whether anything had heen waid in respect to tno adventures with tho Lascar. Sir Frederick went forward to reosive his brother-in-law; and thoy entored the house together. vorsation, the merchant unde a protext for tomporunily leaving the room; and he hastenad in search of Rushbrook’s groom. Hy had enid nothing to the Viscount relative to all he had so recently heard: he wished in the firot instance +o Icarn whatsoever additional infvr. mation the groom himsclf might be possibly able to afford. The mun was founa‘nt the atables looking at Sir Frederick’s horses; and the merchant beckoned him aside. After some little con-- — we ee ee Bee BO eee oe SES eee Bee GeshW=meGen” abeeleeteese COMIC OOS ior SS (CO)