The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 231: what you’re looking at

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

eas CS Pig ee meee: gee HO 218 midet of the night; whereas if he now plundered once knew there must be something wrong—and the chamber, and endeavoured to steal off, he he rushed round to the back part of the promises. might be perceived by vither the maid or the mis-' There he found the kitchen door standing wide tress—an alarm might be raissd—spd his captyre open, pq dane hed left j¢ on going forths and he would be the result. All things considered there- ‘entered the house. Qn regcliing the passage, he fore, the disguised Lascar preferred remaining | heard a p whore he was. | Why, it’s all gammon. re ¢ THER MYSTERIFS OF THE COURT. ce] ruff voice say, “ Thirty-two sovereigns P A lady like you i i An hour passed—when the Surker heard Ma- dame Angelique'’s steps in the hall below; and 1m- mediately afterwards her voice igayed an inatruc- tion tu the maid. This was tg the effect that as Madame Angelique had made bute poor dinner, she fancied a lohstes for her supper (for ahe was a vory great gourmand); and dane was desired to | epord to the fishmanger’s shop, which was at no grcat distangs, and prooure the coveted edible. “Shall I firat take up lights to the parlour, ma'am P” aaked Jaye, from ile parsage leading to the kitchen, which was on the ground floor, and not one of those odious eubterraneane in which domestic servants are top often buried'as if they ware workers in miniature mines, ‘ “No — wait till you como back,” answered Madame Angelique; “ but just give me a chambar- candie. You néed not be afraid to go acrusa to the fishmonger’s: it is a beautiful cloar evening, with the moon shining.” = « “Qh, l’m nat afraid, ma’am,” responded the pretty maid: and having given ber rwistrage the lightcd candle, she issyed from the hopege. Madame Angelique began mounting the stairs towards her shamber,—on regohing whieh she wag about to change her evening toilet for a comfort- able deghabilide, that she might all the more plea- santly abandon herself to the pleasure of the expected evening repast. Buf scarcely had she put the candle upon the drawers, when ghe was transfixed with horror on beholding o great coarse dusty boot protruding from bencath the drapery at the foot of the bed. Fr a moment she stood stupefied: then @ cry escaped her ling—and she was making for the door, when her sagt, kicking up the floop-carpet, became entangled therela— and down she fell. | . Out rushed the Burker froin his hiding-place 5 and as the terrified woman rose to her knees, sha found herself confronted by tho villanoys-looking | it Lascar whom a few days previously*she hed re- lieved, and who had attacked the Duke of March- mont. “Shriek out again, and you're a derd ’ooman!” “T assure you I hava pa more ready money in the house,” Medame Angelique replied in accents of shuddering terror. The gruff voice gave vent to somo bitter impre- cation; and Sir Frederick Latham, now feeling sonvinced that a ropbery was being perpetrated in tho house, atole up the staircase. It was so well carpeted that the sounds of his steps wero not hesrd; gnd all in a moment he burst into the chamber where the ruffian wae keeping Madame Angaliqua in « state of such awful alarm. “Ah I" ejaculated Sir Frederick, as he caught sight of the Laspgr's dress. —. . A cry of joy peqlad forth from the lips of the eg-rmijlliger ¢ bul with a savage growl did the Byrker spring fawarde the merchant. Sir Frede- risk, who wag far from deficient in courage, at onoe closed with him—Madame Angelique seized wpon the miscrpant from pbehind—and he was hurled upon the floor. “Told him tight, Sir “frederick,” exclaimed the Frenchwoman, ‘ while I pun for the police !” “Stop, I command you!” cried the merchant, with his knee ypoo the Burker’s chost and his right hand at the miscreant’s throat. “ Remain here, Madame Angelique! —do yau hear me, I aay P~ romain here)” “Bus this villain, Sir Frederick——” “Bilence—end do as. hid you! Now shut tho doar.” (The Brenchwomap—who wae af present as much pstonished as she was just now alarmed -—did she was desired; apd Sie relerick said to tho urker, “ Anewer me a questio: or two,and I will let you ga. .Refusps—end 1 bund you over to the olice , ® “The fust isthe beat,” seeponded Barney, gasp- ing for breath, and smitten with surprise that he — be Pans spoken to. “Now then, sir, what is »D “The night before lest,” continued the mer- chant, “you had s certain scene on the road near Balham Hill; and you said to a nubloman—Lord Rushbrouk—who had you in custody, ‘ What ssid the Burker, in a terrible voice, as he raised | about the safe and the cash-bow ?—whereupon he his club ia a menacing manner. Nevertheless Maiame Angelique did cry out as she knelt at tho villain’s fest: ho uttered a tre- mendous execration, and was about tv strike with all bis foree at her head, when she suddenly left at ouce let you go. Tell me the meaning of those words.” “And if I do,” said the Burke:, “how do I know——” “That I shall let your goP” interrupted the off screaming, and said, “For God’s sake don’t | merchant. “Is it not worth your while to trust yurder me! I'll give you everything I’ve got to my promise? ‘You cannot make your position. “That's common sense,” said the Burkor; “and | worse—but you way make it better.” now look sharp about it, so that you may sit down | . “True enough |” ejaculated Barney. “So here all cozy and comfortable to éat that there lobster | goos—-——But the gal will be coming back with the which the pal’s gons for.” Meanwhile Sic Frederick Latham had knocked lobster -+—” “Go you, madam,” said the merchant, “and at thé: front door: but the sound was not heard |‘see that your domestics———" up in the room where this scene was taking place C fop {& was situated at the back of the houee, | observed Barney. the whole front of tho first storey being used as a drawing-room. Immediately after the merchant’s There's only one at home—the other is out,” “ Go, then, madam—and keep the ofidomestic quiet,” sald Sir Frederick Latham. “ Let nothing keock, screams pealed forth: Sir Frederick at|of all this be known! And fear nothing {—for PN Cae, a nie COMIC OOOKS. COR