The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 244: what you’re looking at

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

el | THR MYSTERTRS OF THE COURT. ing without interruption, as he wished still to study her Jooks as much as puseible in order to ascertain what degree of confidence he might placo in her, She continued to address him with the same eir of rude, uncouth, but honest bluntness which he had previously remarked; and thus his impression “grew stronger and atronger in her favour. “Do you think,” he asked, “ that, I ahould be likely to obtain the loan of a horse at any one of tho cottages of Which you speak? I would in that case ride back to the #illage at the entrance of the forest ——” ‘A horse? No, sir!’ oxclaimed the woman. *‘ They are only puor neopie like myself, who have huts in this forest: they get their little bit of a livelihoou as woodmen———” -“Then what am I to do? demanded Mere- dith, with a bewildered air. Indecd he was sorely perplexed, and had every reasun to find himself so. If he left tha spot to walk to either of the villages, he might fell in with tho brigands, who would most probably despatch him, as they already believed they had done and lind intended to do. Lf He rerouined where he was, to awuié the arrival of the mountéd police, the murderers might come back. His predicament wus bewildering to a degrce : ho was utterly pen- niless—all his jewellery was gone —his pocket- book, containing his passport and other papers, had likewise disappeared—he had not even the means of proving lita identity as an English noble- man and thus obtaining a supply of money at the next village if he were to bend his way thither. According tv previous inquiries which hoe had mado, he waa full fifty imies from tae chatewu where his wife dwelt, and which ho had hoped to reach st an early hour on the foliowing morning. Jie was cruelly shocked and distresecd likewise at the denth of bis valet and of the two untortunate postslons; and ho suffered severo pain from the blow received on tho head. * After all,” he thought to himself, “ tho best “Whose is the neareit: ?” ineui Meredith. oes quired “ Mine, for that matter,” responded the old women ; “and if you like to tura in and rest youre self there, you are truly woloume. But I can offer nothing more that the bumbleat acoomoda- tion; and as for recompense, @ civil word at parte ting is everything that qill be required by Dame uette.” “You shall hava the civil @ord, Dame Ro- quette,” answered Meredith ; “and a much more substantial reward hall follow so soon ae I obtain the meane of bestowing it. We will not leave the remains of these unfortunate men te become a prey to the vermin or birda of the forest. Hold you the lantern while I drag the dpdies into the chaise.” This task was shortly accomplished s and Mere- dith then said, “ Now lead the way, good dame, to your abode; and [ will follow” The woman Iwquette, carrying the lantern ia her hand, hodbled off from the spot, leaning upon her stick; and plunging into the deeper forest mazes which skirted the road, she proceeled for a distance of abouta mile. Meredith was just won- dering how the noise of the conflict in the road could possibly have redched the ears of the uld woman if her dwelling-placo were thus remote, when she atopped at the door of what proved to be alittle hovel. It atood so completely embowerec in the depth of the forest, that even in the day- time a stranger in the district would have faites tu notice that there wa¢ a human habitation there until he came altogether upon it. Dame Roquette puched open the door; and Octavian fullowad her into tho place. The hut was divided into two compartments— one containing 4 great quantity of the small brush- wood which the crone had gatbered in the furcat, and also a number of, logs rudely chopped up. The other compartment+which was the larger of the two—displayed a meagre and wretched assort- thing [°can do is to remain in the’ forest for the | ment of furuiture, all of the roughest aatcrials, mght, if I can obtain an asylum where | shall be | ‘I'gere was a bed in one cornor; and the half- in warety; and then in the wornifg 1 might get pack to the village where the last relay was ub- tuined. Tho landlord of the inn at whioh we stupped tu take refreshments, would perbaps fur- nish me with funds to carry mo forward to my destination: or the Mayor or some other local authority would have this much conlidence in me. Even if the worst should happen, I could but re- main at the inn until 1 had time to communicate with Zoe.” Such were the thoughts that now passed through the mind of the young nobleman; and having moro or leas come to a decision on the point, he again turned to the old woman, to whose hand he had in the meanwhile restored the lantern. “ Those villains have robbed me of everything I postess,” he said ; “and I have not at this mo- " ment the means of bestowing the slightest recom- pense tpon any person at whose hands I might receive a civility. Do you thick that one of the cottagers of whom you have apoken would give me an asylum for a few houre >” “} am gure they would!” answered the crone with her ough air of confidence. “Though we are all poor in these parts, yet we are not savages-———"" ; opened door of a cupboard showed a sesnty sup- ply of food of the most feugal deacription. “ If it weren’t for the kindness of the woodmer. towards a poor lone body like me,” said Dame Ro- quette, “ ? dgnt’t know what would become of me, They give me logs for fring; and when they take their own fagyots to the village in the hand-cart Which half-a-dozen of them have in com- mon amongst them, they take mine iikewwe. The forest-keepers are also good enough in their way; and oftan when I come home [ fisd a loaf and a piece of cheese, with occasionally a hare or a rabbit, upon my table.” “ Good heavens | what a life for a human being to lead |”? thought Meredith to bimself. “* How little do the dwellers amidst the luxuries of great cities and towns know of the fearful struggies which so many of their fellow-creatures have (o make to keep body and soul together !” “You cnn bave this noom, sir—and welcome,” inued Dawe Ruguette. “I will stretch myself on a bit of straw that there is amongst the faggote and logs.” “T will not deprive you, my good womas, of your resting-place. I could not de such a thing answered Meredith. “I will stretch myself om the ea een i id ECOMRniclacae SS (CO)