The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 245: what you’re looking at

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faggots there, and thanks for the acoommodation. | idea struck him that he was now indeed com- But you are sure——~” pletely in the power of the murderers. But ag He was about to ask whether the crone was con- | that glacial shudder passed rapidly off, his first fident that the robbers were not likely to revisit her | impulse was to seize upon a log of wood and sell cottage: he however checked bimself, as it struck him in the first place that there was eomething pusillanimous in the query—and in the second place that it was an useless one as she could not possibly tell what the lawless ruffians might do— unless indeed she were an accomplice of their's, which however ho no longer wepectet *‘ Good aight, dame,” he : and passing into the adjoining ruom, be closed the door of commu- nication between the two compartments. Octavian threw himself down upon the straw which lay on. the ground in that places; but he had not been long there before his mind under- went a sudden and complete revulsion in respact to Dame Hoquette. Something had struck him like a flash of lightning. She had told him, when they were in the road together, that an hearing certain noises she had got up, dressed herself, and issued forth. But this tale was far from being’ consistent with the fact that her humble pallet in the next room showed that it had not been dis- turbed that night: the patehwork coverlid was spread neatly and smoothly qver the bedding; and the bolster, covered with the sheet of cvarse un- binacned linen, which may be seen in the humblest hovel 1n France, bore not the impression of a human head buving reposed there. xbha dame therefore had evidently told a falee- hood—and a most unnecessary one if she were honest. Again too arose in Octavian’s mind the thought that the hut was too far from the road for any sounds occurring in the one place to be heard at the other—especially by an old crone whose age forbade the belief that her sense of hearing was any of the keenest. And then too, even if she did hear the,sounds, how could she possibly mistake them for the upsetting of a vehicle, when the loudest of the noises was the re- port of tie firearnis? All points considered, Meredith felt convinced that there was something wrong about the woman-~perkaps even the very worst: namely, that she might be an accomplice of the brutal brigand murderers. What course should he pursue? [f he were suddenly to pounce upon her ands accuse her of treachery, her cries might bring the rufflans to her suocour, and to the accomplishment of bis own destruction: for who could tell how close they might be in the vicinage of the hovel? But if on the other band he were to endeavour to steal forth, she might hear him, and a similar result would ensue. Agesin, he thought to himself that if he _ lingered there the villains might come to the | place—it might be their rendesvous—and they would perhaps despatch him for fear lest the in- formation he might give should lead to their de- tection. All things Octavian resolved to seize upon the old women,’ and by — = & prompé vengeance w ’ confess whatorever he might be enabled to extort. But scarcely had he come to this deter- 1 mination, when hie ear caught the sounds of foot- Re ented oo denyetion his natural t | no to his nat braveity'if we admit that Meredith was for a mo- eeiasd with. a mortal terror, as the hideous mph te wi men, a nah ne ee \ a his life as dearly as possible. He was enveloped in utter darkness; and scarcely had he snatched up the billet, when he heard the front door gently open. It was Dame Roquaette atealing forth: the heavier foots tside, ; usly ceased vier hc eee y 2 Octavian she had encountered the bri was telling them that he was there! The idea now struck him that he would seise the opportunity to attempt an escape by gliding forth and pluuging into the mases of the He opened*the door communicating with the room whence the old woman had just emerged : but the light was still burning there—he would be seen on crossing the threshold—bullets would be discharged at him—death would in that caso be inevitable: he felt that he had better trust to the chapter oftaccidents. At the very instant that he came to this decision, he heard a man’s voice say, “Well, go your wayg now—and remember the business for to-morrow !” “ Yes, yea,” answered three or four whispering voices: and then the sounds of retreating foote steps met Octavian’s cars. He atill held the door of communication ajer ; and now he heard the game voice which had just given the order to the gang to disperse, say in a low tone, “Do you really think he is asleep ?’’ “TI believe ao,” replied Dame Roquette ; “ for he looked dreadfully tired, as well as completely overcome by the scene.” “ Good !” rejoined the man. “If he sleeps there is no use in doing bim a mischief, as he hae nothing more to be robbed of. But we shall see.” Octavian gently closed the door, and at once laid himself down on the straw ; for his mind was suddenly made up what course to adopt. He perceived that there was no intention to,commit an unnecessary murder; he comprehended like- wise that the man who hed remained behind, and who appeared to be the chief of the gang, was going to confer with Dame Roquette; and he saw that if it were possible to hear their discourse he might not only ascertain what the contemplated business was for the morrow, but likewise glean enough to enable the police authorities to make a capture of the whole gang. ® Quam CHAPTER OXXX. - OOTAVIAN AND BOR Lory Octavian Muauprrs kuew perfectly well mstanceg were now compelling him to that play & vary Perilous game: but all his fortitude - self-posscasion were at his command, especially as he beliqved and hoped there was now only one male raffian to deal with in case of emergency. He deposited himself upon the straw, assuming the attitude of one who slept; he composed his features in a suitable manner—he bredthed as if he were indeed an unconscious slumberer. e+e He heard the old woman and her ruffian com- panion steal into the huss the outer door was tues LOAO© SS (CO) COLUM