The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

Deater thay would have found the Burker, would have adopted far different recuntints ant would have invaded the house in a posse. It raight have beep ten minutes after the Burker'e. escape, that the tall detective began‘ to recover his senses: for he was ouly’ atunned—not killed —by the onslaught he had experienced. He was however much injured : for the miscreant had beaten him about the head and shoulders with hie , olub. On thus doming to himself, the detective heard the subdued moans of hia subordinate Tom ; aad it was yet several minutes before the two men wore sufficiently recavered to drag themecives up from the pit. Then they heard a feeble knocking at the cellar-door: they opened it—and found their comrade who had been mado a prisoner there, and who was nearly as much injured ae themeclves. The watchers from the back yard were admitted into the house; but it was only too egident that the Burker and Bab Smedley had escaped. On the following day the subterranean was tho- roughly investigated by the police: the earth at the bottom was dug up—and elighé though suffi- cient traces were discovered to prove that the evidences of foyl crimes had been concealed and well nigh obliterated there. Tha quick-lime, mixed with the soil, afforded a frightful indication of how the dark work bad been done; and though no human remains were disinterred, there existe no doubt that more than one vietim of murder hh been consigned to that subtcrraneén tomb. COAPTER XCII. ATALANTA. TPuzw we now to the lodyings of the Hon. Augus.- tus Softly—the young officer to whom Madame Angélique, on breaking up her establishment, so generously bequeathed Mademojselle Armantine. Very beautiful was the Frén irimyet far from being so little frail as illiner had chosen to represont her. Of a fascinating style of lovcliness—with all the first freshness of youth sufficiently well preserved—and indeed still yogth. ful, for,sho was not yet twenty-two was fully calculated to make a powerful impression on such a mind asmthat of Mr Softly. Her man- ners were captivating: ehe had all those Mftle be- witching arte which specially chasacterias the females of the nation towhich she belonged: she was far from deficient in accomplishmentsehe could dyaw, piay, and sing; end es for dancing, she was a veritable proficient in the art. Thus altogether the Hon. Augustus Softly found her @ very en- chanting mistress. Several days had elapsed since the eommence- _ ment of hia eequaintance with Armantiae: and ene afterncos, et about two o'clock, she arrived at his lodgings, acoording to an sppointment made qn the previous day. He p a chap luncheon ; and he had fests at least ean. hour earlier then weual for the purpose. epartment where be received har was decorated in teue baebelor-fashion: foile and bexing-gioves, Aunting whips and Srearme, fishing-tackle and other gevesserice to field epests, were, scattered abuut—though Mr. Softly had never qngled but to regale her with | very 61 once in his life, on which occasion after « whele day's fishing he caught a minnow—he wee on exeerable shot—end ag for hunting, he had not sufficient ecarage ta follew the hounds. But he was nevertheless fond of boasting of his aceon. jabmente band his feate in ali these respecte; and considered it mealy te have the articles above enumerated scattered about bis apartments, Mademoiselie Armantine, having flusg. of hee bonnet and shawl, sate down at table; wad the champagne soon led to very tively discourse, “My dear girl,” said Goftly, after gome conver. sation on ganeral topics, “I ought to consider my- self exceedingly fertanate that you should prefete me to the Dake of Marchmiogt. “Ab! my dear Augustus,” replied tha young lady, fixing her eyes tenderly upon him; “to see you ab parade wae p y terevistible. But Madame Angelique told you all about is?” ! “Yea: and I certainly felt myself highly flat. d. But don’t be offended, my dear Armantine,” oontinued Mr. Softly: “I only just want to ask ane little question—and that is, did you really never have a lover—you know what I mean—bofore the Dake?” “Qh, never! never!” exelaimed the French girl, with so mach readiness that Mr. Buftly was at onee convinced of her sincority. * And your father ——~'" “ Ab, dot’s epoale of him !” suddenly interrdpted Armantine, with o real though transient feeling of | remorse. “Do tell mse,” said the young tleman, “eemething about your earlier life. Drink another glass of champsgne—let us laugh and be as gay as possible.” “Well, we will,” said Armantine. “Naw listen while I tell you a little tale——”’ “Ts ita true one?” asked Softly. “You shall judge*for yourself. About fre years ago,” continued Armantine, “a young French lady, endowed qith tolerablesaccomplish.- ments, and about as good looking as I am——” “To that case she was an angel,” cried the lisu. tenant of the Gaards. “She was an angel, then—sinde you will hava it eo,” resumed Armantins, laughing so as to die play her pearly teeth. “Well, this angel was con- signed to a convent———" “T reeoliect that Madame Angeliqaa——” “Now, do be silent!—pray dont interrupt me }".—_and Armantine tapped his cheek with her amall snowy white hand. “The young lady I speak of was consigned to a convent—which she relished about as much as you would fancy bread and water for your dinner. Well, she had not been many weeke there when she escaped; aad not daring to Tetagn bome, sped to Paris. She lenew not exactly how to get ber liviag; an find- ing it ineonvesiont to starve—se well as being little disposed te plunge headlong into improper courses--—-—- You ess, my deat Augustus, it is a moral tale—<-w-” . “Bat don’t let it get tee seriqua,” interjected Vo “Ob, 20 I" exelalmed ‘Armanting, with another smile: “it is sboat to take a very lively suarn. Being am accomplished damecr, the young lady weut to the ob very boldly though—I mean that the act was bold to go there ECOMRniclacae SS (CO)