The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 377: what you’re looking at

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

eens _.quiiing tesa ee ee eee ED BM: wh » ry @ _———————— a a SE A FS a A ayer a eee ey 364 real mischief, the ruffian, strong in his madde: ed fury though he were, was seized upon by the two runners and the carpenter—this last-mentioned individual threatening to strike bim down with his hatchet if he did not surrender. At the same time Larry Sampson, utterly undismayed by the narrow escape his own life had just experienced, pointed a pistol towards the Hangman’s head,— saying with his wonted phlegmatic coolness, “if you resist any farther, you are a dead man !” It would be impossible to describe the horrible expression of rage and hate which now fastened as it were upon Daniel Coffin’s countenance: nor shall we sully our pages by recording the diabolic imprecation which rolled forth in a Weep grow! from his lips, Perc¥iving that resistance was in- deed futile, he submitted to have the fetters and manacies, wherewith the Bow Street runners were ever provided, fastened upon his limbs; and then, eo soon as he felt himself utterly powerless, he sank into a mood of dogged and ferocious sullen- ness. A hackney-coach was speedily fetched; and the formidable Daniel Coffin was conveyed tv a place of security. « One word of explanation relative to a particu- lar incident, ere we conclude this chapter. The reader will remember that when the Hangman had discovered the secret spring, and had rushed with a joy 60 wildly exultant into the laboratory, the door had closed of its own accord behind him. This circumstance did not at the first moment trouble him at all—nor even attract his notice: his eye had caught sight of the huge lump of silver in the melting-pot, and all his thoughts were concen- trated in the task of enveloping the treasure in his handkerchief and securing it about hie person. But this done, he suddenly became aware of the horrifyiug fact that he was a prisoner. Vainly did he search for the secret spring: he eould not find it! Then he attempted to break the door open with his crowbar: but its strength resisted all his endeavours. In short, wearied with ineffec- tual exertions, and thrown into a terrifié fever- heat by his maddened endeavours to break louse, he had sat down to reervit his atrength—when it struck him that the best course to adopt was to remain quiet and trust to the place of his conceal. ment remaining undiscovered when the house should be s¢arched. This he did—and the reader has already seen the result. CHAPTER CJIL TNE DESERTED MISTRESS. Ir was about niae o'clock in tho morning; and Penelope Arbuthnot was seated in her own cham- ber at Wiudsor Castle, gazing through the open casement upon the beautiful view which the win- dow commanded. The Maid of Honour—a maid only in name, and not in reality—was loosely ap- parelled in an elegant morning wrapper. She had not long risen from her couch: her hair was but negligently gathered up;—no advance had been made in her toilet beyond the wonted ablutions; and the wrapper had been so carelessly flung one that it displayed more than it concealed of the lady’s voluptuous charms. But then, she was alone: anc’ moreover, hier thoughts were too deeply ocoa- = meee ew ee Oe le THE MYSTERIES ‘OF THE COURT, Re: Ce feqeettees ar, ee pied to Rilow her to observe the sami-nudity ot her person. The casement’ was, as we have said, open: but on the broad ledge an array of flowers formed a beautiful screen to veil Penelope trom the leok of any one who might have been walking in the ground’ upon which the window lookes. The breeze—soft, and jenial, and warm with the sun of August—fayned her somewhat flusbed cheeks, and played with a refreshiug influence upon her heated brow; while the flowersalike in the window and on thé parterres of the garden below, loaded the air with a delicious fragrance which was wafted all ‘around her, We have said upon a former occasion that Pe. né,ope was not exactly beautifel—nor could she be called positively handsome: but she was a fine full- grown youug woman, with a figure nobly developed, and endowed with the most voluptuous charms—= blending the. noble height of Diana with the ex- uberant contours of a Hebe. Then her large bright eyes aud & pair of lugoious red lips gave animation to her countenance » her smile in her gay moments was sweet, but with an expression of soft sensuous- ness; and sweeter still when expanding so as to reveal the teeth of ivory whiteness. Although her person was upon wa large scale and her limbs wero robust and massive, yet were they symmetrically sculptured, with due fineness in the hands, the taper fingers, the rounded ankles, and the long narrow feet. Thus, altogether, Penelope Arbuth- not was well calculated to be admired, even amidst a throng of, Court beauties; und she was of that voluptuous figure and also of that age—being twenty-six—which were especially pleasmg to the Prince Regent, That she had become the mistress of his Royal Highness some five months previously to the date of which we are at present writing, the reader is well aware. Low is it, then, that she looks mournful and unbappy now ?—does she regret the surrender of her person to the Prince ?—did she feel no gra- tification in thus acquiring that favour which so many higher-born damsels panted for in vain ?—or has she already experienced some treatment on the part of her royal paramour to produce this depression of spirits? In the midst of her reverie the door of the chamber opened, and her mother entered the room. It was a look of almogt hatred which Penelope flung towards her parent, as the opening and closing of the door suddenly startled the young lady from her profound meditation, “ My dear child,” began Mrs. Arbuthnot, as she | adyanced in a coaxing manner towards her daughter, “ how-ia it that I find you in this ‘moping mood 2” “ Mother,” cried Penelope, rising to her feet and looking sternly upon her parent, “ how is it possible you can ask.me this question, when yeu yourself ought to be able to solve the enigma—if such it be to you ?”’ *I suppose, my dear,” said the Bedchamber Woman—for such was Mrs. Arbuthnot in the Queen’s hdusehold—~“ I suppose that you have av- quired the certainty 2s to your condition ?” “Yes,” interrupted her daughter bitterly. “I am indeed in a way to become a mother. And now will you tell me what name my child is to bear when it comes into the world ?” “You speak, Penelope, as if you. were the only ® Cy cS) CO ECOMNIE OG