The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 225: what you’re looking at

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212 it to his pocket. The blood gushed forth 1 in « tor- rent, pouring over the babo, and thus covering it with the sanguine tide from that very breast whence it had been wont to receive its nourishment. _ The Cannibal, unmoved by the ghastly spectacle . which he had himself created —unless indeed it were a grim satisfaction that he experienced in having done the fearful work and thus secured his safety and his vengeance at the same time—now procured - water and a towel, and washed as well as he could tho stains of murder from his yorson. This being | dono, ho possossed himself of his coat from the/ recess, and was about to take his departure, when | he bethought himself of the bottle which gontained the chloroform. He had placed it on the table the instant he had poured some of its contents on the - handkerchief: tho table had been upset—and where was the bottle? He scarched, and found that it hud fallen upon the garments of the w : the stopper had not come out; and witht infpite de- light the Cannibal re-possessed himself ofan arti- cle which had already proved (according to his own notions) so exceedingly useful, and yhich might therefore be of the same utility on a future occa- sion. ’ The ruffian now at fength quitted the barge, and was speedily at a distance from the scene of his fearful crime. CHAPTER XLY, THB LADY OF MANY LOVERS. Ir was about half-past ten o'clock on the same night of the frightful tragedy, that Lord Harold Staunton knocked at the door of Evergreen Villa in ‘the Seven Sisters Road. The reader cannot have forgotten that this beautiful little suburban residence was the abode of Miss Emily Archer— alias Mademoiselle Emilie d’Alembert—the fasci- nating danseuse, who had succeeded in ‘ensnaring the foolish and frivolous Lard Saxondale in her. meshes. Prettily furnished as tho villa waa pre- viously to her acquaintance with him, it now pre- sentod a a spectacle of almost oriental luxury: that | is to say, in miniature. Kverything that the taste of a most extravagant woman could possiblyefancy, or that the infatuation of, a reckless apendthrift could supply, in the sha of exquisite furnit posed hid ne : tly eure” for the discovery of ’w which that royal volup- mirrors, pictyres, ornaments, nick-nacks, ‘and costly trifles of every varicty, was.now to be seen within the walls of that ville. The connexion of Lond |- Saxondale with Miss Archer had been exceedingly brief as to time, but had already proved wonder- fully expensive as’ to : She: hed introduced him to a persom of ‘we shall have to speak more anon, ‘i Whip was supplying him with'finds | at a most exceiafitht rate of interest: and by far the greater. portion. of the moneys thas ‘obtained, ing! ‘and Stankton; an he gave it, darted at Emily a quick ‘the. syten’s whims and caprises,: Mias | ‘remained ypon the siege for several, reasons.”, In. ia th Girt pigbe eho led tho etsitowent connected: with the baliet~she -liked the: bestowed-upon the daneers—ehe liked the flattery and the flirting that took plece behind the svense-—. and she liked to see the name of Mademoiselle Emilie d'Alembert in the dramatic criticismatin the went to, of gratification ‘trandient-archness of” the curling THE MYSTERIES OF TIE: COUBT. newspapers. She moréover knew that her connexion ‘with Lord Saxondale could not last for ever; and she regarded her position at the Opera as the means of obtaining @ new admirer when circumstances sooner or later eever her from the present one. She liked, too, to kave an oppyy unity of boasting her. good fortune in the presence of ‘he other ballet-dancera; for she fancied that her posi- fion was 6 very brilliant.one, and that instead of any shame being attached thereto, it was exccodingly enviablo and admirable. = ‘But returning from our digressiog,-wo must hasten to describe wherefore Lord Harold Staunton was on the particular night of which we now speak, paying a visit to Evergreen Villa. On knocking at the door he inquired of the servant who answered the sum- mons if Lord Saxondale were within?—but before any answer couldsbe given, that young nobleman -himeelf rushed out of the exquisitely furnished par- louy on the ground-floor, exclauning, “I thought I coufd not be mistaken: {knew it was your vuico! Come in, you !"s Lord Hf#rold according|¥ entered the parlour, whore @ supper consisting of all imaginable delica- cies and dainties was spread upon the table, and where Emily herselt' was lounging negligently on a eofa. She was dressed—or rather we should say —in a French wrapper trimmed with “he most costly lace; and her beautiful dark hair was ‘| flowing in luxuriant masses-over a neck more ex- posed than was consistent with perfect modesty. “Ah, Lord Harold!” she said, extonding her hand to the young nobleman, with whum she was well acquainted, and indeed had been very intimately acquainted on some former occasion: “I am glad to see you at the villa. But, you naughty man, you! what have you been doing? fighting a duel! Oh fie! I-am Shocked at you.” ' 7 is one of those unfortunate oocurrences, Miss Archer,” responded Stauntoh, with a forced gaiety, “which will happetin life, Here is our friend Saxondalo who will some day or another bave to do the same thing. Who knows, indeed, but.that ho may be compelled to fight @ duel on your ace count?” _. “Ob, thatewould be amusing (” exclaimed Emily, clapping her liands gleefully, as if some new source mind; and she felt as- Xerxes might have been sup- to feel had anybody. suggested the “ new plea- tuary offered a reward. “I Eau very musk obliged to you, my dear Emily,” said I tae ‘for wishing to place my life in jeopardy: but I am not enough tired of you yet to ‘wish. to ’ be prematurely out off from your sweet rpressed!” exclaimed the danseuse. ‘friend Edmund is a oxoped- Desi gisned‘of mockery, which glie acknowledged by a lip, It was as muah a8 to say On Lord Harold’s pert, “ You know rie “fol” and on. Miss Emily's, “Of oburse I “Thank you both, for the compliment,” cried been suddenly developed to hor - my dear filow—I am delighted to sce - ECOMRniclacae SS (CO)