The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 355: what you’re looking at

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Smee 0 meg ieee EE & aT Pe ER ee =» «= ai3 THE MYSTERIES herself in curtscys at this unlooked-for liberality ; | thanks for any evidenco of. her bounty, said in a sort of half-whiaper to our hero, “ If, on your return to ' but Mademoisclle D’Alombert, turning abruptly away with the air of one who docs not require London, Mr. Deveril, you would favour mo with a call at Evergreen Villa, in the Seven Sisters’ Road, Holloway, I shalt bo happy to receive you.” “Tthank you, Mademviselle,” replied William, bowing coldly and distantly: “but I shall not be enabled to avail myself of your polite invitation.” The large dark eyes of Emily Archer flashed with sudden fires—her countenance became crimson she bit ber lip, and was evidently about to give ut- torance tu some angry ejaculation, fur sho was deeply mortified: but restraining herself, she passed on Wilhout saying a word, flouncing indignantly out of the cottage, followed by the soubretie, who turned up her noso with a half grimace st both Devesil and Mr. Gunthorpe as she whisked by them.“ 6 * Ah! they be London folke, I see,” said the old woman. ‘ They give their gold—but they also give theirsel ves airs,” ‘ The cider was now produced. Mr. Gunthorpe and Weveril each took a glass, and pronounced dt excellent. | “T wonder what that woman and her servant can be duing out here at sugh a time in tho evening,” wbserved Mr. Gunthorpe to our horo. “ It’s very strange—is it not? But didn’t she say she was aoc- quainted with Lord Saxondale? Perhaps ghe has come after him. However, it’s no busingss of our’s:”’ —then turning to tho peasant womangho said, “ You behaved most kindly to my young friond Lore on af recent occasion; and thugh I have no goubt ho testified his gratitude, yet you must permit me to show mine on his behalf.” With these words Mr. Gunthorpe put five sove- rcivns upon tho table—and then hurried out of the cottage, accompanicd by William Derveril, but fol- lowed to the dour by the old woman, her son, and her daughter, who all three poured forth their most heartfelt. gratitude for this proof of gotierosity. And true generosity it was—-the mdéney being given fromm reotives of the purest kindness, very differont indeed from the ostentation which had ere now ac- companied the gift of Himily Archer. Mr. Gunthorpe and Deveril sped away from the eottave, and in a few minutes reached the bank of the river, where they were almogt immediately joined by Chiflin the Cannibal, who “vas coming from the direction of Sagondale Castle. The ruffian had his club unfer his arm, and his hands thrust into the pockots of his great rough shagry coat: *his bat- tered white hat was cocked a little on one side~—and the blue smoke was curling up from the bowl df a short pipe which he held in his mouth. | “Well, gentlemon,” b8 said, “so you are come according to appointment P My cyes, what a lark I have just had! There was two women a little way farthor on in that direction,”’—jerking his thumb over his shoulder towards the distle; “and when they saw wie they screeched out as if they took mo for a highwayman. Now really, gentlemen, I think I look a trifle more rospectahle than that— don’t I ?"—-and Mr. Chiffin gave a deep chuckling laugh at what’ he considered to be the morriness of his conceit. - “Ah, I suppose they dre the same wo shw just | OF THE COURT. Oe eee eT now at the hut,” said Mr. Gunthorpe.* “ Is it pos- sible that ‘they are going to the castle?” “ Well, it looks like it,” responded Chiffin. “ But, I say, gontlemen—if anything is to be done to-night, ‘we must look sharp. For,it’s now close upva ten o'clock: and at eleven, you know, hor ladyship will ° peep into the chapel of the castle to sco if 1 am there.” “ Well,” said Mr. Gunthorpe, “you aro to intro- dyce us thither along with you. I suppose there are plenty of places where‘we can bo secreted, whilo you hold your discourse with her ladyship ?” “ Plenty,” answered Chiffin. ‘“‘ ‘Phoro’s the steps leading from the vestiary down into tho vaults; you can stand there just insidg the door. Or what's bot- ter perhaps, there’s the tombs, behind ono of which you can hide as nicer as possible; ’causo why, I can walk as if quite promiscuous in there, while chatting with her ladyship. But mind, whatever she wants done € am going fo ask a blessed high reward; and if sho agreds, you've gof to doublo it.” “The Bargain is woll understood,” answered Mr. Ganthorpe.” “ But now toll us how you propose to introduce us into the castle: for we don’t want to stand the chance of being shut at like burglars.” ‘‘ No fear of that, sir,” replied Chiffin. ‘ It’s on the western side that overluoks the river. Tho wall comes flush down into the water——” “Then how the deuce are we to gob in?” de- manded Mr.Gunthorpe. . . @« Why, you see, sir, tlee river's quite shallow—not kneo deep—all along just under tho wall; and it goos shelving down so gradual that there's no chanco of gotting out of your depth. ‘Then thiore’s a pre- cious great treo that grows right up out of the bed of tho rivor against some of the windows; and there's a thundering big bough that goes right bang across one pf thom windows—and it’s as oasy clinnb- ing up that tree as if it was a ladder. You uin’t tho thinn@st person in the world, wir: ‘but you ean manage this here business with no more bother than if you was walking up-stairs, There’s a precious sight masticr tree than that to climb, I ean tell you, gentlemen—a leffiess one that they sometimes set up at the debtors’ door of Newgate ;”"—and the Cannibal acuain sent forth that low deep chucklo which was horrible to hear. Come, a truce to this jesting,” said Mr. Gun- thorpe sternly. e During tho above colloquy the two gentlemen and Chifffi had been walking hastily in the direc- tion of the castle. At the very moment that thoso last words had issucd in atone of rebuke froin Mr. Gunthorpe’s lips, the report of a pistol from a little distance reathed their ears. This was followed by a shriek in a ‘ye voico; and quick as thought, a f second report @f.a. pistol was heard. Then all,was still. 7 Good God, \what is that ?” cricd Mr. Gunthorpe. An ejaculation ‘likewiso‘ourst from Deveril’s lips; and the two gentlemen, accompanicd by Chiffin, rushed along the bank of the river in tho same direction they wore alreddy pursuing—namely, to- wards the castle: for it was in that same direction “vhence the pistol-shots and the scream had ema- nated. © -¢ In a fow minutes they beheld something dark lying across the pathway ahead: another rainute, and they distinotly perceived that thero were two a SER ee EE oS ee a es LOAO© ( Lo) SS =, (CO)