The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 84: what you’re looking at

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e THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. aS oo, struck him as the result of upon to gome prompt and decisive course of action by the demand which Lady Bess at once made for the surrender up of purses aral jewels. e : She had not expected to find two goentlemgn seated inside the vehicle; and on discovering that there wero two she immediately apprehended resistance. Therefore, drawing forth a pocket-pistols she pre- sented it at the window, saying in the roughest e tono to which sho could possibly gisguise her voice, “ Quick, quick, gentlemen! Your purses, your watches, and se@ forth !” | : - “ No—-by heaven! not without a struggle for it!” exclaimed Mr. Malton, who was a man of undaunted cougige; and as he spoke he dashed open the door and sprang forth ¥rom the vehicle with a gold- headed cane in hishand. °* - The abrupt opening of the door madq Lad} Sess’s horse suddenly shy and veer round; and she, being at. the instant unprepared for such 4 movement, was thrown heayily. Mr. Malton, with admirable pre- seuce of mind, clutched fhe horse’s bridle with one hand, while with the other he enatched up the pistol which Lady Beas had let drop and which had hap- pened not to explode. Mr. Marlow, the elder partner, encouraged by the*resolute bravery of hig friend, likewise eprang forth; and perceiving at & glance tHat the highwayman who lay upon the ground was either stunned or killed by the fall, he seized upon the legs of Chiffin the Cannibal who had mounted to the Sox. “This scoundrel ia killed !’’ ejaculated Mr. Malton, alluding to Lady Bess, who lay quite motionless. “The deuce !” exclaimed Chiffin: and violently disengaging himself from the hold which Mr. Mar- low had fastened upon him, he sprang down from the boyand rushed away as fast as his logs would Mr. Marlow was thrown to the ground by the sudden violence of the Cannibal: but instantly rising to his feet, he shook himself, not morely for the purpose of casting off the dust “Shich his gar- ments had gathered by rolling in it, but likewise to assure himeelf that he had no broken bones. While however he was still somewhat ungertain on the lntter point, his thoughts were quickly startled into | another channel! by an ejaculation which burst froin the lips of his partner, - “Why, by heaven, it is a woman!” exclaimed Mr. Malton, who had just. stooped down to ascor- tain whother the highwayman was actually killed or only stunned by tho severe fall experienced from the horse. . ‘A womam” echoed Mr. Marlow, likewise stoop- ing down. “ Aye, and a very handsome one into the bargain!”’—for his partner hady plucked the black mask from her countenance. “ But, dear me! I am very much mistakon if I don’t know this face ——-yes, and that horse tao——why, to be sure, I eannot be deceived! I have seen this woman—a lady I always thought het—riding about Totten- ham and Edmonton on that very horso—but not in this attire though—in a proper female ridjng-habit. John, hav’n’t you seen this lady ?” “Never mind asking any questions now,’ ‘paid Mr. Malton somewhat impatiently. * Gee, she lives—she opens her eyes!” * h first few moments’ | survey: and he had little leisure to regard her any | longer—for he was almost instantaneously called | 71 "And t was so. Indy Ress had beon merely stunned by the fall; and consciousness rapidly re- turning, ‘she became aware of the position in whjch she was piaced—a prisoner in tho hands of the two attorneys. . “Are you hurt, young woman?” demandod Mr. Malton with a sternness that was only tempered by a feeling of humanity. . “* No—I think nof,” answered Lady Bess, rising to her feet :“then, while she was rapidly calculating the chances of escape, Mr. Malton seized her by the coat-collar while Mr. Marlow clutched her by the arm, "6 This is a deed on your part which we cannot ovorlook,” said the former. 4 * Certainly not,” prémptly Added the latter. “As lawyers we must obey the law; and the law forbids us to let a folon escape.” “I can scarcely expect any forbearance at your hands under the circumstances,” responded Lady Bess; ‘and Lam not going to ask it. Do with me as you will:"—and she not only spoke in a firm tone, but likéwise. displayed a resolute dauntless- ness of manner which quite astonished the two lawyers. ‘What on earth are wa Mr. Marlow. “Take her on to Edmonton aril give her to the police,” was Mi Malton’s reply. to do yith her P” asked “You are known, young woman-——you are known,” : | | | 4 said Marlow, as talkative as he was bustling, and | now labouring wader tho greatest excitement. “T have scen you gallopping about on this splendid dark chesnut of your’s—but in a costumo moro bo- fitting your sex. Why, ’pon my soul! I took you foralady. I say, John, I have often noticed her to you-~and 3 remember you mentioned her numo once, What was it ?” Sir,” immediately interposed Lady Bess, who was chivalrously resolved to sercon the treachcrous servant, and thus save him from the perplexity of having to answer quegti8ns hy the replies to which he inight fear to compromiso her, and thus in his hesitation draw suspicion on himself; ‘“ I will at once candidly and frankly inform you that I live neat Tottenham—close at hand indccd—and that I pass by the name of Mrs. Chandos.” “Chandos, to be sure!” ejaculated the volatile Marlow #“ that is it !” ¥ And now,” Jady"Bess immediately went on to observe, “although I seck no forbearance at your hands, I will requesé this little favour—that you permit me to aall at my abode ere you consign ine to the custody of the authorities, so that I may ac- quaint my servant with the positjon ix which 1 am placed.” “Well, I soo no Rarm*in that,’ exclaimed Mr. Marlow. ‘Eh, Malton—what do you say?” “IT do not wish to behave harshly or cruclly to the unhappy young.woman,” was the latter gentle- man’s nore measured response. * “My house is yonder—the white cottage which you see amongst the troas in that lance to the left :” —and Lady Bess extended her arm in the direction which she indicated. * Well then, how ehall wo manage?” oxclaimed Marlow. , “Ob, I know! We will fasten tho horse by the bridle to the carriage, and take our prisoner inside wip us. Hera, you hold hef tight, Malton, 0 , LOAO© COLUM SS (CO)