The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 273: what you’re looking at

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| | at least for the present, by rominding their frail companions that a fresh supply of wine had been seut for. Ina fow moments Mra. Bambridge re- appeared ; and almost immediately afterwards the woman servant entered with two fresh bottles of wine. These were vpened; and one of the girls officiously filled the two gentlemen’s glasses : but the latter perceived that it was from the first supply, whieh was not completely exhausted, that the other plascs wore reploninhed. They there- fore at onco comprehended that the wine last brought in eas drugged. \ “You do not drink 2” anid one of tho girls,\in a cajoling manner to Stanley. “Tam alrendy tipsy cucugh,” was the response, given in a hiccupping manner. © Oh, no!~—do try one more glass.” Stanley reached forth his hard: and with every appenranuce of drunken awkwardness he upset the riass. “fin sure you're nut 80 olamsy,” said the other girl to Lord Charles. “Lot's try,” answered the nobleman: and lift- ingethe glass, ho spilt all its contents down his palctot. Both the girls affected to laugh: but af the sume time they darted suspicious looks towards Mrs. Bambridge. * Who ean sing a good sung?” asked Stanley, | wilh the hope of viving a turn to the proceedings and averting the suspicions which he saw wore nwakencd. “Jt jast happens,” replied Mother Bambridgo, with her simpenny air, “ that there are three or four gentlemen-—-renl gontlemen, ke yourselves —in the front parlour; and they seem as much inclined as you to make a payeht of i = They sing capital songs; and with your leave V' go and feteh thom,” Sho quitled the room accordingly; and during ‘ her absence, which lasted twu or throe minutes, the girls acain endeavoured to eajole the officurs into retiring: but they were resolved not to be separated—and they vowed, with tipsy declama- tion, that they would not go te bed tull daylight. Mother Bambrilge ro-appeared, with the four “ pontlemen ” of whom she lead spoken; and the two officers at oace recornised some of the fashilys Iressed feilowa wham they lead scen hanging alvof Schiad the girls in front of the public-hotiscs. Tio four bulliese—for such indeed the new-comors were—themeelves affeated to bo drunk; anil sitting dewn, they began singing a bacchanaliun aonge Tue girls endeavoured to persuade Jord Charles wna Stauley to drink of the last supply o! wine hut as a matter of course, without effort The louka which tho women rapidly exchange: grew moro and mare suspicious as the excuses o’ the officers for refusuig to drink became prepor- tionately muire ana more transparent,—their con- duet now bein so littl: consmtent with that o lipsy mon: and yet thes lind uo alternative but to ;ersist in the refusal, even at the risk ol haying their aun alborether tru: trated, “Come now,” suddenly ex iainol Myre. Bam- bridge, rising up from her eta; “1 must have the house quivt-—or else £ ahalt stand the chance u- baing muhete!, You onist ot! be off to bed with- out anv mote delay.” A crisis wus now reached: Lord Charles and \ aiew 22 aren wy CER tgp 2 ed) ong Gey canis Sey eee Di ey eee ee oe eee ene we (er eee ee _=yp THE MYSTHRIKS OF THE COURT. nae eS = -_ = ee, aw > atjow wer Hee ewe ww om a we. Stanley knew fuil well that if they separated from each other, they were almost certain to become the,prey of supcrior numbers: for they had no doubt that there were even moro bullies at “hand than those who were present; and their only chance of a successful resistance, in case of vio- lence, was to kecp together, But a thought sud- donly flashed to Stanicy’s mind; and affecting to drop his pocket-handkerchief cioso to where Lord Charles sate, he pretended to fall completcly upon him as ho stouped to pick iftup. This mancauvre afforded him the opportunity of tapidly whisper. ing, “ Let us suffer ourselves to be robbed without the slightest resistance,” “Come, do you hear?” cried Mra. Bambridve: off with you to ber !” “Tf you won’t jet us sit up any longer,” said Stanley, Liccupping at every word, “I shall go and finish the night at tho public house.” “ Bravo!” cricd ons of tho four bullies: * and wo'll po with you.” Lhe door of the room was now opened: Stane ley aud Lord Charles rose stagzeringly from their chairs, and with uneven steps walked into the passage,—a girl clinging to thegarm of each. In the darkness of that piussage, they each frlt that their purses and watches were dexteroualy filched from them: they protended not to notice it— the front-duor was opencd—and as they passed out, if was slammed behind thom—neither bullice nor girls being now any longer io their come pany. e They watked away from the immediate vicinuge of the place, and observed that both public-iouse and beer-shop were now shut up. Tha was of no consequence to thew: for, as the reader may suppose, Stanley had all alony no intention of ad- journing to cither of those places. The dawn of marning was now glimmering ; and as they looked back, they perceived the heal of one of the pirls thrust out of an upper window, They made her an appnrently friendly sien; and still starrermy along, stopped short, as afin astonishment, before tho shut-up public-honse. Then, with the air of men who determined to carry their tipsy frohies to soune placd which way yet open, they passed out of the slley,—another glance thrown backwards, showing that the girl was still watching their movernents. “Now, my dear follow,” said Lord Charles Meredith, when they were out of the alley, and therefore out of view of the houso witch they had reeently Jeft, “pray explain yourself—four to tell you the truth, I eannot for the life of me un- derstand this last proceeding on your part.” “Tt 13 ensily explained,’ responded Staniev: but wo have yet much tu ds ~and the most duli- cult as well ag tho mougt perilous part of our cn- terprise is still to be performed.” ° *Procead: I am ali attention,” rejoined the nobleman, © But unless we get back our purses uid our watches, 16 will be rather an expensive ucht's entertainment,” be added with a laugh. “Those we may givo up for loat,”’ auswored Stanley: “but I think we may bold that loss cheap vnoush, if we succeed in surrendcringya murderer uty the hands of justice.” “But your project?” said Lord Charles, in- quringls, “Do you mean to go and fetch the pulice 2” COMM =— a ee ae a ng SS a ae. 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