The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 219: what you’re looking at

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times ani © CUED “all in a moment an idea struck her. 206 “What was it you thought as how you heerd ?” “A door shutting up-steirs,” answered Mrs. Webber. . “Then whas if that lady as you spoke of, has been a-listening and heerd summut—and perhaps she don’t dare eome down, but will open her win- der and speak to any one as goes by; so that in a few minutes the place’ll be surrounded, the whole neighbourhood alarmed, and we bave no more chance of getting clear off than a cat without claws in a partickler place.” Mrs. Webber’s countenance grew full of dismay as she listened to this rapidly uttered speech on the Burker’s part, and the tenour of which ap- peared indeed but too reasonable. “ Well, what's to be done ?” asked Bill Scott. “ By jingo! we mu:t do fur her also,” ejacu- Inted Barney, with a look of fiercest resolve. “Come, lead the way, old dame—and we'll look to the swag arterwards: ke won't run off with it,” ndded the ruffian with « look of horrible signifi- cancy towards the old miser’s corpse, which was bending with its face down upon the table. Meanwhile Lettice Rodney was a prey to the most terrible apprebensions,— her guilty conscience suggesting all kinds of alarms. She thought that the reason why there was a light still burning below, was because the officers of justice had been sent for and were waiting tu take her inte cus tody. There was madness in her brain: she flew to the window of her room with the idea of open- img it aad precipitating herself into the street: but no! she could not die thus horribly — or if abe survived, find herself frightfully mutilated. Ab! What if she were to hasten down staire—throw herself at the miser’s feet——cunfess the trick— bat beseech bim to pardon her—and in return for his furgiveneses she would give him such information as would enable him to keep the three thousand poumds for himeelf. She could tell bim that his ward Mrs. Rayner was no more, and that sbe had perished in @ manner which would prevent her heirs —if she bad any by her own or her husband’s side— froin becoming aequainted with her death. Swift ap lightning did these ideas eweep throngh the brain of Lettice Rodney: but ere she de- acended to put her pruject into execution, ebe opened the .door and listengd. Ah! ehe heard voices talking below: they were indeed those of the wretches who were at the instant deciding upon the murder of herself: but she could not catch what they said—and she fancied that the offieers of justice were perhaps already in the bouse. Oh! then she mast beseech and implore a private interview with Mr. Pollard: it seemed to her the only method to save herself from destruc- tion. Guaded well nigh to madness, the wretched young woman rushed down the stairs; and as, on reaching the lower flight, she beheld Mrs. Webber accompanied by two ill-looking fellows, her very worst fears seemed to be confirmed, and in her eyes the Burker and Bill Soutt instantaneously took the aspect of constabies. “ Spaze—Oh! spare me!" she cried, frantically clasping her hands as she stopped short midway on the etaircase: “I will confess everything! Oh, I know that I have been very guilty—but the temptationowas so great! Let me see Mr. Pullard & q o fuk MYSTERIES OF TER COUR?. —and I will tell him something that shall induce him to forgive me!” The reader may imagine how great was the astonishment of Mrs. Webber and her iniquitous accomplices on hearing these passionately vehement ber, they nevertheless on the other hand heard enough to make them aware that ehe was com, pletely unsuspicious of the crime which they hed committed, and that she believed Pollard to be still in the land of the living, insemych as ebe was beseeching an interview with him. The three wretches exchanged bewildered looks with each other ; and Lettice fancied that they were uncer- tain whether to grent ber own prayer or to carry her off to gaol at ones. . “Spare me—for heaven’s sake spare me!” she exclaimed, descending the stsire; “and I will confess how I was led into this imposture !" “Ab!” ejaculated Mrs. Webber, to whom thee words were a revelation: “then, who ar you P” “My name is Lettice Rodney,” replied the young woman: “I met Mrs. Rayner ——” “Aod you are not Mrs. Rayner?” said the housekeeper, in burried inquiry. “ No—aend you all along knew that I was not. Oh, there is Mr. Pollard——Gracious heavens ” screamed Lettice, ag ber eyes were riveted apes the dagger which «till remained betweea hi shoulders; and smitten with the horrible—the overwhelming conviction that marder had bees done, she fell down senseless at the foot of the staircase. “There let her be—we'll divide the swag and bolt,” said the Barker; “it isn’t worth while to do ber a mischief any-how.” “Stop!” said Mrs. Webber, as am ides of devilish ingenuity flashed in unto her mind: “we may save ourselves from all I neod not scamper oat of the country over to France.” “What do you mean?’ demanded the Backer and Bill Sooté, as if both speaking in the same breath. “ Never do you mind,” responded Mrs. Webber: “leave it all to me—I know what [ am ebout. Take charge of the swag, Barney—] know | ep trust you for my share—you'll get up to Londo as quick as you can, and you'll give it to my Geng bier Bab—but not to Jack, mind! not to ack.” . “All right, marm,” responded the Burke. “ Come along, Bill—and lot's bo aiff.” The three wretches—eatisfied that Lettice Rod- ney was in a profound swoon, from which would not very readily awaken—retursed i the strong room; and the two men seasion of all the gold and bank-notes, exception of fifty sovereigna which Mrs. We desired them to leave as a means of en to carry out the which Barney and Bill Scott then took their by the same way in which they hed Mrs. Webber carefully closing and securing yerd-gate as well as the back-door when were Pear emiering toe hoses, abe Lettice still lying insensible at the eteira: she apyroushed ghe corpee off ber aster took bis purse from his pocket—put into found mi (SOL DOO Col