The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 275: what you’re looking at

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| 262 jones that a fresh supply of wine had been scent for. Ina few moments Mra. Bambridge re- appeared 3 and almost immediately afterwards the woman-servant entered with two fresh bottles of wine. These were opened; and one of the girle officioualy filled the two gentlemen’a glasses : bat the latter perceived that it was from the firat supply, whieh was not completely exhausted, that the other glasses were roplenished. They there- fure at oneo comprebs that the wine last brought in wes drugged. “You da not drink ?” said one of the girls, in a eqjoling manner to Stanley. “TI am already tipsy enough,” was the response, given in a hiecupping manner. “ Oh, no!—do try one more glass.” | Stanley reached forth his hand: and with every sppeayanee of drunken awkwardness he upset the giess. | . “I’m eure you've not 90 clumsy,” gaid the other girl to Lard Charles. “ Lot's try,” auswered the nobleman: and lift- ing the glese, ho spilt all ite contents down his letot. Both the girle affected to laugh: but at the same time they darted suspicious looks towards Mrs. Bambridge. “ Who oan sing a good song?” asked Stanley, with the hope of giving a tura to the proceedings emd averting the euapicions which he saw were awakened. “It jues happens,” replied Mother Bambridge, with her simporing air, “that there are three or four gentlemen—real gentlemen, like yourselves —ia the front parlour; and they seem ag much inclined as you to make a night of it. They aing capital eongs; and with your leave I'll go and fete them.” ; She quitted the voom accordingly; and during heg absence, which lasted two or three minutes, the girls again endeavoured to ocajole the officers into retiring: but they were resolved not to be seperated—and they vowed, with oT. declama- ion, that they would nat go ta bed till daylight. other Bambridge re-appeared, with the four “« gentlemen ” of whom she had spoken; and tho two offieere ab ence recognised some of the flashily dregeed fellows whom they had seen ing aloof hehind the girls in front of the public-houses, The four bellies—for such indeed the new-camersa were-——themeclves affected to be drunk; an sitting down, they began singing a bacchanalian seng, The girls endeavoured to persuade Lord Charles and Stanley to drink of the last supply of wine—but as a matter of course, without effect. The loeks which the women rapidly exchanged grow mere and mere suspicious, ag the excuses of the officers for refusing to drink became propar- tionately more and more transparent,—their con- duct sow being op little gonsistent with that af tipsy mens and yet they had no alternative but to yersist in the refusal, even at the risk of having their aim altogether frustrated. “Come now,” suddenly exclaimed Mrs. Bam- bridge, rising up from her seat; “I must have the house quiet—or elee I shall stand the chance of being indiete}. You must all be off to bed with- out any more delay.” . THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. at least for the present, by reminding their frail Stanley knew fall well that if they separated from each other, they were almost certain to become the prey of superior numbers: for they had no doubt that there were even more bullies at hand than those who were present; and their only chance of a successful resistance, in case of vio- lence, wes to keep together. But @ thought sud. denly flashed to Stanley’s mind; and affecting to drop his poeket-handkerehief close to where Lard Chagsies sate, he pretended to fall completely upon him as he stooped to pick it up. This manauvre afforded him the opportunity of rapidly whisper- ing, “ Let us suffer ourselves to be robbed without the alightest resistance.” “ Come, do you hear P”’ cried Mrs. Bambridge : off with you to bed |” | “If you won’t let as si¢ up any longer,” said Stanley, hiccupping at every word, “J shall go and finish the night at the public house.” _ “ Bravo!” ecried one of the four bullies: “ and we'll go with you.” The door of the room was now opened: Stan- ley and Lord Charles rose staggeringly from theiz chairs, and with uneven steps walked into the passage,—a girl clinging to the arm of each. In the darkness of that passage, they each felt that their purses and watches were dexterously filched from them: they pretended not to notice it— the front-door was opened—and as they passed out, i¢ was slammed behind them—neither bullies nor girls being now any longer in their com- pany. They walked away from the immediate vicinage of the place, and observed that both public-house and beer-shop were now shut up. This was of no consequence to them: for, as the reader may suppose, Stanley had all along no intention of ad- journing to either af those places. The dawn of morning wag now glimmering ; and as they looked back, they perceived the head of ane of the girls thrust out of an upper window. They made her an epparently friendly sign; and still along, stopped abort, as if in astonishment, before the shut-up public-house. Then, with the air of men who determined te garry their tipay frolies to some place which was yet open, they paseed oat of the alley,—another glance thrown backwards, showing that the girl was still watching ther movements. “Now, my dear follow,” said Leed Charles Meredith, when they were out of the alley, and therefore out of view of the house which they had recently left, “pray explain yourself—for to tell you the truth, I cannot for the life of me ua derstand this last proceeding an your ” “It is easily explained,” Stanley: “but we have yet much to do—and the moet difli- cult as well as the most perilous part of our n- terprise is still to be performed.” “Proceed: I am all attention,” rejoined the nobleman. “ But unless we get back our purees and our watches, it will be rather ane night’s entertainment,” he added with a laugh. “Those we may give up for lost,” answered Stanley: “but I think we may hold that loas cheap enough, if we succeed in surrendering a murderer into the hands of justice.” “Bué your project?” ssid Lord Charles, in- quiringly. “Do you mean to go and fetch the palice P”’ COMMIC DOO Col