The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 138: what you’re looking at

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then began to gaze steadfastly upon me. 1 was €orced to caress him—but he repulsed me with aver- sion; for he had by this time recovered sufficient power to enable him to use his hands feebly. I whispered to the old nurse that his brain was still wandering ;--and she smiled faintly—I thought, in- credulously. Some medicine had been sent by the doetor—and I was resolved to make an effort to ac- complish the purpose in view. I accordingly ap- proached the mantel—turned my back towards the nurse in such a way that she could not see what I was doing—and hastily mixed some of the poison with the draught. Then, advancing towards the bed, I told the nurse to raise the patient in her arms, while I administered the dose. She obeyed me in- stantly—and I began to think that my idea of being suspected by her was unfounded. But never—never shall I forget the change that came rapidly over Ramsey's countenance, as he sate up, supported by the old woman. He first gazed on me fur a few in- stants with the most steadfast earnestness; then his features expressed a horror which m less than a minute completely convuleed them—and all in a moment, like a flash of lightning, he recognised me !” “ What—did he say so?” demanded the young woman’s father. “No: but I saw it in bis manner—in his coun- tenance,” responded Carrotty Poll “ It was as easy to read what was passing in his mind, as if it was a printed book. And then his conduct showed that he knew who I was in spite of my disguise: for the in- stant I put the glass to bis lips, he recovered power enough to dash it out of my hand, and exclaim, ‘ No / no!’ The nurse let him fall back upon his pillow; and he covered his face with his bands, moaning in a piteous manner. ‘ His brain wanders still, I said to the old woman, as I threw the medicine into the fire-place—‘ Why did you chuck it away” she de- manded, fixing on me a look that seemed to pierce me through and through: ‘Z could have made him take it”—Now, you know that I am not wanting in presence of mind: but I admit that I grew so con- fused, I was at a loss what to do; and inventing some excuse—I really forget what—I left the room, not ance looking back, for I felt convinced that the old hag was staring after me with her nasty grey eyes.’ “T dare say it was all fancy om your part, Poll,” eaid the Beggarman. “The crone’s ways were pecu- liar, p'raps ——" “ Well, it might be so,” interrupted the young woman: “but I didn’t stop to make those reflections at the time. To tell you the truth, I was glad to get away; for I began to think that the nurse would alarm the house, and the landlord might keep me till he could send for a constable Well, I left the room, as I told you: this was about an hour ago—aend as the Mariners’ Arms is an early breakfast-house for labourers and colliers employed at the docks and wharfs, the potman was taking down the shutters, There was a light in the bar; and just as I was going out, who should come in to get a morning dram, bat Joe Warren ?” “ He was up be-times, at all events,” observed the Big Beggarman. “Ofcourse he recognised you ” “To be sure—in a moment,” answered Poll; “ be- cause he has often seen me decked out in this way. Before [ could give him a look to prevent him from speaking to me, he asked what the deuce was going cn and insisted on my taking a drop of brandy with gt ec OT nS anand THE MYSTERIES. onaln. He muttered a few inarticulate words, and 12h him. Then the talkative potman began to inquire of me Row the gentleman up-etairs was; and the fellow gabbled away at such a rete that Joe Warren heard quite enough to make it impossible for me to tell him any liesaboutit. He followed me out; and I thought the best plan was to explain the whole matter to him, just for all the world as if neither you nor me ever meant to keep it a secret. He said he didn’t care much about Rameey’s affair, and told me to mind and tell you to put away his share of the five hundred guineas; as everything relating to the Aylesbury bankers was a matter in which he had his claim for regulars.® I assured him that you had already done so; and the business was thus made Square enough. He then ordered me to have Meagles and Lady Lade set at liberty the instant that I re- turned; and he said that you needn’t trouble your- self about Ramsey—as he'll attend to Aim. He also observed that he intended to make a call this even- ing in Pall Mall—you know where—and it is very likely you won’t see him again till to-morrow night We then parted—and I found the Kinchin-Grand waiting for me at Execution Dock.” “ Well—and why the devil should you pretend to be disgusted with the whole affair?” demanded the Big Beggarman. “In my opinion, it’s gone off un common well—especially since our friend Joe isn’t put out about it, and will undertake to keep Ramsey quiet.” “ Tam disgusted,” said Carrotty Poll, with vixenish acerbity, “because you have made a mull of the thing. You never ought to have played your tricks on Meagles and Lady Lade. One is a devilish good fellow—and the other is a nice woman; and they might have been good friends to us.” “Why didn’t you tell me all this before ?” growled the Beggarman. , “Because when you had locked ’em up, it was too late. However,” she added, in a milder tone—for she saw that her father was in no humonr to ba up- braided,—*“ what’s done can’t be helped: but I am preciously annoyed at having lost so many hours in such a stupid affair as this expedition to the Ma- riners’ Arms—tired as I was already ;—and then that cursed old nurse annoyed me more than enough.” «* Well—go and sleep off your ill-humour, Poll,” said her father. ““I shan’t be sorry to get to-bed myself.” The parent and daughter then retire] to their chambers ;—and during the next three hours a pro- found silence reigned throughout the Beggar’s Staif’ until the slipshod waiter rose at about nine to open the premises again—for, as it was a Sunday morning, he had snoozed a little later than usual CHAPTER XXXVI. MRS, BRACE AND HER VISITORS. It was the Sabbath evening; and Mrs. Brace wv seated alone in her exquisitely-furnished parlom Some of her young ladies had gone to pass the day with thzir parents or friends: others had obtaincd permission to “go to church”—which moant that they had certain little amatory appountments to keep; and a few remained in their own apartment, chatting together or reading novels. ® Fair proportion of the plunder COMIC OOO SS co