The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 359: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

= TSE, ee oe «@ es THE MYSTERIES. disappeared suddenly—and it seemed as if some giant hand had piled the dark storm -clouds all in a moment before her alabaster throne. The in St. James's Square was now re- Ueved only by the feeble glimmering of the oil- mmps stationed at wide intefvals along the peve- ment skirting the houses: but the walk bordering the iron railings of the enclosure was involved in a far deeper darkness. The evergreens within the tron fence, a portion of which their branches over- bung, formed a black shade in one particular spot ; and it was while Meagles and Kose Foster were passing through this gloom, in order to make as So abrupt and violent was this atteck that Mea- gies, against whom the ruffian had directed his sesault, was levelled with the ground, where he lay either dead or senseless; and Rose, losing all her presence of mind in an instant, darted away scream- ing for help and raising the cry of “ Murder.” The man lost not a moment in profiting by the deed which he had committed. of Meagies, he posseased the pockets himself of that individual's mory. At the same time he thrust his hand into the breast of the anconscious man and feit that his heart was beating, though with feeble pulsations ; then, giving vent to the ejaculation of “Thank God! Lam nota marderer yet,” he darted proe- cipitately away from the scene of his crime. Meanwhile Rose Foster had fied madly and franticly, without heeding the direction which she * Good heavens! what alls her?” exclaimed the lady, as Rose, utterly exhausted, sank fainting into her arnis. At that moment the moon revealed to her eyes | had the countenance—the well-known countenance— of Rose Foster; and an ejaculation lors reat A be and surprise followed that of alarm which had already burst from her lips. A word summoned the domestic to her side: and the liveried lacquey, raising the insensible giri in his arms, bore her hastily along to a house close by. and, startled by the remembrance that the fas event had occurred in &. James's Square, she flung a wild and shaddering look around. A terriBlle suspicion had suddenly sprung up in her miad ; and it was now confirmed most fatally :—for the chamber was indeed well known to the unhappy cent the never-to-be-forgotten countenance of Mrs. mind everything that had happened. performed her part actively; and he found Rose had disappeared—that he robbed of his purse and watch—and that his had alone saved his skull from being fractured the desperate assault which had been made him with a bladgeon or some similarly weapon, the effects of which were still most painfully. But what bad become of Ross? This was his a hurried manuer he made the circuit of the Square: still she appeared not. What could have become ef her f Perhaps ‘she bad returned to his lodgings to procure assistance. Thither he repaired: Piggicberry assured him that the young not come back. Suddenly it struck him might have fled to her own humble abode; she had mentioned to him the address of the where herself and the Melmoths lodged, he decided upon hastening thither without delay. Towards Westminster Abbey did Tim Meagles accordingly proceed. Although be could not pos- sibly account for Rose Foster’s disappearance, and although he felt confident that she hed not been murdered nor ill-treated by the same ruffian wo had plundered him, it nevertheless did not strike him for an instant that she could have fallen once more inte the hands of Mrs. Brace. Hoping, therefore, to ied her at the house in which the Melmoths resided, he hastened thither with all speed : bat even when be thence a few feeble rays came forth—poverty’s un they | mistakable rushlight glimmering ! her as not er unfamiliar. Pressing her hand to her brow in order to steady her thoughts, the speedily recollected the ineidents of the night ; LOOO