The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 400: what you’re looking at

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

eee eee EEE EEE Meagies bit hia Mp aimest Gl ie bled—for he eould scarcely repress a vieleat eutbarst af indig- nation at the eowardly baliying tw whieh ho was being subjected ;—while James Melmoth found it equally difficult to restrain the fory that wee boil- ing within him, and the effort to sabdae which rent his very heart-stsinge with an excruciating an “Go on, Bax, with you? statement,” sald the Chief Magistrate of Baw Street, “Well, gentlemen,” sesamed the witness, “I was informing your hoseurs how me and my two pertners was a-walking promisconcusly along Pall Mall when we see a rayther stent gentleama in Mre. Brace’s shep. At fust his back was towards the door; bet presently he turned round, and then, we twi “Recognised, my good friend,” suggested the Attorney-General, administering a verbal carrec- tive in a tone whese biandoess comtrasted re- markably with that which he had adopted when speaking to Meagies, “Thank‘eo, sir—I meant to say Peecguisced,” con- tinued Bax. “And whom did you recognise?” asked the Chief Magistrate, also speaking in a mild voice and with agreeable manper. “ His Roya! Highness the Prince of Wales,” re- turned the constable. “Ho was talking to Mrs. Brace, which is a wery respectable lady ac alweys. pays her rates and taxes without a mermur and reg’larly illuminates her house of all Royal Birth- days.” “ Ah! atruly loyal subject,” observed the Under. Secretary, with an approving glance at the At- torney-General. “Please to continue yoer evi- dence, Mr. Bax.” “ And let him remember he’s en hie eath Ff’ ex- |: claimed Melmoth sternly — for the working man was unable to subdue hie feelings any longer. “Silence, fellowf ejaculated the Under Seere- These constant interruptions are intolerable ” eried the Chief Magistrate. “They show clearly enough thet the whuot tues pers are aware of the desperate condition in have placed themselves,” said the Attorney Ge. peral. “But sach infamous attempts to intimidste, the witness———” “The attempts are made to intimidate as!” ox- claimed Melmoth, with an energetic gestions. tion. “ How dare you threaten te strike the witness ?” vociferated the Under-Secretary, starting from his ecat. “I did no such thing—! only waved my arm in the air,” replied Melmoth, undaanted by the me- nacing mien assumed by the Under- . “But let the witness go on and finish his story.” - «Proceed, Mr. Bax,” said the Chief Magistrate. “Well, your hononrs,” resamed the constable, “an his Royal Highness was giving his orders to Mrs. Brace, the two prisoners come aiong the street arm-in-arm, and looking wery disorderly : me and my pertners instantly twigged — I mean recognised them—and we at once knowed them to be two of the most desperate spouters at public meetings——" *T never was at a public political meeting in my Wel ejaculated Meagles. 61 “Oh! very well — you've commitéed yoursel now, said the Attosney-Genecal, with a sardoni: emile of triumph as be caught up the prisoner’: remark, “ You deolare that you were never at : publie political meeting; apd the natural infer. ence af couse that the meetings which you dc attend are of a private character. Very good, Mr. Menem: you stand eonfessed a member of Seore! Societies. Take that down in the depositions, Mr. Preaeott,” added the Attorney-General, speaking to the clerk. “ By heavens! I will not submit to this diabolical ssisinterpretation!" qeouleted Mesgles, hin coua- tenance becoming cvimasn with wath end every vein on hia forehead awelling almost, to bursting. “ It eecandaleus—perfieetty fiand-like |” exclaimed Melmoth. “No Russian tysanny ey Spanish inguiai- torial despetism was ever waree.” “Silence—both of you—or yam, shall be renwved immediately |" oried the Undee- » who had posted himself upon the rug in front of the fire. Tim Meagles threw a hasty loos upan Melmoth, as. reach, as to hint that they had better subdue their feelings as well as thoy eemid and le tho wispeee peer coed ta the end; ar clap their removal from the reom would deprive them of any little ahance which they posesneed of thet own eqlae by abaking his testimany whea the mopacnt fox ¢nose-qyaunining him shenld arrive. Bit that glanse cegaped got the lynx-eyed Attorney-General, who instantgepeoualy rendered # svailable to his ewn parpones, * Did you observe those leeks of intelligquce which passed between the prisoners ?” he d addressing himself te the Under-Secyetary. and the Chief Magistrate: and, aa they beth modded their heads affirmatively, the great legal {unetionery con- tinued to exelaim, “ Every step that ie takes in this uidesions—but they. actually carry thety presumption so far as to communicate with can ether by weans of sceret sigpe in our ca!” “ “Fis faleo-—falee an hell!” siecaleted Melmoth, stamping his foot fusieusly upan the carpet. “De not let us be proveked into intemperate language, my geod feend," eald Moagles, earnestly. “] basseeh you to be tranquil for the present” Melmoth bit his lip and held hia peace: but the agitated workings of his ¢ountenance plainly indi- cated how his anwl wae tertured hy the effort which he was compelled to make to subdue a terrifio explosion of these omtraghd feelings that sought a vent. “ Preceed, Mr. Bax,” said the Chief Magistrate of Bow Street. “J was observing, gentlemen.” resymed the wit- .| neds, “that while his Royal Magbness wae in Mre. Brace’s shop, a-talking to a young gal there---—I mean to the millines herself,” he hastenad to add, — ‘them two prisoners come alang the street in a dis- orderly manne, and jeoking just as if they was anxious to get up a row and collect a mob. Me and my partaers, eT ee uct nese cen and evil-dis persons, kept s eye upos them: and, lo and behold! they walks straight iato Mra. Braces shép—begine pulling the hénnata, the gawna, and the gais about—and takes Kbestian with the lady herself. The Prince very naveally remonstrated . them; but searesly had he begged them to take COMIC OOO co