The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

80 THE MYSTERIES. Page was tolerably well convinced ; because that Thus picking his way, and ever and anon re- | | individual had spoken of Julia as his “ ungrate- | cognising points or features which might be termed ful daughter”—and Julia’s name was mentioned | the land-marks of the district, Mr. Page at last in ¢he document. In fact, the intimation therein | succeeded in discovering the court whereof he contained, was addressed to her: and to what | was in search. Fora moment his heart failed him could it allude, save a treasure ? as he plunged his looks up the low ertrance-arch- Page bad it all cut and dried in his imagination. | way and thought of the noisome dungeon at the The old man must have been a miser—and Julia | end; but when he beheld lights gleaming from would become an heiress! It was evident, by | many windows, his courage revived — for he the existence of the note itself, that this Julia was | thought within himself, All the inhabitants of unaware of the locality where her father kept his | this court cannot be thieves or murderers ; and ag money— even if she knew that he had any money | neither the Magsman nor his adherents should at all. Therefore. if Page con:d succeed in pos- | capture me without a desperate resistance on my sessing himself of the treagure without her know- | part, assistance would surely arrive from some ledge, so much the better ; if not, then he could | quarter or another in answer to my cries.” but propose to marry her—and he should become} As this reflection passed through his mind, tha a rich man in either case. commercial traveller mechanically placed his Such was the castle-building in which the com- } hands upon his coat-pockets to feel whether his mercial traveller indulged, as he sat by the firein | pistols were safe; and at the same time he turned his chamber. boldly into the court. Accordingly, he resolved to issue forth at once Not a soul was to be seen—all the doors were in search of that miserable court which had been | shut—but shouts of revelry and boisterous mirth the scene of the previous night's adventures. The | came from some of the dwellings, while shrieks rheumatism had pretty nearly left him—and, | and oaths bore unmistakable testimony to the evenif ithad not, what cared he so long as he | violent quarrels that were going on in others. could drag one leg after another? But, then, Page knocked at the house which was the object was he not about to venture into the very jaws | of his visit to this quarter of the metropolis ; and of danger? Might he not encounter the Mags- | he was just thinking what course he should adopt man or some of that formidable fellow’s adherents | in case his sammona remained unanswered, when who knew him and who would thrast him back } the door was opened hy a young female holding into the dungeon whence he had escaped with so | a light in her hand. She was poorly dressed,— much difficulty ? All this was perfectly true: | but by no means bad-looking; for her features but were not the risks worth running? Page | were regular, and her figure was good; but the thought so: his avarice was excitedand hie | dark circles round the eyes, the peculiar redness courage rose in proportiun. of the lips, and the extreme paleness of the cheeks The clocks were striking six in the evening,— | gave her a dissipated air—while the boldness of that same evening which Lord Florimel passed | her looks at once proclaimed the unblushing with Pauline, and on which Mrs. Brace took | courtezan. Caroline Walters to the midwife's house in “ Who are you?” she demanded, abruptly—al- Lambeth, as Mr. Page, enveloped in his cloak, | most insolently, upon opening the door. stepped into a hackney-coach in Holborn, and “ Tf your name is Julia,” said Page, hastily,— ordered himself to be driven to the East London | for he did not admire the circumstance of being Dock. At this point he alighted; and having dia- | kept standing in the court,—“ it is of the utmost missed the vehicle, began to take as well as he | importance that I should have a private conversa- could possibly remember the same route which | tion with you as scon as posible.” he had traversed in a contrary direction on the “But who are you, I again ask?” cried tho previous night. young woman, hesitating whether to admit the Miunging into the maze of-dark, dirty, and | visitor, or not—indeed, uncertain whether to re- dangerous streets, he found that it was’ no easy | gard him as friend or foe. task to trace a particular course in such a “I was present at your father’s death last wilderness of brick and mortar, without the | night!” returned Page, in a solemn and impres- knowledge of even the names of the various | sive manner. thoroughfares. But Page was not readily baffled ; “Then walk in,” said Julia, standing back to he had a grand object in view—and never had he | allow him room to enter the narrow passage ; and felt sc bold and so enterprising. By dint of perse- | when he had complied with her invitation, she verance, he began to discover certain salient fea- _ closed and fastened the door. Leading the way tures which he remembered to have noticed on _ intoan empty room opening from the passage, the former occasion : here, for instance, was a ' she placed the candle on the mantel-piece, ob- tavern with a flag-staff on the roof—there was servirg in a comparatively civil tone, “I am the local round-house, or cage, with the watch- | sorry, sir, that I cannot ask you up-stairs to the man’s box at the side,—here was a carrier’s es- | only chamber where there is any furniture,— tablishment, with two or three vane standing in | but, as you may suppose, my father is laid out the street—there wae a blacksmith’s forge where | there—and I can’t endure to look on a dead the heavy hammers rang and the glowing furnace | body.” blazed all night long—here, again, was a public “ No apology is necessary,” said Page. “ An ac- house with another remarkable sign that could | cident brought me into this house last night—and not fail to be recognised, even in the darkness— | hearing moans up-staira, I went to see if I could and there was a low boozing-ken, the door of | render any assistance——” whiclbeing always open, afforded the passers-by “ And you found my father dying ?” interrupted a view of the loathsome interior, the aspect of | thegirl, her voiceindicating some degree of emotion. which would not be readily forgotten. “J didn’t know that he was so bad—or I wouldn't COMIC ODOOKS.ECO