The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 101: what you’re looking at

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

seamen ett gsc eects enna tn preaches gra Gaia ee ACO COT CELE TITEL DALAL er of will swear to maintain an inviolable secrecy respect- fog the incidents of this night ?” - “J swear, beloved lady,” exclaimed Lord Mont- gomery. “ Besides, you have this gaarantee—that I do not wish to forfeit Florimel’s friendship ; which I should assuredly do, were he to discover the part that I have played towards you and which he little expected or intended his narrative to suggest. And now, dear lady, are you satisfied ?” “Yes, Eugene—perfectly,” was the reply :—“ and thus do £ convince thee of the sincerity of my word,” she added, throwing herself into his arnis and abandoning herself to his fervid caresses. Almost immediately afterwards the carriage stopped; and in an instant did the lady draw the hood of the domino over the Earl's head and tie a silk handkerchief around it in such a manner that neither the night-breeze nor any movement on his part could throw that cowl back. The door of the vehicle was opened: the Cir- cassian Slave descended first—and, guided by her hand, Lord Montgomery followed. Then ensued precisely the same circumstances which Lord Flori- mel had detailed in that particular portion of his narrative which referred to his own introduction to the lady’s abode of love and mystery. For the Circassian Slave now led Earl Montgomery hastily forward : a gate closed behind them —on they went— and it struck him that they were threading the gravel - walk ofa garden or similar enclosure. In a couple of minutes they paused : the lady let go his hand for a moment—he heard a hey turn in a lockh—a door opened — his kand was again taken in the warm grasp that gave him a re-assuring pressure—they entered some building—and once more did the lady pause to shut and fasten the door behind them. She then conducted him up a staircase so thickly car- petted that even the clumsiest boats and the heaviest footsteps must have passed nowelessly over it ;— and finally he was escorted along a passage into a chamber the atmosphere of which was warm and per- med ! pet here must we leave the nobleman aud his mys- terious but enchanting companion for the present. CHAPTEN CXLYVII. THE MUBDERESS AND HER ACCUSER. Wuixe Pauline Clarendon and the Prinoe of Wales were brought into contact on the one hand, and while Lord Montgomery was in the carriage with the unknown lady on the other, an incident of a very different nature occurred on this night of mal- tiform adventures. Mrs. Brace was seated alone in her parlour, pondering upon many things and from time to time cheering her spirits with some excellent Medeira, —when Harriet suddenly made her appearance with a countenance as pale as death. “ What, in heaven’s name, is the matter f” inquired the milliner, starting from her seat and instanta- neously catching the infection of her abigail’s die- may. “That dreadful man—who was here the other morning—and who would not give his name—but who looks like a constable,” gasped Harriet, almost suffocated by the terror that was upon her. “Ahi what can he possibly want?” murmured frie mMYserented, ~nslllreeiimassptleillilag, Mrs. Brace in a dying tone: and, a horrible sensa tion coming over her, she clung to the mantel-piecs for support. “ My God! ny God!” exclaimed Harriet hyate- rically, and wringing her hands at the same time: “ what shall we do ?%”’ “ For heaven’s sake compose yourself!” said the milliner, all in a moment nerving herself with the courage of despair. “I know who he is—’tis Mobbe —and he is accessibleto bribery. Besides, if he has come alone, he means no mischief———” “ Yes—he is alone,” observed Harriet, catching eagerly at the hope which her mistress thus suddenly held out: “and he spoke civilly enough when he asked to see you, ma’am.” “ Then introduce him at once—and fear nothing,” said Mra. Brace, assuming a:tone of firmness and assurance. The lady’s-maid quitted the room; and during the few instants that the milliner remained alone, she ex- erted all the energy of her nature to tranquillise her feelings and compose her looks. For in spite of the soothing words which she had spoken to Harriet and with which she had even essayed to cheat her- self into a belief of thorough security, a tremendous Miisgiving nevertheless lay like a weight of lead upon the guilty woman’s soul. She felt a pain in the chest—a singular sensation, like that of collapse, ia the stomach—and a tingling io all ber limbs ;—and when she drew a long breath, it seemed as if she were struggling to throw some heavy load off her. These were the symptoms of her awful alarm—the tortures which conscience inflicted upon her;—and despite the almost surerhuman efforts which she iwade to conquer these teclings, it was in a horrible state of mind, though with a somewhat tranquillised coun- tenance, that she met the looks of Mobbe as he appeared upon the threshold of her apartment. The man was dressed in his drab great -coat—wore his slouching hat—carried a short but thick stick in his hand—and was followed by the ugly mongrel dog which went about with him when he was not very particularly engaged. Altogether, he looked a much greater ruffian than nine-tenths of the London rogues and rascals who were wont to tremble at his name ;—and a glacial shudder passed through the milliner’s entire form, penetrating even to the marrow of her bones, as she beheld his sinister eyes settling upon her with a frightful significancy. And Mobbs saw how she quailed beneath his look and how her body writhed with the paroxysm of a profound and searching terror;—and he said within himself, “The Gallows’ Widow was right—and the milliner is a murderess !” “Walk in, Mr. Mobbs—and sit down,” said the wretched woman, straining every nerve to seem com- posed, but enduring tortures so horrible that every fpstant appeared an age and she felt as if she mast either give vent to her excruciating sensations in a piercing scream or else be suffoeated by the endeavour to subdue her emotions. “ How are you, ma’a2f” said Mobbs in his usual growlieg tone. “ Come here, you ugly thief—will ye f° he cried, thuselegantly apostrophizing his dog, and be- stowing a kiek on the animal at the same time: then, closing the parlour door, he advanced inte the room and took a seat near the fire, saying, as he chucked his hat npon the carpet, “ It's a qgid night, ma’am,’ “Tben you shall take something nice and warm Mr. Mobbs, to oemfort you,” exclaimed the millinea DOO (C oa &a o oath, - oe ~—eob etn ina SS |