The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 104: what you’re looking at

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

Mobbe, with a savage exsphasis: fer he unflesstood | all the thoughts that had just teavereed her mind. | “And you need not fhincy that you cam baffle me——” “Oh! no—no—F de not entertain such an idea,” said the wretched woman, now percerving that it was too late to assume the air of innoesnes and the | tone of bravado. “I am at your meroy—and you can deal with me as you choose.” “ Phat’s talking more sensible,” observed Mobbe * And now, ma’am,” he said, abvuptly rising from his scat, “you'll be se kind as to show me where you've deposited the dead body of my poor friend.” “Ah! you wish to rain me—yeu mean te expose me!’ cried the miserable Mra Brace, an ice-chill striking to her very heart’s core. “ My God! my God!” she exelaimed in a frensied tone, and pressing both her hands to her throbbing brows: “ what will become of me?” “You will rain snd expose yourself if you go on in this manner,” said Mobbs, bratally. “Do you want te alarm the whole housef [I tell you that I will befriend you if you do as I dictate: bat if not——..’’ “My God! I will not irritate you any more—I will be obedient—passive—docile,’ murmured the unhappy woman, her teeth chattering with the in- tense chill ef the tremor that was upon her, although the atmosphere of the room was agreeably warm. “What do you require, Mr. Mobbs?—speak— I am at your orders.” “ft is now half-past eleven o’olock,” said the man, glancing towards the time-piece onthe mantel ; “ and I suppose all your people are pretiy well in bed or soon will be. It won't therefore be causing any sus- picion if you'll jum guietly take a candle in your hand and show me where my poor friend’s body is hid. I don’t want to know for any reason preju- dicial to you—but merely for satisfaction’s sake.” “ And yon will not use the evidence against me f— you will not destroy mef” asked Mrs. Brace, still shuddering visibly. “If I wanted to do you a mischief, I have suff- cient grounds on which to act as matters now stand,” rephied Mobis; “and if I had meant it from the very first, I should have arrested you at once. Now do you understand f—and will you be satisfied t” “ Yeo—yos—F am satisfied,” said the miserable woman. “Then make baste—take the candle—and do as [ bid you,” returned Mobba. “But if any of my servants should be below?” said Mrs. Brace, in nervous alarm. * Ah! it’s below, is it?” muttered Mobbe. “ Weil,” he exclaimed, “go and get your people out of the way—and I'll take a drop more brandy during your absence.” This permission to quit his company and go about as she liked, unwatched and unattended, did more in a single imstant to revive Mrs Brace’s courage and inspire her with confhience, than alt the man’s oaths, promises, and protestations of secrecy, silence, and friendship, could have done in an hour. A gleam of animation even came back to her countenance and a faint smile appeared apon her lips—to immense was the relief she thus suddenly experienced. Issuing from the partour, she degcended to the servants’ hall, where she found Frederick Dray and Harriet in earnest conversation together—the ether domestics having retired to rest, SA A ST et a a AF a a AT Ca a CTI The handsome footman and the pretty lady's- maid were evkiently in a state of much sncasiness ‘and alarm; and they were wondering togethet what could possibly keep Mr. Mobbs so long with their mistress, when this lady herself entered the servants’ hall. “@ madam! exelaimed Harriet, running to- wards her: “we are so terribly frightened? What does he want ?—and is he gone ” “No--he is not gone,” hastily responded Mra. ‘Beace: “but you have nothing to fear.” “God be thasked ’ murmared Harriet, almost fainting with the sudden rebound that her hears gave when thus released from the appalling sus- pense that had previously held every chord tight- ened fo the extvensest tension. “ Ro—you have nothing to feas,” resemed the milliner, in the same quick and excited tone as before; “ nevertheless, he knewe all — every- thing —.” “ Perdition” ejasuinted Frederick Dray. “O God!” murmared Harict, now sinking help-~ lessly apon a ehair. “Yes—he knows everything,” continued Mrs. Brace: “but he will not betray us—he will accept a bribe—he will befriend us—and he insists upon my showing him the spot where the body is buyied.” “Ah! then he means treaebery of some kind— either for now or hereafter,” said Frederick Dray : “bas I will forestall him,” he added, his countee nance saddeniy expressing a terrible reeolution. “What mean you, my good fellow ?” demanded Mrs. Brace, in a whispering tone: but the sinister light which all on a sudden flamed np in her eyes,. the ominous eontonction of her brow, and the nervous trepidation whisk shook her entire form, showed plainly enoug’s that she already understood Fredeviok Dray full well. “You know what | mean, ma'am,” he said, his voice becoming low and thiek: and having glanced. towards Harriet to assure himself that she did not overhear what was now passiag, he fixed his eyes with a bold intelligence upon the countenance of his mistress. “Yes—I de understand you, Frederick,” she murmured. “ But, my God l—is it necessary—this additional crime——.” “lete necessary,” answered Dray. “Bring the villain down into the back kitehea—teli him whas tale you will—aad as he returne——mind, as he ro- turns, I say———I shel spring upon him from the pantry. But you must hasten back to him for few he should suspect a plant—aad in the meaa- time I will get that gisl up to her own room,” he added, pointing to Harriet, who was sitting, or rather lying backs haif-feinting in an arm-chair. , “ Bo it all as you say, Frederiok,” observed Mra. Brace: and she tumed hastily away in order to avohé meeting his looks once more—for it seemed ae if there were murder in them ! But during the minate she took to retrace her war te the parlour, Mrs. Brace appeared to obtain @ wonderful familiarity with erime, as if by the sudden inspiration of Satan ;—ead ceasing almost instantemeounly to look: with horror upon anothes murder, she was 106 to contemplate it as a neces- sity, and then to rejoice at the idea se a means of ether | ensurtog hee safety in future. In this last-mentioned state of miad was it that GOH GOO (COLUM