The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES. 119 ' ,s CHAPTER CLIL ‘¢HE MILISNER AND THE HANDSOME FOOTMAN, Ir was about three o’alock in the afternoon of the day following the masquerade; and Mrs. Brace was seated alone in her parlour, pondering upon the various difficulties which surrounded her, In the first place there was Mobbs, who | would evidently become a rapacious extortioner : then there was Frederick Dray, who had already darted amorous glances upon her, and had lost all the respect with which he had formerly been wont to treat her;—next there was Harriet, who, although faithful and devot@, must nevertheless be provided for ;—and lastly, there was the chance , of some unlucky or providential circumstance transpiring to afford a trace to the murder of the head constable of Bow Street. In fact, the wretched milliner not only found hefself com- pletely in the power of three persons who would look to her purse as a constant means for sup- plying all their wants; bat she likewise felt that she should ever be exposed ta the insofence of Mobbs, tbe arrogance of the footman, and the pretensions of the lady’s-maid. Mobbs was to return in the evening. What would he require of her?—and how should she act? Fre- derick Dray’s mufderous intention of the preceding night had been defeated in the manner already de- scribed: and Mrs, Brace knéw not whether the footman still entertained the same project. She shuddered when she thought that he possibly might ; —and yet there was a secret hope at the bottom of her sou] that he had so¢ abandoned the idea of ussas- ination. For if Mobbs were put out of the way, the most brutal of the three depositors of ber secret would be removed from her path ;—and then——-Oh! did not the thought steal into (he mind of the wretched woman that she might perhaps find means to silence Frederick Dray likewise for ever! ‘So true is the saying that one crime needs a dozen Others to conceal it! Then again,—if once those two depositors of her secret were thus removed,—might she not dispose of her etablishment—realise her property—and repair ta America? Harriet was no particular object of alarm, and might accompany her. Yes—this was an excellent plan ;—and the milliner even found: heart enough to smile as it slowly developed iiseif ip her thoughts. She was in the midst of this reverie, when the door opened and Frederick Dray entered the room. His countenance wore a ginister expression which instantly produced a disagreeable eflect ‘upon Mrs, race and caused a sensation of uneasiness to creep avér her. She half started from her chair — then sank back into it: and, fixing her eyes intently upon the man’s features, she endeavoured to read ait that ‘was passing in his mind, “ Madam, are we not to have a few minates® con- versation together?” he said, lounging wegligently against the high back of an armechair: “for I think I understood from you that the scoundrel Mobbsa ig to return to-night.” “Yes —he will return,” answered Mra. Brace: *and—as you say, Frederick——we—we — must . . "Don’t labour under any embarrhsament with me, my dear madam,” interrupted the footnfan : ™ hence. forth we must row in the same boat, if we wish fo : save our necks from a halter.” ‘And, without any farther ceremony, he deposited himself quietly and comfortably in the arim-chair opposite to the one occupied by his mistress ;—and leaning back, he stretched out his legs towards the map fire just for all the world as if he were the master of ' the house. “You have some plan in your head, then, Fre- derick?” observed Mrs. Brace, not daring to remon- strate with him for his impertinence. “ Plan !—egad, I’ve got it all cut and dried, my dear madam,” returned the footman, in a flippant, self-sufficient, off-hand manner ;—“and I hope that it will suit you in all its details.” “Proceed,” said the milliner, already suspecting that Dray was revolving in his mind something more than even the murder of Mobbs, and that he had ul- terior views beyond the mere disposal of the ex-con- stable. “In the first place, my dear lady,” continued Frederick, ii a tone of familiarity, “et us thgroughly understand the point from which we are to start. In plain terms, then,” he added, fixing his eyes keenly upon her countenance,—“ Peter Grumley did noé die of apoplexy—but you murdered him !” “You dare not thus atcuse me!” exclaimed the milliner, in a hoarse choking voice— while her mag- nificent bust heaved and fell with a long convulsive movement. | | “What is the use of entertaining me with such language as that?” demanded Dray, his whole man- ner denoting an insolent confidence. “Did you not ask me last night whether this additional crime was necessary? But that admission on your part only confirmed the suspicions that already dwelt in my mind. Besides, did you not lend yourself to my plan tu make away with Mobbs ?—and if you had not previously done a trifle in the murder way, would you have fallen so easily into the latter scheme? But what difference does it make, after all? The corpse lies buried in this house—and, it discovered, will be ehough to get fis all’ hanged.” “What, then, do you propose?” asked Mrs Brace, no longer daring to dispute with the footman relative to the mode in which Grumley met his death. "J propose.to let Mobbs follow bis superior officér,” responded Dray, With a significant smile. * And now you see how mutch I am risking on your account, my dear lady: for nothing would be easier than for me to také myself off to America aud Jeave you to deal with this Mobbs as best’ you may, But as Tam confident he is not.to be trusted—but will either betray the secret in a drunken moment, or else out of revenge the very first time you refuse tu satisfy his extortionate demands—I therefure pro- pose to put hin out of your way altogether.” “ And how—that is—by what plan——” faltered Mrs. Brace, in a low thick tone. | “Not in a way that will shed blood and leave traces upon the flooy,” answered the footman. “ Whatever we do, must be done safely. I suppose you poisoned Petex Grumley? Well—an exceilent method too, Nothing afore useful than a few crops of Prussic acid to have in one’s house. Ah! [ see by your maoher, then, that Prussic acid it was, But I am afraid that Mobbe may smell a rat. He will be suspicious—upen his gnard ; and depend upon it GOH GOO pal a Sc ft npn SS