The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 302: what you’re looking at

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

einen? Cee ee &e ewer 6 ww ~erewweeeeee le Ce CHAPTER CXCVI. CONCLUSION OF THE SCENES AT MB. PAGE'S ABODE. THE moment the Prince had taken his departure, the Gallows’ Widow approached the bed and shook Pauline gently by the shoulder. The slumbering maiden was only partially aroused; and, turning round upon the other side, she sank back again into a deep lethargy. The Gallows’ Widow then proceeded to bathe her forehead with water; and Pauline began to revive slowly. As consciousness returned, she opencd her eyes and gazed vacaatly upon the countenances of the three forms that stood by the couch. Then a vague terror seized upon her—and a faint scream escaped her lips, as her features displayed all the signs of that alarm which had taken possession of her soul. But the Gallows’ Widow hastened to breathe reassuring words in her ears. “Do not be frightened, young lady,” she said: “we are friendly disposed towards you—and the proof is that we have just delivered you from a terrible danger of which you have been wholly un- conscious.” “A danger?” murmured Pauline: then, press- ing her hand to her throbbing temples, she strove to collect her scattered ideas and arrange her con- fused reminiscences. “Ah! I recollect,” she sud- denly cried, raising herself to a sitting posture in the bed: then, flinging a hasty and agitated look around, she said, “ Where am I?” ‘Ina chamber at Page’s house,” returned the Gallows’ Widow. _ “ You have been the object ofa foul conspiracy—and nothing could have saved you from falling its victim also, if we had not come to your rescue. The wine you drank at supper was drugged—and you were sold to the Prince of Wales 1” “My God!” ejaculated Pauline, with a cry of - lerror. “It is as true as that you have escaped his clutches,” continued the Gallows’ Widow. ‘“ Now, ‘ compose yourself, young lady,” she added, per- _ ceiving that the maiden was trembling all over and , that she still contemplated the countenances of the | three intruders with a vague suspicion. “ We were ‘ appointed by Lord Florimel to watch over and protect you—and we have done our duty.” | Lord Florimel!” exclaimed Pauline, a sudden glow of pleasure animating her features and bring- | ing back the vital colouring to her cheeks that an instant before were pale as alabaster. “ Is it pos- ‘sible? Oh! if it were-——” | And she stopped suddenly short, as tho idea that sho was still beloved by the young nobleman and _ that she had perhaps treated him with harsh- bess, awoke feelings of mingled tenderness and remorse in the depths of her soul. | “tis possible—and itis true, young lady,” said . the Gallows’ Widow. “Lord Florimel loves you | devotedly, and is cut to the quick because ho de- Clares that you have taken offence towards him , without any real or just causc. He says that a | fancied misconduet on his part has led to the bad | opinion you formed of him: but ho docs not love yuu the less on that account. Very fur from it: and, fearful that you would become the object of ! conspicacy aud persccution in other quarters, he - nwa a a ae a a a a aa a aa RS a I I AT a en THE MYSTERIRS. | rc et a Ep epee egy Eee ee we 0 amy > que A ee I = eee (4h Ee ee Qe eee - Pe BaGO qe ila <p Ee « PT RD, Gri > S2@Q8@ a>ealbeew ee 291 appuinted us to discover where you lived and watch over you during his temporary abseuce in the country.” * Poor Gabriel!” inurmured Pauline, the tears trickling down her cheeks—for she was profoundly moved by the comuiunications thus unexpectedly made. “ But who aro you, my friends ?—and to whom am I poder such deep obliyations?” she in- quired, as she desconded froin the couch and seated herself in a chair by the side—for she still felt the oppressive influence of the narcotic she had imbibed. “No matter who wo are, young Jady,” responded the Gallows’ Widow. “Qur appearance may not be to your liking,” she added, speaking rather with reference to the Kinchin-Grand and Car- rotty Poll than to herself: “but we are staunch and true to Lord Florimel and yourself, at all events.” “Yes,” exclaimed the Kinchin-Grands; “and what is more, the locking up of your sister was only a piece in the conspiracy against you. If was a dodge to get her out of the way, and pre- vent her from blabbing about the treatment sho has received from the Prince. Ah! you see that we know all about it, Miss!” he cried, observing the look of astonishment that Pauline fixcd upon him: “and so you can go to tho mad-house and compel the rascals to let your sister out again; or else you can apply to the beak—the magistrate, I mecan—and he'll deuced soon give you justice.” “Ah! now you have filled me with hope and joyfulness !” exclaimed Pauline, clasping her hands fervently. “But how can I reward you, my friends? I do not possess much money-—” “We won't take anything from you, young lady,” interrupted the Gallows’ Widow, her whole policy in the representations she had made to Pauline—the light in which she explained :'1e cir. caustances of the maiden’s deliverance—and her refusal to accept any recompense, all being based upon the certainty of receiving a handsome ac- knowledgment from Lord Florimel. “You will only annoy us,” continued tho Gallows’ Widow, “if © you persist in speaking of reward.” “Then I shall not do so any more,” said Pau. line. ‘But did Lord Florimel make you acquainted with the circumstances relative to my sister?” she asked, somewhat shocked and more astonished at the idea of her lover having been guilty of such indiscretion, even with a good motive in view. “He never opened his lips upon that head, young lady,” responded Lizzy Marks: “but Mr. Page's servant-girl is a spy of ours, whom we got introduced into his service that she might keep a better watch over your safety, living as you do next door.” “And Lord Florimel is in the country, you say?” observed Pauline, interrogatively. “Do you know whither ho has gone ?—that I may write and thank him for his kindness,” she added, a blush suffusing itself over her beauteous cheeks and pouring a flood of tender lustre into her swim- ming cyes—her heart all the time beating rapidly and joyously at the thought that the path to re- conciliation with hcr lover was now 50 completely open. re His lordship is at Dover,” returned the Gal- lows’ Widow. “Ihave called two or three times within the last mouth at his house in Piccadilly: ee a . nie @ eae ew GS Se ew 6G & ae wow DOO SS