The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 304: what you’re looking at

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

SHE MYSTERIES. 293 plied the Gallows’ Widow, after deliberately ex- amining the notes: then, as she secured them in the bosom of her dress, she turned towards Shick- ster Sal, saying, * Where else are we to look?” “ You'll take the plate, of course ?” observed this young female—and without waiting for a reply, she once more quitted the room. “You see, Julia,” exclaimed Mr. Page, wringing his hands, “that they are going to despeil us of 6 ing we ad “TI see it all, sure enough,” returned Julia, fling- ing a look of diabolical hatred upon the two women and the Kinchin-Grand. “Then why don’t you do semething to prevent them ?” cried the ex-bagman, without pausing to reflect upon what he said in his mingled rage and pair. “Why don’t you #” demanded Mrs. Page, now darting a glance of unmitigated contempt upon her husband. “I always thought you were a sneaking coward—and now I am convinced of it.” “ Don’t vex me, Julia—I can’t bear it f° ex- claimed - “Pm wretched and miserable enough as it is. But surely our kind friends here will have some mercy upon us?” he added, turning eee On SE oF epee Somands tis mnevetens spolia-~ “Kind friends indeed!” ejaculated Julia. “It is now a war to the knife between them and me,” she muttered in a voice audible only to herself. At this moment Shickster Sal returned to the parlour, with the plate wrapped up in an apron. This portion of the plunder was entrusted to the guardianship of the Kinchin-Grand; and Mr. Page groaned with a most ludicrous misery as he beheld his silver forks and spoons consigned to the depths of the young reprobate’s pocket. “Now their watches and rings,” exclaimed Shickster Sal, exultingly. “Ah! I owe them a spite for many a harsh word and mean and stingy prye into the larder to see if I'd eaten too much.” “Your watch, ear-rings, and finger-ring,” said the Kinchin-Grand, accosting Julia with the pistol in bis hand. Mrs. Page divested herself of her jewellery with & calmness that was ominous as the lull which pre- cedes the outburst of the tempest’s rage: but her husband fell upon his knees and implored that his personal decorations might be at least spared. His plunderers were however remorseless: and Mr. Page’s jewellery followed his wife's trinkets into the custody of the Big Beggarman’s daughter. “ Now, is there anything else worth taking ” in- quired the Kinchin-Grand, who was hugely de- lighted with the work of spoliation. Sal Net that I can recollect,” answered Shickster “This will do for the present,” observed the Gal- lows’ Widow. “And now,” she continued, addressing herself to Mr. and Mrs. Page, “ if you dare to at- tempt the slightest retaliation in any way, we shall unhesitatingly give information against you for g the wine that was to make Miss Claren- don the Prince’s victim. She would in that case be compelled to come forward and bear testimony against you ; and her evidence would be enough to transport you both for the rest of your days, if not hang you.” Mr. Page groaned once more, as if he already felt a halter tightening round his throat; but Julia affected the most complete indifference: The Gallows’ Widow, Carrotty Poll, the Kinchin- Grand, and Shickster Sal, now took their departare, two by the front door, and two by tite back way, the better to escape observation ;—and the ex-bagman remained alone with his wife, to deplore the im- mense loss which they had just sustained. Early on the following morning they quitted their abode at Paradise Villas ;—and in the course of the day a van arrived at the house which they had thus abruptly vacated, to remove their furniture to some other dwelling. CHAPTER CXCVIL SUICIDE OR MURDER? Ir was about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and the Earl of Desborough was seated in the library at Stamford Manor. A book lay open before him: but although his eyes remained mechanically fixed upon ites his thoughts were travelling away from the subject of the volume. For he was reflecting upon the many grave and saddening incidents which had occurred in his household, alike in Berkeley Square and at Stam- ford Manor, within the last few months; and he felt deeply, deeply for the sorrow and the shame that had fallen upon the head of her whom he adored with so sublime a worship. So profoundly absorbed was he in his meditations that he did not hear the door open and close again : but he was suddenly startled by feeling a hand laid gently upon his shoulder. He looked up—and he beheld his wife standing close by his chair: but he was instantaneously struck by the mingled wild- ness, fierce determination, and bitter hatred that were legible upon her countenance. An ominous light burnt in those eyes the glory of which was marred by the corrugation of the ebon brows: the lips, whence the rich vital colouring had almost completely fled, were closely compressed ;—and her countenance wore a pallor that looked all the mere ghastly in consequence of the olive tint of the complexion. “ Heavens! what—some new source of sorrow” exclaimed the Earl, starting from his seat and gazing with an intense anxiety upon his wife. “Say rather, some new reason for a prompt and summary vengeance f” replied Eleanor, in a low thick voice: and she gave utterance with difficulty to these words which appeared to choke her. “Tell me what has happened—do not keep me in suspense!” cried the Earl, tertured with the cruellest apprehensions. “That villain demands saother interview with me,” answered the Countess, her eyes flashing brighter fires than the brightest eyes of woman had ever before shot forth, and her whole form quivering with terrible feelings. “ The miscreant !* ejaculated the Earl, clenching his fingers with such spasmodic violence that the nails made deep indentations in the palms of his hands. “But by what means has he conveyed this request ?” “ Request |” echoed the Countess, with an in- describable bitterness: “tis a command—en im- perious command! The villain has had the audacity sxc empresa TO a DOO SS (CO