The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 307: what you’re looking at

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

sree eg a a CI SECO OE TEEN ST piciun appeared to receive confirmatinn from the fact that the individual was about to visit tho neighbourhood of Stamford Manor. Ascending to a loft which had a window overlooking the stable- | pose, yard, Meagles was enabled to obtain a view of the person whose proceedings had thus suddenly in- terested him; and he found, as he had suspected, —E other than the resuscitated crimi- “ Ah! the Prince is doubtless at his tricks again,” thought Meagles within himself: “or else this fellow is intent upon persecating the poor Countess in order to serve some private aim of his own. In either case it behoves me to watch his movements. If he is stil] employed by the Prince, it will afford me the greatest pleasure to thwart his plans; and if he is acting on his own account, I am in a measure bound by the Earl's generosity towards me, to detect and expose the covert treachery. No, no, Mr. Ramsey!—you shan’t carry on this odious game any longer, if I can put a stop to it. I suppose you have got your pardou safe in your pocket :—or else you would not venture abroad in this undisguised manner during the broad day- light. But, by Jove! ‘tis almost a pity that you weren’t suffered to go back to the gallows, which has assuredly been cheated of a most fit and proper subject for its operations. However, I will put a spoke in your wheel ere long, if you do mean to persecute that unfortunate lady and her noble hus- band.” Thus musing, Tim Meagles watched from the window of the loft until the post-chaise was got ready. Ramsey stepped into it: the postilion re- ceived his instructions ;—and the vehicle then rolled out of the stable-yard. ; Descending froin the loft, Tim ordered his horse to be saddled immediately; and mounting the noble animal, he set off in pursait of the post- chaise. About a mile beyond the suburbs he came within sight of it; and he continued to follow it at such a distance that he stood no chance of being observed by Ramsey, should this individual look forth from the windows of the vehicle, Aylesbury is forty miles from London; and as the weather was remarkably fine on the day of which we are writing, the roads were good. The chaise accordingly travelled at the rate of about ten miles an hour :—and it was a little after seven in the evening when it arrived in the close vicinage of Aylesbury. But Ramsey had no inclination to enter a town where he was 20 well known,—although, as Meagles surmised, he had his pardon in his pocket. He accordingly directed the postilion to turn into a bye-road leading in the direction of Stamford Mauor ; and the chaise ultimately stopped at the very same way-side public-house where Meagles had put up on the memorable night of his intervention on bebalf of the Countess of Des- borough. That Philip Ramsey’s designs bore reference to the inmates of the Manor, Tim Meagies was now convinced—even if he hdd previously entertained any deubt upon the subject ;—and his first impulse was to repair straight to that mansion, and warn the Earl of Desborough of the presence of the enemy. But a second thought showed him the imprudence of losing sight of an individual of whose aims and purposes he was still so far igno- cent as to render it desirable that he should dog THE MYSTERIES. him stcp hy step: and Mecagles accordingly re- solved to coutinue watching the movements of the resuscitated criminal. Fortunately for his pur- a lad connected with the public-house passed along the road while Meagles was thus de- liberating within himself;—and the liberality with which Tim had remunerated the dependants of the little inn on the former occasion of his visit to the neighbourhood, had made a sufficient impression upon the boy’s mind to lead him now to the imme- diate recognition of so bounteous a patron. He accordingly touched his cap by way of salutation, and inguired whether Meagies was going to stop at the inn. “ Yes,” answercd Tin. “ BatI have come down here on business of a very private nature; and I want to speak to the landlord before I approach any nearer to his house, as he has got a very sus- picious character there. Now, my lad, do you go on as quick as you can; and without saying any- thing to alarm the inmates of the place, tell the landlord to come to me directly. I shall wait here in the lane.” With these words, Meagles tossed a crown-piece to the lad, who hastened away to execute the com- mission entrusted to him. In about ten minutes the landlord made his appearance, with a somewhat elongated countenance: for the message which the lad had whispered in his ear was not of a very reassuring character. “My good fellow,” said Meagles, leaping from his horse, “ you need not be alarmed—as I am here on purpose to prevent mischief. In fact, lama Bow Street officer in disguiso; and I am watch- ing the individual who has just alighted from a post-chaise at your house.” « What! is sucha respectable-looking gentleman a bad character in reality 7” inquired the land- lord. “Ho is indeed,” returned Meagles. “Did you never see him before ?” “ Never, to my knowledge,” was the reply. “ Who is he, sir?” “That does not matter now,” rejoined Tim. “You may perhaps learn by and bye. But what is he doing now ” “He engaged the private parlour and ordered some dinner to be got ready as soon as possible,” said the landlord. *¢ And is he in the parlour now” demanded Meagles. “Yes, sir. He inquired if we'd got anything to read; and I sent him in some old books. I sup- pose that if he’s a house-breaker or what not, he'll remain snug in-doors until night-time 2” “That will be his game precisely,” answered Tim. “And now you must lead my horse to the stable, while I get round by the back way into the house; and there you must let me have a room which will enable me to keep a strict watch upon the movements of the rascal. But mind and do not breathe a word that will create any alarm in the place or lead the fellow to suspect that he is being 29 “J understand you, sir,” replied the Jandlord. “If you go round by the field, you can enter the house without being obliged to pass the windows of the room where the vagabond is sitting: and I shail be ready to lead you to a chamber adjoining the parlour.” er 88 EEE ElOOO® SS