The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 309: what you’re looking at

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

28 TILE MYSTERIES. O_O EE EE EE EE EE EE EEE EEE EE dissolved when the rays of the moon streamed | téne of authority. “I came not hither to be taunted full upon her countenance as she cast a rapid and searching look around. Ramsey suffered her to advance almost as far as the spot where he was standing, ere he moveda step forward to encounter her: his aim was evi- dently to assure himself that she had come alone. Accordingly, when he found that no person was following her at a distance, and when his listening ear caught the sound: of no footstep besides her own gentle tread upon the dewy sward, he ad- vanced a few paoces.to meet her. Then, by the light of the silver moon: that was filling the atmo. sphere with so sweet and pure a lustre, did the looks of that vile mam:eneounter those of that des- perate woman:;—ana eaok recoiled from the other with a simuitaneons -shaddering, because the man ‘felt that he was playing the past of: 2: despicable coward, andcto. the: woman it alsaadgtseemed as if the murdesmark of bleod wereapemiher brow ! 1 “ Let. our. interviess-be short-and: the. business speedily coneinded,’. said Ramsey;-wiitithe abnrpt- ness of one whe candind no. apoldgetiepssiacs wem< with te open the conversation. “J shall not detain you. many minutes, siz;”’ rex plied the Countess; in.a:cold and: measured voies;. although the palpitationsof her heast were | € quick and short. “ Bat.-before I. yjeld to¢he extoz. tionate. demand... witiek: youu have made ups: —and: yout. «iil. ast wrely{” interrupted Ramusy: then, apitiedosis quatied .bepentht: tits flashing .cyes: of the. neble lady wiessccemntemanes was ghastly pale, heeaid,.“I knowe—-LYesk that [ am playing a villaneumpast; bot: haverembvedéamake war upon the world. and: spsremeene: Té aan placed in. such fearful circurmstancseae thoseeritich belong to my history, there is bat:ome sourcpeficomfort and golace—and that is momeyt By thweaid of gold I may surround myself: with all the laxaries, the ele- gancies, and the enjeyments of life, and thereby form a barrier against the tos. frequent intrusion of over- whelming reminisosmess, Gold, then, ie: now: the Ueity of my adoration —the idol of. my wership. Wherever I can obtain it by faim-means or by foul, I wi!l joyously welcome its presence. And not from you aloney Countess of Desborough, shall I extort the glittering ore: but even upon higher personages still must the tribute be levied. Yes—lI hold the means of enforcing all this——” ; “And you have chosen to commence with me?” exclaimed Eleanor, cutting short that long tirade which the wretch was delivering irf a vein of malig- nant triumph. “ Well, be it so!’’ she added, resum- ing that cold and measured tone which afforded not the slightest glue to the real nature of the thoughts that were agitating inher boscom. “ The amount you have demanded of me shall be placed at your dis- posal. But before we separate, I must so far relieve the intolerable bitterness of those feelings which I entertain towards you by proclaiming, Philip Ram- sey, that madly—profoundly—devotedly as I once loved you, so fiercely and intensely do I now hate you y” ° And the words came hissing snake-like from be- tween the lips that were ashy and quivering—and the splendid eyes of the Countesa darted forth fires at the same moment. ‘ “ Enough of this!” cried Ramsey. in an insolent nor reviled: beware, lady, how I may becoine the reviler !” “Ah! I see that it is time to put an end t our in- terview!” ejaculated the Countess, her right arm moving beneath the cloak which wrapped her form. “Give me the money, and let me take my de- parture,” said the criminal, greedily anxious to clutch the fruits of his extortion. . “TY have brought it in a bag—gold and bank-notes all mixed together,” continued Eleanor: “ but by the light of the moon you cau assure yourself that the sum 1s currect.” “T will take your word for it,” rejoined Ramsey, extending his hand to receive the hoped-for treasure. “ Give me the bag !”” Oe EEE EEE nee “The reward of your vile treachery towasds me!” | exclaimed the Countess, ins zone of bitter muguiry. “Term .it what you.w#l”’ cried Rawsey;x impa- | tieatlv. “Call it reseed if you: like—ooly give it | quick._—” “'Thes take iti*' ejaaniated. Eleanor, abruptly stretching forth herrightarns fromobenenth the cloak : | and the eudden :movrement.was foblitwed, rapidly as | thie eye winks, by the repestof a pistol. A short quickoryp berst: from Rassey's lips—and | the next insteumt;: while: that: deasii:sannd:.was. yet piercing the ais; hé threw up ‘his asmmand :fell dewn dead { The nearderess turnediand: fied psperpstatety to- wardetithehrubbery wisteseche had emerged a few mimutenbéiswe; and: MiGagies, stupified with a chor- ville cemeternation, remained transfixed to the spot wisemntst had conesaied himself behind a tree. CHAPTER CXCTX.. AFTER THE MUBDES. SuDDENLY a wild and fearful light flamed up in the mind of-Tim Meagles, showing him at a glance all the perils which, in a single moment as it were, had sprung into existence around him. He had followed Ramsey from London—he had watched him at the adjacent public-house—and he had | dogged him to that field where the tragedy had | just taken place. The corpse of the murdered | man would be discovered; and he (Meagles) would be pointed out by an overwhelming combination of circumstantial evidence as the author of the crime ! . - - Roused from his stupor by these harrowing re- | flections which traversed his brain with the vivid- | ness and speed of lightning, Meagles darted in | pursuit of Lady Desborough. She was just on the | point of entering the shrubbery, when the sounds of those quick steps behind, smote like a death- | knell upon her ears; and she clung, panting with terror and trembling all over, to the gate of the enclosure. “ Almighty God! what have you done, miser- able woman?” demanded Meagles, clutching her violently by the shoulder. The voice was familiar to the Countess ;—and turning round with a spasmodic start, she instan- taneously recognised her deliverer of the other night. ElOOO® | SS