The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 325: what you’re looking at

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

Oe ee “Did I not recompense you handsomely some time a seat: “and had I not a hs to suppose that you would leave me “ We won't argue the point,” said the Gallows’ Widow, coldly: “ because it is not worth while. But we will at once explain the object of our visit.” “Go on—go on,” exclaimed the milliner, hastily. “The sooner I know the worst the better. Dut semember that my death will do you no good——" *‘ Who the devil seeks your death, maiam?” de- manded the Kinchin-Grand. “For my part, i hope you'll live a thousand years——" “Cease this jabbering, Bill,” isterruptell ‘the | the Gallows’ Widow, sternly. “ We breught youwtth us as a protection—and not to play the part of a parrot.” “A protection?” observed Mrs. Brace. “ Antl what made you think that you stood in need of a protection? Were you Sunefal that I should seek to injure you ?”’ “Well, madam,” replied the Gallows’ Widow, A A EE, re OE ane = ago?” observed Mrs. Brace, now sinking upon | you, of Warren, and who is not altogether a stranger to will be tried in a few days——” ‘7 know it—I know it,” murmured Mrs. Braces “J have read it all in the newspapers.” “ And Mr. Stephen Price, this young woman's father,” continued Elizabeth Marks, pointing to ‘her female companian, “ will be tried along with ‘him. Well, we are certain that they won't be put to death” “How are you so sure of that?” demanded the sallliner in surprise, at the eonfidence with which the assertion was made. “Oh! because he the Prince in a trap the other night,” the Gallows’ Widow ¢ “and we compelled him to give us a written guar- antee that the men’s lives shal] be saved. But they will be sentenced to transportation for the rest of their lives; and as me and Poll Price intend to follow them across the water, we thought it would be as well to carry out with us as much money as we oan possibly vake tagether. So we reselved on paying you e last visit and‘taxing your | who hated the milliner with a rancorous bitterwess, quaerosity,” added Elizabeth Marks, with a alight and who was therefore inwardly rejoiced st ' being enabled to give vent to words which she knew would cut the wxhappy woman to the very soul,— “since appear to esek an explanation on -that | head, I don’t mind telling yon that Poll Prise and myself were somewhat efraki to veature here alone together any more. I mean, we thought it better and more prudent to briag our yepng friend with us: because there Aave been people who've come into this house, yeu krow, and never gone out again. In fact, as‘I told you on the last cesasien, it is no secret to us that Peter ies buried beneath the great flag-stewe in the back-kitchen: and we’ve no doubt that his partner Mobbs, who disappeared so strangely aad so suddenly, isn't very far off.” “My God! my God! -moaned the wretched ailliner, writhing convaistvety epen her eat, while her countenance was hideous and ghastly with the most frightful workings of tke features. “ Where- fore recapitulate all this, young woman ?” “Because you wanteyl to know why me and Car- | rotty Poll were afraid to come alone into this house,” replied the Gallows’ Widow. “For itis a , house of murder, madam—a house of mysterious ' midnight assassination—a house the very air of | which fills even me with horror f” “ Enovgh ! enough!” exclaimed the milliner, _ Covering her countenance with herhands. “Spare _ mMe—spare me, I beseech you—and tell me the business that has brought you hither now ?” | “Well, give us your attention,” observed the Gellows’ Widow, her cold-blooded’ ferocity sow | sated with the amonnt of which ber | words had visibly inflicted upon the unhappy Mrs. Brace. | “ ” exclaimed the latter: and , the withdrawal of her hands from her face, revealed , features so stamped with all the horrors of con- | cious guilt, and all the excruciations ef a wretched- meses which no additional calamity could possihly | Scion heh eho ects es tae oes of one who hed met a violent death and on whose cheeks Some hand had plestered the vivid rouge in — a i, Ta er gee “You must iknow, ma’am,” continued the Gallows’ Widow, “that a certain person who bears the name omens amount of irony, “for the last time.” “ And how much do you require?” dessanded Ars, Brace, who had somewhat recovessl dher eelf-pos- session while the Gallows’ Wihew was giving the preceding explanations. “We can’t very well do with dams than a thou- sand pounds,” said the Gallow’’ Widow : “and if you will give us that sum, depend upon it you will never hear any more from us, whatever you may chanee to hear of us.” “A-thousand pounds{” wepented Mrs. Brace: then -suddenly recollesting ‘that Frederick Dray -hed-more than haif:peousieed to accede to her pro- pesal for emigration-amil that they might therefore leave England within a-few days, she hoped to gain time by elsesving, “ Well, -I suppose I must com- ply with your demmat: Dut when will you want the Yaad “ Now—at oncd—down upon the nail—there’s paee ng Meothe poamptt” exclaimed the Kinchin- ran “JT have met ea thousand pounds in the house,” said Mrs. Brace: “nor anything near that sum. It will take me at least a week to raise it.” “And in the meantime you'll perhaps be off to America,” observed the Gallows’ Widow. “ What-—why—what made you think so?” stam- mered the nailliner, all in a moment becoming dreadfully confased. “Ah! then the random remark which I let drop, has struck home?” said Elizabeth Marks. “ Mrs. Brace, we shall not leave this house antil you have produced the theusand pounds !” The whole ef the preceding conversation bad been overheard by Bao who -was posted outsile the door with his ear glued to the key-hole: but he now deemed it better to retire, inasmuch as matters appeared to be drawing to a crisis, and it was probable that the milliner would have to re- pair to some other room in order to procure the wherewith to satisfy her extortionate visitors. Rao accordingly beat a retreat to the parlour, where he resumed his seat and toek up the volame which he had deciaredeheuld engage his attention during Mrs. Brace’s absence. Scarcely had he thas settled himeelf, when the milliner re-appeared; and having apologised for DOO (C SS