The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 377: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES. since my return home,” said Meagles. “And did you find a friend in Lady Bellenden—for I am aware that this is her ladyship’s residence ———” “TI found a friend in the Marchioness on the very day of my most bitter need,” returned the maiden. “When discharged by the magistrate from the fearful acousation to which I have alluded, I-was conducted straight hither and introduced to her ladyship. She received me with open d here have I ainoe dwelt in security and ha No—not in perfect happiness,” added Tose, hastily: “for I have entertained sore misgivings relative to your- self and the good-hearted working-man, James Melmoth. The very day after I had found an | asylum beneath this roof, I explained to the Marchioness of Bellenden all the obligations I owed alike to yourself and Melmoth; and I besought her to send and make ‘inquiries concerning you, 28 well as communicate to you both the fact that I had taken up my residence at her mansion. For I had heard no- thing of either you or Mr. Melmdth since that day when you ‘burst into Mrs. Brace’s house to rescud me from my royal persecutor, and when the constables assailed you both with their bludgeons. Tho Mar- chioness accordingly despatched ‘ther confidential do- mestic Richard to execate my commissions ; but on his retarn I was destined to hear accounts that filled me with the crucllest alarms. In Jermyn Street Richard was informed that -you had been expatriated to America for seditions designs against the King; and that you had been sent off on a particular day which was mentioned hy your landlady. In West- minster, Richard learnt that Mr. Melmoth had tikewiee been transported on a certain day by the Government authorities, and that his family had quitted their humble lodgings only four-and-twenty hours previously to my thus sending to inquire after them. Richard could not ascertain whither the poor mother and her children had gone; bot he feared from the way in which the cross landlady of the lodging-house answered him, that she had behaved harghly towards them. Oh! how It grieved me to remain in that condition of uncertainty relative to these poor people! But while I was pondering upon the apparently extraordinary coincidence that your- eelf and Melmoth should have been expatriated on the same day and for the same alleged offence, it struck me that it was the identical day on which you had so generously flown to my assistance at Mr. Brace’s house. Oh! all the treachery of-the Prineo became apparent to me then in a moment—and I saw that yourself and the generous-hearted Melmoth had become involved in rain on my account! I ad- dressed a letter full of remonstrance—full of up- braiding—tull of supplication to his Royal High- ness, —- appealing to him on your behalf, and reminding him that his suppliant was the daugh- ter of the man whom his crime had made a suicide! But I did not state in that letter where { was residing;—you can fall well divine, Mr. a a ne ; and I continued in ignorance of the effect which it { had prodaced—or rather, whether it produced any at all! But every now and then I have sent to Jermyn Street to inquire whether any tidings had been re- ved concerning you-——and at the same time I have forgotten to send to the lodging-house in West- » in the hope of hearing intelligence with e2 CSR? we, Othe regard to that poor fanifly! ‘But to all the inquiries which I thus caused ‘to be instituted, a negative was invariably returned. It must now be upwards of a fortnight since I last sent to Jermyn Street—and I should have despatched a domestic thither to- morrow or next day, had I not so fortunately and so happily encountered you this morning.” “And it is within the last fortnight that Y have returned to London, Miss Foster,” said Meagles. “My landlady informed me that numerous inquiries had been made concerning me while I was abeent: but she did not tell that any servant of Lady Bellenden’s had called.” “ Because I had charged my messengers, on every occasion, to deliver into your hands a note which [ had written to you, and which was not to be left unless you were there in person to receive it. Ah! Mr. Meagies,” exclaimed the young lady, “yon can well understand how cautious I am compelled to be in order to avoid every chance or risk of being dis- covered by my royal persecutor! I had heard, through ‘Richard, that your lodgings had been searched and your papers teken away—and I feared that if a note were left there for you, contzining my address, it might perchanee fall into the hands of persons devoted tq the interests of the Prince.” “And you acted pradently, Siles Foster,” said Mengies. “Ah! I have indeed been treated with foal ingratitude by that Prince, anf with a diabolical tyranny by the Government: ‘but in monarchical countries, all Princes are tyrants and ail Govern- ments tyrannical. Condemned without trial—een- tenced to deportation upon a fictitious charge—end hurried down to ‘Woolwich ‘immediately after eur judgment was pronounced ‘by a secret conclave of Government hirelings and tools, Melmoth and myself were ordered to be placed on board the Diana frigate, which was waiting to sail for North America. I was securely lodged in the ship : but Mebmdéth sprang Into the deep waters, and under cover of night was borne either to death or safety——I know not-whish! The Diana sailed—eome weeks passed—and already were we nesting the American coast, when we were over- taken by a fast-calling vessel -which had been éle- spatched after us, and which wae'the bearer of my pardon. This-pardon ‘hati been proeered for me by the intervention of a magnanimous friend; and sow that I have returned to Engiend, I am devoting my- self to the task of persconting this Royal Family which knows so weil how to -persecate others.“ “ And you are not aware what has beaome of poor Metmoth's famfiy? said Rose Fester, with a deep eigh as she thought of the probability of the unfortemate creatures being foodless, houseless, and friendiess. “T have not sucoseded {tw @uding the faintest clue te their whereabouts,” respeeded Meagles: then, as he gazed intently upon the beautecus and indeed en- getic countenance of the maiden, he ssid in a lewer and deeper tane than was his wont, “I thank you, Miss Foster, for the kind interest which you have dis- t played on my behalf; and I can sesure-you that while I was a sojourner upon ‘the besem of the Atiantio, I often and often experienced a profound anguish at the uncertainty in which I remained with regard to your fate. J remembered—Oh! indeed, how could I forget —that you were left, when I saw you last, in the power of that princely ruffian whom I knew to be merciles and unprincipled, pitiless and inhuman. I trembled for you—my God! I trembled for you, Rose——” “ But heaves: shielded me. eny good friend.” :meur ElOOOl|KS EE Sa iss SSSeis ssa usas sss Sse SSNs