The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 81: what you’re looking at

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ee ied eed 66 ! than half-inclined to disobey a sudden impulse which now prompted him to address the boy. But still perceiving that Rao’s eyes were follow- ing him with a strange significancy, he could no longer resist the secret and almost mysterious in- fluence which urged him to address the lad. He accordingly stepped up to him, and said io a laugh- ing manner, “ Well, Rao, have you burnot the do- mino 7” | The boy’s large black eyes swept rapidly round the hall for the evident purpose of ascertaining whether any of the domestics might be within ear- shot: and satisfied with the result of that glance of lightning speed, he fixed his looks with a pecu- liar expression of deep meaning upon Ear! Mont- gomery, saying, “Did your lordship really wish ‘hat I should destroy the blue domino ?” The nobleman started and blashed—for he felt that the boy had read the sceret thoughts which animated him respecting the masquerade: but the next moment it struck him that Rao’s words might only mean a piece of covett impadence, and no- thing more. “You were compelied te obey your master’s orders, doubtless,” the Earl secordingly said, in a vague manner: “ but it was s pity all the same.” “Ah! your lordship thinks that it was a pity?” murmured Rao, darting upom hint & look which seemed to penetrate into the profourdest recesses of his soul: then in a tone of aamistakable signifi- cancy, he added, “But supposes that I had dis- obeyed iny master’s commands—would your lord- ship think the worse of me for it ?” “There is some hidden meaning im sour looks and words, boy,” returned Lord Montgomery ; “and we cannot converse any longer in this place. Call upon me in the evening in Grafton Sireet-——” “Yes — at nine o’cloek punoctually,” observed Rao: and he glided rapidly away from the window- recess, scarcely appearing to touch the chequered marble pavement of the hall with his feet, so light was his tread aad so glaacingly went his steps. The preceding dialogue occupied scarcely a minute, although we-have taken several to narrate it;—and not a syllable was overheard by the other domestics present. Nor were they surprised to be- bold Lord Montgomery stopping to address a few words to the black page, inasmuch as the boy had already attracted the notice and won the interest of every visitor to his master’s mansion. The Earl quitted the house, and returned to his ewn abode in Grafton Street, where he resided with bis mother the Dowager-Countess, CHAPTER CXL. THE BEGGAR'S STAFF AGAIN. RETURN we once more to that sink of iniquity in Horslydown, to which we have already familiarly introduced our readers and which was known by the sign of the Beggar's StafE It was about seven o'clock in the evening; and the long, low, ill-lighted room was filled with company —such company as was wont to frequent the place, and which consisted of bad characters of both sexes, all ages, and every variety of description. The observer of human nature and the moralist THR MYSTERIES. Ware -airw Gp = would indeed have found food for earnest meditation in that apartment: for there might have been seen utter misery hardened into inveterate vice—ineflable suffering changed iato complete demoralisation—and all those phases of debauchery, profligacy, and loath- some wantonness which become apparent in the drunken orgies of society’s outcasts. But had the tale of each and all of those ruffian-like men and those profligate women been ascertained with a per- fect accuracy of detail, it would have assuredly transpired that not one single individual was natu- rally depraved from the cradle, but that all had be- come the miserable victims of tyrannical laws, the Vitiated institutions of an artificjal society, the igno- rance of legislators, or the downright despotism of rich monopolists or titled plunderers! For, oh! to talk of the freedom of Englishmen and the happiness enjoyed by “ true Britons,” -is the most despicable farce and the moet hideous mockery in the world. That freedom is 4 delusion—that hap- piness is a lie! The millions in this land are as utterly the minions of the Aristocracy as Russian serfs are held at the mercy of their mastera. The white slavery of England ie a trnth more real, more terrible, and more tremendous than the black slarery of the Southern States of the American Union. Oh! better, better far to be a negro in a Virginian planta- tion, than a “free-born” peasant on an estate in Evgland; and more preferable is the condition of the purchased African at New Orleans than that of the mechanic of Manchester! For what ie the spec- tacle which Great Britain, with its monarehical and aristocratic institutions, presents to the view? An absolute idolatry and the most servile worship paid to Royalty and Aristocracy on the one hand; while Royalty and Aristocracy on the other reward the sycophantic sentiment by teatifying the most sove- reign contempt for those who thus crouch at their feet. And to extend the picture, we have fwe mil- lions of paupers and only one million of voters— more pawnbrokers than butchera—more gio-shops than bakers—and almost as many prisons and work- houses as churches! O blessed Jand of freedom, where such is the aspeet presented to the eye! But this is not all: for in our agricultural districts we behold the peasant cheerless, sickly, half-starved, and feeble in the field—-and our artizans pining and wasting with want in the factory! Our rural labourers dwell in the most wretched huts imagin- able—while the industrious population of our cities and towns are crowded into hovels, and attics, and cellars, and cells, with Pestilence for their com- panion! No—Great Britain is not free; nor are her insti- tutions good—nor her government just—nor her social system humane. The millions are in bondage —the institutions are worn out—the government is selfish and corrupt—and the social system is rotten to its very core. True, we have enormous wealth in the country: but those who produce it are starving: True, we have all the outward and visible signs of a consummate prosperity: but it is the Juxuriousness which prevailed at Rome on the eve of her down- fall, and amongst the Moors of Grenada when the enemy was at their gates! The mocking edifice which fools and rogues call our Temple of Liberty, is built upon the bosom of pauperism, and is suse rounded by the pibbet, the chain, the hulk, the tread- mill, and the spies of the Law- Officers of the Crown. Oh! what can we think of an institution which re- er ee ElOOO® SS