The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 301: what you’re looking at

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290 Christian, “ whom we are thus anxious to secure on first catching a glimpse of the attack made —but likewise that villain who is in the garb of a | upon Madame Angelique. Lascar ” The post-chaise drove rapidly away; and Sir THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. “‘Ah! I saw by thg newspapers,” ejaculated the | Frederick passed round to the front gate of the merchant, “ that he is a wretch whom justice has long sought——” “The samo!” interjected Christian. “ Hoe is known by the terrible appellation of the Burker. From circumstances which bave come to our knowledge——-But no matter! for time is now pressing.” | “Should that villain be etill lurking in this | meighbourhood,” rejoined Sir Frederick, — “ and should he happen to fall into my hands—for my people are keeping a sharp look-out—I will at once communicate with god. Hest assured that her Majesty Queen Indétt tay commabd my ser- vices in overy respect; and I beseech you to con- vey this pledge to her Majetty.” “ The two men are returning !” said Christian, as he glanced in the direction whence the indivi- duals who had seized upon Madame Angelique were now retracing their stop from the palings at the extremity of the paddock, —s—i. “Madame Angelique,” said Sir Fredefick La- tham, turning towards the ex-milliner, and ad- dressing her with a cold severity alike of voice and countenance, “I can no longer interfere in your behalf. Certain circumstances have come to my knowledge which fully justify the proceeding instituted against you. You will find i¢ more to your advantage to go quictly With this young gentleman and the men whom he has brought with him——” “Good heaven! what will beeome of me ?” moaned the wretched Frenc!:woman, clasping her hands in anguish. “Oh, pray have mercy upon me! Let me fly to France! I vow and declare that never again will I show myself in this ooun- tr an | | "e Your entreaties are vain,” interrupted Bir Frederick sternly; “and you have to thoose be. tween a quiet rture with Mr, Ashton, and a prompt arrest it the name of the laws which you have outraged. Which shall it be? Let your de- cision be quickly given.” “Oh! what do they mean to do with me P” cried the miserable Frenchwoman, who naturally pictured to hereelf all kinds of horrors. “ At present you can know nothing,” answered Sir Frederick: “but I repeat the assurance that you have a better chance of escaping from the vengeance of the law by a docile surrender to pre- sent circumstances, than by a vain and useless resistance.” “This young gentleman seems kind and good,” said the ex-milliner; “and I throw myself upon his mercy. Ob! sir,” she cried, addressing herself to Christian, “pray be forbearing towards a mise- rable defenceléss female! I go with you—I go with you !” Madame Angelique however wrung her hands in anguish as she thus epoke; and she was so overpowered by her feelings that the two men were compelled to carry rather than lead her to the post-chaise. Christian conferred fora few mo- mente longer with Sir Frederick Latham; and they then parted,—our young hero entering the chaise, and the merchant remounting his horee, the bridle of which he had hastily attached to a gate villa, There he rang the bell; and the parlour. | maid quickly answered the sammons. “Do not be alarmed at. what Iam about to communicate,” said the merchant: “buat your mistress has been suddenly compelled to absent herself for a time. It may perhaps be to her in- terest that you say as little on the sabject as pos. sible—that you devise some excuse—a sudden journey, or something of the sort; but this I must | leave to your discretion. You know who I am; and let my word be a guarantee for whatsoever I am saying to you.” Sir Frederick rode off —leaving the half-dis. mayed, half-astonished Jane to put her own oon- struction on the information he had imparted to i her, and give way to whatsoever conjectures it | might suggest. The dusk was now completely closing in; and Sir Frederick rode onward in the direction of Bal- ham Hill. He had not proceeded very far whea on entering a lonely bye-lane which he took, he beheld a man walking slowly along in front of him. On a nearer approach he perceived that this fellow had tho air of a travelling tinker: bis apparatas was slung toa stick over his ahdtiider: and his garments were grimed with black. Sit Frederick | thought nothing of the circuthstatice ; and be was passing the man at a gentle trot, when bhe fellow began imploring alms. He however suddenly stopped short as {Ff he ised Sir Frederick : but he had said éhéugh to enable the mérchant to be strack by sontething in his tone. The next in- stant Sir Frederick—who wis very fat from | lacking courage—sprang from his hore and threw himeelf upon the faleo tinker. The man was however prepared for the attack: for at thé {nstant the merebant leapt from his steed, the ruffian let his apparatus fall behind him, and aimed a terrible blow at Sir Frederick with his club. Bat the merchant escaped it; and the next instant the ruffian was hurled upon the ground. “I know you!” exclaimed Sir Frederick, with his knee upon the villain’s chest and one hand grasping his throat. ‘“ Youare the false Lascar— the Burker—and heaven knows what else! Dead or alive, you shall remain in my power !” The club had been wreeted from the Barker's grasp; but he etruggled desperately. Indeed, ul might it have fared with Sir Frederick Latham, had not a couple of labouring men suddenly ap- peared upon the eceno; and they happened to be in the employment of the merchant himeelf. The Burker was secured, and conveyed to Sir Fre- derick’s own mansion. Intelligence of this capture was forwarded on the ensuing morning to Christian Ashton,—who sent beck a written answer to Sir Frederick. The Burker was kept all that day, as he had been de- tained the preceding night, in a cellar at Tudor Honse ; and in the evening Christian arrived in a post-chaise to reeecive the prisoner. The two le- bourera who had rendered such timely assietance, were allowed by the merchant to act as custodians of the ceptive during the journey to the place to which the ruffian was to be conveyed; and the ee Ae ee ee ee =. COMME OOO SS} (CO