The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 62: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. beater they would have found the Burker, they would have adopted far different precautions and would have invaded the house in a posse. It might have been ten minutes after the Barker's oscape, that the tall detective began to recover his senses: for he was only stunned—not killed—by the onslaught he had experienced. He was however much injured : for the miscreant had beaten him about the head and shoulders with his clab. On thus coming to himself, the deteotive heard the subdued moans of his subordinate Tom ; and it was yet several minates before the two men were sufficiently recovered to drag themselves up from the pit. Then they heard a feeble knocking at the cellar-door: they opened it—and found their comrade who had been made a prisoner there, and who was nearly as much injured as thomeeclves. The watchers from the back yard were admitted into the house; but it was only too evident that the Burker and Bab Smedley had escaped. On the following day the subterranean was thv- roughly investigated by the police: the earth at the bottom was dug up—and slight though suffi- cient traces were discovered to prove that the evidences of foul crimes had been coucealed and well nigh obliterated there. The quick-lime, mixed with the soil, afforded a frightful indication of how the dark work had been done; and though no human remains were disinterred, there existed no doubt that more than one viotim of murder bad been consigned to that seubterrancan tomb. CHAPTER XCII. ATALANTA. Tur we now to the lodgings of the Hon. Augus- tas —the young officer to whom Madame Angelique, on breaking up her establishment, so generously bequeathed Mademoiselle Armantine. Very beautiful was the French girt—yet far from being so little frail as the milliner had - chosen to represent her. Of a fascinating style of loveliness—with all the first freshness of youth sufficiently well preserved-—and indeed still youth- ful, for she was not yet twenty-two—Armantine was fully calculated to make a powerful impression on such a mind as that of Mr Softly. Her man- ners were captivating: she had all those little be- witching arte which specially characterize the females of the nation towhich she belonged: she was far from deficient in accomplishmente—she could draw, play, and sing; and as for dancing, she was a veritable proficient in the art. Thus altogether the Hon. Augustus Softly found her a very en- chanting mistrese. Several days had elapsed since the commence- ment of his acquaintance with Armantine: and ene afternoon, at about two o'clock, she arrived at his lodgings, acoording to an appointment made on the previous day. He purposed to regale her with a champagne luncheon; and he had risen at least an hour earlier than usual for the purpose. The apartment where he received her was decorated in true bachelor-fashion: foils and boxing-gloves, huntisg whipe and firearms, fishing-tackle and other accessories to field sports, were scattered abvut—though Mr. Softly had never angled but 61 once in his life, on which oooasion after a whole day’s fishing he caught a minnow—ho was an execrable shot—and as for hunting, he had not sufficient courage to follow the hounds. But he was nevertheless fond of boasting of his accom. plishments and his feata in all these respects; and he considered it manly to have the articles above enumerated scattered about his apartments. Mademoiselle Armantine, having flung off her bonnet and shawl, eate down at table; and the champagne soon led to very lively discourse. “My dear girl,’”’ said Softly, after some conver- sation on general topics, “I ought to consider my- self exceedingly fortunate that you should prefer me to the Duke of Marchmont.” “Ah! my dear Augustus,” replied the young lady, fixing her eyes tenderly upon him; “to see you at parade was perfectly irresistible. But Madame Angelique told you all about it P” “Yea: and I certainly felt myself highly flate tered. But don’t be offended, my dear Armantine,” continued Mr. Softly: “I only just want to ask one little question—and that is, did you really never have a lover—yoau know what I mean—before the Duke ?” * Ob, never! never!” exclaimed the French girl, with so much readiness that Me. Softly was at once convinced of her sincerity. “ And your father ” “ Ah, don’t speak of him !” suddenly interrupted Armantine, with a real though transient feeling of remoree. “Do tell me,” said the young gentleman, “something about your earlier life. Drink another giase of champagne—let us laugh and be as gay as possible.” “Well, we will,” eaid Armantine. “ Now listen while I tell you a little tale ” “Ts it a@ true one?” asked Softly. “You shall judge for yourself. About five years ago,” continued Armantine, “a young French lady, endowed with tolerable accomplish- ments, and about as good looking as I am——~” “In that case she was an angel,” cried the lieu- tenant of the Guards. “She was an angel, then—since you will have it eo,”” resumed Armantine, laughing so as to dis- play her pearly teeth. ‘ Well, this angel was con- signed to a convent———” | “TI recollect that Madame Augelique——” “Now, do be silent!—pray don’t interrupt me !’’=-and Armantine tapped his cheek with her emall snowy white hand. “The young lady I speak of was consigned to a convent—which she relished about as much as you would fancy bread and water for your dinner. Well, she had not been many weeks there when she escaped; and not daring to return home, sped to Paris. She knew not exactly how to got her living; and find- ing it inconvenient to starve—as well as being little disposed to plunge headlong into improper courses———--You see, my dear Augustus, i¢ is 8 very moral tale——” “But don’é let it get too serious,” interjected Softly. “Oh, no!” exclaimed Armantine, with another smile: “it is about to take a very lively turn. ing an accomplished dancer, the young lady went boldly to the Opera——not very boldly though—I mean that the act was bold to go there Ln nena weet (COLL G OOO SS} (CO