The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 209: what you’re looking at

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® 202 eee een tap-room door and thy entrance to the bar—a sort | roof of the house,—his feet being protected from of paseage, whence the stairs likewise led up to the flexrs above. For an instant Chiffin hesitated what to do; for that first glance made him think that be was not recognised : but the next moment he saw that he ewae—and then, as the incident which had just been related in the tap-room flashed to his mind, he with one bound made for the stairs. The officers were after him in a moment: but Chif- fin felt as if he were animated with the speed of THE MYSTERIES OF THE OOURT. looking the ight was siding down by a rerapet similer to those over- alley,—ne hastily approached another attio: but the instant that he moked in—for « there also—the most terrific cries of “Thieves! robbers! oiusrderers!” were raised by the voices of two females: and he was compelled to beat a retreat. But now his position was moet critical: an attic mm the opposite side of the street was opened—a the hunted deer. Scarcely a dozen seconds could ; pistol was fired—and tho bullet struck the tilings have elapsed ere he reached the foot of that very close to where he stood. What was he to do? ladder which had been mentioned in the tale he | The whole neighbourhood would now be alarmed : had heard. The officers, being outstripped, were left the distance of one flight of stairs behind him. The bright moonbeams were pouring in at the back window, and every feature of the place was thus clearly revealed to the view of the Cannibal. Up the ladder he sprang: the summit was closed by a trap-door fastened with a padilock—but with one tremendous thrust he burst it open; and dis- appeared from the view of the officers, just as they themselves reached the top of the staircase and set foot on the danding where the ladder stood. Chiffin was now upon the alanting roof of the to the evening. Quick as thought did ba?’s sree aeap their glances il around, to dis eover what next was to be done, and find means of ensuring his escape. down to a little low parapet overlooking the nar- row alley, o terval fram perapet to perapet fcet; and there was the chance—nay, more, the Hideous provability—of falling into the abyss, and beang fearfully mutilated if not killed on the pave- with amasement, and with a cold horror still upon them. They beheld him scramble pidly up the sloping roof of the opposite house: he over the pointed summit of the gable ; —and then they began to descend the ladder with the utmost speed. Chiffin, on thus climbing over the roof of the house on which he had landed, found that ite frontage looked upon a street ‘considerably. wider than the alley which he had so desperately cleared. But how was he to escape? There was an attic near: he advanced towards it—a light was burning inside—he peeped through the window : two work- ing men were u themselves in prepara- tion for their night’s rest. The Cannibal feared to penetrate thither. Retracing hia way alung the for the man who had fired the pistol, likewise began to shout forth “ Thieves! robbers! police !’’ Chiffin cast one desperate look over the parapet. At that very instant an immense waggon was yassing, with a colossal load of hay piled up so high as to be on a level with the tops of the first- floor windows of the houses m that street. One more bold leap, and he might yet be saved! Quick as the eye can wink he from the perapet and alighted safely upon the hay. The waggoner, marching at the head of his team, little thought what additional load had A thick rope had been thrown over the load of hay to steady it; and without an instant’s loses of time, the Cannibal slid down that rope at the back part waggon, the top of his speed. He plunged alley div thence: it was quickly throauded— i¢ brovyut him into another street—and thence another alley led into a maze of lanes, and courts, and dark thoroughfares, in the midst of witch Chiffin relaxed his speed to a walk,—thus pro- ceeding more leisurely in order to avoid attracting notice: and he felt that he was safe! CHAPTER CXXIX. Lane, London. Adelaide was in her own chamber, for the purpose of accompanying her husband in the carriage, when he was so uncere- moni thrust into the hackney-coech and borne away. The extraordinary proceeding wat witnessed by the hall-porter, a footman, and a page, who were standing at the front-door at the time. It will be remembered that a clerk from Marlow and Malton’s office had thus enticed Lord Saxondale into the snare, and had closed the door of the vehicle the instant that the young noble- man was safe and secure inside: then, as the coach drove away, the clerk stood for a few moments, watching it till it turned into the next street and disappeared from his view. “T say,” exclaimed the foutman, running down the steps, closely followed by the page and hall- porter, “what is the meaning of this?” “\Vhat’s the meaning?’ echoed the clerk: “why, ' you don’t think that your young master ‘ (COL (C DOO CS (COL