The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 258: what you’re looking at

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i eee OF THE COURT. 251 raised himself slowly up with an an air of extreme drowsiness. Tony Wilkins, who had really been sleeping, was awakened by the. entrance of the pot-boy; and Chiffin was keen enough to perceive that he had actually slumbered. “He thinks it’s all right,” said the Cannibal to himself: then aloud, he ; “Well, Tony, do you feel better for that snooze ? Mine has done me a world of good; and I’m as fresh as a lark. Let's go and have a bit of a wash in the yard; and meanwhile they shall get us some breakfast.” Tony Wilkins followed the Cannihal into the little yard at the back of the boosing-ken, and where there was a well, the mouth of which was unprotected by the usual wooden lid, which had recently been broken; and the landlord had neg- lected to have it repaired. “Wait till I get a basin and a bit of soap,” said the Cannibal, retracing his way into the house for the p In a few moments he re-a with the ob- jects which he had been to fetch; and he placed them in -a window- telling Wilkins that he might have the first use of them. The unsuspect- ing Tony was advancing towards the window-ledge, —vwhen, just as he neared the mouth of the well, Chiffin sprang upon him with the force and fury of a tiger, at the same time giving vent to a subdued growl of diabolical savageness. Wilkins—instan- taneously nerved with a preterhuman strength, which was inspired by the horrific danger to which he was thus all in a moment exposed—saved him- self from lunged headlong into the well, and made the Cannibal ree] a few paces back. But Chiffin relaxed not his hold: he also felt himself armed with the power of a thousand: the struggle lasted but for a few brief moments—and the infu- riate monster, hurling his miserable victim back- ward with a terrific impulse, sent him toppling over the brink of the yawning hole. Whether it were that Tony’s head struck against the windlass and thus instantaneously stunned him —or whether it were that he was stupified with awful horror—we know not: certain however it is that no cry escaped his lips. Down he fell— there was a heavy splash—and as Chiffin with gloating looks bent over the opening, he saw that all was still. CHAPTER CXL. RAMON DE COLLANTES. Wes must now go back for three weeks, in order to relate the first incidents of an episode which will however eventually be found to fit into this portion of our narrative,—inasmuch as its closing circum- stances will bring us down to the date already reached : namely, the first week in November. It was therefore in the middle of October, that about a dozen well-armed men, and about half that number of very beautiful women, were grouped upon the bank of ane of the streams through the wild valleys of Catalonia. The males wore the half-military, half-mountaineer dress which was peculiar to that district and to their own special avocations: the females were clad in the elegant costume also charactcristic of those | — i ie, > ie. mg —_ EE GEE GE a oS a and which has been before alluded to in the history of Elisabeth Paton. Spanish feminine beauty for the most part existe more in novels and romances than in : at the same time beauty is to be found in Spain as weil as eleewhere ;—but in no part of that immense country, may female charms be so frequently encountered as in the principality of Catalonia, The women belonging to the band of which we have above spoken, were assuredly the choicest turesque apparel set off to admirable the luxuriant contours of their forms: the freeh air and their own lightness of heart gave the car- nation glow of animation to their countenances : their eyes sparkled brightly—and the smiles of their rosy lips displayed, in each individual in- stance, teeth of the most perfect ivory-whitenoss. The men were as fine a set of fellows as ever wore broad-swords at their sides or shouldered muskets : their sun-burnt complexions displayed the rich hues of vigorous health: their long dark hair clus- tered in natural curls about their heads: their glossy moustaches and beards added to the martial manliness of their looks. It was in the forenoon of a bright and superb day, in the middle of October, as already stated —when these individuals, male ard female, were thus grouped on the bank of the stream. Three or four tents were pitched close by; and in the shade of an overhanging crag, a cauldron was seething, in true gipsy-fashion, above a fire fed with logs of resinous firs. An elderly woman— serving as cook to the band—was watching the culinary process: while the men, stretched in lounging positions, smoked their pipes and chatted with their mistresses, two or three of whom were cligently plying the nect It was altogether a e,—that group of Catalans amidst the wildly beautiful scenery of their own native hills! If their conversation were listened to, it would have been found to run as follows :— “TI would give much to know what occupies your thoughts, Ramon,” said one of the females, gaily and merrily hersef the chief of the band,—who, amongst those fine men, was decidedly the finest—the handsomest in features and the tallest in stature: while his age did not exceed six-and-twenty. “You shall know my thoughts, pretty one,” Ramon. “I was envying Gonzalez the ion of such a sweet mistress as yourself— and wondering how soon accident or fortune would furnish me with another to supply the place of her who fied three months back.” “Surely the redoubtable Ramon de Collantes cannot long be at a loss for a lovely one as his partner?” answered the same female who had before spoken. “He has but to make an incur- sion into some hamiet and carry off her who pleases his fancy best.” “'Yee—this might be done,” rejoined Ramon: “and has been done before,” he added, with a smile. ‘“ But what has been the result ? We have made enemies of those villagers whom it is our interest to keep as friends. No—it is not by such means that I must look to find a suitable partner of my fortunes.” “Then what project have you in your head ?* (COL (C DOO CS (COL