The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 357: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Oe, OGieere- sec re > en ww ++ 354 so rudeh’ torn. Just outside the threshold, Don Diego Ch ristoval had one knee upon Chiffin’s chest, a hand at his throat, and a pistol at his head; the mask had fallen from the ruffian’s countenance, which wore 4 horrible expression of mingled rage, hate, and doggedness. Just inside that same threshold, Spider Bill was likewise upon the floor : his mask had also come off, and he looked terribly crestfallen and frightened, as William Deveril kept him down in a similar manner to that adopted by the Spanish nobleman in respect to Chiffin. ' “Search this fellow, Frank!” said Don Diego ; “and take from him whatsoever weapons he may have about him.” and clasp-knife were The Cannibal’s speedily drawn forth from his poekets by Francis Paton: while Adolphus (Lord Everton) also dis- armed Spider Bill. “Now,” said the Marys of Eagiedean, who had assisted Angela to Somers in the couch, “let these two men be conducted down stairs; and let them understand well that at the slightest attempt at resistance, they will be shot through the head. Rexerselees ruffians that they are, we way not hesitate to treat them as dogs if | i thoy thus pro?.ce usi” Won Diego Christoval and William Deveril accordingly suffered their prisoners to rise; and the room being svom cleared, Angela remained with Madge Somere,~—who, having swooned off at first, was now rapidly recovering. In eul- lenness did Chiffin descend the stairs: while Bill appealed for mercy as he was made to follow. Silence !” exclaimed the Marquis of Eagiedean, én answer to the latter's entreaties: “you will hear what we have to say—and according as you respond to our queries, shall we deal with you.” The parlour on the ground-floor was reached— the tamp was lighted—and the prisoners were now had them in custody, ever forget to observe that ere descending from the chamber above, Francis Paton had lingered behind the rest for a single moment, to exchange & warm prcessure of the hand and a fond look with Angela, in congratulation of the issue of this perilous advonture. Perhaps aleo, ere rceuming the thread of the narrative, it may be as well to pause for a few moments and describe how it was that such speedy sucoour was at hand. As the reader will have seen, the Marquis entertained the suspicion that his nephew Lord Harold had some connexion with the impending treachery: for he thought he could discover traces of the young nobleman’s writing in the imitation of hie own hand in the forged letter. Judging from antecedent cireametances, he had come to the conclusion that if his nephew were réally so connected with the plot, whatever it might be,— Lady Saxondale was also sure to be in it. It was therefore necessary to fathom the whole pro- ceeding to the very bottom ; and, still anxious to eave bis nephew from the ignominy & criminal tribunal, the Marquis of Eagiedean had decided upon the measure of inside the villa, so as to not merely frustrate the intended , but also capture whomeocever might be found entering the premises. That there would not be many persons whose arrival might eae e wm @ a= wa wo nD Gita meth. GP <i> @ae THE MYSTERIES OF THR COURT. on a visit there at the time. was said to the female servante fear lest at the very first alzem to call out for succour junctions to the contrary, e plans of the Marquir of Berledean We should further obeerve that, at about ten o'clock, who was on the watch, descended gently from the sick woman’s room, while the servants were in the kitchen; and noiselesaly opening the front door, she gave admittance to her brother, the Marquis, the Count, Adolphus, and Francis Paton,—who all five forthwith ensconced themselves in the breakfast-pariour leading out of the hail; and there they remained in the dark until the time for action arrived. Of what followed, the reader is already aware: the whole scheme, as arranged by the Marquis, ended in success, and without -the intervention of the alternative which he had Been so anxious to avoid. But he did nots anticipate to encounter in one of the ruffans, Chiffin the Cannibal, whom he presumed to be at tha Hine far away across the soe, om the American We may now resume the thread of our narrative, and describe what took place between the prisoners parlour. and their captors in the let the man go. But while reduced to this al native, he made up hie mind on the present + e2.— © 2 @ «= owe a oe aoe me WE Ce » ipaiwege + 9 es «aad © GD (COL (C DOO CS (COL