The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

7O THE MYSTERIES OF THES OOURT. observed her ladyship, with some degree of bitter- ness. “ Butlisten, Harold. Is it I who are forcing you to become my husbend ? is it not you that are forcing yourself as a husband upon’ me P” * Yes!” he ejaculated, suddenly grasping her robust but splendidly modelled arm with such violence that his fingers closed around it as if they were an iron vice: “ I do force myself upon you as a husband ;—and beware how you attempt to de- ceive me! beware how you endeavour to thwart me{ What? all these crimes to go unrewarded! No, by heaven! if I have waded through the Red Sea —a eca of blood—it was for the purpose of gain- ing the land of promise! I longed to possess you : I succeeded. I longed for an established social position ; and I must obtain it. Now do you un- derstand me P” you will only exercise proper caution—if you will eammon all your courage to your aid, so as to mest valiantly end even defiantly these regrets and re- morses which have crept upon you—and if in fatare words,” said Harold, slowly and thoughtfally: “end I must endeavour to exercise a greater mastery over my- self :”—but as he thus spoke, an expression of bitter anguish again swept across his countenance. CHAPTER OIL. FHS TWENTY-FIRST OP AUGUST. I? was the 31st of August, and the clock in Solomen fancied that she must have been misteken. round into the bar-parlour, she beckoned Solomon to follow her; and when they were alone she maid looking very hard at him, “Is anything wrong f” was really serious in expecting to get that inforina- tion as you wanted.” “ Serious” observed Madge : you think I was otherwise? Did I not leave fifty peundes in your hands ? and did not that prove that I was serious enough FP” “and how could “To be sure, to be sure!” responded the old man. “The fifty pounds is all right, and is forthcom- ing.” “If I had not been able to put confidence ia you,” rejoined Madge, “I should not have trusted you with the money. And now tell me—have you heard any one talking about the business? and do you think that there will be a claimant for the fifty ad “TJ aim’t heerd say nothing partickler about it,” answered Solomon : “on’y I know that Tony Wilkins and some others has been on the look-out—but whether they've learnt anything or no, I hav'n’t heerd tell. Howsumever, they hav'n’t forgot that this is the evening you was to be here; and me and my wife had just been saying we wondered as how whether you would come, when the door opened and you made your appearance. That's why we looked at each other as you saw us do.” “Well, and about another matter,” observed Madge. “I have not been able to come here since ¢hat night-——you know what night I mean-——” “To be sure—the Cannibal’s affair:”—and old Solomon placed his finger in a sly manner against the side of his nose. “I rayther thought you might be keeping oat of the way on purpows——” ‘Not I indeed! What was there to keep out of the way for? I have been engaged I may say day and night in this same search on which I have set others—and all in vain on my part! But have you had the curiosity to peep down the well again? or have you been prudent enough to have the stones cemented over, and the trap-door above nailed up? In short, have you had carpenters end bricklayers to put your house to rights again P” “'Yes—completely,” responded Patch, “It’s y well the same as it was afore.” “ And have there been many inquiries after Chif- fin?’ was Madge Somers’ next question. “But no doubt there have. What have you said in answer to them P”” “Ob! not much. He hesn’t been I shall remain till eight o'clock; and then I must be off, whether I get theinformation ornot. I have an appointment to keep at nine on the other side of the Regent's Park,-—and it will take me an hour to get there.” Solomon Pateh went forth into the bar to draw some porter for Madge’s behoof—while his wife, to whom he mentioned her wishes, proceeded te serve She ate and drank; and by the time her repast was over, it was half-past seven o’clock. She looked very much annoyed, and gave utterance to several ; ions of impatience: for she began to find that the reward she had offered would daimant on the part of any one giving her information she required. Ten minutes more passed away—it was now twenty minutes to eight; and she was just thinking to herself that her hope was certain to be disappointed—when Solomon Patch suddenly entered from the bar, where ho had been Op see ae ee Cee -— COMMUC DOO CS (COL