The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 215: what you’re looking at

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

Otter @ wep 38 oe “all in a moment an idea struck her. 206 ¢uz MYsTuRize oF Tun cotnt. “What was it you thought as how you heerd?” , —and I will tell him something thet shall induce inquired the Busker. him to forgive me!” “A door shutting up-steire,” answered Mrs. Webber. “Then what if that lady as you spoke of, has been a-li and heerd summut—and perhaps she don’t dare come down, but will open her win- der and to any one as goes by; ao that in a few minutes the place’ll be surrounded, the whole neighbourhood alarmed, and we bave no more chance of getting clear off than a cat without claws in a partickler place.” Mrs. Webber’s countenance grew full of dismay as she listened to this rapidly uttered speech on the Burker’s part, and the tenour of whiob ap- peared indeed but too reasonable. * Well, hand s to be done ?” asked Bill Soott. “By jingo! we mut do for ber also,” ejacu- lated Barney, with a look of fiercest resolve. “Come, lead the way, old dame—and we'll look to the swag arterwards : he won’t run off with it,” ndded the rufian with a look of horrible signifi- cancy towards the old miser’s corpee, which was bending with its face down upon the table. Meanwhile Lettice Rodney was a prey to the moet terrible apprehensions,— her guilty conscience suggesting all kinds of alarms. She thought that the reason why there was a light still burning below, was because the officers of justior had been sent for and were waiting tu take her inte eus- tody. There was madness in ber brain: she flew to the window of her room with the idea of open- ing it and precipitating herself into the street: but no! she could not die thus horribly—or if she survived, find herself frightfully mutilated. Ab! What if she were to hasten down staire—tbrow herself at the miser’s feet—confees the trick— but beseech him to pardon her—and in return for his furgiveness she would give him such information as would enable him to keep the three thousand pounds for himeclf. She could tell him that his ward Mre. Rayner was no more, and that sbe had perished in a manner which woald prevent her heira—if she had any by ber own or her husband's side— froin becoming aequainted with her death. Swift as ightning did these ideas sweep through the brain of Lettice Rodney: bat ere she de- acended to put her pruject into execution, she opened the door and listened. Ah! cha heard voices talking below: they were indeed those of the wretches who were at the instant deciding upon the murder of herself: but she could not catch what they eaid—and che fancied that the offwers of justice were perheps already in the bouse. Oh! then she must beseech and implore a private interview with Mr. Pollard: it seemed to her the only method to save herself from destruc- tion. Guaded well nigh to madness, the wretched young woman rushed down the staira; and as, on roaching the lower flight, she beheld Mrs. Webber accompanied by two ill-looking fellowa, her very ‘worst fears seemed to be confirmed, and in her eyes the Burker and Bili Soutt instantaneously took the aspect of constables. “ Spare—Ohb! spare me !” she cried, frantically clasping her hands as she stopped short midway on the staircase: “I will confess everything! Ob, I know that I have been very guilty—but the temptatiomvwas so great! Let me see Mr. Pollard é ° @ "Le Sr as aU ie gy TLE PING, The reader may imagine how great was the astonishment of Mre. Webber end her iniquitous accomplices on hearing these passionately vehement ber, they nevertheless on the other hand heard enough tq make them aware that she wee cou pletely unsuspicious of the crime which they hed committed, and that she believed Pollard to be atill in the lend of the living, inaamych ae che was beseeching an interview with him. The three wretches exchanged bewildered looks with ech other ; and Lettice fancied that. they were unner- tain whether to grent her own prayer or to carry her off to gaol af once. “Spare me—for hesven’s sake spare me!” she exclaimed, descending the steirs; “and I will confess how I was led into this imposture |” “Ahi” ejaculated Mra. Webber, to whom thees words were a revelation: “then, who are you P” “My name is Lettice Rodney,” replied the young woman: “I met Mrs. Rayner ——” “And you are ne¢ Mrs. Rayner?” said the housekeeper, in hurried inquiry. ““ No—aad you all along knew that I was not. Oh, there is Mr. Pollard--——Gracious heavens !”’ screamed Lettice, as her cyes were riveted upos the dagger whick atill remained between his shoulders; and smitten with the horrible—the overwhelming conviction that murder hed been done, she fell down senseless at the foot of the staircase, “There let her be—we'll divide the swag and bolt,” said the Barker; “it isn’t worth while to do her a mischief any-how.” “Stop!” said Mra. Webber, as en idea of devilish ingenuity flashed in unto her miad: “we may cave ourselves from all danger—and I need not scamper out of the country over to France.” “ What do you mean P’ demanded the Backer and Bill Scott, as if both speaking in the same breath. “ Never do you mind,” responded Mra. Webber : “leave it all to me—-I know what [ am abou. Take charge of the swag, Barney—I know I can trust you for my share—you'll get up to Londoa as qaick as you oan, and you'll give it to my daughter Bab—but not to Jack, mind! not to Jack.” responded the Burker. “All right, marm,” “ Come along, Bill—and let’a be off.” The three wretches—satisGed that Lettice Rod- ney was in a profound swoon, from which she would not very readily awaken—-returned into the strong room; and the two men took pos seasion of all the gold and bank-notes, with the desired them to leave as a means to carry out the objects which she Barney and Bill Bcott then took their departure (GO) iC 5 DOO CS (COL