The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 335: what you’re looking at

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Nd 4 THE MYSTERIES OF TIE COUET. SD CET pre ta refed vif lits Hit rts ai car cronmeneneess Christian looked up at the clock in the coffee- room: it was just five,.—and therefore in another hour and a half Mr. Sycamore would be tody. The conversation in the adjoini been temporarily suspended, from the fact gecond pot of porter Shadbolt and Withers had just began to regale themselves with glasses of hot rum-and-water ; and it apparently took them some little time to arrive, by dint of divers sippings and tastings, at a epnelusion as to whether the compound was to their or not. “ a ram feller that chap Sycamore appears to be by all accounts!” said Mr. Shadbolt, at i “ What ; . : dilly—what is ite name again P—before he got that forged bill cashed.” “A indeed |!” growled Mr. Withers. “ But bow do you account for this,—that when he did get it cashed, he took and paid all his debts and came off like a gentleman when he might have bolted away with all the blunt ?” “Why, don’t see,” responded Shadbolt, “it was a three monthe’ bill; and he never thuught the forgery would be detected till it came due. So no doubt his plan was to enjoy life in the mean- time. But if he bad left London without paying his debts, he would have been blown upon. I dare say he meant to pay the watering-places s visit one after the other; and at each he would of course refer to the Piccadilly Hotel—what’s its mame again P—as a proof of his respectability.” Christian felt so sick and diszy at all he had heard, and likewise in uence of the excite- ment through which he had for the few previous hours been passing, that he could not remain in the hot stifling coffee-room any longer. He accord- ingly paid his bill, and departed. He walked out upon the pier to reflect upon the course he ought to adopt,—whether he should at once proceed to the Royal Hotel, pack up his box, and depert—or whether he should await the expected catastrophe. He was apprehensive that if he adopted the former course, it might be subsequently imagined he had been all along Sycamore’s accomplice, and that he fled from the of impending danger the moment he heard of it. But while he was yet deliberating within himeelf, he suddenly perceived Mr. Sycamore advancing along the pier, in com- pany with a couple of the fashionable acquaint- ances whom he had formed at te. A sud. den thought flashed to Christian’s mind, and he resolved to act upon it. having been discussed, Messrs. | gaged CHAPTER LXIL. SIR JOSBPH STEWARD. Arrsoacuine the group, who had stopped to gase upon a vessel in the distance, our bero said in & cold firm voice, “ Mr. Sycamore, I wish to have e few moments’ conversation with you.” “With me! What about?” exclaimed that in- dividual. “Don’t you see I am engaged with friends for the present? Damme, man, I’m en- "7 “Mr. Sycamore,” Christian, “ that which I have to say to you, will admit of no delay.” “Ob, ah—I see'l” our hero's em- ployer: and turning to his friends, he said in an easy off-hand manner, “ It is about some little business that I entrusted to my private secre- tary. Excuse me fora few minutes: I will speedily rejoin you.” Christian allowed the falsehood about the “ little private business” to pass unnoticed; and be moved away from the spot. 8 was almost imme- diately by his side; and he said in a hurried anxious voice, ~ What is it, Ashton ?—why the deuce do you look so serious 7” “T cannot speak to you here,” responded Chris- tian. “I will thank you to accompany me to the hotel.” “ But what is it?” demanded Sycamore, who did not dare be angry ; for he saw that there was _ Christian made no answer—but led the way straight to the hotel,—Sycamore walking by his side, and continuing to ask what it all meant, bat without receiving a single ysellable in reply. In a very few minutes the hotel was reached : Christian proceeded straight up to his employer's aitting- room; and when they were both there alone to- gether, Mr. Sycamore said, “ Now will you tell me what the deuce you mean by this strange condact on your part P” “Simply this,” answered Ashton,—* that it does not suit me to remain any longer in your employ- ment; and I require a written acknowledgment to the effect that our acquaintance has only lasted a furtnight—that it commenced under certain cir- cumstances—and that it is of my own accord I at this pertioular hour insist on severing our con- nexion.” Sycamore’s countenance grew more and more blank, and his manner more and more nervous, as our hero went on speaking. He nevertheless exerted every effort to veil his confusion and his misgivings, which indeed amounted to terror: bat he could not succeed—and in a trembling voiee he eaid, “ But my dear Ashton——” “ Address me not, sir, in so familiar a manner ™ exclaimed otr young hero, indignantly: “do not ask me another question—but sit down at once and pen such a document as I have suggested.” “One word—and only one word!” cried the trembling villain. “Something must have been said—you must have heard something———"” “‘ At all events I have seen enough,” interrupted Christian, “to be only too anxious that our con- | pexion should be severed.” COMMUC DOO CS (COL