The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 341: what you’re looking at

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

o==wAa®- oO — 330 tened to observe, “is not one of our party: he is a stranger—and he came forward moet kindly to rencer us his assistance.” ‘Oh, very good!” said the old ma& with an air of relief: and then he again turned his eyes upon the voung lady, who became pale as death and seemect as if she were about to faint. “We thank you most sincerely, sir,” said Mrs. Oxenden, turning towards our hero, but with a certain impatience in her air, as if she felt him to be one too many upon the spot and wished him ‘ be gone. He dared not remain any longer—he he excuse: he accordit zly raised his hat; # ’ turning away when he perceived that ty lady gave a half-start as if she would ? LP towards him for protection. iy “Ne “ Laura, do not be foolish !” eaid ? yp to any in an under-fone, but with rapid -’ Mg the utterance: and she caught the - oy” “posted arm, at the same time bendiw 9 'p w almost menacing significane g oA inate.” dark eyes. “Thisis Sir Jd -’ anore, growing A low faint shriek, oo” eye of om beautiful but afflicted’ — “pps interview Wi ernie codename yy says it is Me, Smith compassion for ¢? c . “oe him I 4 Mrs, Oxenden _,” oy mith p” said Syca- of anger, ap Lk A oo eet omndeousty like royal an / by, ) oe cold apprehension to the ‘ ; ’ #. Jividual’s heart. — Be sree to be intruded upon “pie SA on gne of the young gentlemen. the peeesgr, Sycamore is not within P” cried ; Ny oe an authoritative tone to the Wa. don’t go, pitch them down the ais! i the first. es oe them out of the window,” superadded ye shall T ony, sir?” asked the waiter, who * if looked somewhat embarrassed, as if he had yA ae suspicion of impending evil floating in 6 mind—although he most probably considered beers. Stith and Noakes to be sheriffs’-officers, d therefore to have no mission more serious span that of the execution of civil process. “Are they really gentlemen?” inquired Syca- more, who now felt as if boiling oil were pouring through his veins. “Well, sir, they told me to say they was,” an- awered the waiter: but he did not think it neces- sary to state in addition the tsifling fact that a half-crown had been thrust into his hand as a bribe for the repregentation of the gentility of Messrs. Smith and Noakes. “TI think I had better see them,” said Mr. Syoa- more, whose perturbation—amounting indeed to anguish—was so plainly visible that the waiter fancied he beheld therein the confirmation of his fears, and the two young gentlemen began to ex- change suspicious looks. “ Where are they ?” in- quired Sycamore, as the thought suddenly struck him that he would pass into the next room, put on his hat, and decamp es quickly as his legs would carry him. “They are on the landing, sir,” responded the waiter. THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. i ib} another was being conter’ 20 grow terribly flecting, he behelda w* / comprehended that the , 4s thus completely closed ; rapdaek am i. * wsoce that Messrs. Smith and waiting outside the door rather ae ora ial to his sitting-room, fearfully long to ’ wg his worst terrors. Nevertheless, he ” , enue enough left amidst the anguished 2 of his thoughts, to comprehend that the zdividuals who sought him were evidently “ed to conduct their proceedings in as delicate , ay 08 possible; and whatever might happen, he + /yimself had no inclination to excite the scandal of 7 2 fexposure. tp “Tell them I will come immediately,” be said: and he filled a bumper of champagne in the hope of giving himself courage and deadening the frightful horror of his thoughts: but the wine, which a few minutes back had flowed like necter down his throat, now appeared to remain there as speak |if against the impediment of the feelings which well nigh suffocated him. “What the deuce does it all mean, Sycamore ?” asked ono of the young gentlemen, the instant the waiter had left the room. “Is it a case of tapping on the shoulder? If so, make use of me—Im your man for a few hundreds.” “ And I also!” exclaimed the other young gen- tleman. “ Always stick by your friend—and never say die till you're dead. That’s my motto.” It was with a ghastly look that Sycamore en- deavoured to say something with a laugh of forced cheerfulness: but horribly apprehensive that those who awaited him, would lose all patience and come in to seck him if he tarried any longer, he hurried from the room. On the landing he beheld the self-styled Messrs. Smith and Noakes; and one of them said, “Can we have a little talk together i private, Mr. Sycamore P” | “This way, gentlemen,” said the miserable wretch in a half-choking voice: and he led them into his sitting-room, which in addition to the door that thus opened upon the landing, had another communicating with the parlour that served as his dining-room. The two individuals kept very close upon Mr. Sycamore, as they followed him into the room and after they had entered it; and the one who acted as spokesman, said with a significant look, “ You will give us credit, sir, for having discharged this unpleasant little duty in as delicate a way as pos- sible. My name isn’t Smith—nor is my partner's name Noakes. Allow us to introduce ourselves as Mr. Isaac Shadbolt, and Mr. William Withers, both very much at your service.” “Not too loud—not too loud!” gasped Syca- more, indicating the door of communication be- tween the two rooms. “Who are you, gentle- men?” he faltered forth. “Is it—is it—debt ?” and the unhappy man would have given worlds at that moment to be told that he was merely about to be consigned to a debtor's gaol; but a secret voice whispered in his soul that it was sot for debt. “Well sir, we are officers, it is true,” replied Mr. Shadbolt, who thought it necessary to break the matter as delicately as possible, inasmuch as he entertained the hope that the reward would be commensurate with the amount of his kind consi- deration : “ but we are not exactly sherifis’-officers SS SSS ssh ssh ib nner ncsnemnsersaepe-wetnpeeeenenmmsasessts EO DOO (C CS (COL