The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 390: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OY THE COURT. other male dependants rushed out, darting towards the road, and thus cutting off the progress of the fugitives. Beverley had caught up Laura in his arms, and was hastening with all his spee’| towards the post-chaise,—when he was seized uro2 by some of the old Baronet’s myrmidons. ‘Laura fainted. To have loosened his hold upon her, would have been to drop her upon the ground: but to retain ber was to render himeelf powerless for defence. Supporting her, therefore, as well as he could on his left arm, he dealt such vigorous blows with his right as speedily to shake off his two foremost assailants: the mountebank ably assisted him; and the next instant Christian, whoeo ears had caught the disturbance, arrived upon the spot. Our young hero and the mountebank did all they possibly could to clear the way for Edgar's pagsage towards the post-chnise: they valorously sought to bring all the brunt of the conflict upon them. selves: but a violent blow with a stout stick grasped by a sturdy footman, levelled Christian with the ground—the mountebank, perceiving that all was over, took to his heels and fied precipi- tately— Beverley and Laura were made prisovers. “Bring them ali into the house!” vociferated Bir John; “and ase magistrate will I deal with these ruffians Mrs. Oxenden, take charge of your sister |” . These mandates were obeyed: the aetill insen- sible Laura was borne by Mrs. Oxenden and the negress (who in the meanwhile had come upon the apot) into the mansion—whither Edgar and Chris- tian were likewise forcibly conducted. - CHAPTER LXIXxiv. THB LAWYES. Ovum young hero had been stunned for & few mo- ments by the severe blow he received: but he quickly recovered his qonsciousness, tq find him- self in the power of half-a-dosen stalwart and de- termined fellows—while a glance showed him that such was likewise tho fate of his friend Beverley. The enterprise had therefore completely failed ; and the aspect of affairs was even worse than before the adventure was undertaken. Beverley maintained a dignified silence,—he being deter- mined to wait and seo what course his uncle would have the hardihood to adopt: yet inwardly his feclings were those of the acutest disappointment and grief. As for Christian,—he likewise held his Pesce for ie Present 3; and his own sorrow at the ailure of the enterprise was scarcely less poignant than that of his frisnd Beverley. ’ Sir John Steward, with a fierce triumph de- picted upon his countenance, led the way into the dining-room, where he seated himself at the head of the table. Edgar and Christian were in the grasp of some seven or eight lacqueys and grooms; and they were of course powerless against the numerical strength of the enemy. Mrs, Oxenden was temporarily absent in charge of her sister. ‘Now I intend,” said Sir John Steward, “to investigate this matter magisterially, and without the slightest reference to my relationship with one of the prisoners——But surely,” he ejaculated, thus suddenly interrupting himself, “I have seen you ore ?”—and he fixed his eyes upon Christian. _ “Yea,” responded our hero, in a firm voice} ‘we met on the occasion when your intended vic« tim was first brought by her infamous sister to your house.” “You impertinent young scoundrel!” exclaimed Sir John Steward, half springing from his seat in a furious rage; “how dare you make use of stich terms as these ?”’ “ This young gentleman,” said Beverley, alluding to Christian, “is a friend of mine: and on his behalf I hurl back the term scoundrel in your teeth.” “Ob, oh! a pretty set of fellows we have got to deal with !”” said Sir John Steward. Here Mrs. Oxenden suddenly made her appear- ance ; and as her eyes fell upon Christian Ashtoh, she instantaneously recognized him. , . _ “JT always suspected, sir,” she said, with a fierce flashing of her dark eyes, and a scornful drawing- up of her fine person, “that you were some ihso- lent meddier in affairs which did not concern you.” “To guccour an innocent and virtuous youhg lady,”’ responded our hero haughtily, “is a para- mount duty on the part of even the veriest stranger. That duty I took upon myself; and if I have failed in the attempt, my own conscience will enable mo to endure with pride and satisfaction any re- proaches which yowr lips, madam, may fing but against me, or any punishment which Sir John Steward in his capacity as a magistrate may bo enabled to inflict.” * Nobly spoken, my gallant young friend !” éx- claimed Edgar Beverley; “and rest assured that though the cause of right and justice, truth and virtue, may buffer defeat,—yet that chastisement will sooner or later overtake the triumphant wrong-doers. Sit John Steward, I tell you to your face——” “ Silence, sir!" vociferated the Barohet. “ Hold them fast, my worthy fellows—and we will pie- sently see how theese two moral-preaching upstarts will relish a condemnation to the county gaol. For herd is downright burglary—violence—assault and battery—abduction I don’t know but thal if amounts to—to——” | | And the Baronet stopped short for want of somé term to express a more heinous crime than any he had yet specified. “This young man,” said Mrs, Oxenden, inti- mating our hero, “forcibly stopped the negress and retained her for several minutes a prisoner in the road, close by the spot where a postchaise was in waiting.” “Coercion and intimidation!” vociferated Sir John; “almost highway robbery! I must make out the committal of these misdemeanants for siz weeks as rogues and vagabonds 7 “ Sir John Steward,” interrupted Edgar Beverley, with a haughty indignation, “ remember that I am an officer in the Queen’s service ” “ And therefore,” retorted the Baronet, “all thé more completely bound to maintain law and order.” “You are determined to compel mo to speak out,” resumed Beverley, in the same haughtily in- t tone as before, and with corresponding “ Sir John Steward——” looks. a a i (COL (C DOO CS (COL