The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 253: what you’re looking at

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246 THE MYSTERIES OF THE OOURT. the sphere of crime. No wonder that the re- and hardened ruffian with horror and dismay— so unexpected was the ominous ap- peared to be its presence there! But not long lasted the impression thus made upon the mind of the Cannibal. “It is but a dead’un,” he muttered to himself: and picking up his club, he flung his looks around to assure himself that moved—no one was behind him ; for there was still a sort of in his soul. He now advanced close up to the case which stood by the colossal skeleton of the Russian giant ; and be surveyed the corpee of Ralph Parefeld with an earnest attention. forgot, for the moment, the purport of his visit to this house—forgot that time was flying and that he had still much work to do. As he stood gazing on the corpee, it almost short ere he would meet that other who had gone to the world beyond the grave upwards of nineteen years back ! It was with a sort of desperate effort that the Cannibal tore himself away: but as he reached the door, he could not help looking over his shoul- der to assure himself that Ralph Farefield was not first of the suite constituting the anatomical mu- seum—Chiffin drew forth a flask from his pocket, and poured a copious draught of brandy down his | i throat. It appeared to do him good: or, in other words, it revived all the hardihood of the finished ruffian. Now he was once more equal to the task which he had in hand. Issuing forth from the museum, and threading Bat now if suddenly struck him that the altered te of that pert of the doctor's dwelling must have been effected for the reception of luna- tic patients; and he naturally judged that the apegsments ass to them would look towards the rear of the premises, eo that the iron bars at the windows should not afford an unsightly spec- tacle in the street-front. Guided by this conjec- ture, Chiffin proceeded to try one of the newly constructed doors. It opened: he peeped in— and at the same instant a man, who was in a bed there, started up. The light of the lan- tern streamed full upon his features; and Chiffin at once saw that it was not the countenance of Lord Saxondale. Quick as thought did the ruf- fieafs club descend upan the head of the man thus startied from his sleep; and the stunning blow arrested the cry of alarm which was about to burst forth from his lips. He sank back insensible upon his pillow: but the experienced eye of Chiffin saw that he was not dead—merely stupified by the blow he had received. Not that the Canmbel would have cared overmuch if the consequences had been of a more fatal character. : day, soon after his interview with Lady Saxondale, —this interview, as the reader will recollect, having resulted in the complete triumph of that wily woman over the physician, who had accordingly promised that Lord Saxondale should remain be- i [: Hi i { cottage in the neighbourhood of the Seven Sisters’ Road, Lord Saxondale did not behold the Cannibal af all; and therefore his features were now utterly unfamiliar to him. “Who am I? Why, a friend of your’n,” at once responded Chiffin. “A friend?” echoed Saxondale, recoiling with apprehension.. “Well, at least I am employed by some genelmen which is interested in you,” resumed the Cannibal: “so don’t be frightened—but get up quick—put on your toggery—and let's be off.” “Ie this possible ?” exclaimed Edmund, joy and lying | hope suddenly springing up in his soul. “You will seo, my lord, it’s so possible that a post chaise-and-four is waiting for you in the Square. Jump up, I say, and look sharp.” “ But the r Pp” “ He's all right :”—and the Cannibel displayed -his club ai tly. “'You—you—bave not mur—mur—murdesed COMMUC DOO CS (COL