The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 268: what you’re looking at

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

v ey yee THE MYSTERIES OF THE OOUET. not therefore be, after all, that the highway did really run in the form of a narrow road through this forest P and that previous travellers on this particular day had exhausted the relays of cattle ? She had noticed that the stable was a spacious one, and such as might be expected to belong to a posting-house: she had likewise observed that the mules recently unharnessed from the chaise in which she travelled, were the only cattle at present in that stable. Then, too, she argued that the muleteers might not choose to carry their beasts another stage until the morning: or else that the arrival of fresh animals, which might be expected in the night, must be awaited in order to furnish arelay. Such were the conjectures by means of which Kate endeavoured to reassure herself: and then she again thought of the people of the house. It was true that the master and the mistress were of no very prepossessing countenances: but it did did not follow that they should be criminal on that account. The woman was evidently a drunkard: but it was not to be thence inferred that she was anything worse. Besides, there was something interesting about the servant-girl: it was scarcely possible for any crime to be com- mitted beneath that roof without this girl’s know- ledge ; and Kate Marshall did not think so ill of human nature as to suppose that one of her years and appearance was an habitual accomplice in deeds of turpitude. These were the reflections which her natural courage and intelligence : but still they were not potent enough to reason away the dark suspicions and gloomy apprehensions which had forced themselves upon her mind. What, however, was she to do? To ensure her safety by flight, was out of the question. She could not quit the hostelry unperceived ; and if she were indeed in a nest of robbers and murderers—ahe shuddered at the idea—they would not hesitate to pounce upon her and consummate their purposed criminality at once if she were to make an attempt at escape. It was therefore absolutely necessary to remain and riek whatsoever perils might menace her. As for: putting off her apparel and retiring to rest—as she had at first intended when ordering her box to be brought into the hostelry—it was out of the ques- tion. She felt that she went to bed, she could not sleep ;—and moreover, haunted by mis- givings as she was, she must sit up so as to be pre- pared for anything that might occur. She rose from her seat to examine the door: but ings there were none. This was a circum- stance that did not however tend to confirm her apprehensions, inasmuch as it was by no means likely that such a poverty-stricken place would be with any means of security of that kind. She looked at her watch: it was now half-past ten o’clock :-—and the sound of voices reached her ears from below. She gently opened the door, and lis- tened: the muleteers, the master, and mistress of the hostelry were laughing and talking—most pro- bably drinking together. Yes, they were drinking: for Kate now caught the sounds of bottles and mugs; and the odour of tobacco smoke hkewise reached her. She thought to hei self. that if those persons were thus indulging in an orgie, it was by no means likely they had any criminal inten- tions. Still she repolved not to be thrown off her guard. me es ee ee oo oe 261 The wmdow was at the back of house : opened it gently and looked forth; .the trees of the forest were dimly seen through the deep gloom of night. Again the thought of escape te entered her mind: but ahe knew not what might - be the height of this window from the ground in’ the rear of the dwelling. The level of that might be much lower than in front: the descent: assured of her own personal safety, the delay thus experienced in her journey was sufficient to trouble her sorely. Was it not a matter of life or death on which she was bound? was it not to save one who was dearer to her than her own existence f— and therefore, was not her time most precious P And how, too, was she to while away the long mor- tal hours that must elapse ere morning dawned P Bhe felt fatigued—but dared not lie down to rest: she needed slumber to enable her to sustain the fatigues of the long journey which yet lay before her—but she felt like a person beni amongst the snows of Alpine regions, where to yield to sleep is to meet certain death. And then, too, she was tortured with the reflection that even if this night should pase away in safety for herself, and that the advent of the morn should enable her to smile at the fears which had haunted her,—she might, after all in the meantime undergone, experience failure in her attempt to save the man whom sho loved so well: she might in the end be doomed to encounter the saddest and bitterest disappoint- ment! A few hours back her heart had been elate with hope: but now this hope succumbed beneath the dispiriting influences which sarrounded her, and became absorbed in the general despon- dency which engulfed her soul. Wearily, wearily did the minutes drag their slow length along: again she looked at her watch in the hope that at least an hour had elapsed since last she consulted it: but only half that period had fled—it was eleven o'clock. The sounds of voices still came from below: once more ahe opened the door to listen; and she heard the mistress of the hostelry talking in the thick, stammering, hiccupping manner of complete in- toxication. Closing the door again, she took from her trunk a book for the purpose of whiling away the time in its perusal: but she could not settle her attention upon its pages; and once more she found herself debating upon the circumstances in which she was placed. She remembered that these muleteers who accompanied this last relay, had seen her draw forth her well-filled purse: she regretted that she had thus displayed it ;—and yet she reasoned that even if she had not done a0, they must naturally suppose she had ample funds to meet the of her mode of travelling. Another half-hour passed; and Kate Marshall no longer heard the sounds of voices coming from below. She was almost inclined to lie down and repose her wearied frame: she was deliberating with herself whether by piling her trunk and what little furniture there was in the room against the ‘door, she might not be enabled to guard against a surprise,—when she heard light footsteps approach- ing across the landing outside. COMMUC DOO CS (COL