The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 190: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIG 170 , despise you, in addition to all the uncenquerable hatred which my heart cherishes, and will ever PewWith these words she tumed w abruptly away and advanced to the door. Zhe young man spoke not a syllable to. detain her ;—and she took her da A long silence then ensued in the chamber, Arthur Eaton lying beck upon the ysillows of his eonch and giving way to his reflections, which on ker account were painful in the extreame—and the valet still standing, a piteous object of mingled shame and remorse, near the bed. _ Dudley,” at length said his generous master, “am I to believe that you are sincerely and truly penitent for the black iniquity in which you have been made an accomplice ?” “ On my soul, dear sir, I could wish that it were all undone—that I could again be the innoeent may, I was ere temptation came in my prompt and impressive answer. “ Here is the gold which I received as an earnest of this night’s can- templated crime,” he continued, throwing the heavy upon the table near him; “and here,” he added, drawing forth some papers from his pocket.- book, “are the Bank receipts for other monies which I have at different times received from Miss Aylmer.” “ Now am I assured that is your repentance sineere, William,” said Mr. Eaton. “For the pre- | business ; and he mentioned the name of Sir |: sent I will take charge of those wages of iniquity: to-morrow I will tell you bow they shall be em- ployed. Retire to your own chamber—and fear not that I shall treat you with severity. No—it is my purpose to afford you every opportunity of making your peace with heaven and becoming an useful member of society.” The man threw himself upon his knees—took his master’s hand—conveyed it to his lips—wept plenteously over it—and endeavoured to express his gratitude and his penitence—but could not; for his voice was lost in profound sobs. He was deeply—deeply affected: and Eaton spoke kindly and feelingly to him. At length William Dudley withdrew to his own ehamber: but ere he sought his couch, he prayed long and fervently. CHAPTER LL - NS. PIGGLEBERRY AND HER LODGEES. Ir was nine o'clock in the evening of the day fol- lowing the incidents just related : and Tim Meagles was seatedin the parlour at his lodgings, discussing rum-punch, and conversing with the Amazon who occupied a chair near him. Indeed, Mr. Meagles was placed on one side of the hearth, and his fair triend on the other; and while he drank the aleam- iug liquor fram a tumbler, she sipped her allowance from a wine-glass. We must also observe that the gendeman was smoking a full-flavoured havannah ; and the lady was indulging in « Spanish cigarette, the tobacco of which it was formed being of so mild a Gavour that there wa: no danger of its marring the fragrance of her breath or dimming the dazzling brillianay of her fine teeth. The:fice hurnt cheerfully in the grato-—the lamp Tiffused a rich mellow light throigh the apertment BEET PS TTT way |” was the | is. —the thick curtains were closed—the atmosphere | was warm—aund everything was comfortable, al- though the air was piercing cold without and the: snow was falling in thick flakes. | “Well, Joe Warren and his friends seem.to hare got themselves into a precious scrape at last, Letitia,” observed Meagles, throwing himpelf back in his chair and watching the blue wreaths of thin. smoke that curled upward from his cigar. “Com- mitted for trial yesterday—sent to Newgate——” “And Warren is placed in acell by himself as a very desperate character,” interrupted the Amazon. “Yes—and this morning’s paper also says that he is heavily ironed,” added Meagles. ‘‘ Well, I am. really sorry for him: he is a brave fellow, and faith- fal to those who employ him. At least, so I have heard. But as foe the Big Beggarman—the scoun- drel wno played you and me that scurvy trick at his vile den in Horalydown—I am glad he is in for ® “So am J,” rejoined Lady Lade, “ But only fancy that man Page having been ao active in the process of giving the party up to justice: for I suppose it is the same whosold us the missing half of the certificate the other day ?” “The very same,” answered Meagles. “When: he called and proposed to sell it, he told me that he wished to conclude the bargain at once, as he wanted to be off to Aylesbury on very particular: Richard Stamford at the time.” } “Then Mr. Page is assuredly a very shrewd. fellow,” observed the Amazon. “He received a thousand guineas from us, for the half of the docu- ment; and now he is feathering his nest by means of the services he is rendering the baronet.” “No doubt of it. But what an extraordinary history ia Sir Richard Stamford’s,” continued. Meagles. “A few weeks ago the whole country was ringing with the awful.erimes he had committed —murder, fraud, forgery, arson, and heaven knows. what: and now, all of a sudden, he makes his in- nocence as apparent as the sun at noon-day. In- deed the evidence which was given yesterday at. Bow Street was overwhelming against Martin and Ramsey as the real forgers, and also as having put. a quantity of spurious coin into circulation. Then the kidnapping of Sir Richard and Mr. Page was equally well proven against Warren and the Big ; and a fellow called Briggs was shown to have played the part of gaoler at the house in Thacker’s Court.” “Ifthat were all that was brought forward against Warren—I mean the kidnapping business — he. would get off with transportation or imprisonment,” said the Amazon : “ but up jumps the indefatigable and universal Mr. Page to prove a highway robbery | against bim.” “ A highway robbery, committed in a lane lead- | ing outof the Edgeware Road,” observed Meagles, | langhingly. for “ Well—the law makes alanea highway ‘Or ila | own special purposes, you great booby,” returned | the Amazon. : ; “So I am afraid poor Worn wit find to nis cost,” answered Meagles. e whole gang o thera will be tried this week, or the beginoing of next. I shall certainly go to the Old Baily and hear the proceedings.” At this moment & low and. timid knock wae =eard AEE. i Se Ry ——__ a= eae .—- — —_—_ = = an . — as + | COMIC OO© SS co ° —-a <i - ee _