The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 357: what you’re looking at

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

= disappeared suddenly—and it seemed as if some iam: hand hed piled the dark storm.oloads all in s moment before her alabaster throne. The obecurity in St. James's Square was now re- Ueved only by the feeble glimmering of the oil- umpes stationed at wide intefvals along the peve- ment skirting the houses: but the walk bordering the iron railings of the enclosure was involved in a far deeper darkness. The evergreens within the tron fence, a portion of which their branches over- bung, formed a black shade in one particular spot ; and it was while Meagles and Kose Foster were passing through this gloom, in order to make as short a cat as possible acroes the Square, that a man suddenly sprang upon them as it were from out of the darkness. So abrupt and violent was this atteck that Mea- gies, against whom the ruffian had directed his sesault, was levelled with the ground, where he lay either dead or senseless; and Rose, losing all her presence of mind in an instaot, darted away scream- ing for help and raising the cry of “ Murder.” The man lost not a moment in profiting by the deed which he had committed. the pockets of Meagies, he posseased himself of that individual's purse and watch, which he hastily secured about his own person: but before he turned to fly—and although the rending screams of Rose were echoing thrillingly through the Square—he bent for a few instants over the form of Meagies to ascertain whether life had departed. At that moment the moon shone forth again, and its beams falling upon the countenance of Meagles revealed its lines- ments to the robber, so that, although he knew not who his victim was, yet he saw enough of his features to have them immediately impressed upon his me- mory. At the same time he thrust his hand into the breast of the unconscious man and felt that his heart was beating, though with feeble pulsations : then, giving vent to the ejaculation of “Thank God! Lam nota marderer yet,” he darted pro- cipitately away from the scene of his crime. Meanwhile Bose Foster had fied madly and franticly, without heeding the direction which she was taking—piercing screams still proclaiming her terror; when, all on a sadden, she came in violent contact with a lady who, attended by a tall livery- servant, had short in alarm at the rending voice of female anguish which thas broke frightfally apon the stillness of the place and hour. “ Good heavens! what alls her?” exclaimed the lady, as Rose, utterly exhausted, sank fainting into ber arnts. At that moment the moon revealed to her eyes | had the countenance—the well-known countenance— of Bove Foster, and an ejaculation of mingled joy and surprise followed that of alarm which had | he already burst from her lips. A word summoned the domestic to her side: and the liveried lacquey, raising the insensibie giri in his arms, bore her hastily along to a house close by. @ gaze around, she was lying upon the bed in a well-furnished chamber, the appearance of which instantaneoasly struck her as not er unfamiliar. Pressing ber hand to her brow in order to steady her thoughts, the speedily recollected the ineidents of the night ; al » , en 2 ee Ee and, startled by the remembrance that the les event had occurred in St. James's Square, she flung robbed of his purse and watch—and that his had alone saved his skull from being fractured the desperate assault which had been made him with a bladgeon or some similarly weapon, the effects of which were still a hurried manner he made the circuit of the Square : still she appeared not. What could have become of her? Perhaps ‘she tad returned to his lodgings to procure assistance. Thither he repaired: Piggleberry assured him that the young not come back. Suddenly it struck him might have fled to her own humble abode; she had mentioned to him the address of the where herself and the Melmoths lodged, he decided upon hastening thither without delay. Towards Westminster Abbey did Tim Meagles accordingly proceed. Although he could not pos- sibly account for Rose Foster's disappearance, and although he felt confident that she hed not been murdered nor ill-treated by the same ruffian wo had plundered him, it nevertheless did not strike him for an instant that she could have fallen once more inte the hands of Mrs. Brace. Hoping, therefore, to find her at the house in which the Melmoths resided, he he experien dwelling which he sought. But at last he succeeded; and ere he knocked at thence a few feeble rays came forth—poverty’s Un they | mistakable rushlight glimmering ! COMIC OOO co