The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 359: what you’re looking at

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

850 THE MYSTERIES. “Itis true I oan assure you,” was the response: “and my name is Meagies.” “Oh! what gtrange incidents have -oocarred this night!” ejaculated the working man. “ But Miss Foster——Ah ! something strikes me——-My God! a lady was with you in the Square—and she fled precipitately—rending the air with ber screams——” “ Descend not into explanations which may be- come too intelligible,” said Meagles, glanciag signi- ficantly towards the children. “ But tell me—do you think that Miss Foster recognised you——” “ No—I am certain she did not,” answered Mel- moth. ‘God forbid!” he cried in a tone of almost . wild excitement: “ I am already sufficiently humbled ard miserable enough, without having that crushing idea to overwhelm me altogether. But is it possible, sir, that anything can have happened to that excel- lent young lady {” | “J am seriously—very seriously.alarmed on her account,” said Meagles. “When I. came back to consciousness, she was gone. I searched for her in the Square—but vainly. Whatcax have become of the poor orphan whom misfortunes appear to pursue SL a Ea a a I a and persecute with unremitting rancour !” “Let us go forth and search for her, sir,” ex- claimed Melmoth. “It is useless,” observed Meagles. “ Where can @e search? Let us rather bope that some kind pessons have given her an asylu:n for the night, and chat to-morrow morning we abal] receive gladdening n‘elligence respecting her.” “God send that such may prove the case!"’ eried Melmoth. “T shall now leave you,” said Meagles: “ but I shall not lose sight of you. As to what has occurred ~think no more of it! Poverty engenders much which deserves pity rather than.blame; and the good caputation of years must not oe considered ruined by che madness of a moment. Farewell for the present ~and may better days await you. You will soon see me agaix.” And, without waiting for a renewed outpouring of he fervent thanks of the Melmoth family, Meagles nasiened away. The eldest lad followed him down co the door—and ere Tim.conld succeed in quitting che house, that grateful boy had seized his hand, pressed it to his lips. and covered it with his tears. CHAPTER C. STAMFGRD MAXNOB. Taz incidests of our :tale follow each other in Japid suecestion; and the. stage of our drama is erowded with oharacters and basy with. action. But busier still, if possible,.is it shortly destined to become; and of a deeper and.more exciting in- terest are the events which yes. remain to be tuld. All that is most horrible..in respect to crime— most pathetic and touching in the sphere of love —most terrible with regard to the oppreasion sus- tained by.the poor at the hands of the rich—and most startling or rivetting, enthralling or at- tractive, in: reference to variety of incident,—all these features bave yet more fully.to develop them- selves in the progress of our narrative. To scenes more strange than aay yet depicted, will the reader have to be introduced: through the | mase of adventures still mare mysterious and exe citing than those already recerdad, will he have £o accompany us. As the subject grows upon us, our energies ap. pear to take the colossal proportions adequate to the task of elaborating it: our imagination expands commensurately with the labour which it has to perform. To accumulate incident upon incident with.a rapidity which flags uot, may appear to many the Titanian toil of heaping Ossa upon Pelion—mount upon mountain :—but to us it is a task fraught with its own exciting pleasure. And so will it seem to us until the end! We must now request our readers to aecompany us to Stamford Manor, which, as etated in the first chapter of this history, was situated at a.distance of about three miles from Aylesbury. It was a handsome building—of imposing. appaar- ance externally, and splendidly fitted up within; and the fire which had occurred simultaneously.with the appalling tragedy wherein Lady Stamford. played the terrible part of the guilty heroine, had net achieved any considerable amount. of damage. On the same night when the incidents jner related took place, and at about nine o’clock,a drove up to the door of Stamford Manor;.and Mr. Page, leaping forth, assisted his wife-to.dascend. Having dismissed the vehicle, which was hired at. Aylesbury, the worthy couple entered the hall; and Mr. Page, addressing the old woman who had ad- mitted them into the mansion, said, “You, I pre- sume, are the person left in charge of the premises ?”” “Yes, sir—my name is Bryan,” was the anewer,, aecompanied by a low-curteey. ‘‘I deasay Sir Richard told you to inquire for Mrs. Bryan, didn’t he? veastways I should think it most likely that he did——” “ My good woman,” interrupted Mr. Page,—*I c3n.perceive at once that you are disposed to be gar- roulous—and there’s nothing I like less than garru— lity. Your master, has written to you, stating that a eenieman and Jady would call here this evening— ie | And as Mr. Page gave utterance to the word “lady,” he glanced complaisantly towards Julia who was decked aut in all the flaunting colours which the worst possible taste could have managed to accumur ate. * Yes, sir,” answered Mrs. Bryan: “Sir Richard thonoured me with a letter—leastways with a note —which the brought over this morning from Aylesbury: or I should say the post-boy, by rights—for he’s a mere lad of some sixteen, or s0——” “Never mind how old he is, Mrs. Bryan,” ex- claimed Mr..Page. “ He brought you the letter safe —and that’s all we have to care about. But this letter daly informed you that a certain Mr. Page and his lady would probably call here in the evening —ig it not so?” “Yes, sir—and that you would pass the nizht -here,” returned the woman; “and I was to miud and make you as comfortable as possible. So I've gut you a nice roast fowl for your supper—aod put ciean sheets on the best bed ——* “Well and good,” said.the ex-commertial tra- ‘veller. “I perceive that it becomes altogether un- necessary to inform you that Jam Mr. Page,” he continued pompously,—* and: tliat this lady is gy EOMICHOOOKS (C co