The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 400: what you’re looking at

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

leek ———————e—eEE eee EEE EEE eee Meagies bit hia Mp aimest Gl ie bled—for he eould scarcely repress a vieleut eutberst of indig- nation at the eowardly baliying w whieh he was being subjected ;— while James Melmoth found it equally difficult to restrain the fory that wee boil- ing within him, and the effort to sabdae which rent his very heart-stsinge with an excruciating an “Go on, Baz, with you? statement,” said the | Sacieties. Chief Magistrate of Baw Street, “Well, gentlemen,” sesumed the witness, “I was informing your hoaeurs how me and my two pertners was a-walking promisoncusly along Pall Mall when we see a rayther stent gentiemma in Mre. Brace’s shep. At fust his back was towards the door; but presently he gurned round, and then, we twigged——” “Recognised, my good friend,” suggested the Attorney-General, administering a verbal carrec- tive in a tone whese biandoese comtrasted re- markably with that which he had adopted when speaking to Meagies. “ Thank‘os, sir—I meant to say Peeognised,” con- tinued Bax. “And whom @id you recognise?” asked the Chief Magistrate, also speaking in a mild voice and with agreeable manner. “ His Roya! Highness the Prince of Wales,” re- turned the constable. “He was talking to Mrs. Braee, which is a wery respectable lady ac alweys. pays her rates and taxes without a mermur and reg’larly illuminates her house on all Royal Birth- days.” “ Ab! a truly loyal subject,” observed the Under. Secretary, with an approving glance at the At- torney-General. “Please to continue yoer evi- dence, Mr. Bax.” “ And let him remember he’s en hie esth F’ ex- claimed Melmoth sternly — for the working man was unable to subdue his feelings any longer. “Silence, fellowf ejaculated the Under Seere- a constant interruptions are iatolerable ” eried the Chief Magistrate. “They show clearly enough that the which they ners are aware of the desperate condition in have placed themselves,” said the Attorney-Ge. peral. “But sach infamous attempts to intimidste, the witness———” “The attempts are made to intimidate as!” ox- claimed Melmoth, with an energetic gestions. tion. “ How dare you threaten te strike the witness ?” yociferated the Under-Secretary, starting from his seat. “J did no such thing—! only waved my arm in the air,” replied Melmoth, undaanted by the me- nacing mien assumed by the Under- . “ Bat let the witness go on and finish his story.” - «Proceed, Mr. Bax,” said the Chief Magistrate. “Well, your hononrs,” resamed the constable, “as his Royal Highness was giving his orders to Mrs. Brace, the two prisoners come along the street arm-in-arm, and looking wery disorderly : me and my pertners instantly twigged — I mean recognised them—and we at once knowed them to be two of the most desperate spouters at public meetings——" “1 never was at a public political meeting in my Wel ejaculated Meagles. Ml “Oh! very well — you've committed yoursel now, said the Attosney-Genecal, with a sardoni: emile of triumph as be caught up the prisoner’: remark, “ You declare that you were never at : publie political meeting; apd the natural infer. ence af couse that the meetings which you dc attend are of a private character. Very good, Mr. Menem: you stand eonfessed a member of Seore! Take thas down in the depositions, Mr. Preanett,” added tha Attorney-General, speaking to the olerk. *« By heavens! I will not submit to this diabolical ssisinterpretation!" qeouleted Mesgles, hin coua- tenance becoming cvimasn with wath end every vein on hia forehead awelling almost, to bursting. “ It necandaleus—perfeetty fand-like |” exclaimed Melmoth. “No Russian tysanny ey Spanish inguiai- torial despetism was ever waree.” “Silence—both of you—or yan, shall be reniwved immediately !* exied the Under- » who had posted himself upon the rug in front of the fire. Tim Meagles threw a hasty loos upen Melmoth, ad.reuch as to hint that they had better subdue their feelings as well as they cenld and let the witness pro- coed ta the end; ar elap tbair removal from the reom would deprive them of any little ahasee which they poseceasd of amending they orn eusee by shaking his testimany whea the mopaent fox ¢n0se-qyaunining him shenld arrive. Bit that glance cegaped got the lynx-eyed Attorney-General, who instantgpeoualy rendered # svailable to his own paspones, “Did you observe those leeke of inteMligauce which passed between the prisoners ?” he demanded, addressing bimeeclf te the Under-Secyetary. and the Chief Magistrate: and, aa they beth modded their heads affirmatively, the great legal {unetienery con- tinued to exelaim, “ Every step that ic takes in this investigation yields freah proofe ef the dangerous characters of these men. an ae oe rong to Secret Societies, by shaiw ean unguarded ad- ssissions—but they aqtually carry thety presumption so far as te communicate with cag ether by means of sceret sigpe in our ca!” “ “Fis falso-—falee an hell!” siecalated Melmoth, stamping his foot fusiously upon the carpet. “De not let us be proveked into intemperate language, my geod ferend,* anid Meagles, earneatiy. “J basseeh you to be tranquil for the present” Melmoth bit his lip and held hia peace: but the agitated workings of his eountenance plainly indi- cated how his anwl wae tertured hy the effort which he was compelled to make to subdue a terrifio explosion ef these omtraghd feelings that sought a vent. “ Preceed, Mr. Bax,” said the Chief Magistrate of Bow Street. “JT was observing, gentlemen.” resumed the wit- .| neds, “that while his Royal Maghness wasin Mre. Brace’s shop, a-talking to a young gal there--—I mean to the millines herself,” he hastenad to add, — “them two prisoners come along the street in 4 dis- orderly manne, and jeoking just as if they was anxious to get up @ row and collect a mob. Me and my partaers, et et cere uum teen and evil-dis persons, kept a eye upon them ; and, lo and behold! they walks straight iato Mra. Braces shép—begine pulling the hénnata, the gawna, and the gale about—and takes Kbestian with the ledy herself. The Prince very nateally remonstrated . them; but eearesly had he begged them to take COMIC OOO co