The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

Se Sp epee ensapsnenneeerope retention THE MYSTERTES. % NN Lr SS eshenesusnssunus=sepmene=—ses CHAPTER CXXIX. CAROLINE WALTERS. it was about twenty minutes to one o'clock in the |_| afternoon of the following day, that a hackney-coach stopped at the gate of Horsemonyer Lane Gaol; and wo men leapt forth. These were Mr. Peter Grumley and his factotam Mobbs; and on entering the lobby, they were in- etantanecously saluted in familiar terms by the turnkey on duty. “Come for the young ’ooman, eh f” said this fanc- tionary, when the usual compliments accompanied repulsive features of Mobbe—for the two constables were seated opposite to her in the vehicle. “ Listen—and don’t interrupt me more than you can help, Miss,” resumed the head officer. “ Your case is a very bad one—and you're sure to be com- mitted for trial. If committed for trial, you're sure to be found guilty and hung.” “I already perceive the weight of that circum- stantial evidence which will be arrayed against me,” answered Caroline, in a low and somewhat thick tone; “and I am prepared for the worst. But I shall at Jeast have the satisfaction of giving a fall and complete expoeure of the iniquities of the im- mense brothel over which the arch-procuress Mra. Brace presides, and which has for so many years by a little chaffing had been exchanged. bh “Yes,” responded Grumley. “How has she be- oa Pee to sustain the midwifery establishment in haved herself, old feller?” ore Street. “Silent, reserved, and obstinate,” was the answer. “ She's a pretty gal—a deuced pretty gal: but there's moments when the devil looks out of her eyes. I couldn’t help surweying her with attention when I went round last night to lock up; and I thought to myself, thinks I, ‘ Well, I'm blowed if you ain't ee of murdering anybody that stands in your ‘*And so she hasn't talked at all—eh ?” observed Grumley, interrogatively. “She hasn’t said nothing either bad, good, or in- different,” answered the turnkey. “The matron tried to draw her out yesterday—but it was no go, I un- derstand; and so I suppose she means to see what turu matters may take, before she opens her lips on the subject.” “Well, then, she'll soon have an opportunity of satisfying her curiosity,” observed Grumley: “for she'll be committed to-day toacertainty. I've got a precious strong case against her, I can tell you.” “Oh! I s'pose there's no doubt about it,” re- marked the turnkey, as he opened the inner door of the lobby and ordered some underling to fetch Caro- line Walters from her cell. In a few minutes the young girl made her ap- pearance, in the custody of the underling just al- luded to; and, being transferred to the charge of Grumley and Mobbs, she accompanied the officials into the hackney-coach which immediately drove away. Caroline Walters was deadly pale—and, as this pallor showed through the brunette hee of her com- plexion, it gave a ghastly aspect to her countenance. Her fine dark eyes shone with a restless and sinister light which vibrated as a star: and her pearly teeth were clenched behind the closely compressed lips. There was an awfal composure in her manver which, when considered in respect to her looks, seemed compounded of dark menace against some one and of a fixed and desperate resolution with reference to herself. The moment the vehicle rolled away from the gate of Horsemonger Lane Prison, Mr. Grumley drew up the window on his side, while Mobbs did the same on the other; and then the head constable addressed himself in a hasty and laconic manner to Caroline. “ Miss Walters,” he said, “ we have not many mi- nutes to converse together—~and we must make the most ef so short a time.” “What can you have to say to mef” she de- manded, raising her eyes and glancing suspiciously Crus the ill-looking countenance of Grumley to the These words were pronounced with s concentrated bitterness of feeling denoting the stern resolution which the young girl had adopted not to die un- avenged. “And moreover,’ she added, after a brief pause, “I will proclaim in the presence of the magistrate and the whole court the name of him who seduced me s0 vilely and abandoned me so cruelly. Oh! I will not pass tbrough the disgrace of the Old Bailey and the hangman, without dragging others through the mire and the filth of public exposure, infamy, and shame.” And now the sinister light which burnt in her eyes flashed forth in those rays which carry a shud- der with them through the entire frame that they appear to penetrate and into the depths of the soul to which they seem to pierce. “Miss Walters,” Grumley hastened to observe, “you must renounce your present plans and alter your policy altogether.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed the young girl, now surveying the constable with ineffable amase- ment. “I mean, Miss Walters, that I am your friend— and that I will save you, if you will permit me to do it,” responded Grumley, in a rapid tone. “Save me!” repeated Caroline, clutching with a hysterical joy at the hope which fell thus suddenly upon her soal. " “'Yea—save you from the scaffuld, Miss,” answered Grumley. “ Now listen one moment. Whether in- nocent or guilty, you'll find that the evidence will be overwhelming against vou—and you will likewise find that it’s my own self as will have got up the case so strong against you.” “Then how can you proclaim yourself my friend ?” asked Caroline, bitterly. “ Because I am compelled to do my dooty as « officer in the eyes of the public,” replied Gramley, meeting unflinchingly the searching look which the girl threw upon him: “ whereas ix private,” he added, “[ may befriend and serve whomeocever I choose.” “{ understand you,” said Caroline, het confidence returning. “But wherefore should you feel any ine terest in me? Iam an utter stranger to you———" “Trae: but Mrs. Brace has enjoined me to do all I can for you" «Mrs. Brace |” Caroline, in a tone of in- describable disgust. “Ah! yes—I undegstand—she fea s exposure, and she would conciliste me! Is it not so f”’ “Never mind the reatone that she may heve,: (CO (C DOO (CO