The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 67: what you’re looking at

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62 THE MYSTERIEX “ Well, this is wery strange,” said Mobbs, evi- dently much perplexed : then, after a few moments’ deep thought, he observed inquiringly, “ F’raps it wouldn’t be too bold, ma’am, if 1 was to ask whether you paid him any money ?” “Yes—five hundred guineas, according to agree- ment,” was the prompt answer. “I know that I may trust you as confidently as if it were Mr. Gramley himself,” she added, with a smile. “To be sare you may, ma'am,” observed Mobbs: then recurring to the topic which was uppermost in his mind, he said in a musing tone, “I should scarcely think that Grumley has gone and got into dangerous company with all that swag about his person. He's rayther teo knowing for that sort of thing; and as for his being attacked, robbed, and murdered in the open streete—that isn’t likely.” “ Depend upon it, your friend will make his ap- pearance in the course of the day,” said Mrs. Brace. “Perhaps he has taken a little drop too much in the company of some jovial revellers and is sleep- ing away his head-ache.” “No, ma’am—that isn’t like Peter Grumiley,” said Mobbe, shaking his head ominously. “If he isn’t murdered, then he's bolted—that's all [” ejacn- lated theeman, s sudden idea striking him. “And now that I think well upon the subject, I dessay he has cut and ran not on’y through fear of the con- eekvences of letting that young gal escape last night, bat also to cheat me out of my reglars in respect to the five hundred guineas which he re- ceived from you.” “1 should not at all wonder if you have hit upon the real truth at last.” observed Mrs. Brace, acarocely able to restrain her joy at the false scent upon which the official understrapper had got. “Indeed, Mr. Gramley hinted to me last night that he was afraid it would prove the dearest five hundred guineas he ever fingered in all his life.” “ Ah! if he said that, ma’am,” exclaimed Mobba, “there isn’t no longer any doubt upon the subjeck, He's bolted, clear enough—and I’m left behind to bear the brunt.” “Well, as you were his associate in a matter which more or leas interested myself,” said Mrs. Brace, “I cannot suffer you to go altogether un- rewarded; aad I therefore beg your acceptance of these fifsy guineas.” The eyes of Mobbe sparkled with delight as the milliner counted down the gold upon the table; and as he took up the shining pieces and weighed them in his rough horny hand, he expressed his thanks over and over again. “ Of course,” said Mrs. Brace, as he was about to quit the room, “my name will not be mentioned under any circumstances, no matter what may transpire.” “Trost me for that, ma’am,” rejoined Mobbs ;— and he then took his departare. Mrs. Brace now breathed far more freely than she had done fer many hours ; and thus the visit of Mobbs, which had at first assumed so ominous an aspect and struck such terror into her soul, proved the sow'cs of an incalcalable relief to her apprehensions. She saw that Grumley’s disappear- ance would everywhere receive the natural inter. pretation of a flight to avold the consequences of letting a prisoner escape; and this conviction in- spired her with a sense of security which nerved her to look calmly and deliberately at the em- barrassment wherein she was placed with regard to the dead body. The deeper she pondered upon the matter, the more imperiously ne did it seem to admit some one to her confidence ; and she finally resolved as the night approached, to entrust the tremendous secret to Harriet, her faithful abigail. But she postponed the evil moment as long as possible ; and it was not until the young ladies had retired to rest and the clock was striking eleven, that the milliner, who was now seated alone in her parlour, could muster up courage sufficient to enter upon the ap- palling topic. At length, feeling that an excitement was growing upon her which would speedily destroy all her resolution and throw her ideas into chaotic dis- order, she rang the bell; and when Harriet made her appearance, she the young woman follow her up stairs to her ows chamber. Upon gaining this réom, the milliner placed the candle upon the toilette-table and locked the door : then suddenly fixing her eyes, which had in a moment become wild and haggard, upon the lady’s- maid, she said, in a deep voice, “ Harriet, I am about to reveal to you a terrible secret !” “Ah! madam, is it possible that you are on the point of giving birth to a child?” said the dependant, her knowledge of her mistress's frailty instantly exciting this idea in her mind. “ Would to God that it were no worse, Harriet returned Mrs. Brace, speaking in a hollow whisper. “But Limplore you to steady your mind in order to receive as calmly as possible a revelation that is only too well calculated to fill you with horror.” “ Mercifal heavens! ma’am—what do you mean /* exclaimed Harriet, now catching the infection of the milliner’s harrowed feelings. “JI mean,” responded her mistress, in a still lower, deeper, and more hollow tone, while her looks ex- pressed all the mingled anguish and terror that had become resuscitated in her soul,—* I mean, Harriet, that there is a dead body in yon bath-room——” “© horror !* ejaculated the young woman with a stifling shriek—and staggering backward, she threw her eyes in unspeakable terror towards the door of the adjacent chamber. “Silence—and courage—I conjare you!” said Mrs. Brace, clasping her hands in agonising en- treaty. “If you alarm the house you will rain me: but if you will assist me, I will load you with favours and benefits *” “ Speak, madam—what can Ido” demanded the lady’s-maid, struggling as well as she was able against the horrified feelings that had seized upon her. “ Listen to me for a few moments, my dear Har- riet,” said the milliner, speaking with all the rapidity of a hysterical excitement. “You remember that the Bow Street Officer called last evening? Well —he became intoxicated—he pressed me with his licentious proposais—I was compelled to sub- mit——My God! what could I do ?——I couducted him hither—and all in a moment he fell down dead at my feet—stricken by the lightning-stroke of apoplexy !” “ Dead—at your feet!” echoed Harriet, shudcer- ing convulsively and repeating the milliner’s words with the mechanical impulse of dire horror. “ Yes—in an instant was I plunged into this cruel: embarrassment,” said Mrs. Brace: “and all laa a ee (COU DOO (CO