The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 175: what you’re looking at

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

16% once summoned a vehicle from the public stand. With every appearance of haste he himself offi- ciously opened the door ere the driver could jamp down: Henrietta was promptly handed in—her companion gave some quick instructions, spoken aside, to the coachman—then he entered the ve- hicle—the door was closed—the man leapt up again to his box—and away they went. All that we have described, from the first instant that the individual accosted Henrietta at the door of the Opera to that moment when she found her- self seated by his side in the vehicle—had passed with such rapidity that she had not leisure for the slightest reflection. Her ideas had been kept in a whirl by the hurried, bustling, andalmostanxiously impatient manner of her companion ; so that there was not even a moment's leisure fora suspicion to start upin ber mind. Nor for the firstten minutes during which the vehicle sped rapidly along, didher companion allow her time to give way to reflection ; but he went on expatiating upun the philanthropy of her benefactor, the many charities which he prac- tised, the vast amount of good he did, and the de- light he took he succouring the unfortunate. The young damsel was naturally charmed at hearing such encomis lavished upon theold gentleman ; but gradually the thought stole into her mind that her present companion had notonce mentioned the said old gentleman’s name. Then, for the first time dur- ing this interview, she began to regard with some degree of attention the person seated by her side. When however she saw how respectable was his appearance, how free from anything savouring of treachery were his looks—and with what respect- ful sympathy he appeared to regard her, she again felt perfectly reassured. Then she ventured to ask where her new abode was situated ; and her com- panion at once informed her that it was in one of the most delightful suburbs of London—namely, near the village of Hornsey. Henrietta there- upon remarked that it was very considerate on the part of her generous benefactor to have chosen so salubrious a spot for ber invalid mother ; and this observation again furnished her oom- panion with a topic for expatiation. In this manner he continued talking until the outskirts of London were reached on the northern side, and the vehicle was rolling along the road to Hornsey. Now again did the young damsel begin to expe- rience a revival of that vague misgiving which had previously arisen in her mind. Insensibly the ides stole upon her that her companion sustained so rapid and continuous a discourse in order to keep her attention engaged; and as this idea gained upon her, she could not help throwing at him dubious and uneasy looks. These however he did not appear to notice, but sought fresh topics for conversation; and though Henrietta had by thie time ceased to answer him through the in- fluence of her augmenting terrors, he still went on as volubly as ever. Her alarm grew to an almoat intolerable pitch. A secret voice whispered in the deptke of her soul that all was not right: indeed she felt like one be- trayedinto a snare. Again did she glance at her companion ; and now she thought there wassome- thing sinister beneath the sedateness of his looks. But what was she to do? Suppose that, after all, everything he had said was correct, how insulting would it be alike to him and her benefactor if she I THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. were to manifest the suspicions which were so ra- pidly acquiring strength in her bosom? Henrietta accordingly made up her mind to see the adven- ture to its issue, no matter what that reeult might be; and she even endeavoured to appear cheerful and gay, and to resume her part in the discourse, so as to prevent her companion from fathoming her uneasiness. The village of Hornsey was reached; and the vehicle, turning into a diverging road, stopped at the gate of a large and handsome-looking house. It stood a little way back and was so embowered in tall and thickly umbrageous trees, that all fits extent could not be immediately discerned: but when the gate was opened by a gardener who was at work on the premises, and the vehicle passed up the shady avenue to the portico in front of the house, Henrietta at once found her- self at the entrance of a mansion. The poignancy of her saspicions now shot with a galvanic pang through her heart: but the very next instant an idea sprang up in her mind giving incaloulablo relief. Whatif the mansion really belonged to her benefactor, and thatin the carrying out of his generous purposes he had resolved to afford her invalid mother, herself, and her little brother a home in this healthfally situated dwelling? But she had not time for any farther reflection her companion had sprung out of the vehicle, and giving her his hand, assisted her also to alight. Painfully balanced between hope and fear ——trembling to advance, yet not daring to retreat -~—Henrietta stood for a few moments on the steps of the portico; and then, making up her mind with a desperate effort, she suffered herself to be conducted into the mansion. A servant in splendid livery held the front door open ; and she found herself in a hall paved with marble and embellished with statues. A noble ascent of staircase faced the front entrance; anda side door which stood open revealed the interior of a sumptuously furnished parlour. In short, the very first glimpse which the damsel thus obtained of these features of the mansion, showed her that it was evidently the abode of wealth and luxury, and her heart sank within her. For now rushed the idea to her mind that it was by no means probable any man—and that man a complete stranger—would doso extraordinary generous a deed as to transfir herself and her relatives from a wretched attic to a palatial residence. It wasa phi- lanthropy belonging to romance and not to reality, such a change as one might read of in fairy tales, but not such as was wont to happen in the true world. All this occurred to Henrietta’s mind in a moment ; and she turned her terrified looks upon her companion. Now she thought she beheld a sardonic kind of smile blending indefinably with the sedateness of hia countenance; and she felt inclined to cry out—but fear choked her utter- ance. At that instant a door facing the one whioh stoud open, afforded egress to an individual whom she instantaneously recognized but too well; and all her terrors being confirmed in a moment, she gave vent to a wild shriek—barst from the hold of her companion—and sprang towards the front door. But the footman inthe gurgoous livery banged it violently; and the dread conviction smote her heart that she was a prisoner! Almost frantio—with frenzied look and reeling ElOOO (CO