The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 333: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. “ Yes—and something about a letter,” said Chif- | fin, accepting the two invitations relative to the seat and the wine. ‘“‘ Where is that letter, Sol ?”’ “ Here it is :”—and the landlord produced it from his pocket-book. Mr. Gunthorpe and William Deveril watched the fellow’s countenance as he opened the note enclosed | in the envelope: but its contents were evidently | or brief enough—for at a glance he scanned them, and then said shortly, “Oh! that’s it—eh P’’ at the same time consigning the note to his pocket. “ Now, Mr. Chiffin,” said Gunthorpe, “ I will come “If she pays you beforehand, you cas take your reward from her, or not—as you choose. With that we have nothing to do: but although you will faithfully promise at the time to perform whatscerer her ladyship requires, you must leave yourself in our hands.” “ And there is to be no such thing as constables, or kicking up a row, or anything of that sort P’ said Ohiffin: “ because it would be rather inconvenient for me to get myself into any trouble.” Wo shall be quite contented with learning what to the point at once. My young friend here hap- | Lady Saxondale’s designs are—and frustrating them pened to be in the post-office at Gainsborough when : “and we if need be,” Mr. Gunthorpe ; that letter was posted; and knowing by whose : do not want to give unnecessary publicity to any- hand it was thus posted, he for certain reasons be- | thing. ” came anxious to learn what its contents could be— an pounds and let us see that note?” “Make it a hundred,” said Chifiin; shall be in your hand in less than s minute.” “Very well: be it-a hundred. Here are two “Then there’s nothing more to be said,” observed wherein I fully share. Will you accept; the Cannibal. “I shall set off into Lincolnshire to-morrow; and I will meet you the day after “and it to-morrow, at any hour or place you like, in the evening.” “Let it be at half-past nine o'clock, and some fifty pound notes: but as everything ought to be ; where in the neighbourhood of Saxondale Castle,” square,” added Gunthorpe, glancing slyly towards | said Mr. Gunthorpe. Solomon Patch, “ you shall take the money with one hand and give me the little billet with the other.” “Ah! I see you get up early enough in the morn- ing,” said Chiffin with a chuckle, “and can’t be took in easy. Here's the note.” The exchange was made; and Mr, Gunthorpe | opened the billet, Deveril looking over his shoulder. A‘) that it contained were these words :— “Come down into Lincolnshire in the course of s few days. I wish to see you . Every night at eleven o'clock I will look into the chapel to see if you ere there.” Mr. Gunthorpe and Deveril exchanged looks as much as to ask each other what was to be done now ? for they were scarcely any wiser than before, beyond having theiT suspicion confirmed. that Lady Saxondale required he aid of some desperate cha- racter, no doubt for desperate purpose. “You expect to be well rewarded for whatsoever this may lead to?” said Mr. Gunthorpe after a brief pause, and himself to Chiffin. “TI never tell no tales,” respcnded the Cannibal, “unless it’s made worth my whi “Whatever this lady may ofe@ you as a reward for the business in which she requires you,” said Mr. Gunthorpe, “I will give you double if you put us in the way of learning what it is.” “That's speaking plain enough,” observed Chiffin : “and I like the proposition so well that it’s a bar- gain. What do you want me to do?” “ From this note, brief though it be, it is evident . that you have the means of introducing yourself at will into some —" “ That of Saxondale Castle,” interjected Deveril. . “The allusion is clearly thereto.” “Yes: all right,” said Chifiu. “Go on.” | “Well then,” continued Mr. Gur.thurpe, “if you * can introduce yourself into the castle, you can no doubt introduce others; and therefore you must render me and Mr. Deveril ear-witnesses of what- soever takes place between yourself and Lady Saxon- dale. If you do this, I promise you precisely the of whatecever reward she may offer you.” “And of course I can take both rewards P” ob- served Chiffin inquiringly. “On the bank of the river, and on the north side of the castle, about a mile or two distant from the building. I shall be punctual.” “ And so shall we,” replied Mr. Gunthorpe, rising ; from his seat. He chen tossed down a guinea for the benefit of Solumon Patch, who was infinitely delighted that the old gentleman did not allude to the fifty pounds which had been #0 trickily obtained from him. Mer. Gunthorpe and Deveril then issued forth from the boosing-ken, well satisfied to breathe the fresh air once more: for the very atmosphere of that place appeared laden with the pestiferous breath of crime, debauchery, and demoralisation. “What think you now, my dear sir?” asked William Deveril, as he and Mr. Gunthorpe pursued their way towards the spot where they had left the “I can form no other conjecture than that which has already strack us both—that her ladyship, Gnd- ing the affair in respect to yourself, becoming serious, is resolved to make away with you. But we shall put her to confusion.” “Qh, what a dreadful woman!” exclaimed Wil- liam, shuddering at the thought. “ Yes—my dear sir, it is indeed difficult to arrive at any other con- clusion: fur this circumstance, following 90 closely upon the receipt of the letter from her solicitors, is but too well calculated to confirm that belief. Are you not shocked, Mr. Gunthorpe, at the bare idea of a lady of such a proud position, condessen4- ing to make use of such instruments as that villain whose company we have just left P”’ “Shocked, certainly—but not at all astonished,” returned Mr. in his own dry blant manner. “It is all very well for the higher classes to denounce the wickedness and the demuralisation of the lower: but in a thousand ways it is the example of the former which creates the crime and so long in Italy without learning that titled ladies make use of bravoes who do the work of murder for gold: and why should it not be so in this eountry ? ob- | Depend upon it, there are more crimes committed by the upper classes, or else at ther instigation, OO) (G