The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 57: what you’re looking at

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44 moet fit and euitable admirer for such a charming creature as the ocoupant of Evergreen Villa.” “But,you must understand it is not marriage that I mean.” | “Yon need not tell me that. A man who means marriage does not go beating about the Lush fn such a style as this. You long to pos- sees that girl; and I do not hesitate to declare that you shall succeed.” “Ah! you promise me that?" exclaimed Saxondale, rejoiced at the tone of confidence and the air of assurance with which the woman spoke. ‘‘ Bat really, when I look at you, I do a certain superiority about you underneath that poverty-stricken garb——” ‘* Yos : the superiority of intellect,” at once re- plied the woman : and fora moment she drew her- self up haughtily. “I was not always what I now seem. But no matter—we will not touch upon that point. Relative to your own affair, I promise |. that your aspirations shall be gratified shortly; and in the meantime I will not let the grass grow under my feet. This very evening will I insti- tute the inquiries you have suggested, and such others as I deem it necessary to make; and to- morrow I will procure the mechanio’s dress. You shall bave everything complete.” ‘*‘ And do you think,” asked Saxondale, “that if J took it into my head to stay a week or ten days altogether in this neighbourhood, I could obtain a decent lodging near, so that I might be close at hand to avail myself at any moment of whatso- ever circumstances might ire ?” "said the woman, “ that if you mean to throw your spice of romance into this love- affair, you could content yourself with rough ac- commodations for a little while? Because, if so, I could make up a bed hore———Ah! you need not turn up your nose so hastily. When I go into town to-morrow to procuré your mechanic's dress, I can get you clean sheets and blankets at the same time, and a new mattress too into the bargain.” “Well, I don’t know but what it would be ad-+ visable to make preparations for a shake-down upon the floor: and you could get me some refresh- ments from the tavern yonder. All this will be amusing enough ; and when the charming oreature comes to know what I have done for hor sake———" “She will of course view you with an interest all the greater,” rejoined the woman. “Then be the arrangements as you suggest,” said Lord Saxondale. “ Here is the wherewith to increase the comforts of your place aad procure the things that I require. It is also an earnest of what my liberality may be, if through your assist- ance I in the accomplishment of my aims.” Thus speaking, Edmund again drew forth the well-filled purse and tossed ten sovereigns upon the table. The woman did not utter a word of acknowledgement, but deliberately gathered up the coirs and dropped then into her pocket. She then asked her visitor at what hour he would re- tarn on the morrow. “ When do you think that you will have any- thing of consequence to tell me?” he asked. “ Mind, I am very impatient in this matter; and the sooner it is put in train the better.” “T have promised that the grass shall fot grow under my feet,” replied the woman. “ If THE MYGTERIES OF THE COURT. you come up to-morrow evening after dusk, I may perhaps have tidings of a more satisfactory nature to communicate than you are likely to dream of. At all events I will do my best.” “Then I will be here after dusk,” rejoined Saxondale, perfectly delighted at the tone of confi- dence in which the woman spoke aad the business- like way in which she treated the whole affair. He then took bis departure, congratulating him- self dpon having been led by accident to that cot- tage, where he had found so valuable an agent to assist him in his designs. On retracing his steps towards Holloway, he kept at a prudent distance from Evergreen Villa; and taking the first cab he could find, sped homeward. CHAPTER XI. AGAR TOWN. Every one at all acquainted with London knows King’s Oross, where until very lately stood the Fever Hospital, behind which was the quarter we are about to describe. But ere entering upon this desoription, we must observe that the Fever Hos- pital has been pulled down, and at this present time the principal station of the Great Northern Railway is being built upon the spot. The rail- way itself, ranning through the district which is about to occupy our attention, has neceasarily led to some innovatory improvements therein: but many of the worst features of that densely popu- lated neighbourhood still exist just as they were in the year 1844, the date of this portion of our tale. At that time Agar Town might be de- scribed as a sort of peculiar colony or indepen- dent settlement, cut off as it were from the ad- jacent quarters. Turning out of the King’s Road close by St. Panoras Workhouse, the explorer of that region ascends a narrow rising pathway—passes by a row of wretched little huts, with little pieces of garden, the borders of which are edged with large stones—and continuing his way, is speedily in the midst of a mase of streets and alleys consti- tuting Agar Town. A canal intersects the dis- trict: some of the houses overhang the towing- paths, and the little back-yards of others are walled or fenced off on the brink of the cutting through which the stream flows. From the ap- pearance of the place it would seem as if 20 such things as paving-rates were known there; or if they be, it is a downright robbery to levy them in a quarter where nota bit of pavement is to be seen. Yet the unpaved thoroughfares cannot even be described as roada: for so far from being kept in order, it does not seem as if the slightest trouble had ever been taken to level them. In dry weather it is one succession of little billocks and holes ; so that no vehicle, whether the lightest carriage or the heaviest waggon, could possibly pass along without being jolted to pieces. The impression at once made upon the mind is that of a number of the most wretched huts and hovels built upon a ploughed field, where all the heaps of earth thrown out from the shallow founda- tions had been left to find a level for themselves as best they could. In very rainy weather these thoroughfares are knee-deep in mud; and then the impreasion is that of an assemblage of habi- CONNEC MOO SS COMM