The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

silent while her companion was cating, “let us not lose another moment-———for the body must be dis- posed of before morning,” she added in a very low voice. With these word she approached the cupboard tied with oust heriagee tried with one of her fingers. “You mean to play your part in it, then,” said the Cannibal in a whisper and with a grim look. ‘What matters it who does the work?” she de- manded. “ We are neither of us squeamish, I sup- pose. But in case he should happen to awake as we enter the room, and either cry out or offer any resistance, it will be better for us both to be pre- pared. “All right!” observed Chiffin. “And now to Madge Somers took up the candle with her left and holding the dagger in her right, led from the room. As noisclessly as possible ascend the steps, with Chiffin close at her the door of Saxondale’s chamber, regular and even. nobleman convinced them profoundly. They accordingly opened the door and stole in. Madge, who led the way, advanced straight up to the bed; and as the flaring candle which she held in her hand threw ita That ejaculation to which she gave vent and the noise of the candlestick falling, startled young Saxondale with galvanic effect from his slumbers; and springing up from the mattrass, he cried out “Thieves! murder!” as loudly as he could voci- ferate. Madge Somers, recovering her presence of mind the very instant she had dropped the candle, clutched Chiffin with nervous violence by the arm: and in a quick but low whisper said, “Go!” The ruffian, astounded at what had just happened,—but having nota moment for reflection, and being too much bewildered to act of his own accord,—at once obeyed the woman’s command, for which it no doubt struck him there must be some good and excellent reason. She at the same time banged the door vio- lently behind him as if to enforce with additional energy the order she had given for his retreat; and then hastening towards Saxondale, whohad begun vo- ciferating as ere now described, she said, “ Hold your tongue! it is nothing !”’ “ But that noise—what was it?’ asked Edmund, quaking and quivering all over. “For God's sake don’t burt me! Take my purse, if you want it— but—bu and his teeth chattered audibly. “I tell you that you have nothing to fear,” ex- claimed Madge Somers. “I would not hurt you— and I do not want your purse.” “But what has happened P what is the disturb- ance’ inquired Edmund, still with tremulous voice and quivering limbs, as he stood upright by THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. the side of the bed from which he had leaped. “Tell me—what are you doing here ?-»what noise was that ? Did I not seo. something glitter in your hand P” “ No—nothing——only the candlestick that I See ae ae repo’ Madge, who had already concealed the dagger under her cloak. But here we should observe that although the light had been extinguished by the fall of the candle, yet the room was not enveloped in total ob- security ; for the glimmering of the starlight through the small and dingy window rendered objects some- what discernible: therefore the young nobleman could perceive the figure of the woman standing near him ; and observing that she was not undressed, naturally argued that she had not been in bed at all. But he likewise perceived that she had no one assured hyn. “It was only a drunken man who would force his way into the house,” continued Madge. “But make haste and dress yourself! You must go away from this place at once. Ask me no questions —and do as I tell you without delay. You must manage to resume your spparel in the dark; and in a few minutes I will come up to you again. But Then, anethie ae: the etlttick wad ohhe Then, snatching up the candlestick, and without waiting for a roply,— ~~mauch less to answer any of the questions which the young nobleman might think fit to put relative to all these singular proceedings —she abruptly quitted the room, closing the door be- the cause of those sudden emotions on her part which had not merely made her cry out and drop the candle, but also abandon all in a moment the murderous intent that had been harboured against her guest. Having hastily lighted the candle again, in the room where the supper-things were, she said in a low but resolute tone, “Remain you here quietly, and I will explain everything. I cannot tell you now—but when he is safe out of the house——” “What ?” asked Chiffin, his countenance becoming as dark as night: “do you mean that he is to escape us ?” ‘‘'Yes—I do mean so,” returned the woman, in whose looks there was a strange firmness mingled with a sort of wild - “You have known me well enough, Chiffin—and I should think too well not to be aware that I am acting for the best.” “Well, it may be so,” growled the Cannibal, soreee'y “but i¢ seems a strange way of doing “It is neverthelesg my way,” rejoined Madge, with a still more dogged air of determination. “So sit down—take some brandy to put you into a better humour—and wait till I return. I shall be with you again in three or four minutes. Here, lend me the candle—you can manage for yourself in the dark till I come back.” Having thus spoken, Madge Somers took up the candle and left the room, closing the door be- hind her. Meanwhile Edmund, considerably relieved from his terrors by the assurances of safety which the woman had given him—but thoroughly bewildered CONNEC MOO <SAEOH