The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 93: what you’re looking at

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80 female highwayman turned round fn her couch and composed herself off to sleep as caliunly and tran- quilly as if there were not even the remotest chance of being brought into collision with the euthoritics. CHAPTER XX. THE RESULT. Ir was a Hitle after mid-day when e chort, elderly, bustling gentleman, accompanied quired for the landlerd. Old Marshall, who from the window of his pariour bebind the bar imme- diately observed the visitors and of course guessed their errand, came forth with the coolest ealf- possession imaginable; and the police-efficer at once said, “ Mr. Marshall, we want to havo a few minutes’ conversation with you, if you please.” “ To be gure: step in here,” responded the land- lord: and he accordingly admitted the buatiiag gentleman and the constable into the bar-paziour, where his wife and three daughters wera seated. “ But if it's private,” the old man immediately ex- olainied, “we can go into another room.” The constable looked at Mr. Marlow,--for he the gentleman waa,—for him to give an answer ; and the London aclicitor at once said, “ I presume these ladies sre of your family?” “My wife end daughters, sir,” responded old Marshall. “Then there can be no harm in my patting before them the questions which I have to ask. In a word, do you happon to have an individual -——or to be more explicit, a woman in male attire, beneath your roof ?” “ Well, I never i” Mies Kate to her sisters: but parposely loud enough to he heard “ Well, then, I see that she is not here,” ob- served Mr. Marlow, turning to the constable. “This is the eighth or ninth tavern we have eiaited, and every where the eamenegative answer. Bat I am determined to inquire at all the taverns in Dover, sooner than give up the chass.” “But why do you persist in thinkiag, sir,” asked the constable, “ that she is in Dover ?” ‘I have no reason beyond my beHef that she will tery and get over to France. However, we bave set a watch for the railway trains—--" At tiis moment the dostor’s boy made his ap- pearance at the bar; and depusiting a bottle on the counter shouted oat, “ Mrs. Chandos !* and then hurried sway to deliver the remaining con- tente of his besket. “ Mrs. Cha vdos?” efaculated Mr. Mariow. “ By heaven, it is she !” “ Yes, air,” old Marshall promptly o “ there is a lady of that name in the house.” “Knough, enough!” cried the excitable attorney. “ Bhow us us up toher room! Oome along, con- stable—the bird's caught at last !"—and he was already rashing with frantic hasteout of the bar when old Marshall's voice called him back. | ‘Where are you going, sir--and with this con- stable too? The lady isin bed andill? But is there anything wroug about her? I'm sure I took her for a most rea thief” “ Good heavens, girls'” shrieked forth Mrs. Marshall; “dogo and count the plate. A thief did you say, sir?” ‘“Yee—but a most daring thief, too— high- wayaan-—or rather a highway-woman !” “Qh, dear, dear!” cried Mrs. Marshall, ap- pearing to be dreadfully alarmed. “Only think of our having had such « . the house all night!” “It's fortunate we have not every one had our threats out,” eaid Kato, d dismay. “ Oh ! if ahe’s all thet!" eaid old Marshall, “the sooner she's out of the house the better. pne of you girls, and show this gentleman and the constable which is her room. But I hope she will pay ber bill, though—and her doctar’s, too, for that matter.” “There must be sows misteke,” said Mr. Mar- low, who for the last fow moments had been look- ing quite bewildered. “One of you talked of ther having slept .bere all wight. can't have been in the house above an boar or two, even ff ehe travelled post the whole way from London: for we know she didn't came by the railwey—woe have already made is- quiries about her there.” “ Thore must be some mistake then,” said old Marshall; “for the Mrs. Ohandos we are talking of, has been bere ever since six or seven oclook last evening.” “ Then its not the same.” ejaculated Marlow. “ How singuler !—ae coincidence of names! But looking woman is she?” The Mrs. Chandos I mean must be about six-and- twenty—though when dressed ae @ man, sho of course looks years younger. Complexion, delicate olive—e woh colour en the chaske -elange black eyee--very bright bleok hair, ‘the least thing cosrse-~4 Sept ten, I shonld think—excellent figere, upright as a dart—and fine voice, strong for a woman dat got ‘bareh?” “ Well, I declare,” exclaimed Kate, knowing that Lady Bess wanted to be arrested at Dover so as to get the affair terminated in that town, “ this description exactly euswem the lady up-staire.” “The dence it does!” quickly ajaoulated Mr. Marlow. “Then I am on the right spent again. But she didn't come in male attire?” “Oh! no, sir.” respomded Kate, with an indig- nant toss of the head; ‘or lam eure that ahe wouldn't have been received into this house. The constable there can tell you that the Admtral's dfead is af the highest respectability.” “ Yea, Miss—-that I will warmat,” remarked the officer, who had received many a gratuitous drink at the harof the establishment. “ Well, well, I meant no offepoa, yeung lady,” quickly vejoined Mr. Marlow. “But do let us endeavour to clear pp one point—whea did this lady arrive?” GORMGOOOKXS COMM