The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 229: what you’re looking at

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218 THE MYSTERIFS OF THE COURT. midst of the night; whereas if he now plundered once knew there must be something wrong —and the chamber, and endeavoured to steal off, he he rushed round to the back part of the premises. might be perceived by either the maid or the mis- There he found the kitchen door standing wide tress—an alarm might be raised—and his capture ' open, as Jane had left i¢ on going forth: and he would be the result. All thiags considered there- fore, the disguised Lascar preferred remaining where he was. An hour passed—when the Surker heard Ma- dame Angelique’s steps in the hall below; and im- mediately afterwards her voice iesued an instruc- tion to the maid. This was to the effect that as Madame Angelique had tade but a poor dinner, ehe fancied a lobster for her supper (for she was a very great gourmand) ; and Jane was desired to spoed to thu fishmonget’s shop, which was at no great distance, and procure the coveted edible. “Shall I first take up lights to the parlour, ma’am P? asked Jane, from the passage leading to the kitchen, which was on the groutid fluor, and not one of those odious subterraneaté in which domestic servanté are too often buried as if they were workers in miniature mines, | * No — wait till you come back,” answered Madame Angelique: “but just give me a chamber- candle. You need not be aftaid to go across to the fishmonger’s: {t fs a beadtiful cloar evening, with the moun shining.” “Oh, Voi not afraid, ma’ats,” responded the pretty tbaid: and having given het inistresd the lighted candle, she issued fromm the House. Macame Angelique began mounting thé stairs towardé ber chamber,—on reaching which she was about to change ber evening toilet for & cotmfort- able deshabiliée, that she might all the more plea- santly abandon herielf to the pleasure of the expected evening tepast. But scarcely had ate put the candle tid the drawers, when she was transfixed with hottot oh beholding a great codrse dusty boot protrudittg from beneath the drapery at the foot of the bed. For & moment she stood stupelied: then & cry escaped het Ilpi—and she was iniking for the door, whetl het feet, kicking up the fluot carpet, became entangled thetein— and down she fell. Out rusted the Burker from his hiding-place 3 and as the terrified woman rose to her knees, she found herself confronted by the villanous-looking Lascar whom a few days previously she had re- - lieved, and who had attacked the Duke of March- mont. “Shriek out again, and you're a dead ’ooman!” said the Burker, in a terrible voice, as he raised his club in a menacing manner. Nevertheless Madame Angelique did cry out as she knelt at the villain’s feet: he uttered a tre- mendous execration, and was about to strike with ali bis force at ber head, when she suddeuly left off screaming, and said, “For God’s sake don’t murder me! I'll give you everything I’ve got !” “ Tbhat’s common sense,” said the Burker; “and now look sharp about it, so that you may sit down all cozy and comfortable to eat that there lobster which the gal’s gone for.” Meanwhile Sir Frederick Latham had knocked at the front door: but the sound was not heard Up in the room where this scene was taking place -—for it was situated at the back of the house, the whole front of the first storey being used as a drawing-room. Immediately after the merchant's knock, screams pealed forth: Sir Frederick at | entered the house. ‘ee co 8 Sm aeH wW 428hRWe See Pres & EE: ep On reaching the passage, he heard a gtuff voice say, “ Thirty-two sovereigns? Why, it’s all gammon. A lady like you ” “I assure you I have no moro ready money in- the house,” Madame Angelique replied in accents of shuddering terror. The gruff voice gave vent to some bitter impre- cation; and Sir Frederick Latham, now feeling convineed that a robbery was being perpetrated in the House; stule up the staircase. It was so well carpeted that the sounds of his steps were not heard: afd all in a moment be burst into the chamber whete the ruffian was keeping Madame Algelique in a atate of such awful alarm. “Ah!” bjaculdted Sir Frederick, as he caught bight of the Laecar's dress. A ery of Joy pedled forth from thé lips of the Bz-tnillinef: but with mw savage growl did the Burket spribg towardé the merchdnt. Sir Frede- rick, whd @ada@ far from deficient in courage, at once dlosed #ith him—Madame Angelique seized po the iniscreant fkdtii behind—and he was hurled upon the floor. « Hold hid tight, Sir Frederick,” exclaimed the ténchwomat, “ while I run for the police !” “Stop, I command you!” cried the merchant, with his knee upon the Burker’s cheat and his tight hand at the tmiscreant’s throat, “ Remain here, Madame Angelique!—-do you hear me, I bay P—femaiti here!” * But this villain, Sir Frederick ——” ' * Silenod—ahd do es L bid goal Now shut the oor.” The Frenchwoman—whd Was at present as tnuch astonished as she was just ho® alarmed --did gs sbe was desired; and Sir Frederiek said to the Burker, “ Answer me a questidi of two, ahd f will let you go. Refuse—ahd 1 b&til you over bo the lice” — “Phe fast fi ehd best,” tdbodded Barney, gasp- fig for breath, and Aisittén with sarprise that he should be thd’ Bpoket-ts, “ Now then, sir, what is it P” “The night before last,” continued the mer- chant, “you had a certain scene on the road near Balham Hill; and you said tos nobleman — Lord Rushbrouk—who had you in custody, ‘ What about the safe and the cash-boz 7 —whereupvn be at once let you go, Tell me the meaning of those words.” “And if I do,” said the Burker, “how do I know ” “That I shall let you goP” interrupted the merchant. “Is it not worth your while to trust to my promise? ‘You caonot make your position worse—but you may make it better.” “True enough !” ejaculated Barney. “So here goea———But the gal will be coming back with the lobster ——” “Go you, madam,” said the merchant, “and seo that your domestics ——”’ “ There’s only one at home—the other is out,” observed Barney. Go, then, madam—and keep the one domestic quiet,” said Sir Frederick Lathara. “ Let nothing of all this be kaown! And fear nothing !—fur LDOO ( <S 0) ST eel rr ek Se