The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 254: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THR COURT. 243 exclaimed the Viscount Delorme: and the words were echoed by the other listeners—while Zoe shuddered visibly at the bare thought of the ter- rifo dangers. which her beloved husband had gone through. “In the morning,” continued Octavian, “TI took leave of the old woman without suffering her to suspect that I had overheard a single syllable of the previous night’s discourse between herself and the chief of the gang. On gaining the road leading through the forest, I encountered a body of the police: I communicated to them all that had taken place; and they were at onee struck with the expe- diency of acting with the utmost caution in order to effect the capture of the chief and of his whole gang. But inasmuch as I was utterly unable to name a single member of that gang, and the suspi- cione of the police wore totally at fault on the sub- ject, it was necessary to adopt a course which should lead to the accomplishment of a twofold aim: namely, that of discovering and identifying the chief himself, and that of suffering the gang to assemble at the point already known, but the hour of which assembling had yet to be ascertained. I accompanied the police-officials to the Mayor of the nearest village; and after a consultation, ib was decided upon following the policy suggested by cir- cumstances.” Octavian paused for a few moments, and then continued in the ensuing manner :— “TI set out in pursuance of my journey; and I to reach the Chateau before your party had left it. It however happened otherwise. On meeting my wife, I questioned her relative to the friends who belonged to the party. My suspicions could settle only upon one:—this was the Baron De Margaux; and yet I dared not rush precipitately to the conclusion that he was the criminal. I explained everything to my wife: but I enjoined her to say nothing of all those matters until ehe should perceive that the denouement was approaching. I was afraid that if premature revelations were made, you would not be enabled to control your feelings; and that these feelings being reflected in your looks, would show the Baron that he was suspected and would cause him to decamp—thereby fruatrating the ends of justice. You may conceive how difficult it was for me to command my own feclinge and exercise a perfect control over the expression of my own countenance, when I found myeelf in the presence of the Baron. I immedi- ately saw that he was galvanised with terror on beholding me; and yet the miscreant was so much the master of his own feelings that even to me his startled emotion was barely perceptible—while to other lockers-on, unconscious of all that was be- neath the surface, it would not bave been per- ceptible at all. That he himself was instantane- ously lulled into the belief that I suspected him not, is evident from the fact that he remained with us to prosecute his diabolic plans. The sound of his voice confirmed my suspicion that he was the leader of the gang—the wretch whom I had heard last night explaining his iniquitous projects to Dame Roquette. I determined to watoh him nar- rowly; and you saw that when he proposed to issue forth from this tavern under the pretext of remonstrating with the postmaster, I offered to secompany him. And here I should observe that the delay in obtaining the horses was purposely arranged by the police—a hint being given to that effect to the postmaster, so that the whole ramifi- cations of the plan might fully work themselves out. Yop saw that the false Baron did not wish me to accompany bim; and fearful of exciting his suspicions prematurely, I allowed him to go forth alone. But I stole after him: I dogged him toa short distance from the village; and I succeeded in over-hearing some little conversation between bim- self and his man Moulia. Fortunate was it that circumstances flowed in this channel: for the false Baron ordered Moulin to speed at once into the foreat and issue directions to the assembled gang that they were to make some alteration as to th scene of the contemplated attack, for it was now proposed to be effected at a spot further on than that originally intended, no doubt for the purpose of allowing the shades of evening to deepen as much as possible. The false Baron and his man sepa- rated: I intercepted the latter—I seized upon him and made him my prisoner. His errand to the forest was thus out short. A couple of police- officials came up at the time; and I told them all that had occurred. One of them set off with all possible speed to acquaint the main body of the gendarmerie that the gang was assembled in the forest, and that the capture might now be effected: the other official, having disposed of bis prisoner, fetched some-of his comrades to effect the arrest o the false Baron himself. I should observe that from the conversation which took place between the chief and his man Moulin, I learnt that the latter had been all the way to the neighbourhood of the Chateau—that there he had received his chief's instructions———” “ Yes—when the perfidious wretch,” exclaimed the Visoount Delorme, & had insidiously ascertained from my lips the settled plan of tho day’s pro- ceedings.” . No doubt,” observed. Lord Octavian. “Then the fellow Moulin must have ridden back with all possible despatch to the forest to give Dame Ho- quette the final instructions; and this second interview between bim and the chief was forthe purpose of making assurance doubly sure and ascertaining satisfactorily that no part of the plan had been altered by circumstances, and that there was acomplete understanding on either side as to all the details. I think that I have now explained everything to you, my friends; and if I suffered so many hours to elapee ore the villain was completely unmasked, it was for the beat possible motives.” “Oh! under all circumstances you acted rightly,” exclaimed the Viscount Delorme. ‘“ But an idea has struck me! This villain whom I had deemed an honourable man and my friend, was doubtless the author of crimes which I had all along attributed to others. May he not have been connected with the gang at Madrid who robbed me on the occasion when he pretended to be the saviour of my life? —may it not have been he who plundered myself and others at the hotel at Barcclona?—may it not likewise have been he who robbed the danseuse of her jowels at Naples ?—and instead of his cuntem. plated marriage with the daughter of the Spanish Hidalgo being broken off in consequence of soma flaw in the lady's character, may it not have been that ber father received some whispered warning relative to the evil repute of the false Baron him- self P”” cS) (CO COMME HOG