The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 134: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES. waterman to pull with all his might; though I was fearful that no good could be done, in the pitchy darkness,” * And did you—did you—see anything?” asked the Beggarman, scarcely able to hide the trouble which now filled his guilty soul. “Egad!” exclaimed Meagles; “it was scarcely possible to see your hand at a distance of six inches from your face—although, by the bye, we could see the gibbet and the body through the darkness: but , somehow or another, those things are never com- | pletely hidden, even in the blackest night. There seems to be a Providence in all thai /” “ Dear me, Tim, how you are wandering!” cried the Amazon; “and here is the worthy landlord all | impatience to hear the rest of your story. But I will teli it myself. You must know, then,” she continued, | addressing herself to the Big Beggarman, “that the waterman who rowed us, pulled manfully—and Mr. Meagles leant over the gunwale on one side, while I did the same on the other. All of a sudden I saw | something white—yes—abeolutely white through the. | deep darkness. It appeared abruptly—quick asthe eye winks—close by my side of the wherry ;—and simultaneously as I caught sight of it, I beheld | enough to carry the rapid conviction to my mind that it was a human countenance.” “The devil it was!” ejaculated the Big Beggar- man, summoning all his self-possession to his aid, while his guilty soul was quaking at the prospect of discovery. “'Yes—it was a human countenance,” repeated the Amazon emphatically: “with the speed of thought, I mechanically stretched out my arm—and my hand clutched the hair upon the unfortunate man’s head.” “ And you saved him?” cried the bloated ruffian with terrific impatience, which Meagles and the Amazon however believed to arise from a feeling of humanity prompting the hope that a fellow-creatue was really rescued from a watery grave. “Mr. Meagles instantly turned to assist me—the waterman likewise lent a hand—and we succeeded | in dragging the unfortunate individual into the boat,” continued Lady Letitia: “but it was at the risk of our own lives—for the wherry was as nearly as possible being up set by the proceeding.” “ And did he speak ?—did he say anything?” de- ' manded the guilty ruffian, his fears becoming every instant more appalling. “ He was senseless —and we thought that life must _be extinct,” replied the huntress. “ But we bade the 'waterman pull back to Execution Dock as quickly ‘as he could—and during the few minutes which thus | elapsed, Mr. Meagles rubbed the poor gentleman's | hands briskly between his own, while I chafed his teroples. By the time the wherry reached the stairs again, we had the satisfaction of knowing that the vital spark was still flickering.” “Ah! avery pleasant satisfaction,” observed the Big Beggarman, who could have killed the Amazon and Tim Meagles both—then and there—for what he considered to be their “cursed officiousness” in | endeavouring to restore Philip Ramsey to life. “And pray, my lady, what did yon do next?” he in- quired, stil] maintaining as much outward composure as possible. | “We landed, and bore the gentleman to the nearest public-house——” “The Mariners’ Arms, I'll be bound?” exclaimed the Beggarman. eg a a ce aI (es wring i, 117 “Yes—that was the sign: for the name is painted on the lamp,” said Meagles. “'Well—we had our unfortunate charge, who was still senseless, conveyed to a chamber,” continued Lady Letitia Lade; “and while Meagles and the landlord stripped and put him to bed, I myself ran for the nearest surgeon, whom I speedily found, al- though perfectly ignorant of that precious neigh- bourhood.” “ And then, I suppose, the doctor pretty soon re- covered the genelman ?” observed the ruffian. “By the time I returned, accompanied by the medical man, the patient was already so far recalled to his senses that he was conscious of the attentions which were being ministered,” answered the huntress: “but he was still utterly unable to speak—and the doctor said that many hours might elapse before he woud) regain sufficient strength to enable him to utter a word.” _ “Ab!” ejaculated the Big Bexgarman, much re- lieved. “ What sort of a looking fellow was he, my lady?” he inquired, although entertaining scarcely any doubt of the identity of this gentleman with Philip Ramsey. “ Tall— handsome — genteel,” replied Meagles : “slightly made—and not thirty years old yet, I should think. Poor gentleman! it will have been a narrow escape indeed, even if he should ultimately recover.” “TIsthere any danger still, then ?” demanded the Big Beggarinan, hastily. “Of course there is,” responded Meagles: “ but the doctor seemed to think he would get over it. However, Lady Letitia and myself did all we could for him—and, come what may, we have nothing to reproach ourselves for. He had but little money in his pockets—and we therefore left sufficient with the landlord of the tavern for present purposes, until we call co inquire after him again.” “Then you don’t know who the gentleman is?” said the Beggarman. “There was not a paper—nor a card—nor any document whatever about his person to afford the slightest clue to his name or abode,” answered Tiin Meagles : “ but his dress and appearance bespoke him to be a gentleman.” “ Well, the adwentur’ was a singular one,” observed the Big Beggarman, who, during the latter part of this conversation, had been revolving a certain scheme in his head ; for this rescue and resuscitation of Ramsey seemed to menace the villain with serious peril. “ But won't you take some little refreshment, sir—and you, my lady—after the fatigues you’ve both gone through this cold night?” “Nothing, { thank you,” answered Meagles, “ Come, Letitia—we will depart.” The Beggarman aflected to open the door offi- ciously —but, instantly turning back again towards the huntress and her companion, he exclaimed, “ Well— this is fortunate! There's Joe Warren just come in —and he’s gone up bya private way to his own room.” “We may as well see him, in that case,” said Meagles, pleased at the intelligence thus abruptly conveyed. “To be sure,” observed the Amazon. “Perhaps he may suggest some scheme which may put us upon the track of Lightfoot’s daughter.” “No doubt of it, my lady,” returned the Beggar- man. “This way, if you please.” COMGROO S COMM