The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 142: what you’re looking at

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TNE MYSTERIES. 125 again. He muttered a few inarticulate words, and then began to gaze steadfastly upon me. I was forced to caress him—but he repulsed me with aver- sion; for he had by this time recovered sufficient power to enable him to use his hands feebly. I whispered to the old nurse that his brain was still wandering ;—and she smiled faintly—I thought, in- credulously. Some medicine had been sent by the , doctor—and I was resolved to make an effort to ac- complish the purpose in view. I accordingly ap- ' proached the mantel—tumed my back towards the | wurse in such a way that she could not see what I | was doing—and hastily mixed some of the poison with the draught. Then, advancing towards the bed, I told the nurse to raise the patient in her arms, while I administered the dose. She obeyed me in- stantly—and I began to think that my idea of being suspected by her was unfounded. But never—never shali I forget the change that came rapidly over Ramsey’s countenance, as he sate up, supported by the old woman. He first gazed on me fur a few in- stants with the moet steadfast earnestness: then his | features a horror which in less than a | minute completely convulsed them—and all in a moment, like a flash of lightning, he recognised me !” *" What—did he say 20?” demanded the young woman’s father. “No: but I saw it in bis manner—in his coun- tenance,” responded Carrotty Poll “ It was as easy to read what was passing in his mind, as if it was a printed book. And then his conduct showed that he | knew who I was in spite of my disguise: for the in- stant I put the glass to his lips, he recovered power ‘ enough to dash it out of my hand, and exclaim, ‘ No / no The nurse let him fall back upon his pillow; and he covered his face with his hands, moaning in | apiteous manner. ‘ His brain wanders still, I said | to the old woman, as I threw the medicine into the fire-place—‘ Why did you chuck it away % she de- manded, fixing on me a look that seemed to pierce me through and through: ‘J could have made him take it’?—Now, you know that I am not wanting in presence of mind: but I admit that I grew #0 con- i fused, I was at a loss what to do; and inventing some excuse—I really forget what—I left the room, not ‘once looking back, for I felt convinced that the old hag was staring after me with ber nasty grey eyes.” | 8] dare say it was all fancy on your part, Poll,” _Saidthe Beggarman. “ The crone’s ways were pecu- , har, p'raps ——” | “Well, it might be so,” interrupted the young woman: “but I didn’t stop to make those reflections atthe time. ‘T'o tell you the truth, I was glad to get away; for I began to think that the nurse would alarm the house, and the landlord might keep me till be could send for a constable. Well, I left the room, as Itold you: this was about an hour ago—and as the Mariners’ Arms is an early breakfast-house for ‘labourers and colliers employed at the docks and _Wharfa, the potman was taking down the shutters, There was a light in the bar; and just as I was going out, who should come in to get a morning dram, but Joe Warren ?” | “ He was up be-times, at all events,” observed the Big Beggarman. “Of course he recognised you !” “To be sure—in a moment,” answered Poll; “ be- cause he has often seen me decked out in this way. Before I could give him a look to prevent him from speaking to me, he asked what the deuce was going on, and insisted on my taking a drop of brandy with 6 es ee eee him. Then the talkative potman began to inquire of me how the gentleman up-stairs was; and the fellow gabbled away at such a rete that Joe Warren heard quite enough to make it impossible for me to tell him any liesaboutit. He followed me out; and I thought the best plan was to explain the whole matter to him, just for all the world as if neither you nor me ever meant to keep it a secret. He said he didn’t care much about Ramsey’s affair, and told me to mind and tell you to put away his share of the five hundred guineas; as everything relating to the Aylesbury bankers was a matter in which he had his claim for regulars. I assured him that you had already done so; and the business was thus made square enough. He then ordered me to have Meagles and Lady Lade set at liberty the instant that I re- turned; and he said that you needn't trouble your- self about Ramsey—as he'll attend to him. He also observed that he intended to make a call this even- ing in Pall Mall—you know where—and it is very likely you won’t see him again till to-morrow night. We then parted—and I found the Kinchin-Grand waiting for me at Execution Dock.” “'Well—and why the devil should you pretend to be disgusted with the whole affair?” demanded the Big Beggarman. “In my opinion, it’s gone off un- common well—especially since our friend Joe isn’t put out about it, and will undertake to keep Ramsey quiet.” “T am disgusted,” said Carrotty Poll, with vixenish acerbity, “because you have made a mull Of the thing. You never ought to have played your tricks on Meagles and Lady Lade. One is a devilish good fellow—and the other is a nice woman; and they might have been good friends to us.” “Why didn’t you tell me all this before?” growled the Beggarman. “ Because when you had locked ’em up, it was too late. However,” she added, in a milder tone—for she saw that her father was in no humour to be up- braided,—“ what’s done can’t be helped: but I am preciously annoyed at having lost so many hours in such a stupid aflair as this expeditiom to the Ma- riners’ Arms—tired as I was already ;—and then that cursed old nurse annoyed me more than enough.” “ Well—go and sleep off your ill-humour, Poll,” said her father. “1 shan’t be sorry to get to-bed myself.” The parent and daughter then retired to their chambers ;—and during the next three hours a pro- found silence reigned throughout the Beggar’s Staff, until the slipshod waiter rose at about nine to open the premises again—for, as it was a Sunday morning, he had snoozed a little later than usual. CHAPTER XXXVI. MBS. BRACE AND HER VISITORS. It was the Sabbath evening; and Mrs. Brace was seated alone in her exquisitely-furnished parlour. Some of her young ladies had gone to pass the day with their parents or friends: others had obtained permission to “go to church”—which meant that they had certain little amatory appointments to keep; and a few remained in their own apartment, chatting together or reading novels. ® Fair proportion of the plunder. ed el COMNGROO S COMM