The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 253: what you’re looking at

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

236 THE MYSTERIES, Such were his frantic thoughts ;—and despair sud- denly nerved him with the strength to execute his purpose, Rising from his seat, he staggered forward a few paces: then he clung to the mantel for support. Again he endeavoured to walk—and this time his step was firmer. He reached the table, on which he leant to steady himself. The decanter of brandy was there; and he poured a quantity down his throat. It seemed to circulate throughout his entire system: he felt that his cheeks were flushing—that his heart was palpitating more quickly—that his legs grew stronger under him. Glancing around, he recognised the dour leading from the dissecting-room: then he beheld that by which Thurston had quitted the sur- gery ;—and it consequently struck him that he would try the third. Advancing towards it, he saw a cloak and a hat hanging upon pegs. These articles of apparel he instantly appropriated to his own use; and, still maddened by the excruciating idea that the surgeon was playing him false, he passed into the yard—entered the mews—and thence gained the street. The fresh air of the night invigorated him: but still he walked languidly—like a man who goes out for the first time on foot after a long and dangerous illness. Not being well acquainted with London, he knew not where he was; and his thoughts were still too much confused—or rather so harrowed by the hor- rible fears which had impelled him to quit the sur- geon’s house—that he paused not to consider whither he should go or what he should do. He reflected not that he was penniless— destitute, — worse, ten thousand times worse than the grovelling beggar in the street: for the meanest mendicant dared show his face in public;—but he—this man fresh from the gibbet — this living proof of the executioner’s unskilfalness-—this resuscitated subject ot the dis- secting-room,—Oh! the blackest night was not too dark to veil Ais countenance—to wrap his features in its funereal pall! But of these tremendous truths the wretched crea- ture thought not as he dragged himself slong with all the speed which he was capable of exerting. For it was not enough to have escaped from the sur- geon’s house: it was necessary to avoid pursuit. Such was now the idea that dominated his mind ;s— snd over-taxing his feeble powers, he soon found that he was exhausted—scon felt that he was sinking! He was now in a vast Square; and even at that late hour, lights were visible through the rich dra- peries of many windows. Strains of delicious music —the piano and the harp—poured forth their melody in sweet cadences, accompanied by soft voices in har- monious modulation. Roseate, warm, and tender were the scenes of luxury within the mansions where pleasure thus prevailed: chill was the at- mosphere without, as the wretched wanderer sate down on a door-step to recruit his shattered energies. By this time the whirl of his giddy brain was yielding to the presence of graver and more collected thoughts; and he began to perceive how mad—how foolish—how imprudent he had been to quit the surgeon’s abode. His late suspicions with regard to that individual now appeared so ridiculous—so mon- strously absurd—that he hated and loathed himself for having given way tothem. . What was to be done? All the utter friendless- ness of his position—all the misery upon which he had rushed headlong by abandoning that hospitable roof—all the perils which he was encountering face to face, passed like a hideous phantasmagorian train before his eyes. The cooler his imagination grew, the stronger was the hold that dismay, perplexity, and horror took upon him, At length, after several minutes’ fearful meditation, he suddenly resolved to retrace his steps to the medical man’s abode. Inspired by this idea, he raised himself painfully from the cold stones, and advanced languidly half round the square, endeavouring to recognise the street by which he had entered it. Vain attempt! So fevered was his imagination when proceeding thither, that he had taken no note of any particular buildings which might now serve him as landmarks; —and, in total bewilderment, he sank down again at the door of a vast mansion. Exhausted — spirit-broken — reduced to despair, the wretched being fruitleasly essayed to struggle against the death-like sensations which came over him: the crushing feelings were stronger than his powers of resistance—and he fell back in a deep swoon. A few minutes afterwards, a eplendid equipage dashed up to the front of the dwelling. Down leapt the two tall footmen from behind—the door of the vehicle was opened—the steps were lowered—and the Earl of Desborough, immediately alighting, as- sisted his charming Countess to descend. One of the footmen had already discovered Ram- sey lying upon the steps. “The gentleman is not dead, my lord—only in a faint,” said the servant, in reply to a hasty question which the Earl put. “Then, by all means, convey him into the house and have him properly cared for,’ exclaimed the nobleman; “while some one hastens to fetch our physician.” “ Heis recovering, my lord—slightly recovering,” observed the footman, who, assisted by the other domestic, had raised Ramsey from the cold pave- ment. “ With due deference, I do not think he will require the doctor.” “T am glad of it, for his sake—poor gentleman !” said Lord Desborough. “ He is evidently a respec- table person—and quite a young man too,” added the Earl, as the moonbeams now fell on Ramsey's countenance. “ Hasten and lift him into the house.” This command was immediately obeyed; and the resuscitated convict was borne to a chamber in the lordly mansion. The Earl, having wished an affectionate good night to his beautiful Countess, who repaired to her owa apartment, foilowed the domestics to the room whither they had carried the unhappy man. Spirits, essences, and other restoratives were speedily -pro- cured: but even before they were applied, Ramsey had recovered sufficient consciousness to enable him to perceive that he was in a handsome chamber and experiencing friendly treatment. Fortunately, his presence of mind so far accompanied the returning reason as to inspire him with a lively sense of the imperious necessity of maintaining an iron control over himself, as an inadvertent word would engender the most dangerous suspicions; and suddenly re- membering that there must be an ominous mark about his neck—the fatal sign of the halter — he shuddered as he thought of the awful risk of dis- covery which he had run! But it luckly happened that the footmen had de- posited him in a large easy chair before “hey even COMGLOO S COMM