The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

sl 129 TILE MYSTERIES, j a a Pe that such a man could feel any really humane in- terest in the matter,’ observed the Amazon. “ But if he be capable of murdering or endeavouring to murder one person,” she added with a shudder, “ he is not likely to be very particular how he deals with others.” “T do not for a moment apprehend that the villain ete any such black design in respect to us, iny dear Letitia,” said Meagles, passing his arm /round the lady’s waist and pressing her to him. |“ But rely upon it, that not a hair of your head shall _be hurt while life remains in my body.” | “Oh! Tam well assured of that, dear Tim,” she replied, caressing him tenderly. “Moreover, al- though Iam but a poor weak woman, I possess the spirit and daring of a man: and my own existence would not be sold without a desperate struggle.” “It may suit the fellow’s purpose to keep us pri- soners here for some hours—perhaps even days,” ob- served Meagles: “but we will try and defeat him. Now, my beauty,” he added, whispering softly in his fulr companion’s ear, “let us see whether we cannot elfect our escape. ‘The adventure will be a pleasant one—eh 2?” “Delightful, Tim!” responded the Amazon, her glowing bosom palpitating against his breast with the excitement of the idea. “ But how shall we pyro- ceed? Itisas dark as pitch—and we cannot even obtain a glimpse of anything in the room.” “‘There is a window somewhere in this direction,” said Meagles, groping his way cautiously. “I saw enough of the chamber during the few moments that the ruffian held the light at the door, to observe its principal features. Ah! here it is!” He drew aside the curtain which covered the small casement ; and the room was just so much relieved of its black darkness, as to enable the two friends to trace the outlines of each other’s form, without how- _ ever distinguishing a feature of the countenance. “Now let us find a chair, my beauty,” said Meagles: “and you shall sit on my knee for a few minutes, while we hold a council of war. There— that’s right. Now giveme a kiss—and we will begin our discussion. Good!” he exclaimed, when the Amazon had withdrawn her moist lips from his own. “In the first place, let us reflect in which part of the house we are located.” “This window must look out at the back,” said Letitia, who was seated on Meagles’ knee, with one arm round his neck. “Of that I am confident, _ judging by the situation of the staircases which we mounted and the turnings we took.” “ Yes—you are right enough,” obseryed her com- panion, after a few moments’ reflection. “The next point to consider is, on which floor are we? The house is not a high one—thaé we know: as we have seen it from the outside. We ascended two flights _ of stairs—and that loft which we entered may be called the second storey, Well, then we descended again to this crib;—and consequently we are on the first-floor. Now, having ascertained so important a point, it remains to be determined whether we can escape from the window. Let us see if it is protected by bars.” Meagles rose, and cautiously opened the casement. There was no iron-work to prevent an egress in that direction: but when he looked forth and endeavoured to penetrate the intense darkness without, he could not possibly discover how deep the yard lay below. That there was a yard, or some such enclosure at the a back of the premises, he however felt convinced: be- cause the adjacent buildings hemmed in with their black walls a small square open space. But it did not at all follow that this yard must be upon the same level with the street. There might be under-ground kitchens belonging to the premises; in which case the yard would be a dozen feet, or even more, lower than the ground in front of the house. The object, then, was to form a rope long enough to meet this contingency. Having carefully discussed all the chances for and against them, Tim Meagles and the Amazon resolved to undertake theadventure. Once let them get down into the yard, and they were resolved to armthemselyes with anything they could convert into weapons of defence, and then endeavour to fight their way through all opposition which might present itself. There was also the probability of the existence of some outlet from the back part of the premises; in which case they would be spared the necessity of attempting to force their way through the house. At any rate, they were determined to risk the venture: and, if they failed, they could but be made captives again. “Now, my Amazonian confederate,” said Tim Meagles, gaily, “let us see whether the bed will fur- nish us with materials sufficient for our purpose: otherwise all our fine schemes melt into the air at once.” Groping their way in the dark to the alcove in which the bed stood, they speedily satisfied them- selves that the sheets, the blankets, and the coverlid were all there: and to work they went. Meagles had a clasp-knife with him; and the articles of bedding just enumerated, were soon cut into halves. They then twisted the pieces, and fastened them together ; and having calculated the greatest height which the window could possibly be from the yard below, they found that the rope thus manufactured was amply long enough. But to make sure doubly sure, they likewise cut the carpet into strips, which they plaited together; and then attached this supplementary piece to the rest. Having accomplished this important incident in their proceedings, Tim Meagles and his heroic assist- ant removed the bed close up to the window, in order that there should be some solid object unto which they might fasten one end of the rope. “ Now, Letitia dear, I shall descend first,” said Tim: “and then I can steady the rope for you.” “ No—I am lighter than you,” observed the hun- tress, emphatically: “and I will go first.” ‘“Bnt for the very reason that you: are so much lighter, my darling,’ exclaimed Meagles, “the rope will oscillate all the more dangerously. In a word, I insist upon descending before you—or I abandon the attempt at once.” “ Well—have your own way, you wilful fellow,” said the Amazon. “But kiss me first—and then away with you.” Meagles embraced his heroic companion; and then, disengaging himself from her arms—for during a few moments she clung to him as if entertaining a presentiment that some dreadful accident was about to happen to him—the intrepid Tim passed himself, limbs foremost, out of the window. Courageous as Lady Letitia naturally was, she | shuddered and felt sick at heart as she beheld her paramour clinging to the rope outside the casement: but a few reassuring words which he conveyed to her in a subdued whisper, relieved her of the apprehen- —— —— = COMA ElNOO|KS. COM