The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 231: what you’re looking at

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eee 216 THE MYSTERIES. me any hope: for I—wretch that I am—Oh! do not look up at me as I speak——_I am” And the remaining word, which proclaimed the fatal secret and confirmed the medical man’s pre- vious suspicion, was conveyed in the lowest audible whisper. “ Now you are acquainted with my misery—and my heart is already easier,” said the nobleman, flinging himself once more on the seat which he had ere now quitted. * * ¢ § a mR * eS ® « * “ Then there is no hope, Mr. Thurston?” said the Earl, after a long private conference; and he spoke in a voice which betrayed how deeply he was moved. “None, my lord,” was the emphatic answer. “Tt would be downright robbery to take a shilling from you for such apurpose. Besides, your lord- ship has already remunerated me far too hand- somely.” “Say not a word upon that subject,” returned the nobleman. “ My secret--——” “Ts the same as if it had never been confided to me,” rejoined Mr. Thurston. “T thank you—sincerely thank you,” said the Earl ;—and pressing the surgeon’s hand with con- vulsive violeace, the unfortunate nobleman took his departure. * & € a = * ® = ®R & 2 It was about nine o’clockin the evening, and Mr. Thurston was alone in the surgery, having pur- posely dismissed his assistant, although there were several medicines to compound and send out—for the first day of the professional gentleman’s career at the West End, had been a busy and a lucrative one. The surgery had three doors: one communi- cated with the parlour where he had received the Earl of Desborough, and which was intended for the reception of persons calling to consult him: the second opened into the yard at the back of the building ;—and the third communicated with an apartment of which we shall have to speak more in a future chapter. But these details, trivial as they may now appear, must be borne in mind. Presently a bell in the surgery rang. Mr. Thurston opened the door leading into the yard—-and, passing out, he unfastened the gate communicating with the stables before alluded to, A man unmediately entered the premises, and Thurston conducted him, without sayinga word, into the surgery, closing the door carefully behind him. The individual whom he had thus admitted into his sanctum, was a short, strong-built, ill-looking fellow, with a repulsive countenance, and a sinister leer in the small reptile-like eyes which did one harm to meet their gaze. He was clothed in a coarse, rough, and negligent manner—but not through poverty: for the villain’s ill-gotten gains were sufficient in the course of a month to keep an entire family in a respectable style for a whole year. This man was Miles the Buzgloak. “Well, sir,’ he said, as soon as the surgeon had closed the door, “you see I’m punctiwal to the ap- pintment which you was kind enow to give me. So you've got into your new house—eh? Well, I only se ee ———— hope your business will increase accordingly—and then I shall have all the more of your paytronage.” “I did not send for you here to bestow your conversation upon me,” exclaimed Mr. Thurston, sharply. “ You are well aware what I require: can you manage it for me soon and secretly ?” “ As for secrecy,” responded Miles, “ your honour knows that it’s the wery fust principle of our busi- ness: and as for doing it soon, I can promise the thing for next Monday night, and no mistake what- soever.” “Ah! next Monday night!” ejaculated the sur- geon, a thought striking him. “ Yes—I remember —it was said in this morning’s paper that next Monday is the day fixed——But you mean me to have one of them, eh?” “You can’t have a better, sir,” responded the man. “The young ’un will suit your book to a. nicety.” “Well—be it so. And if any obstacle should arise in that quarter——” “Then I must get you another—that’s all !” an- swered the Buzgloak. “But it ain’t likely: so if youll be prepared next Monday night to receive me and my partner Dick the Tramper, who’s as fine a fellow as any under the sun—’specially at this here sort of work——” *T have no doubt of his merits whatsoever,” in- terrupted Mr. Thurston, Jaconically. “ At mid- night—as near that hour as possible—I shall expect you. At allevents, I shall remain in the surgery until you ring the bell of the gate opening from the mews. If you do not come by two in the morning, I shall conclude it is a failure in that quarter——” “ Make your mind easy, sir,” exclaimed the Buz- gloak, with asignificant leer. “ At twelve o’clock, or thereabouts, you'll hear the bell a-tinkling, sure enow. And having got so far, we'll just settle about the price—and then Ill take my walyable carcase off—’cos I’ve got another appintment on some business for this evening.” “ Name your own terms—and I can easily say whether I agree to them, or not,” observed the medical gentleman. “ Well—forty shiners won’t hurt you,” said Miles, fixing his serpent eyes upon Thurston to see how the price named was relished. * No—’tis ten too much,” was the answer. “ Come—we'll split the difference, and have no more bother about it,” exclaimed the Buzgloak. “ Thirty-five—cash on delivery—them’s the terms ; and on any others Mr. Miles respectfully declines doing business, as the ready-money tradesmen puts on their circulars.” “ Be it so,” said the surgeon. At twelve, then, next Monday night, I shall expect you.” “ There or thereabouts,” responded the Buzgloak. “JT know you'll be well satisfied with the result; and the bargain is entirely your’n. It’s as cheap as dirt, considering the risk’s transportation for life. But poor men like me must live any how——” “ And I don’t suppose you are very particular in what way itis,” interrupted the medical man, suf- fering his countenance to relax into asmile. “ But we have settled everything—and——” “ And I'll bundle,” added Miles. The man accordingly took his departure, Mr, Thurston conducting him out by the back door. (C(O) nn) (C 6)(0)() <F (C(0)