The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 318: what you’re looking at

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

era THE MYSTERIES. 303 . i ned _ ©Go on—go on,” cried Mrs, Brace, petulantly : “what have you to say? I am all attention. Speak !” “ Well—you know, in the first place, that there’s no end of charges against me, and ever so many rewards offered for my apprehension,” resumed the Magsman; “and you have no doubt guessed before this that I had a hand in upsetting the Go- vernment van into the Devil’s Punchbowl and let- ting loose the convicts. But it wasn’t out of any love for the whole lot of them, but merely to restore my friends the Big Beggarman and Briggs to free- dom. Well,such a compiication of things hanging over my head, makes it unpleasant—very unplea- sant, L can assure you, my dear: and my two friends that I have just named to you—one of whom, the Beggarman, had the honour of paying his respects to you at this house one night——” “ Cease this bantering tone—and speak seriously and to the point,” said the milliner, sharply: and all this while she wondered how it was that her lover had not awakened—or, if he were aroused, how he could remain so silent in the presence of such a Strange scene. “I’m coming to the point as quick as I can,” said the Magsman. “In fact, I was just going to tell you that my two friends, the Beggarman and Briggs, feel themselves as much put out as I do by having to play at hide-and-seek about London, and not being able to go back to our usual haunts. And then there’s Lizzy Marks—my young woman, you know, who called upon you about the Newgate affair—she doesn’t feel herself quite comfortable either: fur the runners are looking after her as well as me and my other two pals. And therefure we have all come to a determination to get a free par- don; and if that can’s be done, we shall be satis- fied if the Home Secretary will withdraw the offers of reward for our capture, and just give the Bow Street functionaries a hint to look another way when they chance to see any of us coming along.” “You must be mad to think that I have the means of performing one-hundredth part of all this!” cried Mrs. Brace, who had listenéd with poignant impatience to her husbanu’s explanations, “J know what you mean—I understand whose as. sistance you fancy that I can obtain in your be- half——” “And by heaven! he shall assist!” ejaculated | the Magsman, ferociously. Come—write me a (certificate, or acknowledgment, or whatever you may chovse to call it, in precisely the terms which 1 shall dictate; and then I'll try whether I can’t | make his Royal Highness——” “Hush! the very walls have ears,” said the mil- liner, in an imploring tone. “ What do you require me to write ?” “An acknowledgment that you are the Prince’s mistress,” auswered the Magsman. “Silence ! — begone ’ almost screamed the wretched woman, driven to despair. “Damnation! do you dare me outright?” ex- claimed the Magsman, in a ferocious tone: then, drawing a pistol from his pocket, he said, “ By Satan! you shall do as I command you—or——” “Mercy! mercy!” moaned the milliner, falling upon her knees and clasping her hands with an air of passionate entreaty. “Don’t be a fool and no harm will happen to you,” said the Magsman. “I don’t want your life —it’s no use to me: but I will have what I ask for —a written acknowledgment that you’ve been un- faithful to me, your lawful husband—and that his Royal Highness——” “ Be silent, I command—I implore—I beseech you!” cried Mrs. Brace, in a tone of stifling agony. “Then give me the paper—get up from your knees and write it at once——” * No—never — never!” exclaimed the milliner. * You are mad to ask it—you must kill me first——” “By Satan! I will too,” interrupted the Mags- man ferociously, as he presented the pisto! at his wife, A shriek burst from the lips of the affrighted woman: but at the same instant—quick as the eye ean wink—a man sprang from behind the curtain of the bed — dashed the pistol from the ruffian’s hand—and, boundiug past him towards the toilette- table, extinguished the light. All this was the work of a moment, and the room was suddenly involved in total darkness, In- deed, with such rapidity was the whole proceeding accomplished that the Magsman did not even catch the faintest glimpse of the countenance of the individual who had so abruptly and unexpect- edly emerged from the bed. Fortunately the pistol did not explode—or serious injury, if not death, might have been the result. “ Villain! attempt no violence—or, by heaven! it shall be a struggle of life and death between us,” exclaimed a firm, decided, and manly voice the instant that darkness fell upon the scene. With a savage growl the Magsman stooped to pick up his pistol: but it was snatched away from him at the very moment that his hand touched it — Mrs. Braee’s unknown lover having simulta- neously sought for the weapon. A terrible impre- cation burst from the lips of Joe Warren, as through the intense darkness he aimed a blow with his bludzeon which would have told with murderous effect had it reached him for whom it was intended. But the unknown had already stepped aside—the next instant the Magsman was tripped up—and Mrs. Brace, throwing up the window, was on the point of screaming for assistance, when the villain, seeing that his position had suddenly become alarm- ing, exclaimed, “Silence, Fanny! con’t raise the neighbourhood, and I’ll take myself off at once.” Begone, then !” said the unknown individual, releasing the ruffian from the strong grasp which he had laid upon him the moment that he had tripped him up. The Magsman rose and beat a hasty retreat with- out uttering another word: not that he was afraid to struggle with his unknown and unseen foe even unto the very death,—but because he was well aware tnat if a disturbance were created in the house, it would probably end in his arrest—and he had presence of mind enough to recollect that although he had | escaped once out of Newgate, he could not hope to © perform the same feat a second time. | * Get you back to bed, Fanny,” said the unknown; | “ while I just slip on some clothing and assure myself | that the fellow leaves the house.” ! “ For God’s sake, beware of him, my lord,” mur- | mured the milliner: “or he will do your lordship a — mischief.” : “ Fear nothing,” was the response: and the noble- | man—for such he was—stole from the room. And now a most extraordinary incident crowned SRI ee TT ee ee ee ee ey ee | nn) (@ 6)(0)©) <SEGO (C©)