The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 331: what you’re looking at

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

316 THE MYSTERIES. Camilla Morton was in mourning for the recent Then no more was said—and the Magsman re- loss of both her parents—the name must be an as- ! sumed his walk, which the coldness of the night sumed one—and she could be none other than the daughter of those Fosters who perished so lament- ably! Such was the conviction which burst upon me; and I candidly confess that I was staggered for the instant. Something like a remorse sprang up in my breast——” “ Aye — likely enough,” interrupted Meagles: “for you must confess that it would not have been an agreeable sequence to the tragedy of the parents had you persecuted the orphan daughter to death.” “ Are you in earnest, Tim — speaking so seri- ously ?” cried the heir-apparent, in amazement at this display of softness and emotion on his friend’s part. “Perhaps I may be,” responded Meagles, drily. “ But the young lady got clear off, I suppose ?” “Oh! in perfect safety,” rejoined the Prince. “The letter which thus made known to me who she really is, was only an epistle from some school-ac- quaintance, written several months ago. And now 1 will tell you what I want you to do, my dear fel- low.” “ What?” demanded Meagles. “To make inquiries who the girl’s relatives and friends are,’ returned his Royal Highness; “ and endeavour to trace her out. Lam determined that she shali not escape me thus——” At this moment Germain entered the room. “ What do you want?” demanded the Prince, annoyed at being interrupted in the middle of his observations. “T am ordered to announce to your Royal High- ness that Mrs, Fitzherbert has taken her departure from Carlton House :’—and having delivered this message, the valet bowed and withdrew. “ Now, thank God! I am unshackled once more,” exclaimed the Prince, rubbing his hands glee- fully. “ But only for a short time,” answered Meagles, rising from his seat. “Ina few months you will have to lead the Princess Caroline of Brunswick to the altar.” “ And the idea of that marriage weighs upon my soul like a presentiment of evil,” rejoined the heir- apparent, a deep gloom suddenly spreading itself over his countenance. — ——25 CHAPTER LXXXIX. THE BARGAIN OF CRIME. It was between nine and ten o'clock on the Sunday evening following the incidents just related—and although dark clouds were piled upon the face of heaven, yet were they so broken that the moon shone brightly forth from amidst them, silvering the edges of their sombre masses. The Magsman, with his club under his arm, and his hands in his poekets, prowled up and down the road on the western extremity of Hyde Park; and every time he passed a particular clump of treés, he muttered in a low hoarse tone, “No one’s made their appearance yet, old feller.” “They'll come, I daresay,” was the responsive growl that came from behind the huge trunks of the leafless trees, —_—_——— —_———_——_—_——-— > eee ee Oe however accelerated into a short trot. Presently he beheld some one approaching; and in a few minutes a man of middle-height, en- veloped in a capacious cloak, and having a black mask over all the upper part of his countenance, accosted the Magsman. “You are punctual,” said the stranger: and Warren instantly recognised the voice of the in~ dividual whom he had encountered at Mrs. Brace’s abode and by whom the present appointment was made. “I’ve been a-waiting for you this last half-hour,” responded the Magsman; “ and therefore ’m more than punctual. But what's the business about ?” “JT presume you are not over particular what you do to earn money 2” said the stranger, inter- rogatively ; and the Magsman could distinguish two dark eyes gleaming intently upon him through the holes in the mask. “ As little particular as a man can be in these hard times,” was the response that he gave. “You have your price for every species of crime which can be suggested to you?” continued the unknown querist. “ There’s nothing you can name that I won’t do,” answered the Magsman,—* provided the reward is a fat one. Now do you comprehend me, sir? For I suppose you want to be assured as to the lengths which ’m prepared to go, before you open your mind to me,” added the ruffian. * You have accurately divined my intention,” re- sponded the stranger: then, sinking his voice to the lowest audible whisper, he said, “ And murder has its price as well as aught beside ?” *“ To be sure,” exclaimed the Magsman. “ For instance, if I thought you was putting a plant upon me now, I’d shoot you through the head as uncere- moniously as I'd eat my dinner ;”—and the moon- beams glanced on the barrel of a pistol which he drew from his pocket. “ Put up your weapon, my good fellow,” said the nobleman—for such, as the reader will remember, he was—although the Magsman was not aware of the circumstance: “ we shall do some business to- eether, instead of quarrelling, ere we part.” “So much the better. But I thought it as well just to let you see that I don’t stand the slightest nonsense,” observed the Magsman. “ And now proceed with any more questions you may wish to put to me.” “From what took place between yourself and your wife the other night,” resumed the stranger, “it is clear that you incur constant dangers by re- maining in this country. Now, if you had your purse well filled, would you not like to try your for- tunes on the other side of the Atlantic 2” “In America,” ejaculated the Magsman: and he was about to give a decisive negative, accompanied with the remark that there was no place like Lon- don for a man of his profession, when suddenly checking himself, he substituted an affirmative answer—observing, “ Yes—if it was made worth my while, I shouldn’t at all mind visiting them free States which have thrown off the yoke of old George III. But if a murder is to be committed,” he continued with a coolness which made the no- bleman shudder, though he himself had suggested that such a crime was in contemplation,—“ it surely SS ~ ) ‘ } | (C 6)(0)©) CS. im (C(O) (C(O)