The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 211: what you’re looking at

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

a «96 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT, On ‘each of the three nights which had elapsed since | jects for the accomplishnent of her escape. Such fg the memorable one of her frustrated attempt to) circumstances of their mearceration may seem to escape, she -had not occupied the bed-chamber, but had slept upon the sofa in the drawing-room, care-— ‘The _—how happy would she be! fully locking the doors of communication. reader may be assured that she had over and over again examined the walls of this apartment to assure herself against the existence of any other secret door; and, having now the experience of the former discovery to guide her, she was better able to come tu a positive conclusion on the point. So far, therefore, as it was possible to judge from all she knew, and from the most scrutinizing survey frequently reiterated, she felt confident that in respect to a secret means of communication with the drawing-room she was safe enough. Need we pause to say how profound was the un- happiness of the young maiden at this prolonged captivity, or what torturing reflections she expe- rienced when fixing her thoughts upon home? Her position appeared to be entirely hopeless: the place of her imprisonment was as well secured as any gaol could possibly be; and moreover she had learnt enough to make her aware that its ostensible pur- pose was that of a lunatic-asylum. She knew full well therefore that if she exhausted herself in shrieks, and screams, and cries for succour, all would be un- availing. What, then, was to become of her? Must she indeed resign herself to the horrible conviction that Lord Everton would triumph at last, and that she could never hope to go forth from those walls except dishonoured and undone P Truly, the young maiden had sufficient topics for | her thoughts, not only in immediate connexion with herseif, but likewise in respect to the mysterious adventure of that memorable night. Who could the individual be that had come to her rescue, and had endeavoured to accomplish her escape and his own ? Was he indeed some unfortunate lunatic confined within those walls? or was there some deeper and darker mystery attached to it? Was he still alive? hau he been merely stunned by the blow with which Bellamy had struck him down? or was he killed upon the spotP All these things were beyond the power of conjecture to solve. Certain it was that since that memorable night, Henrietta had heard neither cry nor lamentation to indicate his exist- ence: for that those lamentations and that wild thrillimg cry which she had heard on the same night that was so eventful to her, had come from his lips, she would not doubt. But then it was possible that if he still lived he had sunk into a state of quiescence again, or had been removed to some other part of the house whence his lamenta- tions could not reach her. That he must really be a lunatic she was more than half inclined to believe: for that he had visited her room by means of the private door on those occasions when his presence so much frightened her, was beyond all doubt—but wherefore had he | not addressed her at the time of these visits? Wherefore steal into her chamber thus, merely to terrify her as it would seem, and then flit away again? This appeared to be the conduct of one whose reason was indeed unhinged; and therefore, as above stated, she was inclined to adopt the belief that he was really a lunatic. Hopeless as the poor girl’s condition seemed, she nevertheless revolved in her brain a variety of pro- appeal be disregarded! ever the case with persons in captivity, although the preclude the possibility of success. Oh! if she could escape and return to her mother and little Charley Yes: but when she looked at those bars her heart sank within her And yet she went on revolving plan after plan, un- til she would fall into moods of such fanciful dreami- ness that when starting up from these reveries, she was stricken with the dread that her brain was turn- ing and that her reason was becoming affected. It was on the morning of the fourth day after the night of memorable incidents, that Henrietta arose from her sofa-couch at a very early hour, and pro- ceeded to put into execution something that she had finally resolved upon. It was but a little after five, and the profoundest silence reigned throughout and around the house. The fields were not as yet cheered with the beams of the sun; but they ap- peared of an emerald brightness in their own na- tural freshness and with the dew upon them. The reader will recollect that the garden stretched down to a shrubbery standing upon the bank of the New River, and that on the other side of the stream the meadows of the picturesque landscape stretched onward. From her window Henrietta had often seen persons on the opposite bank—some occa- sionally riding on horseback through the field—and others remaining there to fish. These circumstances had inspired her with the idea which she was now _about to put into execution. She had books in the room, but no writing mate- rials: not so much as a pencil had she at her com- mand—much less pens and ink. But she had already devised a substitute. Scraping some soot from the lower part of the chimney in one of the fire-places, she mixed it with a little water in a tumbler, and thus managed to form an ink which would at all events answer her purpose. From one of the books she tore out a blank leaf; and witha pen-knife which she found in a dressing-case upon the toilet-table, she contrived to fashion a rude but serviceable pen out of a lucifer-match. She then sat down and wrote the following lines :— ‘* Into whomsoever’s hands this may fall, it is earnestly requested that immediaté information may be given to the Police-authorities that a young female, named Hen- rietta Leyden has been forcibly carried off and detained against her will in the house kept by a Mr. Bellamy and generally supposed to be a lunatic asylum Even if it does really serve such a purpose, it is likewise made avail- able for the perpetration of wrongs, and villanies which require exposure. Let it not be thought that this is the effusion of a maniac. For heaven’s sake let not this Whatever be the result, the person finding the billet will at least perform a humane and benevolent act by placing it in the hands of the au- thorities. Oh, let not this earnest entreaty be disre- garded!” Such were the lines which Henrietta penned by means of her ingeniously-contrived writing mate- rials; and she managed to make the note even more legible than she had at first dared hope or than the agitated state of her feelings seemed to promise. But now, in what manner was the billet to be conveyed out of the house? Her plan was already settled, even to its minutest details. Her corset afforded some pieces of whalebone, wherewith she promptly formed a bow and an arrow. Having mate- a a A SOE OE MRL A ee ECOMMICOOoOkKS (€©)