The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 217: what you’re looking at

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202 the exact position of the house which was to be the scene of operations; and the little party all sepa- rating, each individual bent his way singly in the direction named. In a few minutes they were re- united in front of a house which stood a little back from the lane in which it was situated, and was em- bowered in the shade of large and wide-spreading trees. The gate was locked: but vver this insigni- ficant barrier the invaders promptly ¢lambered. _ Scareely had they thus set foot m the grounds, when a large dog sprang towards them : but Chiffin at once knocked him down with one blow of his club, and with a second despatched him. Lady Bess and her followers then advanced up to the front door, at which the heroine knocked impe- riously; while the four men stood a little aside, so as not to be immediately observed by the person answering the summons. In about a minute the door was opened by a female-servant ; and Lady Bess, glancing rapidly around the hall, beheld no other person nigh. “Now, don’t be frightened, my good woman,” she said, crossing the threshold : “ for no harm will happen if you remain quiet: but if you ery out you vaust take the consequences.” —. While thus speaking, Lady Bess produced a pistol, merely to show that she was armed, but did not point it in a threatening way at the woman. The female was nevertheless profoundly frightened ; and being overpowered by her terror as much as coerced by the intimation given her, she held her peace. Th four ruffians now made their appear- ance: and the whole party passing into the hall, closed the front door behind them. “ Now, my good woman,” said Lady Bess, “ you will remain here with one of my men, while I examine the premises with the others. Tony Wil- kins, to your charge I entrust her.” The terrified woman sank down upon one of the hall-chairs, still speechless with terror: and Tony Wilkins, armed with a brace-of pistols, posted him- self by her side. Chiffin, Mat the Cadger, and Spider Bill also produced their pistols ; and led by Lady Bess, they at once entered the rooms opening from the hall. Therem they discovered no one: they accordingly descended to the kitchen-premises, where they found the gardener and the cook quietly eating their supper and perfectly unconscious of what had taken place in the hall. They were how- ever terribly frightened at the sudden incursion of this armed band; but their fears somewhat subsided on receiving from Lady Bess the assurance that they should not be ill-treated if they kept quiet. They naturally gazed with surprise upon this ama- zonian leader of the ruffian-band : for at a second glance they had not failed to discern her sex. They were marched up into the hall, where they were consigned, along with the other female-servant, to the custody of Tony Wilkins. Lady Bess and her three followers next ascended the stairease—examined all the rooms on the first floor—but found no one there. They proceeded to mount the second flight ; and on reaching the landirg they heard voices speaking, and sounds as if a struggle were going on, within a room the door of which stood ajar. Into this room they at once burst, Lady Bese lead- the way: and there the following scene met their view, A young girl upon her knees, with dishevelled THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. hair and anguish-stricken countenance, was implor- ing mercy at the hands of five persons who sur rounded her. This young girl was, as the reader has no doubt already suspected, Henrietta Leyden; and the others, whose forbearanee she was implos- ing, were Lord Everton, Mark Bellamy, the footman, Mrs. Martin, and Susan. Mrs. Martin held in her hand a wine-glass the contents of which she was ordering Henrietta to drink; while Bellamy and Susan were at the moment laying violent hands upon her in order to compel her to swallow the draught. But at the sudden invasion of Lady Bess and her party, the whole aspect of the seene changed in an instant. Mrs. Martin dropped the wine-glass in alarm—Susan shrieked—Henrietta sprang to her feet—Lord Everton looked astounded—the footman knew not how to act—and Bellamy was the only one who had courage or presence of mind enough to accost the intruders at once and demand their business. “ You see that any attempt at resistance is use. less,” replied Lady Bess, playing with a pistol in such a manner as to indicate that she knew how to use it: while Chiffin on her right hand showed by his murderous-looking countenance that he was not a man to be trifled with. As for Mat the Cadger and Spider Bill, they seemed very suitable companions indeed for such a person as the Cannibal; and when it is remembered that they were all well armed, the reader cannot be surprised if nothing in the shape of resistance was ever attempted. “ But what do you want? what is your object?” demanded Bellamy. “Tn the first place, to rescue this young woman,” responded Lady Bess. “Oh, I thought that you were the same!” cried Henrietta, in the enthusiasm of joy; and she at once bounded forward towards the heroine—for she had no room in her soul at the instant for dismay or misgiving at the sinister-looking aspect of her companions. “ Yes—you have nothing to fear, poor girl!” at once responded Lady Bess. “It is in eonsequence of your note that I am here to deliver you. Stand back for a moment, while I transact a little business with these people.” Henrietta, full of mingled joy and amazement,— joy at this unlooked-for deliverance, and amazement at perceiving her deliverer to be a woman in male Laas hastily behind the heroine and her and. “ Now secure these men,” said Lady Bess to her followers; “‘and if they dare offer resistance you will know how to act.” The order was speedily obeyed, — even Chiffin acting as a mere subaltern on the occasion, and by his conduct acknowledging the ascendancy of Lady Bess. Lord Everton, the footman, and Bellamy, were compelled to submit to the process of binding by means of the cords which the capacious pockets of the intruders furnished; while Susan, retreating into a corner of the room, gave vent to her terror in piteous lamentations—and Mrs. Martin stood silently watching the proceedings, but with a coun- tenance that bespoke pr.cfound dismay. “ You will not harm them ?’’ said Henrietta, ad- dressing herself in a tone of entreaty to Lady Bess. COMMICELOO© Ss (E()