The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 33: what you’re looking at

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

— = ee 46 have taken refuge in the vaults, and perhaps being anxious to get away from that gloomy place as speedily ag possible, contented themselves with merely searching the vestiary ; and seeing no one, eped off to pursue their investigations elsewhere. The burglars suffered a good half-hour to elapse ere they made a move from their place of con- cealment. They did not dare descend the steps with the chance of plunging into this perilous gulf: so they decided upon issuing from the stone stairs. But when they did emerge forth again, they scarcely knew how to act, being in- volved as they were in utter darkness. ‘hey had the means about them of striking a light, but no candle to light. There consequently seemed no alternative but to grope their way out of the chapel, and trust to chance for effecting a safe issue from the castle. While they were thus guiding themselves by feeling the walls with their hands, Chiffin, who was foremost, suddenly encountered an iron ring in which something was stuck; and by the touch he at once knew it to be atorch. Lighting a match, he discovered that it was so; and close by, in a second ring, was another torch. ‘I'hese torches, we should observe, were always kept in the chapel for use when visitors were shown over that part of the building when it was dusk or dark, the glare of torches giving a far more powerful light than mere lamps or candles for the inspection of the tombs and monuments. The discovery of these torches was hailed with joy by the burglars; and after a few moments’ deliberation they determined upon seeking for the means of issue by that flight of steps where they had remained concealed, but down which they had not dared to venture in the pitchy dark- ness. ‘Taking the two torches with them into the vestiary, they lighted them there, and descended the circular flight of stone stairs. ‘This descent was very deep; but at length it seemed to terminate in some caverned subterranean: and now the glare of the torches was reflected upon the sur- face of water. The vaults were flooded from the leakings of the Trent which rolled above them. But, ah! why springs that ejaculation of as- tonishment from the lips of Chiffin? It is be- cause the glare of the turches has suddenly revealed to his eyes the face of a corpse floating upon the water. And that first ejaculation is immediately followed by a second. as he recog- nizes the countenance of Ralph Farefield. The burglars stood gazing in silent wonder upon thedead body, until it sluggishly floated to the very foot of the steps; and then Chiffin, stooping down, stretched forth his hand, and grasping the collar of the drowned man’s coat, drew the corpse up the steps. It was but little changed, and did not seem as if it had been in the water more than three or four days. But it was not with any hope of restoring life, nor with the least intention of giving any alarm relative to this discovery, that the burglars dragged forth the dead body from the flood: it was for the simple purpose of rifling its pockets of whatsoever they might con- tain. Having done this, and possessing themselves of the little jewellery and slender stock of money which Ralph hadabout him at the time when he met his death, Chiffin and his associates left the corpse lying upon the steps; and finding that there was i i - a THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. no avenue of escape in that direction, they retraced their way up into the chapel. Here they were compelled to extinguish their torches, lest the glare shining through the windows might attract attention: but as the castle was now once more quiet, they experienced little difficulty in accom- plishing a safe retreat from the premises. CHAPTER V. THE OPERA-BOX. NINETEEN years had elapsed since the occur- rences at Saxondale castle,— nineteen pinions shed from the wing of Time and abandoned to the past, while he sweeps onward through the infinite mazes of Eternity! Yes—nineteen years had merged into the cumulating mass of cen- turies that are of bygone date;—and this leap which our story accomplishes, brings us to the middle of 1844. It was on a Saturday night, in the month of June, in the year just named, that the Opera was more than usually crowded. Thither had flocked the fair, the noble, the rich, and the high-born; and to all outward appearance, happiness was in every heart. The whole sweeping range of first- tier boxes were resplendent with diamonds, sparkling above lofty brows, upon glossy hair, around snowy necks, pendant to delicate ears, or circling arms as white as snow-flakes as they re- clined gracefully on the crimson-cushioned para- pet. Bright as those gems, too, shone beauty's eyes; white as the pearls that blended their chaster attractions with those of the glittering gems, were the teeth which were revealed in smiles between the parting roses of the lips. In respect to the male companions of those fair ones, we may observe that elegance and taste, and highest fashion characterized their apparel: spot- less were the gloves, snowy the white waistcoats and gorgeous the figured ones, unexceptionable the tie of the cravats, and brilliant the mirrored surface of the varnished boots, whose material was scarcely even of brown-paper thickness. The scene was resplendent beyond description, —appearing to be a reflex of fairy-land with the combined glories of diamonds, pearls, splendid ap- parel, woman’s charms, and the superb decorations of the theatre, andthe flood of dazzling lustre pour- ing upon all. From the stage rolled the full tide of song, with the splendid majesty of Lablache, Ros- sini, and Grisi. Smiles were on every countenance —rapture dancedin beaming eyes—and then plau- dits escaped from every lip, the well-bred listless- ness of aristocracy and fashion yielding to the electric impulse which thrilled around and giving vent to a burst of momentary enthustasm. But of the first-tier boxes there was one whose charming occupants must specially demand our notice. ‘he group, at this particular instant when we thus seek to rivet the reader’s attention upon that box, consisted of four young ladies; and vainly amidst the brilliant galaxy of beauty filling the whole theatre, might the eye seek for brighter stars of loveliness than those. They were all four apparelled in the richest manner—all of fine fi- gure, elegant bearing, and surpassing beauty. On the crimson-cushioned parapet of the box were opera-glasses ane bouquets, the latter diffusing « CORMIELOC <S (E()