The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 382: what you’re looking at

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

302 THE COURT OF LONDON hand fervidly between both his own. ‘‘ Just now you asked me a question concerning the manner in which I spent the past night. This will show you,” and he produced from his pocket a soda-water bottle filled with combustible materials. ‘‘ What is the use of it, father? ’”’ demanded the boy, as he took the bottle in his hand. “Some night, James,’ returned Melmoth, “ you will make it your business to pass by the great mansion on the door-step of which your poor mother sank down and died, and if you hear the sounds of music issuing forth and behold the elegant forms of the dancers throwing their shadows upon the window-curtains as they glide onward to the notes of the sounding harmony, you will hurl that missile through » the casement into the midst of the joyous company. Oh, I can promise you that the gay laughter will in a moment be changed to horrifying shrieks and bitter lamentations! But you must not wait to mark the results; the instant that your vigorous arm has thrown the missile, your feet must bear you with all possible speed away. Do you understand me? ”’ ‘““T do, father,’’ answered the lad, with a sombre despera-~ tion of voice and manner which proved full plainly that he purposed to carry out to the very letter all the details of the atrocious instructions thus minutely given. Then, having secured the murderous though rudely contrived engine about his person, he said, ‘‘ Society will be shaken to its very centre by all that we now propose to do. When, dear father, shall you put into execution your plan relative to the prince? ”’ “His Royal Highness,’”’? answered Melmoth, in a tone expressive of bitter, burning hatred toward the object of his remark, “ has gone to pass a few days at Windsor Castle. If our affair relative to Thurston’s child comes off successfully . this morning, I shall proceed to Windsor without delay; and in less than four and twenty hours, perhaps, all England will be startled by the tremendous tidings that the heir apparent to the throne has ceased to encumber the earth and disgrace humanity with his presence. Such is my intention, James,’’ added Melmoth, ‘‘ and therefore it may be, my boy, that you and I shall never meet again in this life.” ‘Must it be so, father?” said the youth, in a low, deep, tremulous voice, while the quivering of his lips and the tears that started into his eyes showed how impossible it was m EMMMIECLIOOKS {(E@)