The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 154: what you’re looking at

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

: li Se ee eee Fe ee ee ry i ee 140 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. -—-—— ew a ree wer eer wee we eis 7 | must leave to his discretion and fancy. Ina word, then, where am I to be on Monday night to receive the fair one?” “Tn the lane leading up to the Manor,” returned Bradshaw. You will come in a hackney-coach or private carriage——” «A hackney-coach,” was the answer; “and I will be in the lane punctually at eight o’clock.” The bargain of infamy was thus concluded; and Mrs. Gale took’ leave of her confederate in the loath- some compact. But ere she issued from the house, she stepped into the bar-parlour; and putting a couple of gui- neas into the landlady’s hand, she said, ‘‘ You need not tell Mr. Bradshaw that I made any inquiries concerning him just now. I shall be this way again shortly—and if I find that you have held your tongue in that respect, I will make you an additional present.” The landlady gave the required promise with cheerful alacrity, not only for herself but likewise for her husband: and Mrs. Gale, returning to the hackney-coach, rode back to London, infinitely re- joiced at the comparative facility with which she had thus far accomplished her purpose. CHAPTER XLII, THE BURGLARY. Ir was half-past ten on Sunday morning ; and Mrs, Owen issued forth from her mansion at Richmond, ostensibly to proceed to church as usual. This was the first Sunday for along, long time that she went out alone, her daughters having hitherto been her companions. The present occasion was also destined to be characterised by another ex- ception to the previous rule: for instead of going to church at all, she struck into a bye-lane along which she proceeded some distance. At length she observed a man leaning against a stile that communicated with the meadows; and she hast. ened to accost him. ‘“ You are Mr. Sampson, I presume ?” said Mrs. Owen, inquiringly. | ‘That is my name, ma’am,” responded the Bow Street officer. “Ineed not ask whether I have the honour of speaking to Mrs. Owen?” “J am here in pursuance of a letter which I received from you yesterday,” continued the lady. “In that cofmunication you speak of the absolute necessity of seeing me alone—you named this place for the appointment—and I have come accord- ingly.” * I moreover told you in the letter, ma’am,” ob- | served Sampson, “that my object was to give you a certain warning and to aid you in defeating a robbery that is contemplated.” “Yes—and you likewise bade me place the seal of silence upon my lips,” said Mrs. Owen; “and neither by word nor sign indicate that I suspected anything in the presence of my domestics. Ihave complied with your suggestions to the very letter.” “ Now, ma’am, don’t be alarmed at what I am go- ing to tell you,” resumed Larry; “because we shall not only frustrate the intended mischief, but also entrap the concoctors. In plain terms, your house is to be broken into to-night oT * Ah! the plate!” cried Mrs. O:7%n, with a start. ~~ oe “ ] have always been more or less uneasy since it came into my keeping!” she added, in a musing ~ tone, but speaking aloud, “Yes, ma‘am—the object of the villains zs the plate of which you speak,” said Larry. “I believe © it has the royal arms upon it——” “ On every article,” exclaimed Mrs. Owen: “and I am responsible for its safety! Indeed, I would not for worlds lose it: the strangest suspicions might attach to myself——” * You shall not lose it, ma’am,” interrupted the Bow Street officer, in a tone that was calm but full of confidence: “that is to say, if you will follow my instructions and entrust the affair to my manage. ment.” “ Of course I shall do so, with cheerfulness and gratitude, Mr. Sampson,” replied the lady. “ Bat tell me all about this mysterious business.” “There is a desperate villain under your roof, ma’am,” said the officer: “and that villain is none other than your footman.” * My footman!” exclaimed Mrs, Owen, in aston- ishment. “ Why, I had the best possible character with him from Lady Morthen 4 “Tt does not signify, ma'am,” said Larry: “he is 2 villain—and in league with villains. Of this I am quite certain: but I need not trouble you with the details how I came to discover all these things. Persons in my sphere have strange ways of getting at strange knowledge. Let it be sufficient for you to learn that this night, at twelve o’clock, a bur- glary will be attempted in your house—a duplicate key has already been obtained for the safe con- taining the plate—and, in fact, everything is set- tled.” “But what do you propose to do, Mr. Samp- son?” demanded Mrs. Owen, terribly frightened. “Had I not better send away all the plate at once ?” “No such thing, ma’am!” exclaimed Larry, “The villains must be caught in the act and sur- rendered up to justice. That is the only way to deal with them. You must really consent to be cuided altogether by me x J will, I will,’ said Mrs. Owen, trembling ner- vously. ‘The fact is, Mr. Sampson, the plate be- longs to her Royal Highness the Prineess of Wales, who is now on the Continent, as of course you well know. When she was going abroad, she was much pressed for money, and borrowed two thousand guineas of my friend, Lady Glenroy, with whom she left the plate as security. That is the real truth of the affair. But as Lady Glenroy was | suddenly called to Scotland, to attend upon her | husband who was taken ill at the family seat in the Highlands, she begged me to become the guar- dian of the plate, inasmuch as she could not pos- sibly send it to her banker's without betraying the | delicate nature of the transaction that originally — consigned it toher hands. I have explained these circumstances to you, Mr. Sampson, to prove how sacred is the trust, and how seriously I should be compromised by the loss of such valuable pro- perty.” “The communication you haye volunteered, ma’am,” observed the officer, “shall be regarded as strictly confidential by me: and you need labour under no apprehension of the failure of the mea- sures which I propose to adopt to save the plate from the villains who have their eye on it.” i | | | ae EORMIELOOOKS a (€(0)