The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 224: what you’re looking at

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210 his very words. He heard a rustling in the ever- greens, and was startled. Ah! he little thought that Rolando Tash,” added the Captain, with a look of terrible ferocity upon the pale, trembling, and speech- less Colonel, “ was concealed in the evergreens, like —like—an owl in an ivy-bush.” Here the gallant officer paused, and tossed off an- other tumbler of Port wine. “Well, my lord,” he continued, addressing him- self to the Marquis, “the Colonel proceeded to threaten Miss Trelawney— Mrs. Sackville, ] mean— in a frightful manner. My hair, though well oiled and curling naturally, stood on end. He told her that unless she yielded to his wishes, he would per- secute her by all manner of means—destroy her reputation—whisper to one and breathe in the ears of another that she was his mistress—aye, and even forge letters with her name appended, to prove his tale. He gave her two weeks to deliberate—— “Enough, Captain Tash,” said Lord Leveson. “T think,” he added, glancing round the table, “that we need not allow Mrs. Sackville’s ears to be offended with a further recapitulation of these atrocities.” “Certainly not,” exclaimed the Prince Regent, red with indignation. “ Sit down, Tash, like a good fellow—and drink your wine.” “ Here’s a bumper, then, to your Royal Highness,” said the Captain, refilling his tumbler and tossing off the contents. “ And inasmuch as my Lord Marquis is an excellent chairman, I drink a bumper to him also,’—suiting the action to the word. “ And for- asmuch as we have a beautiful lady present, I drink a bumper to her health in particular and that of the sex in general—for I don’t know what the devil we should do without them ;”—then, having drained the tumbler and refilling it, he observed, “ But it would be bad manners on my part not to drink to the other Jords and gentlemen present—— How long Captain Tash would have gone on with his succession of bumpers and healths, it is difficult to say: but he was suddenly interrupted by the entrance of Robin, leading in Mrs. Gale of Soho Square. A half-stifled groan now burst from the lips of Colonel Malpas, who saw that no chance remained for him, but that every available incident had been pressed into the service of his opponents. Discom- fited—crushed—almost annihilated, he sate ghastly and trembling in his chair, unable to speak a word —a wretched, wretched example of mingled guilt, cowardice, and despair. Mrs. Gale was evidently much frightened at being brought into the presence of this formidable con- clave: and Robin whispered to Captain Tash that if he had not menaced her with a constable, she would not have come at all. She now confessed, after some hes) ation, and with many prayers for pardon, that shei ad been induced to draw up and sign the certi- ficate, which was dictated by Colonel Malpas, on condition of receiving the immediate payment of a sum of money owing to her by him. She added that the certificate was not drawn up on the day spe- cified by the date, but some days later: and she ad- mitted that Mrs. Sackville had never visited her establishment at all. She was then permitted to retire, But scarcely had she left the room, when the foot- man entered to inform Colonel Malpas that he was wanted for a moment on very particular business. “You must come back immediately, sir,” eXe claimed the Marquis of Leveson, sternly, THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. The Colonel murmured a faint “ Yes,” and hastily quitted the room in astate of mind not even enviable by a person about to be hanged, On stepping into the hall, he was confronted by two individuals whose looks proclaimed their errand. One was a person of the Hebrew nation, with a cut- away coat, knee-breeches, and top-boots. He wore a spotted neckerchief with an enormous pin—a bunch of gold seals dangled from his fob—and his silk handkerchief hung half-way out of his coat-pocket. A A His companion was a stout, elderly, shabby man, | carrying a huge stick, or rather bludgeon. He wore a great-coat buttoned over his chest, a white hat with a mourning band, and very clumsy boots. Malpas, upon finding himself face to face with these worthies, clenched his fists in a paroxysm of rage ;—and then, as the Hebrew gentleman produced a writ, the miserable Colonel staggered back and sank upon a chair. “Five tousand guinish ish de sum, and tree gui- nish ish de expensh, Colonel,” said the bailiff—for such he was, “Dis leetle writ ish at de shoot of Mishter Emmershon, My name ish lkey—Moshes Ikey, at your servish; and my housh ish in Fetter Lane. Tom, keep de door.” “ All right,” growled the bailiffs man, planting his back against the front door. “Thunder and lightning!” roared Captain Tash, now bursting forth from the dining-room, inside the door of which he had been listening to what was passing in the hall; “the Colonel’s going to quod— but he must not escape condign punishment. You sneaking, paltry, cowardly villain !” he exclaimed, Springing towards Malpas and seizing him by the nose; “you are the greatest cur and the clumsiest viilain I ever knew in all my life! So take that— and that—and this—and this—and that—and that!” And, suiting the actions to the words, the redoubt- able Rolando dragged the shrieking, yelling Colonel ignominiously by the nose round the hall, bestowing upon him sundry boxes on the ears and sidelong kicks on the breech by way of chastisement. Then suddenly releasing his victim, Captain Tash gave him one parting kick which sent him flying across the hall and ultimately sprawling on the door-mat. The whole party, Venetia excepted, had in the meantime crowded at the entrance of the dining- room to witness this scene, which excited peals of laughter ;—and when it was over, they returned to their seats—Captain Tash resuming his own chair and addressing himself again to the fruit and wine as calmly and composedly as if nothing had hap- pened. Then, while Colonel Malpas, crushed and con- founded, was taking his departure in company with Mr. Moses Ikey and his man Tom, the Marquis of Leveson said, “ We had better conclude our busi- ness at once and leave the house of a vile impostor as soon as we cab.” “But where is Robin?” inquired Sackville. “Surely we may offer him a glass of wine?” “Oh! there he is,” observed Tash, coolly: and as every eye was directed towards the point indicated by the gallant officer, a portion of Robin’s form and the tip of his nose were seen betwixt the opening of the window-curtains. It was with great difficulty he could be persuaded to come forth and drink some wine: and when he had tossed off the contents of a glass which Sack- ville handed ns he | iad Com, iacboo SiG ~—S = a - nnememmmnmemna i