The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

22 On issuing forth from Acacia Cottage, the Earl of Curzon looked up and down the road in search of a hackney coach to take him home or whither- soever he meant to proceed,—when he was sud- denly accosted by Captain Tash. “How are you, my lord?” exclaimed the indi- dividual, peftforming a military salute with his stick. ‘ Your lordship looks annoyed——” “Not at all,” said the Earl, abruptly. “Good afternoon, Captain—I am in a hurry:”—and the nobleman hastened on in the direction towards the West End. . “ Bee pardon, my lord,” obseryed Captain Tash, instantaneously overtaking the Earl, whom he grasped by the arm: “ but your lordship———” * Well, what is it?” demanded the nobleman, impatiently. “Itold you that I was in a hurry——” * And I shan’t detain you a moment,” said the Captain: then lowering his voice to a whisper and assuming a most mysterious look, he observed, “There’s a poor apple-woman round the corner yonder, who’s stall has been thrown down by some mischievous young rascal—by gad! it’s true, my lord!—and the poor old wretch is whimpering enough to break her own heart and make mine bleed with compassion. But as the devil would have it, I came out this morning in such a hurry —to breakfast with a certain noble friend, in faet— that I left my purse at home——” “And so you want some silyer—eh?” cried the Earl, with angry impatience—for he was in no hu- mour to endure one of the Captain’s stories on the present occasion. “Just eighteen-pence—neither less nor more!” said Tash. “That sum will enable me to make the Italian image-boy quite happy.” “1 thought it was a fruit-woman ?” observed the nobleman, now scarcely able to repress a smile at the contradiction into which the gallant Captain had inadvertently fallen. “'To be sure!” exclaimed the latter, altogether unabashed: “it 7s a fruit-woman—a poor creature with a wooden ieg——” “ By the way,” interrupted the Earl, as a sudden thought struek him, “I think you can do me a service, Captain; and instead of eighteen-pence, IJ may perchance be enabled to put as many pounds into your pocket.” * Make use of me as you will, my lord,” exclaimed Tash, his rubicund countenance brightening up to such a degree that it seemed as if it were on the point of blazing with spontaneous combustion. “Step aside with me,” said the Earl, drawing the Captain beyond the view of Venetia’s windows; then stopping short, he asked, ‘ Did you observe the house which I have just left ?” “To be sure—Acacia Cottage,” replied Tash. * But do you know who lives there ?” demanded the Earl. “T can’t say that L am acquainted with her name, my lord,” was the response: “but as I was drinking all yesterday at the tavern opposite, Ll saw a beautiful lady once or twice at the windows; and I was told she was the mistress of the Cottage. But I did not think of inquiring her name——” “Itis Venetia Trelawney” said the Earl. “And now, the service which I need at your hands may be explained in a few minutes. But where js Robin?” There!” answered the Captain, pointing with his stick towards a shop that was closed, and in the a THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. door-way of which his man was _half-concealed, just as a person stands up to avoid a shower of rain—althongh on the present occasiou the weather was gloriously fine. “T think Robin is the yery person to assist in carrying out my yiews,” continued the Earl of Curzon. “And those views?” said Captain Tash, in- quiringly. “ Are to watch all the acts, moyements, and pro- ceedings of Miss Trelawney,” returned the noble- man. “Tt shall be done,” exclaimed Tash. “If she only kills a fly upon her window-ledge, the deed shall be duly reported to your lordship.” “ Well, you may be as minute as you will in espy- ing all her actions and making notes of them,” pro- ceeded the Earl. ‘‘ Watch every one who yisits her house, and write down a description of them if you cannot glean who they are: observe when they call —how long they remain—and let Robin follow them to discover where they live. Then, let Venetia her- self be followed every time she goes ont——” | * Robin is the fellow for this part of the business,” interrupted Captain Tash, as he glanced compla- cently across the road towards the spot where his faithful dependant was still squeezing himself into the angle of the door-way. ‘Your lordship may depend upon it that Miss Trelawney shall never budge an inch without haying Robin gliding after her. By day and night—in her carriage or on foot— fine weather or foul—no matter what the circum- stances are, the lady shail be watched as thoroughly, as completely, and as unerringly as if she was under the supervision of the Bow Street runners.” “T perceive that you understand me,” said the Earl, a smile of satisfaction appearing upon his countenance. “ In fact, the most trivial particulars relative to Miss Trelawney will prove of importance and value tome. There is a lady living with her, named Mrs. Arbuthnot: and she also must be watched. If you and Robin cannot manage all this between you,” continued the Earl, “do not hesitate to enlist the services of some discreet and trusty individual——” “Depend upon it, my lord,’ exclaimed Tash, that I and Robin will prove adequate to the task. Why, Robin is ubiquitous :—he is here—there—and everwhere, allin the same moment. Nothing can escape his watchful eye: if any living being can see through a brick wall, he’s the fellow. Anather advantage is, that the landlord of the Green Dragon, opposite Acacia Cottage, is a friend of mine—I mean to say, a person that I know: and he will render me all possible assistance. - Concealed up in one of his front rooms, I shall keep an incessant look out— while Robin does the same; and all Miss Tyelawney’s proceedings shall be as well known to your lordshi , as if you lived in Acacia Cottage and saw with your own eyes everything that was going on.” | ‘I shall rely upon you,” said the Earl. “And now take these ten guineas on account,” he added, placing the sum named in the Captain’s hand. “ Your lordship’s business is now my Own, as com- pletely as if my life depended upon the issue,” ob- served Tash. They then separated—the nobleman proceeding towards the West End, and the Captain returning to the public-house, into which he was immediately followed by his man Robin. ———<—_—_—_—_{s(2) IOoK AAHKS