The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 212: what you’re looking at

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

a ee a A — ~~ ee wes =-- —_ 20 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT, “What was it you thought as how you heerd?” inquired the Burker. «A door shutting up-stais,” Webber. ‘Then what if that lady as you spoke of, has been a-listening and heerd summut—and perhaps she don’t dare come down, but will open her win- der and speak to any one as goes by; so that ina few minutes the place’ll be surrounded, the whole neighbourhood alarmed, and we have no more _ chance of cetting clear off than a cat without claws in a partickler place.” Mrs. Webber’s countenance grew full of dismay as she listened to this rapidly uttered speech on the Burker’s part, and the tenour of which ap- peared indeed but too reasonable. “Well, wish s to be done?” asked Bill Scott. “ By jingo! we must do for her also,” ejacu- iated “Barney, with a look of fiercest resolve. “Come, lead the way, old dame—and we'll look to the swag arterwards : he won’t run off with it,” added the ruffian with a look of horrible signifi- cancy towards the old miser’s corpse, which was bending with its face down upon the table. Meanwhile Lettice Rodney was a prey to the most terrible apprehensions,—her guilty conscience suggesting all kinds of alarms. She thought that the reason why there was a light still burning below, was because the officers of justice had been sent for and were waiting to take her into cus- tody. There was madness in her brain: she flew to the window of her room with the idea of open- ing it and precipitating herself into the strect: but no! she could not die thus horribly—oyr if she survived, find herself frightfully mutilated. Ah! all in a moment an idea struck her. What if she were to hasten down stairs—throw herself at the miser’s feet—confess the trick—but beseech him to pardon her—and in return for his forgiveness she would give him such information as would enable him to keep the three thousand pounds for himself. She could tell him that his ward Mrs. Rayner was no more, and that she had perished in a manner which would prevent her heirs—if she bad any by her own or her husband’s side— from becoming acquainted with her death. Swift as lightning did these ideas sweep through the brain of Lettice Rodney: but ere she de- scended to put her project into execution, she opened the door and listened. Ah! she heard voices talking below: they were indeed those of the wretches who were at the instant deciding upon the murder of herself: but she could not catch what they said~and she fancied, that the officers of justice were perhaps already im the house. Oh! then she must beseech and implore a private interview with Mr. Pollard: it seemed to her the only method to save herself from destruc- tion. Goaded well nigh to madness, the wretched young woman rushed down the stairs; and as, on reaching the lower flight, she beheld Mrs. Webber accompanied by two ill looking fellows, her very worst fears seemed to be confirmed, and in her eyes the Burker and Bill Scott instantaneously took the aspect of constables. ‘““Spare—Oh! spare me !” she cried, frantically clasping her hands as she stopped short midway on the staircase: “I will confess everything! Oh, {I know that & have been very guilty—but the temptation was so great! Let me sec Mr, Pollard answered Mrs. i or—e—— oo — ~-and I will tell him something that shall induce him to forgive me!” The reader may imagine how great was the astonishment of Mrs. Webber and her iniquitous accomplices on hearing these passionately vehement ejaculations from Lettice Rodney’s lips. While on the one hand utterly at a loss to comprehend her, they nevertheless on the other hand heard enough to make them aware that she was com- pletely unsuspicious of the crime which they had committed, and that she believed Pollard to be still in the land of the living, inasmuch as she was beseeching an interview with him. The three wretches exchanged: bewildered looks with each other ; and Lettice fancied that they were uncer- tain whether to grant her own pvayer or to carry her off to gaol at once. ‘“‘Spare me—for heaven’s sake spare me!” she exclaimed, descending the stairs; “and I will confess how I was led into this imposture !”’ “Ah!” ejaculated Mrs. Webber, to whom these words were a_ revelation: “then, who are you P” “My name is Lettice Rodney,” young woman: “I met Mrs. Rayner “And you are not Mrs. Rayner?” said the housekeeper, in hurried inquiry. “ No—and yow all along knew that I was not. Oh, there is Mr. Pollard Gracious heavens !” screamed Lettice, as her eyes were riveted upon the dagger which still remained between his shoulders; and smitten with the horrible—the “overwhelming conviction that murder had been done, she tell down senseless at the foot of the staircase. “There let her be—-we’'ll divide the swag and bolt,” said the Burker; “it isn’t worth while to do her a mischief any-how.” “Stop!” said Mrs.. Webber, as an idea of devilish ingenuity flashed in unto her mind: “ we may save ourselves from all danger—and I need not scamper out of the country over to France.” “ What do you mean?” demanded the Burker and Bill Scott, as if both speaking in the same breath. ‘“‘ Never do you mind,” responded Mrs. Webber : “leave it all to me—I know what I am about. Take charge of the swag, Barney—I know I can trust you for my share—you'll get up to Loadon as quick as you can, and you'll give it to my daughter Bab-—but not to Jack, mind! not to Jack.” “All right, marm,’” responded the Burker. “ Come along, Bill—and let’s be off.” The three wretches—satisfied that Lettice Rod- ney was in a profound swoon, from which she would not very readily awaken—returned into the strong room; and the two men took pos- session of all the gold and bank-notes, with the exception of fifty sovereigus which Mrs. Webber desired thenwto leave as a means of enabling her to carry out the objects which she had in view. Barney and Bill Scott then took their departure by the same way in which they had entered,— Mrs. Webber carefully closing and securing the yard-gate as well as the back-door when they were gone. On re-entering the house, she found Lettice still lying insensible at the foot of the stairs: she approached the corpse of her master—- took his purse from his pocket-~put into that replied the (EO) 0)(0)(0) S (C©)