The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 332: what you’re looking at

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326 charge of felony ; and these were London police- officers who had come down for the purpose. As for giving Mr. Sycamore a warning instruction, such an idea did not for a moment enter young Ashton’s head:—so far from defeating justice THE MYSTERIFS OF THE COURT. Nee en ne eT | was evidently about to be arrested on some serious | CHAPTER LXII. SIR JOSEPH STEWARD. under such circumstances, he felt himself bound to | APPROACHING the group, who had stopped to gaze do all he could to further its aims. upon a vessel in the distance, our hero said ina Christian looked up at the clock in the coffee- | cold firm voice, “ Mr. Sycamore, I wish to have a room: it was just five,—and therefore in another hour and a half Mr. Sycamore would be in cus- tody. The conversation in the adjoining box had been temporarily suspended, from the fact that, the second pot of porter having been discussed, Messrs. Shadbolt and Withers had just began to regale themselves with glasses of hot rum-and-water ; and it apparently took them some little time to arrive, by dint of divers sippings and tastings, ata conclusion as to whether the compound was to their liking or not. “ What a rum feller that chap Sycamore appears to be by all accounts!” said Mr. Shadbolt, at lencth breaking that interval of silence. ‘“ What a game he was carrying on at the hotel in Picca- dilly—what is its name again P—before he got that forged bill cashed.” “ A game indeed!” growled Mr. Withers. “ But how do you account for this,—that when he did get it cashed, he took and paid all his debts and came off like a gentleman when he might have bolted away with all the blunt P” “Why, don’t you see,’ responded Shadbolt, “it was a three months’ bill; and he never thought the forgery would be detected till it came due. So no doubt his plan was to enjoy life in the mean- time, Butif he had left London without paying his debts, he would have been blown upon. I dare say he meant to pay the watering-places a visit one after the other; and at each he would of course refer to the Piccadiliy Hotel—what’s its name again ?—as a proof of his respectability.” Christian felt so sick and dizzy at all he had heard, and likewise in consequence of the excite- ment through which he had for the few previous hours been passing, that he could not remain in the hot stifling coffee-room any longer. He accord- ingly paid his bill, and departed. He walked out upon the pier to reflect upon the course he ought to adopt,—whether he should at once proceed to the Royal Hotel, pack up his box, and depart—or whether he should await the expected catastrophe. He was apprehensive that if he adopted the former course, it might be subsequently imagined he had been all along Sycamore’s accomplice, and that he fled from the presence of impending danger the moment he heard of it. But while he was yet deliberating within himself, he suddenly perceived Mr. Sycamore advancing along the pier, in com- pany with a couple of the fashionable acquaint- ances whom he had formed at Ramsgate. A sud- den thought flashed to Christian’s mind, and he resolved to act upon it. few moments’ conversation with you.” ‘With me! What about?” exclaimed that in- dividual. ‘Don’t you see J am engaged with friends for the present? Damme, man, I’m en- gaged !” “ Mr, Sycamore,” responded Christian, “ that which I have to say to you, will admit of no delay.” “Oh, ah—I see!” ejaculated our hero’s em. ployer: and turning to his friends, he said in an easy off-hand manner, “ It is about some little business that I entrusted to my private secre- tary. Excuse me fora few minutes: I will speedily rejoin you.” Christian allowed the falsehood about the “little private business” to pass unnoticed; and he moved away from the spot. Sycamore was almost imme- diately by his side; and he said in a lerried anxious voice, “ What is it, Ashton?—why the deuce do you look so serious ?” “T cannot speak to you here,” responded Chris- tian. “I will thank you to accompany me to the hotel.” “ But what is it?’ demanded Sycamore, who did not dare be angry; for he saw that there was indeed something ominously wrong. Christian made no answer—but led the way straight to the hotel,—Sycamore walking by his side, and continuing to ask what it all meant, but without receiving a single ysllable in reply. Ina very few minutes the hotel was reached: Christian proceeded straight up to his employer’s sitting- room ; and when they were both there alone to- gether, Mr. Sycamore said, “ Now will you tell me what the deuce you mean by this strange conduct on your part?” “Simply this,” answered Ashton,—“ that it does not suit me to remain any longer in your employ- ment; and I require a written acknowledgment to the effect that our acquaintance has only lasted a fortnight—that it commenced under certain cir- cumstances—and that it is of my own accord I at this particular hour insist on severing our con- nexion.” . Sycamore’s countenance grew more and more blank, and his manner more and more nervons, as our hero went. on speaking. He nevertheless exerted every effort to veil his confusion and his misgivings, which indeed amounted to terror: but he could not succeed—and in a trembling voice he said, “ But my dear Ashton i * Address me not, sir, in so familiar a manner!” exclaimed our young hero, indignantly: ‘ do not ask me another question—but sit down at once and pen sucha document as I have suggested.” “One word—and only one word!” cried the trembling villain. ‘“ Something must have been said—you must have heard something 3 « At all events I have seen enough,” interrupted Christian, “to be only too anxious that our con. nexion should be severed.” Seo Gomichoo (E(0) m i