The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 389: what you’re looking at

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een serosa easiness THE MYSTERIES OF THH COURT. 888 — other male dependants rushed out, darting towards the road, and thus cutting off the progress of the fugitives. Beverley had caught up Laura in his arms, and was hastening with all his spee’! towards the post-chaise,—when he was seized upo2 by some of the old Baronet’s myrmidons. Laura fainted. To have loosened his hold upon her, would have been to drop her upon the ground: but to retain her was to render himself powerless for defence. Supporting her, therefore, as well as he could on his left arm, he dealt such vigorous blows with his right as speedily to shake off his two foremost assailants: the mountebank ably assisted him; and the next instant Christian, whose ears had caught the disturbance, arrived upon the spot. Our young hero and the mountebank did all they possibly could to clear the way for Edgar’s passage towards the post-chaise: they valorously sought to bring all the brunt of the conflict upon them- selves: but a violent blow with a stout stick grasped by a sturdy footman, levelled Christian with the ground—the mountebank, perceiving that all was over, took to his heels and fled precipi- tately—Beverley and Laura were made prisoners. “Bring them all into the house!” vociferated Sir John; “and as a magistrate will I deal with these ruflians. Mrs. Oxenden, take charge of your sister !” These mandates were obeyed: the still insen- sible Laura was borne by Mrs. Oxenden and the negress (who in the meanwhile had come upon the spot) into the mansion—whither Edgar and Chris- tian were likewise forcibly conducted. CHAPTER LXXIV. THE LAWYER, OUR young hero had been stunned for afew mo- ments by the severe blow he received: but he quickly recovered his consciousness, to find him- self in the power of half-a-dozen stalwart and de- termined fellows—while a glance showed him that such was likewise the fate of his friend Beverley. The enterprise had therefore completely failed; and the aspect of affairs was even worse than before the adventure was undertaken. Beverley maintained a dignified silence,—he being deter- mined to wait and see what course his uncle would have the hardihood to adopt: yet inwardly his feelings were those of the acutest disappointment and grief. As for Christian,—he likewise held his peace for the present; and his own sorrow at the failure of the enterprise was scarcely less poignant than that of his friend Beverley. Sir John Steward, with a fierce triumph de- picted upon his countenance, led the way into the dining-room, where he seated himself at the head of the table. Edgar and Christian were in the grasp of some seven or eight lacqueys and grooms; and they were of course powerless against the numerical strength of the enemy. Mrs. Oxenden was temporarily absent in charge of her sister. ‘Now I intend,” said Sir John Steward, “to investigate this matter magisterially, and without the slightest reference to myrelationship with one of the prisoners But surely,” he ejaculated, thus es LC OO suddenly interrupting himself, “I have seen you before P”—and he fixed his eyes upon Christian. “Yes,” responded our hero, in a firm voice; “we met on the occasion when your intended vic- tim was first brought by her infamous sister to your house.” “You impertinent young scoundrel!” exclaimed Sir John Steward, half springing from his seat in a furious rage; “how dare you make use of such terms as these ?” “This young gentleman,” said Beverley, alluding to Christian, “is a friend of mine: and on his behalf I hurl back the term scowndrel in your teeth.” ; “Oh, oh! a pretty set of fellows we have got to deal with !” said Sir John Steward. Here Mrs. Oxenden suddenly made her appears ance ; and as her eyes fell upon Christian Ashton, she instantaneously recognized him. **T always suspected, sir,” she said, with a fierce flashing of her dark eyes, and a scornful drawing- up of her fine person, “‘ that you were some inso- lent meddler in affairs which did not concern you.” - “To succour an innocent and virtuous young lady,” responded our hero haughtily, “is a para- mount duty on the part of even the veriest stranger. That duty I took upon myself; and if I have failed in the attempt, my own conscience will enable me to endure with pride and satisfaction any ree proaches which your lips, madam, may fling out against me, or any punishment which Sir John Steward in his capacity as a magistrate may be enabled to inflict.” “Nobly spoken, my gallant young friend !” ex- claimed Edgar Beverley; “and rest assured that though the cause of right and justice, truth and virtue, may suffer defeat,—yet that chastisement will sooner or later overtake the triumphant wrong-doers. Sir John Steward, I tell you to your face “ “ Silence, sir !”’ vociferated the Baronet. * Hold them fast, my worthy fellows—and we will pre- sently see how these two moral-preaching upstarts will relish a condemnation to the county gaol. For here is downright burglary —violence—assault and batter y—abduction I don’t know but that it amounts to—to And the Baronet stopped'short for want of some term to express a more heinous crime than any he had yet specified. “This young man,” said Mrs, Oxenden, inti- mating our hero, “forcibly stopped the negress and retained her for several minutes a prisoner in the road, close by the spot where a postchaise was in waiting.” ' “Coercion and intimidation!” vociferated Sir John; “almost highway robbery! I must make out the committal of these misdemeanants for six weeks as rorues and vagabonds ? Sir John Steward,” interrupted Edgar Beverley, with a haughty indignation, “ remember that I am an officer in the Queen’s service 7 “ And therefore,” retorted the Baronet, “all the more completely bound to maintain law and order.””’ “You are determined to compel me to speak 3? out,” resumed Beverley, in the same haughtily in-") dignant tone as before, and with corresponding looks. “ Sir John Steward be