The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 104: what you’re looking at

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

pO OOD AO ‘ Wy), THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON, 98 pect from what I saw and heard, you have been ill- treated in the house | noticed you come out of as I passed, let me know the vengeance you would haye, and it shall be taken.” * Vengeance!” echoed the agent; “1 would have the most complete and deadly revenge upon the man who has betrayed me that imagination can conceive, I would show him no mercy; he should suffer the most agonising torture that the ingenuity of mankind could inflict; and even then my hatred“would be but partly gratified. Is it a dream, Bazzini, or did you once speak to me of a poison 80 sv"dtle, so impossible to be detected, that, once infused into the system, it should wear away the life of @ man almost imper- ceptibly, and leave no proofs of its virulence behind?” And as this was said he bent forwards eagerly to- wards his companion, “T did once speak to you of such a compound,” re- joined the Italian, ‘and that I postessed the secret; but it was when you yourself turned the conversation upon the subject, and from no wish of mine to be the aciLimistrator of it,’ “T would have this fatal instrument in my power,” muttered Jarvis, as he drank with furious rapidity the wine he kept pouring out to allay his nervous excite- ment; “I have been this day threatened, exposed, insulted beyond endurance; compelled to give up the honest perquisites of my calling, and dismissed with a contemptuous disbelief of all [ had to utter in my defence; but I will have a full tevenge for this,—a glorious vengeance,” he continued, in a voice bursting with rage and passionate vexation, “that shall be my recompense for all,” “ But, as the Earl of Winterton’s agent,” observed thy Italian, interrogatively, “you are yet capable of accomplishing all you have in contemplation, without my aid?” “Tt was from his house I was expelled, and by the earl’s orders,” exclaimed Jarvis savagely, and losing all command over himself in the recollection of the treatment he had experienced, and the enraged feel- ings that it had inspired. “I will hant him to the earth,” he continued in a similar torrent of invective; “but I know the man who acted as his informant, and who preceded me in my visit, and bitterly shall he rue the day that he first crossed me in my path. I had that moment you spoke to me been wishing for a help to rid me of him, and now, asif in answer to my prayer, you rise before me.’’ “ And in this instance, perhaps, I may disappoint your expectations,” returned the Italian with less manifestation of readiness; “I thought at first Lord Walsingham was the vbject of your hatred, not one of whom I know nothing, and about whom I care nothing.” “T will pay you well; you shall have whatever re- compeuse you desire,” cried Jarvis eagerly," if you will but assist me in this. I know you can; I have need of one like you; and if gold will buy your aid, you shall have enough to satisfy your most exorbitant demand.” “But you are now too much excited and agitated by feelings that may soon subside. It is possible that in the fature moments of cool reflection you might repent of this violent determination,” said the Italian, in reply; “and then throw fipon my shoulders the responsibility of that deed of which you would make me the instrument.” “ Never!” exclaimed the agent; “I atm resolved: I will have the most complete and effectual revenge. _ At the very minute I had hoped to grasp my reward of a — EEE 7 { years, he has suddenly snatched it from me. Nothing shall alter my resolution; as I think to-day, so shall I think to-morrow; and years, if they could | without yielding me the revenge I seek, should find me as firm and implacable as now.” | The speaker, thus giving vent to the expression of the inveterate hatred that he felt, here clutched his fingers together in the nervous intensity of his passion, and with such convulsive force was this done, that the wine-glass he held between them was shivered into pieces, and his hand was cut and scarred with the broken fragments. But even the most acute pain would have been unfelt by him whilst the vindictive spirit by which he was influenced still exerted its power. His entire nature seemed changed. He was no longer the crafty hypocrite that sought to veil his diabolical machinations under a smooth and plausible exterior. His thirst for vengeance had in an instant dissipated his usual and as he now sat looking across the table with an anxious glance directed towards Bazzini, it seemed as if his features had caught, like the reflection of a mirror, the stern and settled murderous scowl that was continually visible on the face of the Italian, “This is a dangerous business you want me to engage in,” observed his companion, as he re-fillea his glass with cool deliberation and disposed of its contents; “and it isn’t altogether the money you offer that would tempt me to doit, All that I am xd to yp of that I know how to get and where to get out your purse being a shil th rede daa your p ee? ling the “Then you will not give me the help that [ wanted,” muttered Jarvis, his lips quivering with rage, and his tone betraying the disappointment that he felt; “but remember that you dare not utter a word of what I have spoken to you—your own safety is as deeply implicated in this matter as mine, and if hereafter you are foolish enough to breathe a syllable respecting my character, forget not that you are your- self in danger of the law.” “Tush!” ejaculated Bazzini; “you need not be afraid that I shall ever speak of it. I have enongh work on my own hands without meddling with that of others. But the case is not altogether so desperate as you seem to imagine, Though money is not the great temptation with me, I think you could make other terms in addition which I might accept.” “Name them—what is it—what do you require?” exclaimed the agent with eagerness, his eyes spark= ling with the hope of accomplishing his object. | “ First, I should like to know the contents of those letters that you displayed so much anxiety to learn and ran so many risks to gain?” ; ‘‘ Those letters!” echoed the agent, surprised at the: allusion of the Italian; “what interest can they have for you?” “Tt remains to be seen,” answered Bazzini, quietly “ perhaps mere ouriosity—perhaps some other motive makes me ask respecting them. At all evénts it suits my purpose to khow, and that is a sufficient reason for you.” | 7 “Well,” rejoined Jarvis, reluctantly, “they bore reference only to some peculiar arrangements that were then being concluded between the earl anc Lord Walsingham, and were of no consequence to other persons at all.” | : 5: “And do you imagine that I should be weak enougt to believe this?” added the Italian, dwelling on each word, and looking fixedly at the shrinking countenance of the agent; “do you think to cheat me with a lil oiMmiGbooks.com ~