The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

224446822 8" 8221 , able and transparent as this? Would you have ‘me believe that you would take the trouble of follow- ing Lord Walsingham so far—choosing an apartment next his own, having a key fabricated to fit the lock | of his desk, and hazarding the chance of a discovery that would have convicted you of being a trespasser and a thief, merely to obtain correspondence that was _ of no value to yourself? No, no,” continued Bazzini, _ with an incredulous sneer; “ people are not apt to do all this without having a sufficient reason for it.” a “And you persist in seeking into the motive I had for this?” A ; _ * Most assuredly,” was the reply. “ What you told _™me when I discovered you at this work, and when I convinced you that it was of no use disguising the } thing from me, answered well enough at the time, but "| now I have certain notions of my own whieh urge me } ) to inquire further.” } “I cannot, will not divulge their contents,” de- ) | clared Jarvis, in an emphatic tone of remonstrance ; | “with the possession of the earl’s secret, that fell by } those means into my keeping, is associated the only _ power I now hold over him, and I will not share with } another the means of acquiring an ascendancy over _ the earl’s actions, which I reed myself, and which } | must restore to me the position that I have lost.” } “Then, as yet, the earl knows not that you have "| those documents in your possession ?” asked the Italian. } | “Not only is he unaware of their falling into my |} hands, but he even believes that Lord Walsingham, |} to whom they were entrusted for the purpose, has _ destroyed them,” “And if his lordship should have explained the | matter—if he should have acknowledged to the earl that they were missing, and if, as is not unlikely, he | suspected me of being concerned in their loss, how would yow account for the knowledge of their exist- | ence 2” “The difficulty you have suggested,” replied the agent, triumphantly, “ is at once removed by the fact _ that no person is more thoroughly convinced of their destruction than Lord Walsingham himself, for by his own hands does he believe they were consigned to the flames in accordance with the earl’s wishes.” “Then it is easy to guess the packet you secreted in the desk was an exact counterpart of the one you had previously removed?” “So like, even to the enclosures, that unless the } handwriting of the earl had been long and closely } studied, none could have discovered the deception. _ The visit that you saw made was not the first. And | now, then, my good friend Bazzini,” continued Jarvis, } who for the time having had his attention distracted, ‘| had during the latter part of the conversation assumed the quietude of manner that was his dominant pecu- liarity, “you will of course understand that those letters it is of the highest importance I should pre- serve.” “ And it is for that very reason that I also consider them of the highest importance that I must have them surrendered to myself,’ said the Italian, reso- : — Pore © ~ = ine oy _— mn eo, pal Cad. th we. += -_- =< — “ You have them,” returned the agent; “ never!” “Then the negotiation of this matter, as far as I am concerned, is at an end,” said the Italian; and he Tose as if to depart. “ Stay ; you have not yet heard my reply,” continued: _ Jarvis, relenting, as he saw that the other was reso- _ lute in his demand; “if I yield to you these papers that I have so many urgent reasons to retain. myself, | may I then rely upon your co-operation with me?” - “ ns ite eh nk Eee — ’ - - —— wre! we eV eae Sey oes a 22 | “ To the utmost,” was the response. “ Do you agree to deliver them into my hands?” “I do—I do,” gasped the agent, despairingly; for he felt that he must relinquish one scheme to promote another; “you are compelling me to surrender the only chance I have of again swaying the earl over to my views; but even this I forego, rather than be de- nied the triumph of avenging myself on the man who has exposed the practices I have devoted so many years to conceal,” “ Well then, it is now time to let me know the name of this busy meddler, and to me you may safely en- trust his fate.” “He calls himself Sir John Barrington,” answered Jarvis; “and though appearing under that name, I unfortunately believed him to be a man | formerly knew, called Mordaunt. What has occurred thie morning, however, has taught me I was mistaken, though the two persons are as much alike as though they had been twin brothers. This man has been recognised, by those who knew Sir John abroad, to be the same. He has returned with an amount of wealth that gives him an immense influence in the country, and has this day purchased Bradley Hall, in Cheshire, an estate belonging to the earl. It was there I first met him, when, by falsely representing himself to be, an old companion of mine, he wormed out of me certain acknowledgments connected with the period. of our supposed intimacy, that, with other information. he has obtained, in a manner which I cannot compre- hend, has placed me altogether in his power.” “And you would rid yourself of him by means,” added the Italian, in a low deep voice, “which can only effectually ensure his silence for the future.” “Yes,” responded Jarvis; “‘and those means you pointed out to me with reference to another will alone suffice, He has already struck the first blow at my’ ruin; and the next would not only destroy my po- sition in society, but even expose me, as he has threatened, to the risk of a criminal prosecution.” “And how many days have you reason to expect: will elapse before he carries these threats into execu- tion?” questioned Bazzini. | “Doubtless he will not cease from his efforts for a single instant,” was the reply; “and not a moment must be lost in accomplishing our ends. There is no alternative but this. I am upon the verge of a fright- ful precipice, and your friendly hand can alone save me from being driven into the abyss.” “ And you would have me, then, at once crush this dangerous foe you have created?” “ Listen,” whispered Jarvis, drawing nearer the Italian, and he breathed in his ear a suggestion so horrible, that even Bazzini, inured as he was to the commission and contemplation of the most -atrocious crimes, could not help shuddering at the intimation thus conveyed. “Enough!” assented the Italian, “I will for you compound the fatal drug you require, but will there not be some difficulty in getting it administered ?” “ None,” cried Jarvis, “ for to him you are unknown, and you may easily gain admission to his preserice by soliciting his subscription to a charity, or on any other pretence that will serve the purpose, I have this day learned that his town residence is in Man- chester Square, and that he retains only in his estab- lishment a favourite servant, that he brought over from Madras. You will thus see that there is no occasion to apprehend any risk from the vigilance of his attendants,” . “J have arranged my plan,” responded Bazzini, Fn EORMICLOO® Ss (EC) m