The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

mT ee ——_—_ are eee _ 144 drink ;” and as he spoke he placed the poisoned wine before his visitor. With the ready apprehension of a man who, smit- ten with a sudden conviction of his guilt being known, requires no further accusation, Bszzini saw that by some inscrutable means his design had been antici- pated, prepared for, and baffled at the very moment he had relied upon its success. From the fierce and resolute look he encountered he perceived how useless it would be to attempt to exculpate himself from the crime with which he stood committed, and in an instant he resolved upon the course he should adopt. Dashing the glass down upon the carpet, so as to scatter its contents before they could be analysed, Bazzini sprang towards the door wi‘h the intention of darting down the staircase into the street; but as soon as he had flung it open, he was received in the mus- cular grasp of the swarthy domestic, and cast down prostrate on the floor. A stout rope, dexterously thrown as a noose over his shoulders, and drawn tightly round kim, secured him from offering further resistance; and though grinding his teeth with savage vexation at the defeat he had sustained, Bazzini made only one ineffectual effort to get at a clasp knife he had about his person, and then feeling that he was helpless and powerless, surrendered himself, without a struggle, into the hands of his assailant. **Capitally achieved, my worthy Oliver!’ exclaimed the baronet, as soon as he saw the powerfal arm of his domestic had kept the Italian secure; “the rascal has no chance with such a sturdy antagonist as your- self. You will be more cautious in your next attempt at murder,” he continued, addressing himself to the fellow, who, in sullen apathy, was scowling ferociously at both; “ but I am glad you were considerate enough | ’ to put me on my guard, by letting me hear the details of your plan, so that I might be prepared for your visit.” The ltalian started, for he remembered that he had incidentally mentioned his intention to Borelli, when they were conversing by the brick-kilns in Agar Town, but he had no suspicion that the dialogue between them had been overheard by a listener who was passing at the time. It was his belief that Borelli had betrayed him, and he vowed to take a frightful revenge upon him if he could regain his liberty. “What is the purpose for which I am detained here?” he asked, with a resolution to boldly encounter the danger to which he found himself exposed; “ you have no proof against me, and you have no right, at least, to deprive me of my liberty.” “You will receive more mercy from me than you would have shown,” returned the baronet; “but though I shall afterwards deliver you up to the proper administrators of justice, it is necessary that I should keep you prisoner here for a few hours, until other matters are disposed of that now require my atten- tion.” “Shall I away with him at once, Sir John, to the room that we have got ready for him?” asked the attendant, who still retained his hold of the cords by which he had strongly bound the Italian. “Stop,” cried Barrington,“ I mean first to make him assist me in the work that we have in hand. The fittest instraments for the punishment I would inflict are those who have been the abettors of the crime. ‘Take this pencil,” he added, turning to Baz- ini, and placing the implements of writing before Aim, ‘*and write the note that I shall dictate.” “Am I to be forced then, against my will, to, ee ee eee THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. ee Ss criminate others?” demanded Bazzini; “do you think that I will lend myself to any such design?” “We shall see,” rejoined the baronet, tersely, as his hand moved towards the sideboard, and the click of a pistol sounded closely in the ear of the Italian; “ you have found that the man with whom you have to deal is not to be trifled with. Refuse to do this, and I at once give you up tojustice; but if you comply, and will afterwards give evidence against your accom- plices, I will forgive you the attempt you have made against my life,” “ IT consent,” muttered Bazzini, hoping, by affecting resignation, to devise some scheme of escape, “and will write what you require, But my arm, you see, is restrained,” “Toosen the cord round his right arm, Oliver,” said Barrington; and he added, ag his injunction was carried into effect, “remember that if you make the slightest effort to leave me, thet instant yon breathe your last. Your life hangs upon the touch of a trigger.” 5 As Sir John Barrington stood over him with a loaded pocket-pistol brought close to his head, Baze | zini took the pencil reluctantly in his hand and com- menced writing the following at the dictation of the baronet : “All is accomplished. The man whose enmity you had to dread will no longer prove an obstacle in your path, for before this reaches you he will have ceased to exist. There are reasons, however, that render it imperatively necessary for me to see you this | evening. At eleven v’clock prepare to accompany the | messenger that I send with this, and without asking | further questions, He will bring you where [ am, | “Pietro BAzzini” “Wow direct it'to Mr. Jarvis,” insisted the —* : as, having followed with his eye the lines that the | Italian had written, he sr Ost a el ; cluded. 1 Bazzini sighed deeply as he did so, but he obeiael ted with as good a grace as he could, ir the hope that — a chance of escape might be afforded before the hour — arrived. Acting under the direction of Barrington, thesturdy — fellow who had waited in attendance now restored the — bonds by which the Italian was secured, and the baronet then employing the same compulsory means, had him conveyed to a vacant room at the pane of the house, where, threatening him again with © instant death if he stirred, he left him to the miserable refuge of his own reflections. As he heard the sound of the key turned in the lock,—a strong iron fastening recently affixed, and = which acquainted him with the extent of the precau- — tions that had Leen taken to keep him a or for what purpose he knew not,—Bazzini ee to a torrent of passionate imprecations at the was at a loss to conceive; but it was evident that the baronet had anticipated, and prepared we his coming. Whether to charge Borelli with being the cvigin of this, or whether he should impute it to some mis- management on the part of Jarvis, he was undecided; bat it was palpable that he had been made the victim in some way or other, and he swore ah trace out and» revenge himself on the cpssa, ap: ‘om