The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

150 ~ And how triumphantly you have carried out this noble ambition of raising the oppressed and the erring to a creditable station in society, the grateful hearts of many hundreds could proudly testify. Never was wealth so illegally acquired so generously and discriminately appropriated. But the attempt upon your life that was made by this assassin you will surely not suffer to escape unpunished ?” “No,” answered Barrington, “but his punishinent must be inflicted by other hands than mine. It was my original intention to have enforced his absence from England, as well as that of the scoundrel by whom he was employed; but further intelligence of the extent of his roguery, and the knowledge I have gained of certain other atrocities in which he was cencerned, will compel me to retain him in custody until I have conferred with those whom he has like- wise attempted toinjure. The abduction of Jarvis is all that is required for my own safety, and when he knows that his plans have been discovered and his iniquities have been recorded by his own accomplice, he will doubtless be glad to resign himself to whatever discipline you may think necessary for his security.” The arrival of a close cabriolet at the door inter- rupted the reply ef Oliver, and as Sir John Barring- ton then descended to the vehicle, with his ample cloak folded reund him, and concealing the peculiari- ties of the dress he wore beneath, he whispered hur- riedly some parting iustructions to his attendant, and was driven off immediately afterwards over West- minster Bridge and towards the Waterloo Road, The driver, who had previously received his direc- tions, stopped short in one of the bye-streets, and there the passenger alighted. Passing down the thoroughfare without being observed, as the deepening twilight had now cast its dusky mantle over the streets, he entered the house which has been before described as having a communication with the range of vaults underground. Procuring a light, from the inner room, where he always retained a lamp in readiness, Barrington descended to the lower portion of the building, and uplifting the ponderous trap- door that gave him access to the subterranean passages below, he began again to traverse that dark and mysterious region. A rapid inspection of the materials he had con- cealed there sufficed to convinces him the place had been undisturbed since his last visit; and now col- lecting them, he began to apply himself to the task of destroying those secret implements which had enabled him to amass a real fortune by the judicious employ- ment of the fictitious wealth he bad created. Not venturing to entrust a work of so much importance to other hands than his own, he commenced by re- moving all the combustible portion to the rusty grate of the kitchen above, and consigned the remainder to a place that had been excavated in the building, and which would serye the purpose of concealment until all that might lead to identify them or betray the use to which they had been applied would Lave rusted and rotted away. Some time had elapsed since so cheerful a blaze had flung its ruddy glare on those damp and mil- dewed walls; the crackling of the wood, the flames kindling a genial light around, the shadows cast by the flickering fuel on the gioomy sides of the room, and the enlivening aspect that a glowing hearth im- parts to the most desolate tenement, united to produce an inspiriting effect on the mind of Barrington. As be watched the gradual combustion ef the agents your employer for the future; and so that THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON, ooo thoughts appeared to be relieved of a weight that b long oppressed them. “There,” said he, as he pondered over he ung were associated. All that I have str ms they length attained; the curse that h vee 5 a a moved—the beacon that shed a light tt happiness, and the shadows now clear away tram darkness of the future. 1 have redeemec and the reputation that I have lost, pede face brightened with a smile of satisfaction, and embers, “lie the last vestiges of my crime ; them, I trust, will expire all of guilt with ocean of my life has-led me safely through the ) cherous quicksands that threatened to tation of that human fiend who taught me to tu aside from the paths of virtue, shall be fully estore before the innocent children 1 have wronged 2 clasped in these arms that are yearning to en them. “Yes,” he soliloquised, “I haye apt dee erred; but the atonement I have offered for my erro will, I fervently pray, be received as no unwor! offering at that tribunal where justice is te) mercy, and the sin is weighed according to that prompted its commission.” A peculiar knock at the door, that he interpr the signal he had been expecting, recalled him frc his reverie, and withdrawing the bolt, Slog ge , fo lowed by Saunders and Gubbins, crossed the threshold and were received into the basement floor, hin. th entrance to the vaults could be ren a moment’s notice. motive claimed Saunders, who, from the habitual authority he exercised, naturally became Age FS for a rest; “Slogger has been our guide, suffered us to loiter on the way. ” “ You are in excellent time, and there is ae hour or two to pass away before I shall have occasion to make a demand upon your services,” said the dis baronet in reply; “you have therefore an opportunity — of retracting even now from your bargain, if you con- sider that the conditions 1 made are too severe for yoy acceptance,” [am ‘willing to abide by them,” rejoined ders; “and for my comrades, I can answer We are all of us too eager to embrace the sae of retrieving our characters to hesitate at un i the voyage, But,” he continued in a lower tone addressing himself exclusively to the baronet, “ had expected to have found another here besides ourselves, and one who was to accompany us?” * John Oliver?” “The same. I know the promise you made was not lightly given; but my desire to speak to one for whom I have so much mourned makes me anxious for its fulfilment,” ; « You will not have long to wait before ae answered Barrington; “but there will be leisure for you to indulge in more than tion of a glance. Hoe will be your friend as conduct of those whom he employs is found worth such consideration, he will prove a liberal and a leni landlord. It is on his estate that your labour will first required and rewarded.” “ Well, so that by honest industry I can hetter my fortunes, I care not under what sky I labour,” re- sponded the coiner; “ the two you want us to entrap will be here with him, I suppose ?” “ There is but one who will be committed to your — | by which he had eflected his daring forgeries, his; charge,’ resumed Barrington; “and as he unforte — Ee ae oe CORMICLeoyxe) (C SS “I believe we are trua to our engagement,” ex- — b- ? -cap-veneieeaennpe { — Paty -