The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 284: what you’re looking at

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

2382 “And I am sure, colonel,” interrupted the land- lady, smiling, “ I should be sorry to lose you. I dare say the dear lady is tired after her journey. Shall I order supper ?” A reply was given in the affirmative, for her lodger had given up all idea of going out again that night; and the landlady seemed perfectly satisfied with the liberality of Colonel Hamilton, and convinced of the high respectability of his lady. It is astonishing in this world what a little money will do. In the situation in which Phyllis was placed, it Would have been unkind to have left her to the soli- tude of her own reflections. Her seducer was unre- mitting in his attentions, and in those nameless little acts of kindness which soothe a woman’s heart. Smiles were soon more frequently seen upon her face than tears, and for the first tine in her life she felt that she was happy. The third morning after ker arrival, she placed in the colonel’s hatid 4 small case; he opened it, and found, to his astonishment, that it contained two thousand pounds in Bank of England notes, “ What is this?” he demanded. | “Your poor wife’s fortune,” replied Phyllis, with a blush. , i | “ But how did you procure them ?” - “ They weré & portion of my aunt’s legacy to me. It had been pa 6 Gay before I left home. Lucket, in we te r 1 to receive them, say~ ing, surlily, he of i a chaste wife to a rich one.” amilton. * The boor 1” he , it: ossed him that, with half The idea instar ne har de pei ie hy, it 4 3 4 s : “Indisposition!” repe ie prince, laughing, “ with such a countemance and air! Pooh! I’d bet a thousand pounds there has been a woman in the case.” The colonel smiled. He had no objection to give the speaker an idea that he was a man of gallantry. “ By the bye,” continued his highness, “ you have called most opportunely. Go for me to that rascal Prim, he will pay you five thousand pounds on my account; bring it to me privately here—I say pri- vately, for were the treasurer of my household to know that I was in the possession of such a sum, [ should be dunned to death by bills and remonstrances about starving tradesmen and their numerous fami- lies. So away at once, like a good obliging fellow.” “Shall I not require some authority beyond my word?” demanded the colonel. The prince hastily traced a few lines, and signed them at the bottom, G,. P. W., authorising Mr. Prim to pay into the hands of Colonel Hamilton the sum of five thousand pounds, as agreed upon. Armed with this authority. the visitor took his leave, “ Five thousand pounds,” said Mr, Prim, eyeing the messenger suspiciously, and then walking to the window to examine the signature of the prince. “Dear me—dear me! Well, it’s very singular!” “What is very singular?” demanded the mes- senger. “Nothing—nothing; only-——By the bye, Colone ee ee ae eae eae ee THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON . . Hamilton, may I ask if your family is in connected with the Duciatia of aonton $5" a! Any other than the party so questioned might have blushed; he, however, replied, with his usual non- chalance, that the lady in question was his aunt. “Hal” thought the old lawyer, “she has lent the jewels to the young scapegrace, and given out that they are stolen. I could swear, from the description, that they are the same,” The money was paid, according to the direction of the prince. “ By the bye, I may as well take these jewels,” observed the young man, carelessly, taking out the note-case Phyllis had given him, and two bills for five hundred each upon the table. “It ig somewhat sooner than you expected me to redeem them, but no matter,” Prim went, to his iron safe to search for the dia- monds, which, with many a sparkling gem beside them, h ft by their noble owners as for cash, . aced them on the table, Hamilton breathed free session. *O m ~~ ) A : . ace pete if pe. 00 to Bia oA can defy barett y placed | ®@ jewels in his pocket, and, wing his ¢ ts loser to the old man to observe the s00n 48 he got them in his pos- 4 ty ‘ 1g bony fingers ¢ firmly clenched, ne absoltitely gasped for breath. Hamilton felt crime, coniec ist Bob of his birth. lawyer. ‘*Ay; one George Sedler; the same who was hanged at Newgate some sixteen years since for high- way robbery.” “And do you suppose,” said Prim, “that I ever had any acquaintance with such a character?” * Yes.” “That I ever had any transactio aioe y ns with such a “ IT know it,” There was a paute. The calm, quiet tone in which the replies were made was far more terrible to the guilty man than any vehement asseveration or violent outbreak of passion would have been, He felt that a searching eye was upon him, and although very far from suspecting the right which the speaker had to exact an account of that dark and almost forgotten transaction, be trembled at the sound of his voice. Something whispered him that he had both seen that eye and heard that voice before. The supposition was not an unnatural one, for the cclonel bore a st resemblance in tone and person to his unhappy mother, “Will you favour me with an answer?” coolly demanded the young man. “I know not to what child or cireumstance you allude. Iam a respectable man,” “So are all men—till they are found ont,” “Do you mean to insinuate—— ?” “I insinuate nothing: EOMmIrcvoOOKs;co t A 3 ; A qi iL P ra 4 .