The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 300: what you’re looking at

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

a — ee eh 298 I shall be able to think there. eee ee mad—mad!” * Moreton,” repeated Fitzgerald, too much absorbed in his own sorrows to heed ‘he ravings of the guilty man, whose senses were evideatly unsettled by the “Well might he quai! when his eye met mine; he felt bis victim still had an My hand is powerless, but her son—my shock he had received. avenger, son—yet lives to drag his crimes to justice,” Outraged as he had been, and deeply as he despised the character of his unbappy father in law, the pre- late could not permit ap such a state, to leave big bouse alone, He therefore ordered his carriage, and. seguested his chaplain to The only answer he could obtain from him to any further questions was conduct him te his chambers. the repetition of the word “ Home—home,” In this state ef apathy be remained till they Jed him to the door. No sooner did be behold :the coach: than he became violent, declared tbat, he would not, be convered to Newgate, and, breaking from the apm. of the servant who led him, fled with the, flzetness of, & younger man cress the | of his way iato the park It was not the first time be had prowled there at night, It was the scene of many of his crimes. As the maniac rushed along, a phantoms seemed to pursue him, he would, pale faces followed him, and peeahing eyes were fixed op hig. The win it whispered, or seemed to do so, the ery of * Bread—br ead tur your starving child’? Rs, henaiit Ot Rachel, as he last bead her; her ed k and large Justroug eyes fixed Teprogchtully upon bim. Next would come a bleeding mother and ber helplegs caild, her delicate form crushed and mangisd; and a crash }:ke broken glass, and a rattling framework, 5 in hig ears. Torn tinue The solitary passongers, who turned to watch — his | hurried step, deemed him some madman escaped from his confinement, and almost fancied they could catch the clink of his fractured chain. After roaming for several hours in this distracted state through the park, the wretched man seated himse‘f upon the very bench where, six-and-twenty years before, he had exposed his infant grandson. The keen night breeze had cooied his burning brow and fevered cheek; his reeling brain gradually became calm; and he sat moodily pondering on the past, or terribly deciding for the future, His mind at last seemed made up. He rose from his seat, and, with a quick, determined pace, made the | best of his way to the Temple, mounted the stairs with his usual precise step, and locked himself in; and, strange to say, had no sooner thrown himself upon his couch than he slept soundly; for in propor- ion t ildness of the storm of human passion by Hee 4 ane agitated is the prostration of the ener- gies which pride! yang mage Hard mee w23 ah eo pee hg ee “hit a He 0 aah sad cy =e P a to. ux the bpur, for, set min hag rates tie co ea | oDw intend te, Re fi | ry ; poise we “HE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. ee Here there is blood upon the ground—Ellen’s blood. Here I shall grow man like Mr. Prim, in and made the best |‘ phases,! even ‘beswass Startled at} the ddolj collacted | of .agitatiomherhad passed, and ‘the fearfal shock be | HPPARE crQat voiced Wéshengery'| “why I thought you had promised. My lord upon it- He has directed several of his tradesmen to” wait npon him for their accouats, and ordered Madame | a diamond necklace,” [ Madame, as she was generally called, was the | French mistress of the dissipated young spendthrift,, “ The strumpet must do without it, as far as 1 am | concerned,” replied the lawyer, coldly. “I am not | one of those who change their resolutions, It is no | trickster’s turn to squeeze, as I have done a thousand times from spendthrift minors and expectant heirs, a greater interest. I have closed the book of usury,” he added, “ for ever.” Seareely was the disappointed servant out of the room thee Prim rang for his clerk, and the convenient James, the ready witness, the tool fit fer any crime, whose lacs of physical courage alone prevented his being, if pessible, a greater villain than his master, entered. the. room. He was much strack by the alteration in the.old man’s countenance, To him he | — seemed deathratsicken; but he was too well trained to | — ofier any observation, and waited as usual till his master should speak. “Make up your books, James,” said Mr. Prim, quietly end caim-y. . “After this day I shall have no further ogeagion tor your services. Don't interrupt me,” be coptpued, seeing that the astonished clerk ug | W#9.Bhont to reply. * Phe salary you have hitherto | | shall be continued to you for life on one con~ | “Ab, sirp” exclaimed the avaricious wretch, to | whom the naespected liberality of his old master was | little jess than juiracalons, “I always said that you were a good map |” * You hes, then!” interrupted the lawyer, sternly ; fo ou koew that 1 was @ villain!” _ * Yours,” continued the canting hypocrite, “is true You an’t bear to hear yourself praised. God ate my another such a word, and not a penny— a a fax Thinkst thou,” he added, “that I part with my hard-earned gold to purchase the praise of an earthworm like thee—a thing that wouldst worship even Satan himself, were he only seated on a throne of that base yellow metal which is thy god— thy pass and future?” James was silent, no less from astonishment than prudence. He saw that some sudden change had come over the spirit of his master’s dreams, and that im heart he was an altered man, Without a word he resumed his place in the outer office, and sedulously devoted himself to his task of making up the books, A few moments afterwards Mr. Prim, dressed with more than his usual care, passed from his private room, which be carefully locked after him, and with a firm step and unrufiled countenance directed hig | way towards the mansion of the bishop, in St. James's Square, . Lhe father and son, together with Colonel Hamilton, were seated inthe ‘library when the lawyer was announced, « Aconustomed: as! 'Pitzgerali 'wassto read the human heart, and to study character in allies | Dace 5 «4 —_. = a. re ‘demeakour of his visitor, | The only sign 'ofthemight’ | had received, was an occasional quiver of Posie. gh ; ‘the ‘Sulicen«figgh’ Of bis quick grey eyes)as if \spaget) seized him, which udasted ofr 1an. instant and! ithen passed away.