The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 342: what you’re looking at

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340 now that we are both beggars; for, as I stand here a living man, I am not worth fifty pounds.” ** Nor I,” said Wilmott, “ of the tythe part of that sum, All gene—all lost!” Faddle seized his companion by the arm, and looked cautiously round to see if any one was within hear- ing. He was fearful lest even the wind which whistled mournfual'y round the old Abbey towers should overhear his guilty purpose. As the half- distracted man fixed his eyes upon his countenance, he was struck by its horrible expression. His livid fea- tures, pale quivering lips, and blood-shot eyes, terrified him. Before the tempter could speak, anticipating some horrible proposal, he shrank from him. “ What is it you fear?” demanded the fiend. “ Nothing—nothing ; but you look—— “How do I look?” demanded Faddle, with a sneer. “Like the evil one bent on destroyiag a human soul. Let us go home; to-morrow we shall be both more calm, and can consult what is best to be done, Come, ’tis getting very late.” “JT shall not go home,” replied the gamester, sul- lenly, “ until——”’ “Until when?” inquired his companion, seeing that he hesitated to complete the sentence. “ Until I have recovered the sum of which we have each been plundered. I am convinced this has been a plant; and Hawk,” he added, “‘is the instigator of the whole affair; he knew,I had the meney. I will have it back.” “ How?” “ By fair means, if possible; if not,” he whispered, by blood.” «“ Blood !’’ almost shrieked the unhappy man; ‘“ ob, not by bloed! my nights are already sleepless enough, add net murder to my list of crimes. I dare not —will not.” “Then starve!” replied his companion, fiercely ; “er worse, live to hear the reproaches of her you love—the triumph of Walter Maynard—the sneer of the worldly wise who envied your prosperity—the contempt of your equals—the pity of your inferiors for the ruined bankrupt gamester.” ‘Damnation!’ exclaimed the unhappy wretch, driver to madness by the picture so artfully drawn. “Or be a man,” resumed the tempter. ‘One bold act will give us the means for a last hand in the game of life. I tell you we have been plundered—shame- fully plundered. Had the fellow but met me on the road, and, clapping a pistol to my breast, robbed me ef a shilling, the law would have condemned him to the gibbet. Shall he now escape?” “ But consider the crime—murder—murder,” whis- pered Wilmott, hoping to move his resolution. “ Not unless it proves necessary, though dead men tell no tales.” At this moment a distant step was heard, and a voice merrily humming one of the popular airs from the last opera, It was the young stranger returning from Hawk's on his way home. “Tis he,” said Faddle; “now, then, prove yourself @ man; money we must have, or remember that by to-morrew dishonour and beggary attend us both.” Without waiting for a reply, he drew his infatuated dupe on one side, and began using every means he could think of, such as the despair of Rose, and her more than probable abandonment of him; the sneers of his quondam friends, when they should hear of his utter ruin; pictured the life they might lead upon the continent with the money; their success at the THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON.’ foreign tables, where they were both unknewn; and their eventual return to England, rich men. Still Wilmott was undecided—the angel had not yet aben- doned him to the dominion of the fiend. The successfal gamester of the evening approached the spot, still humming his favourite air; his mind occupied in those visionary plans for the future which the imagination is so apt to indulge in. Perhaps some dream of love, a happy home, a wife and children, were mingled in his reveries; for there are few hearts which do not contemplate, especially when young, a life of domestic happiness, and the endear- ing ties which constitute and consecrate it. Let us hope, too, he was repenting of the past. Whatever his thoughts, they were suddenly broken by the ap- pearance of Wilmott, who rushed from his conceal- ment in a fearful state of passion and excitement, The tempter had worked him to his His lips foamed with rage, and he eyed his victim with the fury of a madman. “ Cheat and villain!” he exclaimed. ‘“‘ Hard words,” said the young man, coolly, as soon as he recovered from his surprise. ‘“‘ Disgorge your ill-gotten plunder.” “Ts that the usual name te give to a gentleman’s honourable winnings? Let me pass.” “ Not till you bave refunded,” replied the desperate man, spridging towards him, The. party thus attacked saw that the affair was more serious than he anticipated. Stepping back to avoid his assailant, he drew a small pistol from his pocket and levelled it at him. “Tt is you,” said he, “ who are the robber. After having been made the feo], was it I who lured you to the gaming table? was it I who induced you to squander and Jose an honourable fortune? was it I who challenged you to play? No. This is an — to be settled bya magistrate. You shall hear f me in the morning.” 7 Faddle, who saw that the resolution of his one nion was wavering, crept, during the last reply, be- hind him, and catching him suddenly by the *, held them up in the air in such a manner that the speaker was entirely defenceless, The pistol fell from his hands, 7 “Strike!” he hoarsely whispered te his du ** strike, or live a branded felon.” Inflamed to madness by the last word, and dread of the exposure which the young man threa: ened, Wilmott plunged his bunting knife, which , unfortunately had with him, twice in the victim’ breast; Faddle stifling his shrieks by holding on hand over his mouth, Then there was a heaving of t chest, a stream of blood, a struggle, and all over. The two murderers were alone by the cor of him they had thus suddenly sent to his account. — “What have I done?” exclaimed the man, whese brain reeled at the sight, “An act of justice,” replied his companion, c searching the body and drawing frem it the ; book which contained the notes; “ the law strikes th robber—we have but vindicated the law. Stand ne thus entranced,” he added, “but aid me with t body.” Rapidly raising the dead man from the spot w he had fallen, they bore him down the steps at bridge side, and cast him into the river. Atthata ment the moon broke from her sombre veil and cas & momentary light upon the scene, and a voloe w N' heard to halloofrom the opposite side of the river. — was one of the Thames comicbooks.c | om