The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 356: what you’re looking at

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

354 The artful man had counted on his haste and agitation —not without reason. Dick was too useful a fellow to be easily parted with. The paper he had given him was not the real one. “T am safe now, then?” “ Quite,” said his master. “Good bye, then, sir; yours is too dangerous a ser- vice for me. I shall seek my bread in another land. The recollection of this day’s work will haunt me while I live. God forgive us both!” No sooner had Dick taken his leave than his master proceeded to make his toilette to receive the unhappy deluded Lady Wilton, whose visits were now daily. Such was the mastery he obtained over her, that he induced her to draw repeatedly large sums for his use, which were either dissipated at the gaming-table, or wasted im speculations as disastrous. Every week the account at her banker’s became so rapidly dimi- nished, that the worthy dealer in money became alarmed. He could not make if out. But being a man of the world, his suspicions bécams excited, and he determined, before communicating with her hus- band, if possible, to discover the secret of her conduct, For this purpose he resolved to employ an old confi- dential clerk, upon whose fidelity and prudence he could equally rely. By his directions Mr. Minim, the name of the “father of the bank,” as he Was called by the juniors, was sent for into his private room, ‘‘ Minim,” said the banker, ‘ my mind is uneasy.” “Nothing wapleasant, I hope,” replied the old man. “Datchet’s securities have beed taken up; Master- man’s acount is paid, *Tis trus Oaley and Co. area little shakew; but the risk is not very considerable, The house is only im fer four thousand.” The speaker paused, and fixed his keen grey eyes upon his etiiployer, as if to ask what élss there could be which could possibly give him the least uneasiness. “Tt is not that,” said his principal, smiling. “ We should be able to stand a tougher blow than even their failure would giveus. It¢is this affair of Lady Wil- ton’s,”’ “ Well, that is mysterious; twenty thousand pounds drawn out in three mowtlis.” “ Many of the notes have beew returned through Bilk and Company, the railroad brokers, and yet I cannot hear that her ladyship holds scrip on a singla line, I could understand that.” “ Gambling,” said the clerk. “JT have inquired amongst those most likely to be informed, and can’t make out that her ladyship ever plays, There is some mystery in this. Did she not come and siga the chequas hersel’, I should be in- clined to think that they were forgeries, That, of course, is impossible.” “And when she doas come, if is at such an early hour,” added the clerk, “and generally on foot, The last time she signed, her hand trembled so she could scarcely hold the pen, and I saw that her eyes were red with weeping. Iam sure 1 don’t know what she can have to weep for, with thirty thousand pounds still on the credit side of her account.” The banker smiled at the old man’s mode of rea- soning ; but he, from mingling more frequently in the world, knew that women possessed such things as hearts—a discovery his subordinate had never made. His only idea of a heart was that it was a sort of foreing pump, which set the current of life in mofion, All his love, feelings, and interest were centred in the operation of the money market and calculating dis- counts. Gold was his idol, and he bowed before it like an idolator. There was reom for no other divinity vigilan wish, and will, I doubt not, comply with if. Besides, THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON, within the shrine, and even if therehad been, he would | not have known which to place there. “T have a strange office fer you to fulfil,” said his employer, “but one which, from your age and cha- racter, you will not be suspected in. You must follow the lady the next time she leaves the bank,” “Follow her?” repeated the astonished Minim, “Ifyou dodge her to a house, inquire who lives there. Do this discreetly; for the credit of the firm, if | any thing should suddenly occur, is at stake, and bring me word back.’’ “But who can take my stool at the desk?” de- manded the clerk, to whom his daily ayocation ap- peared of far greater importance than the following of a lady, although she happened to be a peeress, and ae R balance of thirty thousand pounds in their ands. “ We can spare you for @ few hours.” “But the books? Something may go wrong.” “ You caw look over them on your return,” said the banker, sitiling, “It must be a curious errer that could escape your vigilance, You understand my I caw rontaia below during your absence, I think you may trast me to replace you,” Although not quite assured that lie eould do so, the worthy man was f60 polite to exprest his opinion | — or make further remonstrance. I¢ was the first time in his life he had ever gone out of the daily routine of his business, and nothing less thaw the ¢omimand of his priucipal, a thing he never disputed, could have induced him to consent to’do so. Two days after- watds, a3 soon as Lady Wilton made her appear- ance, he quietly withdrew to the inttier office, and left the banking house by the private door, secretly cursing, as he did so, the c¢apricasy of women, which could thus derange his usual habits aad occupation. Tying @ large comforter routd his faces, so as to hide his chin and mouth, and @ pair of green spec- | tacles upon hiv nose, which had been ed for the | occasion, he quictly waited owtside the door till the lady should make her appodrance, It was not long | before she did so, Oa leaving fhe banking house, which was close to Temple Bur, the unhappy woman | directed her steps towards the Strand, and on reaeh- | ing Somerset House, to Minim’s great astonishment, | called for a cab, which she entered, and drove off | towards the Haymarket. “Cab!” mattered the clerk to himself, as he got in another, and directed the driver to keep the first onein view. “A peeressinacab! I begin to thiak with my principal, that there is some strange mystery | in allthis, Whatecanit be? She looks like a run- | away bankrupt.” | The two cabs drove rapidly along. Oa reaching the end of the colonnade of the Opera House, the first one stopped. Lady Wilton alighted, thickly veiled, | and placing a sovereign in the driver’s hand, walled rapidly away, without waiting for change. The fellow, who thought she had mistaken the coin for a shil- | ling, was too pleased with his morning’s work to re+ | mind ber of the mistake, but made the best of his way to another stand. Mr. Minim made no such error, but paid his fare with two fourpenny pieces. He collected them for such occasions, ra As soon as her ladyship entered the lodging of her paramour, the clerk marked the house by care- fally copying the number in his memorandum book, ia his usual methodical style. a “JI know the number of the house,” thought the old man to himself; “now to ascertain wh» lives in 4