Rosa Lambert — page 368: what you’re looking at

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

ROSA LAMBERT. we completely overpowered Sir James Thornley ; and stripping off the splendid flowered dressing-gown which he had on, we mercilessly tore it into several Jengths,—wherewith we at- tached him to the trunk of one of the trees in his own garden,—the gag still remaining in his mouth. “Now, vile old man!” I said, “ the tables are turned against you. Ah! doubtless you thought that before you retired to rest, you would just take a glimpse to assure yourself that all was safe, and that your prisoner was in secure custody: but you arrived in the very nick of time to witness my escape. Take care that 1 do not yet find some means to wreak a still more bitter vengeance upon ou!” : “Come, Miss—come!” exclaimed Thomas im- patiently: “the household may get alarmed !” “ Unless you manage to thrust the gag pretty soon out of your mouth,” I said to the old man, “you will perhaps have to remain here all night : for no one will come to your assistance if you do not call for it.” The nabob’s countenance was perfectly hideous with the impotent rage which convulsed it; and I must candidly confess that I experienced a deep malignant pleasure at being enabled to inflict upon him this humiliating punishment. Thomas and I proceeded towards the back gate,--which two or three hard kicks on his part soon burst open; and as we emerged forth from the premises, he said, ‘I have got a vehicle waiting close at hand.” “Does Lord Ilderton know of all this?” I had now leisure to inquire. “ Nothing, Miss,” responded Thomas. “I was not able to communicate with his lordship—or I should have done so. Yesterday, after all the dis- turbance took place, and when you were locked up in the laundry, the nabob sent for me into his pre- sence—gave me a good scolding for having carried letters between his lordship and yourself—and then ended by telling me that he would look over my conduct, and that he would raise my wages if I would behave better for the future. I pretended to be very penitent: but I had all along made up my mind to do you a service if I could—for I was quite sure that if I lost my place at Albion House in consequence, you and his lordship would not let me suffer.” “On the contrary, you will be well rewarded,” | IT exclaimed. “ But what else did the Baronet say to your” 3 “He told me, Miss, that I was not to stir out of the house on any pretence for some days to come; and then he put a five-pound note in my hand, telling me that I should find it better worth my while to serve his interests than those of any one else. Iam sure that he bade the other ser- vants keep an eye upon me, by the manner in which I was watched all yesterday evening after you were locked up, and throughout the greater part of to-day. However, I managed to get into the shrubbery for a few minutes to send the arrow flying in at the laundry window 4 ‘The device was excellent !”’ I observed. “ But how did you manage to get on the roof of the house ?” “T stole down stairs at about a quarter to twelve o’clock; and as I knew that Sir James had ordered all the keys to be taken up to his room, so that no silk | ‘made them all your enemies. isaw such a spiteful old fellow! one should open any of the doors to get out of the house, I crept out of one of the dining-room windows. I went round into the stable-yard—got the rope and a bit of wood, which I happened to know were there—and then put the ladder against one of the jutting out-buildings. Getting on the top of this building, I drew up the ladder, and raised it avainst the side of *the house. When safe on the top, I wound the rope in such a way round the chimney that there was no chance of letting you down with arun: but my great fear was that you would be afraid to trust yourself to that machine —and I could not possibly contrive a better.” ‘ You see, nevertheless, that I did have the courage. But if Sir James had happened to make his round only a few minutes earlier than he was issuing forth for the purpose ie ‘All would have been lost,” added Thomas; “for he bribed every servant in the place, and [I never in my life But won’t he wonder how on earth you could have got down from that laundry-window? The door is locked and bolted—and he has got the key. I put the ladder and the rope back into their places: for I thought it would be a good piece of fun to mystify him on the point. But here’s the vehicle—and now, Miss, where will you go?” The preceding conversation had brought us into the main road to Ryde, at a distance of about a quarter of a mile from Albion House; and there I found a fly, which Thomas in his foresight had hired, waiting for me. For I may as well observe here—though I did not learn it till afterwards— that he had contrived to slip out for half-an-hour in the evening for the purpose of making the ar- rangement in respect to the vehicle. “You must remember,” I said, in a hasty whisper to the faithful attendant, “that I am absolutely penniless; and I have particular reasons for not going to Ryde :”’—these reasons being on account of Lord Ilderton’s relations, though I did not choose to specify them to the domestic. “If you won’t be offended, Miss,” he answered, “here’s a matter of twelve pounds, to which you are welcome. Five are what the nabob gave me yesterday; and he little thought the use they would be put to.” “Let us proceed to Cowes,” I said; “and thence we will go to-morrow to Southampton.” To be brief, my plan was carried out; and on the day, as well as at the place and hour ap- pointed, I was joined by Ilderton. CHAPTER XLVIIL THE STRATAGEM. LoRrD ILDERTON was as much amazed as indignant on hearing of the treatment which I had expe- rienced at the hands of the nabob. He at once took the faithful Thomas into his service—repaid him the money he had lent me—and made him a handsome present into the bargain. He told me that his sister’s wedding had taken place on the preceding day, and that he was now completely master of his own time. “As for all the jewels and other valuables of | a re a Os A TE A TS EE cl SL A LE A ET I TS (EO) 6)(0)(0) cS (EO)