The Seamstress; or, The White Slave of England — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

aan ‘78 THE SEAMSTR 89. ae 8 SE CON ENE eeeNcee n less and supperless—and I came into the park with the desperate resolution of either robbing the first gentleman I should meet, or else making a hole in the water. I did not happen to en- counter any one worth plundering—and so I was about to adopt the other course, when nature revolted against the idea of suicide just at the critical moment. Iam glad of it, because I have fallen in with you.” “And would you rob me, then?” demanded the Duke, his voice trembling—but not altogether through fear: no—it was because a secret whis- pering in the profundities of his soul appeared to tell him that Satan had now thrown in his way precisely such an instrument as his circumstances required. “Would I rob you!” ejaculated the young man, in atone of irony mingled with a brutal reckless- ness. “And why not? You have a diamond brooch in your shirt frill—a ring gleaming upon your finger—and a gold chain to your watch. All these little matters argue a well-filled purse. In addition thereto, you are stricken in years and not over powerfully built—whereas I am young, and strong as Hercules. Lastly, you are evidently rich as Dives—while I am poor as Lazarus;—and therefore if you present me with your purse, you won’t miss it—whereas it will be of wonderful service to the recipient. You seem to be a gen- tleman of sympathies as ample as vour means; and consequently you will at once comply with my little request.” During this long harangue, the Duke had leisure to form a very tolerable estimate of his new ac- quaintance’s character. The mingled flippancy, dogged resolution, and savage recklessness which marked his tone and manner, indicated the ruined gamester, reduced to the most desperate expe- dients. In fine, he was evidently one of those individuals whom the atmosphere of the gambling house and the society of blacklegs had polluted, body and soul; and who, smarting under a sense of villanous treatment on the part of the associates that had plundered him, was now ready to perpe- trate any villany in his turn. The deeper grew the insight which his Grace of Belmont was thus enabled to obtain into the young man’s character, the stronger became the impulse urging him to make use of one whom Satan appeared to have thrown so opportunely in his way. Until the circumstance of this meeting, the Duke had not for an instant contemplated a crime: such an idea, while pondering upon the perplexities into which Clementine’s outrageous demand was so well calcu- lated to plunge him, had never entered his head. But the Evil One had doubtless found the occasion favourable for enmeshing the Duke still more com- pletely than ever in his toils;—and thus was the temptation thrown in his way. The first spark fires in a moment a complete train of ideas in the mind that is diseased ;—and no sooner does the thought of a crime take its inception in the soul of man, than its chances of success, contingent danger, and probable security are all calculated in an instant. The imagination travels through the vista of the whole prospect of turpitude and all its associated circumstances, as rapidly as the intelligence of a murder just committed runs along the wire of the electric telegraph. — “And thus is it,” said the Duke, in a musing tone, as he fixed his eyes upon the stranger’s coun- tenance, “that you would rob meif I were to refuse your demand for assistance P” * Swindlers and scoundrels have robbed me of thirty thousand pounds,” was the answer: “and I am not therefore very likely to be particular how or whence I get back a portion of my moncy.” “Your case is, then, so very desperate ?” said the Duke, trembling all over with the nervous excite- ment of the thoughts that were gaining the ascen- dancy in his mind. “‘ Desperate |!” ejaculated the young man, with an ironical laugh. ‘“ When I tell you that I have not eaten a morsel since yesterday—that I have been turned out of my lodging—that I am friend- less—and that I carry all my wardrobe upon my back, you can judge whether all this be not enough to make a man desperate. But I begin to see your object, sir,’ he exclaimed more hastily and menac- ingly: “you are endeavouring to gain time, in tho hope that some one will pass this way ard help you to resist me—perhaps to take me into custody. Now then, sir—as I would sooner drown myself than go to prison—and as my ¢ircumstances are so desperate, please to tell me your decision at once. Will you give me your purse P—or shall I take it?” “T will give it to you—cheerfully,” answered the Duke, without a moment’s hesitation. “It is heavy —there may be a matter of fifty or sixty pounds there, in gold and notes.” “Upon mv honour, the gift is well worth thank- ing you for, most charitable and munificent sir !” exclaimed the young man, as he clutched the purse sreedily. ‘But surely you have not bestowed this upon me without a motive? Such a sum of money was worth a struggle on your part, fo save it from the robber’s grasp. You are either aman of the most incomprehensible benevolence—or else you have some ulterior object in view. Which opinion am I to adopt?” “The latter, if you will,” said the Duke. “In plain terms, I want the assistance of a man whose circumstances will prompt him to do anything for gold. Mark you, anything—no matter how des- perate or how criminal.” “As a matter of course,” interjected the ruined gamester, “the price will be in proportion to the nature of the service required P” ‘ Beyond all doubt,” exclaimed the Duke. “ Have I not just convineed you that Tam inclined to be liberal ?” «Tho earnest is a fair one,” said the young man; “and taking it as a sample, I like your mode of doing business.” «Then you are prepared to serve me—to any extent?” demanded the Duke. “Yes—to any extent,” returned the gambler. “Of course I can see by all this prefatory matter on your part, that it’s no milk-and-water concern in which my assistance is needed. Perhaps if I may venture a guess, the affair is more the colour of blood than of sky-blue P” « Blood!” ejaculated the Duke, witha start, as the ominous word fell upon his ears: then, instantly recovering himself, he said, “And if your surmise were correct, should you hesitate ?” “Not a whit!” cried the young man. “Let me digest my capabilities into a succinct tariff—a sort Gomichooks Pam thee oy onpitos rrr 0 ek oh tee kha Lay te tS