The Seamstress; or, The White Slave of England — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

THE SEAMSTRESS. 79 of graduated scale of the prices for which LT am| “I cannot do otherwise,’ was the response, prepared to sell myself, body and soul. Well, then, | “You have given me the most satisfactory proof a highway robbery, one hundred pounds—a bur- | that can possibly be afforded under such circum- glary, where the house is liable to be watched by | stances, But at the same time, I think it right the police, two hundred and fifty—an incendiary | to inform you that when we meet on the next fire, four hundred; because the deed is a cowardly | occasion I shall come provided with two pistols one, save and except for a political motive—a child | charged to the muzzle—and that if there be any murder, six hundred—the murder of an adult male, | symptom or sign of treachery on your part, I shall eight hundred—and of a female, a thousand. | take the liberty of blowing out your brains. This Those are my terms: cash payment beforehand— | will furnish occupation for one pistol—and the other as I must respectfully decline to do business upon | shall perform a similarly agreeable office for my own credit.” : self, should I incur a chance of being captured. “But is this all in jest, or in earnest?” de- | The truth is, my circumstances will not allow me to manded the Duke, shuddering with a cold tremor | be particular: hence this readiness on my part to at the horrible deliberation with which his ‘new | sell myself body andsoul unto you. At thesame time acquaintance unbosomed all those sanguinary de- | I have an awful dread of the polluting touch of a tails. policeman and of the insalubrious atmosphere of “Ought I not rather to ask whether you are in | Newgate. But you will admit that these little earnest ?” exclaimed the thorough-paced villain. weaknesses are pardonable enough.” “You have a guarantee anda proof that I am, You can bring your pistols if you will,” said the in the contents of the purse which I have given you,” | Duke, scarcely able to conceal his disgust at the was the Duke of Belmont’s reply. rakish flippaney which characterised the young “T accept the boon as such,” observed the young | man’s words, tone, and demeanour. “This day man. “And now, are we not growing towards a | week, at ten o’clock in the evening, we shall meet point ?—or do you mean to continue beating about | here again.” the bush for another half-hour ?” ** Agreed, most benevolent sir,” was the response: We can come to no further understanding to- The Duke and the gamester then separated—the night,” said the Duke. “This day week we will | former returning to his palatial mansion in Grosve- encounter each other again—at the same place and | nor Square, and the latter hurrying off to one of the hour.” “hells” in which the fashionable quarter of St “When you will come with a dozen policemen | James’s abounds. at your back,” remarked the gamester, bluntly. “J am not to be caught so easily.” “ What good would your arrest do me, fool ?” exclaimed the Duke, contemptuously, “What good doesthe arrest of a man ever do his fellow-creature?” asked the young villain. ** And yet arrests are constantly taking place.” “True,” saidthe nobleman. ‘“ But while we have been exchanging these last few observations, you have not noticed that the sounds of horses’ feet were approsching. Hark! these are doubtless a couple of mounted police advancing—ard now if I raised an alarm, your capture would be inevitable. But I shall remain silent—and then you will believe that I harbour no sinister intentions toward you.” The eyes of the ruined gamester seemed to shine with a vivid lustre as he fixed them penetratingly and searchingly upon the countenance of the Duke, while the latter gave utterance to the concluding portion of his remarks. The nobleman saw that | Indeed, he felt convinced that either accident or his new acquaintance was endeavouring to read the | Satan’s agency had thrown in his way as thorough- thoughts that were passing in the inmost recesses | paced and complete a villain as ever was prepared of his soul: and, stepping farther forth from the | to commit a crime and only wanted the opportunity. shade, he said, “I do not shun your scrutiny— | Another gift of fifty guineas was the ruined rake’s because I meditate nothing which you might cad | reward for keeping this second appointment; and treachery after the discourse that has taken place | a third was arranged to take place at the expiration between us.” of another fortnight. “JT am satisfied—and shall trust you,” returned) On this last occasion the Duke of Belmont the gamester: but it was not without a certain feel- opened his mind without reserve to the young man; ing of uneasiness that he remained in the Duke’s and, as he had expected, he found him ready and company while the horsemen were passing. willing to undertake the business thus proposed. As his Grace had surmised, they were two of the | The amount of reward was agreed upon and a por- mounted police who were riding leisurely through | tion of it paid in advance: arrangements were made the park towards Kensington Gardens; and not | for the settlement of the remainder—and full in- until they were at a considerable distance again, | structions were given by the ducdl employer to his did the Duke of Belmont break the silence which | agent in the contemplated iniquity. Having thus he observed as they were going by. arrived at a complete understanding, they separated “ Now do you believe me?” he demanded. once more, aE CHAPTER XXV THE DUKES MACHINATIONS. THE appointment between his Grace of Belmont and the ruined gambler was duly kept: but the former did not completely unbosom his intentions and aims. He merely sounded his new acquaint- ance more fully than he had been enabled to do on the first occasion of their meeting; and the result was as satisfactory as he could wish. Putting an- other purse, containing fifty guineas, into the young man’s hand, the Duke made another appointment for a week later; and again did they separate. This second appointment was kept as punctually as the former one; and the nobleman obtained a cemmcncannnmn nee LL LL tant CORNICE OOOKS still farther insight into the gamester’s character. . (SO)