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67 - Mysteries of London Vol I part 1 by George W M Reynolds · Mysteries of London Vol. I part 1

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  Speaker 1: Chapter sixty four. On the same day that the above
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  Speaker 1: conversation took place, in the parlor of the boozing Kin
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  Speaker 1: on saff On Hill, Markham was seated in his library
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  Speaker 1: with several books before him. His countenance was pale and
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  Speaker 1: bore the traces of recent illness, and an air of
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  Speaker 1: profound melancholy reigned upon his handsome features. He endeavored to
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  Speaker 1: fix his attention on the volume beneath his eyes, but
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  Speaker 1: his thoughts were evidently far away from the subject of
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  Speaker 1: his studies. At length, as if to compose his mind,
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  Speaker 1: he turned abruptly towards his writing desk and took thence
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  Speaker 1: a note which he had already perused a thousand times,
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  Speaker 1: and every word of which was indelibly stamped upon his memory.
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  Speaker 1: We shall suppose a traveler upon Sarah's burning desert, sinking
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  Speaker 1: beneath fatigue and oppressed by thirst, the agony of which
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  Speaker 1: becomes maddening. Presently he reaches a well. It is deep
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  Speaker 1: and difficult of access. Neithertheless, the traveler's life or death
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  Speaker 1: reposes at the bottom of that well. In like manner
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  Speaker 1: did Markham's only hope lie in that letter. No wonder then,
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  Speaker 1: that he read it so often no marvel, that he
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  Speaker 1: referred to it when his mind was afflicted, and when
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  Speaker 1: the wing of his spirit was oppressed by the dense
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  Speaker 1: atmosphere of despair. And yet the contents of that letter
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  Speaker 1: were simple and la chronic enough. Richmond, the Countess Altrony
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  Speaker 1: presents her compliments to mister Markham and begs to acknowledge
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  Speaker 1: mister Markham's letter of yesterday's date. The Countess expresses her
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  Speaker 1: most sincere thanks for communication which prevented an arrangement that,
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  Speaker 1: under the circumstances disclosed, would have proved a serious family calametry. Yes,
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  Speaker 1: Isabella is saved, said Markham to himself, as his eyes
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  Speaker 1: wandered over the contents of that most welcome note, which
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  Speaker 1: he had received some days previously. It is impossible to
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  Speaker 1: mistake the meaning of that last sentence. She is saved,
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  Speaker 1: and I have been the instrument of her salvation. I
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  Speaker 1: have rescued her from a union with a prolifericate an adventure,
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  Speaker 1: a man of infamous heart. Surely, surely her parents will
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  Speaker 1: admit that I have paid back a portion of the
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  Speaker 1: debt of gratitude which their kindness imposed upon me. Yes,
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  Speaker 1: the Countess herself seems to hold out a hope of reconciliation.
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  Speaker 1: That note bids me hope. It is more than coldly polite,
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  Speaker 1: It is confidential. It gives me to understand the results
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  Speaker 1: of my own letter denouncing the miscreate George Montegg Greenwood.
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  Speaker 1: Richard's countenance brightened as he reasoned thus within himself. But
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  Speaker 1: in a few moments a dark cloud again displaced that
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  Speaker 1: gleam of happiness. Enthusiastic visionary that I am, he murmured
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  Speaker 1: to himself, I construe common politeness into a ground of hope.
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  Speaker 1: I fancy that every bird I see, however ill omened,
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  Speaker 1: is a dove of promise with an olive branch in
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  Speaker 1: its mouth. Alas mine is a luckless fate, and God
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  Speaker 1: alone can tell what strange destinies yet await me. He
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  Speaker 1: rose from his chair and walked to the window. The
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  Speaker 1: rain which had poured down in Torrents all morning, had ceased,
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  Speaker 1: and the afternoon was fine and a new usually warm
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  Speaker 1: for the early part of January. He glanced towards the hill,
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  Speaker 1: whereupon two trees stood, and thought of his brother, that
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  Speaker 1: much loved brother of whose fate he was kept so
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  Speaker 1: cruelly ignorant. While he was standing at the window, buried
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  Speaker 1: in profound thought, and with his eyes fixed upon the hill,
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  Speaker 1: he heard a light step near him, and in a
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  Speaker 1: moment Ellan Monroe was by his side. Do I intrude, Richard?
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  Speaker 1: She exclaimed? I knocked twice at the door, not receiving
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  Speaker 1: any reply. I imagined that there was no one here.
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  Speaker 1: I came to change a book. But you, you are
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  Speaker 1: thoughtful and depressed. I was meditating upon a topic which
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  Speaker 1: to me has always fraught with distressing ideas, answered Markham.
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  Speaker 1: I was thinking of my brother, your brother, ejaculated Ellen,
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  Speaker 1: and her countenance became ashley pale yes, continued Richard, not
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  Speaker 1: observing her emotion. I would rather know the worst, if
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  Speaker 1: misfortunes have really overtaken him, than remain in this painful
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  Speaker 1: state of suspense. If he be prosperous, why would he
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  Speaker 1: stay away I poor? Why does he not seek consolation
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  Speaker 1: with me? Perhaps, said Ellen hesitantly, Perhaps he is in
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  Speaker 1: reality much better off than anyone who feels interested in
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  Speaker 1: him heaven nose, ejaculated Markham. But are now you observed
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  Speaker 1: that I was melancholy and dispirited? And I have told you?
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  Speaker 1: Wherefore Ellen, I must make the same charge against you,
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  Speaker 1: against me, cried the young lady with a start, while
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  Speaker 1: at the same time a deep blush suffused her cheeks. Yes,
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  Speaker 1: against you, continued Richard, now glancing towards her. You may
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  Speaker 1: think that I am joking, but I never was more
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  Speaker 1: serious in my life. For the few days that you
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  Speaker 1: have been in this house, you have been subject to
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  Speaker 1: intervals a profound depression, I repeated Ellen, the hue of
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  Speaker 1: her blushes becoming more intensely crimson as her glances sank
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  Speaker 1: confusedly beneath those of markham Alas. Ellen answered Richard, I
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  Speaker 1: have myself been too deeply initiated in the mysteries of
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  Speaker 1: adversity and sorrow. I have drunk too deeply of the
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  Speaker 1: cup of affliction. I have experienced too much bitter, bitter
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  Speaker 1: anguish not to be able to detect the presence of
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  Speaker 1: unhappiness in others. And by many signs, Ellen, I have
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  Speaker 1: discovered that you are unhappy. I speak to you as
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  Speaker 1: a friend. I do not wish to penetrate into your secrets.
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  Speaker 1: But if there be anything in which I can aid you,
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  Speaker 1: if there be aught within my poor services or my consuls,
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  Speaker 1: may be rendered available. Speak command me, Oh, Richard, cried Ellen,
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  Speaker 1: tears starting into her eyes. How kind, how generous of
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  Speaker 1: you to think of me, you who have already done
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  Speaker 1: so much for my father and myself? Were you not
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  Speaker 1: the companion of my childhood? Ellen? And should I not
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  Speaker 1: be you as a brother and you to me as
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  Speaker 1: a sister? Let me be your brother, then, and tell
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  Speaker 1: me how I can alleviate the weight of that unhappiness
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  Speaker 1: which is crushing your young heart a brother, exclaimed Ellen
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  Speaker 1: most wildly. Yes, you shall. You must be a brother
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  Speaker 1: to me, and I will be your sister. Ah, there
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  Speaker 1: is consolation in that idea. Then, after a moment's pause,
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  Speaker 1: she added, but the time is not yet come when I,
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  Speaker 1: as a sister, shall appeal to you as a brother
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  Speaker 1: for that aid which a brother alone can give. And
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  Speaker 1: until then ask me no more, speak to me, no
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  Speaker 1: farther upon the subject I employ you. Ellen pressed Richard's
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  Speaker 1: hand convulsively, and then hurried from the room. Markham had
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  Speaker 1: scarcely recovered from the astonishment into which these last words
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  Speaker 1: had thrown him, words which coming from the lips of
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  Speaker 1: a young and beautiful girl, were fraught with additional mystery
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  Speaker 1: and interest. When Whittingham entered the library a young lad.
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  Speaker 1: Master Richard said, the old butler has called about the
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  Speaker 1: situation which is vacated in our household. I took the
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  Speaker 1: precaution of leaving a word yesterday with the people at
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  Speaker 1: a public a most dubiable respectability called the servant's arms
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  Speaker 1: where I call now and then when I go into town.
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  Speaker 1: And it appears that this young lad, having called in
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  Speaker 1: there quite perspicuously this morning, heard of the place. Let
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  Speaker 1: him step in, Whittingham said, Markham, I will speak to him, although,
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  Speaker 1: to tell you the truth, I do not admire a
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  Speaker 1: public house recommendation. Whittingham made no reply, but opening the door, exclaimed,
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  Speaker 1: step in here, young man, step in here. And Henry
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  Speaker 1: Holford stood in the presence of Richard Markham. Whittingham retired,
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  Speaker 1: I believe you are in want of a young lad, Sir,
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  Speaker 1: said Holford, to assist in the house, I am, answered Markham.
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  Speaker 1: Have you ever served in that capacity before? No, Sir,
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  Speaker 1: If you would take me and give me a trial,
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  Speaker 1: I should feel very much obliged. I have neither father
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  Speaker 1: or mother, am totally dependent upon my own exertions. These
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  Speaker 1: words were quite sufficient to command the attention and sympathy
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  Speaker 1: of the generous hearted Richard. The lad was moreover of
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  Speaker 1: superior manners and well spoken, and there was something in
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  Speaker 1: his appeal to Markham which was very touching. What have
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  Speaker 1: you been before, my good lad to tell you the truth, sir?
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  Speaker 1: Was the reply, I have been a simple pop boy
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  Speaker 1: in a public house. And of course the landlord will
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  Speaker 1: give you a character, yes, for honesty and industry, sir.
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  Speaker 1: But but what I do not think it is of
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  Speaker 1: any use to apply to the landlord for a character,
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  Speaker 1: because because what demanded Markham, seeing the young man again, hesitated.
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  Speaker 1: If you can have a character for honesty and industry,
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  Speaker 1: you need not be afraid of anything else that could
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  Speaker 1: be said of you. The truth is, sir, answered Holford.
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  Speaker 1: I absented myself without leave and remained away for two
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  Speaker 1: or three days. Then when I returned this morning at
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  Speaker 1: a very early hour, I refuse to give an account
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  Speaker 1: of my proceedings. That is the whole truth, sir, And
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  Speaker 1: if you would only give me a trial. There is
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  Speaker 1: something very straightforward and ingenuous about you, said Markham. Perhaps
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  Speaker 1: you would have no objection to tell me how you
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  Speaker 1: were occupied during your absence. That, sir, is impossible but
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  Speaker 1: I declare most solemnly that I did nothing for which
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  Speaker 1: I can reproach myself, unless, added Holford, it was in
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  Speaker 1: leading a couple of villains to believe that I would
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  Speaker 1: do a certain thing which I never once intended to do. Really,
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  Speaker 1: your answers are so strange, cried Richard, that I know
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  Speaker 1: not what to say to you. It, however, appears from
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  Speaker 1: your last observation that two villains tempted you to do
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  Speaker 1: something wrong, that you led them to believe you would
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  Speaker 1: fall into their plans, and that you never meant to
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  Speaker 1: fulfill your promise. It is all perfectly true, sir. They
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  Speaker 1: proposed a certain scheme in which I was to be
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  Speaker 1: an agent. I accepted the office they assigned to me
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  Speaker 1: because it suited my disposition, and promised to gratify my
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  Speaker 1: curiosity in a way where it was deeply interested. And
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  Speaker 1: how did you explain your conduct to the two men
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  Speaker 1: whom you speak of, inquired Richard, not knowing what to
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  Speaker 1: think of the young lad, but half inclining to believe
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  Speaker 1: that his brain was affected. I invented certain excuses, sir.
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  Speaker 1: Was Holfert's reply, which completely dampened their ardor in the
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  Speaker 1: matter alluded to. And now, sir, will you give me
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  Speaker 1: a trial? I feel convinced you will, and I not
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  Speaker 1: thought so from the very beginning. I should not have
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  Speaker 1: spoken so freely as I have done. I am disposed
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  Speaker 1: to assist you. I am desirous to meet your wishes,
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  Speaker 1: said Markham. Still you're a present. Cents are rather calculated
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  Speaker 1: to awaken fears than clear up doubts concerning you. What
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  Speaker 1: guarantee can you offer that you will never see those
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  Speaker 1: two villains again? What security, sir? Said Holford. Your own
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  Speaker 1: manner is so frank and kind, so very condescending indeed
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  Speaker 1: to a poor lad like me, that I would not
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  Speaker 1: deceive you for the world. I had promised to meet
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  Speaker 1: those two men tonight for the last time, to meet
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  Speaker 1: them again, yes, sir, to receive the reward promised for
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  Speaker 1: the service which I undertook. Ah young man, cried Markham.
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  Speaker 1: This is most imprudent, if not actually criminal. And where
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  Speaker 1: was this precious interview to take place at the dark house? Sir?
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  Speaker 1: The dark house, ejaculated Markham. What a low tavern in
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  Speaker 1: brick Lane, Spittlefields the same, sir, and the names of
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  Speaker 1: the two men, demanded Richard hastily. Their right names and
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  Speaker 1: those by which they are commonly known amongst their own set,
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  Speaker 1: are very difference. At Holford, how are they known? What
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  Speaker 1: are they called? In your own infamous sphere? Cried Markham,
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  Speaker 1: his impatience amounting almost to a fever. Speak. I do
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  Speaker 1: not know whether I shall be doing right, said Holford hesitantly.
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  Speaker 1: Perhaps I have already told you too much. Speak, I say,
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  Speaker 1: cried Richard, taking Holford by the collar of his jacket.
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  Speaker 1: Speak you do not know. You cannot guess how necessary
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  Speaker 1: it is for me to have my present suspicions cleared up. Speak.
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  Speaker 1: I swear no harm shall happen to you. On the contrary,
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  Speaker 1: I will reward you if it should turn out as
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  Speaker 1: I suppose. Once more, who are these villains? They are called?
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  Speaker 1: What speak speak? The resurrection man ah and the cracksmen.
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  Speaker 1: Then I am right. My suspicions are confirmed, ejaculated Markham,
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  Speaker 1: relinquishing his hold upon Holford's jacket and throwing himself upon
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  Speaker 1: a chair. Sit down, my good lad, Sit down. You
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  Speaker 1: and I have not done with each other yet. The
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  Speaker 1: young man appeared alarm by Richard's exclamations and manners, and
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  Speaker 1: seemed undecided whether to remain where he was or attempt
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  Speaker 1: to escape. Richard divined what was passing in the lad's bosom,
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  Speaker 1: and hastened to reassure him. Sit down and fear nothing.
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  Speaker 1: I swear most solemnly that no harm shall happen to you,
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  Speaker 1: be you who or what you may. For I cannot
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  Speaker 1: suppose that you are a participator in the crimes of
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  Speaker 1: these miscreates. You would not have come to me to
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  Speaker 1: tell me all this. Oh, no providence has sent you
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  Speaker 1: hither this day. Holford took a seat, wondering how this
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  Speaker 1: extraordinary scene was to terminate. Are you aware of the
• 12:30
  Speaker 1: pursuits of those two men whom you have named? I
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  Speaker 1: mean the full extent of the atrocity of their pursuits,
• 12:35
  Speaker 1: demanded Richard, after a few moments pause. I know that
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  Speaker 1: they are body snatchers and burglars, sir, answered Holfort. Indeed,
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  Speaker 1: it was a burglary of which they would have me
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  Speaker 1: be the instrument. But oh, sir, believe me, I am
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  Speaker 1: incapable of such a crime, and the representations I have
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  Speaker 1: made to them have induced them to abandon all idea
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  Speaker 1: of it. And you are not aware, then, continued Richard,
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  Speaker 1: and They are more than body snatchers and burglars, more, sir,
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  Speaker 1: repeated Holford, in a tone of unfeigned surprise. Oh no, sir,
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  Speaker 1: how can they be more than that? They are more,
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  Speaker 1: far more, rejoined Markham with a shudder. They are murderers. Murderers,
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  Speaker 1: ejaculated Holford, starting from his chair with the mingled emotions
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  Speaker 1: of horror and alarm. Yes, murderers of the most diabolical
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  Speaker 1: and cold blooded description, said Markham. But it is too
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  Speaker 1: long a tale to tell you. Now. Let this suffice
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  Speaker 1: for you to know that I was myself upon the
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  Speaker 1: point of becoming a victim to that most infernal a
• 13:30
  Speaker 1: miscreates the resurrection man, and I should conceive that the
• 13:34
  Speaker 1: other whom you named is in all aspects as bad
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  Speaker 1: as he. Murderers, repeated Holford, his mental eyes fixed by
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  Speaker 1: a horrible and snakelike fascination upon the fearful idea now
• 13:45
  Speaker 1: suddenly engendered in his imagination. Murderers, echoed Markham solemnly. And
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  Speaker 1: through you they must be surrendered up justice through me,
• 13:55
  Speaker 1: cried Holford. Yes, through you. If you be really imbued
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  Speaker 1: with such honorable feelings as you are now professed, you
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  Speaker 1: will not hesitate for one moment in discharging this duty
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  Speaker 1: towards society, But it would be an odious act of
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  Speaker 1: treachery on my parts at Hulford. Let the men be
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  Speaker 1: what they may. If you manifest such a reluctance to
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  Speaker 1: rid the metropolis of two murderers, cried Markham angrily, I
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  Speaker 1: shall conceive that you are more intimately connected with them
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  Speaker 1: than you choose to admit. But if you imagine that
• 14:24
  Speaker 1: these villains are more innocent than I describe them, if
• 14:27
  Speaker 1: you fancy that some motive prompts me to exaggerate their infamy,
• 14:31
  Speaker 1: I will tell you that no language can enhance their guilt.
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  Speaker 1: No vengeance be too severe. Have you not heard that
• 14:37
  Speaker 1: men have disappeared in a most strange and mysterious manner
• 14:41
  Speaker 1: within the last year at the eastern end of the metropolis,
• 14:45
  Speaker 1: disappeared without leaving a trace behind them, Men who were
• 14:48
  Speaker 1: not in this situation which hurries the despairing wretch on
• 14:51
  Speaker 1: to suicide. You must have heard of this, if not,
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  Speaker 1: learn the dismal fact now from my lips. But the assassins,
• 14:58
  Speaker 1: the dark and secret of assassins of these numerous victims
• 15:01
  Speaker 1: are the wretches whom we shall this night lodge in
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  Speaker 1: the grasp of justice as you will, sir, said Holford,
• 15:08
  Speaker 1: all inspired by the solemny of Markham's voice and the
• 15:11
  Speaker 1: impressiveness of his manner. I was to meet them at
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  Speaker 1: the dark house at nine o'clock. Do you take measures
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  Speaker 1: to secure them? Most assuredly? I will, returned Markham emphatically.
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  Speaker 1: And when I think of all that you have told me,
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  Speaker 1: my good lad continued Richard, I am inclined to believe
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  Speaker 1: that you yourself would have been a victim to those
• 15:29
  Speaker 1: wretches me, exclaimed Holford, horror struck at the mere idea. Yes,
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  Speaker 1: such is now my conviction. They made an appointment with
• 15:37
  Speaker 1: you at the dark house to give you a sum
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  Speaker 1: of money. You say, yes, sir, foolish boy. Do such
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  Speaker 1: men pay their agents or accomplices who fail to fulfill
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  Speaker 1: their designs or who deceive them? Do such men part
• 15:50
  Speaker 1: with their money so readily, that money which they encounter
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  Speaker 1: so many perils to obtain? And that dark house the
• 15:56
  Speaker 1: place of your appointment. That dark house is in the
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  Speaker 1: idiate neighborhood of the headquarters of their crimes. Yes, there
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  Speaker 1: cannot be a doubt you also were to be a victim.
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  Speaker 1: My God, what a fearful danger have I encourage? Ejaculated Holford,
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  Speaker 1: shuddering from head to foot as Markham thus addressed him. Then,
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  Speaker 1: when he called to mind the ferocity with which the
• 16:18
  Speaker 1: craftsman menaced him with his knife, and the coaxing manner
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  Speaker 1: in which the resurrection man had engaged him to form
• 16:24
  Speaker 1: the appointment for the evening, he felt convinced that the
• 16:27
  Speaker 1: dread suspicion was a correct one. You say that the
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  Speaker 1: hour of meeting is fixed for nine, cried Markham, after
• 16:33
  Speaker 1: a few minutes reflection. Yes, sir, and now let me
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  Speaker 1: thank you with the most unfeigned sincerity for having thus
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  Speaker 1: saved me from a dreadful death. Your kindness and condescension
• 16:43
  Speaker 1: have led to a lengthy conversation between us, an accidents
• 16:47
  Speaker 1: has made me reveal to you those particulars which have
• 16:51
  Speaker 1: led you to form the conclusion relative to the fate
• 16:54
  Speaker 1: destined from myself. You must not imagine for a moment
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  Speaker 1: that I would lead with such villains in any of
• 16:59
  Speaker 1: their die bo plans. No, Sir, I would sooner be
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  Speaker 1: led forth to the place of execution this minute. Although
• 17:06
  Speaker 1: I consented to do their bidding in one respect. I
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  Speaker 1: repeat that I had mine own curiosity to gratify that
• 17:13
  Speaker 1: it is my own inclinations to serve. But when they
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  Speaker 1: wished to make me their instrument and tool, and forwarding
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  Speaker 1: their unholy motives, I shrank back in dismay. Oh yes, sir,
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  Speaker 1: now I comprehend the entire infamy of those men's characters.
• 17:27
  Speaker 1: I see what a fearful abyss I have escaped. There
• 17:30
  Speaker 1: was again something so sincere and so natural in the
• 17:34
  Speaker 1: manner and emphasis of this young lad that Markham surveyed
• 17:38
  Speaker 1: him with sentiments of mingled interest and surprise. Then all
• 17:42
  Speaker 1: the thoughts of our hero were directed towards the one
• 17:44
  Speaker 1: grand object he had in view, that of delivering a
• 17:47
  Speaker 1: horde of ruffians ever to justice. The gang may be
• 17:51
  Speaker 1: more numerous than I imagine, said Markham. Indeed, I know
• 17:55
  Speaker 1: that there are a third man and a hideous woman
• 17:58
  Speaker 1: connected with those two assassins whom you have already named.
• 18:02
  Speaker 1: It will therefore be advisable to lay such a trap
• 18:05
  Speaker 1: that will lead to the capture of them all. Oh,
• 18:08
  Speaker 1: by all means, sir, exclaimed Holford enthusiastically, I do not
• 18:11
  Speaker 1: wish to show them any mercy. Now we have no
• 18:14
  Speaker 1: time to lose. It is now four o'clock, said Markham,
• 18:17
  Speaker 1: and we must arrange the plan of proceeding with the police.
• 18:20
  Speaker 1: You will accompany me on this enterprise, mister Markham, returned
• 18:24
  Speaker 1: Holford respectfully but firmly. I have no objection to aid
• 18:29
  Speaker 1: you in any shape or way in capturing these miscreates
• 18:31
  Speaker 1: and rooting out their headquarters. But I must beg of
• 18:35
  Speaker 1: you not to place me in a position where I
• 18:37
  Speaker 1: shall be questioned how I came to make this appointment
• 18:39
  Speaker 1: for to night with those two wretches. It would compel
• 18:43
  Speaker 1: me to make a revelation of the manner in which
• 18:45
  Speaker 1: I employed my time during the last few days, and
• 18:48
  Speaker 1: that for certain reasons I could not do. Markham appeared
• 18:53
  Speaker 1: to reflect profoundly. I do not see how your presence
• 18:56
  Speaker 1: can be dispensed with, he observed at the expiration of
• 19:00
  Speaker 1: some minutes. In order to discover the exact spot where
• 19:03
  Speaker 1: the murderers dwell, it will be advisable for you to
• 19:06
  Speaker 1: allow yourself to be inveigled thither, and myself and the
• 19:09
  Speaker 1: police would be close behind you. Oh never, never, Sir,
• 19:12
  Speaker 1: cried Halford, turning deadly pale. Were you to miss us
• 19:16
  Speaker 1: only for a moment, or were you to force an
• 19:19
  Speaker 1: entrance a single instant too late, my life would be
• 19:22
  Speaker 1: sacrificed to those wretches. True, true, said Markham. It would
• 19:26
  Speaker 1: be too great a risk in a dark night, in
• 19:28
  Speaker 1: narrow streets, and with such desperadoes as those. No. I
• 19:33
  Speaker 1: must advise some other means to detect the dinner this
• 19:35
  Speaker 1: vile gang. But first of all I must communicate with
• 19:38
  Speaker 1: the police. You can remain here until my return tomorrow.
• 19:41
  Speaker 1: Inquiry will be made relative to your honesty and industry,
• 19:45
  Speaker 1: and those points satisfactorily ascertained, I will take you into
• 19:48
  Speaker 1: my service without asking any farther questions. Halford expressed his
• 19:52
  Speaker 1: gratitude for this kindness on the part of Markham, and
• 19:55
  Speaker 1: was then handed over to the care of Whittingham. Having
• 19:58
  Speaker 1: partaken of some hasty r refreshment and armed himself with
• 20:01
  Speaker 1: a brace of pistols in preparation for his enterprise, Richard
• 20:05
  Speaker 1: proceeded with all possible speed into London. End of Chapter
• 20:10
  Speaker 1: sixty four. Recording by Judy Geynen