THE
MYSTERIES
OF
LONDON
.
BY
GEORGE
W
.
M
.
REYNOLDS
,
AUTHOR
OF
"
PICKWICK
ABROAD
,
"
"
THE
MODERN
LITERATURE
OF
FRANCE
,
"
"
ROBERT
MACAIRE
,
"
ETC.
WITH
NUMEROUS
ILLUSTRATIONS
BY
G
.
STIFF
.
VOL.
I
.
LONDON
:
GEORGE
VICKERS
,
3
,
CATHERINE
STREET
,
STRAND
.
MDCCCXLVI
.
THE
MYSTERIES
OF
LONDON
.
PROLOGUE
.
BETWEEN
the
10th
and
13th
centuries
Civilisation
withdrew
from
Egypt
and
Syria
,
rested
for
a
little
space
at
Constantinople
,
and
then
passed
away
to
the
western
climes
of
Europe
.
From
that
period
these
climes
have
been
the
grand
laboratory
in
which
Civilisation
has
wrought
out
refinement
in
every
art
and
every
science
,
and
whence
it
has
diffused
its
benefits
over
the
earth
.
It
has
taught
commerce
to
plough
the
waves
of
every
sea
with
the
adventurous
keel
;
it
has
enabled
handfuls
of
disciplined
warriors
to
subdue
the
mighty
armaments
of
oriental
princes
;
and
its
daring
sons
have
planted
its
banners
amidst
the
eternal
ice
of
the
poles
.
It
has
cut
down
the
primitive
forests
of
America
;
carried
trade
into
the
interior
of
Africa
;
annihilated
time
and
distance
by
the
aid
of
steam
;
and
now
contemplates
how
to
force
a
passage
through
Suez
and
Panama
.
The
bounties
of
Civilisation
are
at
present
almost
everywhere
recognised
.
Nevertheless
,
for
centuries
has
Civilisation
established
,
and
for
centuries
will
it
maintain
,
its
headquarters
in
the
great
cities
of
Western
Europe
:
and
with
Civilisation
does
Vice
go
hand-in-hand
.
Amongst
these
cities
there
is
one
in
which
contrasts
of
a
strange
nature
exist
.
The
most
unbounded
wealth
is
the
neighbour
of
the
most
hideous
poverty
;
the
most
gorgeous
pomp
is
placed
in
strong
relief
by
the
most
deplorable
squalor
;
the
most
seducing
luxury
is
only
separated
by
a
narrow
wall
from
the
most
appalling
misery
.
The
crumbs
which
fall
from
the
tables
of
the
rich
would
appear
delicious
viands
to
starving
millions
;
and
yet
those
millions
obtain
them
not
!
In
that
city
there
are
in
all
districts
five
prominent
buildings
:
the
church
,
in
which
the
pious
pray
;
the
gin-palace
,
to
which
the
wretched
poor
resort
to
drown
their
sorrows
;
the
pawnbroker
's
,
where
miserable
creatures
pledge
their
raiment
,
and
their
children
's
raiment
,
even
unto
the
last
rag
,
to
obtain
the
means
of
purchasing
food
,
and
—
alas
!
too
often
—
intoxicating
drink
;
the
prison
,
where
the
victims
of
a
vitiated
condition
of
society
expiate
the
crimes
to
which
they
have
been
driven
by
starvation
and
despair
;
and
the
workhouse
,
to
which
the
destitute
,
the
aged
,
and
the
friendless
hasten
to
lay
down
their
aching
heads
—
and
die
!
And
,
congregated
together
in
one
district
of
this
city
,
in
an
assemblage
of
palaces
,
whence
emanate
by
night
the
delicious
sounds
of
music
;
within
whose
walls
the
foot
treads
upon
rich
carpets
;
whose
sideboards
are
covered
with
plate
;
whose
cellars
contain
the
choicest
nectar
of
the
temperate
and
torrid
zones
;
and
whose
inmates
recline
beneath
velvet
canopies
,
feast
at
each
meal
upon
the
collated
produce
of
four
worlds
,
and
scarcely
have
to
breathe
a
wish
before
they
find
it
gratified
.
Alas
!
how
appalling
are
these
contrasts
!
And
,
as
if
to
hide
its
infamy
from
the
face
of
heaven
,
this
city
wears
upon
its
brow
an
everlasting
cloud
,
which
even
the
fresh
fan
of
the
morning
fails
to
disperse
for
a
single
hour
each
day
!
And
in
one
delicious
spot
of
that
mighty
city
—
whose
thousand
towers
point
upwards
,
from
horizon
to
horizon
,
as
an
index
of
its
boundless
magnitude
—
stands
the
dwelling
of
one
before
whom
all
knees
bow
,
and
towards
whose
royal
footstool
none
dares
approach
save
with
downcast
eyes
and
subdued
voice
.
The
entire
world
showers
its
bounties
upon
the
head
of
that
favoured
mortal
;
a
nation
of
millions
does
homage
to
the
throne
whereon
that
being
is
exalted
.
The
dominion
of
this
personage
so
supremely
blest
extends
over
an
empire
on
which
the
sun
never
sets
—
an
empire
greater
than
Jenghiz
Khan
achieved
or
Mohammed
conquered
.
This
is
the
parent
of
a
mighty
nation
;
and
yet
around
that
parent
's
seat
the
children
crave
for
bread
!
Women
press
their
little
ones
to
their
dried-up
breasts
in
the
agonies
of
despair
;
young
delicate
creatures
waste
their
energies
in
toil
from
the
dawn
of
day
till
long
past
the
hour
of
midnight
,
perpetuating
their
unavailing
labour
from
the
hour
of
the
brilliant
sun
to
that
when
the
dim
candle
sheds
its
light
around
the
attic
's
naked
walls
;
and
even
the
very
pavement
groans
beneath
the
weight
of
grief
which
the
poor
are
doomed
to
drag
over
the
rough
places
of
this
city
of
sad
contrasts
.
For
in
this
city
the
daughter
of
the
peer
is
nursed
in
enjoyments
,
and
passes
through
an
uninterrupted
avenue
of
felicity
from
the
cradle
to
the
tomb
;
while
the
daughter
of
poverty
opens
her
eyes
at
her
birth
upon
destitution
in
all
its
most
appalling
shapes
,
and
at
length
sells
her
virtue
for
a
loaf
of
bread
.
There
are
but
two
words
known
in
the
moral
alphabet
of
this
great
city
;
for
all
virtues
are
summed
up
in
the
one
,
and
all
vices
in
the
other
:
and
those
words
are
WEALTH
.
|
POVERTY
.
Crime
is
abundant
in
this
city
:
the
lazar-house
,
the
prison
,
the
brothel
,
and
the
dark
alley
,
are
rife
with
all
kinds
of
enormity
;
in
the
same
way
as
the
palace
,
the
mansion
,
the
clubhouse
,
the
parliament
,
and
the
parsonage
,
are
each
and
all
characterised
by
their
different
degrees
and
shades
of
vice
.
But
wherefore
specify
crime
and
vice
by
their
real
names
,
since
in
this
city
of
which
we
speak
they
are
absorbed
in
the
multi-significant
words
—
Wealth
and
Poverty
?
Crimes
borrow
their
comparative
shade
of
enormity
from
the
people
who
perpetrate
them
:
thus
is
it
that
the
wealthy
may
commit
all
social
offences
with
impunity
;
while
the
poor
are
cast
into
dungeons
and
coerced
with
chains
,
for
only
following
at
a
humble
distance
in
the
pathway
of
their
lordly
precedents
.
From
this
city
of
strange
contrasts
branch
off
two
roads
,
leading
to
two
points
totally
distinct
the
one
from
the
other
.
One
winds
its
tortuous
way
through
all
the
noisome
dens
,
of
crime
,
chicanery
,
dissipation
,
and
voluptuousness
:
the
other
meanders
amidst
rugged
rocks
and
wearisome
acclivities
,
it
is
true
,
but
on
the
wayside
are
the
resting-places
of
rectitude
and
virtue
.
Along
those
roads
two
youths
are
journeying
.
They
have
started
from
the
same
point
;
but
one
pursues
the
former
path
,
and
the
other
the
latter
.
Both
come
from
the
city
of
fearful
contrasts
;
and
both
follow
the
wheels
of
fortune
in
different
directions
.
Where
is
that
city
of
fearful
contrasts
?
Who
are
those
youths
that
have
thus
entered
upon
paths
so
opposite
the
one
to
the
other
?
And
to
what
destinies
do
those
separate
roads
conduct
them
?
CHAPTER
I
.
THE
OLD
HOUSE
IN
SMITHFIELD
.
OUR
narrative
opens
at
the
commencement
of
July
,
1831.
The
night
was
dark
and
stormy
.
The
sun
had
set
behind
huge
piles
of
dingy
purple
clouds
,
which
,
after
losing
the
golden
hue
with
which
they
were
for
awhile
tinged
,
became
sombre
and
menacing
.
The
blue
portions
of
the
sky
that
here
and
there
had
appeared
before
the
sunset
,
were
now
rapidly
covered
over
with
those
murky
clouds
which
are
the
hiding-places
of
the
storm
,
and
which
seemed
to
roll
themselves
together
in
dense
and
compact
masses
,
ere
they
commenced
the
elemental
war
.
In
the
same
manner
do
the
earthly
squadrons
of
cavalry
and
mighty
columns
of
infantry
form
themselves
into
one
collected
armament
,
that
the
power
of
their
onslaught
may
be
the
more
terrific
and
irresistible
.
That
canopy
of
dark
and
threatening
clouds
was
formed
over
London
;
and
a
stifling
heat
,
which
there
was
not
a
breath
of
wind
to
allay
or
mitigate
,
pervaded
the
streets
of
the
great
metropolis
.
Everything
portended
an
awful
storm
.
In
the
palace
of
the
peer
and
the
hovel
of
the
artisan
the
windows
were
thrown
up
;
and
at
many
,
both
men
and
women
stood
to
contemplate
the
scene
—
timid
children
crowding
behind
them
.
The
heat
became
more
and
more
oppressive
.
At
length
large
drops
of
rain
fell
,
at
intervals
of
two
or
three
inches
apart
,
upon
the
pavement
.
And
then
a
flash
of
lightning
,
like
the
forked
tongue
of
one
of
those
fiery
serpents
of
which
we
read
in
oriental
tales
of
magic
and
enchantment
,
darted
forth
from
the
black
clouds
overhead
.
At
an
interval
of
a
few
seconds
the
roar
of
the
thunder
,
reverberating
through
the
arches
of
heaven
—
now
sinking
,
now
exalting
its
fearful
tone
,
like
the
iron
wheels
of
a
chariot
rolled
over
a
road
with
patches
of
uneven
pavement
here
and
there
—
stunned
every
ear
,
and
struck
terror
into
many
a
heart
—
the
innocent
as
well
as
the
guilty
.
It
died
away
,
like
the
chariot
,
in
the
distance
;
and
then
all
was
solemnly
still
.
The
interval
of
silence
which
succeeds
the
protracted
thunder-clap
is
appalling
in
the
extreme
.
A
little
while
—
and
again
the
lightning
illuminated
the
entire
vault
above
:
and
again
the
thunder
,
in
unequal
tones
,
—
amongst
which
was
one
resembling
the
rattling
of
many
vast
iron
bars
together
,
—
awoke
every
echo
of
the
metropolis
from
north
to
south
,
and
from
east
to
west
.
This
time
the
dread
interval
of
silence
was
suddenly
interrupted
by
the
torrents
of
rain
that
now
deluged
the
streets
.
There
was
not
a
breath
of
air
;
and
the
rain
fell
as
perpendicularly
straight
as
a
line
.
But
with
it
came
a
sense
of
freshness
and
of
a
pure
atmosphere
,
which
formed
an
agreeable
and
cheering
contrast
to
the
previously
suffocating
heat
.
It
was
like
the
spring
of
the
oasis
to
the
wanderer
in
the
burning
desert
.
But
still
the
lightning
played
,
and
the
thunder
rolled
,
above
.
At
the
first
explosion
of
the
storm
,
amidst
the
thousands
of
men
and
women
and
children
,
who
were
seen
hastening
hither
and
thither
,
in
all
directions
,
as
if
they
were
flying
from
the
plague
,
was
one
person
on
whose
exterior
none
could
gaze
without
being
inspired
with
a
mingled
sentiment
of
admiration
and
interest
.
He
was
a
youth
,
apparently
not
more
than
sixteen
years
of
age
,
although
taller
than
boys
usually
are
at
that
period
of
life
.
But
the
tenderness
of
his
years
was
divined
by
the
extreme
effeminacy
and
juvenile
loveliness
of
his
countenance
,
which
was
as
fair
and
delicate
as
that
of
a
young
girl
.
His
long
luxuriant
hair
,
of
a
beautiful
light
chestnut
colour
,
and
here
and
there
borrowing
dark
shades
from
the
frequent
undulations
in
which
it
rolled
,
flowed
not
only
over
the
collar
of
his
closely-buttoned
blue
frock
coat
,
but
also
upon
his
shoulders
.
Its
extreme
profusion
,
and
the
singular
manner
in
which
he
wore
it
,
were
,
however
,
partially
concealed
by
the
breadth
of
the
brim
of
his
hat
,
that
was
placed
as
it
were
entirely
upon
the
back
of
his
head
,
and
,
being
thus
thrown
off
his
countenance
,
revealed
the
high
,
intelligent
,
and
polished
forehead
above
which
that
rich
hair
was
carefully
parted
.
His
frock
coat
,
which
was
single-breasted
,
and
buttoned
up
to
the
throat
,
set
off
his
symmetrical
and
elegant
figure
to
the
greatest
advantage
.
His
shoulders
were
broad
,
but
were
characterised
by
that
fine
fall
or
slope
which
is
so
much
admired
in
the
opposite
sex
.
He
wore
spurs
upon
the
heels
of
his
diminutive
polished
boots
;
and
in
his
hand
he
carried
a
light
riding-whip
.
But
he
was
upon
foot
and
alone
;
and
,
when
the
first
flash
of
lightning
dazzled
his
expressive
hazel
eyes
,
he
was
hastily
traversing
the
foul
and
filthy
arena
of
Smithfield-market
.
An
imagination
poetically
inspired
would
suppose
a
similitude
of
a
beautiful
flower
upon
a
fetid
manure
heap
.
He
cast
a
glance
,
which
may
almost
be
termed
one
of
affright
,
around
;
and
his
cheek
became
flushed
.
He
had
evidently
lost
his
way
,
and
was
uncertain
where
to
obtain
an
asylum
against
the
coming
storm
.
The
thunder
burst
above
his
head
;
and
a
momentary
shudder
passed
over
his
frame
.
He
accosted
a
man
to
inquire
his
way
;
but
the
answer
he
received
was
rude
,
and
associated
with
a
ribald
joke
.
He
had
not
courage
to
demand
a
second
time
the
information
he
sought
;
but
,
with
a
species
of
haughty
disdain
at
the
threatening
storm
,
and
a
proud
reliance
upon
himself
,
proceeded
onwards
at
random
.
He
even
slackened
his
pace
:
a
contemptuous
smile
curled
his
lips
,
and
the
glittering
white
teeth
appeared
as
it
were
between
two
rose-leaves
.
His
chest
,
which
was
very
prominent
,
rose
up
and
down
almost
convulsively
;
for
it
was
evident
that
he
endeavoured
to
master
conflicting
feelings
of
vexation
,
alarm
,
and
disgust
—
all
produced
by
the
position
in
which
he
found
himself
.
To
one
so
young
,
so
delicate
,
and
so
frank
in
appearance
,
the
mere
fact
of
losing
his
way
by
night
in
a
disgusting
neighbourhood
,
during
an
impending
storm
,
and
insulted
by
a
low-life
ruffian
,
was
not
the
mere
trifle
which
it
would
have
been
considered
by
the
hardy
and
experienced
man
of
the
world
.
Not
a
public
conveyance
was
to
be
seen
;
and
the
doors
of
all
the
houses
around
appeared
inhospitably
closed
:
and
every
moment
it
seemed
to
grow
darker
.
Accident
conducted
the
interesting
young
stranger
into
that
labyrinth
of
narrow
and
dirty
streets
which
lies
in
the
immediate
vicinity
of
the
north-western
angle
of
Smithfield-market
.
It
was
in
this
horrible
neighbourhood
that
the
youth
was
now
wandering
.
He
was
evidently
shocked
at
the
idea
that
human
beings
could
dwell
in
such
fetid
and
unwholesome
dens
;
for
he
gazed
with
wonder
,
disgust
,
and
alarm
upon
the
houses
on
either
side
.
It
seemed
as
if
he
had
never
beheld
till
now
a
labyrinth
of
dwellings
whose
very
aspect
appeared
to
speak
of
hideous
poverty
and
fearful
crime
.
Meantime
the
lightning
flashed
,
and
the
thunder
rolled
;
and
at
length
the
rain
poured
down
in
torrents
.
Obeying
a
mechanical
impulse
,
the
youth
rushed
up
the
steps
of
a
house
at
the
end
of
one
of
those
dark
,
narrow
,
and
dirty
streets
the
ominous
appearance
of
which
was
every
now
and
then
revealed
to
him
by
a
light
streaming
from
a
narrow
window
,
or
the
glare
of
the
lightning
.
The
framework
of
the
door
projected
somewhat
,
and
appeared
to
offer
a
partial
protection
from
the
rain
.
The
youth
drew
as
closely
up
to
it
as
possible
;
but
to
his
surprise
it
yielded
behind
him
,
and
burst
open
.
With
difficulty
he
saved
himself
from
falling
backwards
into
the
passage
with
which
the
door
communicated
.
Having
recovered
from
the
sudden
alarm
with
which
this
incident
had
inspired
him
,
his
next
sentiment
was
one
of
pleasure
to
think
that
he
had
thus
found
a
more
secure
asylum
against
the
tempest
.
He
,
however
,
felt
wearied
—
desperately
wearied
;
and
his
was
not
a
frame
calculated
to
bear
up
against
the
oppressive
and
crushing
feeling
of
fatigue
.
He
determined
to
penetrate
,
amidst
the
profound
darkness
by
which
he
was
surrounded
,
into
the
dwelling
;
thinking
that
if
there
were
any
inmates
they
would
not
refuse
him
the
accommodation
of
a
chair
;
and
if
there
were
none
,
he
might
find
a
seat
upon
the
staircase
.
He
advanced
along
the
passage
,
and
groped
about
.
His
hand
encountered
the
lock
of
a
door
:
he
opened
it
,
and
entered
a
room
.
All
was
dark
as
pitch
.
At
that
moment
a
flash
of
lightning
,
more
than
usually
vivid
and
prolonged
,
illuminated
the
entire
scene
.
The
glance
which
he
cast
around
was
as
rapid
as
the
glare
which
made
objects
visible
to
him
for
a
few
moments
.
He
was
in
a
room
entirely
empty
;
but
in
the
middle
of
the
floor
—
only
three
feet
from
the
spot
where
he
stood
—
there
was
a
large
square
of
jet
blackness
.
The
lightning
passed
away
:
utter
darkness
again
surrounded
him
;
and
he
was
unable
to
ascertain
what
that
black
square
,
so
well
defined
and
apparent
upon
the
dirty
floor
,
could
be
.
An
indescribable
sensation
of
fear
crept
over
him
;
and
the
perspiration
broke
out
upon
his
forehead
in
large
drops
.
His
knees
bent
beneath
him
;
and
,
retreating
a
few
steps
,
he
leaned
against
the
door-posts
for
support
.
He
was
alone
—
in
an
uninhabited
house
,
in
the
midst
of
a
horrible
neighbourhood
;
and
all
the
fearful
tales
of
midnight
murders
which
he
had
ever
heard
or
read
,
rushed
to
his
memory
:
then
,
by
a
strange
but
natural
freak
of
the
fancy
,
those
appalling
deeds
of
blood
and
crime
were
suddenly
associated
with
that
incomprehensible
but
ominous
black
square
upon
the
floor
.
He
was
in
the
midst
of
this
terrible
waking
dream
—
this
more
than
ideal
nightmare
—
when
hasty
steps
approached
the
front
door
from
the
street
;
and
,
without
stopping
,
entered
the
passage
.
The
youth
crept
silently
towards
the
farther
end
,
the
perspiration
oozing
from
every
pore
.
He
felt
the
staircase
with
his
hands
;
the
footsteps
advanced
;
and
,
light
as
the
fawn
,
he
hurried
up
the
stairs
.
So
noiseless
were
his
motions
,
that
his
presence
was
not
noticed
by
the
new-comers
,
who
in
their
turns
also
ascended
the
staircase
.
The
youth
reached
a
landing
,
and
hastily
felt
for
the
doors
of
the
rooms
with
which
it
communicated
.
In
another
moment
he
was
in
a
chamber
,
at
the
back
part
of
the
house
.
He
closed
the
door
,
and
placed
himself
against
it
with
all
his
strength
—
forgetful
,
poor
youth
!
that
his
fragile
form
was
unavailing
,
with
all
its
power
,
against
even
the
single
arm
of
a
man
of
only
ordinary
strength
.
Meantime
the
new-comers
ascended
the
stairs
.
CHAPTER
II
.
THE
MYSTERIES
OF
THE
OLD
HOUSE
.
FORTUNATELY
for
the
interesting
young
stranger
,
the
individuals
who
had
just
entered
the
house
did
not
attempt
the
door
of
the
room
in
which
he
had
taken
refuge
.
They
proceeded
straight
—
and
with
a
steadiness
which
seemed
to
indicate
that
they
knew
the
locality
well
—
to
the
front
chamber
upon
the
same
floor
.
In
a
few
moments
there
was
a
sharp
grating
noise
along
the
wall
;
and
then
a
light
suddenly
shone
into
the
room
where
the
young
stranger
was
concealed
.
He
cast
a
terrified
glance
around
,
and
beheld
a
small
square
window
in
the
wall
,
which
separated
the
two
apartments
.
It
was
about
five
feet
from
the
floor
—
a
height
which
permitted
the
youth
to
avail
himself
of
it
,
in
order
to
reconnoitre
the
proceedings
in
the
next
room
.
By
means
of
a
candle
which
had
been
lighted
by
the
aid
of
a
lucifer-match
,
and
which
stood
upon
a
dirty
deal
table
,
the
young
stranger
beheld
two
men
,
whose
outward
appearance
did
not
serve
to
banish
his
alarm
.
They
were
dressed
like
operatives
of
the
most
humble
class
.
One
wore
a
gabardine
and
coarse
leather
gaiters
,
with
laced-up
boots
;
the
other
had
on
a
fustian
shooting-jacket
and
long
corduroy
trousers
.
They
were
both
dirty
and
unshaven
.
The
one
with
the
shooting-jacket
had
a
profusion
of
hair
about
his
face
,
but
which
was
evidently
not
well
acquainted
with
a
comb
:
the
other
wore
no
whiskers
,
but
his
beard
was
of
three
or
four
days
'
growth
.
Both
were
powerful
,
thick-set
,
and
muscular
men
;
and
the
expression
of
their
countenances
was
dogged
,
determined
,
and
ferocious
.
The
room
to
which
they
had
betaken
themselves
was
cold
,
gloomy
,
and
dilapidated
.
It
was
furnished
with
the
deal
table
before
mentioned
,
and
three
old
crazy
chairs
,
upon
two
of
which
the
men
now
seated
themselves
.
But
they
were
so
placed
that
they
commanded
,
their
door
being
open
,
a
full
view
of
the
landing-place
;
and
thus
the
youthful
stranger
deemed
it
impolitic
to
attempt
to
take
his
departure
for
the
moment
.
"
Now
,
Bill
,
out
with
the
bingo
,
"
said
the
man
in
the
gabardine
to
his
companion
.
"
Oh
!
you
're
always
for
the
lush
,
you
are
,
Dick
,
"
answered
the
latter
in
a
surly
tone
,
producing
at
the
same
time
a
bottle
of
liquor
from
the
capacious
pocket
of
his
fustian
coat
.
"
But
I
wonder
how
the
devil
it
is
that
Crankey
Jem
ai
n't
come
yet
.
Who
the
deuce
could
have
left
that
infernal
door
open
?
"
"
Jem
or
some
of
the
other
blades
must
have
been
here
and
left
it
so
.
It
do
n't
matter
;
it
lulls
suspicion
.
"
"
Well
,
let
's
make
the
reglars
all
square
,
"
resumed
the
man
called
Bill
,
after
a
moment
's
pause
;
"
we
'll
then
booze
a
bit
,
and
talk
over
this
here
new
job
of
our'n
.
"
"
Look
alive
,
then
,
"
said
Dick
;
and
he
forthwith
took
from
beneath
his
gabardine
several
small
parcels
done
up
in
brown
paper
.
The
other
man
likewise
divested
the
pockets
of
his
fustian
coat
of
divers
packages
;
and
all
these
were
piled
upon
the
table
.
A
strange
and
mysterious
proceeding
then
took
place
.
The
person
in
the
fustian
coat
approached
the
chimney
,
and
applied
a
small
turnscrew
,
which
he
took
from
his
pocket
,
to
a
screw
in
the
iron
frame-work
of
the
rusty
grate
.
In
a
few
moments
he
was
enabled
to
remove
the
entire
grate
with
his
hands
;
a
square
aperture
of
considerable
dimensions
was
then
revealed
.
Into
this
place
the
two
men
thrust
the
parcels
which
they
had
taken
from
their
pockets
:
the
grate
was
replaced
,
the
screws
were
fastened
once
more
,
and
the
work
of
concealment
was
complete
.
The
one
in
the
gabardine
then
advanced
towards
that
portion
of
the
wall
which
was
between
the
two
windows
;
and
the
youth
in
the
adjoining
room
now
observed
for
the
first
time
that
the
shutters
of
those
windows
were
closed
,
and
that
coarse
brown
paper
had
been
pasted
all
over
the
chinks
and
joints
.
Dick
applied
his
hand
in
a
peculiar
manner
to
the
part
of
the
wall
just
alluded
to
,
and
a
sliding
panel
immediately
revealed
a
capacious
cupboard
.
Thence
the
two
men
took
food
of
by
no
means
a
coarse
description
,
glasses
,
pipes
,
and
tobacco
;
and
,
having
hermetically
closed
the
recess
once
more
,
seated
themselves
at
the
table
to
partake
of
the
good
cheer
thus
mysteriously
supplied
.
The
alarm
of
the
poor
youth
in
the
next
chamber
,
as
he
contemplated
these
extraordinary
proceedings
,
may
be
better
conceived
than
depicted
.
His
common
sense
told
him
that
he
was
in
the
den
of
lawless
thieves
—
perhaps
murderers
;
in
a
house
abounding
with
the
secret
means
of
concealing
every
kind
of
infamy
.
His
eyes
wandered
away
from
the
little
window
that
had
enabled
him
to
observe
the
above-described
proceedings
,
and
glanced
fearfully
around
the
room
in
which
he
was
concealed
.
He
almost
expected
to
see
the
very
floor
open
beneath
his
feet
.
He
looked
down
mechanically
as
this
idea
flitted
through
his
imagination
;
and
to
his
horror
and
dismay
he
beheld
a
trap-door
in
the
floor
.
There
was
no
mistaking
it
:
there
it
was
—
about
three
feet
long
and
two
broad
,
and
a
little
sunken
beneath
the
level
of
its
frame-work
.
Near
the
edge
of
the
trap-door
lay
an
object
which
also
attracted
the
youth
's
attention
and
added
to
his
fears
.
It
was
a
knife
with
a
long
blade
pointed
like
a
dagger
.
About
three
inches
of
this
blade
was
covered
with
a
peculiar
rust
:
the
youth
shuddered
;
could
it
be
human
blood
that
had
stained
that
instrument
of
death
?
Every
circumstance
,
however
trivial
,
aided
,
in
such
a
place
as
that
,
to
arouse
or
confirm
the
worst
fears
,
the
most
horrible
suspicions
.
The
voices
of
the
two
men
in
the
next
room
fell
upon
the
youth
's
ear
;
and
,
perceiving
that
escape
was
still
impracticable
,
he
determined
to
gratify
that
curiosity
which
was
commingled
with
his
fears
.
"
Well
,
now
,
about
this
t'other
job
,
Dick
?
"
said
Bill
.
"
It
's
Jem
as
started
it
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
But
he
told
me
all
about
it
,
and
so
we
may
as
well
talk
it
over
.
It
's
up
Islington
way
—
up
there
between
Kentish
Town
and
Lower
Holloway
.
"
"
Who
's
crib
is
it
?
"
"
A
swell
of
the
name
of
Markham
.
He
is
an
old
fellow
,
and
has
two
sons
.
One
,
the
eldest
,
is
with
his
regiment
;
t'other
,
the
youngest
,
is
only
about
fifteen
,
or
so
—
a
mere
kid
.
"
"
Well
,
there
's
no
danger
to
be
expected
from
him
.
But
what
about
the
flunkies
?
"
"
Only
two
man-servants
and
three
vimen
.
One
of
the
man-servants
is
the
old
butler
,
too
fat
to
do
any
good
;
and
t'other
is
a
young
tiger
.
"
"
And
that
's
all
?
"
"
That
's
all
.
Now
you
,
and
I
,
and
Jem
is
quite
enough
to
crack
that
there
crib
.
When
is
it
to
be
done
?
"
"
Let
's
say
to-morrow
night
;
there
is
no
moon
now
to
speak
on
,
and
business
in
other
quarters
is
slack
.
"
"
So
be
it
.
Here
goes
,
then
,
to
the
success
of
our
new
job
at
old
Markham
's
;
"
and
as
the
burglar
uttered
these
words
he
tossed
off
a
bumper
of
brandy
.
This
example
was
followed
by
his
worthy
companion
;
and
their
conversation
then
turned
upon
other
topics
.
"
I
say
,
Bill
,
this
old
house
has
seen
some
jolly
games
,
ha
n't
it
?
"
"
I
should
think
it
had
too
.
It
was
Jonathan
Wild
's
favourite
crib
;
and
he
was
no
fool
at
keeping
things
dark
.
"
"
No
,
surely
.
I
dare
say
the
well-staircase
in
the
next
room
there
,
that
's
covered
over
with
the
trap-door
,
has
had
many
a
dead
body
flung
down
it
into
the
Fleet
.
"
"
Ah
!
and
without
telling
no
tales
too
.
But
the
trap-door
has
been
nailed
over
for
some
years
now
.
"
The
unfortunate
youth
in
the
adjacent
chamber
was
riveted
in
silent
horror
to
the
spot
,
as
these
fearful
details
fell
upon
his
ears
.
"
Why
was
the
trap-door
nailed
down
?
"
"
'
Cos
there
's
no
use
for
that
now
,
since
the
house
is
uninhabited
,
and
no
more
travellers
comes
to
lodge
here
.
Besides
,
if
we
wanted
to
make
use
of
such
a
conwenience
,
there
's
another
—
—
"
A
loud
clap
of
thunder
prevented
the
remainder
of
this
sentence
from
reaching
the
youth
's
ears
.
"
I
've
heard
it
said
that
the
City
is
going
to
make
great
alterations
in
this
quarter
,
"
observed
Dick
,
after
a
pause
.
"
If
so
be
they
comes
near
us
,
we
must
shift
our
quarters
.
"
"
Well
,
and
do
n't
we
know
other
cribs
as
good
as
this
—
and
just
under
the
very
nose
of
the
authorities
too
?
The
nearer
you
gets
to
them
the
safer
you
finds
yourself
.
Who
'd
think
now
that
here
,
and
in
Peter-street
,
and
on
Saffron-hill
too
,
there
was
such
cribs
as
this
?
Lord
,
how
such
coves
as
you
and
me
does
laugh
when
them
chaps
in
the
Common
Council
and
the
House
of
Commons
gets
on
their
legs
and
praises
the
blue-bottles
up
to
the
skies
as
the
most
acutest
police
in
the
world
,
while
they
wotes
away
the
people
's
money
to
maintain
'
em
!
"
"
Oh
!
as
for
alterations
,
I
do
n't
suppose
there
'll
be
any
for
the
next
twenty
years
to
come
.
They
always
talks
of
improvements
long
afore
they
begins
'
em
.
"
"
But
when
they
do
commence
,
they
wo
n't
spare
this
lovely
old
crib
!
It
'
ud
go
to
my
heart
to
see
them
pull
it
about
.
I
'd
much
sooner
take
and
shove
a
dozen
stiff
uns
myself
down
the
trap
than
see
a
single
rafter
of
the
place
ill-treated
—
that
I
would
.
"
"
Ah
!
if
so
be
as
the
masons
does
come
to
pull
its
old
carcass
about
,
there
'll
be
some
fine
things
made
known
to
the
world
.
Them
cellars
down
stairs
,
in
which
a
man
might
hide
for
fifty
years
and
never
be
smelt
out
by
the
police
,
will
turn
up
a
bone
or
two
,
I
rather
suspect
;
and
not
of
a
sheep
,
nor
a
pig
,
nor
a
bull
neither
.
"
"
Why
—
half
the
silly
folks
in
this
neighbourhood
are
afeerd
to
come
here
even
in
the
daytime
,
because
they
say
it
's
haunted
,
"
observed
Bill
,
after
a
brief
pause
.
"
But
,
for
my
part
,
I
should
n't
be
frightened
to
come
here
at
all
hours
of
the
night
,
and
sit
here
alone
too
,
even
if
every
feller
as
was
scragged
at
Tyburn
or
Newgate
,
and
every
one
wot
has
been
tumbled
down
these
holes
into
the
Fleet
,
was
to
start
up
,
and
—
—
"
The
man
stopped
short
,
turned
ghastly
pale
,
and
fell
back
stupified
and
speechless
in
his
chair
.
His
pipe
dropped
from
between
his
fingers
,
and
broke
to
pieces
upon
the
floor
.
"
What
the
devil
's
the
matter
now
?
"
demanded
his
companion
,
casting
an
anxious
glance
around
.
"
There
!
there
!
do
n't
you
see
—
—
,
"
gasped
the
terrified
ruffian
,
pointing
towards
the
little
window
looking
into
the
next
room
.
"
It
's
only
some
d
—
—
d
gammon
of
Crankey
Jem
,
"
ejaculated
Dick
,
who
was
more
courageous
in
such
matters
than
his
companion
.
"
I
'll
deuced
soon
put
that
to
rights
!
"
Seizing
the
candle
,
he
was
hurrying
towards
the
door
,
when
his
comrade
rushed
after
him
,
crying
,
"
No
—
I
wo
n't
be
left
in
the
dark
!
I
ca
n't
bear
it
!
Damme
,
if
you
go
,
I
'll
go
with
you
!
"
The
two
villains
accordingly
proceeded
together
into
the
next
room
.
CHAPTER
III
.
THE
TRAP-DOOR
.
THE
youthful
stranger
had
listened
with
ineffable
surprise
and
horror
to
the
conversation
of
the
two
ruffians
.
His
nerves
had
been
worked
up
by
all
the
circumstances
of
the
evening
to
a
tone
bordering
upon
madness
—
to
that
pitch
,
indeed
,
when
it
appeared
as
if
there
were
no
alternative
left
save
to
fall
upon
the
floor
and
yield
to
the
delirium
tremens
of
violent
emotions
.
He
had
restrained
his
feelings
while
he
heard
the
burglary
at
Mr.
Markham
's
dwelling
coolly
planned
and
settled
;
but
when
the
discourse
of
those
two
monsters
in
human
shape
developed
to
his
imagination
all
the
horrors
of
the
fearful
place
in
which
he
had
sought
an
asylum
,
—
when
he
heard
that
he
was
actually
standing
upon
the
very
verge
of
that
staircase
down
which
innumerable
victims
had
been
hurled
to
the
depths
of
the
slimy
ditch
beneath
,
—
and
when
he
thought
how
probable
it
was
that
his
bones
were
doomed
to
whiten
in
the
dark
and
hidden
caverns
below
,
along
with
the
remains
of
other
human
beings
who
had
been
barbarously
murdered
in
cold
blood
,
—
reason
appeared
to
forsake
him
.
A
cold
sweat
broke
forth
all
over
him
;
and
he
seemed
about
to
faint
under
the
impression
of
a
hideous
nightmare
.
He
threw
his
hat
upon
the
floor
—
for
he
felt
the
want
of
air
.
That
proud
forehead
,
that
beautiful
countenance
were
distorted
with
indescribable
horror
;
and
an
ashy
pallor
spread
itself
over
his
features
.
Death
,
in
all
its
most
hideous
forms
,
appeared
to
follow
—
to
surround
—
to
hem
him
in
.
There
was
no
escape
:
—
a
trap-door
here
—
a
well
,
communicating
with
the
ditch
,
there
—
or
else
the
dagger
;
—
no
matter
in
what
shape
—
still
Death
was
before
him
—
behind
him
—
above
him
—
below
him
—
on
every
side
of
him
.
It
was
horrible
—
most
horrible
!
Then
was
it
that
a
sudden
thought
flashed
across
his
brain
;
he
resolved
to
attempt
a
desperate
effort
to
escape
.
He
summoned
all
his
courage
to
his
aid
,
and
opened
the
door
so
cautiously
that
,
though
the
hinges
were
old
and
rusted
,
they
did
not
creak
.
The
crisis
was
now
at
hand
.
If
he
could
clear
the
landing
unperceived
,
he
was
safe
.
It
was
true
that
,
seen
or
unseen
,
he
might
succeed
in
escaping
from
the
house
by
means
of
his
superior
agility
and
nimbleness
;
but
he
reflected
that
these
men
would
capture
him
,
again
,
in
a
few
minutes
,
in
the
midst
of
a
labyrinth
of
streets
with
which
he
was
utterly
unacquainted
,
but
which
they
knew
so
well
.
He
remembered
that
he
had
overheard
their
secrets
and
witnessed
their
mysterious
modes
of
concealment
;
and
that
,
should
he
fall
into
their
power
,
death
must
inevitably
await
him
.
These
ideas
crossed
his
brain
in
a
moment
,
and
convinced
him
of
the
necessity
of
prudence
and
extreme
caution
.
He
must
leave
the
house
unperceived
,
and
dare
the
pitiless
storm
and
pelting
rain
;
for
the
tempest
still
raged
without
.
He
once
more
approached
the
window
to
ascertain
if
there
were
any
chance
of
stealing
across
the
landing-place
unseen
.
Unfortunately
he
drew
too
near
the
window
:
the
light
of
the
candle
fell
full
upon
his
countenance
,
which
horror
and
alarm
had
rendered
deadly
pale
and
fearfully
convulsed
.
It
was
at
this
moment
that
the
ruffian
,
in
the
midst
of
his
unholy
vaunts
,
had
caught
sight
of
that
human
face
—
white
as
a
sheet
—
and
with
eyes
fixed
upon
him
with
a
glare
which
his
imagination
rendered
stony
and
unearthly
.
The
youth
saw
that
he
was
discovered
;
and
a
full
sense
of
the
desperate
peril
which
hung
over
him
,
rushed
to
his
mind
.
He
turned
,
and
endeavoured
to
fly
away
from
the
fatal
spot
;
but
,
as
imagination
frequently
fetters
the
limbs
in
a
nightmare
,
and
involves
the
sleeper
in
danger
from
which
he
vainly
attempts
to
run
,
so
did
his
legs
now
refuse
to
perform
their
office
.
His
brain
whirled
—
his
eyes
grew
dim
:
he
grasped
at
the
wall
to
save
himself
from
falling
—
but
his
senses
were
deserting
him
—
and
he
sank
fainting
upon
the
floor
.
He
awoke
from
the
trance
into
which
he
had
fallen
,
and
became
aware
that
he
was
being
moved
along
.
Almost
at
the
same
instant
his
eyes
fell
upon
the
sinister
countenance
of
Dick
,
who
was
carrying
him
by
the
feet
.
The
other
ruffian
was
supporting
his
head
.
They
were
lifting
him
down
the
staircase
,
upon
the
top
step
of
which
the
candle
was
standing
.
All
the
incidents
of
the
evening
immediately
returned
to
the
memory
of
the
wretched
boy
,
who
now
only
too
well
comprehended
the
desperate
perils
that
surrounded
him
.
The
bottom
of
the
staircase
was
reached
:
the
villains
deposited
their
burden
for
a
moment
in
the
passage
,
while
Dick
retraced
his
steps
to
fetch
down
the
candle
.
And
then
a
horrible
conflict
of
feelings
and
inclinations
took
place
in
the
bosom
of
the
unhappy
youth
.
He
shut
his
eyes
;
and
for
an
instant
debating
within
himself
whether
he
should
remain
silent
or
cry
out
.
He
dreamt
of
immediate
—
instantaneous
death
;
and
yet
he
thought
that
he
was
young
to
die
—
oh
!
so
young
—
and
that
men
could
not
be
such
barbarians
—
—
But
when
the
two
ruffians
stooped
down
to
take
him
up
again
,
fear
surmounted
all
other
sentiments
,
feelings
,
and
inclinations
;
and
his
deep
—
his
profound
—
his
heartfelt
agony
was
expressed
in
one
long
,
loud
,
and
piercing
shriek
!
And
then
a
fearful
scene
took
place
.
The
two
villains
carried
the
youth
into
the
front
room
upon
the
ground-floor
,
and
laid
him
down
for
a
moment
.
It
was
the
same
room
to
which
he
had
first
found
his
way
upon
entering
that
house
.
It
was
the
room
in
which
,
by
the
glare
of
the
evanescent
lightning
,
he
had
seen
that
black
square
upon
the
dirty
floor
.
For
a
few
instants
all
was
dark
.
At
length
the
candle
was
brought
by
the
man
in
the
fustian
coat
.
The
youth
glanced
wildly
around
him
,
and
speedily
recognised
that
room
.
He
remembered
how
deep
a
sensation
of
horror
seized
him
when
that
black
square
upon
the
floor
first
caught
his
eyes
.
He
raised
himself
upon
his
left
arm
,
and
once
more
looked
around
.
Great
God
!
was
it
possible
?
That
ominous
blackness
—
that
sinister
square
was
the
mouth
of
a
yawning
gulf
,
the
trap-door
of
which
was
raised
.
A
fetid
smell
rose
from
the
depths
below
,
and
the
gurgling
of
a
current
was
faintly
heard
.
The
dread
truth
was
in
a
moment
made
apparent
to
that
unhappy
boy
—
much
more
quickly
than
it
occupies
to
relate
or
read
.
He
started
from
his
supine
posture
,
and
fell
upon
his
knees
at
the
feet
of
those
merciless
villains
who
had
borne
him
thither
.
"
Mercy
,
mercy
!
I
implore
you
!
Oh
!
do
not
devote
me
to
so
horrible
a
death
!
Do
not
—
do
not
murder
me
!
"
"
Hold
your
noisy
tongue
,
you
fool
,
"
ejaculated
Bill
,
brutally
.
"
You
have
heard
and
seen
too
much
for
our
safety
;
we
ca
n't
do
otherwise
.
"
"
No
,
certainly
not
,
"
added
Dick
.
"
You
are
now
as
fly
to
the
fakement
as
any
one
of
us
.
"
"
Spare
me
,
spare
me
,
and
I
will
never
betray
you
!
Oh
!
do
not
send
me
out
of
this
world
,
so
young
—
so
very
young
!
I
have
money
,
I
have
wealth
,
I
am
rich
,
and
I
will
give
you
all
I
possess
!
"
ejaculated
the
agonized
youth
;
his
countenance
wearing
an
expression
of
horrible
despair
.
"
Come
;
here
's
enough
.
Bill
,
lend
a
hand
!
"
and
Dick
seized
the
boy
by
one
arm
,
while
his
companion
took
a
firm
hold
of
the
other
.
"
Mercy
,
mercy
!
"
shrieked
the
youth
,
struggling
violently
;
but
struggling
vainly
.
"
You
will
repent
when
you
know
—
—
I
am
not
what
I
—
—
"
He
said
no
more
:
his
last
words
were
uttered
over
the
mouth
of
the
chasm
ere
the
ruffians
loosened
their
hold
;
—
and
then
he
fell
.
The
trap-door
was
closed
violently
over
the
aperture
,
and
drowned
the
scream
of
agony
which
burst
from
his
lips
.
The
two
murderers
then
retraced
their
steps
to
the
apartment
on
the
first
floor
.
*
*
*
*
*
On
the
following
day
,
about
one
o'clock
,
Mr.
Markham
,
a
gentleman
of
fortune
residing
in
the
northern
environs
of
London
,
received
the
following
letter
:
—
"
The
inscrutable
decrees
of
Providence
have
enabled
the
undersigned
to
warn
you
,
that
this
night
a
burglarious
attempt
will
be
made
upon
your
dwelling
.
The
wretches
who
contemplate
this
infamy
are
capable
of
a
crime
of
much
blacker
die
.
Beware
!
"
AN
UNKNOWN
FRIEND
.
"
This
letter
was
written
in
a
beautiful
feminine
hand
.
Due
precaution
was
adopted
at
Mr.
Markham
's
mansion
;
but
the
attempt
alluded
to
in
the
warning
epistle
was
,
for
some
reason
or
another
,
not
made
.
CHAPTER
IV
.
THE
TWO
TREES
.
IT
was
between
eight
and
nine
o'clock
,
on
a
delicious
evening
,
about
a
week
after
the
events
related
in
the
preceding
chapters
,
that
two
youths
issued
from
Mr.
Markham
's
handsome
,
but
somewhat
secluded
dwelling
,
in
the
northern
part
of
the
environs
of
London
,
and
slowly
ascended
the
adjacent
hill
.
There
was
an
interval
of
four
years
between
the
ages
of
these
youths
,
the
elder
being
upwards
of
nineteen
,
and
the
younger
about
fifteen
;
but
it
was
easy
to
perceive
by
the
resemblance
which
existed
between
them
that
they
were
brothers
.
They
walked
at
a
short
distance
from
each
other
,
and
exchanged
not
a
word
as
they
ascended
the
somewhat
steep
path
which
conducted
them
to
the
summit
of
the
eminence
that
overlooked
the
mansion
they
had
just
left
.
The
elder
proceeded
first
;
and
from
time
to
time
he
clenched
his
fists
,
and
knit
his
brows
,
and
gave
other
silent
but
expressive
indications
of
the
angry
passions
which
were
concentrated
in
his
breast
.
His
brother
followed
him
with
downcast
eyes
,
and
with
a
countenance
denoting
the
deep
anguish
that
oppressed
him
.
In
this
manner
they
arrived
at
the
top
of
the
hill
,
where
they
seated
themselves
upon
a
bench
,
which
stood
between
two
young
ash
saplings
.
For
a
long
time
the
brothers
remained
silent
;
but
at
length
the
younger
of
the
two
suddenly
burst
into
tears
,
and
exclaimed
,
"
Oh
!
why
,
dearest
Eugene
,
did
we
choose
this
spot
to
say
farewell
—
perhaps
for
ever
?
"
"
We
could
not
select
a
more
appropriate
one
,
Richard
,
"
returned
the
elder
brother
.
"
Four
years
ago
those
trees
were
planted
by
our
hands
;
and
we
have
ever
since
called
them
by
our
own
names
.
When
we
were
wont
to
separate
,
to
repair
to
our
respective
schools
,
we
came
hither
to
talk
over
our
plans
,
to
arrange
the
periods
of
our
correspondence
,
and
to
anticipate
the
pursuits
that
should
engage
us
during
the
vacations
.
And
when
we
returned
from
our
seminaries
,
we
hastened
hither
,
hand-in-hand
,
to
see
how
our
trees
flourished
;
and
he
was
most
joyous
and
proud
whose
sapling
appeared
to
expand
the
more
luxuriantly
.
If
ever
we
quarrelled
,
Richard
,
it
was
here
that
we
made
our
peace
again
;
and
,
seated
upon
this
bench
,
we
have
concocted
plans
for
the
future
;
which
,
haply
,
will
never
now
be
realised
!
"
"
You
are
right
,
my
dear
brother
,
"
said
Richard
,
after
a
pause
,
during
which
he
appeared
to
reflect
profoundly
upon
Eugene
's
words
;
"
we
could
not
have
selected
a
better
spot
.
Still
it
is
all
those
happy
days
to
which
you
allude
that
now
render
this
moment
the
more
bitter
.
Tell
me
,
must
you
depart
?
Is
there
no
alternative
?
Can
I
not
intercede
with
our
father
?
Surely
,
surely
,
he
will
not
discard
one
so
young
as
you
,
and
whom
he
has
loved
—
must
still
love
—
so
tenderly
?
"
"
Intercede
with
my
father
!
"
repeated
Eugene
,
with
an
irony
which
seemed
extraordinary
in
one
of
his
tender
age
;
"
no
,
never
!
He
has
signified
his
desire
,
he
has
commanded
me
no
longer
to
pollute
his
dwelling
—
those
were
his
very
words
,
and
he
shall
be
obeyed
.
"
"
Our
father
was
incensed
,
deeply
incensed
,
when
he
spoke
,
"
urged
Richard
,
whose
voice
was
rendered
almost
inaudible
by
his
sobs
;
"
and
to-morrow
he
will
repent
of
his
harshness
towards
you
.
"
"
Our
father
had
no
right
to
blame
me
,
"
said
Eugene
violently
;
"
all
that
has
occurred
originated
in
his
own
conduct
towards
me
.
The
behaviour
of
a
parent
to
his
son
is
the
element
of
that
son
's
ruin
or
success
in
after
life
.
"
"
I
know
not
how
you
can
reproach
our
father
,
Eugene
,
"
said
Richard
,
somewhat
reproachfully
,
"
for
he
has
ever
conducted
himself
with
tenderness
towards
us
;
and
since
the
death
of
our
dear
mother
—
—
"
"
You
are
yet
too
young
,
Richard
,
"
interrupted
Eugene
impatiently
,
"
to
comprehend
the
nature
of
the
accusation
which
I
bring
against
my
father
.
I
will
,
however
,
attempt
to
enable
you
to
understand
my
meaning
,
so
that
you
may
not
imagine
that
I
am
acting
with
duplicity
when
I
endeavour
to
find
a
means
of
extenuation
,
if
not
of
justification
,
for
my
own
conduct
.
My
father
lavished
his
gold
upon
my
education
,
as
he
also
did
upon
yours
;
and
he
taught
us
from
childhood
to
consider
ourselves
the
sons
of
wealthy
parents
who
would
enable
their
children
to
move
with
éclat
in
an
elevated
sphere
of
life
.
It
was
just
this
day
year
that
I
joined
my
regiment
at
Knightsbridge
.
I
suddenly
found
myself
thrown
amongst
gay
,
dissipated
,
and
wealthy
young
men
—
my
brother
officers
.
Many
of
them
were
old
acquaintances
,
and
had
been
my
companions
at
the
Royal
Military
College
at
Sandhurst
.
They
speedily
enlisted
me
in
all
their
pleasures
and
debaucheries
,
and
my
expenditure
soon
exceeded
my
pay
and
my
allowance
.
I
became
involved
in
debts
,
and
was
compelled
to
apply
to
my
father
to
relieve
me
from
my
embarrassments
.
I
wrote
a
humble
and
submissive
letter
,
expressing
contrition
for
my
faults
,
and
promising
to
avoid
similar
pursuits
in
future
.
Indeed
,
I
was
wearied
of
the
dissipation
into
which
I
had
plunged
,
and
should
have
profited
well
by
the
experience
my
short
career
of
pleasure
and
folly
had
enabled
me
to
acquire
.
I
trembled
upon
that
verge
when
my
father
could
either
ruin
or
save
me
.
He
did
not
reply
to
my
letter
,
and
I
had
not
courage
to
seek
an
interview
with
him
.
Again
did
I
write
to
him
:
no
answer
.
I
had
lost
money
at
private
play
,
and
had
contracted
debts
in
the
same
manner
.
Those
,
Richard
,
are
called
debts
of
honour
,
and
must
be
paid
in
full
to
your
creditor
,
however
wealthy
he
may
be
,
even
though
your
servants
and
tradesmen
should
be
cheated
out
of
their
hard-earned
and
perhaps
much-needed
money
altogether
.
I
wrote
a
third
time
to
our
father
,
and
still
no
notice
was
taken
of
my
appeal
.
The
officers
to
whom
I
owed
the
money
lost
at
play
began
to
look
coldly
upon
me
,
and
I
was
reduced
to
a
state
of
desperation
.
Still
I
waited
for
a
few
days
,
and
for
a
fourth
time
wrote
to
my
father
.
It
appears
that
he
was
resolved
to
make
me
feel
the
inconvenience
of
the
position
in
which
I
had
placed
myself
by
my
follies
;
and
he
sent
me
no
answer
.
I
then
called
at
the
house
,
and
he
refused
to
see
me
.
This
you
know
,
Richard
.
What
could
I
do
?
Driven
mad
by
constant
demands
for
money
which
I
could
not
pay
,
and
smarting
under
the
chilling
glances
and
taunting
allusions
of
my
brother
officers
,
I
sold
my
commission
.
You
are
acquainted
with
the
rest
.
I
came
home
,
threw
myself
at
my
father
's
feet
,
and
he
spurned
me
away
from
him
!
Richard
,
was
my
crime
so
very
great
?
and
has
not
the
unjust
,
the
extreme
severity
of
my
father
been
the
cause
of
all
my
afflictions
?
"
"
I
dare
not
judge
between
you
,
"
said
Richard
mildly
.
"
But
what
does
common
sense
suggest
?
"
demanded
Eugene
.
"
Doubtless
our
father
knows
best
,
"
returned
the
younger
brother
.
"
Old
men
are
often
wrong
,
in
spite
of
their
experience
—
in
spite
of
their
years
,
"
persisted
Eugene
.
"
My
dear
brother
,
"
said
Richard
,
"
I
am
afraid
to
exercise
my
judgment
in
a
case
where
I
stand
a
chance
of
rebelling
against
my
father
,
or
questioning
his
wisdom
;
and
,
at
the
same
time
,
I
am
anxious
to
believe
everything
in
your
justification
.
"
"
I
knew
that
you
would
not
comprehend
me
,
"
exclaimed
Eugene
,
impatiently
.
"
It
is
ridiculous
not
to
dare
to
have
an
opinion
of
one
's
own
!
My
dear
brother
,
"
he
added
,
turning
suddenly
round
,
"
you
have
been
to
Eton
to
little
purpose
:
I
thought
that
nearly
as
much
of
the
world
was
to
be
seen
there
as
at
Sandhurst
.
I
find
that
I
was
mistaken
.
"
And
Eugene
felt
and
looked
annoyed
at
the
turn
which
the
conversation
had
taken
.
Richard
was
unhappy
,
and
remained
silent
.
In
the
meantime
the
sun
had
set
;
and
the
darkness
was
gradually
becoming
more
intense
.
Suddenly
Eugene
grasped
his
brother
's
hand
,
and
exclaimed
,
"
Richard
,
I
shall
now
depart
!
"
"
Impossible
!
"
cried
the
warm-hearted
youth
:
"
you
will
not
leave
me
thus
—
you
will
not
abandon
your
father
also
,
for
a
hasty
word
that
he
has
spoken
,
and
which
he
will
gladly
recal
to-morrow
?
Oh
!
no
—
Eugene
,
you
will
not
leave
the
dwelling
in
which
you
were
born
,
and
where
you
have
passed
so
many
happy
hours
!
What
will
become
of
you
?
What
do
you
purpose
?
What
plan
have
you
in
view
?
"
"
I
have
a
few
guineas
in
my
pocket
,
"
returned
Eugene
;
"
and
many
a
princely
fortune
has
been
based
upon
a
more
slender
foundation
.
"
"
Yes
,
"
said
Richard
hastily
;
"
you
read
of
fortunes
being
easily
acquired
in
novels
and
romances
;
and
in
past
times
persons
may
have
enriched
themselves
suddenly
;
but
in
the
great
world
of
the
present
day
,
Eugene
,
I
am
afraid
that
such
occurrences
are
rare
and
seldom
seen
.
"
"
You
know
nothing
of
the
world
,
Richard
,
"
said
Eugene
,
almost
contemptuously
.
"
There
are
thousands
of
persons
in
London
who
live
well
,
and
keep
up
splendid
establishments
,
without
any
apparent
resources
;
and
I
am
man
of
the
world
enough
to
be
well
aware
that
those
always
thrive
the
best
in
the
long
run
who
have
the
least
to
lose
at
starting
.
At
all
events
I
shall
try
my
fortune
.
I
will
not
,
cannot
succumb
to
a
parent
who
has
caused
my
ruin
at
my
very
first
entrance
into
life
.
"
"
May
God
prosper
your
pursuits
,
and
lend
you
the
fortune
which
you
appear
to
aim
at
!
"
ejaculated
Richard
fervently
.
"
But
once
again
—
and
for
the
last
time
,
let
me
implore
you
—
let
me
entreat
you
not
to
put
this
rash
and
hasty
resolve
into
execution
.
Do
stay
—
do
not
leave
me
,
my
dearest
,
dearest
brother
!
"
"
Richard
,
not
all
the
powers
of
human
persuasion
shall
induce
me
to
abandon
my
present
determination
,
"
cried
Eugene
emphatically
,
and
rising
from
the
bench
as
he
spoke
.
"
It
is
growing
late
,
and
I
must
depart
.
Now
listen
,
my
dear
boy
,
to
what
I
have
to
say
to
you
.
"
"
Speak
,
speak
!
"
murmured
Richard
,
sobbing
as
if
his
heart
would
break
.
"
All
will
be
yet
well
,
"
said
Eugene
,
slightly
touched
by
his
brother
's
profound
affliction
.
"
I
am
resolved
not
to
set
foot
in
my
father
's
house
again
;
you
must
return
thither
and
pack
me
up
my
papers
and
a
few
necessaries
.
"
"
And
you
will
not
leave
this
spot
until
my
return
?
"
said
Richard
.
"
Solemnly
I
promise
that
,
"
answered
Eugene
.
"
But
stay
;
on
your
part
you
must
faithfully
pledge
yourself
not
to
seek
my
father
,
nor
in
any
way
interfere
between
him
and
me
.
Nay
,
do
not
remonstrate
;
you
must
promise
.
"
"
I
promise
you
all
—
anything
you
require
,
"
said
Richard
mournfully
;
and
,
after
affectionately
embracing
his
brother
,
he
hurried
down
the
hill
towards
the
mansion
,
turning
back
from
time
to
time
to
catch
a
glimpse
of
Eugene
's
figure
through
the
increasing
gloom
,
to
satisfy
himself
that
he
was
still
there
between
the
two
saplings
.
Richard
entered
the
house
,
and
stole
softly
up
to
the
bed-room
which
his
brother
usually
occupied
when
at
home
.
He
began
his
mournful
task
of
putting
together
the
few
things
which
Eugene
had
desired
him
to
select
;
and
while
he
was
thus
employed
the
tears
rolled
down
his
cheeks
in
torrents
.
At
one
moment
he
was
inclined
to
hurry
to
his
father
,
and
implore
him
to
interfere
in
time
to
prevent
Eugene
's
departure
;
but
he
remembered
his
solemn
promise
,
and
he
would
not
break
it
.
Assuredly
this
was
a
sense
of
honour
so
extreme
,
that
it
might
be
denominated
false
;
but
it
was
,
nevertheless
,
the
sentiment
which
controlled
all
the
actions
of
him
who
cherished
it
.
Tenderly
,
dearly
as
he
loved
his
brother
—
bitterly
as
he
deplored
his
intended
departure
,
he
still
would
not
forfeit
his
word
and
take
the
simple
step
which
would
probably
have
averted
the
much-dreaded
evil
.
Richard
's
sense
of
honour
and
inflexible
integrity
triumphed
,
on
all
occasions
,
over
every
other
consideration
,
feeling
,
and
desire
;
and
of
this
characteristic
of
his
brother
's
nature
Eugene
was
well
aware
.
Richard
had
made
a
small
package
of
the
articles
which
he
had
selected
,
and
was
about
to
leave
the
room
to
return
to
his
brother
,
when
the
sound
of
a
footstep
in
the
passage
communicating
with
the
chamber
,
suddenly
fell
upon
his
ear
.
Scarcely
had
he
time
to
recover
from
the
alarm
into
which
this
circumstance
had
thrown
him
,
when
the
door
slowly
opened
,
and
the
butler
entered
the
apartment
.
He
was
a
man
of
about
fifty
years
of
age
,
with
a
jolly
red
face
,
a
somewhat
bulbous
nose
,
small
laughing
eyes
,
short
grey
hair
standing
upright
in
front
,
whiskers
terminating
an
inch
above
his
white
cravat
,
and
in
person
considerably
inclined
to
corpulency
.
In
height
he
was
about
five
feet
seven
inches
,
and
had
a
peculiar
shuffling
rapid
walk
,
which
he
had
learnt
by
some
twenty-five
years
'
practice
in
little
journeys
from
the
sideboard
in
the
dining-room
to
his
own
pantry
,
and
back
again
.
He
was
possessed
of
an
excellent
heart
,
and
was
a
good-humoured
companion
;
but
pompous
,
and
swelling
with
importance
in
the
presence
of
those
whom
he
considered
his
inferiors
.
He
was
particularly
addicted
to
hard
words
;
and
as
,
to
use
his
own
expression
,
he
was
"
self-taught
,
"
it
is
not
to
be
wondered
if
he
occasionally
gave
those
aforesaid
hard
words
a
pronunciation
and
a
meaning
which
militated
a
little
against
received
rules
.
In
attire
,
he
was
unequalled
for
the
whiteness
of
his
cravat
,
the
exuberance
of
his
shirt-frill
,
the
elegance
of
his
waistcoat
,
the
set
of
his
kerseymere
tights
,
and
the
punctilious
neatness
of
his
black
silk
stockings
,
and
his
well-polished
shoes
.
"
Well
,
Master
Richard
,
"
said
the
butler
,
as
he
shuffled
into
the
room
,
with
a
white
napkin
under
his
left
arm
,
"
what
in
the
name
of
everythink
indiwisible
is
the
matter
now
?
"
"
Nothing
,
nothing
,
Whittingham
,
"
replied
the
youth
.
"
You
had
better
go
down
stairs
—
my
father
may
want
you
.
"
"
If
so
be
your
father
wants
anythink
,
Tom
will
despond
to
the
summins
as
usual
,
"
said
the
butler
,
leisurely
seating
himself
upon
a
chair
close
by
the
table
whereon
Richard
