 Chapter 26 of the Mysteries of London This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, auto-volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Lynn Thompson The Mysteries of London by George Reynolds Chapter 26 Newgate Newgate, what an ominous sound has that word, and yet the horror exists not in the name itself, for it is a very simple compound, and would not grate upon the ear nor produce a shudder throughout the frame, where it applied to any other kind of building. It is, then, its associations and the ideas which it comes as up that render the word Newgate fearful and full of dark menace. At the mere mention of this name, the mind instantaneously becomes filled with visions of vice in all its most hideous forms, and crime in all its most appalling shapes, wards and courtyards filled with a population peculiar to themselves, dark gloomy passages where the gas burns all day long, and beneath the pavement of which are interred the remains of murderers and other miscreants who have expiated their crimes upon the scaffold, shelves filled with the casts of the countenances of those wretches taken the moment after they were cut down from the gibbet, condemned cells, the chapel in which funeral sermons are preached upon men yet alive to hear them, but who are doomed to die on the morrow, the clanking of chains, the banging of huge doors, oaths, prayers, curses, and ejaculations of despair. Oh, if it were true that the spirits of the departed are allowed to revisit the earth for certain purposes and on particular occasions, if the belief for superstition were well founded, and night could be peopled with the ghosts and spectres of those who sleep in troubled graves, what a place of ineffable horrors, what a scene of terrible sights would Newgate be at midnight. The huge flagstones of the pavement would rise to permit the phantoms of the murderers to issue from their graves. Demons would erect a gibbet at the debtor's door, and amidst the sinister glare of torches, an executioner from hell would hang those miscreants over again. This would be part of their posthumous punishment, and would occur in the long, long nights of winter. There would be no moon, but all the windows of Newgate looking upon the courtyards, and there are none commanding the streets, would be brilliantly lighted with red flames coming from an unknown source, and throughout the long passages of the prison would resound the orgies of hell, and skeletons wrapped in winding sheets would shake their fetters, and green acre and good, Corvoisier and Pegworth, Blakesley and Marchand, with all their predecessors in the walks of murder, would come in fearful possession from the gibbet, returning by the very corridors which they traversed on their way to death on the respective mornings of their execution. Banquets would be served up to them in the condemned cells. Demons would minister to them, and their food should be the flesh, and they'd drink the gore of the victims whom they had assassinated upon earth. All would be horrible, horrible, but heaven be thanked, such scenes are impossible, and never can it be given to the shades of the departed to revisit the haunts which they loved or hated, adored or desecrated upon earth. Newgate, fearful name, and Richard Markham was now in Newgate. He found when the massive gates of that terrible prison closed behind him, that the consciousness of innocence will not afford entire consolation in the dilemma in which unjust suspicions may involve the victim of circumstantial evidence. He scarcely knew in what manner to grapple with the difficulties that beset him. He dared not contemplate the probability of a condemnation of some infamous punishment, and he could scarcely hope for an acquittal in the face of the testimony that conspired against him. He recalled to mind all the events of his infancy and his boyish years, and contrasted his present position with that which he once enjoyed in the society of his father and Eugene. His brother, I, what had become of his brother, that brother who had left the paternal roof to seek his own fortunes, and who had made so strange an appointment for a distant date upon a hilltop where the two trees were planted, four years and four months had passed away since the day on which that appointment was made, and in seven years and eight months it was to be kept. They were then to compare notes of their adventures and success in life, and decide who was the more prosperous of the two, Eugene, who was dependent upon his own resources and had to climb the ladder of fortune step by step, or Richard, who, placed by his father's love halfway up that ladder, had only to avail himself, it would have seemed, of his advantageous position to reach the top at his leisure. But alas, probably, Eugene was a miserable wanderer upon the face of the earth. Perhaps he was mouldering beneath the sod that no parental nor fraternal tears had watered, or happily he was languishing in some loathsome dungeon, the doors of which served as barriers between him and all Communion with his fellow men. It was strange, passing strange, that Eugene had never ridden since his departure, and that from the fatal evening of his separation on the hilltop all traces of him should have been so suddenly lost. Peradventure he had been frustrated in his sanguine expectations at his very outset in life, perchance he had terminated in disgust an existence which was blighted by disappointment. Such were the topics of Markham's thoughts as he walked up and down the large paved courtyard belonging to that department of the prison to which he had been consigned, and of assurity there were of no pleasurable description. Uncertainty with regard to his own fate, anxiety in respect to his brother, and the dread that his prospects in this life were irretrievably blighted, added to a feverish impatience of a confinement totally unmerited. All these oppressed his mind. That night he had nothing but a basin of gruel and a piece of bread for his supper. He slept in the same ward with a dozen of the prisoners, also awaiting their trials. His couch was hard, cold and wretched, and he was compelled to listen to the riot board talk and vaunts of villainy of several of his companions. Their conversation was only varied by such remarks as these. Well, said one, I hope I shan't get before the common sergeant is certain to give me a toko for yam. I shall be sure to go up the first day of sessions and most likely before the recorder, as mine is rather a serious matter," observed the second. He won't give me more than seven years of it, I know. For my part, said a third, I'd much sooner wait till the Wednesday when the judges come down. They never give it so severe as them city beaks. I tell you what, exclaimed a fourth, I shouldn't like to have my meat hashed at evening sittings before the commissioner in the new court. He's always so devilish, sulky, because he has been disturbed at his wine. Well, you talk of the regular judges that come down on a Wednesday, quite a fifth. I can only tell you that Baron Griffin and Justice Spikeman are on the rotor for next sessions, and I'm blowed if I wouldn't sooner go before the common sergeant a thousand times than have old Griffin meddle in my case. Why, if you only look at him, he'll transport you for twenty years. At this idea, all the prisoners who had taken part in his conversation burst out into a large guffaw, but not a wit the more hearty for being so boisterous. Is it possible, asked Markham, who had listened with some interest to the above discourse, is it possible that there can be any advantage to a prisoner to be tried by a particular judge? Well, of course there is, answered one of the prisoners. If a swell like you gets before Justice Spikeman, he'll let you off with a half or a quarter of what the recorder or common sergeant would give you, but Baron Griffin will give you just double because you happen to be well dressed. Indeed, ejaculated Markham, whose ideas of the marvellous equality and admirable, even-handiness of English justice were a little shocked by these revelations. Oh, yes, continued the informant. All the world knows these things. If I go before Spikeman, I shall be guilty and whimper a bit, and he'll be very lenient indeed, but if I'm heard by Griffin, I'll let the case take its chance because he wouldn't be suffered by any show of penitence. So you see in these matters were my shape one's conduct according to the judge that one goes before. I understand, said Markham, even justice is influenced by all kinds of circumstances. The conversation then turned upon the respective merits of the various counsel practising at the Central Criminal Court. I have secured Whiffins, said one. He is a capital fellow, for if he can't make anything out of your case he instantly begins to bully the judge. Ah, but that produces a bad effect, observed the second, and all Griffin would soon put him down. I've got Charlie. He's such a capital fellow to make the witnesses contradict themselves. Well, I prefer Barkson, exclaimed the third. His voice alone frightens a prosecutor into fits. Smouch and Slike are the worst, said the fourth. The judges always read a paper or fall asleep when they address them. Yes, because they are such low fellows and will take a brief from anyone, exclaimed the fifth, whereas it is totally contrary to etiquette for a barrister to read instructions from anyone but an attorney. The fact is that such men as Smouch and Slike face more harm than good with the judges, observed a sick. They haven't the ear of the court, and that's the real truth of it. These remarks diminished still more the immense respect which Markham had hitherto entertained for English justice, and he now saw that the barrister who detailed plain and simple facts did not stand half such a good chance of saving his client as the favoured one, who possessed the ear of the court. By a very natural transition the discourse turned upon petty juries. I think it will go hard with me, said one, because I am tried in the city. I wish I had been committed for the Middlesex sessions in Clerkenwell. Why so? demanded another prisoner. Because, you see, I'm accused of robbing my master, and as all the jury men are substantial shopkeepers, they're sure to convict a man in my position, even if the evidence isn't complete. I'm here for swindling tradesmen at the west end of the town, said another. Well, exclaimed the first speaker, the jury will let you off, if there's a slightest pretence, because they're all city tradesmen and hate the west end ones. And I'm here for what's called a murderous assault upon a police constable, said a third prisoner. Was he a metropolitan or a city policeman? A metropolitan. Oh, well, you're safe enough. The jury are sure to believe that he assaulted you first. Thank God for that blessing. I'll tell you what goes a good way with all Bailey juries, a good appearance. If a poor devil clothed in rags and very ugly appears at the bar, the foreman of the jury just says, Well, gentlemen, I think we may say guilty. For my part, I never saw such a hangdog countenance in my life. But if a well-dressed and good-looking fellow is placed in the dock, the foreman is most likely to say, Well, gentlemen, for my part, I never can nor never will believe that the prisoner could be guilty of such meanness. So I suppose we may say not guilty, gentlemen. Can this be true, ejaculated Markham? Certainly it is, was the reply. I will tell you more, too. If a prisoner's counsel don't tip the jury plenty of soft sorda and tell them that they are enlightened Englishmen and that they are the main prop, not only of justice, but also of the crown itself, they will be certain to find a verdict of guilty. What infamy, cried Markham, perfectly astounded at these revelations. Ah, and what's worth still, added his informant, is that old Bailey juries always, as a matter of course, convict those poor devils who have no counsel. And this is the vaunted palladium of justice and liberty, said Richard. In this way did the prisoner's in Markham's ward contrive to pass away an hour or two, for they were allowed no candle and no fire, and had consequently been forced to retire to their wretched couches immediately after dusk. The night was thus painfully long and wearisome. Markham found upon his inquiry that there were two methods of living in Newgate. One was to subsist upon the jail allowance, the other to provide for oneself. Those who received the allowance were not permitted to have beer, or were their friends suffered to add the slightest comfort to their sorry meals. And those who paid for their own food were restricted as the quantity and quality. Such is the treatment prisoners experienced before they are tried, and yet there is an old saying that everyone must be deemed innocent until he be proved guilty. The old saying is a detestable mockery. Of course Markham determined upon paying for his own food, and when Whittingham called in the morning the necessary arrangements with the coffee-housekeeper in the old Bailey who enjoyed the monopoly of supplying that compartment of the prison. The most painful ordeal which Richard had to undergo during his captivity in Newgate was his first interview with Mr Monroe. This gentleman was profoundly affected at the situation of his youth for ward, though not for one moment did he doubt his innocence. And here let us mention another revolting humiliation and unnecessary cruelty to which the untried prisoner is compelled to submit. In each yard is a small enclosure or cage of thick iron bars covered with wire work, and beyond this fence at a distance of about two feet is another row of bars similarly interwoven with wire. The visitor is compelled to stand in his cage to converse with his relative or friend who is separated from him by the two greatings. All private discourse is consequently impossible. What can recompense the prisoner who is acquitted for all the mortifications, insults, indignities and privations he has undergone in Newgate previous to that trial which triumphantly proclaims his innocence? Relative to the interview between Markham and Monroe, all that is necessary to state is that the young man's guardian promised to adopt all possible means to prove his innocence and spare no expense in securing the most intelligent and influential legal assistance. Mr Monroe, moreover, intimated his intention of removing the case from the hands of McChisel to those of a well-known and highly respectable solicitor. Richard declared that he left himself entirely in his guardian's hands and expressed his deep gratitude for the interest thus demonstrated by that gentleman in his behalf. Thus terminated the first interview in Newgate between Markham and his late father's confidential friend, he felt somewhat relieved by this visit and entertained strong hopes of being able to prove his innocence upon the day of trial. But it then wanted a whole month to the next sessions, thirty horrible days which he would be compelled to pass in Newgate. End of Chapter 26 Chapter 27 of The Mysteries of London This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Alan Wayman The Mysteries of London by George Reynolds Chapter 27 The Republican and the Resurrection Man As Richard was walking up and down the yard an hour or two after his interview with Mr Monroe he was attracted by the venerable appearance of an elderly gentleman who was also parading that dismal place to and fro. This individual was attired in a complete suit of black and his pale countenance and long grey hair flowing over his coat-collar were rendered the more remarkable by the mournful nature of his garb. He stooped considerably in his gate and walked with his hands joined together behind him. His eyes were cast upon the ground and his meditations appeared to be of a profound and soul-absorbing nature. Markham immediately experienced a strange curiosity to become acquainted with this individual and to ascertain the cause of his imprisonment. He did not, however, choose to interrupt that venerable man's reverie. Accident presently favoured his wishes and placed within his reach the means of introduction to the object of his curiosity. The old gentleman changed his line of walk in the spacious yard and tripped over a loose flagstone. His head came suddenly in contact with the ground. Richard hastened to raise him up and conducted him to a bench. The old gentleman was very grateful for these attentions and when he was recovered from the effects of his fall he surveyed Markham with the utmost interest. What circumstance has thrown you into this vile den he inquired in a pleasant tone of voice? Richard instantly related from beginning to end those particulars with which the reader is already acquainted. The old man remained silent for some minutes and then fixed his eyes upon Markham in a manner that seemed intended to read the secrets of his soul. Richard did not quail beneath that eagle-glance but a deep blush suffused his countenance. I believe you, my boy. I believe every word you have uttered." Suddenly exclaimed the stranger. You are the victim of circumstances and deeply do I commiserate your situation. I thank you sincerely, most sincerely for your good opinion, said Richard. And now permit me to ask you what has plunged you into a jail. No crime, I feel convinced before you speak. Never judge hastily, young man, returned the old gentleman. My conviction of your innocence was principally established by the very circumstance which would have led others to pronounce in favour of your guilt. You blushed, deeply blushed, but it was not the glow of shame. It was the honest flush of conscious integrity unjustly suspected. Now with regard to myself I know why you imagine me to be innocent of any crime. But remember that a mild, peaceable and venerable exterior frequently covers a heart eaten up with every evil passion and a soul stained with every crime. You were, however, right in your conjecture relative to myself. I am a person accused of a political offence, liable upon the government in a journal of considerable influence which I conduct. I shall be tried next session. My sentence will not be severe, perhaps, but it will not be the less unjust. I am the friend of my fellow countrymen and my fellow creatures. The upright and the enlightened denominate me a philanthropist. My enemies denounce me as a disturber of the public peace, a seditious agitator, and a visionary. You have undoubtedly heard of Thomas Armstrong? I have not only heard of you, sir, said Richard, surveying the great Republican writer with profound admiration and respect, but I have read your works and your essays with pleasure and interest. In certain quarters, continued Armstrong, I am represented as a character who ought to be loathed and shunned by all virtuous and honest people, that I am a moral pestilence, a social plague, and that my writings are only deserving of being burnt by the hands of the common hangman. The organs of the rich and aristocratic classes level every species of course invective against me. And yet, oh God, he added enthusiastically, I only strive to arouse the grovelling spirit of the industrious millions to a sense of the wrongs under which they labour and to prove to them that they were not sent into this world to lick the dust beneath the feet of majesty and aristocracy. Do you not think, asked Richard timidly, that you are somewhat in advance of the age? Do you not imagine that a republic would be dangerously premature? My dear youth, let us not discuss this matter in a den where all our ideas are concentrated in the focus formed by our misfortunes. Let me rather assist you with my advice on the mode of conduct you should preserve in this prison, so that you may not become too familiar with the common herd, nor offend by being too distant. Mr. Armstrong then proffered his counsel upon this point. I feel deeply indebted to you for your kindness, exclaimed Markham, very, very grateful. Grateful, cried the old man somewhat bitterly, oh, how I dislike that word! The enemies who persecute me now are those who have received the greatest favours from me. But there is one, one whose treachery and base in gratitude I never can forget, although I can forgive him. Almost four years ago I accidentally learnt that a young man of pleasing appearance, gentile manners and good acquirements was in a state of the deepest distress in an obscure lodging in Hoxton Oldtown. I called upon him. The account which had reached my ears was too true. He was bordering upon starvation, and although he assured me that he had relations and friends moving in a wealthy sphere, he declared that particular reasons which he implored me not to dive into compelled him to refrain from addressing them. I relieved his necessities. I gave him money and procured him clothes. I then took him as my private secretary, and soon put the greatest confidence in him. Alas! how was I recompensed? He betrayed all my political secrets to the government. He literally sold me. At length he absconded, taking with him a considerable sum of money which he abstracted from my desk. How despicable, ejaculated Richard! That is not all. I met him afterwards, and forgave him, said Armstrong. Ah! you possess, sir, a noble heart, cried Richard. I hope that this misguided young man gave sincere proofs of repentance. Oh! he was very grateful, ejaculated Mr. Armstrong with a satirical smile. When he heard that there was a warrant issued for my apprehension upon a charge of libel on the government, he secretly instructed the officers relative to my private haunts, and thus sold me again. The villain cried Markham with unfaigned indignation. Tell me his name, that I may avoid him as I would a poisonous viper. His name is George Montague, returned Mr. Armstrong. George Montague, cried Richard. Do you know him? Have you heard of him before? If you happen to be aware of his present abode, you would send and have him arrested for the robbery of the money in your desk? No. Write and assure him of my forgiveness once more, replied the noble-hearted Republican. But how came you acquainted with his name? I have heard of that young man before, and not in a way to do him honour. A tale of robbery and seduction, of heartless cruelty and vile deceit, has been communicated to me relative to this George Montague. Can you forgive such a wretch as he is? From the bottom of my heart, answered the Republican. Markham gazed upon that venerable gentleman with profound respect. He remembered to have seen the daily Tory newspapers denounce that same old man as an unprincipled agitator, the enemy of his country, the photo-morality, a political ruffian, a bloody-minded votary of Robespierre and Danton. And he now heard the sweetest and holiest sentiment of Christian morality emanate from the lips of him who had thus been fearfully represented. And that sentiment was uttered without affectation, but with unequivocal sincerity. For a moment, Richard forgot his own sorrows and misfortunes as he contemplated the benign and holy countenance of him whom a certain class loved to depict as a demon incarnate. The old man did not notice the interest which he had thus excited, for he had himself fallen into a profound reverie. Presently the conversation was resumed, and the more that Markham saw of the Republican, the more did he respect and admire him. In the course of the afternoon, Markham was accosted by one of his fellow prisoners who beckoned him aside in a somewhat mysterious manner. This individual was a very short, thin, cadaverous-looking man with cold black hair and whiskers and dark piercing eyes half concealed beneath shaggy brows of the deepest jet. He was apparently about five and thirty years of age, his countenance was downcast, and when he spoke he seemed as if he could not support the presence of the person whom he addressed. He was dressed in a seedy suit of black and wore an oil-skin cap with a large shade. This person, who was very reserved and retired in his habits and seldom associated with his fellow prisoners, drew Markham aside and said, I've taken a liberty with your name, but I know you won't mind it. In a place like this we must help and assist each other. And in what way began Markham? Oh, nothing very important. I mean, it's just as well to tell you, in case the turnkey says a word about it. The fact is, I haven't half enough to eat with this infernal gruel and soup that they give those who, like me, are forced to take the jail allowance, and my old mother, who is known by the name of the mummy, has promised to send me in presently a jolly good quart and loaf and three or four pound of Dutch cheese. But I thought that those who took the jail allowance were not permitted to receive any food from outside, said Markham. That's the very thing, said the man. I have told the mummy to direct the parcel to you, as I know that you grub yourself at your own cost. So long as it does not involve me, no, not in the least my good fellow interrupted the other. And in return, he added, after a moment's pause, if I can ever do you a service outside or in, you may reckon upon the resurrection man. The resurrection man, ejaculated Richard, appalled in spite of himself at this ominous title. Yes, that's my name and profession, said the man. My godfathers and godmothers called me Antony, and my parents had previously blessed me with the honourable appellation of Tidkins. So you may know me as Antony Tidkins, the resurrection man. And I really, began Richard with a partial shudder. Are you really a body snatcher? cried Antony. Of course I am. When there's any work to be done, and when there isn't, then I do a little in another line. And what may that be, demanded Markham? This time the resurrection man did look his interlocutor full in the face, but it was only for a moment, and he again averted his glance in a sinister manner, as he jerked his thumb towards the wall of the yard and exclaimed, Cranky Jem, on the other side, will tell you, if you ask him, they would not put us together. No, no, he added, with a species of chuckle. They know a trick worth two of that. We shall both be tried together. Fifteen years for him, freedom for me, that's the way to do it. With these words the resurrection man turned upon his heels and walked away to the farther end of the yard. We shall now take leave of Markham for the present. When we again call the reader's attention to his case, we shall find him standing in the dock of the central criminal court in his trial upon the grave accusation of passing forged notes. End of Chapter 27. We now to Bill Balter, the murderer who had taken refuge in the subterranean hiding-place of the old house in Chick Lane. Heavily and wearily did the hours drag along. The inmate of that terrible dungeon was enabled to mark their laps by the deep-mouthed bell of St Sepulchre's church on Snow Hill, the sound of which boomed ominously at regular intervals upon his ear. That same bell tolls the death note of the convict on the morning of his execution at the debtor's door of Newgate. The murderer remembered this and shuddered. A faint, faint light glimmered through the little grating at the end of the dungeon, and the man kept his eyes fixed upon it so long that at length his imagination began to conjure up phantoms to appall him. That small square aperture became a frame in which hideous countenances appeared and then one gradually changed into another, horrible, dissolving views that they were. But chiefly be beheld before him the tall, gaunt form of his murdered wife, with one eye smashed and bleeding in her head, the other glared fearfully upon him. This phantasmagoria became at length so fearful and so real in appearance that the murderer turned his back towards the little grating through which the light struggled into the dungeon in two long, narrow and oblique columns. But then he imagined that there were goblins behind him and this idea soon grew as insupportable as the first. So he rose and groped his way up and down that narrow vault, a vault which might become his tomb. This horrible thought never left his memory. Even while he reflected upon other things, amidst the perils which enveloped his career and the reminiscences of the dread deeds of which he had been guilty, amongst the reasons which he assembled together to convince himself that the hideous countenances of the grating did not exist in reality. There was that one idea, unmixed, definite, standing boldly out from all the rest in his imagination, that he might be left to die of starvation. At one time the brain of this wretch was excited to such a pitch that he actually caught his head in his two hands and pressed it with all his force to endeavour to crush the horrible visions which haunted his imagination. Then he endeavoured to harm a tune that his voice seemed to choke him. He lighted a pipe and sate and smoked, but as the thin blue vapour curled upwards in the faint light of the grating, it assumed shapes and forms appalling to behold. Spectres clad in long winding sheets. Cold, grisly corpses, dressed in shrouds, seemed to move noiselessly through the dungeon. He laid aside the pipe and, in a state of mind bordering almost upon frenzy, tossed off the brandy that had remained in the flask. But so full of horrible ideas was his mind at that moment that it appeared to him as if he had been drinking blood. He rose from his seat once more and groped up and down the dungeon, careless of the almost stunning blows which he gave his head and the violent contusions which his limbs received against the uneven walls. The clock suddenly, voices fell upon his ears. He listened with mingled fear and joy, fear of being discovered and joy at the sound of human tones in the midst of that subterranean solitude. Those voices came from the lower window of the dwelling on the other side of the ditch. Ah, silent and quiet, everything has been lately in the odd-ass opposite, said a female. Last night, or rather early this morning, I heard singing there, replied another voice, which was evidently that of a young woman. Oh, never had the human tones sounded so sweet and musical upon the murderous ears before. It is very seldom that anyone ever goes into that odd-ass snare, said the first speaker. It means rumours are abroad concerning it. I heard that there are subterranean places in which men can conceal themselves and no power on earth could find them save those in the secret. Her absurd, I was speaking to the policeman about that very thing a few days ago and he laughed at the idea. He said it is impossible and of course he knows best. I'm not so sure of that. Who knows what fearful deeds of those old walls concealed from human eye. For my part, I can very well believe that there are secret cells and caverns. Who knows but that some poor etch is hiding there this very moment. Perhaps the man that murdered his wife up in Union Court. Well, who knows but it is right we shall never get on with our work. The noise of a window being shut down fell upon the murderous ears and he heard no more but he had heard enough. Those girls had spoken of him. They had mentioned him as the man who had murdered his wife. The assassination then was already known. The dread deed was brooded abroad. Thousands and thousands of tongues had no doubt repeated the tale here and there conveying it hither and thither far and wide and throughout the vast metropolis was he already spoken of as the man who had murdered his wife and in a few hours more would millions in all parts hear of the man who had murdered his wife and already were the officers of justice actively in search of the man who had murdered his wife. Heavily, heavily past the hours at length the dungeon became pitch dark and then the murderer saw sights more appalling than when the faint gleam stole through the grating. In due time the sonorous voice of Saint Sepulchre proclaimed the hour of nine. Scarcely had the last stroke of that iron tongue died upon the breeze when a noise at the head of the spiral staircase fell upon the murderous ears. The trapdoor was raised and the well-known voice of Dick Flare was heard. Will Bill, alive or dead, old fella? exclaimed the burglar. Alive? And that's all, Dick. answered Bill Balter, ascending the staircase. My God! How pale you are, Bill! said Dick the moment the light of the candle fell upon the countenance of the murderer as he emerged from the trapdoor. Pale, Dick! ejaculated the wretch a shudder passing over his entire frame. I do not believe I can stand a night in that infernal hole. You must, Bill. You must! said Flare. All is discovered up in Union Court there and the police are about in all directions. When was it found out? Tell me the particular speak! said the murderer with frenzied impatience. Why, it appears that the neighbours heard a devil of a noise in your room but didn't think I'd think about it cos you and Polly used to spy a bit now and then. But at last, the boy, Ari I mean, went downstairs and said that his mother wouldn't move and that his father had gone away. So up the neighbours went and then everything was blown. The children were sent to the workers and the coroner held his inquest this afternoon at three. Ari was add up before him and what? demanded Balter hastily. And in course, added Dick, the coroner got at the boy all the particulars so the jury returned a verdict. Of willful murder, Ari, said Bill, sinking his voice almost to a whisper. Willful murder against William Falter, answered Dick Cooley. That little mega-bondary, cried the criminal, his entire countenance distorted with rage. I'll eat a death on him. There's no news at all about Tuva affair up at Clapton and no stir made in it at all, said Dick after a moment's pause. So, at their business, he's all right. But he is a lot of grub and plenty of lush, Bill. That'll cheer ya if nothing else will. Dick exclaimed the murderer. I cannot go back into that hole. I'd rather get nabbed at once. The few hours I've already been there have nearly drove me mad. And I can't, I won't attempt the night in that infernal, cold, damp vault. I feel as if I was in my coffin. Well, you know best, said Dick Cooley. A hem and neck cloth and tuck-up fare and a leap from a tree with only one leaf is what you'll get if you're perverse. My God, my God! ejaculated Balter, ringing his hands and throwing glances of extreme terror around the room. What am I to do? Lie still down below for a few weeks or go out and be scragged, said Dick Flairer. Come, Bill, be a man and don't take on in this earway. Besides, I'm in a hurry and must be off. I've bought you enough grub for three days and I shan't come here too often till the business has blowed over a little. Bill Balter took a long draft from a quart bottle of rum which his friend had brought with him and he then let his spirits revive. Horrible as the prospect of a long sojourn in the dungeon appeared, it was still preferable to the fearful doom which must inevitably follow his capture. And, accordingly, the criminal once more returned to his hiding-place. Dick Flairer promised to return on the third evening from that time and the trap-door again closed over the head of the murderer. Balter subbed off a portion of the provisions which his friend had bought him and then lay down upon the hard stone bench to sleep. A noisome stench entered the dungeon from the ditch and the rats ran over the person of the inmate of that subterranean hole. Repose was impossible. The miserable wretch, therefore, sat up and began to smoke. By accident he kicked his leg a little way beneath the stone bench. The heel of his boot encountered something that yielded to the touch and a strange noise followed. That noise was like the rattling of bones. The pipe fell from the man's grasp and he himself was stupefied with sudden terror. At length exercising immense violence over his feelings, he determined to ascertain whether the horrible suspicions which had entered his mind were well founded or not. He thrust his hand beneath the bench and encountered the mouldering bones of a human skeleton. With indescribable feelings of agony and horror he threw himself upon the bench, his hair on end and his heart palpitating violently. Heaven only can tell how he passed that long, weary night alone in the darkness of the dungeon with his own thoughts, the skeleton of some murdered victim and the vermin that infected the subterranean hole. He slept not a wink throughout those live long hours, the lapse of which was proclaimed by the voice of Saint Sepulchre's solemn, mid, deep-toned bell. And none who heard the bell during that night experienced feelings of such intense anguish and horror as the murderer in his lurking hole, not even the neighbouring prison of Newgate, nor the hospital of Saint Bartholomew, nor the deathbed of a parent knew mental suffering so terrible as that which wrung the heart of this guilty wretch. The morning dawned and the light returned to the dungeon. The clock had just struck eight and the murderer was endeavouring to force a mouth full of food down his throat when the voice of a man in the street tell upon his ear. He drew close up to the grating and clearly heard the following announcement. Here is a full and perfect account of the horrible assassination committed by the miscreant William Bolter upon the person of his wife with a portrait of the murderer and a representation of the room as he appeared when the deed was first discovered by a neighbour. Only one penny! The fullest and most perfect account! Only one penny! Only one penny! A pause ensued and then the voice bawling more lustily than before continued thus. A full and perfect account of this bloody and cruel murder in Upper Union Court showing hair the assassin first dashed out one of his victim's eyes and then fractured her skull upon the floor. Only one penny! Together with a true portrait of the murderer for whose apprehension a reward of one hundred pens is offered. Only one penny! A reward for one hundred pens! cried another voice. My eye! How hard should light to find him? Wouldn't our pressure soon give him up? Ejaculated the third. I wonder whereabouts he is? Said a fourth. No doubt that he's run away perhaps to America, perhaps to France. That shows how much you know about such things. Said a fifth speaker. It is a very strange fact that the murderer always lingers near the scene of their crime. They are attracted towards it. Seemingly as the moth is to the candle. Now for my part I shouldn't at all wonder if the miscreant was within a hundred yards of us at the present moment. Only one penny! The fullest, the most perfect again of the horrible and bloody murder. The itinerant vendor of pamphlets passed on followed by the crowd which his vociferations had collected and his voice soon ceased to break the silence of the morning. Balter sank down upon the stone bench a prey to maddening feelings and fearful emotions. A hundred pounds were offered for his capture. Such a sum might tempt even Dick Flairer or Tom the Cracksman to betray him. Instinctively he put his fingers to his neck to feel if the rope were there yet and he shook his head violently to ascertain if he were hanging on a gibbet or could still control his motions. The words miscreant, horrible and bloody murder and portrait of the assassin still rang in his ears loud, sonorous, deep and with a prolonged echo like that of a bell already were men speculating upon his whereabouts and anxious for his apprehension some for the reward others to gratify a morbid curiosity already were the newspapers, the cheap press and the pamphleteers busy with his name none now mentioned him save as the miscreant William Balter. Oh, if he could but escape to some foreign land if he could but avoid the ignomonious consequences of his crime in this he would dedicate the remainder of his days to penitence he would toil from the dawn of morning till sunset to obtain the bread of honesty he would use every effort, exert every nerve to atone for the outrage he had committed upon the laws of society but no, it was too late the bloodhounds of the law were already upon his track an hour passed away and during that interval the murderer sought to compose himself by means of his pipe and the rum bottle but he could not banish the horrible ideas which haunted him suddenly a strange noise fell upon his ear the blood appeared to him cold to his very heart in a refluent tide for the steps of many feet and the sounds of many voices echoed through the old house the truth instantly fleshed to his mind the police had entered the premises with hair standing on end, eyeballs clearing and forehead bathed in perspiration the murderer sat motionless upon the cold stone bench afraid even to breathe every moment he expected to hear the trapped door at the head of the spiral staircase move but several minutes elapsed and his fears in this respect were not accomplished at length he heard a sound of a body falling heavily and then a voice almost close to him fell upon his ear the reader will remember that the vault in which he was concealed joined the cellar from whence Walter Sydney had escaped the officers had entered that cellar by means of the trapped door in the floor on the room immediately above it Balto could overhear their entire conversation well this is a strange crib this is said one show the bull's eye up in that far the corner there may be a door in one of them dark nooks it would just stand as I said it would exclaimed another the fella wouldn't be such a fool as to come to a place it's no to the force as one a bad repute I didn't think myself there was much good in coming to search this old crib but the inspector said yes and so we couldn't say no let's be off the cold this infernal then strikes to my very bones dare say that their shelving board that we first lighted on in getting down in made to help people to come here alive turn the bull's eye more on it now can you see yeah plain enough at least to a whole looks on the ditch but the plank is quite old and rotten so dare say it was put there for some purpose or another a long time ago perhaps the thieves used to convey their swag threw that their role into a boat in the ditch and no no interrupted the other policeman it wasn't swag that they tumbled down the plank into the fleet it was stiffens very lightly but there can't be any of that kind of work ever going on now so let's be off the murderer in the adjoining vault could hear the policeman climb up the plank towards the trapdoor and in a few minutes profound silence again rained throughout the old house this time he had escaped detection and yet the search was keen and penetrating the apparent safety of his retreat restored him to something like good spirits and he began to calculate the chances which he imagined to exist for and against the probability of his escape from the hands of justice there's but five men in this world as knows of this hiding place he said to himself and them is myself Dick Flare Cranky Gem The Resurrection Men and Tom the Cracksman as for me I'm here that's one what won't bleb Dick Flare In lightly to sell a pal Tom the Cracksman I'd rely on even if he was on the rack Cranky Gem is staunch to the backbone besides he's in the jug so is the resurrection men they can't do much on there I think I'm tolerably safe and as for frightening myself about ghosts and goblins he was suddenly interrupted by the rattling of the bones beneath the stone bench he started and a profuse perspiration instantly broke out upon his forehead a huge rat had disturbed those relics of mortality but this little incident tended to hull the murderer back again into all that appalling gloominess of thought from which he had for a moment seemed to be escaping time wore on and heavily and warily still passed the hours at length darkness again came down upon the earth the light of the little grating disappeared and the vault was once more enveloped in the deepest obscurity the murderer ate a mouthful and then endeavoured to compose himself to sleep for he was worn out mentally and bodily the clock of St. Sepulchre's proclaimed the hour of seven as he awoke from a short and feverish slumber he thought he heard a voice calling him in his dreams and when he started up he listened with a fright Bill, are you asleep? it was not then a dream a human voice addressed him in reality Bill, what ain't your answer? said the voice it's only me Bolter suddenly felt relieved of an immense load it was his friend Dick who was calling him from the little trap door he instantly hurried up the staircase and was surprised to find that there was no light in the room my dear fella said Dick in a hurry tone I didn't mean to come back so soon again when Tom is going to do a little business together down Southampton Way somewhere that he has been sold off and as we may be away a few days for what better come this evening with a fresh supplier it is plenty of grub and rum and backer well this is a treat to hear a friendly voice again so soon said Bill but why the devil don't like the candle I'm going to do it now returned Dick and he struck a loose of a mattress bespoke I thought I wouldn't show light here sooner than was necessary and we must not keep it burning too long because there may be chinks in them shutters and I dare say the blue bottles is on the scent they come and search the old place this morning said Bill but they didn't smell me though then you're all safe now my boy cried Dick here look alive take this basket and pitch it down the stairs it's well tied up and chock full of sold meat and bread put them two bottles in your pocket there that's right now do you want anything else a knife was forced to norm my food like a dog for one on here you are said Dick and taking a knife from the secret cupboard between the windows he handed it to his friend now are you all right quiet please as right as a fellow in my situation can be you won't forget to come Bolter was standing within two or three steps from the top of the staircase and the greater part of his body was consequently above the trap door he stopped suddenly short in the midst of his injunction to his companion and staggered in such a way that he nearly lost his footing his eye had caught sight of a human cantonance peering from behind the half open door of the room damn nation exclaimed the murderer I'm so delused and rushing up the steps he fell upon Dick Flare with the fury of a tiger at the same moment four or five officers darted into the room but they were too late to prevent another dreadful deed of blood Bolter had plunged the knife which he held in his hand into the heart of Dick Flare the burglar the blow was given with fatal effect the unfortunate wretch uttered a horrible cry and fell at the feet of his assassin stone dead villain what have you done ejaculated the sergeant who headed the little detachment of police I've drawn the claret of the raw school that knows the pommie returned Bolter doggedly you were never more mistaken in your life said the sergeant ah what do you mean wasn't it that scandal dick that chirped against me no ten thousand times no cried the officer it was a prisoner in Newgate who split upon this hiding place somehow or another he heard of a reward offered to take you and he told the governor the whole secret of the vault without knowing whether we should find you here or not we came to search it then it was the resurrection man who betrayed me after all exclaimed Bolter and dashing the palms of his two hands violently against his temples he added in a tone of intense agony I have murdered my best friend monster miscreant that I am the policeman speedily fixed a pair of manacles about his wrists and in the course of a quarter an hour he was safely secured in one of the cells at the station house in Smithfield on the following day he was committed to Newgate end of chapter 28 recording by Natalie Orem England www.rockbarnmedia.co.uk Chapter 29 of The Mysteries of London this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Rosie The Mysteries of London by George Reynolds Chapter 29 The Black Chamber once more does the scene change the reader who follows us through the mazes of our narrative has yet to be introduced to many strange places many hideous haunts of crime abodes of poverty dens of horror and lurking holes of perfidy as well as many seats of wealthy voluptuousness and aristocratic dissipation it will be our task to guide those who choose to accompany us to scenes and places whose very existence may appear to belong to the regions of romance rather than to a city in the midst of civilization and whose characteristic features are as yet unknown to even those that are the best acquainted with the realities of life about a fortnight had elapsed since the events related in the preceding chapter in a small high well-lighted room five individuals were seated at a large round oaken table one of these persons who appeared to be the superior was an elderly man with a high forehead and thin white hair falling over the collar of his black coat he was short and rather corpulent his countenance denoted frankness and good nature but his eyes, which were small, grey and sparkling had a lurking expression of cunning only perceptible to the acute observer the other three individuals were young and gentlemanly looking men neatly dressed and very deferential in their manners towards their superior the door of this room was carefully bolted at one end of the table was a large black tray covered with an immense quantity of bread seals of all sizes perhaps the reader may recall to mind that amongst the pursuits and amusements of his school days he diverted himself with moistening the crumb of bread and kneading it with his fingers into a consistency capable of taking and retaining an accurate impression of a seal upon a letter the seals, or rather blank bread stamps now upon the tray were of this kind carefully manufactured and well consolidated with thick gum water close by this tray in a large wooden bowl were wafers of all sizes and colors and in a box also standing on the table were numbers of wafer stamps of every dimension used a second box contained thin blades of steel set fast in delicate ivory handles and sharp as razors a third box was filled with sticks of sealing wax of all colors and a foreign as well as British manufacture a small glass retort fixed over a spirit lamp was placed near one of the young men a tin box containing a little cushion covered with printers red ink in one compartment and several stamps such as the reader may have seen used in post offices in another division lay open nearer the other articles mentioned lastly an immense pile of letters some sealed and others wafered to it upon that end of the table at which the elderly gentleman was seated the occupations of these five individuals may be thus described in a few words the old gentleman took on the letters one by one and bent them open as it were in such a way that he could read a portion of their contents when they were not folded in such a manner as effectually to conceal all the writing he also examined the addresses and consulted a long paper of an official character which lay upon the table at his right hand some of the letters he threw after as careful a scrutiny as he could devote to them without actually breaking the seals or wafers into a large wicker basket at his feet from time to time however he passed a letter to the young man who sat nearest to him if the letters were closed with wax an impression of the seal was immediately taken by means of one of the bread stamps the young man then took the letter and held it near the large fire which burnt in the grate until the sealing wax became so softened by the heat that the letter could easily be opened without tearing the paper the third clerk read it aloud while the fourth took notes of its contents it was then returned to the first young man who resealed it by means of the impression taken on the bread stamp and with wax which precisely matched that originally used in closing the letter when this ceremony was performed the letter was consigned to the same basket which contained those that had passed unopened through the hands of the examiner if the letter were fastened with a wafer the second clerk made the water in the little glass retort boiled by means of the spirit lamp and when the vapor gushed forth from the tube the young man held the letter to its mouth in such a way that the steam played full upon the identical spot where the wafer was placed the wafer thus became moistened in a slight degree and it was only then necessary to pass one of the thin steel blades skillfully beneath the wafer in order to open the letter the third young man then read this epistle and the fourth took notes as in the former instance the contents being thus ascertained the letter was easily fastened again with a very thin wafer of the same color and size as the original and if the job were at all clumsily done the tin box before noticed furnished the means of imprinting a red stamp upon the back of the letter in such a way that a portion of the circle fell precisely over the spot beneath which the wafer was placed these processes were accomplished in total silence save when the contents of the letters were read and then so accustomed were those five individuals to hear the revelations of the most strained secrets and singular communications that they seldom appeared surprised or amused shocked or horrified at anything which those letters made known to them their tasks seemed purely of a mechanical kind indeed automatons could not have shown less passion or excitement oh vile despicable occupation performed too by men who went forth with heads erect and confident demeanor from their atrocious employment after having violated those secrets which are deemed most sacred and broken the seals which merchants lovers, parents, relations and friends had placed upon their thoughts base and diabolical outrage perpetrated by the commands of the ministers of the sovereign reader this small high well-lighted room in which such infamous scenes took place with doors well secured by bolts and bars was the black chamber of the general post office Saint Martin Legrand and now reader do you ask whether all this be true whether in the very heart of the metropolis of the civilized world such a system and such a den of infamy can exist whether in a world the means of transferring thought at a cheap and rapid rate be really made available to the purposes of government and the ends of party policy if you ask these questions to each and all to be confidently and boldly answer yes the first letter which the examiner caused to be opened on the occasion when we introduce our readers to the black chamber was from the state of Castel Ciccala in Italy to the representative of that grand duchy at the English court its contents when translated ran thus City of Montoni Castel Ciccala I am desired by my lord the Marquis of Guerrano his highness's secretary of state for foreign affairs to inform your excellency that in consequence of a general amnesty just proclaimed by his serene highness and which includes all political prisoners and emigrants passports to return to the grand duchy of Castel Ciccala may be accorded to his highness Alberto Prince of Castel Ciccala nephew of his serene highness the reigning grand duch as well as to all other natives of Castel Ciccala now resident in England but who may be desirous of returning to their own country I have the honor to renew to your excellency assurances of my most perfect consideration Baron Ruperto under secretary of state for foreign affairs etc etc the second letter perused upon this occasion by the inmates of the black chamber was from a famous London banker to his father at Manchester you will be astounded my dear father when your eye meets the statement I am now at length compelled to make to you the world believes my establishment to be as firmly based as the rocks themselves my credit is unlimited and thousands have confided their funds to my care alas my dear father I am totally insolvent the least drain upon the bank would plunge me into irredeemable ruin and dishonor I have however an opportunity of retrieving myself and building up my fortunes a certain government operation is proposed to me and if I can undertake it my profits will be immense fifty thousand pounds are absolutely necessary for my purposes within six days from the present time consider whether you will save your son by making him this advance or allow him to sink into infamy disgrace and ruin by withholding it whichever way you may determine breathes not a word to a soul the authorities in the treasury have made all possible inquiries concerning me and believe me to be not only solvent but immensely rich I expect your answer by return of post your affectionate but almost heartbroken son James Tomlinson the writer of this letter flattered himself that the government had already made all possible inquiries he little dreamt that his own epistle was to furnish the treasury through the medium of the post office with the very information which he had so fondly deemed unknown to all save himself when the third letter was opened the clerk whose duty it was to read it looked at the signature and addressing himself to the examiner said from whom sir did you anticipate that this letter came from Lord Tremerton is it not directed to Lady Tremerton exclaimed the examiner it is sir answered the clerk but it is written by that ladies daughter Cecilia I am very sorry for that the home office said the examiner is particularly anxious to ascertain the intention of Lord Tremerton and certain party matters and it is known, he added referring to the official paper beside him that his lordship communicates all his political sentiments to her ladieship who is now at bath then sir this letter need not be read cried the clerk interrogatively not read young man ejaculated the examiner impatiently how often am I to tell you that every letter which is once opened is to be carefully perused have we not been able to afford time government and the police some very valuable information at different times by noting the contents of letters which we have opened by mistake certainly added the first clerk there is that deeply planned and well laid scheme of Stevens and his young lady disguised as a man who lives at Upper Clapton which we discovered by the mere accident of opening a wrong letter I beg your pardon sir said the clerk whose duty it was to read the epistles and whose apology to the examiner was delivered in a most deferential manner I will now proceed with the letter of the honourable Miss Cecilia Huntingfield to her mother Lady Tremerton the young clerk then read as follows oh my dear mother how shall I find words to convey to you the fearful tale of my disgrace and infamy of which I am the unhappy and guilty heroine a thousand times before you left London I was on the point of throwing myself at your feet and confessing all but no I could not I dared not and now my dear parent I seal my shame no longer oh how shall I make you comprehend me without actually entrusting this paper with the fearful secret my god I am almost distracted surely you can understand my meaning if not learn the doleful tidings at once my dearest and most affectionate parent I am about to become a mother oh do not spurn me from you do not curse your child it has cost me pangs of anguish ineffable and of mental agony an idea of which I could not convey to you to sit down and rend your heart with this avowal but oh heavens what am I to do concealment is no longer possible in three months more I shall be a mother that villain harbour oh the friend of our family Sir Rupert harbour oh the man in whom my dear father put every confidence that wretch has caused my shame and yet there are times my dear mother I feel that I love him for he is the father of the child which most soon published my disgrace and now my fond confiding tender parent you know all oh come to my rescue adopt some means to conceal my shame shield me from my father's wrath I can write no more at present but my mind feels relieved now I have thus opened my heart to my mother your afflicted and almost despairing daughter Cecilia Huntingfield thus was a secret involving the honour of a noble family a secret compromising the most sacred interests revealed to five men at one moment by means of the atrocious system pursued in the black chamber of the general post office the fourth letter was from Mr. Robert Stevens of London to his brother Mr. Frederick Stevens of Liverpool my dear brother I write you a few hasty instructions to which I solicit your earnest attention you are well aware that the 26th instant is my grand day the day to which I have been so long and so anxiously looking forward all my schemes are so well organized that detection is impossible that fellow Montague gave me a little trouble a fortnight or so ago by suddenly and most unexpectedly declaring that he would not act as the witness of identity and I was actually compelled to give him 500 pounds to silence him what could have been his motive for shirking out of the affair I cannot tell be that as it may I have supplied his place with another and better man a lawyer of the name of Mac Chisel but now for my instructions the grand blow will be struck soon after midday on the 26th instant immediately it is done I shall give Walter I always speak of her as a man the 10,000 pounds I have promised him and then off to Liverpool in a post chase and for if there be a packet for America on the 27th secure me a birth if not ascertain if there be a vessel sailing for Havre or Bordeaux on that day and then secure me a birth in such ship but should there be none in this instance also then obtain a list of all the ships which according to present arrangements are to leave Liverpool on the 27th with their place of destination and all other particulars burn this letter the moment you have read it we then it cannot possibly have told tales your affectionate brother Robert Stevens poor deluded man he believed that letters confided to the general post office administration could tell no tales during their progress from the sender to the receiver how miserably was he mistaken and here we may observe that if the system of opening letters at the general post office were merely adopted for the purpose of discovering criminals and in crime we should still deprecate the proceeding although our objections would lose much of their point in consideration of the motive but when we find and know it to be a fact that the secrets of correspondence are flagrantly violated for political and other purposes we raise our voice to denounce so atrocious a system and to excite the indignation of the country against the men who can countenance or avail themselves of it numerous other letters were read on the occasion referred to in this chapter and their contents carefully noted down the whole ceremony was conducted with so much regularity and method that it proceeded with amazing despatch and the refascining of the letters was managed with such skill that in few if any instances were the slightest traces left to excite suspicion of the process to which these epistles had been subjected it was horrible to see that old man forgetting the letters and those four young ones laying aside the fine feelings which ought to have animated their bosoms it was horrible to see them earnestly systematically and skillfully devoting themselves to an avocation the most disgraceful soul debasing and morally execrable when the ceremony of opening reading and resealing the letters was concluded one of the clerks conveyed the basket containing them to that department of the establishment to undergo the process of sorting and sub-sorting for despatch by the evening males and the examiner then proceeded to make his reports to the various offices of the government the notes of the despatch from Casta Sacala were forwarded to the foreign secretary the contents of the bankers letter to his father were copied and sent to the chancellor of the ex-checker the particulars of Miss Cecilia Huntingfield's affecting epistle to her mother were entered in a re-required at a future day and an exact copy of Robert Stevens letter to his brother was forwarded to the solicitor of the bank of England End of Chapter 29 Recording by Rosie Chapter 30 of The Mysteries of London This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Rosie The Mysteries of London by George Reynolds Chapter 30 The 26th of November As soon as the first gleam of morning penetrated through the curtains of the Boudoir in the villa near Upper Clapton Walter leapt from her couch Conflicting feelings of joy and sorrow filled her bosom the day the happy day had at length arrived when, according to the promise of the man on whom she looked at her benefactor the event was to be accomplished which would release her from the detestable disguise which she had now maintained for a period of nearly five years the error had come when she was again to appear in the garb that suited alike her charms and her inclinations this circumstance inspired her with the most heartfelt happiness but, on the other hand, she loved tenderly loved one who had meditated against her an outrage of most infamous description instead of hailing her approaching return to her female attire as the signal for the consummation of the fond hopes in which she had a few weeks before indulged, hopes which pictured her imagination delicious scenes of matrimonial bliss in the society of George Montague she was compelled to separate the dream of felicity from the feet of her emancipation from athraldom repulsive to her delicacy and her tastes it was, therefore, with mingled feelings of happiness and melancholy, that she commenced her usual toilet that masculine toilet which she was that day to wear for the last time you ought to be in good spirits this morning, my dearest mistress said Louisa, as she entered the room, the period so anxiously look forward to you by yawn has at length arrived and tomorrow, tomorrow exclaimed Walter, her hazel eyes lighting up with a brilliant expression of joy, you, my excellent Louisa will assist me to adorn myself with that garb which I have neglected so of late I shall be happy both for your sake and mine, returned Louisa who was indeed deeply attached to her mistress, and when I see you recovering all your usual spirits in a foreign land, in Switzerland hastily interrupted Walter in Switzerland, whether you will accompany me, my good and faithful Louisa, and to which delightful country we will proceed without delay there indeed I shall be happy and, I hope, contented Mr. Stephen is to be here at ten is he not, said Louisa after a short pause at ten precisely and we then repair forthwith to the west end of the town where certain preliminaries are requisite previously to receiving an immense sum of money which will be paid over to us at the Bank of England this much Mr. Stephen's told me yesterday he has never communicated so much before and this very afternoon it is your determination to leave London, said Louisa I am now resolved upon that step, replied the lady you alone shall accompany me Mr. Stephen's has promised to provide for the groom and the old cook therefore, while I am absent this morning about the momentous business the real nature of which, by the by, has yet to be explained to me you will make all the preparations that may be necessary for our journey this conversation took place while Louisa hastily lighted the fire in the Boudoir in a few minutes the great sent up a cheering and grateful heat and the flames roared up the chimney the lady with an elegant dressing gown folded loosely around her and her delicate white feet thrust into red Morocco slippers threw herself into her luxurious easy chair while Louisa hastened to serve up breakfast upon a little rosewood table covered with a napkin as white as snow but the meal passed away almost untouched the lady's heart was too full of hope and tender melancholy to allow her to experience the least appetite the mysterious toilet was completed and Walter descended to the parlor, attired in masculine garments for the last time at ten o'clock precisely Mr. Stephen's arrived he was dressed with peculiar needness and care but his countenance was very pale and his eyes vibrated in a restless manner in their sockets he, however, assumed a bold composure and thus the profound anxiety to which he was at that moment a prey was unnoticed by Walter Sidney they seated themselves upon the sofa and looked at each other for an instant without speaking those glances on either side expressed in the art and language of the eye in words, this is the day Walter, said Mr. Stephen's at length breaking the silence which had prevailed your conduct today must crown my designs with glorious success or involve me in irretrievable ruin you may rely with confidence upon my discretion and prudence, answered Walter command me in all respects consistently with honour honour, exclaimed Stephen's impatiently, why do you forever mention that unmeaning word honour is a conventional term and is often used in a manner inconsistently with common sense and sound judgment honour is all very well when it is brought in contact with honour only but when it has to oppose fraud and deceit it must succumb if it trusts solely to its own force the most honest lawyer says chicanery and quibble to work to counteract the chicanery and quibble its petafogging opponent the politician calls the machinery of intrigue into play in order to fight his foemen with that foeman's own weapon if the French employ the aid of riflemen concealed in the thicket while the fair fight takes place upon the plane the English must do the same I certainly comprehend the necessity of frequently fighting a man with his own weapons said Walter but I do not see to what point your affairs your reasoning tends suppose Walter resumed Stevens speaking very earnestly and emphatically accentuating every syllable suppose that you had a friend who was entitled to certain rights which were withheld from him by means of some detestable quibble and low chicanery suppose that by stating that your friend's name was George instead of William for instance you could put him in possession of what is justly and legitimately his do but which, remember is shamefully and most dishonestly kept away from him in this case should you hesitate to declare that his name was George and not William I think that I should be inclined to make the statement to serve the cause of justice and to render a friend a signal service answered Sydney after a moment's hesitation I could not have expected a different reply exclaimed Stevens a gleam of joy animating his pale countenance and you would do so with less remorse when you found that you were transferring property from one individual who could well spare what he was never justly entitled to to a person who would starve without the restoration of his legitimate rights Oh certainly said Walter and this time the reply was given without an instance meditation then continued Stevens more and more satisfied with the influence of his sophistry you would in such a case ask you those modlin and mockish ideas of honor which arbitrarily exact that a falsehood must never be told for a good purpose and that illegitimate means must never never be adopted to work out virtuous and profitable ends my conduct in assuming this disguise returned Sydney with a smile and a blush has proved to you that I should not hesitate to make use of a deceit comparatively innocent with a view to oppose fraud and ensure permanent benefit to my friend and myself Oh Walter you should have been a man in person as well as in mind cried Stevens enthusiastically now I have no fears of the result of my plans and before sunset you shall be worth ten thousand pounds ten thousand pounds repeated Walter mechanically how much can be done with such a sum as that you expressed a wish to leave this country and visit the south of Europe said Stevens you will have ample means to gratify all your tastes and administer to all your inclinations only conceive a beautiful little cottage on the shore of the lake of Briennes that pearl of the Oberland the fair boat women the daughters of Switzerland passing their little shallops beneath your windows and singing their national songs full of charming tenderness while the soft music mingles with the murmuring waves and the sound of the oars Oh what an enchanting picture cried Walter and have you ever seen such as this I have and I feel convinced that the existence I recommended is the one which will best suit you today continued Stevens watching his compatrious countenance with a little anxiety shall you recover your rights today shall you oppose the innocent deceit to the enormous fraud today shall you do for yourself what you air now stated you would do for a friend if you have drawn my own case and putting those queries to me if immense advantages will be derived from my behavior in this affair if I am merely resting from the hands of base cupidity that which is justly my own and if the enemy whom we oppose can well afford to restore to me substance and thus render me independent for the remainder of my days oh how can I hesitate for a moment how can I refuse to entrust myself wholly and solely blindly and confidently in your hands you who have done so much for me and who have taught me to respect honor and obey you the lady uttered these words with a species of electric enthusiasm while her eyes brightened and her cheeks were suffused with the purple glow of transformation the specious arguments and the glowing description of swiss life brought forward by Stevens with admirable dexterity awakened all the ardor of an impassioned soul and the bosom of that beauteous creature palpitated with hope with joy and with excitement as she gazed upon the future through the mirror presented by Stevens to her view she was now exactly in a frame of mind suited to his purpose to order time to abate and while she was animated by the delicious aspirations which he had conjured up as it were by an enchanter's spell in her breast he took her by the hand and led her up to the mantelpiece then pointing to the portrait of her brother he said in a low hurried and yet solemn tone the fortune which must be rested from the grasp of cupidity this day would have belonged to your brother and no power on earth could have deprived for had he lived he would yesterday have attained his twenty first year his death is unknown to him who holds this money but by a miserable legal technicality you, you his sister and injustice his heiress you would be deprived of that fortune by the man who now grasps it and who would chuckle at any plan which made it his own now do you comprehend me you have but to say that you name is Walter instead of Eliza and you will recover your just rights defeat the wretched chicanery of the law and enter into possession of those resources which belong to you in the eyes of God by which if you shrink will be forever alienated from you and yours in one word said the lady I am to personate my brother precisely do you hesitate demanded Stevens will you allow the property of your family to pass into the hands of a stranger who possesses not the remotest right to its enjoyment or will you buy one bold effort an effort that cannot fail direct that fortune into its just its proper and its legitimate channel the temptation is great said the lady earnestly contemplating the portrait of her brother but the danger the danger she added hastily what would be the result if we were detected nothing nothing save the total loss of the entire fortune answered Stevens and therefore you perceive that want of nerve hesitation awkwardness blushes confusion on your part would ruin all be firm be collected be calm and resolute and our plans must be crowned with unequivocal success oh if I proceed farther I will pass through the ordeal with ease and safety exclaimed the lady I can nerve in to encounter any danger when it is well-defined and I know its extent it is only when it is vague uncertain and indistinct that I shrink from meeting it yes she continued after a few moments reflection I will follow your counsel in all respects you do know you must know how much we risk and how far we compromise ourselves and when I see you ready to urge on this matter to the end how can I fear to accompany you yes she added after another pause much longer than the preceding one I will be Walter Sidney throughout this day at least my dear friend ejaculated Stevens in a transport of joy you act in a manner worthy of your noble hearted brother I see he smiles upon you even in his picture frame I will retrieve from the hands of strangers that which is thine dear brother said the lady addressing herself to the portrait as if it could hear the words which she pronounced with calling solemnity then turning toward Stevens she exclaimed but you must acquaint me with the ceremonies we have to fulfill and the duties which I shall have to perform in order to accomplish the desired aim I need not instruct you now return Stevens the forms are nothing and explain themselves as it were a few papers to sign at a certain person's house in Grovesner Square then a ride to the bank and all is over but we must now take our departure the hackney coach that brought us hither is waiting to convey us to the west end Stevens and Sidney issued from the house together the former gave certain directions to the coachman and they then commenced their memorable journey Mr. Stevens did not allow his companion a single moment for calm and dispassionate reflection he continued to expatiate upon the happiness which was within her reach amidst the rural scenery of Switzerland he conjured up before her mental vision the most ravaging and delightful pictures of domestic tranquility so congenial to her tastes he fed her imagination with all those fairy visions which were calculated to attract and dazzle a mind tinged with a romantic shade and then he skillfully introduced those specious arguments which blinded her as to the real nature of the deceit in which she was so prominent and agent he thus sustained an artificial state of excitement bordering upon enthusiasm in the bosom of that confiding and generous hearted woman and not for one moment during that long ride did she repent of the step she had taken in fact such an influence did the reasoning of Stevens exercise upon her mind that she ceased to think of the possibility of either incurring danger or doing wrong she knew not how serious might be the consequences of detection she believed that she was combating the chicanery of the law with a similar weapon the use of which was justified and rendered legitimate by the peculiar circumstances of the case the Hackney coach proceeded by way of the new road and stopped to take up Mr. Mack Chisel at his residence near St. Pancras New Church the vehicle then proceeded to Grovesner Square where it stopped opposite one of those princely dwellings whose dingy exteriors afford to the eye of the foreigner accustomed to the gorgeous edifices of continental cities but little promise of the wealth grandeur and magnificence which exist within the door was opened by a footman in splendid library this domestic immediately recognized Mr. Stevens and said his lordship expects you sir the three visitors alighted from the coach and as Stevens walked with the disguised lady into the hall of the mansion he said in a hurried whisper courage my dear Walter you are now about to appear in the presence of the Earl of Warrington the servant led the way up a wide staircase and conducted the visitors into a library fitted up in the most luxurious and costly manner cases filled with magnificently bound volumes statues of exquisite sculpture and pictures of eminent artists denoted the taste of the aristocratic possessor of that lordly mansion two individuals were seated at a table covered with papers and legal documents one was a fine tall middle-aged man with a noble and handsome countenance polished manners and most kind and affable address the other was an old gentleman with a bald head sharp features and constant smile upon his lips when he addressed the personage just described the first was the Earl of Warrington the other was his solicitor Mr. Pakenham the Earl rose and greeted Mr. Stevens cordially then turning towards Walter he shook her kindly by the hand and said I need not ask if you are the young gentleman to whom I am to be introduced as Mr. Walter Sidney this is my word your lordship Mr. Stevens smiling I think it is scarcely necessary to call your lordship's attention to the striking resemblance which he bears to his lamented father yes it would be impossible to mistake him said his lordship hastily while a cloud passed over his brow but sit down pray sit down and we will proceed to business I presume that gentleman is your professional advisor Mr. Mac Chisel observed Mr. Stevens introducing the lawyer Mr. Pakenham I have had the pleasure of seeing you before he added addressing the nobleman's attorney with a placid smile Mr. Pakenham acknowledged the salutation with a bow and his eye wandered for a moment with some surprise towards Mac Chisel as much as to say I am astonished to see a person like you employed and so important in a fair when everyone was seated the Earl of Warrington referred to some papers placed before him and said the object of this meeting is known to everyone present the duty that devolves upon me is to transfer to Walter Sydney the only son and heir of the late Stanford Sydney upon being satisfied with respect to the identity of the claimant the sum of forty one thousand pounds now invested in certain stocks in the bank of England it is needless I presume said Mr. Pakenham to enter into the particulars of this inheritance we on our side admit our liability to pay the amount specified by his lordship to the proper claimant quite satisfactory observed Mac Chisel to whom these observations were addressed the proofs of identity are then all that your lordship now requires said Mr. Stevens and I only require them as a mere matter of necessary form and ceremony Mr. Stevens return the Earl of Warrington I am well aware of your acquaintance with the late Mrs. Sydney and of the fact that the deceased lady left her children to your home my lord here are the various certificates said Stevens placing a small packet of papers before the Earl in the first instance you have the marriage certificate of Stanford Sydney and Laetitia Hardinge the natural daughter of the late Earl of Warrington your lordship's uncle well well exclaimed the nobleman somewhat impatiently as if he were anxious to get rid as soon as possible of a business by no means pleasant to him that certificate is beyond all dispute here continued Stevens is the certificate of the birth of Eliza Sydney born October 12th 1810 and here is the certificate of her death which took place on the 14th of February 1831 this certificate is not necessary observed Mr. Pakenham as in no case under the provisions of these deeds he added pointing to a pile of documents before him could that young lady have instituted even a shadow of a claim to this money we had better possess one deed too many than one too few said Mr. Stevens with another bland smile and this precaution shows the exact condition of the late Mr. Stanford Sydney's family the daughter is no more the son lives and is present here then my lord continued Stevens is the certificate of the birth of Walter Sydney on the 25th day of November 1814 the nobleman examined this document with far more attention than he had devoted to either of the former he then handed it to Mr. Pakenham who also scrutinized it narrowly it is quite correct my lord said this gentlemen we now require two witnesses as to identity I presume his lordship will receive me as one observed Mr. Stevens considering my intimate acquaintance with all oh certainly certainly interrupted the Earl hastily and Mr. Mac Chisel will tender his evidence in the other instance said Stevens I have known this young gentleman for the last six years exclaimed Mac Chisel pointing towards Walter and I knew his mother also is your lordship satisfied inquired Mr. Pakenham after a short pause perfectly answered the nobleman without hesitation I am however in your hands oh as for me returned Mr. Pakenham I have no objection to offer your lordship is acquainted with Mr. Stevens yes yes again interrupted the Earl I have known Mr. Stevens for some years and I know him to be a man of honor then there is nothing more to be said observed Pakenham no nothing added Mac Chisel but to complete the business I will now read the release said Mr. Pakenham the solicitor settled himself in a comfortable manner in his chair and taking up a deed consisting of several folios proceeded to make his hearers as much acquainted with his contents as the multifarious redundancies of law terms would allow the disguised lady had now time for reflection she had been more or less prepared for the assertion of Mr. Stevens that Eliza Sidney was dead and that Walter was living but the bare-faced falsehood uttered by Mac Chisel who so far from having been acquainted with her for years had never seen her until that morning shocked and astounded her she had also just learnt for the first time that her mother was the natural daughter of an earl and she perceived that she herself could claim a distant kinship with the noblemen in whose presence she then was this circumstance inspired her with feelings in his favour which were enhanced by the urbanity of his manners and the readiness with which he admitted all the proofs submitted to him by Mr. Stevens she had expected from the arguments used by this gentleman to convince her that she should not hesitate to fight the law with his own weapons etc that every obstacle would be thrown in the way of her claims by him on whom they were to be made and she was astonished when she compared all the specious representations of Stevens with the readiness, goodwill and alacrity manifested by the earl in yielding up an enormous sum of money now also for the first time it struck her as remarkable that Stevens had promised her ten thousand pounds only a fourth part of that amount to which according to his own showing her own was justly entitled all these reflections passed rapidly through her mind while the lawyer was reading the deed of release not one word of which was attended to by her she suddenly felt as if her eyes were open to a fearful conspiracy in which she was playing a conspicuous part she trembled as if she were standing upon the edge of a precipice and yet she knew not how to act she was bewildered but the uppermost idea in her mind was that she had gone too far to retreat this was the impression that ruled her thoughts at the precise moment when Mr. Pakenham brought the reading of the long, weary some document to a termination the buzzing, droning noise which had filled her ears for upwards of twenty minutes suddenly ceased and she heard a voice say in a kind tone will you now please to sign this she started but immediately recovered her presence of mind and taking the pen from the lawyer's hand applied the signature of Walter Sydney the document it was next witnessed by Pakenham Stevens and Mac Chisell who handed it to the Earl the nobleman then took several papers familiar to all those who have ever possessed bank stock from an iron safe in one corner of the library and handing them to the disguised lady said Mr. Walter Sydney I have much pleasure in putting you in possession of this fortune and I can assure you that my best my very best wishes for your health can only be just transferred Walter receives the documents mechanically as it were and murmured a few words of thanks and gratitude perhaps Mr. Stevens said the Earl when the ceremony was thus completed you and your friends will do me the honour to accept a slight refreshment in the adjoining room you will excuse my absence but I have a few matters of pressing importance to transact with my solicitor and which cannot possibly be postponed you must accept this as my apology I cannot keep you company." The Earl shook hands with both Stevens and Sidney and bowed to Mac Chisell. These three individuals then withdrew. An elegant collation was prepared for them in another apartment, but Mac Chisell was the only one who seemed inclined to pay his respects to it. Walter, however, gladly swallowed a glass of wine, for she felt exhausted with the excitement she had passed through. Stevens was too highly elated either to eat or drink, and too anxious to complete the business in the city to allow Mac Chisell to waste much time over the delicacies of which the collation consisted. They were, therefore, all three soon on their way to the Bank of England. Well, I think we managed the job very correctly, said Mac Chisell. Everything passed off precisely as I had anticipated, observed Mr. Stevens. But you, Walter, you are serious. I do not look upon the transaction in the same light as I did a couple of hours since," answered she coldly. Ah, my dear friend, cried Stevens, you are deceived by the apparent urbanity of that nobleman and the mildness of his solicitor. They assumed that appearance because there was no help for them. They had no good to gain by throwing obstacles in our way. But the certificate of my death was a forgery, said Walter bitterly. A necessary alteration of names, without which the accomplishment of our plan would have been made impossible, answered Stevens. But let me ease your mind in one respect, my dear Walter. That nobleman is a relation of yours, and yet until this day his name has never been mentioned to you. And why? Because he visits upon you the hatred which he entertained for your deceased mother. Did you not observe that he interrupted me when I spoke of her? Did you not notice that he touched with extreme aversion upon the topics connected with your revered parents? I did, I did, exclaimed Walter. He hates you. He detests you, continued Stevens emphatically, and he will not countenance any claim which you might advance towards kinship with him. His duties as a nobleman and a gentleman dictated the outward civility with which he treated you, but his heart gave none to the words of congratulations which issued from his lips. I believe you, I know that you are speaking the truth, cried Walter. Pardon me, if for a moment I cease to look upon you as a friend. Stevens pressed the hand of the two confiding being over whom his dangerous eloquence and subtle reasoning possessed an influence so omnipotent for purposes of evil. And he then again launched out into glowing descriptions of the sources and means of happiness within her reach. This reasoning, aided by the hope that in a few hours she should be unable to quit London forever, restored the lady's disposition to that same easy and pliant state to which Stevens had devoted nearly five years to model it. At length the hackney coach stopped at the Bank of England. Stevens hurried to the rotunda to obtain the assistance of a stockbroker for the purpose of transferring and selling out the immense sum which now appeared within his reach and to obtain which he had devoted his time, his money, and his tranquility. Walter and the lawyer awaited his return beneath the porch of the entrance. After the lapse of a few minutes he appeared accompanied by a broker of his acquaintance. They then all four proceeded together to the office where the business was to be transacted. The broker explained the affair to a clerk, and the clerk, after consulting a huge volume, received the documents which Lord Warrington had handed over to Sydney. Having compared those papers with the entries in the book, the clerk made a sign to three men who were lounging at the upper end of the office, near the stove, and who had the appearance of messengers or porters. These men moved hastily forward and advanced up to Stevens, Mac Chisell and Walter Sydney. A deadly pallor spread over the countenance of Stevens, Mac Chisell appeared alarmed, but Walter remained still unsuspicious of danger. "'Those are the persons,' said the clerk significantly, as he pointed to the three conspirators, to whom he observed almost in the same breath, your plans are detected. These men are officers.' "'Officers,' ejaculated Sydney. What does this mean?' "'We are here to apprehend you,' answered the foremost of these functionaries. Resistance will be vain. There are others outside in readiness.' "'Merciful heavens!' cried Walter, joining her hands in agony. "'Oh Stevens, to what have you brought me?' That unhappy man hung down his head and made no reply. He felt crushed by this unexpected blow which came upon him at the very instant when the object of his dearest hopes seemed within his reach. As for Mac Chisell, he resigned himself with dogged submission to his fate. The officers and their prisoners now proceeded to the mansion-house, accompanied by the clerk and the stockbroker. Sydney, a prey to the most dreadful apprehensions and painful remorse, was compelled to lean for support upon the arm of the officer who had charge of her. St. Peter Laurie sat for the Lord Mayor. The worthy knight is the terror of all swindlers, mock companies, and bubble firms existing in the City of London wherever there is fraud within the jurisdiction of the civic authorities he is certain to root it out. He has conferred more benefit upon the commercial world and has devoted himself more energetically to protect the interests at the trading community than any other alderman. Unlike the generality of the city magistrates who are coarse, vulgar, ignorant, and narrow-minded men, St. Peter Laurie is possessed of a high range of intellect and is an enlightened and agreeable and a polished gentleman. It was about three o'clock in the afternoon when Stevens, Mac Chisell, and Sydney were placed in the dock of the mansion-house police office. The solicitor of the Bank of England attended for the prosecution. With what do you charge these prisoners? demanded the magistrate. With conspiring to obtain the sum of forty-one thousand pounds from the hands of the Earl of Warrington and the governor and company of the Bank of England. Is his lordship present? Your worship he is, at this moment, unaware of the diabolical fraud that has been contemplated and in part perpetrated upon him. He has given up to the prisoners certain documents which constituted their authority for transferring and selling out the sum I have mentioned. By certain means the intentions of the prisoners were discovered some time ago, and secret information was given to the bank directors upon the subject. The directors were not, however, permitted to communicate with the Earl of Warrington under penalty of receiving no farther information from the quarter once the original warning emanated. Under all circumstances I shall content myself with stating sufficient to support the charge today so that your worship may remand the prisoners until a period when the attendance of the Earl of Warrington can be procured. State your case. I charge this prisoner, said the solicitor, pointing towards Sydney, with endeavouring to obtain the sum of 41,000 pounds from the governor and company of the Bank of England under pretense of being one Walter Sydney, a man, whereas the prisoner's name is Eliza Sydney, and she is a woman. An immense sensation prevailed in the justice room at this announcement. The disguised lady moaned audibly and leaned against the bar of the dock for support. And I charge the other prisoners, Robert Stevens and Hugh Mac Chisell, with aiding and abetting in the crime, added the solicitor after a pause. The unhappy lady, yielding to emotions and feelings which she was now no longer able to contain, threw herself upon her knees, clasped her hands together in an agony of grief, and exclaimed, It is true, I am not what I seem. I have been guilty of a fearful deception, a horrible cheat, but it was he, he, she cried, pointing to Stevens, who made me do it. There was a universal sentiment of deep sympathy with the female prisoner throughout the court, and the worthy alderman himself was affected. You must remember, he said, in a kind tone, that anything which you admit here may be used against you elsewhere. I am anxious to confess all that I have done and all that I know, cried the lady, and in so doing I shall in some measure atone for the enormity of my guilt which I now view in its true light. Under these circumstances, said the alderman, let the case stand over until to-morrow. The prisoners were then removed. In another hour they were inmates of the Guiltspur Street Comptor. And how terminated the 26th of November for Walter Sydney, instead of being in possession of an ample fortune and about to visit a climb where she hoped to enjoy all the blessings of domestic tranquility and the charms of rural bliss, she found herself a prisoner charged with a crime of deep dye. Oh, what a sudden reverse was this! Still upon that eventful day there was one hope of her as fulfilled. She threw aside her masculine attire and assumed the garb adapted to her sex. A messenger was dispatched to the villa to communicate the sad tidings of the arrest to Louisa and procure suitable clothing for her wretched mistress. But alas, that garb in which she had so ardently desired to appear again, was now doomed to be worn for the first time in a prison, the new epoch of her life, which was to be marched by a return to feminine habits, was commenced in a dungeon. Still that new period had begun, and from henceforth we shall know her only by her real name, of Eliza Sydney. End of Chapter 30, Recording by Rosie