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                                  THE
                          MYSTERIES OF LONDON.


                                   BY

                         GEORGE W. M. REYNOLDS,

        AUTHOR OF "FAUST," "PICKWICK ABROAD," "ROBERT MACAIRE,"
                   "WAGNER: THE WEHR-WOLF," &C., &C.

                      WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS

                               VOL. III.

                         VOL. I. SECOND SERIES.

                                LONDON:

                G. VICKERS, 3, CATHERINE STREET, STRAND.

                              MDCCCXLVII.




                                LONDON:
  PRINTED BY J. FAUTLEY, "BONNER HOUSE" PRINTING OFFICE, SEACOAL LANE.




                        THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON.




                          CONTENTS OF VOL. I.


 CHAPTER I.—The Travelling Carriage                                   1
         II.—Tom Rain and Old Death                                   4
         III.—Bow Street                                              6
         IV.—Esther de Medina                                         9
         V.—The Appeal of Love                                       13
         VI.—Dr. Lascelles                                           15
         VII.—The Beautiful Patient                                  18
         VIII.—Seven Dials                                           20
         IX.—A Death-Scene.—Lock's Fields                            23
         X.—A Scene at the House of Sir Christopher Blunt            28
         XI.—The Two Thousand Pounds.—Torrens Cottage                30
         XII.—Adelais and Rosamond                                   33
         XIII.—The Elopement                                         36
         XIV.—Lady Hatfield and Dr. Lascelles.—Esther de Medina      39
         XV.—The Opiate                                              42
         XVI.—The Lover and the Uncle                                43
         XVII.—The Mysterious Letter.—Jacob                          44
         XVIII.—The Lovers                                           48
         XIX.—Mr. Frank Curtis's Pleasant Adventure                  51
         XX.—Happiness.—The Diamond Merchant                         55
         XXI.—The Oath                                               59
         XXII.—The Alarm.—The Letter                                 61
         XXIII.—Old Death                                            64
         XXIV.—Castle Street, Long Acre                              67
         XXV.—Matilda, the Country-Girl                              70
         XXVI.—The Lady's-Maid                                       73
         XXVII.—London on a Rainy Evening.—A Scene in a Post-Chaise  75
         XXVIII.—Tom Rain's Lodgings in Lock's Fields                77
         XXIX.—The Mysteries of Old Death's Establishment            82
         XXX.—The Store-Rooms                                        86
         XXXI.—Another Deed of Infamy brought to Light               88
         XXXII.—Rainford in the Subterranean                         92
         XXXIII.—Mrs. Martha Slingsby                                94
         XXXIV.—The Pious Lady                                       96
         XXXV.—Mr. Sheepshanks                                      100
         XXXVI.—The Baronet and his Mistress                        102
         XXXVII.—Tom Rain and Jacob                                 104
         XXXVIII.—The History of Jacob Smith                        107
         XXXIX.—Continuation of the History of Jacob Smith          116
         XL.—Conclusion of the History of Jacob Smith               120
         XLI.—Fresh Alarms                                          126
         XLII.—The Paragraph in the Newspaper                       128
         XLIII.—Lord Ellingham and Tom Rainford                     131
         XLIV.—Mr. Frank Curtis again                               134
         XLV.—Mr. <DW18>s and his Myrmidons                           139
         XLVI.—Explanations                                         141
         XLVII.—Farther Explanations                                144
         XLVIII.—Lord Ellingham and Tom Rain                        147
         XLIX.—A Painful Interview                                  151
         L.—The Lawyer's Office                                     155
         LI.—Lord Ellingham in the Dungeon                          157
         LII.—Lord Ellingham's Exertions                            162
         LIII.—The Execution                                        164
         LIV.—Galvanism                                             166
         LV.—The Laboratory.—Esther de Medina                       167
         LVI.—A History of the Past                                 172
         LVII.—A Father                                             185
         LVIII.—The Resuscitated                                    188
         LIX.—The Jew's Family                                      194
         LX.—Sir Christopher Blunt's Domestic Hearth                196
         LXI.—Captain O'Blunderbuss                                 198
         LXII.—Frank's Embarrassments                               202
         LXIII.—The Meeting in Battersea Fields                     204
         LXIV.—Old Death and his Friend Tidmarsh                    206
         LXV.—The Examination                                       208
         LXVI.—Mrs. Slingsby and the Baronet again                  215
         LXVII.—The Marriage.—Rosamond                              219
         LXVIII.—Dr. Wagtail.—Rosamond Torrens                      222
         LXIX.—Misery and Vice                                      229
         LXX.—Tim the Snammer                                       232
         LXXI.—The History of Tim the Snammer                       234
         LXXII.—Mr. and Mrs. Curtis                                 255
         LXXIII.—Captain O'Blunderbuss again                        260
         LXXIV.—Three Months after Marriage                         264
         LXXV.—The Knight and the Captain                           268
         LXXVI.—Tim the Snammer and Josh Pedler out on Business     271
         LXXVII.—The Father and Daughter                            273
         LXXVIII.—Retribution                                       276
         LXXIX.—The Earl of Ellingham and Lady Hatfield again       279
         LXXX.—Mrs. Slingsby and Mrs. Torrens                       283
         LXXXI.—Rosamond at Home                                    288
         LXXXII.—The Forged Cheque                                  292
         LXXXIII.—The Reward of Crime                               295
         LXXXIV.—Old Death's Party                                  299
         LXXXV.—The History of a Livery Servant                     303
         LXXXVI.—Conclusion of the History of a Livery-servant      312
         LXXXVII.—The Blackamoor                                    322
         LXXXVIII.—Scenes at the Blackamoor's House                 326
         LXXXIX.—The Surprise.—Jeffreys and Old Death               331
         XC.—The New Justice of the Peace                           334
         XCI.—Captain O'Blunderbuss again.—Another Strange Visitor  337
         XCII.—The Confession                                       342
         XCIII.—Newgate                                             344
         XCIV.—"The Stout House."                                   349
         XCV.—Clarence Villiers and his Aunt                        354
         XCVI.—Sir Christopher Blunt a Hero                         357
         XCVII.—Carlton House                                       360
         XCVIII.—An Acquittal and a Sentence                        363
         XCVIX.—The Condition of the Working Classes                368
         C.—The Earl of Ellingham and Esther de Medina              371
         CI.—The Blackamoor's Strange Adventure                     375
         CII.—A State of Siege                                      380
         CIII.—The Surprise.—A Change of Scene                      384
         CIV.—The Visit.—The Habeas Corpus                          389
         CV.—The King's Bench Prison                                391
         CVI.—A Farther Insight into the King's Bench               396
         CVII.—A Tale of Sorrow                                     400
         CVIII.—Conclusion of the Tale of Sorrow                    408
         CIX.—The Prisoners                                         413




                        ILLUSTRATIONS TO VOL. I.
                             SECOND SERIES.


                  For Woodcut on page   1 see page   5
                  For Woodcut on page   9 see page  15
                  For Woodcut on page  17 see page  22
                  For Woodcut on page  25 see page  31
                  For Woodcut on page  33 see page  37
                  OLD DEATH                   page  41
                  For Woodcut on page  49 see page  53
                  For Woodcut on page  57 see page  60
                  For Woodcut on page  65 see page  68
                  For Woodcut on page  73 see page  80
                  For Woodcut on page  81 see page  86
                  For Woodcut on page  89 see page  95
                  For Woodcut on page  97 see page 101
                  For Woodcut on page 105 see page 111
                  JACOB SMITH IN THE
         				  POWER OF SATAN      page 113
                  For Woodcut on page 121 see page 127
                  For Woodcut on page 129 see page 131
                  For Woodcut on page 137 see page 141
                  For Woodcut on page 145 see page 150
                  For Woodcut on page 153 see page 159
                  DR. LASCELLES               page 161
                  For Woodcut on page 169 see page 176
                  For Woodcut on page 177 see page 176
                  For Woodcut on page 185 see page 189
                  For Woodcut on page 193 see page 198
                  For Woodcut on page 201 see page 205
                  For Woodcut on page 209 see page 210
                  For Woodcut on page 217 see page 224
                  For Woodcut on page 225 see page 229
                  TIM THE SNAMMER             page 233
                  For Woodcut on page 241 see page 245
                  For Woodcut on page 242 see page 255
                  For Woodcut on page 257 see page 263
                  For Woodcut on page 265 see page 272
                  For Woodcut on page 273 see page 274
                  For Woodcut on page 281 see page 286
                  For Woodcut on page 289 see page 292
                  For Woodcut on page 297 see page 300
                  For Woodcut on page 305 see page 309
                  For Woodcut on page 313 see page 317
                  For Woodcut on page 321 see page 323
                  For Woodcut on page 329 see page 335
                  For Woodcut on page 337 see page 342
                  For Woodcut on page 345 see page 348
                  For Woodcut on page 353 see page 358
                  For Woodcut on page 361 see page 362
                  For Woodcut on page 369 see page 372
                  For Woodcut on page 377 see page 384
                  For Woodcut on page 385 see page 390
                  For Woodcut on page 393 see page 396
                  For Woodcut on page 401 see page 406
                  For Woodcut on page 409 see page 410




                        THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON.


[Illustration]




                               CHAPTER I.
                        THE TRAVELLING-CARRIAGE.


It was about nine o'clock in the evening of the 2nd of November, 1826,
that a travelling-carriage stopped, on its way to London, to change
horses at the principal hotel in the little town of Staines.

The inmates of the vehicle were two ladies:—an elderly domestic in
livery and a female attendant occupied the box.

The night was clear, fine, and frosty: the moon shone brightly; and the
carriage lamps threw a strong glare to a considerable distance in front
of the vehicle.

The active ostlers speedily unharnessed the four wearied steeds, and
substituted as many fresh ones in their place: the two postboys leapt
into their saddles; the landlord cried "All right!"—and the carriage
rolled rapidly away from the inn, the horses' shoes striking fire
against the stones.

"If there be any thing particularly calculated to raise the spirits,"
said one lady to the other, a few minutes after the chariot had left the
peaceful town behind, "it is travelling upon such a beauteous night as
this."

"I am delighted to observe that you _are_ in good spirits this evening,
my dear Lady Hatfield," was the reply. "After passing four long months
at Sir Ralph Walsingham's country seat, London will present fresh
attractions for your ladyship."

"My dear Miss Mordaunt," returned Lady Hatfield, in a serious tone, "you
are aware that I am indifferent to those formal parties and ceremonial
assemblies which are reckoned amongst the pleasures of the fashionable
world; and I can assure you that had not my uncle purported to return to
London in a few days, my own inclinations would have urged me to prolong
my stay at Walsingham Manor."

"For my part," said Miss Mordaunt, "I am quite delighted with the idea
of hastening back to the great metropolis. A summer in the country is
only tolerable because each day brings one nearer to the enjoyments of a
winter in town. But really, my dear Lady Hatfield, you are not
reasonable. Rich, young, and beautiful as you are—your own mistress—and
with the handsomest man in England dying to lay his coronet at your
feet——"

"I shall never marry, Julia," hastily interrupted Lady Hatfield. "Pray
let us change the conversation. A few minutes ago I was in excellent
spirits; and now——"

She paused—and a deep sigh escaped her bosom.

"Did I not say that you were quite unreasonable?" exclaimed her
companion. "Here am I—five years older than yourself,—for I do not mind
telling you, my dear friend, that I shall never see thirty again;—and
yet I have not renounced the idea of changing my condition. I know that
I am neither so good-looking nor so wealthy as you;—still I have my
little ambition. Sir Christopher Blunt would deem himself honoured were
I to smile graciously upon him; but my brother, the lieutenant—who, by
the by, expects his captaincy in a few days, thanks to the interest of
your kind uncle Sir Ralph—declares that if ever I marry a mere knight,
he will never speak to me again."

Lady Hatfield had fallen into a profound reverie, and paid not the
slightest regard to the confidential outpourings of her garrulous
companion.

Miss Mordaunt, who laboured under the pleasing impression that Lady
Hatfield's silence was occasioned by the deep interest which she took in
the present topic, continued to rattle away with her tongue as fast as
the carriage did with its wheels.

"I am sure it was a very great act of kindness in you to ask me to spend
the winter with you in London; for as papa is compelled to reside in
Ireland, in consequence of the unsettled state of his tenantry, I should
have been under the necessity of returning to the Emerald Isle, after my
four months' visit with you to Walsingham Manor, had you not taken that
compassion on me. But let us speak of yourself, dear Lady Hatfield.
Without a soul in the world to control your actions—with the means of
procuring every enjoyment—and with Lord Ellingham going mad on your
account——"

"Julia," said Lady Hatfield, with a start,—"again I beseech you to drop
this subject. And, as you will be my companion for some months to come,
let me now, once for all, enjoin you to abstain from such topics. As you
cannot read the secrets of my heart, pray bear in mind the fact that
many a light word uttered thoughtlessly and with no malicious intent,
may touch a chord that will thrill," she added calmly, but bitterly, "to
the inmost recesses of my soul."

"Oh! my dear Lady Hatfield," exclaimed Miss Mordaunt, who, in spite of
her loquacity, was a very good-natured person, "I am rejoiced that you
have given me this warning. And how foolish of me not to have
observed—what indeed I now remember—that the topic of Love never was
agreeable to you. To be sure! it was during the sermon upon the felicity
of the wedded state, that you fainted and were taken into the vestry!"

Lady Hatfield writhed in mental agony; and bitterly at that moment did
she repent the invitation which she had given her thoughtless companion
to pass the winter with her in London.

The carriage had now reached the little town of Bedfont, which it
traversed without stopping; and continued its rapid way towards
Hounslow.

But all of a sudden the course of the chariot was checked—as if by an
unexpected impediment in the way; and the horses began to plunge
frightfully.

At the same time the lady's-maid on the box uttered a dreadful scream.

Lady Hatfield drew down the window nearest to her: the chaise that
moment came to a full stop; and a stern, but evidently disguised voice
exclaimed, "Keep your horses quiet, you damned fools—and don't mind me!
If you stir till I give you leave, I'll blow out the brains of both of
you."

"Robbers!" shrieked Miss Mordaunt in a despairing tone: "Oh! what will
become of us?"

Lady Hatfield looked from the window; and at the same instant a man,
mounted on horseback, with a black mask over his countenance, and a
pistol in each hand, was by the side of the vehicle.

"Villain!" cried the livery-servant on the box. "But you shall swing for
this!"

"Perhaps I may," said the highwayman, coolly, though still speaking in a
feigned tone, as is the custom with individuals of his profession upon
such occasions as the one we are describing: "and if you attempt to
move, old fellow, from where you are, an ounce of lead shall tumble you
down from your perch. Beg pardon, ma'am," continued the robber, turning
towards Lady Hatfield, who had shrunk back into the corner of the
carriage the moment the desperado appeared at the window; "sorry to
inconvenience you; but—your purse!"

Lady Hatfield handed the highwayman her reticule.

"Good!" said he, perceiving by its weight and a certain jingling sound
which it sent forth, that it contained gold. "But you have a companion,
ma'am—_her_ purse!"

Miss Mordaunt complied with this demand, and implored the "good
gentleman" not to murder her.

The highwayman gave no reply; but vouchsafed a most satisfactory proof
of his intended forbearance in that respect, by putting spurs to his
steed, and darting