The Fortunes of Hector O'Halloran, and His Man, Mark Antony O'TooleMaxwell, W. H. (William Hamilton)
General
The Fortunes of Hector O'Halloran, and His Man, Mark Antony O'Toole
Maxwell, W. H. (William Hamilton)
Ireland -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
The sudden appearance of the sailor, and the confusion it had
occasioned, prevented the entrance of a second personage from being
generally observed. Indeed, he slided so quietly into the room, that
he seemed modestly endeavouring to avoid any particular attention.
The stranger was a stout well-proportioned man, of middle height, and
apparently of middle age; and from dress and appearance, it would have
been impossible to guess to what order of the body politic he especially
appertained. Except for a certain wide-awake expression of the face, he
might have passed current for a mail-coachman, a publican, or a drover.
Probably, to a horse-dealer he bore the closest affinity. He was dressed
in a blue coat with gilt buttons, and extensive skirts and pockets.
His vest was scarlet; his unmentionables drab kerseymere, to which
jockey-boots were added. Round his neck a spotted silk handkerchief was
knotted; and a white hat, with a remarkably broad brim, completed his
costume.
Every eye had been directed upon the sailor and the companion of Mark
Antony; but lie of the scarlet vest seemed unmoved by a scene that had
interested all besides. Indeed, he was a person on whom effect, such
as Napoleon would term “theatrical,” would have been absolutely thrown
away. His feelings were impervious even to a fainting fit; and he had no
more _sentiment_ about him than an oyster. Gliding behind the backs of
the spectators, he reached the spot whence Mr. Montague had delivered
his address to the man of worship, and stooping to the Jew’s ear,
whispered something which possessed the charm of a spell. To the very
lip, colour fled from the sallow countenance of the Israelite. He
appeared as motionless as if he had been mesmerized; while by a sort
of sleight-of-hand the red-vested operator united his wrists together,
quickly as if it had been done by magic, next moment it was discovered
that Mr. Montague was manacled. The stranger then handed a paper to
the gentleman upon the bench, with a request that he would “back that
warrant for the apprehension of the prisoner, Ikey Lazarus.”
Of all the descendants of “the Shallows” Mr. Blundell looked the
silliest. At last, however, he managed to comprehend that the Israelite
was a returned convict, and added his signature to the order for the
Jew’s arrest. The court, “in most admired disorder,” was broken up; the
runner retiring with his captive; the sergeant and his companions to
finish a compotation from which they had been unexpectedly disturbed;
and the fosterer to seek some tidings of his lost mistress, who, as he
was informed, had been removed by the sailor in a carriage to the inn.
“When consciousness returned, the poor wanderer found herself in the
same apartment from which, not an hour since, she had been removed on a
charge of felony. She unclosed her eyes. Was it an illusion? A look of
love was bent upon her pallid countenance--and a long lost brother held
her to his heart.
“William,” she murmured.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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