The Mysteries of London, v. 1/4Reynolds, George W. M. (George William MacArthur)
General
The Mysteries of London, v. 1/4
Reynolds, George W. M. (George William MacArthur)
London (England) -- Fiction; Penny dreadfuls
He remembered his dream; and a shudder passed through his frame.
Determined to ascertain the motive of this man's perseverance in dogging
him thus, he conducted Isabella by a short cut back to the house, and
retraced his steps to encounter the person who was still following him.
The man advanced towards him with a dogged and determined air, and yet
downcast eyes, which were buried beneath his projecting temples and
shaggy brows.
"Holloa, my fine fellow!" he exclaimed, when he came within a few yards
of Richard; "you don't mean to say that you have forgotten an old pal?"
"What, Anthony--is this you?" said Markham, turning deadly pale as he
recognised one of his fellow-prisoners in Newgate.
It was the Resurrection Man.
"Yes--it is me--poor Tony Tidkins. But now permit me to ask you a
question or two. What are you doing now? Who lives there? And what young
girl was that you were walking about with?"
"And by what right do you dare put those insolent queries to me?" cried
Markham, surveying the ruffian with mingled indignation and disgust.
"Oh! if you don't choose to answer my questions, I can precious soon
ascertain all the truth for myself," coolly replied the Resurrection
Man, who never once looked Markham in the face--then, having uttered
these words, he advanced a few paces as if he were about to seek the
count's dwelling.
"Wretch! what do you mean to do?" ejaculated Richard, hurrying after
him and detaining him by the arm: "you do not know that that abode is
sacred--that it is the residence of probity, innocence, and honour--that
if you were to breathe a hint who and what you are, you would be spurned
from the door?"
[Illustration]
"Ah! I am accustomed to _that_ in this Christian land--in this land of
Bibles and Missionary Societies," said the Resurrection Man bitterly:
then, resuming his dogged surliness of tone, he added, "But at all
events I can first ask for alms and a morsel of bread at that house, and
thereupon state that the gentleman who was just now walking with the
young lady belonging to the house, was a companion of mine in Newgate--a
communication which will tend to preserve the innocence, honour,
probity, and all the rest of it, of that family."
With these words he again set off in the direction of the count's abode.
"Confusion!" exclaimed Markham: "this man will now effect my ruin!"
A second time did he stop the Resurrection Man as he advanced towards
the residence of the Italians.
"Well--what now? isn't a man at liberty to walk which way he chooses?"
"You cannot be so base as to betray me? you would not ruin my happiness
for ever?" said Richard, in whose mind the particulars of his dream were
now uppermost.
"And why should I have any regard for you, since you receive and treat
me as if I was a dog?"
"I really did not mean----"
"Oh! bother to all apologies," cried the Resurrection Man ferociously.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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