The Mysteries of London, v. 4/4Reynolds, George W. M. (George William MacArthur)
General
The Mysteries of London, v. 4/4
Reynolds, George W. M. (George William MacArthur)
London (England) -- Fiction; Penny dreadfuls
“It is by no means a disagreeable task for me to narrate incidents
which prove the existence of so many generous traits in the heart of
that man whom I was the means of restoring to life and to the world,”
said Dr. Lascelles; “for since that day on which he opened his eyes
in my laboratory, I have regarded him almost in the light of a son.
I must begin by informing you that Rainford was deeply touched by a
conversation which he had with you, relative to the miseries and crimes
of the poor and ignorant classes of society----”
“That conversation took place in the evening following his
resuscitation,” observed Arthur,--“the same evening on which I captured
Benjamin Bones, as he was ascending from the subterranean.”
“The discourse which yourself and your half-brother had together on
that occasion,” resumed the doctor, “induced him to reflect profoundly
upon the nature of crime--the circumstances which engender, and
afterwards encourage it--and the best modes of producing a reformation.
That train of thought led him to ponder upon other matters, essentially
regarding yourself. For he saw that Benjamin Bones would prove your
most implacable enemy: he knew that old man’s character well--and he
felt assured that he would devise and carry into effect some atrocious
schemes of vengeance against you. These convictions filled Rainford’s
mind with the gloomiest apprehensions, although he contrived to veil
them from you. He trembled lest you should fall into the snares which
that incarnate fiend--God forgive me for speaking ill of the dead--was
certain to spread at your feet; and he resolved to adopt some means
to counteract the effects of that man’s malignant spite. In a word,
he determined, at any sacrifice, to watch over that brother who had
acted so generously and nobly towards him. But not to a soul did he
communicate his ideas, until he had safely embarked, with Tamar,
Jacob Smith, and Charley Watts, on board the American packet-ship at
Havre-de-Grace. Then he revealed his intentions to Tamar; and she
immediately fell into his views--for she knew no will save his own.
The captain of the ship consented, for a reward, to touch at Guernsey;
and there Rainford, his wife, the youth, and the boy, were landed in
the middle of the night. The next morning, your half-brother and Cæsar
appeared in the disguise of blackamoors; and from Saint Peter’s Port,
the capital of the island, they sailed for Weymouth--Tamar with Charley
Watts proceeding by way of Southampton. The rendezvous was London; and
all Rainford’s plans, so far as he could forecast them, were already
arranged. On her arrival in the metropolis, Tamar immediately sent for
her father and sister to the inn at which she alighted; and to them she
communicated her husband’s design. It was of course necessary to keep
the entire scheme concealed from yourself; as it was well known that
you would never rest until you had persuaded your brother to quit the
country again, were you aware of his return.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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