The Poacher; Or, Joseph RushbrookMarryat, Frederick
General
The Poacher; Or, Joseph Rushbrook
Marryat, Frederick
England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction; Fathers and sons -- Fiction; Murder -- Fiction; Poachers -- Fiction
Our hero immediately took the young Jewess on his arm and walked towards
the father and brother. He felt her trembling like an aspen as they
came close to them, and was fearful that her legs would fail her. As
they passed, the face of our hero was severely scrutinised by the dark
eyes of the Israelites. Joey returned their stare, and proceeded on his
way; and after they had separated some paces from the father and
brother, he whispered to the maiden, "You are safe now." Joey conducted
his charge through the gardens, and when he arrived at the entrance, he
called a coach, and put the lady in.
"Where shall we drive to?" inquired our hero.
"I don't know; say anywhere, so that we are away from this!"
Joey ordered the man to drive to the hotel where he had taken up his
abode, for he knew not where else to go.
On his arrival he left the young lady in the coach, while he went in to
prepare the landlady for her appearance. He stated that he had rescued
her from a very perilous situation, and that he would feel much obliged
to his hostess if she would take charge of the young person until she
could be restored to her friends on the ensuing morning. People like to
be consulted, and to appear of importance. The fat old lady, who had
bridled up at the very mention of the introduction of a lady in a
domino, as soon as she heard that the party was to be placed under her
protection, relaxed her compressed features, and graciously consented.
Our hero having consigned over his charge, whose face he had not yet
seen, immediately retired to his own apartment. The next morning, about
nine o'clock, he sent to inquire after the health of his protegee and
was answered by a request that he would pay her a visit. When he
entered the room he found her alone. She was dressed somewhat in the
Oriental style, and he was not a little surprised at her extreme beauty.
Her stature was rather above the middle size: she was exquisitely
formed; and her hands, ankles, and feet, were models of perfection. She
was indeed one of the most exquisite specimens of the Jewish nation, and
that is quite sufficient for her portrait. She rose as he entered, and
coloured deeply as she saluted him. Our hero, who perceived her
confusion, hastened to assure her that he was ready to obey any order
she might be pleased to give him, and trusted that she had not been too
much annoyed with her very unpleasant position.
"I am more obliged to you, sir, than I can well express," replied she,
"by your kind consideration in putting me into the charge of the
landlady of the house: that one act assured me that I was in the hands
of a gentleman and man of honour. All I have to request of you now is,
that you will call at Number --- Berkeley Square, and inform Mr S--- of
what you have kindly done for me. You will probably hear from him the
cause of the strange position in which you found us and relieved us
from."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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