Authors: George W. M. Reynolds,James Malcolm Rymer
The ceaseless hum of the huge Babylon
Has known no silence for a thousand years;
Still does her tide of human life flow on,
Still is she racked with sorrows, hopes, and fears;
Still the sun sets, still morning dawns upon
Hearts full of anguish, eye-balls dimmed with tears;-
Still do the millions toil to bless the few-
And hideous Want stalks all her pathways through!
"Beautiful - very beautiful!"
exclaimed Captain Dapper. "Strike me if I ever heard more beautiful
poetry!"
"Almotht ath good ath your lineth on the Thea therpent.
Wath the poem witten by the thame perthon that painted the landthcape?"
"The very same," answered Isabella. "His
initials are in the corner."
"R. M. Who can that be?" exclaimed Dapper.
"Robert Montgomery, perhaps?" said Isabella,
smiling with charmingly arch expression of countenance.
"No - Wichard Markham!" cried Sir Cherry; and then
be and his friend the hussar captain were excessively annoyed to think that
they had been extolling to the skies the performance of an individual who had
frightened the one out of his wits, and boxed the ears of the other.
Thus passed the evening; but Markham was reserved and
melancholy. It was in vain that Isabella exerted herself to instil confidence
into his mind, by means of those thousand little attentions and manifestations
of preference which lovers know so well how to exhibit, but which those around
perceive not. Richard was firm in those resolutions which he deemed consistent
with propriety and honour; and he deeply regretted the explanation and its
consequences into which the enthusiasm of the moment had that evening led him.
At length the hour for retiring to rest arrived.
Richard repaired to his chamber - but not to sleep. His mind
was too much harassed by the events of the evening - the plans which he had
pursued, and those which be intended to pursue - the love which he bore to
Isabel, and the stern opposition which might be anticipated from her father -
the persecution to which he was subject at the hands of the Resurrection Man -
and the train of evil fortune which appeared constantly to attend upon him;- of
all these he thought; and his painful meditations defied the advance of
slumber.
The window of his bed-chamber overlooked the garden at the
back of the house; from which direction a strange and alarming noise suddenly
broke in upon his reflections. He listened - and all was quiet: he therefore
felt convinced that his terror was unfounded. A few moments elapsed; and he was
again alarmed by a sound which seemed like the jarring of an unfastened
shutter. A certain uneasiness now took possession of him; and he was determined
to ascertain whether all was safe about the premises. He leapt from his bed,
raised the window, and looked forth. The night was now pitch dark; and he could
distinguish nothing. Not even were the outlines of the trees in the garden
discernible amidst that profound and dense obscurity. Markham held his breath;
and the whispering of voices met his ears. He could not, however, distinguish a
word they uttered :-a low hissing continuous murmur, the nature of which it was
impossible to mistake, convinced him that some persons were talking together
immediately beneath his window. In a few moments the jarring of a door or
shutter, which he had before heard, was repeated; and then the whispering
ceased.
By this time his eyes had become accustomed to the darkness;
and he could now faintly discern the outlines of three human forms standing
together at the back door of the house. He could not, however, distinguish the
precise nature of their present employment. It was, nevertheless, evident to
him that they were not there with any honest intention in view; and he resolved
to adopt immediate measures to defeat their burglarious schemes. He hastily
threw on his clothes, struck a light, and issued from his room.
Cautiously advancing along a passage was the count, only
half-dressed, with a pistol in each hand, and a cutlass under his arm.
"This is fortunate!" whispered the count I
was coming to alarm you: there are thieves breaking in. You and I can
manage them; it is of no use to call Bounce or Dapper. Take this cutlass and
let us descend gently. Here come the men-servants."
The count hurried down stairs, followed by Markham, and the
three male domestics of the household.
A noise was beard in the pantry, which was situate at the
back of the house on the same level with the hall.
"Douse the darkey, blow the glim, and mizzle,"
cried a hoarse gruff voice, as the count, Richard, and the servants approached
the pantry: "there a five on 'em - it's no use —"
The count rushed forward, and burst open the door of the
pantry, closely followed by Markham, holding the candle.
Two of the burglars made a desperate push down the kitchen
stairs and escaped: the third was captured in an attempt to follow his
companion
The light of the candle fell upon the villain a countenance, which
was literally ghastly with a mingled expression of rage and alarm.
Richard shuddered: for the captured burglar was no other than
the Resurrection Man.
"Wretch! " exclaimed Markham, recovering his
self-command : "the law will at length reach you."
"What! do you know this fellow?" demanded the
count, somewhat surprised by the observation.
"Know me!" cried the Resurrection Man: - "of
course he does. But supposing some one was to tell you a piece of valuable
information, count - about a matter closely concerning yourself and family -
would you be inclined to be merciful?"
"Of what nature is that information? It must be very
valuable indeed, if you think that I will enter into any compromise with such
as you."
"Pledge me your word that you will let me go scot free,
and I will tell you something that concerns the peace and happiness - perhaps
the honour of your daughter."
"Miscreant!" cried Markham: " profane not that
lady by even alluding to her!"
"Stay - curse the fellow's impudence," said the
count: "perhaps he may really have somewhat worth communicating. At all
events, I will try him. Now, then, my man, what is it that you have to say? If
your statement be worth hearing I swear that I will neither molest you, nor
suffer you to be molested."
"Hold count," exclaimed Markham: "make no rash
vow - you know not what a wretch — "
"Silence, my dear friend," said the count
authoritatively: " I will hear the man, let him be who or what he
may!"
"And you will do well to hear me, sir," continued
the Resurrection Man. " You harbour a villain in your house; and that
villain is now before you. He boasts of having secured the affections of your
daughter, and hopes to gull you into allowing him to marry her."
"Miscreant - murderer!" exclaimed Markham, no
longer able to contain his indignation: "pollute not innocence itself by
these allusions to a lady whose spotless mind — "
"Hush! said the count. "Let us hear patiently all
this man has to say. I can soon judge whether he be speaking the truth; and if
he deceives me, I will show him no mercy."
"But, count - allow me one word - I myself will unfold —
"
"Excuse me, Markham,'' interrupted the Italian noble,
with dignified firmness " I will hear this man first. Proceed!"
"The villain I allude to is of course that
Markham," continued the Resurrection Man. "It was him, too, that
induced me and my pals, the Cracksman and the Buffer, to make this attempt upon
your house to-night."
"What foul - what hideous calumny is this?" almost
screamed the distracted Markham, as this totally unexpected and unfounded
accusation met his ears.
The count himself was shocked at this announcement; for he
suddenly recollected Richard's moody, embarrassed, and thoughtful manner the
whole evening, and his sudden intention of departing the next day.
"Go on," said the count.
"I met that man," continued the body-snatcher
pointing contemptuously towards Markham, "a little more than a fortnight
ago in this neighbourhood: he was walking with your daughter, and it was in
consequence of certain little arrangements with me that he went back to London
next day Oh! I am well acquainted with all his movements."
"And you sought my life in a manner the most base —
" began Markham, unable to restrain his feelings.
"Silence, Markham!" exclaimed the count, still more
authoritatively than before. "Your time to speak will come."
"We planned this work while he was in London,"
continued the Resurrection Man; "and this very evening he told me over the
garden wall that all was right."
"Merciful God! " cried the count: "this is but
too true!"
"Yes, sir - I certainly spoke to him," said
Richard, - "and from the garden too — "
"Mr. Markham, this continued interruption is
indecent," exclaimed the count emphatically, while a cold perspiration
burst out upon his forehead, for he had recalled to mind the incident
respecting the garden.
"I have little more to add, count," said the
Resurrection Man. "This Markham told me that you had plenty of plate and
money always in the house, and as he had lost nearly all his property, he
should not be displeased at an opportunity of getting hold of a little swag. It
was agreed that we should meet in London to arrange the business; and so we did
meet at the Dark House in Brick Lane, where we settled the affair along with
the Cracksman and the Buffer, who have just made off. This is all I have to say
- unless it is that me and your friend Markham first got acquainted in Newgate
— "
"Newgate!" ejaculated the count, with a thrill of
horror.
"Yes - Newgate; where he was waiting to be tried for
forgery, for which he got two years in the Compter. And that's all. Let him
deny it if he can."
Scarcely were these terrible words uttered by the
Resurrection Man, when a loud - long - and piercing scream was heard, coming
from the direction of the staircase; and then some object instantly fell with
violence upon the marble floor of the hall.
"Isabella! Isabella!" ejaculated Markham, turning
hastily round to hurry to her assistance.
"Stop, sir - seek not my daughter," cried the
count, in a stern voice, as he caught Richard's arm, and held him back.
"Let not a soul stir until my return!"
There was a noble and dignified air of command
about Count Alteroni, as he uttered these words which could not
escape the notice of Richard Markham, even amidst the crushing and overwhelming
circumstances that surrounded him.
The count took the candle from Markham a hand, and hastened
to the aid of his daughter, who, half-dressed, was lying upon the cold marble
of the hall. He hastened to raise her; and at that moment the countess appeared
upon the stairs, followed by a lady's-maid bearing a lamp.
The count reassured her in respect to the safety of the
house, consigned Isabella to her care, and then returned to the pantry, where
his presence was awaited in silence.
"Have you any thing more to say?" demanded the
count of the Resurrection Man.
"Nothing. Have not I said enough?"- and he glanced
with fiendish triumph towards Markham.
"Now, sir," said the count, turning to Richard;
"is the statement of this man easy to be refuted?"
"Alas! I am compelled to admit that, the victim of the
most extraordinary circumstantial evidence ever known to fix guilt upon an
innocent man, I was a prisoner in Newgate and the Compter; but — "
"No more! say no more! God forgive me that I should have
allowed such a man to become the friend of my wife and daughter!"
The count uttered these words in a tone of intense agony.
"Count Alteroni, allow me one word of explanation,"
said Richard. "Only cast your eyes over this paper, and you will be
convinced of my innocence!"
Markham handed the document signed by Talbot, alias Pocock,
to the count; but the nobleman tossed it indignantly on the floor.
"You have confessed that you have been an inmate of the
felons' gaols: what explanation can you give that will wipe away so foul a
stain? Depart - begone! defile not my house longer with your presence!"
Vainly did Markham endeavour to obtain a hearing. The count
silenced him with an air of command and an imposing dignity of manner that
struck him with awe. Never did the Italian nobleman appear more really noble
than when he was thus performing that which he considered to be an imperious
duty. His fine form was drawn up to its full height
- his chest expanded - his cheeks
were flushed - and his eyes flashed fire. Yes - even beneath his dark
complexion was the rich Italian blood seen mantling his countenance.
"Go, sir - hasten your departure - stay not another
minute here! A man accused of forgery - condemned to an infamous punishment, -
a liberated felon - a freed convict in my family dwelling- Holy God! I can
scarcely restrain myself within the bounds of common patience when I think of
the indignity that myself, my wife, and my innocent daughter have
endured."
With these words the colonel pushed Markham rudely from the
pantry, and ordered a servant to conduct him to the front door.
The blood of the young man boiled in his veins at this
ignominious treatment ;- and yet he dared not rebel against it!
The Resurrection Man took his departure at the same time by
the garden at the back of the house.
As Markham turned down the shrubbery, a window on the third
floor of the count's dwelling was thrown open; and the voices of Sir Cherry
Bounce and the Honourable Captain Dapper were heard loading him with abuse.
Bowed down to the earth by the weight of the misfortune which
had just fallen upon his head,- crushed by unjust and unfounded suspicions, -
and sinking beneath a sense of shame and degradation, which all his innocence
did not deprive of a single pang, - Markham dragged himself away from the house
in which he had passed so many happy hours, and where he left behind him all
that he held dear in this life.
He seated himself upon a mile-stone at a little distance from
the Count's mansion, to which he turned his eyes to take a last farewell of the
place where Isabella resided.
Lights were moving about in several rooms ;- perhaps she was
ill?
Most assuredly she had heard the dread accusations which had issued
from the lips of the Resurrection Man against her lover;- and she would haply
believe them all?
So thought Richard. Human language cannot convey an adequate
idea of the heart-rending misery which the poor oppressed young man endured as
he sate by the road-side, and pondered upon all that had just occurred.
Shame upon shame - degradation upon degradation - mountain
upon mountain rolled on his breast, an if he were a modern Titan, to crush him
and keep him down - never more to rise ;- this was now
his
fate!
At length, afraid of being left alone with his own thoughts,
which seemed to urge him to end his earthly woes in the blood of a suicide, he
rose from the cold stone, turned one last sorrowful and lingering glance
towards the mansion in the distance, and then hurried along the road to
Richmond as if he were pursued by bloodhounds.
And not more fearful nor more appalling would those bloodhounds
have been than the horrible and excruciating thoughts which haunted him upon
his way, and of which he could not divest himself; so that at length a species
of delirium seized upon him as he ran furiously onward, the mark of Cain
appearing to burn like red-hot iron upon his brow, and a terrible voice
thundering in his ear- "FREED CONVICT!"