CHAPTER VII
_The false wife, and the dishonest servant--scene in the PoliceCourt--capture of the Burglars, and threat of vengeance._
Mr. Francis Sydney and his lady were seated at dinner, in thesumptuously furnished dining parlor of their elegant Broadway mansion.The gentleman looked somewhat pale and ill at ease, but the lady hadnever looked more superbly beautiful.
The table was waited upon by Davis, the butler, a respectable lookingman of middle age, and Mr. Sydney, from time to time, glanced furtivelyfrom his wife to this man, with a very peculiar expression ofcountenance.
'My love,' said Mrs. Sydney, after a pause of several minutes--'I have alittle favor to ask.'
'You have but to name it, Julia, to ensure it being granted,' was thereply.
'It is this,' said the lady;--'our present footman is a stupid Irishman,clumsy and awkward; and I really wish him to be discharged. And, mydear, I should be delighted to have the place filled by my father'sblack footman, who is called Nero. He is civil and attentive, and hasbeen in my father's family many years. Let us receive him into ourhousehold.'
'Well Julia,' said the husband, 'I will consider on the subject. Ishould not like to part with our present footman, Dennis, without somereluctance--for though uncouth in his manners, he is an honest fellow,and has served me faithfully for many years. _Honest_ servants areexceedingly scarce now-a-days.'
As he uttered these last words, Davis, the butler, cast a sudden andsuspicious look upon his master, who appeared to be busily engaged withthe contents of his plate, but who in reality was steadfastly regardinghim from the corner of his eyes.
As soon as dinner was over, the lady retired to her _boudoir_; Davisremoved the cloth and Mr. Sydney was left alone. After taking two orthree turns up and down the room, he paused before the fireplace andsoliloquized thus:
'Curses on my unhappy situation! My wife is an adulteress, and myservants in league with villains to rob me! These two letters confirmthe first--and my last night's adventure in the Dark Vaults convinced meof the second. And then the woman just now had the damnable effronteryto request me to take her rascally paramour into my service, in place ofmy faithful Dennis! She wishes to carry on her amours under my verynose! And that scoundrel Davis--how demure, how innocently he looks--andyet how suspiciously he glanced at me, when I emphasized _honest_servants! He is a cursed villain, and yet not one-tenth part so guiltyas this woman, whom I espoused in honorable marriage, supposing her tobe pure and untainted and yet who was, previous to our marriage, defiledby co-habitation with a vile negro--and now _after_ our marriage, isstill desirous of continuing her beastly intrigues. Davis is nothing buta low-born menial, without education or position, but Julia is by birtha lady, the daughter of a man of reputation and honor, moving in abrilliant sphere, possessing education and talent, admired as much forher beauty as for her accomplishments and wit--and for her to surrenderher person to the lewd embraces of _any man_--much more a negromenial--is horrible! And then to allow herself to be led to the altar,enhanced her guilt tenfold; but what caps the climax of her crimes, isthis last movement of hers, to continue her adulterous intercourse!Heavens!--what a devil in the form of a lovely woman! But patience,patience! I must set about my plan of vengeance with patience.'
The reader of course need not be told, that the stranger of the DarkVaults, and Frank Sydney, were one and the same person. The adventurehad furnished him with the evidences of his wife's criminality and hisservant's dishonesty and perfidy.
That same afternoon, the young gentleman sallied forth from his mansion,and took his way to the police office. On his way he mused thus:
'By capturing these two villains, the Dead Man and Fred Archer, I shallrender an important service to the community. It is evident that thefirst of these men is a most diabolical wretch, capable of any crime;and the other, I am convinced, is the same Frederick Archer who is thehusband of the unfortunate girl with whom I passed the night not longsince, at which time she related to me her whole history. He must be amost infernal scoundrel to make his wife prostitute herself for hissupport; and he is a _burglar_ too, it seems. Society will be benefitedby the imprisonment of two such wretches--and this very night shall theyboth lodge in the Tombs.'
When Frank arrived at the police office, he found a large crowdassembled; a young thief had just been brought in, charged with havingabstracted a gentleman's pocket-book from his coat pocket, in ChathamStreet. What was Frank's surprise at recognizing in the prisoner, thesame boy who had been his companion in the Dark Vaults, on theproceeding night! The lad did not know Frank, for there was nosimilarity between the ragged, vagabond looking fellow of the nightbefore, and the elegantly dressed young gentleman who now surveyed himwith pity and interest depicted in his handsome countenance.
It was a clear case--the young offender was seen in the act, and thepocket-book was found in his possession. The magistrate was about tomake out his commitment, when Frank stepped forward, and required whatamount of bail would be taken on the premises?
'I shall require surety to the amount of five hundred dollars, as thetheft amounts to grand larceny,' replied the magistrate.
'I will bail him, then,' said Frank.
'Very well, Mr. Sydney,' observed the magistrate, who knew the younggentleman perfectly well, and highly respected him.
'You will wait here in the office for me, until I have transacted somebusiness, and then accompany me to my residence,' said Frank--'I feelinterested in you, and, if you are worthy of my confidence hereafter,your future welfare shall be promoted by me.'
Frank had a long private interview with the magistrate. After havingmade arrangements for the capture of the two burglars, the young manurged the police functionary to take immediate measures for the breakingup of the band of desperate villains who lurked in the Dark Vaults, andthe relief of the miserable wretches who found a loathsome refuge inthat terrible place. The magistrate listened with attention and thensaid--
'I have long been aware of the existence of the secret, subterraneanVaults of which you allude, and so have the officers of the police; yetthe fact is known to very, very few of the citizens generally. Now youpropose that an efficient and armed force of the police and watch, makea sudden descent into the den, with the view of capturing the villainswho inhabit it. Ridiculous!--why, sir, the thing is impossible: theyhave a mysterious passage, unknown to any but themselves, by which theycan escape and defy pursuit. The thing has been attempted twenty times,and as often failed. So much for the _villains_ of the den;--now inregard to the wretched beings whom you have described, if we took themfrom that hole, what in the world should we do with them? Put them inthe prisons and almshouse, you say. That would soon breed contagionthroughout the establishments where they might be placed, and thus manylives would be sacrificed thro' a misdirected philanthropy. No,no--believe me, Mr. Sydney, that those who take up their abode in theVaults, and become diseased, and rot, and die there, had much better besuffered to remain there, far removed from the community, than to comeinto contact with that community, and impart their disease and pollutionto those who are now healthy and pure. Those vaults may be regarded asthe moral sewers of the city--the scum and filth of our vast populationaccumulate in them. With reference to the desperadoes who congregatethere, their living is made by robbery and outrage throughout the city;and all, sooner or later, are liable to be arrested and imprisoned fortheir offences.'
'I admit the force of your reasoning,' said Frank--'yet I cannot butdeeply deplore the existence of such a den of horrors.'
'A den of horrors indeed!' rejoined the magistrate. 'Why, sir, there areat this moment no less than six murderers in the Vaults--one of whomescaped from his cell the night previous to the day on which he was tobe hung. The gallows was erected in the prison yard--but when thesheriff went to bring the convict forth to pay the penalty of his crime,his cell was empty; and upon the wall was written with charcoal,--'_Seekme in the Dark Vaults!_' The police authorities once blocked up everyknown avenue to the
caverns, with the design of starving out theinmates; but they might have waited till doomsday for the accomplishmentof that object, as the secret outlet which I have mentioned enabled thevillains to procure stores of provisions, and to pass in and out atpleasure. I am glad that your scheme, Mr. Sydney, will tonight place inthe grip of the law, two of these miscreants, one of whom, the Dead Man,has long been known as the blackest villain that ever breathed. He is afugitive from justice, having a year ago escaped from the State Prison,where he had been sentenced for life, for an atrocious murder; he hadbeen reprieved from the gallows, thro' the mistaken clemency of theExecutive. He will now be returned to his old quarters, to fulfil hisoriginal sentence, and pass the remainder of his accursed life inimprisonment and exclusion from the world, in which he is not fit todwell.'
Frank now took leave of the magistrate, and, accompanied by the youngpickpocket, returned to his own residence. It was now about fiveo'clock, and growing quite dark; a drizzly rain was falling intermingledwith snow. Frank conducted the boy to his library, and having carefullyclosed and locked the door, said to him--
'_Kinchen_, don't you know me?'
The boy started, and gazed earnestly at him for a few moments, and thenshook his head.
'Wait here a short time, and I will return,' said Frank, and he steppedinto a closet adjoining the library, and shut the door.
Ten minutes elapsed; the closet door opened, and a ragged, dirty lookingindividual entered the library. The boy jumped to his feet inastonishment, and exclaimed--
'Why, old fellow, how the devil came _you_ here?'
'Hush,' said Frank--'I am the man who accompanied you thro' the Vaultslast night, and I am also the gentleman who bailed you to-day. Nowlisten; you can do me a service. You know that the Dead Man, Fred Archerand myself are to enter this house to-night; the two burglars littlethink that I am the master of the house. It is my intention to entrapthose two villains. Take this pistol; conceal yourself in that closet,and remain quiet until you hear the noise of a struggle; then rush tothe scene of the conflict, and aid me and the officers in capturing thetwo miscreants. Rather than either of them should escape, shoot himthro' the head. I am inclined to think that you will prove faithful tome; be honest, and in me you have secured a friend. But I must enlistanother person in our cause.'
He rang a bell, and Dennis, the Irish footman, made his appearance. Thisindividual was not surprised to see his master arrayed in that strangegarb, for he had often assisted him in similar disguises. Dennis was alarge, raw-looking Hibernian, yet possessing an honest opencountenance.--Frank explained to him in a few words the state of thecase, and the nature of the service required of him; and honest Denniswas delighted with the opportunity of displaying his personal prowess,and fidelity to his master.
'Och, be the powers!' he exclaimed--'it's nather a sword nor a pistol Iwant at all, but only a nate little bit of shillalab in my fist, to batethe thieves of the worruld, and scatter them like the praste scattersthe divil wid holy water.'
'Very well,' said Frank--'now, _Kinchen_, you will take your station inthe closet, for fear you should be seen by the servants, and you,Dennis, will bring him up some refreshments, and then attend to yourordinary duties as usual. Say not a word to anybody in regard to thisaffair, and give the other servants to understand that I have gone out,and will not return until tomorrow morning. I shall now leave the house,and at about midnight you may expect me, accompanied by the burglars.'
Saying this, Frank quitted the mansion by a private stair-case. Turninginto Canal street, he walked towards the Bowery, and not far from wherethat broad thoroughfare joins Chatham street, he ascended the steps of adwelling-house, and knocked gently at the door; it was soon opened bythe young courtezan with whom Frank had passed the night at thecommencement of this tale. She did not recognize the visitor in hisaltered garb, until he had whispered a few words in her ear, and thenuttering an exclamation of pleasure, she requested him to follow herup-stairs.
Frank complied, and after seating himself in the well-rememberedchamber, related to the young woman, as briefly as possible, thecircumstances under which he had met her husband, Fred Archer, and theshare he was to take in the burglary. He concluded by saying--
'I am sure, Mrs. Archer, that you will rejoice in the prospect ofgetting rid of such a husband. Once convicted and sent to the StatePrison, he has no further claim upon you. You will be as effectuallyseparated from him as though you were divorced.'
'I shall be most happy,' said Mrs. Archer--'to escape from thetyrannical power of that bad man. He has used me brutally of late, and Ihave often suffered for the common necessaries of life. Oh, how gladlywould I abandon the dreadful trade of prostitution and live a life ofvirtue!'
'And so you shall, by Heavens!' cried Frank, in the warmth of hisgenerous nature. 'Take courage, madam, and after the affairs of tonightare settled, your welfare shall be my special care. I will endeavor toprocure you a comfortable home in some respectable family, where--'
At this moment the street door was opened, and some one was heardascending the stairs.
'It is my husband!' whispered Mrs. Archer, and pointing to the bed, sherequested Frank to conceal himself behind the curtains; he did so, andin a moment more, Fred Archer entered the room, and threw himself into achair.
'Well, by G----!' he exclaimed--'it seems impossible for a man to make aliving these times! Here I am, without a cursed cent in my pocket.Maria, what money have you in the house?'
'I have no money, Frederick,' replied his wife.
'No money--you lie, cursed strumpet! What do you do with the gains ofyour prostitution?'
'As God is my witness,' replied the wretched woman, bursting intotears--'I have not received a cent for the past week; I have evensuffered for food; and the lady threatens to turn me out of doors thisvery night, if the rent is not paid. I know not what to do.'
'Do!--why, d----n you, do as other w----s do; go and parade Broadway,until you pick up a flat--ha, ha, ha!' and the ruffian laughed brutally.After a pause, he added--
'Well, I've got an appointment tonight, at eleven o'clock; a little jobis to be done, that will fill my pocket with shiners. But don't youexpect to get a farthing of the money--no, d----n you, you must earnyour living as other prostitutes earn it. Good bye--I'm off.'
He departed, and Frank emerged from his hiding place. 'What a beastlyscoundrel that fellow is!' he thought, as he gazed with pity at theweeping and wretched wife. He was about to address her with some wordsof comfort, when a loud knocking was heard on the chamber door. Mrs.Archer started, and whispered to Frank that it was the landlady, cometo demand her rent--she then in a louder tone, requested the person towalk in.
A stout, vulgar looking woman entered the room and having violently shutthe door and placed her back to it, said--
'I've come, Missus, or Miss, or whatever you are, to see if so be youcan pay me my rent, as has now been due better nor four weeks, and youcan't deny it, either.'
'I am sorry to say, madam,' replied Mrs. Archer,'that I am still unableto pay you. My husband has left me no money, and--'
'Then you will please to bundle out of this house as soon as possible,'retorted the woman, fiercely. 'What am I to let my furnished rooms to alazy, good-for-nothing hussy like you, as is too proud to work and toogood to go out and look for company in the streets, and can't pay me, anhonest, hard-working woman, her rent! Am I to put up with--'
'Silence, woman!' interrupted Frank--'do not abuse this unfortunatefemale in this manner! Have you no sympathy--no pity?'
'And who are _you_, sir?' demanded the virago, dreadfully enraged--'howdare _you_ interfere, you dirty, ragged, vagabond? Come, tramp out ofthis, both of you, this very instant, or I shall call in them as willmake you!'
Frank made no reply, but very composedly drew from his pocket a handfulof silver and gold; at the sight of the money, the landlady's eyes andmouth opened in astonishment--and her manner, from being mostinsufferably insolent, changed to the most abject servility.
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'Oh, sir,' she said, simpering and curtsying--'I am sure I always hadthe greatest respect for Mrs. Archer, and I hope that neither you norher will think hard of me for what I said--I only meant--'
'That will do,' cried Frank, contemptuously--and having inquired theamount due, paid her, and then desired her to withdraw, which she did,with many servile apologies for her insolent rudeness.
The young gentleman then prevailed upon Mrs. Archer to accept of a sumof money sufficient to place her beyond immediate want, and promised tocall upon her again in a few days and see what could be done for herfuture subsistence. She thanked him for his kindness with tears in hereyes; and bidding her farewell, he left the house, and proceeded towardsthe Five Points.
He had no difficulty in finding the 'forty-foot cave,' the entrance ofthe Dark Vaults; but, previous to descending, curiosity prompted him tostep into the _crib_ of Bloody Mike, to see what was going on. He foundthe place crowded with a motley collection of vagrants, prostitutes,negroes and petty thieves; Ragged Pete was engaged in singing a shockingobscene song, the others joined in the chorus. Clothed in filthy rags,and stupidly drunk, was the man whom Frank had seen the night before sohandsomely dressed; Bloody Mike, who had 'peeled' his coat, had sincebecome the possessor of all his other genteel raiment, giving the poorwretch in exchange as much 'blue ruin' as he could drink, and thecast-off garments of a chimney-sweep!
Bloody Mike welcomed Frank with enthusiasm, and introduced him to thecompany as the 'gintleman that had thrated all hands last night.' Atthis announcement, the dingy throng gave a loud shout of applause, andcrowded about him to shake his hand and assure him how glad they were tosee him. These demonstrations of regard were anything but pleasing toour hero, who threw a dollar upon the counter, inviting them all todrink; and, while they were crowding around the bar to receive theirliquor, he made his escape from the _crib_, and sought the entrance tothe Dark Vaults. Having reached the bottom of the 'forty-foot cave' insafety, he proceeded cautiously along the dark passage which he hadbefore traversed, and passing thro' the first Vault, soon emerged intothe cavern of the desperadoes. Here he was met by Fred Archer and theDead Man, who had been waiting for him.
'Ah, old fellow,' said the latter worthy--'here you are; it's somewhatbefore the appointed time, but so much the better. Put it down and drinka bumper of brandy to the success of our enterprise.'
The three seated themselves at the table, and remained over an hourdrinking, smoking and conversing. Frank partook very sparingly of theliquor, but the others drank freely. At last the Dead Man arose, andannounced that it was time to go. He then began to make hispreparations.
Retiring for a short time to an inner cavern, he returned with his armsfull of various articles. First, there were three large horse pistols,two of which he gave to his companions, retaining one for himself; thenhe produced three cloaks to be worn by them, the better to conceal anybooty which they might carry off. There was also a dark lantern, andvarious implements used by burglars. The Dead Man then proceeded toadjust a mask over his hideous face, which so completely disguised him,that not one of his most intimate acquaintances would have known him.The mask was formed of certain flexible materials, and being coloredwith singular truthfulness to nature, bore a most wonderful resemblanceto a human face. The Dead Man, who, without it, carried in hiscountenance the loathsome appearance of a putrefying corpse, with it wastransformed into a person of comely looks. All the preparations beingnow complete, the party took up their line of march, under thedirections of the Dead Man. To Frank's surprise, that worthy did notlead the way out of the cavern by means of the 'forty-foot cave,' butproceeded in a different course, along a passage, dark and damp, itsobscurity but partially dispelled by the dim rays of the dark lantern,which was carried by the leader. After traversing this passage for aconsiderable distance, the Dead Man suddenly paused, and said to Frank--
'You are not acquainted with the Secret Outlet to these Vaults--and asyou are not yet a Knight of the Round Table, I dare not trust you, astranger, with the knowledge of it, until you join us, and proveyourself to be trustworthy. Therefore, we must blindfold you, until wereach the streets above. This is a precaution we use by every strangerwho goes out this way.'
'But why do you not leave the Vaults by the 'forty-foot cave' thro'which I entered?' demanded Frank, who was fearful of some treachery.
'Because,' answered the Dead Man--'there are police officers in disguiseconstantly lurking around the entrance of that cave, ready to arrest thefirst suspicious character who may come forth. You were not arrestedlast night, because you were unknown to the police--but I, or Fred here,would be taken in a jiffy.'
'How would they know _you_ in the disguise of that mask?' asked Frank.
'They might recognise me by my form--my gait--my air--my speech--damnit, they would almost know me by my smell! At all events, I prefer notto risk myself, while there is a safe outlet here. But, if you hesitate,you can return the way you came, and we will abandon the undertaking.'
'No,' said Frank--'I will proceed.'
The Dead Man bound a handkerchief tightly over Frank's eyes, and led himforward some distance; at length he was desired to step up about a foot,which he did, and found himself standing upon what appeared to be awooden platform. The other two took their places beside him, and then heheard a noise similar to that produced by the turning of an iron crank;at the same time he became sensible that they were slowly ascending.Soon a dull, sluggish sound was heard, like the trickling of muddywater; and a foetid odor entered the nostrils, similar to the loathsomeexhalations of a stagnant pool. Up, up they went, until Frank began tothink that they must have attained a vast height from the place whencethey had started; but at last the noise of the crank ceased, theplatform stood still, and the Dead Man, after conversing for a shorttime in whispers with some person, took hold of Frank's arm, and led himforward thro' what appeared to be an entry. A door was opened, theypassed out, and Frank, feeling the keen air, and snow beneath his feet,knew that they were in the open streets of the city. After walking somedistance, and turning several corners the bandage was removed from hiseyes, and he found himself in Pearl street, the Dead Man walking by hisside, and Fred following on behind.
They soon turned into Broadway, and in less than ten minutes had reachedthe mansion of Mr. Sydney. The streets were silent and deserted for thehour was late; and the Dead Man whispered to his companions--
'We can now enter the house unobserved. In case of surprise, we must nothesitate to _kill_, sooner than be taken. I will now give the signal.'
He gave a low and peculiar whistle, and after the lapse of a fewmoments, repeated it. Instantly, the hall door was noiselessly opened bya person whom Frank recognized as Davis, the butler. The Dead Manbeckoned the two others to follow him into the hall, which they did, andthe door was closed.
Five minutes after they had entered the house two men who had beenconcealed behind a pile of bricks and rubbish on the opposite side ofthe street, crossed over, and passing around to the rear of the house,obtained access to the garden thro' the back gate which had beenpurposely left unfastened for them. These two men were police officers,who had been for some time on the watch for the burglars. They enteredthe house thro' the kitchen window, and stationed themselves upon thestairs, in readiness to rush to the assistance of Frank, as soon as heshould give the appointed signal.
Meantime, the Dead Man had raised the slide of his dark lantern, and byits light he led the way into the back parlor, followed by the others.Davis had not the remotest suspicion that one of the men, whom hesupposed to be a burglar, and whose appearance was that of a ruffian,was his master! No--he looked him full in the face without recognizinghim in the slightest degree.
The Dead Man, approaching a side-board, poured out a bumper of wine andtossed it off, after which he drew from his pocket a small iron bar,(called by thieves a _jimmy_,) and applying it to a desk, broke it openin an instant. But it contained nothing of value;--and the burglar,addressing the others, sa
id:
'We must disperse ourselves over the house, in order to do anything. Iwill rummage the first story: you, Fred, will explore the second, andour new friend here can try his luck in the third. As for you, Davis,you must descend into the kitchen, and collect what silver ware andplate you can find. So now to work.'
At this instant Frank threw himself upon the Dead Man, and exclaimed, ina loud voice:
'Yield, villain!'
'Damnation, we are betrayed!' muttered the ruffian, as with a mightyeffort he threw Frank from him, and drew his horse pistol;--levelling itat the young man with a deadly aim, he was about to draw the fataltrigger, when Dennis, the Irish footman, who had been concealed beneatha large dining table, sprang nimbly behind him, and felled him to thecarpet with a tremendous blow of his thick cudgel, crying:
'Lie there, ye spalpeen, and rest asy.'
Fred Archer and Davis instantly made for the door, with the intention ofescaping--but they were seized by the two policemen, who now rushed tothe scene of uproar; the butler and burglar, however, struggleddesperately, and one of the policemen was stunned by a heavy blow on hishead, with the butt of a pistol, dealt by the hand of Archer, who, thusfreed from the grasp of his antagonist, dashed thro' the hall andeffected his escape from the house. Davis, however, was quicklyoverpowered by the other officer, who slipped hand-cuffs upon hiswrists, and thus secured him.
All these occurrences took place within the space of two minutes; andthe _Kinchen_, who had been secreted in the library upstairs, arrived,pistol in hand, at the scene of action, just as the conflict hadterminated.
The Dead Man lay motionless upon the carpet, and Frank began to fearthat he was killed; but upon approaching and examining him, hediscovered that he still breathed, though faintly. The blow from Dennis'cudgel had apparently rendered him insensible, and blood was flowingfrom a severe but not serious wound in his head.
The policeman who had been stunned was speedily brought to, by propertreatment;--and it was found that he had sustained but a triflinginjury. Frank now approached Davis, and regarding him sternly, said--
'So, sir, you have leagued yourself with burglars, it seems. Whatinduced you to act in this treacherous manner?'
'The promise of a liberal reward,' replied the man, sulkily.
'Your reward will now consist of a residence of several years in theState Prison,' observed his master as he walked away from him.
The noise of the conflict had aroused the inmates of the house fromtheir slumbers, and much alarm prevailed among them, particularly thefemales, whose screams resounded throughout the building. To quiet them,Dennis was despatched as a messenger, with assurances that the robberswere in safe custody, and no cause for alarm existed. On passing thechamber of his mistress, that lady called to him, desiring to know thecause of the uproar; and when she had learned the details of the affair,she expressed her gratification at the result.
Frank ordered refreshments to be brought up, and while the whole partygathered around the table to partake of a substantial collation, hecongratulated the two officers on having secured so desperate anddangerous a villain as the Dead Man. The form of that miscreant wasstill stretched upon the carpet directly behind Frank, who stood at thetable; and as he was supposed to be insensible, from the effect of theheavy blow which he had received, no one deemed it necessary to bestowany attention upon him. But while the officers and others were eatingand conversing, the _Kinchen_ suddenly uttered an exclamation of alarm,and seizing a wine bottle which stood upon the table, dashed it at thehead of the Dead Man, who had arisen upon his knees, and held in hishand a sharp, murderous-looking knife, which he was just on the point ofplunging into the side of the unsuspecting Frank! The bottle was brokeninto shivers against the ruffian's head, and ere he could recoverhimself, he was disarmed and handcuffed by the officers, one of whomtore the mask from his face; and the spectators shrunk in horror at theghastly and awful appearance of that corpse-like countenance! Turninghis glaring eye upon Frank, he said, in tones of deepest hate--
'Sydney, look at me--_me_, the _Dead Man_--dead in heart, dead in pity,dead in everything save _vengeance_! You have won the game; but oh!think not your triumph will be a lasting one. No, by G----! there are noprison walls in the universe strong enough to keep me from wreaking uponyou a terrible revenge! I will be your evil genius; I swear to followyou thro' life, and cling to you in death; yes--I will torture you inhell! Look for me at midnight, when you deem yourself most secure; Ishall be in your chamber. Think of me in the halls of mirth andpleasure, for I shall be at your elbow. In the lonely forest, on theboundless sea, in far distant lands, I shall be ever near you, to tempt,to torture, and to drive you mad! From this hour you are blasted by myeternal curse!'
* * * * *
Half an hour afterwards, the Dead Man and Davis the butler were inmatesof the 'Egyptian Tombs.'