CHAPTER IX
_The Masquerade Ball--the Curtain raised, and the Crimes of theAristocracy exposed._
Mrs. Lucretia Franklin was a wealthy widow lady, who resided in anelegant mansion in Washington Place. In her younger days she had been acelebrated beauty; and though she was nearly forty at the period atwhich we write, she still continued to be an exceedingly attractivewoman. Her features were handsome and expressive, and she possessed afigure remarkable for its voluptuous fullness.
Mrs. Franklin had two daughters: Josephine and Sophia. The former waseighteen years of age, and the latter sixteen. They were both beautifulgirls, but vastly different in their style of beauty; Josephine being asuperb brunette, with eyes and hair dark as night, while Sophia was alovely blonde, with hair like a shower of sunbeams, and eyes of theazure hue of a summer sky.
In many other respects did the two beautiful sisters differ. The figureof Josephine was tall and majestic; her walk and gestures wereimperative and commanding. Sophia's form was slight and sylph-like; herevery movement was characterized by exquisite modesty and grace, and hervoice had all the liquid melody of the Aeolean harp.
In mind and disposition they were as dissimilar as in their personalqualities. Josephine was passionate, fiery and haughty to an eminentdegree; Sophia, on the contrary, possessed an angelic placidity oftemper, and a sweetness of disposition which, like a fragrant flower,shed its grateful perfume upon the lowly and humble, as upon the wealthyand proud.
Mrs. Franklin's husband had died two years previous to the date of thisnarrative; he had been an enterprising and successful merchant, and athis death left a large fortune to his wife. Upon that fortune the ladyand her two daughters lived in the enjoyment of every fashionable luxurywhich the metropolis could afford; and they moved in a sphere of societythe most aristocratic and select.
Mr. Edgar Franklin, the lady's deceased husband, was a most excellentand exemplary man, a true philanthropist and a sincere Christian. He wasscrupulously strict in his moral and religious notions--and resolutelyset his face against the least departure from exact propriety, either inmatters divine or temporal. The austerity of his opinions and habits wassomewhat distasteful to his wife and eldest daughter, both of whom hada decided predilection for gay and fashionable amusements. Previous tohis death, they were obliged to conform to his views and wishes; butafter that event, they unreservedly participated in all the aristocraticpleasures of the 'upper ten': and their evenings were very frequentlydevoted to attendance at balls, parties, theatres, the opera, and otherentertainments of the gay and wealthy inhabitants of the 'empire city.'
Mr. Franklin's death had occurred in a sudden and rather remarkablemanner. He had retired to bed in his usual good health, and in themorning was found dead by the servant who went to call him.
The body was reclining upon one side in a natural position, and therewas nothing in its appearance to indicate either a violent or painfuldeath. Disease of the heart was ascribed as the cause of his suddendemise; and his remains were deposited in the family tomb in St. Paul'schurchyard. Many were the tears shed at the funeral of that goodman;--for his unaffected piety and universal benevolence had endearedhim to a large circle of friends.
The grief of the bereaved widow and eldest daughter was manifested byloud lamentations and passionate floods of tears; but the sorrow of thegentle Sophia, though less violent, was none the less heart-felt andsincere.
There was little sympathy between the haughty, imperious Josephine andher mild, unobtrusive sister. Their natures were too dissimilar to admitof it; and yet Sophia loved the other, and at the same time fearedher--she was so cold, so distant, so formal, so reserved. Josephine, onher part, viewed her sister as a mere child--not absolutely as aninferior, but as one unfitted by nature and disposition to be hercompanion and friend. Her treatment of Sophia was therefore marked by anair and tone of patronizing condescension, rather than by a tender,sisterly affection.
Mrs. Franklin loved both her daughters, but her preference manifestlyinclined to Josephine, whose tastes were in exact accordance with herown. Sophia had little or no inclination for the excitement and tumultof fashionable pleasures; and therefore she was left much to herself,alone and dependent upon her own resources to beguile her time, whileher mother and sister were abroad in the giddy whirl of patriciandissipation.
But upon the Sabbath, no family were more regular in their attendance atchurch than the Franklins. Punctually every Sunday morning, the motherand daughter would alight from their splendid carriage opposite St.Paul's church, and seating themselves in their luxuriously cushioned andfurnished pew, listen to the brilliant eloquence of Dr. Sinclair, withprofound attention. Then, when the pealing organ and the swelling anthemfilled the vast dome with majestic harmony, the superb voice ofJosephine Franklin would soar far above the rolling flood of melody, andher magnificent charms would become the cynosure of all eyes. Fewnoticed the fair young creature at her side, her golden hair partedsimply over her pure brow, and her mild blue eyes cast modestly upon thepage of the hymn-book before her.
Having now introduced Mrs. Lucretia Franklin and her two daughters tothe reader, we shall proceed at once to bring them forward as activeparticipants in the events of our history.
It was about three o'clock in the afternoon; in a sumptuous chamber ofFranklin House (for by that high-sounding title was the residence of thewealthy widow known,) two ladies were engaged in the absorbing mysteriesof a singular toilet.
One of these ladies was just issuing from a bath. Although not young,she was very handsome; and her partially denuded form exhibited all thematured fullness of a ripened womanhood. This lady was Mrs. LucretiaFranklin.
Her companion was her daughter Josephine. This beautiful creature wasstanding behind her mother; she had just drawn on a pair of broadclothpants, and was in an attitude of graceful and charming perplexity,unaccustomed as she was to that article of dress. The undergarment shewore had slipped down from her shoulders, revealing voluptuous beautieswhich the envious fashion of ladies' ordinary attire, usually conceals.
Upon the carpet were a pair of elegant French boots and a cap, evidentlydesigned for Miss Josephine. Various articles of decoration and costumewere scattered about: upon a dressing-table (whereon stood a superbmirror,) were the usual luxurious trifles which appertain to afashionable toilet--perfumes, cosmetics, &c.--and in one corner stood amagnificent bed.
This was the chamber of Josephine; that young lady and her mother werearraying themselves for a grand fancy and masquerade ball to be giventhat night, at the princely mansion of a _millionaire_.
By listening to their conversation, we shall probably obtain a goodinsight into their true characters.
'I am thinking, mamma,' said Josephine--'that I might have selected abetter costume for this occasion, than these boys' clothes. I shallsecure no admirers.'
'Silly girl,' responded her mother--'don't you know that the men willall run distracted after a pretty woman in male attire? Besides, such acostume will display your shape so admirably.'
'Ah, that is true,' remarked the beautiful girl, smiling so as todisplay her brilliant teeth; and removing her feminine garment, shestood before the mirror to admire her own distracting and voluptuousloveliness.
'And this costume of an Oriental Queen--do you think it will become me,my love,' asked her mother.
'Admirably,' replied Josephine--'it is exactly suitable to your figure.Ah, mamma, your days of conquest are not over yet.'
'And yours have just begun, my dear. Yours is a glorious destiny,Josephine; beautiful and rich, you can select a husband from among thehandsomest and most desirable young gentlemen in the city. But you mustprofit by _my_ experience: do not be in haste to unite yourself inmarriage to a man who, when he becomes your husband, will restrict youin the enjoyment of those voluptuous pleasures in which you now takesuch delight. _I_ 'married in haste and repented at leisure;' after myunion with your father, I found him to be a cold formalist and cantingreligionist, continually boring
me with his lectures on the sins andfolly of 'fashionable dissipation,' as he termed the elegant amusementssuitable to our wealth and rank and discoursing upon the pleasures ofthe domestic circle, and such humbugs. All this was exceedingly irksometo me, accustomed as I was to one unvarying round of excitement; butyour father was as firm as he was puritanical--and obstinatelyinterposed his authority as a husband, to prevent my indulging in myfavorite entertainments. This state of affairs continued, my dear, untilyou attained the age of sixteen, when you began to feel a distaste forthe insipidity of a domestic life, and longed for a change.--Ourpositions were then precisely similar: we both were debarred from thedelights of gay society, for which we so ardently longed. One obstacle,and one only, lay in our way; that obstacle was your father--my husband.We were both sensible that we never could enjoy ourselves in our ownway, while _he lived_; his death alone would release us from thecondition of thralldom in which we were placed--but as his constitutionwas robust and his health invariably good, the agreeable prospect of hisdeath was very remote--and we might have continued all our lives underthe despotic rules of his stern morality, had we not rid ourselves ofhim by--'
'For Heaven's sake, mother,' said Josephine, hastily--'don't allude to_that_!'
'And why not,' asked the mother, calmly. 'You surely do not regret theact which removed our inexorable jailer, and opened to us such floweryavenues of pleasure? Ah, Josephine, the deed was admirably planned andskillfully executed. No one suspects--'
'Once more, mother, I entreat you to make no further allusion to thatsubject; it is disagreeable--painful to me,' interrupted the daughter,impatiently. 'Besides, sometimes the walls have ears.'
'Well, well, child--I will say no more about it. Let us now dress.'
Josephine, having arranged her clustering hair in a style as masculineas possible, proceeded to invest herself in the boyish habiliments whichshe had provided. First, she drew on over her luscious charms, adelicately embroidered shirt, of snowy whiteness, and then put on asplendid cravat, in the tasteful fold of which glittered a magnificentdiamond. A superb Parisian waistcoat of figured satin was then closelylaced over her rounded and swelling bust; a jacket of fine broadcloth,decorated with gold naval buttons and a little cap, similarly adorned,completed her costume. The character she was supposed to represent wasthat of 'the Royal Middy;' and her appearance was singularly captivatingin that unique and splendid dress.
Mrs. Franklin, when attired as the Sultana or Oriental Queen, lookedtruly regal--the rich and glittering Eastern robes well became hervoluptuous style of beauty.
The labor of the toilet being completed, the ladies found that it stilllacked an hour or so of the time appointed for them to set out; andwhile they partook of a slight but elegant repast, they amusedthemselves and beguiled the time by lively and entertaining chat.
'These masquerade balls are delightful affairs; one can enjoy anintrigue with so much safety, beneath the concealing mask,' remarkedMrs. Franklin.
'And yet last Sabbath, you recollect, Dr. Sinclair denounced masqueradesas one of Satan's most dangerous devices for the destruction of souls,'said Josephine.
'True--so he did,' assented her mother--'but he need never know that weattend them.'
'The Doctor is very strict--yet he is very fascinating,' rejoined herdaughter;--'do you know, mamma, that I am desperately enamored of him? Iwould give the world could I entice him into an intrigue with me.' Andas she spoke, her bosom heaved with voluptuous sensations.
'Naughty girl,' said Mrs. Franklin, smiling complacently--'I cannotblame you for conceiving a passion for our handsome young pastor. Toconfess the truth, I myself view him with high admiration, not only as atalented preacher, but also as one who would make a most delightfullover.'
'Delightful indeed!' sighed Josephine--'but then he is so pure, sostrict, so truly and devotedly religious, that it would be useless totry to tempt him by any advances; I should only compromise myselfthereby.'
'Well, my dear,' remarked Mrs. Franklin, 'there are other handsome youngmen in the world, besides our pastor--many who would grovel at your feetto enjoy your favors. By the way, who is your _favored one_ at present?'
'Oh, a young fellow to whom I took a fancy the other day,' repliedJosephine, 'he is a clerk, or something of the kind--respectable andeducated, but poor. I encountered him in the street--liked his fresh,robust appearance--dropped my glove--smiled when he picked it up andhanded it to me--encouraged him to walk me home--invited him in, andmade him, as well as myself, extremely happy by my kindness. I permittedhim to call frequently, but of course I soon grew tired of him--theaffair lacked zeal, romance, piquancy; so, this morning when he visitedme, I suffered him to take a last kiss, and dismissed him forever, witha twenty-dollar bill and an intimation that we were in future entirestrangers. Poor fellow! he shed tears--but I only laughed, and rang thebell for the servant to show him out. Now, mamma, you must be equallycommunicative with me, and tell me who has the good fortune to be therecipient of _your_ favors at present.'
'My dear Josey,' said Mrs. Franklin--'I must really decline accordingyou the required information; you will only laugh at my folly.'
'By no means, mamma,' rejoined the young lady--'we have both at timesbeen strangely eccentric in our tastes, and must not ridicule eachother's preferences, however singular.'
'Well then, you must know that my lover is a very pretty youth of aboutfifteen, who reciprocates my passion with boyish ardor. You willacknowledge that to a woman of my age, such an amour must be deliciousand unique. For a few days past I have not seen the youthful Adonis,who, by the bye, bears the very romantic name of Clinton Romaine. Ifirst met him under very unusual and singular circumstances.'
'Pray, how was that, mamma?' asked Josephine.
'You shall hear,' replied her mother. 'The occurrence which I am aboutto relate took place a month ago. I was awakened one night from a soundsleep by a noise in my chamber, and starting up in affright, I beheld bythe light of a lamp which was burning near the bed, a boy in the act offorcing open my _escritoire_, with a small instrument which caused thenoise. I was about to scream for assistance, when the young rogue,perceiving that he was discovered, advanced to the bed, and quieted meby the assurance that he intended me no personal harm, and implored meto suffer him to depart without molestation, promising never to repeathis nocturnal visit. He then placed upon the table my watch, purse, acasket of jewels, which he had secured about his person--and, in answerto my inquiry as to how he had obtained an entrance into my chamber heinformed me that he had climbed into the window by means of a ladderwhich he had found in the garden. While he was speaking, I regarded himattentively, and was struck with his boyish beauty; for the excitementof the adventure and the danger of his position had caused a flush uponhis cheeks and a sparkle in his eyes, which captivated me. I found itimpossible to resist the voluptuous feelings which began to steal overme--and I smiled tenderly upon the handsome youth; he, merely supposingthis smile to be an indication of my having forgiven him, thanked me andwas about to depart in the same manner in which he came, when Iintimated to him my willingness to extend a much greater kindness thanmy pardon. In short, his offence was punished only by sweet imprisonmentin my arms; and delighted with his precocity, I blessed the lucky chancewhich had so unexpectedly furnished me with a youthful and handsomelover. Ere daylight he departed; and has since then frequently visitedme, always gaining access to my chamber by means of the gardener'sladder. To my regret he has of late discontinued his visits, and I knownot what has become of my youthful gallant. And now my dear, you haveheard the whole story.'
'Very interesting and romantic,' remarked Josephine, and consulting hergold watch, she announced that the hour was come for them to go to themasquerade.
The mother and daughter enveloped themselves in ample cloaks, anddescending the stairs, took their seats in the carriage which was inreadiness at the door. A quarter of an hour's drive brought them to thesuperb mansion wherein the entertainment was to be given. Alighting fromthe car
riage, they were conducted by an obsequious attendant to a smallante-room, where they deposited their cloaks, and adjusted over theirfaces the sort of half-mask used on such occasions. A beautiful boy,dressed as a page, then led the way up a broad marble stair case, andthrowing open a door, they were ushered into a scene of suchmagnificence, that for a moment they stood bewildered and amazed, tho'perfectly accustomed to all the splendors of fashionable life.
A fine-looking elderly man, without a mask and in plain clothes,advanced towards the mother and daughter; this gentleman was Mr. PhilipLivingston, the host--a bachelor of fifty, reputed to be worth twomillions of dollars. The page who had waited upon the two ladies,_whispered_ their names in Mr. Livingston's ear; and after the usualcompliments, he bowed, and they mingled with the glittering crowds whichthronged the rooms.
We feel almost inadequate to the task of describing the wonders of thatgorgeous festival; yet will make the attempt, for without it, our workwould be incomplete.
Livingston House was an edifice of vast dimensions, built in the sombrebut grand Gothic style of architecture. Extensive apartmentscommunicated with each other by means of massive folding doors, whichwere now thrown open, and the eye wandered through a long vista ofbrilliantly lighted rooms, the extent of which seemed increased ten-foldby the multitude of immense mirrors placed on every side. Art, scienceand taste had combined to produce an effect the most grand and imposing;rare and costly paintings, exquisite statuary, gorgeous gildings, werethere, in rich profusion. But the most magnificent feature of LivingstonHouse was its _conservatory_, which was probably the finest in thecountry, second only in beauty to the famous conservatory of the Duke ofDevonshire in England. A brief description of this gem of LivingstonHouse may prove interesting to the reader.
Leaving the hall through an arch tastefully decorated with flowers andevergreens, the visitor descended a flight of marble steps, and enteredthe conservatory, which occupied an extensive area of ground, and wasentirely roofed with glass. Though the season was winter and the weatherintensely cold, a delightful warmth pervaded the place, produced byinvisible pipes of heated water. The atmosphere was as mild and genialas a summer's eve; and the illusion was rendered still more complete bya large lamp, suspended high above, and shaped like a full moon; thislamp, being provided with a peculiar kind of glass, shed a mild, subduedlustre around, producing the beautiful effect of a moonlit eve! On everyside rare exotics and choice plants exhaled a delicious perfume; tropicfruits grew from the carefully nurtured soil;--orange, pomegranate,citron, &c. Gravelled walks led through rich shrubbery, darkened byoverhanging foliage. Mossy paths, of charming intricacy, invited thewanderer to explore their mysterious windings. At every turn a marblestatue, life-sized, met the eye: here the sylvan god Pan, with rusticpipes in hand--here the huntress Diana, with drawn bow--here the amorousgod Cupid, upon a beautiful pedestal on which was sculptured theselines, said to have been once written by Voltaire under a statue of theheathen divinity:
'Whoe'er thou art, thy master see;-- He _was_, or _is_, or _is to be_.'
In the centre of this miniature Paradise was an artificial cascade,which fell over a large rock into a lake o'er whose glassy watersseveral swans with snow white plumage were gliding; and on the brink ofthis crystal expanse, romantic grottos and classic temples formedconvenient retreats for the weary dancers from the crowded halls. Inshort, this magnificent conservatory was furnished with every beautifulrarity which the proprietor's immense wealth could procure, and everyclassic and graceful adornment which his refined and superior tastecould suggest.
Mrs. Franklin and her daughter, who had come on purpose to engage inamorous intrigues, agreed to separate, and accordingly they parted, themother remaining in the ball room, while Josephine resolved to seek foradventures amid the mysterious shades of the conservatory.
Over five hundred persons had now assembled in the halls appropriated todancing; and these were arrayed in every variety of fancy andpicturesque costume possible to be conceived. The grave Turk, thestately Spanish cavalier, the Italian bandit and the Grecian corsair,mingled together without reserve;--and the fairer portion of creationwas represented by fairies, nuns, queens, peasant girls and goddesses.
Mrs. Franklin soon observed that she was followed by a person in thedress of a Savoyard; he was closely masked, and his figure was slightand youthful. Determined to give him an opportunity to address her, thelady strolled to a remote corner of the hall, whither she was followedby the young Savoyard, who after some apparent hesitation, said to her--
'Fair Sultana, pardon my presumption, but methinks I have seen thatqueenly form before.'
'Ah, that voice!' exclaimed the delighted lady--'thou art my littlelover, Clinton Romaine.'
'It is indeed so,' said the boy, gallantly kissing her hand. The ladysurveyed him with wanton eye.
'Naughty truant!' she murmured, drawing him towards her--'why have youabsented yourself from me so long? Do you no longer desire my favors?'
'Dear madam,' replied Clinton--'I am never so happy as when in yourarms; but I have recently entered the service of a good, kind gentleman,who has been my benefactor; and my time is devoted to him.'
'Come with me,' said the lady, 'to a private room, for I wish to conversewith you without being observed.'
She led the way to a small anteroom, and having carefully fastened thedoor to prevent intrusion, clasped the young Savoyard in her arms.
* * * * *
Half an hour afterwards, the boy and his aristocratic mistress issuedfrom the ante-room, and parted. Clinton wandered thro' the halls, anddescending into the conservatory, entered a temple which stood upon themargin of the little lake, threw himself upon a luxurious ottoman, andabandoned himself to his reflections.
'How ungrateful I am,' he said half aloud--'to engage in an intriguewith that wicked, licentious woman, while my poor master, Mr. Sydney, islanguishing in a prison cell, charged with the dreadful crime of murder!And yet I know he is innocent. I remember carrying his note to Mrs.Archer on the fatal day; I knew not its contents, but I recollect thewords which he instructed me to say to her--they were words offriendship, conveying to her an assurance that he had procured for her asituation with his aunt. Surely, after sending such a message, he wouldnot go and murder her! And his aunt can testify that such an arrangementwas made, in reference to Mrs. Archer. Oh, that I could obtain admissionto the cell of my poor master, to try to comfort him, to whom I owe somuch! But alas! the keepers will not admit me; they remember that I wasonce a thief, and drive me from the prison door with curses.
'I am persuaded in my own mind,' continued Clinton, following the courseof his reflections--'that Fred Archer is the murderer of that woman. Iknow he secretes himself in the Dark Vaults, but I dare not venturethere to seek him, for my agency in the arrest of the Dead Man is knownto the 'Knights of the Round Table,' and were I to fall in their power,they would assuredly kill me. Now, what has brought me hereto-night?--Not a desire for pleasure; but a faint hope of encounteringamid the masked visitors, the villain Archer; for I know that he, aswell as the other desperadoes in the Vaults, frequently attendsmasquerade balls, in disguise, on account of the facilities afforded forrobbery and other crimes. Oh that I might meet him here to-night--Iwould boldly accuse him of the murder, and have him taken into custody,trusting to chance for the proofs of his guilt, and the innocence of mymaster.'
It may be well here to observe that it was comparatively easy for suchcharacters as Archer and his companions to gain admission to such amasquerade ball as we are describing. In the bustle and confusion ofreceiving such a large company, they found but little difficulty inslipping in, unnoticed and unsuspected.
'And that horrible Dead Man,' continued Clinton--'thank God, _he_ is nowsafe within the strong walls of the State Prison, there to pass theremainder of his earthly existence. How awfully he glared upon me, onthe night of his capture! Oh, if he were at large, my life would be incontinued danger; I should not sleep at night, for
terror; I shouldtremble lest his corpse-like face should appear at my bedside, and hisbony fingers grapple me by the throat! Yes, thank God--he is deprived ofthe power to injure me; I am safe from his fiend-like malice.'
At this moment, Clinton heard foot-steps approaching, and presently someone said--
'Let us enter this little temple, where we can talk without beingoverheard.'
The blood rushed swiftly through Clinton's veins, and his heart beatviolently; for these words were spoken in the well-known voice of FredArcher! With great presence of mind he instantly crept beneath theottoman on which he had been lying; and the next moment two personsentered the temple, and seated themselves directly above him.
'It was, as you say,' remarked Archer to his companion in a low tone--'amost extraordinary piece of good luck for me that Sydney was taken forthat murder which I committed; suspicions are diverted from me, and hewill swing for it, that's certain. I'm safe in regard to that business.'
'And yet, I almost regret, Fred,' said the other, speaking in an almostinaudible whisper--'that Sydney is in the grip of the Philistines; myvengeance upon him would have been more terrible than a thousand deathsby hanging. Well, since it is so, let him swing, and be d----d to him!'
A long conversation here followed, but the two men spoke in such a lowtone, that Clinton could only hear a word now and then. He was, however,certain as to the identity of Fred Archer; and he determined not to losesight of that ruffian without endeavoring to have him taken intocustody.
At length the two men arose and quitted the temple, followed at a safedistance by the boy.
At the bottom of the marble steps which led to the halls above, FredArcher and his companion paused for a few moments, and conversed inwhispers; then the two parted, the former ascending the steps, whilethe latter turned and advanced slowly towards Clinton.
The boy instantly started in pursuit of Archer; but as he was about topass the person who had just quitted the company of that villain, hisprogress was arrested by a strong arm, and a voice whispered in hisear--'Ah, _Kinchen_, well met!--come with me!'
Clinton attempted to shake off the stranger's grasp--but he was no matchfor his adversary, who dragged him back into the little temple beforementioned, and regarded him with a terrible look.
'Who are you--and what means this treatment of me?' demanded the boy,trembling with affright.
The mysterious unknown replied not by words--but slowly raised the maskfrom his face. Clinton's blood ran cold with horror; for, by the dim anduncertain light, he beheld the ghastly, awful features of THE DEAD MAN!
'Said I not truly that no prison could hold me?--vain are all stonewalls and iron chains, for I can burst them asunder at will! I had hopedto avenge myself on that accursed Sydney, in a terrible appallingmanner; but the law has become the avenger--he will die upon thegallows, and I am content. Ha, ha, ha! how he will writhe, and chokewhile I shall be at liberty, to read the account of his execution in thepapers, and gloat over the description of his dying agonies! But I havean account to settle with _you_, _Kinchen_; you recollect how you hurledthe wine-bottle at my head, as I was about to stab Sydney on the nightof my capture--thereby preventing me from securing a speedy and deadlyrevenge at that time? Now, what punishment do you deserve for thatdamnable piece of treachery to an old comrade?'
Thus spoke the terrible Dead Man, as he glared menacingly upon theaffrighted and trembling Clinton, whose fears deprived him of all powerof utterance.
'Sydney will hang like a dog,' continued the hideous miscreant, thewords hissing from between his clenched teeth--'My revenge in _that_quarter shall be consummated, while you, d----d young villain that youare, shall--'
'Sydney shall _not_ suffer such a fate, monster!' exclaimed Clinton, hisindignation getting the better of his fears, as he looked the villainboldly in the face--'there are two witnesses, whose testimony can andwill prove his innocence.'
'And who may those two witnesses be?' demanded the Dead Man scornfully.
'I am one--and Sydney's aunt, Mrs. Stevens, who resides at No. ----Grand Street, is the other,' replied Clinton.
'And what can _you_ testify to in Sydney's favor?' asked the other in amilder tone.
'I can swear that Mr. Sydney sent me with a note to the lady who wasmurdered, and desired me to inform her that he had procured a goodsituation for her with his aunt--thus plainly showing the friendlynature of his feelings and intentions towards her,' replied Clinton.
'And this aunt--what will be the nature of _her_ testimony?' inquiredthe Dead Man, with assumed indifference.
'Mrs. Stevens can testify that the nephew Mr. Sydney stronglyrecommended her to receive the poor unfortunate lady into herservice--and that arrangements were made to that effect,' answered theboy, unsuspiciously.
The Dead Man seemed for a moment lost in deep thought. 'So it appearsthat there are two witnesses whose testimony _might_ tend to theacquittal of Sydney,' he thought to himself. 'Those two witnesses mustbe put out of the way; one of them is now in my power--_he_ is done for;I am acquainted with the name and residence of the other, and by G----d,_she_ shall be done for, too!--_Kinchen_,' he said aloud, turningsavagely to the boy--'You must accompany me to the Dark Vaults.'
'Never,' exclaimed Clinton, resolutely--'rather will I die here. If youattempt to carry me forcibly with you, I will struggle and resist--Iwill proclaim to the guests in the ball room your dread character andname; the mask will be torn from your face, and you will be dragged backto prison, from whence you escaped.'
For the second time did the Dead Man pause, and reflect profoundly. Hethought somewhat in this wise:--'There is no possible means of egressfrom this place, except thro' the ball room, which is crowded withguests. True, I might bind and gag the _Kinchen_, but his struggleswould be sure to attract attention--and my discovery and capture wouldbe the result. It is evident, therefore, that I cannot carry himforcibly hence, with safety to myself. Shall I _murder_ him? No, damnit, 'tis hardly worth my while to do that--and somehow or other, thesemurders almost invariably lead to detection. The devil himself couldn'tsave my neck if I were to be hauled up on another murder--yet, by hell,I must risk it in reference to that Mrs. Stevens, whose testimony wouldbe apt to save her accursed nephew, Sydney, from the gallows. Yes, Imust slit the old lady's windpipe; but the _Kinchen_--what the devilshall I do to keep _him_ from blabbing, since I can't make up my mind tokill him?'
Suddenly, a horrible thought flashed through the villain's mind.
'_Kinchen_,' he whispered, with a fiend-like laugh--'I have thought of aplan by which to _silence your tongue forever_.'
He drew a huge clasp-knife from his pocket. Ere Clinton could cry outfor assistance, the monster grasped him by the throat with his vice-likefingers--the poor boy's tongue protruded from his mouth--and oh,horrible! the incarnate devil, suddenly loosening his hold on thethroat, quick as lightning caught hold of the tongue, and forcibly drewit out to its utmost tension--then, with one rapid stroke of his sharpknife, he _cut it off_, and threw it from him with a howl of savagesatisfaction. 'Now, d----n you,' exclaimed the Dead Man--'see if you cantestify in court!'
The victim sank upon the floor, weltering in his blood, while thebarbarian who had perpetrated the monstrous outrage, fled from theconservatory, passed through the ball room and proceeded with rapidstrides towards the residence of Mrs. Stevens, Sydney's aunt, in GrandStreet, having first put on the mask which he wore to conceal therepulsive aspect of his countenance. He found the house withoutdifficulty, for he remembered the number which poor Clinton had givenhim; and ascending the steps, he knocked boldly at the door.
The summons was speedily answered by a servant who ushered the Dead Maninto a parlor, saying that her mistress would be down directly. In a fewmoments the door opened and Mrs. Stevens entered the room.
This lady was a widow, somewhat advanced in years, and in affluentcircumstances. Her countenance was the index of a benevolent andexcellent heart; and in truth she was a most estimable woman.
'M
adam,' said the Dead Man--'I have called upon you at the request ofyour unfortunate nephew, Francis Sydney.'
'Oh, sir,' exclaimed the old lady, shedding tears--'how is the pooryoung man--and how does he bear his cruel and unjust punishment?--forunjust it is, as he is innocent of the dreadful crime imputed to him.Alas! the very day the poor lady was murdered, he called and entreatedme to take her into my service, to which I readily consented. Oh, he isinnocent, I am sure.'
'Mrs. Stevens,' said the villain--'I have something of a most importantnature to communicate, relative to your nephew; are we certain of nointerruption here?--for my intelligence must be delivered in strictprivacy.'
'We are alone in this house,' replied the unsuspecting lady. 'Theservant who admitted you has gone out on a short errand, and you needfear no interruption.'
'Then, madam, I have to inform you that--'
While uttering these words, the Dead Man advanced towards Mrs. Stevens,who stood in the centre of the apartment; he assumed an air of profoundmystery, and she, supposing that he was about to whisper in her ear,inclined her head toward him. That movement was her last on earth; inanother instant she was prostrate upon the carpet, her throat encircledby the fingers of the ghastly monster; her countenance became suffusedwith a dark purple--blood gushed from her mouth, eyes and nostrils--andin a few minutes all was over!
The murderer arose from his appalling work, and his loathsome faceassumed, beneath his mask, an expression of demoniac satisfaction.
''Tis done!' he muttered--'damn the old fool, she thought I was a_friend_ of her accursed nephew's. But I must leave the corpse in such asituation that it may be supposed the old woman committed suicide.'
He tore off the large shawl which the poor lady had worn, and fastenedit about her neck; then he hung the body upon the parlor door, andplaced an overturned chair near its feet, to lead to the suppositionthat she had stood upon the chair while adjusting the shawl about herneck and then overturned it in giving the fatal spring. This arrangementthe Dead Man effected with the utmost rapidity and then forcing open abureau which stood in the parlor, he took from the drawer variousarticles of value, jewelry, &c., and a pocket-book containing aconsiderable sum of money--forgetting, in his blind stupidity, that thecircumstances of a robbery having taken place, would destroy theimpression that the unfortunate old lady had come to her deathvoluntarily by her own hands.
The murderer then fled from the house and that night he and Archer, inthe mysterious depths of the Dark Vaults, celebrated their bloodyexploits by mad orgies, horrid blasphemy, and demoniac laughter.
We left Clinton weltering in his blood upon the floor of the temple inthe conservatory. The poor mangled youth was discovered in thatdeplorable situation shortly after the perpetration of the abominableoutrage which had deprived him of the blessed gift of speech forever. Hewas conveyed to the residence of Dr. Schultz, a medical gentleman ofeminent skill, who stopped the effusion of blood, and pronounced hiseventual recovery certain. But oh! who can imagine the feelings of theunfortunate boy, when returning consciousness brought with it theappalling conviction that the faculty of expressing his thoughts inwords was gone forever, and henceforward he was hopelessly _dumb_! Bygreat exertion he scrawled upon a piece of paper his name and residence;a carriage was procured, and he was soon beneath the roof of his master,Mr. Sydney, under the kind care of honest Dennis and the benevolenthousekeeper.
And Sydney--alas for him! Immured in that awful sepulchre of crime, theTombs--charged with the deed of murder, and adjudged guilty by publicopinion--deserted by those whom he had regarded as his friends,suffering from confinement in a noisome cell, and dreading the ignominyof a trial and the horrors of a public execution--his fair fame blastedforever by the taint of crime--what wonder that he, so young, so rich,so gifted with every qualification to enjoy life, should begin to doubtthe justice of divine dispensation, and, loathing existence, pray fordeath to terminate his state of suspense and misery!
But we must not lose sight of Josephine Franklin; her adventures at themasquerade hall were of too amorous and exciting a nature to be passedlightly over, in this mirror of the fashions, follies and crimes of citylife.--Our next chapter will duly record the particulars of the fairlady's romantic intrigues on that brilliant and memorable occasion.