The String of Pearls (1850), p. 307

"That will do. Have you had any more threats from Mrs. Lovett?"
"None. As long as I perform my loathsome duty here, I see no one and hear of no one."
"Be of good cheer, your desolate condition will not last long. It is not easy under present circumstances to enter at large into matters which might induce
you to declare who you really are, but when you and I meet in the bright sunshine from which you have been debarred for so long, you will think very differently from what you do now upon many things."
"Well, sir, perhaps I shall."
"Good night to you. Take what rest and refreshment you can, my good friend, and believe that there are better days in store for you."
"I will strive to think so.—Good night."
There was such a mournful cadence in the voice of the imprisoned young man, as he said "Good night," that the secretary remarked in a low voice to Sir Richard—
"Would it not be a mercy now to let him free, and take him away with us?"
"I don't like his concealing his name, my lord."
"Well, it is not the thing exactly."
"His imprisonment now will be of very short duration indeed, and his liberation is certain, unless by some glaring act of imprudence he mars his own
fortune. But now, gentlemen, I have a sight to show you in these vaults that you have come to see, and yet, that I think it would have been wise if you had
left unseen."
"Indeed!"
"Yes. You will soon agree with me in opinion."
Sir Richard, bearing the lantern in his hand, led the way for a considerable distance back again, until they were fairly under the church, and then he said—
"A large vault belonging to a family named Weston, which is extinct I fancy, for we can find no one to claim it, has been opened near this spot."
"By whom?"
"That you will have no difficulty in guessing. It is that vault that I wish to show you. There am others in the same condition, but one will be enough to satiate your appetites for such sights. This way, gentlemen, if you please."
As the light from the two lanterns fell upon the faces of Sir Richard Blunt's companions, curiosity and excitement could be seen paramount upon their features. They followed him as their guide without a word, but they could not but see that he trod slowly, and that now and then a shudder crossed his frame.
"Even you are affected," said the secretary, when the silence had lasted some minutes.
"I were something more or less than human," replied Sir Richard Blunt "if I could go unmoved into the presence of that sight , that I feel it to be my duty to show to you."
"It must be horrible indeed."
"It is more horrible than all the horrors your imagination can suggest. Let us go quicker."
Apparently with a desperate feeling of resolution, such as might actuate a man who had some great danger to encounter, and who after shrinking from it
for a time, should cry. Well, the sooner it is over the better," did the magistrate now quicken his steps, nor paused he until he arrived at the door of the
vault of which he had spoken.
"Now, Mr. Villimay," he said. "Be so good as to hold up your lantern as high as you can, at the same time not to get it above the doorway, and I will do
the same by mine. All that we want is a brief but clear view."
"Yes, yes. Quite brief," said the secretary.
Sir Richard Blunt laid his hand upon the door of.the vault, which was unfastened, and flung it open.

THE STRING OP PEARLS. 307

u That will do. Have you had any more threats from Mrs. Lovett ?"
" None. As long as I perform my ioathsome duty here, I see no one and hear
of no one."

€€ Be of good cheer, your desolate condition will not last long. It is not easy
under present circumstances to enter at large into matters which might induce
you to declare who you really are, but when you and I meet in the bright sun-
shine from which you have been debarred for so long, you will think very differ-
ently from what you do now upon many things/'

€i Well, sir, perhaps I shall."

" Good night to you. Take what rest and refreshment you can, my good (
friend, and believe that there are better days in store for you/ 5

" I will strive to think so. — Good night/'

There was such a mournful cadence in the voice of the imprisoned young
man, as he said " Good night/' that the secretary remarked in a low voice to Sir
Richard —

r< Would it not be a mercy now to let him free, and take him away with us ?"
" I don't like his concealing his name, my lord/'
" Well, it is not the thing exactly/'

u His imprisonment now will be of very short duration indeed, and his libera-
tion is certain, unless by some glaring act of imprudence he mars his own
fortune. But now, gentlemen, I have a sight to show you in these vaults that
you have come to see, and yet, that I think it would have been wise if you had
left unseen."

" Indeed! 35

u Yes. You will soon agree with me in opinion."

Sir Richard, bearing the lantern in his hand, led the way for a considerable
distance back again, until they were fairly under the church, and then he

said — ...

61 A large vault belonging to a family named Weston, which is extinct I fancy,
for we can find no one to claim it, has been opened near this spot/'

u By whom ?"

"That you will have no difficulty in guessing. It is that vault that I wish to
show vou. There am others in the same condition, but one will be enough to
satiate* your appetites for such sights. This way, gentlemen, if you please/'

As the light from the two lanterns fell upon the faces of Sir Richard Blunt's
companions, curiosity and excitement could be seen paramount upon their
features. They followed him as their guide without a word, but they could
not but see that he trod slowly, and that now and then a shudder crossed his
frame.

u Even vou are affected/' said the secretary, when the silence had lasted some
■

minutes.

" I were something more or less than human," replied Sir Richard Blunt " if
I could go unmoved into the presence of that sight , that I feel it to be my duty to

show to you/'

* r It must be horrible indeed/'

u It is more horrible than all the horrors your imagination can suggest. Let
us go quicker."

Apparently with a desperate feeling of resolution, such as might actuate a
man who had some great danger to encounter, and who after shrinking from it
for a time, should cry 46 Well, the sooner it is over the better/' did the magis-
trate now quicken his steps, nor paused he until he arrived at the door of the
vault of which he had spoken.

"Now, Mr. Villimay/' he said. "Be so good as to hold up your lantern as
high as you can, at the same time not to get it above the doorway, and I will do
the same by mine. All that we want is a brief but clear view/'

" Yes, yes. Quite brief," said the secretary. t

Sir Richard Blunt laid his hand upon the door of.the vault, which was unfas*
tened, and flung it open.

/