and actual, till the appearance of Carver, first move in his new game, Betteridge formally when the light of her countenance was gradu- withdrew his pretensions to the widow's hand, ally withdrawn from the jeweller, to shine with in a flattering, regretfully-gallant way, of duly increasing brightness and benignity upon course; and forthwith set himself to cultivate the comely and stalwart worker in metals. Charles Carver's facile friendship. So readily Nathaniel Betteridge was not, however, a man did he succeed, that the whilom rivals soon beto accept defeat in such a struggle if victory came imtimate companions; simple, forgiving might be won by any means, however foul or Nathaniel Betteridge opening his purse and dishonest; the prize which was fast slipping house to his new and far from too industriously through his fingers, after they had in imagin- inclined crony, with the most delightful geneation already clutched it, being relatively to rosity and unreserve; besides introducing him the condition of the competing parties a to various haunts of enticing dissipation, which highly desirable one, as without taking into Carver, comparatively a stranger in London, account the personal qualities of the lady, of had till then been happily ignorant of. The whom in that respect I only find it remarked that calculated result of this evil companionship she was a buxom, well-reputed dame, she was was that Carver frequently absented himself known to be left by her husband's will upwards of an evening from the Lamb; and when he did of £2000, lent on bond to the worshipful Com- appear there it was generally late, and he often pany of Goldsmiths, together with a freehold flustered with drink. He was, it seems, too of the Lamb hostelry, unencumbered by the generous, or too silly to betray his tempter; troublesome appendages of children. The first but Mistress Hobson's widow-wit was of too mode adopted by Betteridge for regaining the keen a quality not to easily discern the true position in the wealthy widow's favour he had bearings of the case. In sooth, she had never fallen from, was the common one of bounce believed in the sincerity of Betteridge's volunand braggadocia. He gave out that his pro-tary abandonment of his suitorship,--a natural perty considerably exceeded that of Mistress vanity, probably, refusing to believe that her Hobson; and he indignantly warned her that charms, not links of love alone but all-conit would be a rash and ruinous step on her part straining gold, could be so easily cast off; and to reject the honest suit of a man of respect- though exceedingly wroth with Carver, she ability and substance in favour of that of a nevertheless permitted herself to forgive him; fellow, the labour of whose hands barely marriage would no doubt, as he himself consufficed for his own meagre maintenance. Mis- stantly insisted, proved a cure for such irregutress Hobson was not umoved by these common-larities; and Betteridge to his great dismay, sense considerations; but the effect was tempo- heard, whilst discussing some excellent ale and rary only, being sure to presently evaporate in the cold beef, one morning in January, 1671, that sunshine of Carver's good-looking, good-hu- the union, for better for worse, of Charles Carver moured countenance; not the less readily, we and Rebecca Hobson, was definitely fixed to take may be sure, that it began to be whispered place on St. Valentine's Day in the ensuing about, quite aloud enough to reach Mistress month. Hobson's sharp ears, that Nathaniel Betteridge There was no time for further shilly-shallying; was in by no means such prosperous circum-so utterly desperate were his affairs, that if he stances as he pretended,‚—so far from it, in would avoid incarceration, perhaps for life, a truth, that it was doubtful whether without decisive blow must be struck without delay; the nuptial transfer of the widow's cash to his and after brief communing with the devil, own gaping pockets he would be long able to meaning thereby his own evil thoughts and keep himself out of the dreaded clutch of reckless passions, the insolvent jeweller hit upsheriff's officers. Unsuccessful upon his first on a truly infernal scheme, supposing that, as tack, and still confident that at the worst he intimated, his subsequent and crowning deed stood second in the Lamb landlady's favour, was from that moment contemplated and reBetteridge fell upon another scheme for com- solved upon; which I can hardly believe, his passing his end. He had not failed to path in crime being, it strikes me, at first, as is remark certain defects of character in Carver, almost invariably the case, but dimly outlined which, judiciously brought into play, could and defined. not, he thought, fail to sink him (Carver) The first enginery set in motion was the in the esteem of Mistress Hobson. As the sending anonymous letters to Mistress Hobson, the burden of all being that Carver was meet a lady there, than that King Charles would passionately attached to another woman, and pay him a visit. Will added, that Carver had desirous only of marrying the wealthy Mistress been hooked into playing a rather heavy of the Lamb for her money, which he would in- match at shovel-board, which he was induced fallibly squander upon his leman. These to do, to his (Will Burton's) knowledge, missives, couched in vague and general terms, because thinking he was pretty sure to win, did not disturb the widow's mind. She rightly he had a notion to surprise a certain lady guessed from whose quiver such venomously- with a wedding present of one of the rich carbarbed but, after all, blunt and harmeless dinals, just then so fashionable amongst the arrows were supplied; but a letter which quality. Will, however, did not believe he reached her in the first week in February, set- would win, seeing that—. ting forth names, time, and place, which she "Never mind about winning or losing," might, if so minded, verify for herself, made interrupted the much mollified Mistress Hobson: her pause. Carver, it was asserted, had made "it's about Carver's companion I wish to be an appointment to meet the damsel of his heart, informed. on the morrow afternoon, at the Bull Inn, Ald "As to that," Will said, "it happened just gate; and he had informed Mistress Hobson this wise: Carver had been in the house about that he should, though of course much grieving ten minutes waiting for the match-man, when a thereat, be absent from the Lamb on the evening nicely dressed young person, who said she had of that morrow! been informed at his lodgings where he might This array of commingling circumstances be found, asked to see and speak with him. occasioned even trustful Mistress Hobson some Will Burton showed her at once into No. 8 foreboding heartquakes, which had nothing dining-room, where Carver was quietly seated abated when, at about three o'clock the next over a mug of Lamb's-wool; and he (Will) afternoon, she stepped into the chair hired to being naturally of an inquiring turn of mind, convey her to Aldgate; but as she turned round contrived, easily enough, to hear what passed. to give some parting direction to a servant, the The stranger pretended she came from the fox-like glance of Nathaniel Betteridge peering same place, in Staffordshire as Carver; that triumphantly from a corner of the cautiously she knew his father and mother, and having uplifted red curtain of the back boozing-room, just lost her place, had taken the liberty to see threw in a moment, a healthier hue over her him for the purpose of requesting a small loan green and yellow fancies. Whatever mischief to enable her to get back without delay to her poor Carver had been led into was, she felt native town; she pretending of course, to be strongly reassured, the contrivance of that in deep distress, and pumping up showers of knave of a jeweller. Still it would be as well tears, and all that kind of bother. Carver, to thoroughly convince herself of the falsity of however, would'nt have it at all at first, but at the accusation, and nodding defiantly in the last he ordered her some dinner, which she direction of the drinking-room, she, in a loud, was then eating; and this," concluded Will, chirrupping voice, bade the chairman move on "is the whole roundabout of it, I am willing quickly, as she was pressed for time. to take oath." Will Upon reaching the Bull, her first inquiry Will. Burton was believed. This the widow's was for Will Burton, a waiter, formerly of the condescendent smile, as she shook him by the Lamb. Will, a hard north country blade, hand, leaving therein a gold crown-piece, satissharpened by town practice to a very keen factorily proved; although she at the same edge indeed, guessed her errand in a twinkling; time requested him to point out No. 8. but so taken unawares was he, that to his reluctantly complied, but his fear of an exown great astonishmont he positively felt a plosion was not realized. Mistress Hobson was red-hot tinge flush through his unaccustomed contented throwing the door suddenly open, face, as his former mistress said, with prompt presenting herself drawn up to the fullest height, decision, "Charles Carver is here, and there is and flaming with tempestuous scorn for a few a young woman with him." Now Carver was a moments at the entrance, during which brief favourite of Will's, and though compelled to space she contrived to gaze whole volumes at admit the perplexing fact so sharply stated, he the utterly confounded Carver; then sailed rallied instantly and declared with emphasis majestically away, regained the sedan-chair, that Carver had no more supposed he should and departed homewards at double-quick pace. Nathaniel Betteridge was still at the Lamb then another, at which game of ruin we must when its proprietress returned; and one glance for a brief space leave him to ascertain what is at her crimsoned features showed anger there, going on at the Bull Inn, Aldgate. indeed, but not a sparkle of jealousy! Greatly perplexed that this should be so, he immediately hastened off to ascertain the cause of the unexpected failure of his device. On the previous night, directly after Carver had been got to bed, Nathaniel Betteridge concluded that he also was too staggery and too out of sorts to go home, and that he could not Preceding him for a few minutes we shall do better than secure the other bed in the find that Carver had no sooner recovered the room where his friend and crony was sleeping. use of his faculties, paralysed for a while by This, as a matter of course was acceded to; the astounding apparition in the doorway, Betteridge, it was afterwards well remembered, than he rushed out in pursuit. He was too paid his reckoning from a handful of gold and late: the sedan-chair had vanished, and re- silver coins, with considerable ostentation, and turning, foaming with fury, he found that the forthwith retired to bed. He did not awake, or, Staffordshire hussey was also gone! Will at all events, did not rise till nine o'clock, a Burton's quickly voluntered explanation, how- few minutes after which there was a furious ever, greatly mitigated his angry dismay, and uproar in the house. Nathaniel Betteride, upthe shovel-board players making their appear- on putting on his clothes, discovered that he After the ance, he subsided by degrees into a sufficiently had been robbed of all his money. placid state of mind, fully resolving, at the first confusion had subsided, suspicion naturally same time, to make matters right at the Lamb pointed to Carver, who had left the inn so early at the earliest possible moment on the morrow. and furtively, as the robber, whereupon con▲ continuous run of ill-luck, aided by copious siderate Mr. Betteridge seemed desirous of draughts of ale, re-inflamed the temper as well hushing up the affair; but the character of the as muddled the brain of the imprudent worker house was now at stake; constables were sent in metals. He lost all the money about him, for by the landlord, and a search after Carver borrowed of Betteridge, who had long since was made, first at his lodgings, next at the At last information joined the party, till that worthy would lend Lamb, without success. was him no more. This led to a quarrel, and was brought that the unfortunate man finally, not to dwell upon such disagreeable drinking at the King Charles: he was found scenes, Carver was conveyed to bed in a state and captured there, immediately taken to the of brutal insensibility-his drink having, in Mansion House, searched by the order of the fact, been drugged by Betteridge. According sitting alderman, and the coins stolen from to Carver's own statement he awoke whilst it Betteridge were found carefully concealed in Five minutes was yet night with a splitting headache and a an inner pouch of his doublet. burning throat and tongue. It was some time after this discovery, and whilst still in a state before he could remember where he was, and at of stupefaction, he was committed to Newgate, first he had a confused impression that his and, in the judgement of the spectators, as heavy slumber had been broken by some one good as half-hanged already. groping about the room. When quite awake Mistress Hobson's anger vanished at once in he noticed by the faint starlight another bed-presence of the frightful peril in which Carver stead in the room the occupant whereof was was emmeshed, foully so, she was confident; loudly snoring. He lay for about two hours in but how to bring home that conviction to others a state of fever both of mind and body, and the was the rub. The family attorney assured her instant he heard footsteeps stirring below he the case against Carver was so plain that to jumped up, bustled on his clothes, hurried attempt a defence would be merely folly, and down stairs, drank and rinsed his face at the strongly advised her not to waste her substance yard-pump, and went away. It was too early in so futile an effort. In the very crisis of her to pay a visit to the Lamb; the burning, distress who should walk into the Lamb but an clammy thirst, partially allayed by the draught old customer whom she had not seen for a long, of pump water, returned upon him as he was long time, vulture-visaged George Jefferys, the passing through the Minories, and finding him- barrister, who, not yet thirty, had already won self alone by a tavern where he could obtain the reputation of a fierce, unscrupulous, and He called for credit he entered the King Charles tavern, most successful practitioner. called for a measure of spiced ale-another-ale and tobacco, and was soon absorbed in the enjoyment of those luxuries, the taste for which 'My God!" screamed the jeweller, in a it is well known survived his elevation to the panic of alarm; "What are you here for?— chief justice and chancellorships. Mistress what do you mean?" Hobson determined to forthwith consult this for "What do I mean? This:-that I saw you midable personage, and the grim auditor get out of one bed and conceal your money in listened to her story with keen attention as the Carver's doublet whilst he slept; and two fierce eyes, gleaming intently at her from "Miscreant! devil!" shouted Betteridge, out a cloud of tobacco smoke, sufficiently testi- with momentary audacity: "You lie! you fied, though he only gruffly murmured, inter alia, lie!" when she paused for breath, that he knew the Bull Inn and Will Burton very well. The disdainful iron smile of the stranger was more potent than his rage: he hesitated, At length the lady had said her say, and and sense and courage alike forsaking him, he Master Jefferys, after a few minutes' self-com- fell, with clasped hands, upon his knees, and muning, said, "I am of opinion dame, that gasped out, "Save-save me; I will agree to Betteridge is at the bottom of this affair; and anything-anything; what shall I do ?" it happens that you can just now render me an "Do? Why marry the widow, certainly," essential favour; if you agree to do so, I will, chuckled Master Charles: "there can be no for once travel out of the beaten path to slip danger of detection, provided you agree to pay the neck of this sweetheart of yours out of the me over £500 in gold caroluses, one week after halter. The matter stands thus: I am up as a the wedding." common-searjeant-ship, and a larger sum is re- Stunned, overwhelmed, feeling as if standing quired to ensure success than I can just now upon the brink of a fathomless gulf, down command. I have been, you are aware, a which the hand of the stern stranger could in borrower of your husband several times; now a moment hurl him, Betteridge, as soon as he if you will lend me the required sum, at interest, could command his nerves, agreed to and subfor six months secured by bond, I will strive to scribed the required conditions. The memopull your friend through, and without charge." randum only stated that three months after Mistress Hobson joyfully consented; the date Betteridge would pay Master Charles, or money was she knew certain to be repaid, and bearer, £500. His astute visitor did not the transaction was concluded without delay. The probably think it prudent to press him for a barrister's iterated and last injunctions, when more direct confession of his villany. "This leaving the Lamb, were, that strict silence will do," said Master Charles, as he turned to should be observed, and Betteridge be treated leave: "Now you may proceed without fear, with civility and kindness for a while. as I shall, for my own sake, stick by you, be sure of it to the last." Late the next evening, soon after Nathaniel Betteridge returned home from the Lamb, in a On the 17th of March, Jefferys was elected rather jubilant state of mind, Mistress Hobson's common serjeant; and on the 28th of the same manner having been so unexpectedly gracious, month, Chief Justice Scroggs, having just left a stern-looking, black-habited gentleman pre- the court, after a protracted trial of importance, sented himself, upon, he announced, peremptory he was on the bench, when a true bill was and important buisness: "You do not know handed down from the grand jury-room against me, I believe, Nathaniel Betteridge? I supposed Charles Carver. "Good," exclaimed the sernot; you may call me Master Charles; I jeant with a gleeful glance at the deputy-govchanced to sleep at the Bull Iun, Aldgate, the enor of Newgate, "let the prisoner be arraigned same night that you and the fellow now in at once." This was done, and in a few minutes Newgate did, in a small room leading from Betteridge entered the witness-box. He did yours, which you did not, I think, observe! not recognise Jefferys in his robes, and the caThere there, do not jump up and stare in that pacious wig just then substituted for the velvet way; but sit quietly, if you can, and listen to cap, and gave his evidence, in chief, distinctly. what I have to say: it were best," added " Now, fellow," roared out the common-serjeant the speaker, with a coarse vehemence, appa- "look well at me, and then tell the jury if you rently habitual with him. "You must know," have ever seen me before?" continued Master Charles, "you must know, Nathaniel Betteridge, that I am very wakeful. Ha! you guess the rest!" The terrible voice was enough; the recognition by Betteridge of Master Charles in his fierce questioner was instantaneous as light ning. Overwhelming as ruin and despair. saints bless thee!" cried she; "has a Marid "The witness," says the report, "gazed at the (evil spirit) been whispering in thy ear? Why, common-serjeant as some animals are said to do here am I, at this respectable age. I have lived when enthralled by the glance of a deadly ser- all my life long at Beyrout, and never once pent from which there is no escape; and it was have I desired to go down to the water's edge." marvellous to note how the serjeant firked and Upon this Lisa laughed, and told to her aunt ferreted him with questions, and he like an in- the story of the dove who lived with the torstrument played upon by a man's fingers, gave toise, and who one day expressed a desire to out such replies and confessions as fully re- go and eat olives on a hill that was almost out vealed his villanous purposes; and, when of sight. The tortoise objected, and made a loosened from the examination, fell down in a long speech to show the impropriety of such a fit. A joyful verdict of "not guilty" was re-step; but the dove flashed round and round in turned; Charles Carver accompanied Mistress the sunlight, and replied, "My friend, you mean Hobson home in a coach, was married to her to say that you have no wings." So off she the following week, and always after led a flew. decent and sober life." Margota understood from this that her charge Nathaniel Betteridge was convicted of per- would steal out alone, or with one of the slave jury, and sentenced to have his ears cropped girls, to satisfy her wish; and with many grumband stand in the pillory. He died a prisoner lings began to get ready, first putting on a veil on the debtor side of Newgate. A SYRIAN LEGEND. as thick as a towel, then an ample gown of yel- KOJA, the son of a shipwright of Beyrout, became the hero of story simply from the excessive constancy of his attachment to Lisa, the daughter of a Maronite merchant. No one knows to what nation Koja belonged, or is quite sure of the epoch of his existence. But Instead of going down to the port, always as mountains in a misty atmosphere seem far off as soon as you recede a little from them, so full of noisy Greek and Arab sailors, they took in the East, where history sheds no steady light a circuitous direction, and reached the water's on the past, popular personages who have only edge about a mile outside the town. just died are often removed to an indefinite dis-beautiful evening," said Lisa. tance back in time. This point, however, is of quoth Margota, shivering; and indeed a seano moment. Men who become famous from breeze was blowing gently in their faces, and the mere display of the affections are always making their silk garments flutter as it passed. near neighbours. We feel for Petrarch, whose The water, however, far out, seemed as placid house has left no ruins at Vaucluse, just as if as the blue heavens above; whilst near at hand More so, small waves, or rather ripples, came creeping he were living in the next street. perhaps; because time flowing over his story up the sandy beach a few inches, and then rehas washed away everything but the sparkling treating to return again with a rustling sound. gold. Lisa took off her shoes-she had no stockings So is it with Koja. There were men who hated and persecuted him in his life; but they are gone, and all now join in lamenting his long separation from Lisa. "It is a "Very cold," and ran out to try and catch what seemed to her floating diamonds-star-fish that were poising themselves near the surface, now expanding, now contracting, and ever leaping out of reach of her hand. The meeting of the two lovers was accidental. One morning, Lisa, who began to find the Thus they proceeded slowly until they came women's apartment, to which she had been confined during her father's absence at Damas- to a ledge of rock that jutted some hundred cus, somewhat dreary, asked Margota, her aunt, feet into the sea. By this time the wind had to take her forth, that she might wander on the freshened a little, and a cloud of spray occaborders of the sea. The good old lady was well-sionally played about the extreme end of the nigh struck dumb by the request. "All the point. Margota voted for a return, and tried |