TABLE OF CONTENTS

[PREFACE]

[CHAPTER I.]

The Storm.—The Old Smithy.—A Deed of Blood.—The Death Cry.—The Child of the Dead.—Remorse and Despair.

[CHAPTER II.]

The Lull of the Tempest.—Morning is Coming.—The Child of Mystery.—The Necklace.—A Surprise and a Disappearance.—The Inscription.—The Lord of Learmont.

[CHAPTER III.]

Ten Years have Flown.—The Old Rose Inn.—A Snow Storm.—Tom the Factotum.—An Arrival to the Old Smithy.—The Mysterious Stranger.

[CHAPTER IV.]

The Old Smithy.—A Lone Man.—The Alarm.—The Mysterious Conference.—Guilt and Misery.

[CHAPTER V.]

The Morning.—A Visit.—Blasted Hopes.—The Arranged Meeting.—The Packet.—And the Knife.

[CHAPTER VI.]

Night Again.—The Ruins.—The Conference.—The Old Oaken Door.—The Resolve.

[CHAPTER VII.]

The Conference, Continued.—Mutual Security.—The Oaken Door and the Strange Appearance.—Mysteries Thicken.

[CHAPTER VIII.]

The Mansion.—Offers of Magnitude.—The Double Plot.

[CHAPTER IX.]

London in 1742.—Gray’s Home.—The Child.—The Voice of Conscience.—A Visit.

[CHAPTER X.]

The Disappearance.—Mrs. Bridget Strangeways and the Old Oaken Chest.—Albert’s Grief and Despair.

[CHAPTER XI.]

Learmont in London.—The Endeavour to Drown Thought.—Life in 1742.—All is not Gold that Glitters.

[CHAPTER XII.]

The Consequences of Crime.—A Familiar Friend.—A Cloud upon Learmont’s Felicity.

[CHAPTER XIII.]

A Walk in the Park.—A Recognition.—The Question.—A Defiance.—Jacob Gray’s First Visit.—The Dream.

[CHAPTER XIV.]

The Dark Threat.—The Biter Bit.—Another Murder Projected.—Learmont’s Reasoning.

[CHAPTER XV.]

Chase.—A Long Race, And its Results.

[CHAPTER XVI.]

The Lone House in Ancient Lambeth.—The Boy.—A Solitary Heart.

[CHAPTER XVII.]

“The Chequers,” at Westminster.—Britton’s Notions of Greatness.—“When the Wine is In, the Wit is Out.”

[CHAPTER XVIII.]

The Lone Max.—The Voice of Conscience.

[CHAPTER XIX.]

Learmont’s Adventure.—A Discovery.—The Haunted House.—Exultation, and a Resolution.

[CHAPTER XX.]

The Guide.—The Old House.—The Murder.

[CHAPTER XXI.]

A Sunny Morning.—The Chamber in the Old House.

[CHAPTER XXII.]

Learmont at Home.—His Exultation.—The Smith.—The Plot.

[CHAPTER XXIII.]

The Projected Murder.—The Unconscious Sleeper.—A Night of Horror.

[CHAPTER XXIV.]

The Attempted Assassination.—A Surprise.—Ada’s Surmises.—The Agony of Gray.

[CHAPTER XXV.]

The Escape.—Taunts.—The Confession.—Learmont’s Rage and Discomfiture.

[CHAPTER XXVI.]

The Morning.—The Body of the Murdered Man.—The Old Inn.—Jacob’s Reflections.

[CHAPTER XXVII.]

Ada’s Flight and Despair.—Old Westminster Bridge at Daybreak.—The Smith.—Mad Maud.

[CHAPTER XXVIII.]

Ada’s Wanderings.—The Pearl Necklace.—A Kind Heart.—The Park.—A Joyous Meeting.—The Arrangement.

[CHAPTER XXIX.]

The Young Lovers.—The Gallant of a Hundred Years Since.—Hopes and Fears.—The Dream of a True Heart.

[CHAPTER XXX.]

Jacob’s Return Home.—An Unexpected Visitor.—The Lonely Watch.

[CHAPTER XXXI.]

Ada’s Fate Again Against Her.—The Threat.—The New Home.

[CHAPTER XXXII.]

Albert’s Disappointment.—Tibbs, the Bear Warden.—The Search.—A Consultation.

[CHAPTER XXXIII.]

Learmont at Home.—Dark Reflections.—The Summons.—The Confederates.—Suspicions.

[CHAPTER XXXIV.]

The Girl in Her Melancholy Home.—The Prison House.—A Dungeon’s Gloom.—Unavailing Sorrow.

[CHAPTER XXV.]

Ada’s Appeal.—The Promise.—Ada’s Despair.—Gray’s Triumph.

[CHAPTER XXVI.]

The Squire.—The Life of a Captive.—A Strange Fatality.—The Associates.

[CHAPTER XXVII.]

Learmont at Home.—The Baronetcy.—A Visitor.—The Rejected Offer.

[CHAPTER XXVIII.]

Ada’s Lone Home.—The Summer.—An Adventure.

[CHAPTER XXIX.]

The Alarm.—The Pursuit.—A Mob in the Last Century.—The Fugitive.—Maud, the Beggar.

[CHAPTER XXX.]

The Tale.—A Blighted Heart’s Despair.

[CHAPTER XXXI.]

The Interview.—Jacob Gray’s Meditations.—The Slip of Paper.—The Nail.—The Guilty Conscience.—The Departure.

[CHAPTER XXXII.]

Jacob Gray’s Fears.—The Promise.—Ada’s Meditations.

[CHAPTER XXXIII.]

Britton at the Chequers.—The Visit.—A Mysterious Stranger.—The Good Company.

[CHAPTER XXXIV.]

The Fête.—Villany Prospers for a Season.—An Interruption.—The Dance.

[CHAPTER XXXV.]

The Ball-room.—A Noble Family.—The Interruption.—Unexpected End of Learmont’s Fête.

[CHAPTER XXXVI.]

Albert Seyton.—The Lonely Search.—A Suggestion.—An Important Visit.

[CHAPTER XXXVII.]

The Pursuit.—The Attempted Murder.—A Providential Interference.—The Papers.

[CHAPTER XXXVIII.]

The Meeting at Mill-bank.—The Knife.—Ada’s Fate Hangs on a Thread.—The Bold Plunge.

[CHAPTER XXXIX.]

The Smith’s Anger.—A Drunken Tour through Westminster in the Olden Time.—The Watch.—A Scene at the Chequers.—The Determination.

[CHAPTER XL.]

The Old House Again.—Ada’s Alarm.—Gray and His Gold.

[CHAPTER XLI.]

A Human Voice.—The Departure.—An Unexpected Meeting.—The Reception.

[CHAPTER XLII.]

Gray’s Cunning.—Danger Thickens.—The Hour of Retribution has not Come.

[CHAPTER XLIII.]

The Proposal.—Gray’s Reasoning.—The Vault.—Ada’s Tears.—A Guilty Heart’s Agony.

[CHAPTER XLIV.]

The Search.—The Confession.—The Strange Report.—An Awful Dilemma.

[CHAPTER XLV.]

The Lonely Watcher.—Gray’s Cunning.—The Cupboard on the Stairs.

[CHAPTER XLVI.]

The Death of the Elder Seyton.—Albert’s Grief.—The Prophecy.

[CHAPTER XLVII.]

The Smith at Learmont House.—The Breakfast.—The Threat, and its Results.—The Caution.

[CHAPTER XLVIII.]

The Escape.—A Song of the Times.

[CHAPTER XLIX.]

The Projected Murder.—The Alarm.—The Death-Shot.—Ada’s Anguish and Indignation.

[CHAPTER L.]

The Ruin at Night.—The Fire.—Gray’s Behaviour.—A Challenge.—Old Westminster Again.

[CHAPTER LI.]

The Alcove on the Bridge.—Gray’s Speech to Ada.—The Flight.—The Hunt.—The Last Refuge.

[CHAPTER LII.]

The Dark Court.—A Deed of Blood.—The Pursuit Continued.—The Mother and the Child.

[CHAPTER LIII.]

A Mother’s Care.—The Pursuit.—A Successful Ruse.—The Second Visit.

[CHAPTER LIV.]

The Staircase.—The Old Attic.—A Friend in Need.—Fair Play.—Gray’s Despair.

[CHAPTER LV.]

The Escape over the Houses.—Many Perils.—Gray’s Great Sufferings.—The Guide Rope.

[CHAPTER LVI.]

The Robbers.—The Drugged Wine.—Visions of the Mind Diseased.

[CHAPTER LVII.]

Ada’s Escape.—The Magistrate.—Ada’s Ignorance of London Localities.—Learmont’s Fright.

[CHAPTER LVIII.]

An Anecdote.—Sir Francis Hartleton’s House at Westminster.—The Reception.—Ada’s Conduct and Feelings.

[CHAPTER LIX.]

Jacob Gray and His Kind Friends.—The Plunder.—Thieves’ Morality.—The Drive to Hampstead.

[CHAPTER LX.]

Ada at Sir Francis Hartleton’s.—The Philosophy of a Young Heart.—A Confession.—The Pleasure of Sympathy.

[CHAPTER LXI.]

Albert Seyton’s Destitution.—A Lone and Wearied Spirit.—The Application to Learmont, and the Meeting with Sir Francis Hartleton.

[CHAPTER LXII.]

Jacob Grey in the Hampstead Fields.—The Placard.—The Reward.

[CHAPTER LXIII.]

Gray’s Proceedings.—A Narrow Escape.—The Night Visit to Learmont.

[CHAPTER LXIV.]

The Chequers.—Britton’s Corner.—An Alarm.—The Mysterious Stranger.—A Quarrel.—A Fight and a Little Anatomy.

[CHAPTER LXV.]

An Interview with a Secretary of State.—Sir Francis Hartleton’s Difficulties.

[CHAPTER LXVI.]

Gray’s Visit to Learmont.—The Disappointment.—A Week of Terror.—The Street Newsvender.

[CHAPTER LXVII.]

The Disappointment.—The Last Resource.—A Strange Meeting.—The Confession.

[CHAPTER LXVIII.]

Britton and Learmont.—Mind and Matter Produce Similar Results.—Learmont’s Weakness and Fears.—The Chair.

[CHAPTER LXIX.]

A Walk and a Meeting.—The Vision at the Open Casement.—Learmont’s Perturbation.

[CHAPTER LXX.]

The Jew and the Necklace.—Gray’s Troubles and Surmises.—An Adventure.

[CHAPTER LXXI.]

The Pursuit.—A Successful Ruse.—The Long Night.—Gray’s Terror.

[CHAPTER LXXII.]

The Return of Learmont.—The Interview.—Doubts and Fears.

[CHAPTER LXXIII.]

The Troublesome Shoe-maker.—Gray’s Agony and Danger.—The Flight.

[CHAPTER LXXIV.]

Ada’s Home.—A Happy Scene.—The Serenity of Goodness.

[CHAPTER LXXV.]

Britton in His Glory Again.—The Song and the Legal Functionary.—The Surprise.

[CHAPTER LXXVI.]

The Old Associates.—Gray’s Fears.—The Old Attic at the Chequers.

[CHAPTER LXXVII.]

The Smith’s Plot Against Gray.—An Accommodating Friend.

[CHAPTER LXXVIII.]

Gray on the House Tops.—Specimens of the Rising Generation.—The Old Attic.

[CHAPTER LXXIX.]

The Interview between Albert and Learmont.—The Promise, and Albert’s Relation.

[CHAPTER LXXX.]

The Unfortunate Confidence of Albert Seyton.—Learmont’s Promises and Treachery.

[CHAPTER LXXXI.]

Learmont’s Improved Prospects.—The Park.—Ada’s Recollections.—The Meeting.

[CHAPTER LXXXII.]

Learmont’s Sneers.—The Spy.—The Amateur Constable.

[CHAPTER LXXXIII.]

Gray’s Peril.—A Peep into Domestic Affairs.—The Corpulent Lady.—The Man who Was Hung on Monday.

[CHAPTER LXXXIV.]

The Mystery Explained.—The Escape.—Jacob Gray’s New Lodging.

[CHAPTER LXXXV.]

Learmont’s Treachery to Albert Seyton.—The Plot Against Gray.

[CHAPTER LXXXVI.]

Gray at Home.—The Confession.—A Walk through Westminster in Search of a Wig.

[CHAPTER LXXXVII.]

Jacob Gray’s Disguise.—The Troublesome Shoemaker Again.—The Visit.

[CHAPTER LXXXVIII.]

Mad Maud and the Magistrate.—The Scraps of Gray’s Confession.

[CHAPTER LXXXIX.]

The Revelation.—Learmont’s Deep Duplicity.—Albert’s Gratitude.

[CHAPTER XC.]

The Last Meeting.—Mutual Cunning.—The Squire and Jacob Gray.

[CHAPTER XCI.]

The Pursuit.—The Spy.—The Three Wherries on the Thames.

[CHAPTER XCII.]

The Chase on the Thames.—Albert’s Successful Disguise.—The Old Stairs at Buckingham-street.

[CHAPTER XCIII.]

Gray at Home.—Albert’s Joy and Exultation.—The Meeting in the Old Door Way.

[CHAPTER XCIV.]

Strong Drink at the Chequers.—The Summons to Britton.—His Majesty’s Amusements.

[CHAPTER XCV.]

The Walk in Search of Albert.—The Recognition at Charing Cross.

[CHAPTER XCVI.]

Sir Francis Hartleton’s Surprise at Albert’s Place of Destination.—The Watch on the Squires’ House.—Ada’s Disappointment.

[CHAPTER XCVII.]

The Visit to Gray’s House.—Learmont’s Exultation.

[CHAPTER XCVIII.]

Albert’s Love and Determination.—The Squire’s Dream.

[CHAPTER XCIX.]

Ada’s Faith in Albert Seyton.—The Confidence of a Generous Heart.

[CHAPTER C.]

Learmont’s Visit to the Chequers.—The Sleeping Smith.

[CHAPTER CI.]

The Search.—The Assignation.—Britton’s Surprise and Exaltation.

[CHAPTER CII.]

The Hour of Eleven.—Gray in His Solitary Home.—The Lover’s Watch.—The Eve of the Murder.

[CHAPTER CIII.]

From Twelve to One.

[CHAPTER CIV.]

The Murder.

[CHAPTER CV.]

After the Murder.

[CHAPTER CVI.]

The Arrest.

[CHAPTER CVII.]

The Interview and the Exculpation.—Sir Francis Hartleton’s Caution.

[CHAPTER CVIII.]

Albert’s Despair.—The Tests of Truth.

[CHAPTER CIX.]

The Meeting of the Lovers.

[CHAPTER CX.]

The Lovers.—The Interview of Sir Francis Hartleton with the Secretary of State.—The Ball.

[CHAPTER CXI.]

The Confession.

[CHAPTER CXII.]

The Consultation with Albert and Ada.—The Arrangement for the Ball.

[CHAPTER CXIII.]

Learmont and Britton after the Murder.

[CHAPTER CXIV.]

Albert’s Visit to Learmont.—The Squire’s Triumph.

[CHAPTER CXV.]

The Masked Ball.

[CHAPTER CXVI.]

The Death of Learmont.

[CHAPTER CXVII.]

The Pursuit for Britton.

[CHAPTER CXVIII.]

Conclusion.

[THE AUTHOR TO HIS READERS.]

[THE HOPE OF ALBERT SEYTON TO ADA THE BETRAYED.]

[TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES]

Lloyd’s

Penny Weekly Miscellany

of

Romance and General Interest

There's not a passion of the mind,

A moving thraldom of the o’verwrought brain,

But with the magic of an art which is immortal,

Is enshrined here.—Ben Jonson.

I have a tale of war for knight

Lay of love for beauty bright,

Fairy tale to lull the heir,

Goblins grim the maids to scare.—Scott.

Vol. I.

London:

Printed and Published by E. Lloyd, 12 Salisbury Square, Fleet Street.

———

1843.