Ada, the Betrayed;
or,
The Murder at the Old Smithy.
A Romance of Passion.
———
John Malcolm Rymer
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Storm.—The Old Smithy.—A Deed of Blood.—The Death Cry.—The Child of the Dead.—Remorse and Despair.
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.
Ten Years have Flown.—The Old Rose Inn.—A Snow Storm.—Tom the Factotum.—An Arrival to the Old Smithy.—The Mysterious Stranger.
The Old Smithy.—A Lone Man.—The Alarm.—The Mysterious Conference.—Guilt and Misery.
The Morning.—A Visit.—Blasted Hopes.—The Arranged Meeting.—The Packet.—And the Knife.
Night Again.—The Ruins.—The Conference.—The Old Oaken Door.—The Resolve.
The Conference, Continued.—Mutual Security.—The Oaken Door and the Strange Appearance.—Mysteries Thicken.
The Mansion.—Offers of Magnitude.—The Double Plot.
London in 1742.—Gray’s Home.—The Child.—The Voice of Conscience.—A Visit.
The Disappearance.—Mrs. Bridget Strangeways and the Old Oaken Chest.—Albert’s Grief and Despair.
Learmont in London.—The Endeavour to Drown Thought.—Life in 1742.—All is not Gold that Glitters.
The Consequences of Crime.—A Familiar Friend.—A Cloud upon Learmont’s Felicity.
A Walk in the Park.—A Recognition.—The Question.—A Defiance.—Jacob Gray’s First Visit.—The Dream.
The Dark Threat.—The Biter Bit.—Another Murder Projected.—Learmont’s Reasoning.
Chase.—A Long Race, And its Results.
The Lone House in Ancient Lambeth.—The Boy.—A Solitary Heart.
“The Chequers,” at Westminster.—Britton’s Notions of Greatness.—“When the Wine is In, the Wit is Out.”
The Lone Max.—The Voice of Conscience.
Learmont’s Adventure.—A Discovery.—The Haunted House.—Exultation, and a Resolution.
The Guide.—The Old House.—The Murder.
A Sunny Morning.—The Chamber in the Old House.
Learmont at Home.—His Exultation.—The Smith.—The Plot.
The Projected Murder.—The Unconscious Sleeper.—A Night of Horror.
The Attempted Assassination.—A Surprise.—Ada’s Surmises.—The Agony of Gray.
The Escape.—Taunts.—The Confession.—Learmont’s Rage and Discomfiture.
The Morning.—The Body of the Murdered Man.—The Old Inn.—Jacob’s Reflections.
Ada’s Flight and Despair.—Old Westminster Bridge at Daybreak.—The Smith.—Mad Maud.
Ada’s Wanderings.—The Pearl Necklace.—A Kind Heart.—The Park.—A Joyous Meeting.—The Arrangement.
The Young Lovers.—The Gallant of a Hundred Years Since.—Hopes and Fears.—The Dream of a True Heart.
Jacob’s Return Home.—An Unexpected Visitor.—The Lonely Watch.
Ada’s Fate Again Against Her.—The Threat.—The New Home.
Albert’s Disappointment.—Tibbs, the Bear Warden.—The Search.—A Consultation.
Learmont at Home.—Dark Reflections.—The Summons.—The Confederates.—Suspicions.
The Girl in Her Melancholy Home.—The Prison House.—A Dungeon’s Gloom.—Unavailing Sorrow.
Ada’s Appeal.—The Promise.—Ada’s Despair.—Gray’s Triumph.
The Squire.—The Life of a Captive.—A Strange Fatality.—The Associates.
Learmont at Home.—The Baronetcy.—A Visitor.—The Rejected Offer.
Ada’s Lone Home.—The Summer.—An Adventure.
The Alarm.—The Pursuit.—A Mob in the Last Century.—The Fugitive.—Maud, the Beggar.
The Tale.—A Blighted Heart’s Despair.
The Interview.—Jacob Gray’s Meditations.—The Slip of Paper.—The Nail.—The Guilty Conscience.—The Departure.
Jacob Gray’s Fears.—The Promise.—Ada’s Meditations.
Britton at the Chequers.—The Visit.—A Mysterious Stranger.—The Good Company.
The Fête.—Villany Prospers for a Season.—An Interruption.—The Dance.
The Ball-room.—A Noble Family.—The Interruption.—Unexpected End of Learmont’s Fête.
Albert Seyton.—The Lonely Search.—A Suggestion.—An Important Visit.
The Pursuit.—The Attempted Murder.—A Providential Interference.—The Papers.
The Meeting at Mill-bank.—The Knife.—Ada’s Fate Hangs on a Thread.—The Bold Plunge.
The Smith’s Anger.—A Drunken Tour through Westminster in the Olden Time.—The Watch.—A Scene at the Chequers.—The Determination.
The Old House Again.—Ada’s Alarm.—Gray and His Gold.
A Human Voice.—The Departure.—An Unexpected Meeting.—The Reception.
Gray’s Cunning.—Danger Thickens.—The Hour of Retribution has not Come.
The Proposal.—Gray’s Reasoning.—The Vault.—Ada’s Tears.—A Guilty Heart’s Agony.
The Search.—The Confession.—The Strange Report.—An Awful Dilemma.
The Lonely Watcher.—Gray’s Cunning.—The Cupboard on the Stairs.
The Death of the Elder Seyton.—Albert’s Grief.—The Prophecy.
The Smith at Learmont House.—The Breakfast.—The Threat, and its Results.—The Caution.
The Escape.—A Song of the Times.
The Projected Murder.—The Alarm.—The Death-Shot.—Ada’s Anguish and Indignation.
The Ruin at Night.—The Fire.—Gray’s Behaviour.—A Challenge.—Old Westminster Again.
The Alcove on the Bridge.—Gray’s Speech to Ada.—The Flight.—The Hunt.—The Last Refuge.
The Dark Court.—A Deed of Blood.—The Pursuit Continued.—The Mother and the Child.
A Mother’s Care.—The Pursuit.—A Successful Ruse.—The Second Visit.
The Staircase.—The Old Attic.—A Friend in Need.—Fair Play.—Gray’s Despair.
The Escape over the Houses.—Many Perils.—Gray’s Great Sufferings.—The Guide Rope.
The Robbers.—The Drugged Wine.—Visions of the Mind Diseased.
Ada’s Escape.—The Magistrate.—Ada’s Ignorance of London Localities.—Learmont’s Fright.
An Anecdote.—Sir Francis Hartleton’s House at Westminster.—The Reception.—Ada’s Conduct and Feelings.
Jacob Gray and His Kind Friends.—The Plunder.—Thieves’ Morality.—The Drive to Hampstead.
Ada at Sir Francis Hartleton’s.—The Philosophy of a Young Heart.—A Confession.—The Pleasure of Sympathy.
Albert Seyton’s Destitution.—A Lone and Wearied Spirit.—The Application to Learmont, and the Meeting with Sir Francis Hartleton.
Jacob Grey in the Hampstead Fields.—The Placard.—The Reward.
Gray’s Proceedings.—A Narrow Escape.—The Night Visit to Learmont.
The Chequers.—Britton’s Corner.—An Alarm.—The Mysterious Stranger.—A Quarrel.—A Fight and a Little Anatomy.
An Interview with a Secretary of State.—Sir Francis Hartleton’s Difficulties.
Gray’s Visit to Learmont.—The Disappointment.—A Week of Terror.—The Street Newsvender.
The Disappointment.—The Last Resource.—A Strange Meeting.—The Confession.
Britton and Learmont.—Mind and Matter Produce Similar Results.—Learmont’s Weakness and Fears.—The Chair.
A Walk and a Meeting.—The Vision at the Open Casement.—Learmont’s Perturbation.
The Jew and the Necklace.—Gray’s Troubles and Surmises.—An Adventure.
The Pursuit.—A Successful Ruse.—The Long Night.—Gray’s Terror.
The Return of Learmont.—The Interview.—Doubts and Fears.
The Troublesome Shoe-maker.—Gray’s Agony and Danger.—The Flight.
Ada’s Home.—A Happy Scene.—The Serenity of Goodness.
Britton in His Glory Again.—The Song and the Legal Functionary.—The Surprise.
The Old Associates.—Gray’s Fears.—The Old Attic at the Chequers.
The Smith’s Plot Against Gray.—An Accommodating Friend.
Gray on the House Tops.—Specimens of the Rising Generation.—The Old Attic.
The Interview between Albert and Learmont.—The Promise, and Albert’s Relation.
The Unfortunate Confidence of Albert Seyton.—Learmont’s Promises and Treachery.
Learmont’s Improved Prospects.—The Park.—Ada’s Recollections.—The Meeting.
Learmont’s Sneers.—The Spy.—The Amateur Constable.
Gray’s Peril.—A Peep into Domestic Affairs.—The Corpulent Lady.—The Man who Was Hung on Monday.
The Mystery Explained.—The Escape.—Jacob Gray’s New Lodging.
Learmont’s Treachery to Albert Seyton.—The Plot Against Gray.
Gray at Home.—The Confession.—A Walk through Westminster in Search of a Wig.
Jacob Gray’s Disguise.—The Troublesome Shoemaker Again.—The Visit.
Mad Maud and the Magistrate.—The Scraps of Gray’s Confession.
The Revelation.—Learmont’s Deep Duplicity.—Albert’s Gratitude.
The Last Meeting.—Mutual Cunning.—The Squire and Jacob Gray.
The Pursuit.—The Spy.—The Three Wherries on the Thames.
The Chase on the Thames.—Albert’s Successful Disguise.—The Old Stairs at Buckingham-street.
Gray at Home.—Albert’s Joy and Exultation.—The Meeting in the Old Door Way.
Strong Drink at the Chequers.—The Summons to Britton.—His Majesty’s Amusements.
The Walk in Search of Albert.—The Recognition at Charing Cross.
Sir Francis Hartleton’s Surprise at Albert’s Place of Destination.—The Watch on the Squires’ House.—Ada’s Disappointment.
The Visit to Gray’s House.—Learmont’s Exultation.
Albert’s Love and Determination.—The Squire’s Dream.
Ada’s Faith in Albert Seyton.—The Confidence of a Generous Heart.
Learmont’s Visit to the Chequers.—The Sleeping Smith.
The Search.—The Assignation.—Britton’s Surprise and Exaltation.
The Hour of Eleven.—Gray in His Solitary Home.—The Lover’s Watch.—The Eve of the Murder.
From Twelve to One.
The Murder.
After the Murder.
The Arrest.
The Interview and the Exculpation.—Sir Francis Hartleton’s Caution.
Albert’s Despair.—The Tests of Truth.
The Meeting of the Lovers.
The Lovers.—The Interview of Sir Francis Hartleton with the Secretary of State.—The Ball.
The Confession.
The Consultation with Albert and Ada.—The Arrangement for the Ball.
Learmont and Britton after the Murder.
Albert’s Visit to Learmont.—The Squire’s Triumph.
The Masked Ball.
The Death of Learmont.
The Pursuit for Britton.
Conclusion.
[THE HOPE OF ALBERT SEYTON TO ADA THE BETRAYED.]
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.
PREFACE
Prefaces, like prologues, have nearly gone out of fashion; but the Editor of Lloyd’s Penny Weekly Miscellany feels, that upon the completion of the first volume of his labours, he is bound to say something to his patrons, if it is but to thank them most heartily and sincerely for a degree of patronage, such as he may venture to say, few, if any, periodical publications have been able to boast of. When we first launched our Miscellany upon the stream of time, we were gratified to find that the breath of popular applause filled its sails, and bore it gallantly forward past many a proud competitor; and we have found, by the experience of twelve months, that the fair wind that urged us onwards was not “a mere passing gale,” for each week has materially increased our circulation, until the Miscellany now occupies a place in the periodical literature of Great Britain (and, in fact, wherever the English language is spoken), which may well fill the hearts of both Publisher and Editor with the most grateful feelings towards their best friends—the Public.
Having said thus much of the past, it behoves us to say something of that which is to come. First and foremost then, those pens which have already received the meed of popular applause, will still continue to
“Weave their airy fictions”
in our pages. The Author of “Ada, the Betrayed; or, the Murder at the Old Smithy,” in particular, has several novelties in progress, which from time to time will appear.
Secondly,—We shall make it our study to maintain the high majesty of virtue over the turbulence of vice, and to make our pages, while they glow with the romantic and the chivalrous, so replete with true nobility of sentiment, that we shall, as hitherto, find our way, and maintain our place, among the young and pure of heart.
In conclusion, we can only add, that as we have done so will we do, and while Lloyd’s Penny Weekly Miscellany shall lose none of its present attractions, we pledge ourselves that neither expense, time, or trouble, shall be spared to add to it every attractive feature which may grow out of the intelligence and spirit of the age, our wish bring to render it a rational companion for all classes of persons. We must likewise, in some degree, claim for ourselves the merit, if we may be allowed the term, of laying before a large and intelligent class of readers, at a charge comparatively insignificant, those same pleasures of the imagination which have hitherto, to a great extent, only graced the polished leisure of the wealthy; and, at the same time that we have done so, we have found with unmingled satisfaction that correct tastes, glowing fancies, and an admirable perception of the poetical and the beautiful, are as well to be found by the humblest fire-sides, as in the lordly mansions of the great and the noble.
To our numerous Correspondents we have to return our sincere thanks for many literary favours, as well as for much friendly commendation they have been pleased to bestow upon our labours, and with a sanguine hope that we and our Readers shall proceed as pleasantly together to the year 1844, as we have to 1843, we gratefully thus introduce our first volume to their notice.
Ada, the Betrayed;
or,
The Murder at the Old Smithy.
A Romance of Passion.
———
Around the winter’s hearth the tale is told,
To lisping infancy and hoary age;
It is a story of strange passion—of grief and tears—