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[-423-]
CHAPTER CCLIX.
CONCLUSION.
LAFLEUR
was captured, tried, and condemned to transportation for life, for the
manslaughter of Eugene Markham.
Immediately after the trial the Prince and Princess of
Montoni, with the infant Prince Alberto, and accompanied by Signor and Signora
Bazzano, embarked for Castelcicala in the Torione steam-frigate which was sent
to convey them thither. We need scarcely say that the faithful Whittingham was
in our hero's suite.
Eliza Sydney continues to reside at her beautiful villa
near Upper Clapton; and her charitable disposition, her amiable manners, and her
exemplary mode of life render her the admiration and pride of the entire
neighbourhood.
The Earl of Warrington and Diana dwell in comparative
seclusion, but in perfect happiness, and have never once regretted the day where
they accompanied each other to the altar.
King Zingary departed this life about six months ago;
and Morcar is now the sovereign of the Gipsy tribe in these realms. He has
already begun strenuously to exert himself in the improvement of the moral
character of his people; and though he finds the materials on which he labours
to make an impression somewhat stubborn, he has declared his intention of
persevering in his good work. His wife Eva constantly wears round her neck the
gold chain which Isabella sent her; and night and morning the son of these good
people is taught to kneel down and pray for the continued prosperity and
happiness of the Prince and Princess of Montoni.
Pocock has remained an honest, industrious, and worthy
man. He has now a good establishment in one of the most business-streets of the
City, employs many hands, and has purchased some nice little freehold property
in the neighbourhood of Holloway — in order, as he says, that he may
have an occasional excuse for taking a walk round the mansion which bears the
name of him whom he extols as his saviour — his benefactor!
And that mansion — to whom does it now
belong? It is the property of Mr. Monroe, and will become Ellen's at his death:
but the old man is still strong and hearty; and every fine afternoon he may be
seen walking through the grounds, leaning upon the arm of his daughter or of
Eliza Sydney, who is a frequent visitor at the Place.
Ellen is beautiful as ever, and might doubtless marry
well, did she choose to seek society: but she has vowed to remain single for the
sake of her child who is now a blooming boy, and whom she rears with the fond
hope that he will prove worthy of the name that he bears — the name
of his uncle, Richard Markham.
Skilligalee and the Rattlesnake, long since united in
matrimonial bonds, are leading a comfortable and steady life in Hoxton, the
business of their little shop producing them not only a sufficiency for the
present, but also the wherewith to create a provision for their old age.
Crankey Jem called upon them on the evening following
the death of the Resurrection Man, and acquainted them with the event. From that
moment nothing positive has ever been heard of James Cuffin; but it is supposed
that he embarked as a common sailor in some ship bound for a long voyage.
Henry Holford remains a prisoner in Bethlem Hospital. He
is in the full and unimpaired possession of his intellects, but has often and
bitterly cursed the day when he listened to the whispering voice of his morbid
ambition.
Albert Egerton has already become a wealthy merchant,
possessing an establishment at Montoni and one in London; and, when sojourning
at the former, he receives frequent invitations to dine at the Palace.
Lord Dunstable has retrieved the errors of his earlier
years by an unwearied course of honourable and upright conduct, steadfastly
pursued from the moment when he declared himself to have been touched by the
words of the Prince of Montoni on the occasion of the exposure in Stratton
Street.
Colonel Cholmondeley, Sir Rupert Harborough, and Mr.
Chichester are undergoing a sentence of ten years' condemnation to the galleys
at Brest, for having attempted to pass forged Bank of England notes at a
money-changer's shop in Paris.
Major Anderson continues to live honourably amid
comfortably upon a pension allowed him by the Prince.
Mrs. Chichester removed about two years ago to a
pleasant cottage in Wales, where she dwells in the tranquil seclusion suitable
to her taste.
Filippo Dorsenni has opened an extensive hotel for
foreigners at the West End of the town, and is happy in the prosperity of his
business.
Lady Bounce was compelled to sue for a separate
maintenance about eighteen months ago, on the [-424-]
ground of cruelty and ill treatment; and in this suit she succeeded.
Sir Cherry and Major Dapper continue as intimate as
ever, and pursue pretty well the same unprofitable career as we have hitherto
seen them following.
Mr. Banks, the undertaker of Globe Lane, carried his
economic principles to such an extent that he fell into the habit of purchasing
cloth to cover his coffins at a rate which certainly defied competition; but a
quantity of that material having been missed from a warehouse in the City and
traced to his establishment, he was compelled, although much against his
inclination, to accompany an officer to Worship Street, where the porter
belonging to the aforesaid warehouse was already in the dock on a charge of
stealing the lost property. Vain was it that Mr. Banks endeavoured to impress
upon the magistrate's mind the fact that he was as "pious and savoury a old
wessel as ever made a coffin on economic principles:" the case was referred
to the learned Recorder at the Old Bailey for farther investigation; and one
fine morning Mr. Banks found himself sentenced to two years' imprisonment in the
Compter for receiving goods knowing them to have been stolen.
Concerning Tomlinson and old Michael Martin, we have
been unable to glean any tidings: but in respect to Robert Stephens, we have
reason to believe that he manages to obtain a livelihood, under a feigned name,
in a counting house in New York.
John Smithers, better known to our readers as Gibbet, is
the wealthiest inhabitant of a new town that has risen within the last three
years in the valley of the Ohio; and in a recent letter to the Prince of Montoni
he declares he is happier than he ever thought he could become.
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