CHAPTER VIII
_The Subterranean Cellar--Capture and Imprisonment of the Black--theOutcast Wife--The Villain Husband--the Murder and Arrest._
The next day after the occurrence of the events detailed in the lastchapter, Frank Sydney caused to be conveyed to the negro footman, Nero,the letter which his wife had addressed to him--which letter it will berecollected, had been stolen from the lady, in her reticule, by theyoung thief, who had sold it and another epistle from the black, toFrank, at the _crib_ of Bloody Mike.
The plan adopted by the much injured husband for the punishment of hisguilty wife and her negro paramour, will be developed in the course ofthe present chapter.
The black, upon receiving the letter, imagined that it came direct fromthe lady herself; and much rejoiced was he at the contents, resolvingthat very night to watch for the signal in the chamber window of theamorous fair one.
Beneath the building in which Frank resided, was a deep stone cellar,originally designed as a wine vault; it was built in the mostsubstantial manner, the only entrance being protected by a massive irondoor--the said door having been attached in order to prevent dishonestor dissolute servants from plundering the wine. In the course of the dayupon which he had sent the letter to Nero, Frank paid a visit to thiscellar, and having examined it with great care, said to himself--'Thiswill answer the purpose admirably.'
He then summoned Dennis and the _Kinchen_--the latter of whom heretained in his service--and desired them to remove the few bottles andcasks of wine which still remained in the cellar and deposit themelsewhere.--This being done, a quantity of straw was procured and thrownin one corner, and then the arrangements were complete.
'Now listen,' said Frank, addressing Dennis and the _Kinchen_; 'acertain person has injured me--irretrievably injured me--and it is myintention to confine him as a prisoner in this cellar. The matter mustbe kept a profound secret from the world; you must neither of youbreathe a syllable in relation to it, to a living soul. My motive forconfiding to you the secret, is this: I may at times find it necessaryto be absent from home for a day or so, and it will devolve upon you twoto supply the prisoner with his food. Be secret--be vigilant, and yourfaithfulness shall be rewarded.'
Both of his listeners expressed their willingness to serve him in thematter, and Frank dismissed them, with instructions to await his furtherorders.
Mrs. Sydney, having lost the letter which she had addressed to Nero(never dreaming that it had fallen into the hands of her husband,) thatafternoon, while Frank was engaged in the wine cellar, wrote _anotherletter_ to the black, couched in nearly the same language as her formerone, and making precisely the same arrangement in reference to aninterview with him in her chamber. This letter she gave to her maid,Susan, to convey privately to the black. It so happened that Frank, whohad just finished his business in the wine cellar, encountered the girlas she was emerging from the rear of the house; she held her mistress'letter in her hand, and, confused at meeting Mr. Sydney so unexpectedly,thrust it hastily into her bosom. Frank saw the action, and suspectingthe truth, forced the letter from her, broke the seal, and hastilyglanced over the contents. It instantly occurred to him that, if hepermitted this letter to reach its intended destination, the negro wouldnaturally suspect something wrong, from the fact that he had receivedthat morning a precisely similar letter; and thus Frank's plan might befrustrated. On the other hand, it was necessary for Mrs. Sydney tobelieve that the letter was safely delivered, in order that she mightstill suppose her husband to be ignorant of her amour with the black. Inview of these considerations, Frank put the letter in his pocket, andthen turning to the trembling Susan, said to her, sternly--
'Woman, your agency in this damnable intrigue is known to me, and if youwould save yourself from ruin, you will do as I command you. Remainconcealed in the house for half an hour, and then go to your mistressand tell her that you have delivered the letter to the black; and say toher that he sends word in reply, that _should the signal be givento-night, he will come to her chamber_. And do you, when you hear himknock thrice upon the gate, admit him, and conduct him to yourmistress's chamber. Do this, and you are forgiven for the part you havetaken in the business; but if you refuse, by the living God you shalldie by my hand!'
'Oh, sir,' sobbed the girl, frightened at the threat, 'I will do all youwish me to.'
'Then you have nothing to fear--but remember, I am not to be trifledwith.'
Half an hour afterwards, Susan went up to the chamber of her mistress,and said--
'Well, ma'am, I gave the letter to Nero.'
'And did he send any message?' asked the lady.
'Yes, ma'am,' replied the girl, in obedience to the instructions ofFrank--'he said that if the signal is given to-night, he will come toyour chamber.'
'Very well, Susan--you are a good girl, and here is a dollar for you,'said the lady, and then added--'you will be sure to admit him when heknocks?'
'Oh, yes, ma'am,' replied the maid; and thanking her mistress, shewithdrew.
Left alone, the guilty, adulterous woman fell into a voluptuous reverie,in which she pictured to herself the delights which she anticipated fromher approaching interview with her sable lover. The possibility of herhusband's remaining at home that evening, thereby preventing thatinterview, did not once obtrude itself upon her mind--so regularly hadhe absented himself from home every night during the preceding two orthree weeks; and as he had never returned before midnight, sheapprehended no difficulty in getting her paramour out of the houseundiscovered by him.
The conduct of this woman will doubtless appear very extraordinary andunaccountable to those who have not studied human nature very deeply;while the eccentricity of her passion, and the singular object of herdesires, will excite disgust. But to the shrewd and intelligent observerof the female heart and its many impulses, the preferences of this fraillady are devoid of mystery. They are readily accounted for--pamperedwith luxury, and surrounded by all the appliances of a voluptuousleisure, a morbid craving for _unusual indulgences_ had commingled withher passions--a raging desire, and mad appetite for a _monstrous_ or_unnatural_ intrigue--and hence her disgraceful _liaison_ with theblack.
Were we disposed, what astounding disclosures we could make, of beastlyamours among the sons and daughters of the aristocracy! We have knownmany instances of unnatural births, unquestionably produced by unnaturalcohabitations! We once visited the private cabinet of an eminent medicalpractitioner, whose collection comprised over a hundred half-humanmonstrosities, preserved;--and we were assured that many were theresults of the most outrageous crimes conceivable.--But why dwell uponsuch a subject, so degrading to humanity? We will pursue the loathsometheme no longer.
Evening came, and after supper Mrs. Sydney retired to her chamber. Toher surprise, her husband joined her there; but her surprise increased,and her annoyance was extreme, when he announced his intention ofremaining with her that evening, at home!
Disguising her real feelings, and affecting a joy which was a strangerto her heart at the moment, she only smiled as if in approval of hisdetermination. But in her heart she was most painfully disappointed.
'At all events,' she said to herself, 'I will not place a light in mywindow, which was the signal I arranged with Nero--so I am safe, atleast.'
What was her astonishment and dismay, when her husband deliberately tookthe lamp from the table, and placed it in the window!
Amazed and trembling, she sat for some minutes in silence, while Frank,having lighted a cigar, began smoking with the utmost coolness. Atlength the conscience-stricken lady ventured to say--
'My dear, why do you place the light in the window?'
'Because it is my whim to do so,' replied Frank.
'It is a singular whim,' remarked his wife.
'Not so singular as the whim of a white lady of my acquaintance, whoamalgamates with a negro,' said her husband.
'What do you mean?' demanded the guilty woman, ready to faint withterror and apprehension.
'
I mean this, woman--that you are a vile adulteress!' exclaimed Frank,now thoroughly enraged--'I mean that your abominable conduct is known tome--your true character is discovered. Before your marriage you weredefiled by that negro footman, Nero--and since our marriage you havesought the opportunity to renew the loathsome intimacy.'
'What proof have you of this?' murmured the wretched woman, ready to diewith shame and terror.
'These letters--this one, addressed to you by the black, and this, whichyou wrote to him this very afternoon; but it did not reach itsdestination, for I intercepted it. The one which you wrote a few daysago, and which was stolen from you in your reticule, came into mypossession in a manner almost providential--that letter I sent to theplace this morning, and he, supposing it came from you, will cometo-night to keep the appointment. He will observe the signal agreedupon, and will be admitted into the house, and conducted to thischamber, little imagining who is waiting for him. So you see, madam,both you and your _friend_ are in my power.'
It is impossible to describe the expression of despair and misery whichoverspread the countenance of Mrs. Sydney during the utterance of thesewords. She attempted to speak, but could not articulate a singlesyllable--and in another moment had fallen insensible upon the carpet.
Frank raised her and placed her upon the bed; he had scarcely done so,when he heard some one stealthily ascending the stairs, and in anothermoment the door softly opened, and Nero, the African footman, entered.
Great was his astonishment and alarm on beholding the husband of thelady whom he had come to debauch. His first impulse was to retreat fromthe room and endeavor to make his escape from the house; but his designwas frustrated by Frank, who rushed forward and seized him by thethroat, exclaiming, in a tone of furious rage--
'Eternal curses on you, black ruffian, how dare you enter this house?'
The African, recovering somewhat his presence of mind, struggled torelease himself from the fierce grasp of Frank, and would probably havesucceeded, had not the _Kinchen_ entered, and, seizing a chair, dealthim a blow with it which knocked him down. He then drew from his pocketa stout cord, and, with Frank's assistance, bound the negro's armssecurely with it.
Nero, though a black, was both educated and intelligent; he knew that hewas now in the power of the man who had been so foully wronged, and heconceived that there was but one way to extricate himself from thedifficulty--namely, by promises and entreaties.
'Mr. Sydney,' said he, in an humble, submissive tone--'it is evidentthat you have discovered my intimacy with that lady, by what means Iknow not. You have just cause to be indignant and enraged; but I throwmyself upon your mercy--and consider, sir, the lady made the firstadvances, and was I so much to blame for acceding to the wishes of sucha lovely woman? Now, sir, if you will suffer me to depart, I promise toleave the city of New York forever, and never will I breathe to anotherear the secret of my intimacy with your wife.'
'Think not, accursed miscreant, thus to escape my vengeance,' repliedFrank. 'That you are less guilty than that adulterous woman who liesthere,' he added, pointing to the bed, 'I admit, and her punishmentshall be greater than yours, for she shall endure the pangs of infamyand disgrace, while you only suffer the physical inconvenience of alengthened imprisonment. I cannot suffer you to go at large after thisoutrage on my honor as a husband and a man. Attempt no furtherparley--it is useless, for your fate is sealed.'
Frank took from a bureau drawer a brace of pistols, and commanded thenegro to follow him, threatening to shoot him through the head if hemade the least noise or resistance.--Nero obeyed, trembling withapprehension and dread. Descending the stairs, Frank conducted him tothe cellar, and unlocking the massive iron door, bade him enter; thepoor wretch began to supplicate for mercy, but his inexorable captorsternly ordered him to hold his peace, and having unbound his arms,forced him into the dark and gloomy vault, closed the door, and lockedit. He then gave the key to the _Kinchen_, requesting him to use theutmost vigilance to prevent the escape of the prisoner, and to supplyhim every day with sufficient food and water.
'You perceive, my boy,' said Frank, 'that I am disposed to place theutmost confidence in your integrity and faithfulness. From the moment Ifirst saw you, I have been impressed with the belief that you possess agood heart, and some principles of honor. Destitution and bad companyhave led you astray--but I trust that your future conduct will proveyour sincere repentance. I will see the gentleman from whom youattempted to take the pocket-book, and I will compromise the matter withhim, so that it shall never come to trial. Be honest--be faithful--betrue--and in my house you shall ever have a home, and in me you shallever have a steadfast friend.'
'Oh, sir,' said the _Kinchen_, his eyes filling with tears--'yourkindness and generosity have made me a different being from what I was.I now view my former life with abhorrence, and sooner would I die thanreturn to it. Ah, it is delightful to lead an honest life, to have acomfortable home, and a kind friend like you, sir. My faithful devotionto your interests will prove my gratitude. I should like, sometime, totell you my history, Mr. Sydney; and when you have heard it, I am surethat you will say that I deserve some pity, as well as blame.'
'I shall be pleased to hear your story,' replied Frank. 'As you are nowregularly in my service, you shall be no longer designated as_Kinchen_,[2] for that name is associated with crime. What is your ownproper name?'
'Clinton Romaine,' replied the boy.
'Well, Clinton, you shall hereafter be called by that name. To-morrow Iwill give you an order on my tailor for a new and complete wardrobe. Youhad better now retire to bed; as for myself,' he added, gloomily--'Ishall probably enjoy but little rest or sleep to-night.'
Clinton bade his patron good night, and retired; Frank ascended to thechamber of his wife, and found that she had recovered from her swoon,though she was still pale from apprehension and shame. Averting her eyesfrom her husband's gaze, she sat in moody silence; after a pause ofseveral minutes, Frank said--
'Julia, it is not my intention to waste my breath in upbraidingyou--neither will I allude to your monstrous conduct further than tostate it has determined me to cast you off forever. You are my wife nolonger; you will leave this house to-night, and never again cross itsthreshold. Take with you your maid Susan, your wardrobe, your jewels--inshort, all that belongs to you; you must relinquish the name ofSydney--cease to regard me as your husband, and never, never, let me seeyour face again.'
These words, uttered calmly and solemnly, produced an extraordinaryeffect upon the lady; so far from subduing or humiliating her, theyaroused within her all the pride of her nature, notwithstanding herrecent overwhelming shame. A rich color dyed her cheeks, her eyessparkled, and her bosom heaved, as she arose, and boldly confrontingFrank, said, in passionate tones--
'You cast me off forever!--I thank you for those words; they release mefrom a painful thralldom. Now am I mistress of my own actions--free toindulge to my heart's content in delightful amours!--I will not returnto my father's house--no, for you will doubtless proclaim there thestory of my shame, and my father would repulse me with loathing; andeven if 'twere not so, I prefer liberty to follow my own inclinations,to the restraint of my parent's house.'
'Wretched woman,' exclaimed Franks--'are you indeed so lost--sodepraved?'
'Fool!' returned the frail lady--'you cannot understand the fiery andinsatiate cravings of my passions. I tell you that I consume withdesire--but not for enjoyment with such as _you_, but for deliciousamours which are _recherche_ and unique! Ah, I would give more for onehour with my superb African, than for a year's dalliance with one likeyou, so ordinary, so excessively common-place! Now that the mask is tornfrom my face, reserve is needless. Know then that I have been a wantonsince early girlhood. What strange star I was born under, I know not;but my nature is impregnated with desires and longings which you wouldpronounce absurd, unnatural, and criminal. Be it so: I care not what youor the world may say or think--my cravings must be satisfied at allhazards. As for relinquishing the name of Sydn
ey, I do so withpleasure--that name has no pleasure for me; I never loved you, and atthis moment I hate and despise you. Do you ask me wherefore?--Becauseyou had wit enough to detect me in my intrigues. I shall leave yourhouse tonight, and we meet no more. My future career is plainly markedout: I shall become an abandoned and licentious woman, yielding myselfup unreservedly to the voluptuous promptings of my ardent soul. I partfrom you without regret, and without sorrow do I now bid you farewellforever.'
'Stay a moment,' said Frank, as she was about to leave the room--'Iwould not have you to be entirely destitute: I will fill you out a checkfor a sum of money sufficient to keep you from immediate want.'
He wrote out and signed a check for one thousand dollars, which he gaveher, and then left her without saying another word. She received thedonation with evident satisfaction, and immediately began to make herpreparations for departure. Her maid, Susan, assisted her; and alsoinformed her in what manner Frank had compelled her to assist inentrapping Nero into the house. Susan, herself being unobserved, hadseen the African conveyed to the cellar, and locked in; this fact shealso communicated to her mistress, who heard it with much pleasure, asshe had anticipated that her paramour would meet with a worse fate thanmere confinement.--She determined to effect his release, if possible,although she knew that some time must necessarily elapse before shecould hope to accomplish that object.
When all was ready, Julia and her maid seated themselves in a hackneycoach which had been procured, and were rapidly driven from thatprincely mansion, of which the guilty woman had so recently been theproud mistress, but from which she was now an outcast forever.
That night, Frank, in the solitude of his chamber, shed many bittertears. He mourned over the fallen condition of that beautiful woman,whom, had she been worthy, he would have cherished as his wife, but whohad proved herself not only undeserving of his affection, but depravedand wicked to an astonishing degree. Until the fatal moment when he wasled to suspect her chastity, he had loved her devotedly and sincerely.How cruelly had he been deceived!
And that night, in the solitude and darkness of his cold and gloomydungeon, Nero, the African, swore a terrible oath of vengeance upon thewhite man who had shut him up in that subterranean cell.
Within a week after the capture of the Dead Man and David the butler,those two villains were inmates of the State Prison at Sing Sing--theformer to fulfil his original sentence of imprisonment for life, and thelatter to undergo an imprisonment for five years, for his participationin the attempted robbery of Mr. Sydney.
Fred Archer, on escaping from the officer in the manner which we havedescribed, made his way to the Dark Vaults, where he remained concealedfor several days, not venturing to appear abroad. At the end of a weekhe began to grow impatient of the restraint, and, conceiving that nogreat danger would be incurred if he left his place of refuge in thedarkness of night, he resolved to do so; moreover, he was destitute ofmoney, and entertained some hope of being able to extort a sum from hisunfortunate wife, whom he had driven to prostitution. Accordingly, atabout eight o'clock in the evening, he left the Vaults by means of thesecret outlet before alluded to and gaining the street, proceeded at arapid pace towards the Bowery. In the breast of his coat he carried ahuge Bowie knife, with which to defend himself in case any attemptshould be made to arrest him.
That very day, Frank Sydney, mindful of his promise, had succeeded inobtaining a situation for Mrs. Archer, in the family of an old lady, anaunt of his, who required the attendance of a young woman as a companionand nurse, she being an invalid. In the afternoon, Mrs. Archer receiveda visit from the boy, Clinton, who came to announce to her the joyfulintelligence of a good home having been secured for her; he then placedthe following brief note from Frank in her hands:--
'Mrs. Archer,--Madame: I shall this evening call upon you, to confirm the words of my messenger. The unfortunate career which you have followed, is now nearly ended. Extortion and oppression shall triumph no longer. F.S.'
It was about eight o'clock in the evening when Frank knocked at the doorof the house in which Mrs. Archer resided, and he was admitted by themercenary landlady who figured not very creditably upon a formeroccasion. She immediately recognized the young gentleman, who wasdressed in the garments of a laborer; and very civilly informing himthat the young lady was at home, requested him to walk upstairs to herroom.
Our hero assumed a disguise upon that occasion, for this reason: he didnot know but that the house was publicly regarded as a brothel; and hetherefore did not wish to hazard his reputation by being recognizedeither while entering or leaving the place.
He ascended the stairs and knocked gently at the chamber, which wasimmediately opened by Mrs. Archer, who pressed his hand with all thewarmth of a grateful heart, and placed a chair for him near thefire.--Glancing around the room, Frank saw that she had made everyarrangement for her departure: bandboxes and trunks were in readinessfor removal, and all her little effects were heaped together in onecorner. She herself was dressed with considerable elegance and taste; aclose fitting dress of rich silk displayed the fine proportions of hersymmetrical form to advantage.
'I know not how to thank you, Mr. Sydney,' she said, seatingherself--'for your generous interest in my welfare; but oh! believe me,I am grateful for your kindness.'
Frank assured her that he had derived much satisfaction from whatservices it had been in his power to render, tending to her benefit. Hethen related to her all that had occurred on the night of the attemptedrobbery at his house--how her husband had made his escape, and wasprobably lurking in the Dark Vaults.
'Then he is still at large,' said Mrs. Archer, shuddering--'and I am notyet safe.'
'Fear nothing,' said her benefactor--'he dare not intrude into therespectable and quiet asylum where you are to be placed. No harm canreach you there.'
'God grant it may be so!' fervently ejaculated the young lady; and atthat instant some one was heard stealthily ascending the stairs. 'It isFrederick!' she whispered--'you had better conceal yourself, to avoiduseless altercation.' Frank quickly secreted himself behind the curtainsof the bed, his former hiding place: and in another moment Fred Archerentered the room, and closed the door with extreme caution. 'Maria,' hesaid, roughly--'I must have money from you to-night; the affair which Ispoke to you about, when I was last here, failed most infernally. One ofthe very fellows who were to assist me in the job, proved to be theowner of the house which we were going to plunder. He had a trapprepared for us, and two of my pals were taken, while I escaped just bya miracle. I dare not go abroad in daylight, for fear of being arrested;and I need money--give it to me!'
'Frederick,' said his wife, mildly--'I have but a few dollars, and youare welcome to them. I leave this house to-night; I am going to livehereafter a life of honesty and virtue.'
'Indeed!' exclaimed Archer, now observing for the first time thepreparations for removal--'and may I ask where the devil you're going?'
'I do not wish to tell you, Frederick,' replied the lady--'I shall havea good and comfortable home; let that suffice. I will always pray foryour welfare; but we must part forever.'
'Ha! is it so?' he hissed from between his clenched teeth, while the hotblood of anger mantled on his face, and his eyes were lit up with thefires of demoniac passions--'do you think to desert me and cast me offforever?'--As he spoke, his right hand was thrust into the breast of hiscoat.
'We must part; my resolution is fixed,' she replied firmly. 'Yourtreatment of me--'
She paused in affright, for her husband had seized her violently by thearm; then he plucked the gleaming Bowie knife from its sheath, and ereshe could scream out, the murderous blade was buried in her heart!
From his place of concealment behind the curtains of the bed, Frank sawthe atrocious deed perpetrated. The villain had struck the fatal blowere he could rush forth and stay his murderous arm. The poor victim sankupon the floor, the lifeblood streaming from her heart.--Ere thehorrified witness of the crime could seize the murderer, he
had fledfrom the house with a celerity which defied pursuit.
Frank, overwhelmed with grief at the tragic fate of that erring butunfortunate woman, raised her body in his arms and placed it upon asofa. He then drew from her bosom the reeking blade of the assassin, andas he did so, the warm blood spouted afresh from the gaping wound,staining his hands and garments with gore.
He bent over the corpse, and contemplated the pallid features withprofound sorrow. As he thus gazed mournfully at the face of the dead,holding in his hand the blood-stained knife, the chamber door opened,and the landlady entered the room.
On beholding the awful scene--the bleeding, lifeless form stretched uponthe sofa, and the young man standing with a gory knife grasped in hishand--the landlady made the house resound with her shrieks and cries of'Murder!'
The street door below was forced open and men with hurried footstepsascended the stairs--in a moment more the chamber was filled withwatchmen and citizens.
'Seize the murderer!' exclaimed the landlady, pointing towards Frank.Two watchmen instantly grasped him by the arms, and took from him thebloody knife.
Frank turned deadly pale--he was speechless--his tongue refused itsoffice, for then the dreadful conviction forced itself upon him, that hewas regarded as the murderer of that young woman. And how could he provehis innocence? The weight of circumstantial evidence against him wastremendous and might produce his conviction and condemnation to anignominious death!
Several persons present recognized him as the rich and (until then)respectable Mr. Sydney; and then they whispered among themselves, withsignificant looks, that he was _disguised_!--clad in the mean garb of acommon laborer!
Now it happened that among the gentlemen who knew him, were two of theflatterers who supped with him in the first chapter of thisnarrative--namely, Messrs. Narcissus Nobbs and Solomon Jenks: the formerof whom it will be recollected, was enthusiastic in his praises ofFrank, upon that occasion, while the latter boisterously professed forhim the strongest attachment and friendship. The sincerity of theseworthies will be manifested by the following brief conversation whichtook place between them, in whispers--
'A precious ugly scrape your friend has got himself into,' said Mr.Nobbs.
'_My_ friend, indeed!' responded Mr. Jenks, indignantly--'curse thefellow, he's no friend of mine! I always suspected that he was a d----dscoundrel at heart!'
'I always _knew_ so,' rejoiced Mr. Nobbs.
Oh, hollow-hearted Jenks and false-souled Nobbs! Ye fitly represent thegreat world, in its adulation of prosperous patrons--its forgetfulnessof unfortunate friends!
Frank Sydney was handcuffed, placed in a coach and driven to the Tombs.Here he was immured in the strong cell which had long borne the title ofthe 'murderer's room.'
Fred Archer was safely concealed in the secret recesses of the DarkVaults.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 2: The term _Kinchen_, in the flash language of the thieves,signifies a boy thief.]