Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 58: what you’re looking at

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men ee ee ee ee 50 from growing—this intimacy from springing up, First of all, does your lordship know the cause of the duel?” — “That is a point,” replied Mendlesham, “on which I have been utterly unable to obtain any information, beyond the fact that there was some female in the case. For this reason also it is re- quisite that researches should be made, and per- haps measures taken.” “Precisely so, my lord,” answered gLimperley. * And your lordship has fortunately determined not to speak upon the subject to your son?” “T cannot, Timperley—I will not do it!” ex- claimed the nobleman. “It is for you to take the matter in hand. Lose no time over it—be secret, and be cautious “f “Your lordship knows that you can trust me,” gaid Mr. Timperley, bending in his turn a signifi- cant look upon the nobleman. “For how many long years have I faithfully kept the important secret . “True, true, Timperley!’ said Mendlesham ; “and I have a grateful sense of your conduct in the matter. But lose no time in fathoming this affair! You will know where first to address yourself ascertain all you can——and then we may consult upon what is requisite to be done.” Having thus spoken, Lord Mendlesham took his leave of the attorney,—who, after the noble- man’s departure, remained for some moments in reflection upon all that he had heard. He was just rising from his seat to issue forth and enter upon the business now entrusted to him, when a clerk entered and handed him a letter. Mr. Tim- perley glanced at the handwriting ; and perceiving that it was in a scrawling vulgar style, as if coming from some indifferently educated person, he sus- pected it might be some appeal to his charity; for Mr. and Mrs. !imperley did a great deal in the ostentatious philanthropic way—and as their bounty was regarded in many quarters as the sincere emanation of a natural benevolence, they had numerous appeals, both verbal and written, from poor distressed persons. Mr. Timperley was therefore on the point of laying down the letter again, to be read at his lJeisure, when a second thought suggested that it might perhaps be just as well to openit. He did so—and first looked at the signature: it was the name of a woman, but unknown to him. He perused the letter, which was not very long; but its contents must have been exceedingly significant—for they produced the most powerful effect upon the lawyer. He became pale as death—the letter dropped from his hands—and he staggered back a pace or two as if seized by a sudden vertigo. Indeed it was some minutes before he could at all regain any portion of his wonted composure and self-possession ; and then taking up the letter, he again perused it from beginning to end. “Five thousand pounds!” he mattered to him- self: “five thousand pounds, to be flung as it were iato the street! It would be just the same if I were to count five thousand golden sovereigns into a bag, take the treasure with me, and toss it over the parapet of Waterloo Bridge! Five thou- sand pounds at one swoop!—it is scarcely to be thought of!” Yet when Mr. Timperley again glanced at the ill-written letter which lay before him, his look AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASUERE. grew deeply dejected ; and he muttered to himself, “Yet what help is there for it ?” He locked up the letter in his desk; and whan he had taken out the key, he tried the drawer to convince himself that it was securely fastened and that no one could penetrate into its mysteries during his absence. He then issued forth from his office: but instead of walking through Lin- coln’s Inn Fields with the pride of conscious wealth and importance, as his demeanour was wont to be, he had a half-dejected, half-bewildered look, as if some very great change had suddenlr taken place in his circumstances. “The day after to-morrow, five thousand pounds !” he muttered to himself: and then he endeavoured to find consolation in the thought that he could certainly pay the amount without finding his purse very much the poorer for it after- wards: but there was no real solace in the reflec- tion; for he loved money dearly—he cared not how hard he worked to obtain it—and he by no means liked the idea of parting from it without an equivalent. Presently taking a cab, he rode up to St. John’s Wood, and bade the driver make inquiries for a little villa-residence called Belmont Cottage. Tho habitation was soon found; and Mr. Timperley alighted at the door. His summons was answered by Margaret the housemaid, who did not however know him—for on repiying in the affirmative to his query whether Mrs. De Vere were at home, she asked what name she should take in to her mistress ? “Tt is of little consequence,” replied Mr. Tim- perley. “Say a legal gentleman wishes to speak to Mrs. De Vere.” Mrs. De Vere herself now appeared upon the threshold of the parlour-door; for she had seen Mr. Timperley alight; and she affably requested him to walkin. He at once accepted the invita- tion; and when he was alone with Mrs. De Vere, he said somewhat abruptly, “I suppose your son is not in the way at this hour ?’—for it was now about noon. “* No—he is at his ofiice—or at least I hope so,’ answered Mrs. De Vere, heaving a profound sica as she thought of the recent duel, concerning which she had little doubt in her mind that Mr. Timperley had come. “Ab! and it would be as well if he were always at the office!” said the lawyer, whose manner was not a whit more polite than it need be: on the contrary, it appeared as if Mr. Tim- perley were more or less avenging on Mrs. De Vere the bitter annoyance and vexation occasioned him by the ill-written letter. “What does the young fellow mean by going and getting himself into such scrapes—picking a quarrel with the very last person in the world that he ought to quarre! with !” “T know it—I know it!” exclaimed the un- happy mother, bursting into tears. “Ob, Mr. Timperley! if you only knew what anguish I hare suffered on account of this deplorable affair, you would not speak so harshly to me! Bat how has it possibly become whispered abroad “T don’t know,” rejoined Mr. Timperley. “It was mentioned to his lordship at his clab: he has however said nothing to his son Hector upon the subject. And now, madam, perhaps you will <8 aes Or 02 ee ee oo eee «. — ~——— -_ © ew eee le conniclooolks (E(0) EL a