The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 102: what you’re looking at

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88 ne —$ THE YOUNG DUCHESS; -OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. the Duke somewhat impatiently. “Ah, I see a means! I will write my name on the back of every one of these bank-notes ; and then no doubt you can pass them ?” Tim Gaffney signified his assent—the notes were duly endorsed—and the two fellows took their departure from Ardleigh House. The Duke then sought the Duchess; and he told her some portion of the incidents which had occurred at Southdale—but without stating how Ethel had been arrested for destroying the leaf from the parish register; and inasmuch as he sup- pressed that painful episode through a delicate re- gard for Ethel’s character, it was ‘not necessary for him to state how he formed the acquaintance of Messrs. Gaffney and Peppercorn. The Duchess was bewildered what to think of the visit of those persons to her husband: but not for an instant did she believe that they had come to make a deal with him in respect to horses. However, as he said nothing on the point, she had no pretence for introducing the subject; and moreover she knew that her curiosity would not be tried for any con- siderable length of time, inasmuch as she might be in a position to clear up the mystery from Tim Gaffney’s own lips on the following night. ‘‘And thus,” said the Duke, after a pause, “everything is at an end between Ethel and me!” ‘‘Do not think so,” responded the Duchess. “Rest assured that she will communicate with you again! It is in the nature of woman to do so. But this is a subject you and I must not dis- cuss.” CHAPTER XX. MR. WARREN. Mr. WaRREn, the stockbroker, returned from the country at about nine o’clock in the evening; and on reaching his splendidly furnished’ house at Highbury, he found his head clerk waiting to see him. . “Well, Mr. Phipps,” ‘said the stockbroker, throwing himself into a large easy chair in his dining-room, and motioning for his clerk to re- sume the seat from which he had respectfully risen ; ‘‘ what news in the City ?” ‘‘ Here’s a number of letters, sir.” “All right—put them down—I will look over them presently. What else?” “The Duke of Ardleigh called this morning, sir —at about ten o'clock,” proceeded Mr. Phipps. “‘His Grace waited until nearly two p* ‘What did his Grace want?” inquired War- ren. ; ‘His Grace did not say, sir; but he appeared very anxious to see you—he looked weary and restless—he said he should be at the office punc- tually at ten to-morrow morning: a ‘And you told his Grace that I should be sure to be there? Well, anything else ?” “Yes, sir,” responded Phipps: “at about three o'clock that lady called—the same that the Duke brought to the office the other day in the cab— you remember the occasion, sir ?—it was when he came rushing in first of all, positively enjoining that he was not to be addressed by his titlh——” ‘* Yes, yes,” said Warren impatiently: “I know ee er - nee tirade! whom you mean! Mrs. Trevor, as he called hey —or Miss Fraser, as her name really is.” “You bought in five thousand pounds in that name, I believe, sir ?” said Phipps. “‘ Well—perhaps—I dare say—TI don't recollect. In a large business, Mr. Phipps, one does not re- member little details What did this lady want ?” ““T do not know, sir. She inquired for you— she asked if you did not live at Highbury—and she said that if it were not against the rule of pro- priety and of business, she should like to call upon you here——” “The deuce!” ejaculated Warren. ‘ Why— what on earth—I mean But what did you tell her ?” “‘T hope I have not done wrong, sir,” answered Mr. Phipps; ‘‘ but as-she assured me that she had a very important reason for making such a re- quest, and as she seemed careworn and distressed in mind, I said that I thought you might possibly have no objection to receive her either to-morrow morning at nine o’clock, before you came into the City, or in the evening at six, after your return.” “Quite right, Phipps—quite right,” said Mr. Warren. ‘ Anything else ?” “Nothing, sir, that ‘I know of. Only Mr. Casey called to-day, and said he should look in again to-morrow: ? ‘Ah, well, well!” interjected Warren: ‘‘ then it does not appear that I’ve been particularly missed? And now take a glass of wine, Phipps —and then good evening to you.” It has already been said that Mr. Warren was a tall, good-looking man, under thirty years of age. He dressed elegantly—he maintained a splendid house at Highbury and a shooting-box down in the country—he kept his mistress in a beautiful villa somewhere in the neighbourhood of Upper Holloway—he also kept hunters, racers, and a yacht—he gave magnificent entertainments, and was liked by everybody as a good-hearted, jovial, dashing kind of a fellow, as well a thorough man of business, of unquestionable integrity and un- doubted wealth. . “Oh!” he muttered to himself, when Mr. Phipps had taken his departure, — ‘“‘ at nine o’clock to-morrow morning or at six in the even- ing ?”— and then a singular expression swept across his countenance: but as it almost imme- diately vanished, he rang the bell and ordered the footman to send up supper at once, not forgetting a bottle of champagne. The tray, laden with splendid plate, was soon brought in; but Mr. Warren did not appear to have any appetite when thé viands were set before him. He however drank the champagne with avidity, and then proceeded to look over his letters, making a running commentary upon their contents as he successively opened them. “Dr. Mordaunt—eh? Wants to know when he is to have the scrip of the Constantinople and Belgrade Railway. Ah, well! that will keep. Sir Moses Bellamy—-Oh! about the twenty thousand —three per cents. The deuce! he is getting impatient! What’s this! That bother- ing schoolmaster, Smithers, of Norfolk! What a Pooh, who could drag one-self through it? and all about a beggarly three thousand ! Ah! what's this? Seymour's handwriting! By Jove! if he begins———But pshaw ! it’s only to let a 7 COmicbOoks.com _ ~ -_—— _—— peg lw ST en a een may wen eens wee ere rye _ — -