The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 134: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

120 era Sa SS Se eng epee es TIE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. ronet, that it was the Duchess who had been car- ried off instead of Imogen. “YT will walk up-stairs,” said Herbert, yielding to the impulse of his second thought. In a few moments the servant announced the Duke of Ardleigh, in the room where Sir Abel Kingston was seated with his four guests at table. They were now at the dessert; and choice wines sparkled on the board. The Duke entered with | an easy well-bred air of friendliness; and the Baronet chuckled inwardly as he thought to him- self, “‘I have won !—he is convinced! he is come to give me the cheque!” The three military officers had already somé slight acquaintance with the young nobleman; but Sylvester Casey was now introduced to him for the first time—and he could scarcely believe in his own good fortune in finding himself in the company of a Duke. What an event to relate in Hatton Garden! what a thing for his mother to blazon abroad amongst all her acquaintances ! “Pray do not let me interrupt the conver- sation,” said the Duke, taking a seat at the table. “T believe the Colonel was just on the point of commencing a narrative when I entered the room.” ‘Well, my lord,” replied Colonel Bulder,—a short stout man, with a sallow complexion and a very husky voice; ‘I was just going to tell our friends here of something that happened of a very extraordinary character. It was when I was quartered at Canterbury last’ year, just after my return from India. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I certainly shouldn’t have believed it: but I happened to be going through the Cathedral yard at the time, and it was exactly at the hour of noon for the reason which you will presently see. You must know that some masons were re- - pairing one of the upper windows of the Oxford or clock-tower of the Cathedral; and one of the poor fellows happened to let go his hold and tumble. Well, you are all of you shuddering to think of the height he fell and the smash that he came down with! But nothing of the sort! For, To and behold, he was caught by the waistband of his breeches by the large hand of the clock, which was pointing straight up at the moment, it being as I tell you the hour of noon.” “And you saw this, Colonel, with your own eyes?” asked Captain Cauliflower, with a very serious air, though he kicked Tiffany under the table— and this young gentleman was ready to burst with laughter. ‘Oh, yes,” answered Bulder. ‘I saw it with my own eyes—and I stopped in the Cathedral yard till the poor man was lowered down. He had sustained no injury beyond a very severe fright; but of this he presently recovered. Seve- ral people who had collected on the spot made a subscription for him. It amounted : to ‘eight pounds nine and fourpence———I remember as well as possible.” oa ‘Poor fellah!” said Captain Cauliflower, fill- ing his glass, and looking slyly across the table at Tiffany. - ‘Haw! poor fellaw!” observed this young gentleman. . “Well, Colonel,” said Mr.’ Sylvester Casey, who had drunk a great deal of ‘wine and was placing himself on very familiar terms with all pre- sent; ‘‘I was a witness of something that was likewise very remarkable — though not such a regular stunner as that.” ‘A what, sir?”—and Bulder surveyed Casey with an awful dignity. “Well, then, a buster,” said Sylvester. “T’ll tell you what it was, my Lord Duke and gentle- men. There was w cousin of mine who was a terrible wild fellow, and always up to all manner of sprees and capers. Well, one day, what should he do but hang on to one of the sweeps of a mill just as the miller was going to set it in motion. Of course the miller didn’t see Joe—which was my cousin’s. name; and round went the mill. Joe clung fast while being carried up into the air: but the instant the sweep came near the ground again, he jumped off. Well, what do you think? poor fellow, his brain was turned!” ‘‘And no wonder, sir,” interjected Colonel Bulder, who though very fond of telling remark- able tales, never believed them when they were narrated by others. “Oh, but that’s not all,” ejaculated Sylvester : “the wonderful part’s to come. Joe was put into a lunatic asylum; and there he stopped for two years without showing the slightest signs of reco- very. Well, at last the lunacy doctor, or what- ever you call him he was a ripping clever fellow, mind—one of your regular out-and-outers and so he hit upon a method to put Tom’s brain ” “T thought it was Joe’s ?” interjected Colonel -Bulder, somewhat triumphantly, as he fancied he had caught his new friend tripping. “Did I say Tom? Why, of course you must have known I meant Joe’s, since I said Joe at first. However, as I was going on to state, this stunner of a lunacy doctor hit upon his plan ; and that was to tie Joe to the sweep of the mill again, and send him round just the contrairy way— ” “ Ah! so as to turn his brain right again ?” eja- culated Bulder, with the most indignant sarcasm. ‘* Just so,” replied Sylvester coolly ; “‘ and it: had the effect too—for I can tell you that Jack —Joe I mean, has been as right and tight.in his senses ever since as I myself. haye.” “ Haw! very extraordinary { “But are you sure, my dear fellaw, you don’t draw a rather long bow ?” Sylvester turned very red indeed—and then thought it best to burst out into a loud laugh. This laugh was still ringing through the room, when the man-servant entered; and it was evi- dent that there was acertain expression of dis- may and consternation on his countenance. In- deed, he seemed to be struggling for the power of speech. “Well, what is it?” demanded his master, with a sudden start of uneasiness. “T should like to speak to you alone, if you please, sir,” stammered out the domestic. “I think you'd better come, sir.” “Who are those on the Janding ?” demanded Colonel Bulder. At this moment a sergeant of police made his appearance, followed by a constable. Every one at the table staxted up: but the countenance of Sir Abel Kingston was pale as death. ‘‘T am sorry, gentlemen, to interrupt your har- mony,” said the sergeant: but the truth is, Sit Abel, you’re wanted.” COMO YN Wn) said Mr. Tiffany. Colin