The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 363: what you’re looking at

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

Correspondence with my Eleanor,’” answered Jalia, reading the endorsement. “That is to be burnt—the whole of it,” exclaimed Page. “ Untie the bundle and scatter the letters in the grate: they will take the flames more easily in that fashion. And here is another bundle destined to share the eame fate: it is endorsed ‘ Miscellaneous.’ By the bye, wasn’t it 2 strange thing that Sir Richard was walking with the Princess Amelia in Windeor Park yesterday? She is really 2 sweet pretty young lady. There is something quite royal about her—and even before that park-keeper whom we questioned told us who she was, I had an in- ginctive presentiment that she was of high birth.” “Of high nonsense!” exclaimed Julia, who was busily engaged in burning the condemned ocorre- “ How can one woman be so different from another as all that ?” “I didnt mean to pay you any ill compliment, Julia my love,” retarned Mr, Page: “no odious comparisons, you know—for you're a very pretty aad genteel young woman—lady I meant to say— and ought to be a princess. But I was observing thas Sir Richard was walking with the Princess in the park, when we went in search of him——” “ And he did not appear over well pleased that we accosted him while he was with her Royal High- ness,” interrupted Mrs. Page, returning to the table on which her husband was soattering and sorting the correspondence. “Now—which heap is to be burnt—and which preserved ?” “Take these and throw them into the grate,” replied the ex-traveller. “The greater portion is to be destroyed, I see. Strange that Sir Richard Stamford himself should have such an unconquer- able aversion to visit the Manor !” “Not strange at all,” observed Julia,—“ sesing thas his wife killed herself within its walls—and that such a mass of misfortunes all fell upon the poor dear gentieman’s head at the same moment. It would he far more strange if he thought of ever living here again. But I have cleared away the | haps ‘| heap that you put aside to be burnt. Are there | no more papers for the flames ” “Patience, my dear—patience,” said the ex- traveller. “I am not quite sure whether we have thoroughly examined this desk. It is an old fashioned piece of furniture—and there may be secret drawers, or what not.” “If there were, Sir Richard Stamford would have teld you so,” observed Julis. “ But as he said nothing at all of the kind, you may be sure that there are none. Now, do make haste and leave off fiddling about with those little drawers. What is the use of pulling them ali oat in that manner?” shedemanded impatiently. “ Because, my dear, I suspect that there és a secret recess in this piece of furniture,” answered Page, in | i a mysterious tone. “ Sir Richard Stamford may not know anything about it: but Z am rather a shrewd and far-sesing minan, my love—and the more! exa- mine the arrangements of this desk, the more I am convinced that there is some curious contrivance about it. Look at the places into which these drawers fit: they don't go close up to the board at the back. That's quite clear! But here is a sort of false back—— Hey-dey |” he suddenly exclaimed ; and at the same moment that the ejaculation burst from his lips, the sharp, abrupt, clicking sound of a epring giving way startled his wife. -)6—t<“‘ “Just what I expected—end no more than J thought,” responded Page, joyously. “A secret recess, my love!—e private compartment, my dear! Look—the false back to the desk has started out of its setting! Who was right in his suspicions—eh f” And the ex-traveller chuckled with glee. “Come — let us examine it,” said Mra. thrusting her hand into the recess: ahe in- stantly drew it out again all covered over with the dust that had accumulated therein. “ By Jove! the secret compartment remained unused for a length of time!” excisimed “Papers, by jingo * he exclaimed, drawing forth a bundle of letters much soiled by dust, and tied bundle to the lamp in such 2 manner that the light atreamed full upon it. His wit looked over his at the same moment, as their eyes decyphered the following lines written at the back of the letter which was uppermost in the packet :— Correspondence between Miss Hannah Lightfoot and Lady Stamford: together with Important Memorande end Hapia- natory Comments. In the Yoars 1757—-1786. “That must be the former Lady Stamford—the wife of Sir William exclaimed Page. “Depend upon it, Jalia my dear, these documents contain startling intelligence of some kind or other. Per- g the birth—_—” At this moment the door of the library was opened and a man with his hat on and eaveloped in a cloak, appeared upon the threshold. at the same instant: and simultaneously also did ejaculations of terror barst from their lipe—while their features became convulsed with horror,—end the packet of papers fell from the hand of the ex- traveller. For the countenance which thus met their startled, shuddering view and sent the blood with the chill of ice to their hearts, was that of Ramecy who had been hung at the debtors’ door of Newgate! Could they be mistaken? No: another look con- vinced them that those indeed were the features se yet louder and wilder cries, they precipitated them- selves from the room by a second door opening at the farther extremity. Away they sped in total darkness along a passage : crash they came against a door, which the violence CONNIE OOo@ co