The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

107 “God bless your soul, Henry,” exclaimed his wife, “ you are only acting with a prudence that is quite natural, My father alwage did the aame: and sug- | therefore I don’t gen anything to be so particularly urrying forth from the counting-house. “Ah! Page—is that you?” cried the junior gartner, who was a short, thin, active little man. * Well—I’m glad to see you're alive and beasty, after all you've But who is this young woman & he demanded, his eyes settling suspiciously epou Julia. “This lady, sir,” exid Mr. Page pompously, “{s my wife. AndI am Broad and happy toinform you, friend Morley,” he added, uabending a little, “that she has brought me a fortune of twenty thousand As he uttewed these words, he pressed Julia’s arm slightly with his ewn, in order to intimate that she aeced not contradict the little lie which hia vanity Grompted him to tell reapecting the amount of her “Twenty thousand pounds!” ejaculated Hodacn and Morley as if it were in the same breath. wid bn farthing more or lees, I can assure you,” . Page, tapping his cane im ively u the floor. en “ Well—I am delighted to hear it, my dear teiend,” exclaimed Hodson, who worshipped Mam- men far more devoutly than he did either Royalty oa Aristocracy. “And so am I, Page—quite rejoieed,” added Merley, wheee deity was also Money. And then the two partners shook their late tra- voller warmly by both hands; and, having done} claim Ghats, they offered their congratulations to Mrs. Page, hoping that they sould have the pleasure of intro- ducing her very shortly to Mra. Hodson and Mrs. Morley. It was indeed wonderful to behold the effect which the magico words “twenty thousand pounds” had produced upon the stiff and etareh senior partner, and the active, bustling, business-like junior. Julia no longer appeared in their eyes to have the boldness of a courtezan: in their minds her de- meatiour had suddenly become associated with de- bentures—hber character with cash—her features with funds—and her entire countenance with eon- eols ;—and they were éeised with anxiety that their wives should make her sequaintance. Even when she tossed her head, gave herself airs, and said some- thing abont calling another day, they overwhelmed her with politeness; and there was a great deal more shaking of hands ere Mr, Page and his bride took their leave on this ocaasien, Having thus shown themesives off in Weod Stroet, they repaired to St. Pani’s Churchyard where Mr. Page procured some drug at a chemist’s shop. Thence they proceeded into Fleet Street, where he bought another drug at another shop; and in the Strand he made his third purchase. “Yon eee, Julia,” he observed, as they walked along, “that I exercise a sound discretion in thus obtaining the things at different places. There are three ingredients in the chemica] prepazation for the wash to put upon the blank sheet of paper; and if J purebased them all at the same shop, the chemist would begin to mix and gompound the mement our beaks were turned, in ender to diseover fer what par- pose we wanted such scarce and expensive articles.” proud of” “Well—qell, my dear,” vatusped Page: “ at all events you pesceive that I adept the same precan- . father—end tions as your deceased shrewd man.” “ Just 20,” said Julia; and, to yee a parliamentary phrase, the subject then dropped. Having completed their chemigal purchases, and likewise a little * shapping” for the behoof of Mra. Page, the worthy couple entered a tavern, where a private reom and s good dinner were immediately ordered. They did ample justice to the repast; and when it was over, a hackney-cogech conveyed them back te the Borough of Southwark. It was dusk when they reached their lodgings ; and es soon as the candice were lighted and the cur- tains weve drawn in the parieus, they seated then- selves by the cheerful fire and began to compound the chemical wash in accordance with the receipt. This employment occupied nearly half-an-hour; and when the preparation was made, the pocket-book was once more produced. The blank sheet of paper al- ready so cften referred to, was then spread out u the table; and by the agsistanee of 9 large - hair brush, the wash wes esrefully‘laid on, With feelings of aente suspense did Page now hold the peper in front of the fite; and as the moisturetiewly exhaled, he observed with infinite satisfaction that lines of writing gradually appeared upon the surfgoe of the sheet, “ By Jove! it is just as yon described |* he ax he was a very ed, glancing triumphanély towards Julia. “Phe reosipt fulfils all you have told ma Leok—the eon- tents of the letter are standing out as it were from azmnidst the misty vapour. And ‘tis just the same meat female handwriting 9s that in the little note signed I. L, Yes—this is the letter which was to follow by the next post--shere’s not a doubt of it! We're on the peint of penstrating into some strange mysteries, I'l} warrant! Hoiloal I do believe that the document contains 4 copy of the other half of the certificate.” “To he sure it dass!” said Julia, bending down #0 as to obtain a nearer view of the letter as her husband held it before the fire. “There's a short running down the right hand of the page—and I can read the name of Hanah Lightfoot in it! Come— that will do—it is dry enpugh now. Let us examine it at once.” “ We will,” returned Page: “I am even mo.e im- patient than’ you are, Because, if the certificate ehould preve that your aunt was really married to the t King, our fortunes are made. And even if it should be otherwise, we are in possession .of papers which the Government will cheerfally buy up.” ns While you are talking thus, the letter will sings,” esid Julie, somewhat impatiently. “Lat us cep what és contains, and debate upon it after@ards.” “We will, my dear,’ answered Mr. Page: then plecing the dooument before him apon the table, ke read it aloud in slew end measured tera :— “ July 7, 1784. Evening, € o'clock. enorning hes prepered you fer you must now judge whether if compel old Lightfoot by fon EE AOC COMM @ co