The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 191: what you’re looking at

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( 178 attention. But they were chiefly invitations to parties—communications from the female friends of the Countess or from her sisters—or dunning applications from tradesmen. One note, however, somewhat puzzied the Earl. It was from Lady Lechmere—dated about three months back—and running as follows :— ‘*T have received your hasty note, my dear Editha, and gend you back a reply by Gertrude. Yes—I will be at home all the evening, and will adopt the usual precautions. You have nothing to fear on that account. The servants shall receive orders to admit no one bui the Countess of Curzon. But are you certain that you can trust the girl? “Your affectionate friend, ‘*KATHERINE LECHMERE.” This letter, laconic though it were, was suffi- cient to strengthen the Earl’s misgivings. There was evidently some secret understanding between his wife and Lady Lechmere. What usual pre- cautions were to be adopted? —why was there nothing to fear?—and if the girl alluded to was Gertrude, wherefore should it be necessary to exercise caution in trusting her? Did Editha receive a lover's visits at Lady Lechmere’s? If so, what meant the orders to the servants to admit no one but Editha herself? Lady Lech- mere was a widow, and had neither brother, uncle, sen, or male cousin, residing with her beneath the same roof. Editha’s lover, if she had one, was not therefore an inhabitant of the house: and how could she go thither to meet him, since mone but herself was to be admitted ? There was a deep mystery in all this: and the more profound the mystery, the stronger becomes the suspicion. So it was in the present case; —and while completely perplexed by the ambigu- ous contents of the note, the Earl of Curzon mevertheless regarded it as an item of evidence against the Countess. At all events it was cer- tain that whatsoever the secret might be, Ger- trude was in the confidence of her mistress: but had he not mortally offended the lady’s-maid by his conduct that evening?—and could he hope to propitiate her in such a way as to lead her to divulge anything she knew? Reserving this matter for after consideration, the Ear! continued his search amongst his wife’s papers. To his further surprise he presently discovered a bill of exchange, accepted by himself. It was an old bill, which had been duly honoured by him on arriving at maturity: in his library, instead of in his wife’s desk. It might however have come there by accident : and after all, the incident was trivial in iteelf and could have no connexion with the object of the search which he was instituting. At the bottom of the desk he discovered a slip of paper, on which the name of Cursor was written several times. He examined the writing attentively, and soon saw that it was not in his own hand, as he had at the first glance imagined it to be. But the writing was evidently in imitation of hisown; and & more minute inspection convinced him that it was Editha’s, Had she, then, been practising his signature? It appeared so: but for what earthly parposef? The bill of exchange caught his eye: and it instantaneously struck him that she had sur- reptitiously possessed herself of it in order to copy his | Signature. Yes—this was now apparent enough : ee — oe oe se 2 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. but again recurred the question—For what purpose had she done this ? There were no more papers to examine; and the Earl returned all the letters and documents to the compartment of the desk whence he had taken them. The other compartment only contained writ- ing-paper and sealing-wax. He locked the desk again,and quitting the bourdoir unobservedly as he had entered it, retraced his way to the dining-room. CHAPTER LIL THE BILL8 OF EXCHANGE. At about a quarter past eight o’clock, Malpas and Mr. Emmerson entered Soho Square, and proceeded direct to the establishment of Mrs. Gale, who, pre- viously informed by the Colonel of the intended visit, was prepared to receive them. In fact, the Colonel had been with her in the morning; and having found means to pay her the five hundred guineas owing to her, together with a handsome dou- ceur by want of interest, he once more stood in her good books. For Mra. Gale never cared what other people might think or say of a person, so long as she had reason to be satisfied with his conduct. The Colonel had told her in the morning exactly what he wished to be done in the evening; and Mra- Gale had made arrangements accordingly. She now therefore conducted Malpas and Emmerson up into a suite of rooms which we must describe. First, there was a handsome parlour, from which a little cabinet opened at the side with a glass door. This glass door had green blinds within, so that no one could see into it from the parlour; whereas a person stationed in that cabinet could easily observe as he might also overhear, everything that took place in the parlour. Beyond the parlour itself there was a bed chamber, with a dressing-room adjoining. Such was the suite to which Mrs. Gale conducted the Colonel and the bill-broker; and the moment she had retired, Emmerson enaconsed himself in the cabinet, taking the key with him and locking the door inside. A few minutes afterwards Mrs. Gale re-appeared, introducing the Countess of Curzon, whom she cere- moniously assisted to lay aside her cloak and bon- net. The moment that the woman had retired, Editha threw herself into the arms of the Colonel and embraced him with the fervour of infatuated but it ought to be upon a file | passion. “{ had some little difficulty in keeping this ap- pointment which you gave me, my dear Percy,” said the Countess, addressing the ColdRel by his Christian name. “Would you believe that the Earl was seized with quite an uxorious fit to-day, and actually wanted te accompany me to Lady Lechmere’s? But no matter——” “You look somewhat flurried, dearest Editha,” observed Malpas, contemplating her with attention. «“ Has anything occurred——”" “Nothing of any consequence. I will tell you presently,” interrupted the lady, as she sate down by his side upon a sofa. “But you mus rat explain why you wished to see me so very particu- larly this evening as your note stated. You charged me to be sure and not disappoint you, Percy. And by the bye, when I think of it, the Earl was with me when your note came.” ) Ss of