The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 231: what you’re looking at

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

Valentine Malvern called upon me—as he often does—to whether [had made any progress fn my researches. I received him in a room where auumber of papers lay scattered upon a table. This letter was unguardedly left amongst them: in fact, it lay open. His eye bappened to catch a glimpse of it: he seized it—greedily devoured its contents—examined the writing with the utmost attention—and then cried out, ‘ Yes—'tis the same —'tis the same J” To be brief, he explained to me that amongst his fafhey’s papers hé had some weeks back discavéred @ note ina beautiful female hand, but without date, address, or signatare, and the contents of which, though worded with a caution amounting to ambiguity, indicated a gallant fatrigue. The handwupiting of that tender epiatle and of this anonymoyg letter are the same—and Mr. Valentine Malvern bad instantaneously recog- 1 Ye inference which | of the anonymous | to Mr. Dysart— 1 te agajust him: { ahe ig, it would { ne time fe eager ! i t of { | Mot that even ' be mystery of hi an . at the possibility ' that if would do so;—and Mf. Valentine is na- : turally impelled bya to leave no . stone unturned in the of his father’s fate.” . “I ua —it is natural— very natgral,” pow terribly lest the offiges into his head to and questiqn upon the subject an letter, the writing af which be could nos fall tq recognise as her ¢' “ But wherefore have you come to me?” ahe gaked, in order to gleay bis views ‘and intentions. “Mr. Valen : ar red that I would lose no time In ge your ‘ upon the subject: for he thought theé painful as must be to either your husband or yourself tp be : intruded upon at such a moment, it would notwith- standing be less improper or indelicate under existing circumstances to appeal to your ladyship than to Mr. Dysart in the matter.” “The handwriting is altogether unknown to me, Mr. Sampson,” aid Ernestina: “nor am I aware that my pofortunate ciusband had any reason to feas s lady’a ragcorops revenge. - But if you will leqye this note with me, J will break the subject to him to-morrow——” “ Ab! i€ your ladyship would be so kind|” ex- cleimed Sampagn. “I know it must be a painful task for you te undertake, and that it cannot be otherwise than repugnant to your feelings: but when your ledyship reflects that a clue might be fasmed to the oleaning up of a deep mystery——” © T am quite ready to sacrifice my own feelings in the matter for the sake of a fallow-creature,” observed Lady Broestina Dysart: “and as I had some slight sequaintance with Sir Archibald Mal- verm, aad his son is not altogether a stranger to me, it will afford me a melancholy satisfaction, in the midet of my ows deep sorrows, te be in any way serviceable in this matter.” “Your ledyship will ensure the lasting gratitade of Mr. Valentine Malvern,” said Larry Sampson, THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. | his | Lady Ernestina is well aware that under ordinary cir- rising from his seat. “I will take the Hberty of calling to-morrow evening to learn the resalt of your ladyship's interview with Mr. Dysart, so far as this business is concerned.” The Bow Street officer then took his d to the infinite relief of Lady Ernestina, who had passed through an ordeal of harrowing tortures, bewildering sensations, and poignant memories during this interview. But the moment the door of the apartment closed behind Mr. Lawrence Sampson, she flung the anonymous letter into the fire: and as she be- eld it flame up and consume, she murmured to erself, “Thus perish the only evidence that existed of my perfidy towards Dysart.” She then bethonght herself of Daniel Coffin the Hangman: and returning into the room where she had left him, she found it unoccupiedand therefore concluded he had taken his departure. Banishing him from her thoughts, she now sate down to her writing-desk and penned the ensuing note :-— “Leveson House, Oct. 11th, 1814, “Lady Ernesting Dysart presents ber dutiful compli- to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, and a Fequests thet his Royal Highness will honour her @ call to-mofrow at eleven o'clock punctually. cumstances this demand would savour of the most inso- lent presumption; but as the are extra— ordi; and 4 yentar his Royal nce On votes eed le prayer, and that the visit thas beso wih be pald with as inugh privacy as possible.” ; Having sealed apd aqdygaged this billet, Er- yeating gave it to a domestic to take at ance to House: aud as it was now past ten o'clock an@ sho was wearied with qhe exciting occurrences e day, she retired to her own chamber. But in the meantime, what had really become of Mr. Daniel Coffin? he When left by himeelf ' maddenly fell inva 4 meetsnad perp bos oJ act The visit of Mr. Lawrened Sampson was, to say the j—and despite al! the rea- ‘i the Hangman conjured up to per- suade himself that the officer’s presence had no reference to him, his evil conscience would not allow this idea to be so easily relied upon. That Sampson might have entered the house upon some pretext, but with the real object of are- ¢onnoitre, was probable enough; and in case he had doubtless planted his followers in the street. At all events, Daniel Coffin did not deem it prudent to issue forth at once: while, on the other band, he could not very well remain in the dining-room, during Ernestina’s absence, withous exciting the suspicions of any domeatic who might chance to enter it, ; He knew not exactly what tq do: and it was without any fixed intention. but in obediance ta one of those vague and undefined impulsea which often prompt desperate men, that he gently opened the dining-room door and looked out into the ball. The porter had gone down to supper—not a living soul met the Hangman’s view by the light of the lamp suspended to the ceiling in the hall, A thought struck him! He had been told b the domestic, on his arrival, that the Marquis o Leveson was away from home; and Ernestina was therefore mistress of the establishment in her aoble comliclbooks.com