The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 216: what you’re looking at

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

—— ‘ THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. ad “While this rapid exchange ef whispered observs- “Depend upon it I shall not fail. But mum’s the ions was going on,.the party had threaded the | word :”—and thus speaking, he retreated back into , descended the staircase, and reached the } the dining-room in obedience to another sign hastily landing whence opened the apartment where the | and imperatively made by Lady Bess. hed been left. Mat the Cadger and Spider Bill now came forth “ Remain here,” said Lady Bess: and she passed | from that room where they had been keeping guard ; inte the dining-room. Lord Everton at once began pouring forth the and the little party descended to the hall, where the er and the two female servants had remained most piteous entreaties that she would not take | in the custody of Tony Wilkins. These servants were F E fi fy F ahe BE E i { i i rf i | it i things he has on PF” whom be suspected not a little surprised to behold the pale-faced stran- other clothes of his own, besides the she cnie more brenthed the fresh aiz of Uberty For the instant all other considerations were lost sight “Clothes? no, sir—ma’am,” responded the foot- | of: she remembered not the evidently too desperate ii not knowing exactly whether to address Lady | character of those to whom she owed her deliverance male or a female: for although there | she thought not of the possibility of her prolonged as to her sex, yet he knew not absence having proved fatal te her mothes—she re- in what style she herself might chooso to be spoken | collected not that another individual had been Si resoued that night. Nor was it until they were at “Then I suppose he has been here a long | same little distance from Beoth-Tree Lodge, that time ?” she said inquiringly. she was recalled from that peradise of abstraction to “ Yee—a long, long time,” answered the footman. the full remembrance of all other things. “But I have got some clothes of my own,” he : mouch indeed.” “Now, Miss Leyden,” said Lady Bees, stopping “which are very much at his servico—very short near tliat point where the diverging road joined the main one, “ have you any settled plan to “ Tlasten and fetch them,” said the heroine: but ‘cdopt—eny home to gu to? If not, I will give you as the foutman was hurrying away, she made a sign | an asylum-——~” for Chiffin to accompany him. “Oh, yes—I havea home-—~or at least I hope so In a few minutes they returned, the footman | —-~God grant thet nothing may have happened to terious unknown was desired to pass into the | giving audible expression to the anguished thought nearest vacant room and put them on. This he which suddenly recurred to her. “But I have not did, and in about ten minutes came issuing forth, | es yet expressed my gratitude to you for my deliver- considerably improved in appearance, and weating a | ance. Oh! may I hope,” she added in a low but look of delight st the change thus effected in his | fervid whisper, as she drew Ledy Bess aside with There was however something childish in | the sudden foree of a nervous agitation,—~“ may I garb. this look,—another indication that the mind of the | hope that I have not altogether comprehended some man was indeed somewhat unsettled. | portion of what has pessed within those walis ?” unhappy Lady Bess perceived this and hesitated for a mo- “I know to what you allude,” interrupted Lady ment whether she ought really to take the strange | Bess; “the appropeiation of certain little things by boing anny But recollecting the intense anxiety | the men who accompanied me? Think no more of of Lord Everton to prevent her—the heavy bribe he | that—or at all eventa telk of it no more. Rest eun- had offered—and the information which she herself | tented with yuur deliverance. You see that I did bead gleaned during the day, she hesitated no | better than plece your note in the hands of the ties, as its terms enjoined. Had I Longer. @ Now,” she said to the footman, “ ‘you can return done so, they would not have interfered, Beech-Tree to your employers :”-—and she made an imperious | Lodge being really licansed as a mad-house. I was sig towards the door of the room where they had | therefore compelled to strike a bald and prompt blow remained bound to their chairs. “You can also to deliver you. I have done it: and surely you are ¢efi my two men to rejoin me.” “< Reg pardon,” said the footman hesitatingly; not disposed to quarrel with the means employed ?” «J am incapable of ingratitude,” rep Bed Henrietta “¢ but I see there’s most likely tu be a rumpus about | energetically. «Tell me the name of her to whorn I sere ;*—end he glanced towards the ale unknown. am so much indebted P” << If oo be such a thing as a witness is wanted——” “In my present apparel I am Captain Chandos,” <« Ah! the suggestion is not bad,” ejaculated Lady responded the heroine: “if I were in s female garb Bess. “Atthe sme time I cannot attend to the | I should be Mrs. Chandos. Here,” she continued, matter to-night. What ie your name f"’ es "PHeodore Barelay, ” responded the footman ; “at ; your service, ms ma'am in ent'am——=” os VYery well, Theodore Barclay,” said Lady Bess. “Wou can inquire to-morrow or next day at the in Hornsey if there is a letter fer you; end should you find ono, you will do well to attand 20 any @ppomtment it may indicate.” taking a card from « case, “is my address. Perhaps you will like to learn more of that whom we have this night delivered? -If so, you can call upon me: for I purpose te take him with ma. And now tell me—aze you happy in your own am cumstances would money be of <7 mixes te you e” | “No, no,” replied Henrietta, giving perhaps a GON GoOO SS CO