The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 245: what you’re looking at

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

TE TOES EE ens A i eee 234 THE MYSTERIES OF THE CovURT. “The question is most natural, my lord,” an- swered Lady Beas; ‘‘ and on your lordship’s return — when your lordship shall have returnod—and in so rdturning shall be accompanied by her ladyship— whom on your return I shall be so happy to see ———~—”” “Oh, very well!” ejaculated Petersfield: and de- spairing of evoking the answer he required, he quitted the room in a degree of haste totally at variance with his usual sedate pomposity, and won- dering whether Lady Petersfield would be able to make anything more out of this singular visitress than he had done. But the instaut the door had closed behind him, Lady Bess sprang from her chair and opened a book which lay upon the table, and on the yilt lettering on the back of which her eyes had ere now settled. For a moment she glanced down the index : then observing the particular page she requirerl, she turned to that page—and the ejaculation of, “Yes, it is she! Frank was right!” fell from her lips. For but a moment did her look linger on the handsome countenance of that portrait: and then she tore the leaf from the book. Hastily rulling it up into the smallest convenient compass, she se- cured it abont her person; and closing the book, resumed her seat. Almost immediately afterwards the door opened, and Lady Petersfield entered, fol- lowed by her husband. | ‘ Petersfield,” said her ladyship,” what is the meaning of this?” “My dear, I——I am not sure even that I am Petersfield,” stammered her husband: “for my thoughts were never so confounded before. I shon!: not like to compromise myself by any rash opinion. I cannot make it out. It may be——it is possible to be some trick of the Whig party ——some base device of the enemy——” “ Some base device of the fiddlestack,” cried Lady Petersfield. “The woman was mad—quite mad; and I really do begin ¢o suspect that you have had some share in her maduess. Ah, my lord! I am afraid you have been ~ gay deceiver :”—and she looked daggers at her hasband. ‘“[—Lady Peterafield—-—a what did you say?” asked the diplomatist in utter consternation: “a gay deceiver? I——]——an diamayed !” But leaving the nobleman aod his wife to settle the tittle dispute which had grown out of the visit of Lady Bess, we must follog the latter away from Portman Square. Right merrily did she chuckle over the success of ter enterpfyiae; and when she found herself in a cab, which she stopped and en- tered, she indulged in @ long and hearty laugh af the way in which she had mystified the diplumatist. She now repaired to the place to which she was bound ab the moment she taét her Brother. The cabman had received his instructions ; aad the ve- hicle soon stopped at the door of an office in Saville Her ladyship was a tall, thin, thread-paper looking | Row, Regent Street. But as Lady Bess looked ut woman, with a hatchet cqnntenance, a vinegar aspect, and altogether a mien as unprepossessing as it was possible to conceive. She was stiff and prim: a poker was litheness in comparison. With 8 very evil eye indeed did she fix her looks upon Lady Bess, whom, from the few words his lordship had epoken to her Jadyship while conducting her thither, she was prepared to regard either as a mad woman or an impostress. But Lady Bess, nothing abashed, affected to gaze upon her ladyship with mingled sur- prise and disappointment: and then turning to the nobleman, she said, “Is this Lady Petersfield?” “J———[I really cannot answer so point-blank a question,” stammered his lordship, taken very much aback. “It may be Lady Petersfield: but——but -~——I should be sorry to answer rashly or preci- pitately———I cannot compromise myself in so grave and serious a matter——” “ Well, but in any case this is assuredly not the lade whom I ex to meet,” said Lady Bese. “Not bat that her Iadyship is a very agrceable- looking lady—still she is not the same-——”’ “ And pray whom did yoa expect to meet, then P” asked Lady Potersficht, with a look which if shod upon vinegar would double ita sourness. ‘“‘E eee that there is some mistake,” answered lady Bess. “TI cineerely apologise for the troable I have given. I must have erred as to the name inestioned me by the ledy whom I met at a mutual friend’s in the country some time apo, and who pressed me to call upon her when I came to London. Heally and truly, I am grieved at the trouble I have occasioned.” With these words Lady Bess madp a graceful curteey and issued from the room, leaving the nobleman and his wife nalied t) where they stood, end not knowing what to think of this extraordinary proceeding. her watch and observed that it was so late as six o’clock in the evening, she said to herself, ‘I¢ is hardly worth while to alight—-for he is sure to be gone. But efill it will be as well to inquire.” She accordingly descended from the vehicle and entered the house, the trunt door of which stood open. Passing through folding-doors of green baize, she proceeded along the passage, and knocked at a door on which was painted the word Private. A man’s voice from within bade her walk in, which she did. The room that she thus entered was a lawycr’s private office; and the attorney himself was seated at a desk therein. He was an old man —very short and very thin—with a cadsverous countenance, sharp ancular features, and hair as white as snow. There was something einister and disagreeable in his look; and every line and linea- ment of his face denoted that love of gold consti- tuted the ruling passion of the indjvidyal. Immediately recognizing Lady Bess, he rose from his seat—bowed with profound regpect—placed a chair for her accommodatiog—and did pot reaupie his own until she had taken it. Altogether his bear- ing and manner indicated the deference shown to- wards one of superior rank. “Tacarcely hoped to find you here et this hour, Mr Robson,” said the risitress. “ As your ladyship is aware,” answered the at- torney, “I usually leave at five o’clock: but business of some little importance has detained me until now.” “Ah! you are making money as fast as ever, I suppose,” said Lady Bees, with a esmilo; and yet at the same time there was something like contempt or scorn 1n her looks as she threw them fora moment upon the old man. “Nothing like money, Yr. Robson—is there ?” “Well, even though your ladyship ghould be eorniclacolks CO