The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 374: what you’re looking at

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

—_— ————— —— + “Kind, Elisabeth!” cjaculated Mr. Gun “Bat I must subdue these emotions for the present,” he murmured to himself: then after a brief interval of reflection, he ssid, “ There are many, many more questions that I should widh to ask you: bat I am fearful of appearing too obtrusive aS present. Many mysteries ave evidently surrounding you both.” Aud which, if I mistake not, My. Gunthorpe,” said Lady Bess, scccsting the old gentleman and looking earnestly ia his “ methinks that you could clear up if yee would. Yos—I am convinced of it |” -A% this moment the door ef the parlour opened, “T knew Adolphus wher he was a boy,” said the old gentleman, his voice again becoming tremulous a greeting from a stranger: but the moment he ='There enezot boa decbt of in ebeerved Lady Bess::“ we have proofs the most positive. Well did <Adoiplius recognise the portrait of his “The portrait of Lady Everton?" said Mr. Gun. “Have you it here? If so, permit me to rete ace it.” Se hares ald Blissbeth, unlookibg a writing- desk and the pietare Mr. Gunthorpe tosk % from her hand, and has- tened to the window, where he contemplated that portrait for some ramutes. His back was turned Buisebeth, and Frank; during the time that he was thas ocoupied: bus that his gase | salemn was intent, arid that he studied the picture earncatly, was evident from the circumstance that.his head moved not during those minutes. As he turned away from the window and gavq back the portrait to Lady Bess, she observed that there was the mark of a tear-drop upon it: and she felt more convinced than even at first, that Mr. Gunthorpe was in some way or another intimately yet mysteriously con- nected with the ciroumstances relating to the past sad which the present was rapidly developing. “ My dear young. friend,” said the eld gentleman, addressing himeelf to Adolphus, “the principal ob- jet of my visit hero to-dey was to apenk to you fee a : “fay Ihave heard things which I little expected to hear, and which have interested mo profoundly. Bus upon those surprised at 50 fore | joimed lady have T revealed what I know of rather suspos points wo shall totich no mereto-day. For the pre- Coie ne Penk 10 you, Adolphus, relative to your own affairs. Do mot regerd me as a cizsager: I am not one. Whee you were a boy, I kusw you well: bat you doubtless resoliecs me not. I am se much altered !"--and these last words were uttered My deer s hispered Elisabeth “My air,” -whi drawing Mr. aside, “i to dwell too long upon the pest. 1 you disposed to submit to you all the have ebtained: in reapent to the atrocious unele, the ueurping Lord Everton. into another roam.” Mr. Gunthorpe acoerding followed Lady the opposite parlour; and when they were together, she narrated to him all that she had from the lips of Adolphus relative to the incidents of his earlier years, and how he was off fom. Everton Park in the middle of the night, just be- fore his father, General Lord Everton, was expested of Chandos, miscreant: How is it, Elisabeth, that yon have nos invoked the aid of justice ere now P” “Ah! my dear sir,” reeponded Lady Bess, ina tone of deep melancholy, ‘“ because there are reasons replied Elizabeth Chandos, slowly, “that this bad man is acquainted with secrets re- lative to one whose hanour and good name must be “And that one?’ ceied Mr. Ganthorpe vehe- mentiy. “Lady Kverton—the mother of Adelphus!” re- Bess. “Bat not to Adolphus yet “Bat to me, Bisebeth-—to ma I say,” ie tae Grathoree, with a veice ant look of adjuration: “to me must you tell every thing! I did not think of entering farther into explanations this day: but what you have been say- ing rendere it necessary. Tell me then, my ddar Kdisabeth~—telt mo, I beseech you-—what your sus- are, or what your knowledge is?” “I will, Mr. Gunthorpe,” responded the ama- gonian lady, deeply impressed with the conviction | thet he had nat merely grave reasons but even some mysterious right thus to question her: then in 8 low and solemn voiee, ahe added, “ My belief is, Mz. that Ledy Everton is my own mother, and therefore the mother of F'rank aleo {” Mr. Gunthorpe said nothing: but he looked strangely at Lady Bess. Indeed, shrewd. and pene- trating though she was, she could not comprehend the nature of that look: but at east she felt assured that it was fraught with a kiad interest for her. “ Yee—that indved is a grave eonsideration,” he COMIC LOO