The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 48: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 85 to sway a little to and fro in his chair, asif the wine you; and if she won't do, then there’s a splendis had indeed got up into his head. Baroness with eight thousand a-year.” “ Oh, certainly! We will find you everything;| ‘Oh! between the two I am pretty sure to be and while you are making a perfect round of plea- suited,” observed Mr. Gunthorpe, refilling his glass sure at the West End, wo will be looking out for again, while Harold looked acrvusa the table to Saxon- an estate with a splendid mansion upon it, beautiful grounds, a deer-park, and everything proper. We fool their companion must also have you presented at Court; and I don’t dale with a giance that impl.od what a precious old was. “ And what fun we will have at the wedding!’ know—but I dare say it can be contrived,” added | cried Edmund. Lord Harold, with a mysterious air and knowing look, “to get you a baronetcy.” \ “Ah, indeed!” cried Mr. Gunthorpe. “Well, I: don’t know but that I should like a handle to my | name. How my poor father and mother, the cobbler and charwoman, would stare if they could only get up out of their graves in Clerkenwell Churchyard and see their son a baronet!” “Iam sure you deserve a baronetcy,” said Lord Harold, with a slight grimace st that reference to his guest's parentage, “for having made so fine a fortune. How much did you tell us just now?” “I don’t think that I mentioned the amount,” “Weill, that’s not bad,” said Lord Harold, sipping his wine coolly, as if he were quite accustomed to contemplate such fortunes. “But what is your christian name ?”’ “Jonathan,” answered the old gentleman, with a somewhat vacant stare. “Sir Jonathan Gunthorpe,” observed Harold. “Excellent! It would look well enough in the Court Guide. Edmurd, you must introduce our very intimate and particular friend Gunthorpe to Lady Saxondale and your sisters.” “Oh! Lady Saxondale will be delighted to see bim,” exclaimed Edmund: and as he spoke he could not help smiling atythe idea of presenting that queer-looking figure to his haughty and brilliant mother,—with whom, by the bye, he was on no terms to present anybody at all. “I am sure your lordships,” said Mr. Gunthorpe, “are uncommon kind; and if in return I can do you any little service, I shall be glad.” He spoke these words with much apparent diffi- culty, swaying from side to side on his chair—hic- cupping—and surveying first one of the young noblemen, and then the other, with the dull and va- cant gase of complete inebriety. “But again I say that you overwhelm me with obligations,” observed Mr. Gunthorpe, appearing to speak with more and more difficulty, and to be troubled with more frequent hiccups. “Well,” said Lord Harold, assuming quite a careless, indifferent tone, and speaking in an of- hand manner; “it does so happen just at the pre- sent crisis that I am pressed for five thousand. In fact, I have overdrawn my bankers, and if you would accommodate me for six weeks or a couple of months——” “ Oh, certainly! replied Mr. Gunthorpe; “ with the greatest pleasure in the world. Five thousand is a poor loan to advance to one who is going to assist me in buying estates, horses, carriages, and so on, and who is first to provide me with a mistress and then with a wife. Give me pen and ink.” Mr. Gunthorpe had made this speech m a some- what more fluent and collected manner than he had been talking for the last hour; and indeed both Harold and Edmund were for a moment seized with a little uneasiness as they thought they observed a vein of sarcasm running through his words. But as hie looks corroborated not this suspicion, they grew perfectly satisfied again, and rapidly exchanged giances of delight asthe old gentleman asked for the ink. Writing materials were speedily supplied ; and Mr. Gunthorpe, diving his hand deep down into one of his capacious pockets, drew forth a cheque- book, which to the two noblemen was mighty plea- sant to behold. Laying it open upon the table be- fore him, Mr. Gunthorpe proceeded to fill up one of the draughts: but it seemed that he bad no small difficulty in steadying his hand to write, while his head kept bobbing down as if his wig would bob off also into a dish of strawberries just before him, However, he succeeded in writing the cheque for five thousand pounds; and then tearing ont the leaf, handed it to Lord Harold, who, folding it neg- _ ligently up, thrust it with true aristocratic listless- ness into his waistcvat pocket. “ By the bye,” he said, “I will just give you my “Well, I hope that this friendship which has be- | note of hand for this.” gan so pleasantly,” observed Lord Harold, “ will continue for ever. But when I look at you, Mr. | Gunthorpe, I really think you might marry again. | A hale, active, intelligent, good-looking gentleman like yourself——” “ ButI am sixty,” said Mr. Gunthorpe. ‘Pooh, nonsense! you make a mistake. You can’t be more than forty-five.” “Well, perhaps I am not,” observed the old’ gentleman, looking uncommonly bewildered and owlish. “My father and mother must have de- ceived me; and I will go and consult the parish- registers to-morrow. Butabout this marriage? In addition to all the other things you sre going to find me, oan you a suitable wife ?” “J have no doubt of 1t,” replied Harold. “I “Don’t trouble yourself. I dare say it will be all the same in the end,” answered Mr. Gunthorpe. “ Wall, I will give it to you next time we meet. And now I suppose you mean to make a night of it with us? What shall we do? It’s just teno’clock,” added Lord Harold, looking at his watch. “Shall we go and lounge in to some hell P” “Don’t you think it’s better to wait till youare | compelled to go there?’ asked Mr. Gunthorpe, ap- parently with amasing innocence. “I mean the gaming-house,” rejoined Harold. | *‘ Not that [should propose to you to play, Mr Gun- thorpe. Oh, no—not for the world! But it struck me that if you would like to see a little of London “I don’t think it was exactly for that purpose ° Rave already got a Dowager-Countess in my eye for your uncle gave me letters of introduction to you { A ee , COMuicooOolkxs.conrn