The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 56: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 43 cottage, you will perbaps explain at your lei- sure ;°"—and once more she fixed her eyes upon him with a scrutinizing look. ‘What makes you think that I have some other purpose in view ?” he asked, observing how she gazed at him. ‘“‘ Because a young gentleman like you,” she at once answered, “does not knock at such a place as this without a motive. If you did not choose to mingle with the working-class people that you seem to despise so much, you would have lain down on the dry grass to rest yourself ” “T eee that you are a very shrewd woman in- deed,” interrupted Edmund, laughing : “‘ and per- haps if 1 confess that I dad an object in knocking at your old tumble-down hut, you will not mind giving me the information I want—especially as here is something to oi] your tongue fur you.” As he thus spoke, he drew forth a well-filled purse, the contents being a portion of the proceeds of Mr. Gunthorpe's cheque; and taking out a so- vereign, with true aristocratic indifference in re- spect to the value of the money, he tossed it into the lap of the woman who had seated herself at a little distance from him. “ Now then, tell me what you want,” she said, taking up the coin coldly and leisurely, as if it were by no means eo great a godsend as from the po verty of the place one might have suppposed t to be. “ That pretty little villa which you see yonder, about three quarters of a mile across the fields— who lives there?” asked Saxondale. “TI do not know her name. It is a young j-:--~ “Very beautiful, is she not ?* “Very. Ihave seen her once or twice, and she struck me as being very beautiful.” “But do you not know who or what she is ?” asked Edmund. “No: I have never had the curiosity to make any inquiries,” replied the woman. “ Have you not lived long here? or perhape I should rather ask whether she bas not lived long at that villa ?” ‘T can answer both questions. In the first place, I have lived here for many years: and in the second place the young lady at Evergreen Villa has only lived there a few weeks—perhaps pot more than a month.” “Ah! then it is not surprising you should know nothing about her,” observed Edmund. ‘I think I will go and make inquiries elsewhere :”— and he rose from his seat as he spoke. “Stop!” said the woman; “you may not be more fortunate in learning elsewhere the particu- lars you have sought here; but if you like, and are not in a very great hurry for a day or so, I will ascertain everything you want to know. And besides,” she added, with another meaning look, “ perhaps I may sssist you in the design you have in contemplation.” “ What design ?” demanded Saxondale, sharply, afraid of trusting the woman too far or suffering her to penetrate his views too deeply. * You must not think I am a fool,” she replied, a momentary expression of contempt flitting over her harsh features. “ For what earthly reason can a young gentleman like you come making inquiries abvut a beautiful girl, unless it is that you have an ulterior object in view? In the same way that I saw it was only pretence that made you say you were tired when you knocked at my door, so can I read the motive of your questions relative to the girl at Evergreen Villa.” “ Well, at all events thera is a bluntuess and frankness about you that I like,” observed Ed- mund, who began to think that so shrewd, pene- trating, and cunning a woman as this evidently was, might be made a most valuable instrument in the furtherance of his design. “To speak with equal candour, then, I must admit that I do feel a very great interest in the beautiful girl of whom we are talking: and if you will consent to serve me——” “T have already said that I will,” interrupted the woman. “Come now, do not beat about the | bush-—tell me what you want. J see that you have gold with which you can repay my services; and | it’s very sure the young lady at Evergreen Villa will not come and bribe me to act againat you.” “In the first place,” rejoined Saxondale, “* you must find out how many servantsshe keepe—whe- | ther she hasa maid who, like most of her class, will accept a bribe and enter into my interests——” “ ‘Phat is a point which may be almost re- ckoned upon with the fullest confidence,” observed the woman. “But goon. What other inquiries | am I to make ?” | ‘Whether the fair one goes out for a walk by herself at all—and if so, which direction she | usually takese—what her habits are—whether she sees aby company or lives retired ———” “In fact, you want to know everything about her,” again interrupted the woman, “ and to glean all such circumstances as may suggest tho plans that you are to adopt. All this I understand at a glance.” “ Then I am very certain that I could not have alighted upon a more able assistant,” remarked Saxondale. “‘ But I have not altogether explained myself. The truth is, 1 wish to throw a little spice of romance into this proceeding: for I have the outline of my plan all cut and dried—but as a matter of course the substance of it must be filled up according as circumstances may suggest.” “ Now then for the romance part of it ?” said the woman interrogatively : and again that tran- siently contemptuous expression deepened for a moment the lines of her harsh countenance. “Romance is pleasant enough fora fine young gentleman of your age, and perhaps for a sweet young girlsuch as she isat you villa; but I ques- | tion whether my matter-of-fact assistance will not | in the long run prove more useful to your aims than all your romance. However, go on.” 4 What I require is a sort of disguise,” answered Saxondale—“the rude dress of a mechanic— not too greasy or dirty, lest it should make me sick——_—.” “You want gentility in the workman’s garb ?” interrupted the woman. ‘ Well, if you leave it to me | will procure you that dress to-morrow. Tobserve your height—you are not very tall— but you are nicely made.” “Yes—I flatter myself,” observed Saxondale, caressing his beardlesss chin, “ that I am not al- together amiss.” | “On the contrary,” said the woman, whose, eagle eyes penetrated the frivolous weak-minded young nobleman’s wretched conceit and vanity at a single glance, “you are in every respect a a « wee ie » aie Ceire_cieee _ | COMuicooOolkxs.conrn