The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 96: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 83 Mrs. Chandos residing at the cottage near Totten- | than that he saw before him the female highway- ham in the neighbourhood of London. Then he is | man who had escaped from his clutches during the sure to take the business before the mayor; and | past night. Therefore, without pausing to reflect that is just what I want.” any longer upon the astounding evidence he had “Come then, Elisabeth,” mid Kate Marshall; | heard in the bar-parlour to disprove this identity, and she forthwith conducted the heroine to a well- | he suddenly exclaimed, “ Well, Iam decided! As furnished parlour on the same storey as the bed- | all risks I give this woman into custody.” chamber where this colloquy took place. “ Mo, sir, into custody!” exclaimed Lady Beas, Having seen the heroine deposit herself with the | with an indignation that was admirably assumed: air of an invalid upon the sofa, Kate sped down | and her eyes flashed fire upon the attorney. ataire and returned to the bar-pariour. “ Yes—you,” he answered: then turning abruptly “ Well,” cried Mr. Marlow, with that nervous ex- | round towards the officer, he said, “ Constable, do Gitement which was habitual to him, “what have | your duty.” you done ” * Ma’am, you must consider yourself in custody,” _ “I very candidly informed Mrs. Chandos,” re- | said the police official to Lady Bess. turned Kate, “that a solicitor from London and aj “Oh, very well!” she exclaimed. ‘“ Who ever police-officer belonging to this town had come to | this gentleman is—if a gentleman he be—he shall inquire for a lady of the same name—and that the | snart for it. There is such a thing as an action for lady thus inquired for was represented to be a | damages in this country.” highway-woman.” “We will not bandy words here,” ssid Mr. Mar. “And what did she say?’ demanded Mr. Mar-| low. “I suppose the case can be heard at once be- low. fore the Mayor. You can bring your prisoner along “She looked indignant at first, when she thought | with you; and I will inquire my way to the Town- that allusion was made to herself,” continued Kate: | hall. We will go separately.” “but when I her that no one had posi-| With these words Mr. Maziow put on his hat and tively charged her with being the highway-woman | whisked out of the room. be angry. Then, of| “Miss Marshall,” said Lady Beas, addressing Kate at once declared that so far | in the presence of the constable as if speaking to a she herself was concerned she was a highly re- | stranger and an inferior, “ fetch me my bonnet and epectable lady, of independent means, and living on | shaw); for I can assure you that I am in as great a the outekirts of London somewhere near Totten- | hurry to have this matter investigated as the indi- bam, I think she said—or Edmonton.” vidual who has just quitted the room can possibly “Then, by heaven! it must be the same, after | be.” all!” cried Mr. Marlow. “Tottenham and Edmon-| Kate accordingly repaired to fotch the things ton join each other-——But go on: what else took | which Lady Bess required; and when our heroine piace P” had put on the pretty bonnet, and the now French “The lady, with the utmost candour,” rejoined | shawl (never before worn) with which Kate like- Kate, “requests that you will walk up to her room | wise supplied her, she looked eo superbly handsome and take the officer with you if you like.” that the police-offlcer could not help gasing upon “TI shall most assuredly do so,” exclaimed the | her with admiration. solicitor. “Now, Miss Marshall, be pleased to lead| ‘As this is an affair,” observed Kate, pretending the way.” to be very serious, “which, as my father says, to Kate accordingly retraced her steps up-stairs, | some little extent involves the respectability of his closely followed by Mr. Mariow and the constable. | establishment, he and my mother, myself and sisters, On reaching the periour, Kate opened the door; | are all going to the Town-hall.” and the very first glimpse which the keen-sighted| “Very well, then—you can do as you like,” ex: attorney caught of Lady Bees, ho oried, “It is the | claimed Lady Bess, affecting to be somewhat offonded eame—I know it is! Unless indeed she has a sister | by the remark: “but I will proceed thither at as like herself as one pea is like another! Pray, | once with theofflcer. Of course,” she said, address. ma’am,” he added, advancing towards Lady Bess, | ing herself to the constable, “you do not wish to “ have you a sister P” subject me to any ignominious treatment: for I “ No—I have not, sir,” she at once replied, rais- | can assure you that this is all a mistako, and will ing herself up to a sitting posture on the sofa where | speedily be cleared up.” she had previously been reclining. The poli naturally thought from all he had Mr. Marlow surveyed her for nearly a minute | heard in the bar that it really was a mistake; and with the most scrutinising earnestness. He had | he had been much surprised at Mr. Marlow doe- seen her on many occasions riding about the neigh- | termining to givo the lady into charge. Besides, bourhood of Edmonton and Tottenham in female | when he looked at her he could not possibly fancy attire; and he had likewise observed her very | fora moment that a female with a certain elegant attentively indeed on the preceding night, during | and fashionable air of distinction, could be nothing the few minutes he and his partner were in her own | more than a robber. Ho therefore assured the lady elegantly furnished parlour at the cottage. Now, | that he did not wish to subject her to the slightest therefore, when he examined her from head to foot | ineonvenience, and that if she wouid walk in front with the keenest ecrutiny—observed her superb | of him, he would keep at such a distance from her dark eyes—her strongly-marked features, espocially | as to prevent the poople in the streets from obsorv. the rich fullness of the lipe—when he noted, too, ing that she was in his custody. Therefore, cre the figure, and calculated what must bo the stature ' quitting the tavern, he gave her a few directions of this lady on whom he was now gasing, it was which turnings to take so as to reach the lown- sumpossible he could come to any other conclusion ball These little arrangements being made, Lady emt wee ee we ee ee ee ee ee eee 0 eee eee Oe ee? eee, eee GP EE LS TS TTT I LAS I I TICS a wo awe © @ we CONNEC MOO SS COMM