The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 227: what you’re looking at

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

216 merchant’s list: but Sir Frederick displayed not any particular feeling which could enable the law- yer to judge of the effect produced on him by the result ot the investigation. “Tretarn you my best thanks,” said the mer- chant, rising from his seat; “and I beg that the subject of our interview may be kept altogether secret.” “YT hope, Sir Frederick,” said Mr. May, “ that there is nothing unpleasant——” “Not the least!” interrupted the merchant. It was as much for Lord Rushbrook’s sake as my own, that it was desirable to ascertain the num- bers of these notes which were paid into your Sir Frederick Latham then took his leave of the lawyer; and entering his carriage, he ordered the coachman to return to Balham Hill. The point was now ascertained: the greater portion of the contents of the cash-box had evidently found their way into the hands of Lord Bushbrook. “And thus Anastatia,” said the merchant to himself, “has robbed her husband for the sake of her brother! This is but too evident. But yet I am as far off as ever from comprehending what meant the allusion of that false Lascar to the safe and the cash-box. This is a strange mystery: But I must unravel it !” During the remainder of the drive homeward, the merchant continued to reflect how he should act in respect to his wife—but without coming to any positive decision. On reaching Tudor Lodge, he found a note from Anastatia, to the effect that her mother, the Countess of Fordwich, had been taken very ill, and that she (Anastatia) therefore purposed to remain with her parent until the even- ing. Sir Frederick was not sorry: the delay would afford him additional leisure to settle his mind as to the plan to be pursued in respect to that wife whom he belicved to have been so guilty. He dined by himself; and afterwards walked forth into his grounds—it being a beautiful moonlit evening in that autumn season of the year of which we are writing. While thus rambling in the garden, Sir Frre- derick Latham revolved in his own mind e particular which he had received from the lips of Madame Angelique in the forenoon; and he thought to himself that he had not been precise enough in his questions for the purpose of ascer- taining who was the paramour that had been spoken of. He fancied that there were other queries he might have put—minuter particulars which he might have gleaned; and he determined to visit Madame Angelique again forthwith. He was a cautious man, as the reader has seen: he wished to do nothing rashly: it was consistent with his character to obtain as many details as possible in respect to circumstances of such grave importance. He ordered his horse to be saddled ; and this time he took a groom to attend upon him; for the road from Balham Hill to Brixton is in some parts lonely—and Sir Frederick had the hascar prominent amongst other images in his m The evening, as we have said, was beautifully moonlit; and a distance of about three miles and a half was soon accomplished. The merchant did not however wish his domestic to perceive where be intended ¢o call, for fear lest the villa should be THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. known as the residence of a retired tradeswoman from the West End. Sir Frederick therefore bade his dependant await his return at a respectable inn at a little distance; and he proceeded on foot to Madame Angelique's abode. On reaching his des- tination, Sir Frederick beheld no lights in any of the front rooms; and he thought that probably Madame Angelique might be out: for as it was only half-past nine o’olock he could not suppose that she had thus early retired to rest. He knocked at the front door; and at that instant violent screams pealing through the house, reached the eer of Sir Frederick Latham. We must hero interrupt the thread of our nar- rative for a brief space, in order to explain the reason of these cries. There was a fair being held at a little distance, in the neighbourhood; and Madame Angelique had given permission to her two men-servants (the coachman and footman) as well as to her cook to visit the scene. She therefore remained alone in the house with the pretty maid, who has already been noticed. The servants who had received permission to visit the fair, had gone thither at about seven o'clock, after their mistress’s dinner; and a short while afterwards the pretty maid might have been seen tripping across the garden—thence s little way along the road—to drop a couple of let- ters into the local post-office. The distance was not altogether a hundred yards: the pretty maid’s absence did not therefore last above a few minutes: but still it was sufficient to afford the opportuni for a lurking villain who was on the watch, to glide into the house. This was none other than Barney the Burker, ia his Lascar disguise. He had seen Madame Ange- lique’s men-servants at the fair: he had recognised them by their livery, which he had observed ona the day when the carriage had passed him during his altercation with the Duke of Marchmont; and believing Madame Angelique to be well off, he thought he might ase well profit by the compara- tively unprotected state of her residence, now that he beheld the men-sérvants at the fair. He concluded that the woman whom he saw with them, was lhkewise a dependant of the ex-milliner’s household; and taking care not to be seen by theee domestics, he left them in the vicinage of the booths and stalls. Making the best of his way in the direction of the villa he came within sight of it at the very moment the maid-servant was trip- ping forth with her mistrese’s letters; and stealing through the garden at the back, Barney the Barker glided into the house. The kitchen was unocoupied at the moment: he traversed it—he entered the passage leading to the hall—the parlour-door hap- pened to be standing ejar—he peeped in, and be- held Madame Angelique taking a comfortable nap upon the sofa, which was drawn near the table whereon wine and dessert appeered. There was no lamp in the room: but the light from the window was sufficient to reveal the French- woman's sleeping form to the Burker’s eyes He crept softly up the stairs; and entered « bed-chamber, which by its appearance was evi- dently that of Madame Angelique. There he re- mained for a minute or two, deliberating whether he should ransack the place at once and trust to circumstances to enable him to beat a retreat—or whether be should hide himself under the bed, and ‘ COMME OOO cS) Nee eee gS (CO