The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 254: what you’re looking at

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

232 THE COURT OF LONDON ‘“ Oh, of course!”’ interrupted Thurston. ‘‘ But do you not think it would be as well to let the marquis understand that we consider his niece’s honour to be entirely in our keeping? It might influence the amount of fees, you know, friend Copperas.”’ “So it might, friend Thurston,”’ was the response. ‘‘ Now, then, let us ring for the marquis.” Thereupon the two physicians rose from the table, rang the bell, and then retreated together to one of the window recesses, where they stood holding each other by the button- hole, assuming the most serious air, and looking, for all the world, as if they had merely just taken some hurried refresh- ment and had been the greater part of the time in earnest and profound consultation together. A servant entered, and one of them told him, in a grave voice, to request the presence of the marquis. The domestic retired, and soon afterward Lord Leveson made his appearance. But the two doctors affected to be so deeply engaged in their consultation as not to observe his entrance, while they went on talking in the most serious manner possible, shaking their heads, and mingling such a host of technical terms with their discourse as to render it unintelligible as the Cherokee language itself to the be- wildered marquis. ‘‘ Ah! here is his lordship,” said Doctor Copperas, now pretending to observe the nobleman. ‘‘ Well, gentlemen,’ said Lord Leveson, ‘‘ what tidings have you for me? ”’ Both the doctors shook their heads, and Thurston pro- ceeded to say, “‘ My dear marquis, can you put confidence in the nurse and the maid who are in attendance upon Lady Ernestina? ”’ ‘Why do you ask? ”’ inquired the nobleman, his counte- nance expressive of alarm and anxiety. ‘‘ Because, my dear marquis,’’ continued Doctor Thurston, “if there be one eminent member of the faculty who more than another has devoted himself to the study of delirium in all its phases, and who therefore is experienced in judging how far the ravings of the invalid are founded upon truth, that one is Doctor Copperas.”’ ‘““T cannot consent to receive a compliment,” said the amiable gentleman thus referred to, ‘‘ at the expense of Ccomiiclooolks (CO in