The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

HE MYSTERIES. The merchant had indeed heard: but he could scarcely believe his ears. Was it possible that Page nad called him “ Hodson,’—plain and simple “ Hod- son,’—aye, and fwice too? He was aghast with sur- prise; and he began to wonder whether the world aad suddenly turned upside down, when Mr. Mor- ley came hurrying forth from the counting-house. “Ah! Page—is that you?” cried the junior partner, who was a short, thin, active little man. “ Well-—I’m glad to see you’re alive and hearty, after all you’ve undergone. But who is this young woman ?” he demanded, his eyes settling suspiciously upon Julia. “This lady, sir,’ said Mr. Page pompously, “is my wife. And Iam proud and happy toinform you, friend Morley,’ he added, unbending a little, “that she has brought me a fortune of twenty thousand pounds.” As he uttered these words, he pressed Julia’s arm slightly with his own, in order to intimate that she need not contradict the little lie which his vanity prompted him to tell respecting the amount of her dowry. “Twenty thousand pounds!” ejaculated Hodson and Morley as if it were in the same breath. “ Not a farthing more or less, I can assure you,” said Mr. Page, tapping his cane impressively upon the floor. “Well—I am delighted to hear it, my dear friend,” exclaimed Hodson, who worshipped Mam- mon far more devoutly than he did either Royalty or Aristocracy. “And so am I, Page—quite rejoiced,’ added Morley, whose deity was also Money. And then the two partners shook their late tra- veller warmly by both hands; and, having done this, they offered their congratulations to Mrs. Page, hoping that they should have the pleasure of intro- ducing her very shortly to Mrs. Hodson and Mrs. Morley. It was indeed wonderful to behold the effect which the magic words “twenty thousand pounds” had produced upon the stiff and starch senior partner, and the active, bustling, business-like junior. Julia no longer appeared in their eyes to have the boldness of a courtezan: in their minds her de- meanour had suddenly become associated with de- bentures—her character with cash—her features with funds—and her entire countenance with con- sols ;—and they were seized with anxiety that their wives should make her acquaintance. Even when she tossed her head, gave herself airs, and said some- thing about calling another day, they overwhelmed her with politeness; and there was a great deal more shaking of hands ere Mr. Page and his bride took their leave on this occasion. Having thus shown themselves off in Wood Street, they repaired to St. Paul’s Churchyard, where Mr. Page procured some drug at a chemist’s shop. Thence they proceeded into Fleet Street, where he bought another drug at another shop; and in the Strand he made his third purchase. “You see, Julia,’ he observed, as they walked along, “that I exercise a sound discretion in thus obtaining the things at different places. There are three ingredients in the chemical preparation for the wash to put upon the blank sheet of paper; and if I purchased them all at the same shop, the chemist would begin to mix and compound the moment our backs were turned, in order to discover for what pur- pose we wanted such scarce and expensive articles.” 107 “God bless your soul, Henry,” exclaimed his wife, “ you are only acting with a prudence that is quite natural. My father always did the same: and therefore I don’t see anything to be so particularly proud of.” “ Well—well, my dear,” returned Page: “ at all events you perceive that I adopt the same precau- tions as your deceased father—and he was a very shrewd man.” “ Just so,” said Julia; and, to use a parliamentary phrase, the subject then dropped. Having completed their chemical purchases, and likewise a little “‘ shopping” for the behoof of Mis. Page, the worthy couple entered a tavern, where a private room and a good dinner were immediately ordered. They did ample justice to the repast; and when it was over, a hackney-coach conveyed them back to the Borough of Southwark. It was dusk when they reached their lodgings ; and as soon as the candles were lighted and the cur- tains were drawn in the parlour, they seated them- selves by the cheerful fire and began to compound the chemical wash in accordance with the receipt. This employment occupied nearly half-an-hour ; and when the preparation was made, the pocket-book was once more produced. The blank sheet of paper al- ready so often referred to, was then spread out upon the table; and by the assistance of a large camel’s- hair brush, the wash was earefully laid on. With feelings of acute suspense did Page now hold the paper in front of the fire; and as the moisture slowly exhaled, he observed with infinite satisfaction that lines of writing gradually appeared upon the surface of the sheet. “By Jove! it is just as you described!” he ex- claimed, glancing triumphantly towards Julia. “The receipt fulfils all you have told me. Look—the con- tents of the letter are standing out as it were from amidst the misty vapour. And ’tis just the same neat female handwriting as that in the little note siened L. L. Yes—this is the letter which was to follow by the next post—there’s not a doubt of it! We're on the point of penetrating into some strange mysteries, I’ll warrant! Holloa! I do believe that the document contains a copy of the other half of the certificate.” “To be sure it does!” said Julia, bending down so as to obtain a nearer view of the letter as her husband held it before the fire. “‘Phere’s a short passage running down the right hand of the page—and I can read the name of Hannah Lightfoot init! Come— that will do—it is dry enough now. Let us examine it at once.” “ We will,” returned Page: “I am even moe im- patient thay you are. Because, if the certificate should prove that your aunt was really married to the present King, our fortunes are made. And even if it should be otherwise, we are in possession of papers which the Government will cheerfully buy up.” ‘ While you are talking thus, the letter will singe,” said Julia, somewhat impatiently. ‘“ Let us see what it contains, and debate upon it afterwards.” “We will, my dear,’ answered Mr. Page: then placing the document before him upon the table, he read it aloud in slow and measured terms :— “ July 7, 1794. Evening, 6 o'clock. “ My little note of this morning has prepared you for the receipt of this; and you must now judge whether it is worth while for you to compel old Lightfoot by foul SK) nena A TT LIES Com Clooolkks. conn