The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 367: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXXVII RAO AT EARL MONTGOMERY’S MANSION Ir was nine o’clock in the evening as Rao, Lord Florimel’s black page, rang the servant’s bell of a handsome house in Grafton Street. A liveried lackey soon responded to the summons, and the sable youth was forthwith conducted into the presence of Lord Montgomery. | This nobleman was seated in a handsomely furnished parlour with a bay-window, and an open door afforded a view of a smaller room adjoining. Both apartments con- tained some very fine paintings set in magnificent frames. The subjects were chiefly landscapes; and amongst them there was one representing a charming piece of true English scenery, a picturesque village with its ivy-covered church tower. Lord Montgomery was reading a book while he sipped his claret, when the black menial was shown into his presence. Laying aside the volume, and stretching out his legs before the fire with an air of indifference, his lordship said, ‘‘ Well, my boy, you have something to tell me, have you not? ” ‘‘ Oh, if the object of my presence here be so very trivial and unimportant,” exclaimed Rao, in a tone expressive of a dignity cruelly mortified, ‘‘ I may as well depart at once. Good evening, my lord,’”’ and the page glided toward the door. “Stop, you wayward boy,” cried Montgomery. ‘“* By Heaven! you are prompt to take offence.” ‘“‘ Yes, even as I am ready to render a service,’ rejoined the lad, with a marked significancy; and, turning around, he again approached the nobleman. ‘‘ Singular being! ” ejaculated the latter; ‘“‘ are you more or less than you seem? Surely you were not bred and born 333 (C(O) Anyi