The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 100: what you’re looking at

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Mrs. Chandos residing at the cottage near Totten- ham in the neighbourhood of London. Then he is sure to take the business before the mayor; and that is just what I want.” “Come then, Elizabeth,” said Kate Marshall; and she forthwith conducted the heroine to a well- furnished parlour on the same storey as the bed- chamber where this colloquy took place. Having seen the heroine deposit herself with the air of an invalid upon the sofa, Kate sped down stairs and returned to the bar-parlour. “ Well,” cried Mr. Marlow, with that nervous ex- citement which was habitual to him, “ what have you done?” “TI very candidly informed Mrs. Chandos,” re- turned Kate, “that a solicitor from London and a police-officer belonging to this town had come to inquire for a lady of the same name—and that the lady thus inquired for was represented to be a ‘highway-woman.” “And what did she say?’ demanded Me Mar- low. THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. a 83 than that he saw before him the female highway- man who had escaped from his clutches during the past night. Therefore, without pausing to reflect any longer upon the astounding evidence he had heard in the bar-parlour to disprove this identity, he suddenly exclaimed, “ Well, lam decided! At all risks I give this woman into custody.” “ Me, sir, into custody!’ exclaimed Lady Bess, with an indignation that was admirably assumed: and her eyes flashed fire upon the attorney. “ Yes—you,” he answered: then turning abruptly round towards the officer, he said, “Constable, do your duty.” “ Ma’am, you must consider yourself in custody,” said the police official to Lady Bess. “Oh, very well!” she exclaimed. ‘“ Who ever this gentleman is—if a gentleman he be—he shall smart for it. There is such a thing as an action for damages in this country.” “ We will not bandy words here,” said Mr. Mare low. “I suppose the case can be heard at once be- fore the Mayor. You can bring your prisoner along “She looked indignant at first, when fie thought | with you; and I will inguire my way to the Towne that allusion was made to herself, ” continued Kate: “but when I assured her that no one had posi- tively charged her with being the highway-woman thus alluded to, she ceased to be angry. Then, of her own accord, she at once declared that so far as she herself was concerned she was a highly re- spectable lady, of independent means, and living on the outskirts of London somewhere near Totten- ham, I think she said—or Edmonton.” “Then, by heaven! it must be the same, after all!” cried Mr. Marlow. “ Tottenham and Edmon- ton join each other But go on: what else took place ?” “The lady, with the utmost candour,’ ” rejoined Kate, “requests that Et ] walk up to her room and take the officer with you if you like.” “T shall most assuredly do so,’ exclaimed the solicitor. ‘‘ Now, Miss Marshall, be pleased to lead the way.” Kate accordingly retraced her steps up-stairs, closely followed by Mr. Marlow and the constable. On reaching the parlour, Kate opened the door; and the very first glimpse which the keen-sighted attorney caught of Lady Bess, he cried, “It is the same—I know it is! Unless indeed she has a sister as like herself as one pea is like another! Pray, ma’am,” he added, advancing towards Lady Bess, “have you a sister?” “ No—I have not, sir,’ she at once replied, rais- ing herself up to a sitting posture on the sofa where she had previously been reclining. a ' once with the officer. hall. We will go separately.” With these words Mr, Marlow put on his hat amd whisked out of the room. “Miss Marshall,” said Lady Bess, addressing Kate in the presence of the constable as if speaking to a stranger and an inferior, “fetch me my bonnet and shawl; for I can assure you that [ am in as great a hurry to have this matter investigated as the indi- vidual who has just quitted the room can possibly be. 2? Kate accordingly repaired to fetch the things which Lady Bess required; and when our heroine had put on the pretty bonnet, and the new French shawl (never before worn) with which Kate like- wise supplied her, she looked so superbly handsome that the police-officer could not help gazing upon her with admiration. “ As this is an affair,” observed Kate, pretending to be very serious, ‘‘ which, as my father says, to some little extent involves the respectability of his establishment, he and my mother, myself and sisters, are all going to the Town-hall.” “ Very well, then—you can do as you like,” ex. claimed Lady Bess, affecting to be somewhat offended by the remark: “but I will proceed thither at Of course,” she said, address- ing herself to the constable, “you do not wish to | subject me to any ignominious treatment: for I can assure you that this is all a sia iil and will speedily be cleared up.” The policeman naturally thought cari all he had Mr. Marlow surveyed her for nearly @ minute , heard in the bar that it really was a mistake; and with the most scrutinizing earnestness. seen her on many occasions riding about the neigh- He had | he had been much surprised at Mr. Marlow de- termining to give 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 for a moment that a female with a certain elegant attentively indeed on the preceding night, during the few minutes he and his partner were in her own more than a robber. elegantly furnished parlour at the cottage. Now, therefore, when he examined her from head to foot with the Keenest scrutiny—observed her superb dark eyes—her strongly-marked features, especially the rich fullness of the lips—when he noted, too, the figure, and calculated what must be the stature of this lady on whom he was now gazing, it was umpossible he could come to any other conclusion _—_— | a ee tee eee +. -_-_- = _-- —- and fashionable air of distinction, could be nothing He therefore assuréd the lady that he did not wish to subject her to the slightest inconvenience, and that if she wouid walk in front of him, he would keep at such a distance from her as to prevent the people in the streets from observ- ing that she was in his custody. Therefore, ere quitting the tavern, he gave her a few directions which turnings to take so as to reach the Town+ hall. These little arrangements being made, Lady —_—_— ee | ee. ee ECORNICLOO (C S (CO)