The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 249: what you’re looking at

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

eee Cee eee 234: “The question is most natural, my lord,” an- swered Lady Bess; ‘and on your lordship’s return— when your lordship shall have returned—and in 80 returning shall be accompanied by her ladyship— whom on your return I shall be so happy to see ‘ 3 . “Oh, very well!” ejaculated Petersfield: and de spairing of evoking the answer he required, he quitted the room in a degree of haste totally at variance with his usual sedate pomposity, and won- dering whether Lady Petersfield would be able to make anything more out of this singular visitress than he had done. But the instant the door had closed behind him, Lady Bess sprang from her chair and opened a book which lay upon the table, and on the gilt lettering on the back of which her eyes had ere now settled. For a moment she glanced down the index : then observing the particular page she required, she turned to that page—and the ejaculation of, “Yes it is she! Frank was right!” fell from her lips. hy but a moment did her look linger on the ~ handsome countenance of that portrait: and then she tore the leaf from the book. MHastily rolling it up into the smallest convenient compass, she se- cured it about her person; and closing the book, resumed her seat. Almost immediately afterwards the door opened, and Lady Petersfield entered, fol- lowed by her husband. Her ladyship was a tall, thin, thread-paper looking “woman, with a hatchet countenance, a vinegar aspect, and altogether a mien as unprepossessing as it was possible to conceive. She was stiff and prim: a poker was litheness in comparison. With a.very evil eye indeed did she fix her looks upon Lady Bess, whom, from the few words his lordship had spoken to her ladyship while conducting her thither, she was prepared to regard either as a mad woman or an impostress. But Lady Bess, nothing abashed, affected to gaze upon her ladyship with mingled sur- prise and disappointment: and then turning to the nobleman, she said, “ Is this Lady Petersfield ?”’ gal! I really cannot answer so point-blank a question,” stammered his lordship, taken very much aback. “It may be Lady Petersfield: but but I should be sorry to answer rashly or preci- pitately ——I cannot compromise myself in so grave and serious a matter % “ Well, but in any case this is assuredly not the lady whom I expected to meet,” said Lady Bess. “Not but that her ladyship is a very agreeable- looking lady—still she is not the same oy “And pray whom did you expect to meet, then P” asked Lady Petersfield, with a look which if shed upon vinegar would double its sourness. “T see that there is some mistake,” answered Tiady Bess. “I sincerely apologise for the trouble I have given. I must have erred as to the name mentioned me by the lady whom I met at a mutual friend’s in the country some time ago, and who pressed me to call upon her when I came to London. Really and truly, [ am grieved at the trouble I have occasioned.” With these words Lady Bess made a graceful curtsey and issued from the room, leaving the nobleman and his wife nailed to where they stood, and not knowing what to think of this extraordinary proceeding. THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. “ Petersfield,” said her ladyship,” what ia the meaning of this?” “My dear, I——I_ am not sure even that I am Petersfield,” stammered her husband: “for my thoughts were never so confounded before. I should not like to compromise myself by any rash opinion. I cannot make it out. It may be it is possible te be some trick of the Whig party ——some base device of the enemy fon “Some base device of the fiddlestick,” cried Lady Petersfield. “The woman was mad—quite mad and I really do begin to suspect that you have haa some share in her madness. Ah, my lord! I am afraid you have been a gay deceiver :”—and she looked daggers at her husband. *I—Lady Petersfield——a what did you say?” asked the diplomatist in utter consternation: “a gay deceiver? I——I am dismayed!” But leaving the nobleman and his wife to settle the iittle dispute which had grown out of the visit of Lady Bess, we must follow the latter away from Portman Square. Right merrily did she chuckle over the success of her enterprise; and when she found herself in a cab, which she stopped and en- tered, she indulged in a long and hearty laugh at the way in which she had mystified the diplomatist. She now repaired to the place to which she was bound at the moment she met her brother. The cabman had received his instructions ; and the ve- hicle soon stopped at the door of an office in Saville Row, Regent Street. But as Lady Bess looked at her watch and observed that it was so late as six o’clock in the evening, she said to herself, “It is hardly worth while to alight—for he is sure to be gone. But still it will be as well to inquire.” She accordingly descended from the vehicle and entered the house, the front door of which stood open. Passing through folding-doors of green baize, she proceeded along the passage, and knocked at a door on which was painted the word Private, A man’s voice from within bade her walk in, which she did. The room that she thus entered was a lawyer’s private office; and the attorney himself was seated at a desk therein. He was an old man —very short and very thin—with a cadaverous countenance, sharp angular features, and hair as white as snow. There was something sinister and disagreeable in his look; and every line and linea- ment of his face denoted that love of gold consti tuted the ruling passion of the individual. Immediately recognizing Lady Bess, he rose from his seat—bowed with profound respect—placed a chair for her accommodation—and did not resume his own until she had taken it. Altogether his bear- ing and manner indicated the deference shown to- wards one of superior rank. “T scarcely hoped to find you here at this hour, Mr Robson,” said the visitress. “ As your ladyship is aware,’”’ answered the at- torney, “I usually leave at five o’clock: but business of some little importance has detained me until now.” “Ah! you are making money as fast as ever, I suppose,” said Lady Bess, with a smile; and yet at the same time there was something like contempt or scorn in her looks as she threw them for a moment upon the old man. “Nothing like money, Mr. Robson—is there ?” “Well, even though your ladyship should be ECOMMICOOOKS (E)