The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 261: what you’re looking at

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246 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. == ee resirsd——-1 inca whon he became a stiff’un. I/of Lady Saxondale and Mr. Marlow—and with one sept in the bed next but two to that wery lad | wild cry of anguish and despair, fell down sense- —and while he was dying I marked him. as my | less. p-sy——” . “ Go on, go on—and spare the details,” said —_— Lady Bess, shuddering at this description. ‘Well then,” continued the old man, after having CHAPTER LIL. g idped down another draught of wine, “to make a an ee lLng story short, the boy did die about ten days after l d entered the workus. It was a hinternal disease, | Ir was the afternoon, and Constance Fareficld sat as they called it; and he made a pretty corpse enow. | half-reclining upon a sofa in an apartment at They didn’t keep the bodies long above ground at/Saxondale House. She was alone: books and mu- tie workus: so the funeral soon took place. That | sical instruments were scattered around her; and wery day I discharged myself, although my leg | had a stranger entered at the time—or indeed any yasn’t cured: but that didn’t matter—for I thought one unacquainted with the young lady’s secret—ne Mr. Everton’s gold would be the best salve for it | would have thought she was beguiling the time by after all. Well, I lost no time in calling on Mr. | means of those elegant accomplishments which prin- Everton and telling him that I should be prepared | cipally pertain to females of her class. Yet it was that night. He told me to bring the body in a} not altogether so. True, the young lady had been cart to the neighbourhood of Everton Park, which | singing, to her own accompaniment on the guitar, is about twenty mile from London, and named a | one of those sweet airs which her lover the Mar- particular spot where I should be met by himself | quis of Villebelle so delighted to hear poured forth and some others. He gave me such a good descrip- | in the delicious harmony of her melodious voice; tion of the place that I couldn’t miss it; and so: but when the guitar was laid aside, and although everything was arranged quite comfortable. That | she still listlessly retained the music-book in hor Wry night, betwixt eleven and twelve o'clock, I hands, her thoughts became entirely concentrated Lad the body out of old St. Pancras, and by two in | on the image ci him who possessed the worship of tne corning was at the place of appointment. Mr. | her heart. Everton with two others met me. One of his| Sweetly beautiful was Constance Farefield; and Cotopenions was a friend of his’n which he called - ske possessed a disposition which, if never subjected Eellamy: t’other was a country chap (tat he called to the evi! influences of fashionable life, and if never Uarclay—a sort of servant. Well, betwixt us wo warped by the bad example of a mother, as dis- conveyed the body into the mansion by a back door, | playcd ia circumstances alivady related, would have of which Mr. Everton had the keys. We placed it rer.dore.i her a being of sigital virtue, propriety, and in a bed-room ; he then paid me my money, and I; prudence. But she existeu in an atmosphere where tcok my departure. As I was driving in a leisurely | virtue is a flower that soon sickens, fades, and way along the road towards the nearest village—I | withers,—occasionally pining for a time ere it be forget what its name is now—a post-shay and Fair | blighted altogether, but often perishing with the dashed past as if going to London; and as it was | unwholcsome heat at once, then close upon day-break, I caught a glimpse of | On the present occasion Constance Farefield was Mfr. Everton and Bellamy with a young lad inside : mcdituting upon the promise which, as the reade tue shay, and Barclay was sitting on the box. So/ is aware, she had a short time before made to the I knowed what that meant: it was the young heir | Marquis of Villebelle,—“ that in the world’s despit- tat was being took off to the lunacy ’sylum. Ah! | she would love him on unto the end,” and that so thought I to myself——” soon as he had secured the means of guarantesire “ No matter what you thought,” interrupted Lady | an adequate maintenance for them both, she woul! Bess: “is that all you have to tell me respecting ' become his wife—that is to say, she would accom the transaction of the substitution of the dead pau- | pany him to the altar, and go through the mockery per for the living heir ?” of the marriage ceremony: for no sophistry could “ That’s all,” answered old Shakerly. blind her eyes to the fact that the Marquis was “Then take your money,” immediately rejoined | married already. But as she pondered upon this the amazonian lady; “and trust to me to fulfil my | promise which she had given, did she tremble? did promise when the aim now in view is accomplished.” | she hesitate ? did she experience remorse? No: in The old knacker did not require to be bidden | her own thoughts and in her own resolves the twice to pick up the gold coins, which he deposited | Rubicon was already passed; and she even longed in a greasy purse, or rather canvass bag; and then | —ardently and fervidly longed—for the coming of he emptied the bottle of sherry. Lady Bess bade | te hour that was to give her to the arms of Ville- him good night; and quitting the public-house, she ‘belle. returned to the cab which was waiting for her. It| It is impossible to deny that the young lady’s bore her to the immediate vicinage of Agar Town, | passions were excited and her imagination inflamed where she dismissed it; and proceeding to Solo- | by certain things which had come to her knowlesge. mon Patch’s, she mounted her horse and rode away | Was she not aware, from the conversation she had in a homeward direction. overheard between Mr. Gunthorpe and her mother, It was midnight when Lady Bess reached her | that the latter had offered to become the mistress cottage; and as-she alighted from her horse, the of William Deveril, rather than resign the hope of front door was opened hastily. Frank Paton sprang | gratifying the passion which she had conceived for forth: but the instant he recognised his sister in her that handsome young man?—and as there were male apparel, he beheld therein the terrible con-' now no secrets between the sisters, had she not tirmation of all he had that day heard from the lips , beard frem Juhana the fact that this young lacy a ——————— ey ES ie et > CORMCOOOKS.eEO)