The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 303: what you’re looking at

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

288 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT, —_—_————_—_——— —————————————————— ——— ”0°0 OC OO OE the exact place of her abode, adding,—“ Perhaps in | information I wanted. But all Icould discover was a short time you will communicate with me P” a letter from some solicitors in Parliament Street “Immediately on our return from the journey | stating that they had duly made a remittance to which I believe we are about to undertake: or per- | Lady Everton, but without saying where she was.” haps I may even write to you from the place{ “This is at least a step gained!” cried Lady Bess, whither we are going. But tell me, Henrietta—do | “ And who are these solicitors ?” you think you can love Adolphus?” “I wrote down their names and address,’ re- “ All the circumstances under which we met, and | sponded Barclay, as he produced a slip of paper. those which surround him,” replied the damsel, “Marlow and Malton—eh?” said Lady Bess, as with the most ingenuous frankness, “ have naturally | she glanced at the names: and it struck Theodore inspired me with a considerable degrce of interest | that a smile of arch mockery, most delightfully mis- on his behalf. During the interval which has | chievous, flitted over her handsome countenance. elapsed since the night of our deliverance, I have | “This will do,” she continued: “ depend upon it I thought of him with feelings of the deepest sympa- | will succeed in discovering the truth. You have thy: and now to find myself the object of his affec- | not dropped a single incautious word at Beech-Tree tion, is so flattering to me in all respects that—— | Lodge, that may excite suspicion of your being in But wherefore should I say more?”—and she bent | correspondence with me?” down her blushing countenance. “I think I am rather too shrewd for that,” re- “T understand you, Henrietta,” said Elizabeth | turned Theodore. “No, no: I see at present on Chandos. “You feel that you can love him—and | which side my bread is buttered; and I shall stick that is sufficient. Fear not for a moment that the | firm and faithful to you, ma’am, and the interest incident of your life to which you have alluded, will | you have in hand.” stand as a barrier in the way of your happiness.| ‘ You will act wisely, Theodore. Continue to ‘he love which Adolphus experiences for you, is the. observe all that passes at Beech-Tree Lodge. But purest effluence of the heart’s natural feelings; and ; by the bye, you had better call again to-morrow such a love is generosity itself. I will explain to | afternoon, as I shall see these lawyers in the morn- him the particulars of our interview;. and I can | ing—and then I can tell you whether I purpose conscientiously promise that his unsophisticated love | leaving home for a short time, and where letters will receive no shock from the revelation that neces- | will find me: for it is important that you should sity compelled you to earn your bread on the stage.” | write if anything occurs to render such correspon- Henrietta Leyden expressed her gratitude for all dence necessary.” the kind words that Lady Bess thus spoke; and| Theodore faithfully promised to obey Lady Bess’s taking an affectionate leave of her, she departed instructions in all ‘things, and then took his from the cottage with her little brother Charley. | departure. It was a sad disappointment to Adol- Lady Bess had no difficulty in making Adolphus phus and Frank when they learnt that the footman comprehend that it was more prudent for Henrietta had not succeeded after all in discovering Lady Ever- thus to depart without seeing him again on the ton’s place of abode: but Elizabeth Chandos bade present occasion, as the young damsel would require them not be down-hearted, as she had full faith leisure to compose her feelings after an announce. , im her own ingenuity to obtain the desired informa- ment of su¢h impurtance made so unexpectedly. | tion from Messrs. Marlow and Malton. Frank, Adolphus was as docile as a child; and it was suffi- | knowing what had occurred between his sister and cient for him to be assured that no circumstances , those gentlemen, looked both alarmed and sur- which could be at present foreseen, appeared to bar | prised on hearing that she would now have some- the confirmation of his hopes in respect to Henrietta. | thing more to do with them; but when they wore At a later hour on that same day Theodore Bar- - alone together, she succeeded in reassuring him elay made his appearance; and Lady Bess saw him , eatirely upon the subject. alone. “ Lord Everton,” he said, in allusion to the old Sich at usurper whom he still called by that title from habit, “continues very ill, and is confined to his bed. Reseed tees Without being able to speak positive, but only | . MARLOW AND MALTON. judging from circumstances, it seems to me that he and Bellamy, as well as Mrs. Martin, are still so | ON the following day, at about eleven o'clock, the bewildered they know not what to do: but I over- ‘ scene which we now purpose to describe took place heard Bellamy say to the woman something about | at the offices of Messrs. Marlow and Malton in it’s being impossible that he could prove his Parliament Street, Westminster. These two gen- identity.” | tlemen were seated together in their own private “ Meaning of course the rightful Lord Everton?” room, which was large and handsomely furnished. said Lady Bess. “ But to the main point: have : One entire side was fitted with book-shelves from you succeeded in discovering the place of Lady | floor to ceiling, containing a collection of the most Everton’s residence P” useful and valuable volumes connected with thag “T have not,” replied Theodore Barclay. Deedalian maze of intricacy —the English law. “Ah, this is provoking!” ejaculated Lady Bess, There were Digests of the laws relating to parti- with a look of disappointment. “ Have you no cular matters—Commentaries upon those Digests~ clue ?” ‘and Commentaries on the Commentaries of the “Yes: but not avery satisfactory one. To tell Digests—and then the Digests of the Commen- you the truth, I opened a writing-desk where I taries themselves. There were books of the com- knew that my old master kept some private papers, mon law and books of the statutes: and although thinking that I should be sure to gain thence the | the collection numbered at least five hundred GoniGsvooks (E(@)