The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 305: what you’re looking at

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

290 This private room was approached through the elerks’ office, where seven or eight of these indivi- duals divided their time between the papers on their desk and the sandwiches inside it. Opening from their office were other rooms—one belonging to the managing clerk, another to the cashier, and a third to some other official in the establishment: for, as stated in an earlier chapter, Messrs. Marlow and Malton carried on avery extensive business. We must however return into the private room where these gentlemen were seated: but we should observe that there was still an inner room, leading out of their own, and which was termed “the parlour’—that being the sanctwm where they received very aristocratic visitors, or else where one of the partners might transact business with some client should the other partner be simultaneously engaged in a like manner. But at the moment when we thus peep in upon them, they were alone together, discoursing upon their affairs. Presently some one knocked at the door communicating from the outer office; and upon being bidden to enter, a elerk made his appearance. Advancing towards the table, he laid a card upon Mr. Marlow’s desk, saying, “ This lady, sir, requests an immediate inter- view.” “Wirs. Chandos!” ejaeulated Marlow, bounding upon his seat. “Was there ever such But no matter. How shall we act, Malton?” “See her,” was his more sedate partner’s re- sponse. “So we will,” cried Marlow: then turning to the clerk, he said, ‘ Show the lady in.” The young man disappeared; and Mr. Malton said, “‘ Now don’t act as if you were so over positive about that identity. You might haye been mistaken you know——~” “Mistaken! Pooh—nonsense! Have I not eyes? and must I not believe them? But hush! here she comes.” The door again opened ; and Mrs. Chandos—or rather Lady Bess, bearing that name and wearing the costume best befitting her sex — made her appearance. She was very elegantly apparelled; and with her veil thrown back, looked’ even handsomer than when Mr. Marlow had seen her at Dover at the Admirals Head. The garb which she wore became her splendid shape to the utmost advantage; and though her features might be pronounced by rigid criticism to be some- what coarse, yet it was impossible to deny that she was a very fine creature. Her hair in its raven richness, set off the high and noble forehead; the large dark eyes, so bright and so unfathomable, gave a wondrous animation to her countenance ;— and as she entered, her moist luscious lips, parting in a mischievous smile which she could not possibly subdue, revealed those unblemished teeth of ivory whiteness. THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. e—eoOCOooreeneeee—-> have reached the ears of the clerks in their own office, and made them wonder what hilarious client had just been introduced to the presence of their employers. “Pray sit down, ma’am,” said Mr. Marlow, feel- ing that it would be almost impossible to resume his severity of look after this virtual abandonment of rancour forthe past. “ Have I really the honour of addressing the Mrs. Chandos of Dover?” “ Really that honour—if an honour it be,” she answered, her gaiety having by this time subsided into a smile of roguish archness, which made her look most wickedly handsome. “Well, I must confess that I do not know exactly how to receive you,” continued the elder partner: “foy m my own mind the eonviction is still strong & “But you have received me with a laugh,” m- terrupted Lady Bess. ‘“ Never mind what your con- viction may be. I have come to talk upon a business matter—and I beg that the Dover seeme may be put out of the question—at least for the present.” “ Well, we will try to lose sight of it if we can,” ejaculated Mr. Marlow: “ but I confess it’s difficult enough. And now, what about this business? I hope you dv not want me to meet you on the high road to Tottenham somewhat Jate at mgbt ?” ‘T will joke with you as long as ever you please,” replied Lady Bess: “ only when you are really in- elined to be serious, perhaps you will let me know.” “Come, let us be serious,” said the more sedate Mr. Malton. “TIT am quite serious now,” exclaimed the elder partner. “ Mrs. Chandos, we will put aside the past for a few minutes if you please; and you may con- tinue at once.” “So much the better,” observed Lady Bess: and then she added with a smile, “I am sure on my part there is no rancour on account of the Dover affair.” “On your part indeed?” ejaculated Marlow. * No—I should think not. All the trouble and an- noyance were on our’s. There was I cutting down to Dover, while my partner here rushed off to Liverpool——” “ But I thought,” interrupted Mr. Malton, “that we were to forget the past, while this lady spoke to us of the present.” “ Yes, yes,” said Marlow. “Iam sure I do not want to be hard upon the lady, let her be who she may and call herself what she likes. But perhaps,” he added with a lurking sneer, “she has come with the honourable intention of paying our costs I mean the costs incurred in racing and chasing, one of us to Dover and the other to Liverpool.” “Gentlemen,” said Lady Bess, now assuming a severe look, “ you are carrying your joke a little too far.” «By heaven! 1t was you who carried the joke too Observing this smile, Mr. Marlow, who had at first | far,” ejaculated Marlow: and he took up an ivory looked grave and severe, could not help relaxing | paper-cutter and tossed it petulantly half across the from that mood; and then, being suddenly seized with one of those jocular humours which are inspired by the remembrance of ludicrous circumstances, he threw himself back in his chair and burst out mto a hearty laugh. Myr. Malton caught the infection— but far more slightly; and the self-styled Mrs. Chandos gave way to such a joyous fit of merriment, that the flute-like tones of her musical laugh must SC tn A table. “Come, come, Marlow, do be quiet,” said Mr. Malton; “and let us see what Mrs. Chandos wants with us.” Mr. Marlow threw himself back in his chair, as if resigning himself to the penitence of keeping silent on a subject which so much excited him; and he waved his hand to his partner, as much as to ECORNICLOO <=) (€©)