The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 319: what you’re looking at

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

304 “Well, if this is not the most extraordinary thing I ever knew in my life,” exclaimed the clerk who had recognized Lady Saxondale, and who having dried the blotch of ink upon the letter, was now examining the address. “What's extraordinary ?” “ Why, that her ladyship should have such a cor- respondent as this. Just read the address: it really dvesn’t sound at all aristocratic. Mx. Solomon Patch, the Billy Goat, Agar Town, St. Pancras, London.” “Oh! very likely it’s some old servant of her ladyship’s,” observed Smith carelessly; “or perhaps some one who has applied to her for charity. Who knows ?” “Tt looks uncommon like as if it was written in a feigned hand,” observed the clerk who had picked it up from the inkstand: and he still continued to scrutinize it. “I think we know her ladyship’s writing here pretty well; and if this isn’t her’s dis- guised in this manner, then I am a fool and an idiot. You see, Mr. Deveril,” he continued, “we clerks in the post-office are so accustomed to all kinds of writing that we have great experience in such matters.” “Now,” interrupted Smith, “I am sure Mr. Deveril does not want to hear a lecture upon this subject.” “The letter,” continued the clerk, heedless of his colleague’s interruption, “is not sealed, you see, with the usual armorial bearings, but with a plain stamp—the top of a pencil-case, I should say. I wonder her ladyship should have come tv put it in the post herself.” “Tam ready, Mr. Deveril, and at your service,” observed Smith: “for I am sure you must be getting tired of this long talk about nothing.” The young clork of the post-office and William Deveril accordingly issued forth together; and pro- ceeding to the hotel where the latter had taken up his quarters, they entered a vehicle which he had ordered to be got in readiness; and away they sped towards Saxondale Castle. Deveril was more interested in the little ineident which had just occurred, than his companion had fancied he could possibly be. Having a deeper in- sight into Lady Saxondale’s character than either of the clerks in the post-office, he had even been more struck by the circumstance than the one who himself had appeared to think it extraordinary.” He knew enough of London to be aware that Agar Town was a quarter of no very good repute; and the description which had recently appeared in tha newspapers of the horrible murder in the barge, and which Deveril had happened to read at the time, had contained particular allusions to the no- toriously bad characters who infested that place It was therefore by no means surprising that Deveril should think it strange for Lady Saxondale to have a correspondent there; and the evidently furtive manner in which, with her own hand, she had borne the letter to the post,—as well as the dis- guised writing which the clerk had detected,— served to strengthen the young gentleman’s sus- picions that it was not altogether for a very correct or harmless purpose that a proud and titled lady, as fastidious as she was brilliant, should address a letter to an individual at the sign of the Billy Goat in Agar Town! But although Deveril men- tioned not the subject of his thoughts to his com- THE MYSTERIFS OF THE COURT. panion Mr. Smith, he did not tlie less continue to ponder thereon. On reaching the neighbourhood of Saxondale Castle, William Deveril intimated to his new ac- quaintance that he did not wish to approach too near with the vehicle, so as to become the object of particular notice on the part of any of its inmates— but that he was merely desirous of viewing the edifice from a suitable distance, and of obtaining a glimpse of the grounds. Mr. Smith thought that he was somewhat too particular, as there could be no possi- ble harm in strangers approaching close up to the building ; and he morever intimated that a fee to the servants would procure Deveril an inspection of the old tapestry-rooms, the chapel, and the other curiosities of the baronial edifice. But Deveril de- clined to avail himself of the suggestion, and ap- peared to be content with merely making the circuit of the castle and pleasure-grounds, except on that side where the river flowed by, washing the very foot © of the walls, so that no one could pass that way. Having thus far gratified his curiosity, as Mr. Smith was led to suppose, Deveril returned to the vehicle, accompanied by his new friend; and they retraced their way to Gainsborough. On the road they met Lady Saxondale’s carriage returning from the town: but as her ladyship was reclining back at the time, Deveril both believed and hoped that she had not observed him, as he indeed had not caught a glimpse of her countenance. Return we now to the castle, where in the mean- time Mr. Hawkshaw had called; and inasmuch as Juliana had dropped a hint to Florina that he was paying his court to her, the young lady dis- creetly left the Hon. Miss Farefield a full opportu. nity of rambling alone with the Squire in the gar- dens. We need scarcely say that Juliana failed not to develop the requisite fascinations to rivet the shackles which she had already succeeded in throwing around Mr. Hawkshaw’s heart. But although this gentleman was madly and enthusiastically in love with Juliana, he naturally conceived that a court- ship of but a few days was not sufficient to warrant him in making a proposal. It is true that he had been acquainted with Miss Farefield for some years: indeed he had known her ever since she was a girl; but it was only from the date of the Denisons’ party three or four days back, that he had been led toregard her with such admiration. Not being over well versed in love-matters, Mr. Hawkshaw had looked into a few novels to see how the heroes and heroines conducted their affairs of the heart; and the result was that he found himself rather bewildered how to act. For in one novel he per- ceived that the hero and heroine fell desperately in love with each other the instant they met—that in less than half-an-hour the former was on his knees at the feet of the latter—and that a pas- sionate avowal of love was followed by the tenderest embraces; while in another romance the amorous swain sighed, and serenaded, and fluttered bash- fully about the object of his love for a whole year without daring to confess his passion. The result however of Mr. Hawkshaw’s researches in books, was to lead him to the conclusion that he should at least allow a month to elapse ere he proclaimed himself a suitor for Juliana’s hand. The young lady, on her side, would fain have brought matters more precipitately to a crisis: but she was MICLOOO <=) (E@) (EC)