The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 382: what you’re looking at

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

ee OS Ei nae Sc a a er ee oe taneously recovering his self-possession on the en- trance of the servant, and therewith his habitual reserve and caution. “I donot think—but of course I should not like to say positively,—that I am not acquainted with any one bearing the name of Gunthorpe——However he had better come up: Sir John Marston, you can retire into my private cabinet for a few minutes.” The Baronet accordingly proceeded into a small adjoining room which Lord Petersfield indicated ; and almost immediately afterwards Mr. Gunthorpe made his appearance. Lord Petersfield bowed coldly an stiffly: for he thought that his visitor was some citizen dwelling on the eastern side of Temple Bar— and his lordship had a most haughty contempt and supreme diszust for every body of that description. Mr. Gunthorpe stared very hard at the nobleman —and then said, “I presume that I am addressing Lord Petersfield ?” « Really, Mr. Gunthorpe, I am not prepared— that is to say, I do not think I ought to answer a question so pointedly put. I may be Lord Peters- field—and_ indeed, after due deliberation, I think I may venture to say that I am—with every proviso requisite under such circumstances.” Mr. Gunthorpe first looked surprised—then in- disnant—aad then disgusted at the nobleman’s answer; and deliberately taking a seat, he said, “You had better sit down, my lord: for I desire to have a very serious conversation with you.” «And pray, Mr. Gunthorpe, who may you be?” asked the nobleman, as he gravely and slowly depo- sited himself in his arm-chair. “Don’t be in a hurry to answer—take time to reflect ——” “Tt needs no time for an honest man to proclaim himself such,” was Mr. Gunthorpe’s response; and he looked with a strange significancy at Lord Peters- field. | “Your answer is ambiguous,” said the nobleman : “it admits of a double meaning. It may be in- tended to imply a consciousness of your own honesty : or it may be an indirect and not ungraceful tribute to mine.” “ Humph!” said Mr. Gunthorpe. “TI can assure your lordship I was very far from intending the latter construction to be put upon my words at all. However, this is no occasion for childish trifling. Lord Petersfield, is there nuthing upon your con- science with which you can reproach yourself?” This was indeed a home-thrust question put to the diplomatist; and coming so quickly upon the disagreeable business he had been discussing with Sir John Marston, there can be no wonder that Lord Petersfield should suddenly turn pale and look con- fused. “ But little more than sixteen years have elupsed,”’ continued Mr. Gunthorpe, again looking very hard in Lord Petersfield’s face, “since a certain noble- man who believed that in you ne possessed a sincere and faithful friend——” “Ah!” gasped Petersfield, sinking back in his chair: but in a sudden paroxysm of excitement, he exclaimed, “ Who are you, Mr. Gunthorpe ?” “The intimate friend of that nobleman,” was the reply solemnly and firmly given; “and one who will see that the wrong be righted. All the circum- stances of the past are known to me ih “Mr. Gunthorpe,” interrupted Petersfield, in an imploring tone, “I beseech you to deal mercifully— ——_———-- -—_ OF THE COURT. 367 I will make every reparation. Where is‘that noble- man? You did well not to mention his name: for the very walls have ears.” “Yes—and doors too,” said Mr. Gunthorpe, whose keen eye had caught sight of one gently opening an inch or two opposite to that by which he had entered; and as he spoke, he rose from his seat—walked straight up to that door—and pulling it completely open, beheld the Baronet retreating from it, having evidently been listening. A half-suppressed ejaculation escaped Mr. Gun- thorpe’s lips: for he instantaneously recognized Sir John Marston, on whose person the ravages of time had not been sufficient to prevent such recognition. But not choosing for some reason of his own, to show that he had thus recognized him, Mr. Gun- thorpe turned round to Lord Petersfield, demanding sternly, “ Who is your lordship’s eaves-dropper?” “Tam Sir John Marston,” the Baronet at once said: for Lord Petersfield, again sinking back aghast in his seat, could not utter a word. “ You are Mr. Gunthorpe, as I understand, and I have heard you touch upon a certain delicate matter. Perhaps, therefore, I may be admitted to the con- ference P” | “Most assuredly,” rejoined the old gentleman, with accents of significant bitterness: “for if you are Sir John Marston, you are as much interested in it as Lord Petersfield himself.” “Granted !” exclaimed the Baronet: and he spoke with a degree of insolent hardihood which made Lord Petersfield think that he had devised some means of averting the threatened exposure. “Well then, Sir John Marston,” resumed Mr. Gunthorpe, “inasmuch as you have been listening at that door, I need not repeat the words I have already spoken to Lord Petersfield. But as the friend and confidant of a certain nobleman,” he continued, accentuating his words, “1 demand an account of the stewardship of you, Lord Petersfield —of you also, Sir John Marston—in respect to the sum of one hundred thousand pounds deposited in your joint hands sixteen years ago, for the benefit of Elizabeth and Francis Paton.” “And are we to understand,” said Marston, “that there is a very delicate anxiety and tender interest entertained in a certain quarter with regard to these said persons Elizabeth and Francis ?” “Most assuredly!’ responded Mr. Gunthorpe, with a stern look. ‘‘ How dare you assume, by your very tone and manner, that it can be other- wise P” “T assume nothing of the sort,” replied the Baronet. “I will ask one question. Have you, Mr. Gunthorpe, as the friend and confidant of a certain nobleman, seen these persons, Elizabeth and Francis ?” “T have—I have seen them both: it is barely an hour since I left them. That they have been wronged —cruelly, scandalously wronged—is but too evident : but they themselves are unconscious of the ex- tent < “ And pray, Mr. Gunthorpe,” inquired Marston, with a sardonic smile upon his countenance, “ did Elizabeth make known to you the pleasant pursuits in which she has recently been engaged ?” “What mean you, sir?” cried Mr. Gunthorpe, angrily. ‘I have every reason to believe——” “ Believe nothing without being convinced,” in-. COMIC OOO© S (Cc)