The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 252: what you’re looking at

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

222 THE COURT OF LONDON ladyship’s steward decided upon not having it disturbed for the mere sake of placing the coins inside the buttress.” ‘* And therefore the ceremony did not take place? ”’ ex- claimed the marchioness, inquiringly. ‘’ No, my lady,’’ responded young Brooks. ‘ Your lady- ship’s steward gave orders that the ceremony should be postponed until the next buttress is built — “ But this is absurd,” cried the marchioness, in a tone of apparent annoyance and dissatisfaction; ‘‘ my orders were explicit upon the subject, and they have not been obeyed. I wrote to my steward, commanding him to have the usual ceremony performed at the proper time, and I sent him a quantity of old coins which he was to use, in addition to the various specimens of the existing currency, for the purpose. Now there is a sort of superstition in the minds of many honest but simple country folks, relative to the baptizing of the foundation-stones of a new bridge with a bottle of wine, and the deposit of the coins in the first buttress, and I would not for the world have such a prejudice shocked — ”’ ‘“ IT am glad your ladyship has mentioned the matter,’ observed Mrs. Brooks; ‘ for I can assure your ladyship that. many of your ladyship’s tenants declare they will never cross that bridge, for, let it be built ever so strong, they think it won’t be safe on account of omitting the usual cere- monies when the first buttress was raised.’ “Then we will have the affair righted to-morrow, my good woman,” said the marchioness, in a tone of firm decision. ‘“‘ Let your son step up to the hall and tell my steward that. I have arrived at Malden Farm, where I propose to pass the night, and that early in the morning I[ will myself super- intend the ceremonials relative to the bridge. Immediate preparations must therefore be made for the purpose, es- pecially as the huge stone over the first buttress must be raised again.”’ ‘“‘ I will go at once, my lady,” said young Brooks, rising from his seat, ‘“‘ and deliver your message at the hall. I will then go and inform the overseer of the works that the masons. must be at the bridge by daylight. Shall I tell the steward that he is to wait upon your ladyship this evening? ”’ ‘‘ No, I will see him in the morning upon matters of busi- ness,’ returned the marchioness; ‘ for it is now past eight CONNIE IOC cS m