The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 147: what you’re looking at

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

I SL ee THE MYSTERIES OF THE. COURT. “She is indeed, my. lord,” returned Larry: * perfectly enchanting.” “ Did your ever see a certain Miss Trelawney, who lives at Acacia Cottage, Knightsbridge?” asked the nobleman. *‘T have, my lord,” was the reply. been pointed out to me in the park.” “ And which of the two is the handsomer,” de- manded Lord Leveson: “Miss Trelawney or Mrs. Bradshaw 2” “I cannot pretend to be a very excellent judge of beauty, my lord,” rejoined Mr. Sampson: “but I should say that Miss Trelawney is the best- looking of the two. Next to her, however, Mrs. Bradshaw—if such is really her name—is as- suredly the handsomest woman I ever saw in all my life.” “ Good!” observed the Marquis, complacently. «“ And now proceed.” “T have not much more to tell, my lord,” re- sumed Larry: “only to state that I managed to wheedle Mrs. Bradshaw out of General Beechey’s address in the handwriting of her husband—-and that this handwriting exactly corresponds with that of the fragment of a note picked up at Daniel Coffin’s.” “hen Mrs. Bradshaw is the gossamer lady, be- yond all possibility of doubt?” exclaimed the Mar- quis, overjoyed at the idea and hope which he now cherished of possessing her. “T have not a doubt of it, my lord,” responded the Bow Street officer. * But it is quite clear, then,’ observed the Mar- quis, “that her husband must have been a party to her dishonour last Monday night ?” “That is quite clear, my lord,’ answerd Larry. “The fragment of the letter proves as much. In- deed, the love-affair was evidently got up as a means to enable Mrs. Bradshaw to procure the Prince’s signature to the document. That was the grand aim of the whole affair: but the assistants in the business were to be made believe that the object went no further than plunder. It is there- fore certain that Mrs. Bradshaw’s conduct with the Prince was instigated by her husband.” “Mr. Sampson,” said the Marquis, “ you have “She has taken a vast amount of trouble in this matter— . you have incurred great personal risks—and you have exhibited uncommon tact in prosecuting the inquiry. But I do not wish the slightest publicity given to the affair—neither does his Royal High- ness.” J understood this much, my lord, at the outset,” observed Sampson. “Do you intend to take proceedings for the attempt to murder you in Jacob’s Island?’ asked the nobleman, “1 do not, my jord,” replied Sampson: “beeause if L did, it would more or less compel me to explain why I went thither in disruise—and such explana- tions could not be given without broaching the secret affair of the outrage on the Prince.” “That is just what I thought,” said the Mar- quis. “ Moreover,” continued Larry, “I shall be able to pay Master Daniel Coffin out in another way— most probably to-morrow night: and by the assist- ance of his lad, who is now with me, I shall in due time get the whole of the gang into my power, ’ I presume your lordship has obtained no clue to ! ran as follow ;— 133 the means whereby the pocket-book was returned so mysteriously ?” “Not a whit,” exclaimed Leveson. “ The mys- tery puzzles me sorely; and I do not see how it is ever to be unravelled.” “J must confess myself completely at fault in that respect,” said Larry. “ Your lordship’s confi- dential valet is above suspicion?” he added, in- quiringly. “Perfectly so. In fact, I know not what to think,” continued the Marquis. ‘‘ The only per- sons who visited me on Wednesday were my nephew, Lord Algernon Cavendish——” “T saw him, my lord—a fine young nobleman as ever was.” “My niece, Lady Ernestina Dysart,” continued the Marquis, frowning slightly at the compliment thus paid to his nephew. “The lady who was so closely veiled, and who came in a hackney-coach, I believe?” observed Sampson. “The same,” replied the Marquis. “Then there was Miss Bathurst—and last of all, Mrs. Owen. I can swear that neither of these four could have had anything to do with the mysterious affair.” “ Of course not,” rejoined Sampson. “ Well, we must leave the development of that mystery to time and chance. Has your lordship any farther commands ?” inquired the Bow Street officer, rising to take his leave. “None,” said Lord Leveson: “only that you will accept this cheque for five hundred guineas,” he added, tossing the slip of paper across the table. Mr. Lawrence Sampson returned due acknow- ledements for the bounty of the Marquis, and was about to take his departure, when recollecting something, he said, “I have to solicit that your lordship will give Mrs. Owen no information rela- tive to the perfidy of her servant, inasmuch as I shall take that duty upon myself without delay.” “Be it so, Mr. Sampson,” replied the noble- mau. The Bow Street officer then bowed and took his departure. “ Mrs. Bradshaw shall be mine!” exclaimed the Marquis, the instant the door closed behind Larry Sampson. “Her husband is either a venal or a desperate man—and she herself is no prude, Well, now that I hate Venctia Trelawney so thoroughly —so cordially—I abandon her to the Prince, and shall no doubt be enabled to console myself with Mrs. Bradshaw.” Thus musing, he rang the bell; and when the summons was auswered by a page, he desired that his confidential valet might be sent to him imme- diately. “ Brockman,” said the Marquis, when this indi- vidual made his appearance with a silver salver in his hand,—*“ go and tell Mrs. Gale that I desire to see her particularly in the course ot the day—the sooner the better.” “Yes, my lord,’ answered Brockman, “This letter has just arrived,” he added, handing huis noble master the missive upon the silver tray. He then withdrew—and the nobleman, who in- stantaneously perceived the royal arms upon the seal and recognised the handwriting of the Prince Regent, proceeded to open the letter, Its contents MiLGIOOKSAGO