The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 390: what you’re looking at

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

i eee 884 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT, ——— $$ ES Ea a a ee “Silence!” again vociferated the old Baronet, ; quirks and chicancries might be evolved during waving his hand furiously. “I do not treat you | the course of his professional proceedings. as a nephew I discard you—I disown you!” Such was the attorney who now received a hearty “You were already prepared to do so,” replied | welcome from Sir John Steward; and in a few Edgar, drawing his tall form up proudly in the | rapidly uttered words Mr. Andrews explained how midst of his custodians, “before the incidents of | it was that he had come on the eve of the day this evening. Rest assured that I should feel | when he was expected to arrive. The deeds were myself but little flattered or complimented by | all finished—he found that there was a late train being spoken of in the world as the relative of |—and he thought that he might just as well run such as you! And now, Sir John Steward, you | down from London at once, instead of waiting shall hear me. You may exercise your power | until the morrow, as he saw by the tenour of Sir tyrannously over my liberty: but you cannot John Steward’s letters that he was anxious to place a gag between my lips. I accuse you of | get the business settled as soon as possible. Mr. keeping a young lady within these walls against | Andrews was duly complimented by the Baronet her will—I accuse you of contemplating the coer- ; for the zeal which he had thus displayed; and as cion of this young lady into a marriage which is | he had come to take up his temporary quarters at loathsome and repugnant to her—I accuse you , Verner House, the vehicle which he had hired to of leaguing and conniving with an infamous | bring him from the railway-station was at once woman = dismissed. Having been introduced to Mrs. Oxen- “Sir John Steward,” cried Mrs. Oxenden, her | den, the lawyer was conducted to the drawing- countenance livid with rage, “is this abominable | room,—where the Baronet hastily explained to him language to be tolerated P” the position of affairs in respect to Edgar Beverley “It is shocking,” interjected Beverley, “that a | and Christian. Mrs. Oxenden temporarily quitted man should be compelled to speak thus of a/| the room in order to revisit her sister; and when woman: but with you, Mrs. Oxenden, I consider | the door closed behind her, the lawyer drew his myself bound to keep no terms and to be swayed | chair nearer to that occupied by the Baronet,—at by no fastidiousness. Let your friend Sir John | the same time observing, “ This is a nasty business, Steward dare to pronounce a sentence of imprison- | Sir John—a very nasty business; and you must ment against me and my generous-hearted com- | manage it with great delicacy. Pray excuse me: panion, and I will unreservedly proclaim 4 but 4 But at this moment there was a loud knocking *“What do you mean P” inquired the Baronet. at the street-door,—which had been immediately | ‘Is it all right about the deed breaking off the preceded by the sounds of an equipage rolling up | entail and thereby disinheriting my graceless to the front of the mansion, although these sounds | nephew ?” had passed unheard in the dining-room onaccount| “All right, my dear sir,” responded the lawyer, of the excitement of the scene. with a smile half obsequious, half professionally * Who can this be?” ejaculated Sir John. | significant. ‘ 1tis amongst these papers here :”’ — ‘The present business must be suspended for a | and he pointed to the documents which lay before moment I may be wanted——it is possible | him upon the table. that it is some one for me. Keep the prisoners in “Then let me sign it at once!” exclaimed the secure custody And I would advise yow, | old Baronet, in his greedy haste thus to avenge Edgar, to retain a still tongue in your head if you | himself upon the nephew whom he detested. wish me to show you any mercy.” “ Softly—softly, Sir John!” said the lawyer. Beverley flung a scornful look upon his uncle— | “ With all due deference, the matter cannot be but he made no verbal remark: he felt that he | settled in such a railway speed. I am bound to ought to do as much as he possibly could to pro- | read the document over to you Ke cure the release of the young friend whose gene- ‘* Nonsense! nonsense !” ejaculated the Baronet rous services on his behalf had involved him in| “ We can dispense with all formalities . the present dilemma, Sir John Steward issued “ But, my dear Sir John,” again interposed the from the room, accompanied by Mrs. Oxenden: | attorney— and it was with another obsequious Edgar and Christian remaining in the custody of | smile,—“ the document must be attested by com- the domestics. petent witnesses. Now, pray listen to me. Here As the Baronet and his female accomplice passed | are all the deeds—marriage-settlements, draft of forth into the hall, a footman was just opening the | will, and everything that you have ordered: but front door and giving admittance to a middle-aged | dolet them stand over until we have first discussed gentleman, from the side-pocket of whose overcoat | the affair which seems to press with the most im- peeped forth some parchments and other deeds. portance.” This was Mr. Andrews, the London attorney, “Well, well,”’ said the Baronet, “no doubt you whose arrival was not expected until the morrow. are right—and after all, something must be done He was an active bustling individual—talked with | at once in respect to this seapegrace of a nephew great volubility—and though really of good man- of mine and his friend.” ners, was nevertheless inclined to be somewhat too| “Pardon me for appearing to dictate, my dear servilely obsequious towards his wealthy clients. He | Sir John,” resumed Mr. Andrews; “ but you really was not exactly an unprincipled person—he would must not treat the matter magisterially. It would not of his own accord perform a dishonest action: perhaps be all the better for me,” he went on to but he was what might be termed a sharp practi- observe with a chuckle; “because you would be tioner,—doing everything that the law allowed for certain to have actions for false imprisonment the side that he espoused, and believing that it | brought against you ° was perfectly consistent with the character of an| And what dol care?” exclaimed the Baronet - honourable man to avail himself of whatsoever |“ I haye the means of paying the damages.” —— eee i -——— ore ae ese = = + LE A IS NE SL a ee a Ry = Ses EE LLP OE LL CLE LIES AOR AO LL LO AOL EN ALOE CO EOL A el a tli et ta ll at tt i ae P. | | TEC)