Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

: Sr —_— on unclaimed dividends for numbers of persons; that would be always welcome at the house _%e had ferreted out moneys which were lying in Honoria—for that was Miss Waldron’s Christian AGNES: OB, BEAUTY AND PLEASUBE. 1} = and different places, and after more or less time and name—shook hands with him at parting. trouble had discovered their rightful owners; and | As he rode home to his lodgings, Morton said to that when once he entered upon any such par- | himself, “ Yes—it is evident that Waldron knows ticular pursuit, he spared neither trouble nor expense to arrive at the end. * Would you believe it, Mr. Evelyn,” he said: “T keep a gentleman constantly engaged atthe he exercises professional caution. | he is at last upon the right track, and that I am the heir to this wealth! But he is guarded and reserved—and naturally so. He is a lawyer—and Besides, he is British Museum in making researches for the really quite right in keeping his secret tolerably furtherance of these matters.” *T have no doubt of it,” replied Morton. would you permit me to woke - “ How I first came to know anything about this to be followed up by himself alone. fortune to which I trust your claim will be proven ?” exclaimed Waldron. “ Why, it was sin- gular enough. When I myself was one day en- gaged at the Museum, looking over manuscripts and old books, in search of some lost links ina particular pedigree that must have been about twelve years ago I stumbled over something that afforded me a hint by which I failed not to profit. I made farther researches: the matter grew clearer and clearer: then I pursued my in- vestigations elsewhere—I consulted the books of the Bank of England and the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund—in a word, Mr. Evelyn, I have been engaged for twelve years in folluwing up this very affair which has led to our acquaintance.” “And what do you suppose, Mr. Waldron,” inquired Morton, “may be the probable amount se “Ah! whatever I may receive as my own share,” interrupted the lawyer, filling his glass and passing the decanter, “I can assure you I shall have fully earned it: for heaven knows the trouble I-have taken, the time I have lost, the money I have expended! There is not in the British islands a single family bearing the name of Evelyn with which I have not communicated. You would be astonished at the number of Evelyns there are! Then I have spent days and days in searching amongst pedigrees at the Heralds’ Col- lege—in perusing wills at Doctors’ Commons—in turning over mouldy documents in the State Paper Office,—yes, and even in penetrating into vaults and taking notes from coffin plates,” added the lawyer with a significant smile. ** Your labour has been indeed great,” observed Morton. “ But might I ask ** And then too,” pursued Waldron, “ the parish: | registers that I have searched—the money I have | spent in advertising—the correspondence I have been compelled to sustain—the myriads of inter- views I have granted to visitors respecting this business—it is altogether incredible !” “T can believe it,” observed Morton. now at length you do really believe 2 “We shall see, my dear sir—we shall see!” ex- claimed the lawyer, as if anticipating the question that was about to be put. “ The next few months will tell us more, I think—indeed I hope But however you must wait patiently for a time, as I have done for years! And now, Miss Wal- dron will be expecting us in the drawing-room. “i Yo the drawing-room they accordingly ascended ; and during another hour that Morton Evelyn re- niained beneath that roof, not another syilable was ‘aul upon the one grand topic. When he rose to “ And | close; for if, after ali, ? But | the heir, it would not do for him to have given me I should turn out sof to be a sufficient insight into a matter which he chooses His daughter and alto- is certainly a splendid young womau gether they are very nice people.” Morton Evelyn was now in possession of funds which would have enabled him to follow the world of fashion out of town if he thought fit: but he had no longer any inclination to quit the metro- polis for the present. It was important that he should remain on the spot to pay unremitting at- tention to the grand business that so vitally con- cerned his interests. On the following day he settled some pressing liabilities which he had in- curred; and amongst other debts thus liquidated, was his hotel-bill. He called in Russell Square; and finding Miss Waldron alone, passed an agree- able hour with her; so that on taking his leave, he was still more impressed with the exceeding beauty of her person. Several weeks now passed, during which Morton Evelyn led a more regular life than for two or three years he had done. He did not revisit the gambling-table: he had not the slightest inclina- tion so to do: the excitement of the business in which he now found himself engaged, was quite sufficient for him. He moreover became intimate with the Waldrons, and was a constant visitor at their house, where he was always most cordially welcome. Honoria Waldron’s elder sister was married, and was a year older than herself: this lady and her husband were likewise now within the range of Morton’s acquaintance, Mr. and Mrs. Lister—for that was their name—were hos- pitable people: they lived in good style and gave pleasant parties. The Waldrons likewise. received a great deal of company; and Morton’s name was never omitted from the list of invitations at either house. He soon perceived that there were several young gentlemen who were anxious to pay their court to Honoria Waldron: buat she evidently favoured none of them; whereas in a short time she appeared to consider that Morton Evelyn was the guest who stood upon the most friendly and intimate footing at her father’s house. Thus Morton—half by his own accord, and half by the irresistible influence of cireumstances—was gradu- ally led on to pay marked attention to Honoria Waldron. As for the business, Mr. Waldron seemed to be satisfied with the manner in which it was pro- | gressing; though in respect to its details he left Morton almost as completely in the dark as at first. But in consequence of those reflections | which Evelyn had made on his way home from his first dinner in Russell Square, he abstained from putting any pointed questions to the attorney; and as the latter from time to time dropped a hint take bis leave, Mr; Waldron assured him that he | which was more and more encouraging to Mor- 2 aS iA A A I ey A tly A i LN a a ene we ee ee Se eee eee comleloolks G Co)