Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 178: what you’re looking at

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

| | | ee eget tnt “ ‘a SE PASE! 89 I CHAPTER XXIX. THE APPOINTMENT AT NOON. We must now earry back the reader’s attention to the metropolis of Great Britsin. We must return to London, where the scene of so large a portion of our narrative bas been previously laid. Weare about to bid farewell for the present to that beau- ful Italian clime where so many dark deeds have been perpetrated: we are ahout to leave for a gpace all those characters who have been moving with such strange rapidity upon the stage of our drama throughout so many consecutive ‘chapters. And this does indeed appear to be the most fitting point whereat to take leave of them—the most suitable crisis of our story for breaking the thread of events, to resume it in another part of the world. For the episode which relates the mis- fortunes and the crimes of the beautiful Lucrezia di Mirano, is now terminated: her destiny has been fulfilled—and she has left behind her a name as infamous as that of her prototype Lucrezia Borgia. And Ciprina has gone nobody knows whither—and Count Ramorino is in the hands of justice—and Father Falconara is on his way back to the Castle of Bagno, to relieve the mind of Captain Belluno and relate to him all the startling incidents which have just oceurred in Florence. And Edgar Marcellin is now free to think tenderly of Corinna: and Signor Paoli is ready to accom- pany him back to England; and Charles De Vere, having nothing further to detain him iu Florence, is only waiting to see whether the quadroon and her husband are likely to make their appearance in that capital ere he shall retrace his way to Naples, This, then, as we have said, 1s a most favourable conjuncture to enable us to redirect the attention of our readers to the British metropolis; and of that opportunity we at once purpose to aveil our- selves. The progress of our - narrative bas brought us down to the date of the 4th of November; and it is on this very same day that we purpose ‘és look into the office of Mr. Timperley, in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. 1t was verging towards the hour of noon ; and the lawyer was alone in his own sanctum. He appeared to have given more than usual care to his toilet; and his writing-table, instead of being confusedly strown with letters and docn- ments, presented an aspect of exceeding neatness. Three or four bundles of papers, tied round with red tape—all endorsed with the same name, and placed together in a row—were now occupying the attention of the old lawyer. We thereby mean that as he sat in his arm chair, his gaze was fixed seriously upon those bundles of papers; and pre- sently be murmured to himself, ‘ Well, after all, the presentiment that made me preserve them is about to receive its fulfilment! They are to be claimed! they will be taken possession of !” Then Mr. Timperley experienced a certain de- gree of uneasiness, and he was seized with a certain restlessness against which he vainly strove to wrestle. “What does this mean?” he asked himself, as he rose up from his seat and walked to and fro in the office. “Is this date to be a very slip. AGNES; OB, BEAUTY AND PLELSSURE. memorable one for me? is it to mark an era of good orevil? Let me see. Can that man do me apy harm ? is it bis interest to do it ?” Mr. Timperley resumed his seat at his desk— buried his face in his hands, while his elbow3 rested upon the table—and gave way to his re- flections. From these he was startled by the sud- den striking of a timepiece on the mantel: and he ejaculated to himself, “’Tis noon!—the hour at which he was to be here ?” Just as the last sae of the clock was vibrating through the office, the door was thrown open, and aclerk announced Mr. Hargrave. “Walk in, Mr. Hargrave,” said Mr. Timperley, while the door remained open: but the instant the clerk had retired and closed it behind him, the lawyer’s demeanour became profoundly respectful —and with a low bow he said, “ Be pleased, my lord, to be seated.” The manner of Lord Ormsby—as we may now call him—was cold, reserved, and distant, as he took the chair that was placed for his accommoda- tion. He was dressed in black, as when we last introduced him to our readers; and it wasina deep-toned voice that he said, “ Mr. Timperley, have you obeyed my instructions si “I have, my lord,’ replied the attorney. “‘ Here are all the papers relating to your lord- ship’s case, with the exception of the one little but important document oe “Which I have here,” interjected Lord Ormsby, taking out bis pocket-book and producing a small “¢ Mr. Timperley,” he continued, “ you will put this baptismal certificate in the place where 1¢ properly belongs amongst those files of papers. Let the whole chain of legal proofs be made com- plete: let every link take its proper fitting.” The lawyer took up one of the bundles of papers which lay before him; and he inserted the certi- ficate in the place to which it properly belonged. “Now, my lord,” he said; “the whole legal narrative, as 1 may denominate it, is complete : the one link that was wanting is restored !—the certificate which connects your grandsire Andrew Evelyn with the Evelyns of the Ormsby race! At any moment your lordship’s claims can be made good.” “ Mr. Timperley,” said Lord Ormsby, “I am thus far satisfied with you. It was on the 16th of October that I presented myself before you and your wife in Regent Street; and on that same day you promised to have every deed and docn- ment in readiness for me by the hour of noon this day, November the 4th—and you have fulfilled your pledge.” Mr. Timperley bowed; and for a momont he suffered himself to be betrayed into an expression of satisfaction—for he rubbed his hande as he thoucht to himself, “ The business is not going to be taken from me!” “You see that I have beeome precise as a man of business,” continued Lord Ormsby. “ I specify dates—yes, even to the very hour! The expe- rience of the past,” he added, bitterly, and riveting bis luminous black eyes significantly upon the lawyer, “has taught me lessons which canuot be easily forgotten.” “No doubt, my lord! no doubt !’’ said Mr. Timperley. ‘ Your lordship must have gained e great deal of experience. Let me seeP It is NNUGCLIOOLCESS (©) $.