Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 211: what you’re looking at

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7“? oo + bd —? “~ . ‘4 ae ’ ~ ie f ’ »? ° ~ e a : ‘> - : . AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. 203 cancy. At all events you know, Sir Roderick, that if you begin to suspect a man in one thing, it makes you attach importance to other matters that might previously have only been looxed upon as mere trifles.” CHAPTER XXXYV. THE FUNERAL, “ Sie Roprrick” Darwam ‘returned to Mrs. Siater’s house in Aldersgate Street; and he found Winifred resigned and tranquil, as he had left her. He communicated all that bad occurred between himself and Timperley: and he said, “I am deter- mined to take legal advice in reference to that man’s proceedings.” “TI do not exactly understand,” said Lady Dalham, “what it is that he bas done, nor how he purposes to realize a sum of money for himself.” “I will explain it, Winifred, by means of an illustration. lawyers ten thousand pounds, and Mr. Timperley went and bought the debt for two thousand ——” * Ah, I begin to comprehend!” ejaculated Winifred. “ My father owed about twenty-five thousand pounde altogether,” resumed Sir Roderick; ‘‘ and the wrecks of his property will produce precisely that amount. Now, suppose that Mr. Timperley has given five thousand to buy up the debts, the estate is thereby rendered perfectly clear. then, out of the twenty-five thousand there are about eight thousand to go to the hospitals and public institutions, and about sixteen thousand remain to Mr. Timperley. Deduct from this the five thousand he has paid in buying up the debts, and be is a clear gainer to the extent of eleven thousand! Such a sum, Winifred, constitutes a good day’s work for a Jegal man,” added Sir Rode. rick bitterly; “and it requires only one such "piece of business every year to give him a large income.” At this moment Mrs. Slater entered the room, to euy that the person who had called a few hours back to fetch Sir Roderick Dalham, had returned and besought animmediate interview with bim. “It is the faithful valet James Nash!” ejacu- lated Sir Roderick. ‘‘ What fresh tidings can he have for me? Has Timperley become affrighted ? and has he sent to propose terms? If so, I will not agree to them—unless they go to the extent of paying my deceased father’s creditors to the very uttermost shilling that the property be has left be- hind will allow! But at all events I will see what Nash wants with me.” Sir Ro erick descended to the ball where the valet was waiting; and he motioned the man to follow him into Mrs. Slater’s little parlour. “TI beg your pardon, Sir Roderick,” said Nash, “but I could not rest until I cume to speak to you. I don’t at all like the way in which things are being conducted by that fellow Tim- pérley. I have been thinking a great deal over the matter ; and one reflection arid another has brought . €omething into my mind Pa _ ‘*What is it, James?” asked Dalbam. “ You are faithful and devoted to my interests—and reet assured that you shall not go unrewarded.” “Tecsre not for a reward, Sir Roderick: I am not thinking of it,” rejoined the valet. “But I have,taken a hatred to that fellow Timperley ; and there is something which has crept intu my recol- lection that I never thought particularly of betore, but which now seems to have a greater signifi. Suppose that my father owed his Well ‘True, \rue, Nash!” said the Baronet, “ But Mr. Timperley is a base designing man—unprin- cipled and unscrupulous! There cannot be the slightest doubt of it! I believe him capable of almost any wickedness! However, tell me what this is that bas now struck you—or, as you your- self express it, has crept into your recollection P” The valet made a certain communication, which we need not now describe, inasmuch as it will more properly belong to a future portion of our’ narra- tive. But Sir Roderick Dalham listened to it with the utmost attention; and when James Nash bad concluded, the Baronet reflected deeply for several minutes. At length he shook his head slowly, saying, “It is curious! it is singular! But it is also too serious a subject for us to found any positive supposition or belief thereon. It may only have been a trifling coincidence, such as you yourself regarded it at the time, though ow you are led to invest it with a greater signilicancy from the fact of your having obtained a deeper in- sight into the villany of Mr. Timperley’s character. At all events do not mention the matter elsewhere, There is a friend whom I can consult and who will proffer me the best advice. I shall not fail to seo him to-morrow.” The faithful valet then took his leave; and Gir Roderick Dalham, on rejoining Winifred, devised some pretext to account for the man’s visit—for he thought it more prudent not to acquaint her, at © least for the present, with the nature of the topic which had been started during the interview. Oa the following day Lord Ormsby—for to this nobleman must our attention now revert— pro- ceeded at about the hour of noon to Sidney Villa. He found Agnes and Corinna together in the boudoir, which also served as the former youug lady’s studio; and Ormsby, having affectionately greeted his daughter and his young cousin, ex- claimed, “Ah! now, my dear Agnes, I shall be enabled to pay greater attention to your beautiful drawings than I did the other day; for I have at present a leisure hour or two. Everything that rezards you, my dear child, possesses the greatest interest for me. You are a proficient in water- colour drawing. But Ab! that easel? I knew not that you practised in oil-colours P” “ Qur dear Corinna is accomplished in this latter respect,” said Agnes; “and she has been giving me a few lessuns.” “Ob, my lord!” oed the Itahan girl, “ I am afraid that Tam only an indifferent preceptress ; for my miod has been too much agitated of late by uncertainties in reference to what my dear father mey be dding ? “ Aud what Edgar Marcellin also?” interjected Ormesby with a good-natured smile. ‘But what is the subject of this oil-painting which you are practising, Agnes, under the auspices of your cousin f”’ he asked, turning towards his daughter. A melancholy shade came over tho beautiful face of our hervine, as she said, “I was attempting, my dear father, to eupy the portrait uf my poor mother.” “ A worthy end a suitable study, Agnes,” said COMmMicoool (©) =}