Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 219: what you’re looking at

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

oa AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. 213 ‘woman: “itis all right! I suppose you are Mr. “ Well, sir,” began the woman, fidgetting about Timperley—or else perhaps a friend P” somewhat with her kerchief, “you must know, *““Ves—I ama friend of Mr. Timperley’s,” re- | sir, that I am in a little trouble.” sponded Ormsby; “and I need scarcely tell you| Well, proceed,” said Lord Ormsby. “You that as he is particularly engaged ” need not fear to be candid.” “1 understand, sir,” interjected the woman: “he “T am sure [’m very much obliged to you, sir, begged you to call to know what the business is P” | for your kindness,” said the woman: “and if 2 “Bxactly so,” said Ormsby. “And you | did use anything like a threatening expression in “are ” the note, I did nut mean to give offence.” Tam Mrs. Maddox, sir, who wrote tho note to “Threatening expression?’ said Ormsby, as- Mr. Timperley.” suming a thoughtful air. ‘“ Well, [ read the note “To be sure! to be sure!” said Ormsby, just | —though not very attentively perhaps———” « — OOO eee eee eeeeesee:_—____—O——eeeeeeee eee _the more communicative!” rer ze wene er eer Ee ec em ee 6 70em wy ~ 6OReE Derr an Coe Oo se ee eae as if he were perfectly conversant with the con- “1 don’t know, sir, as it was exactly threaten- tents of the note that had been written. ‘Mrs. | ing,” said Mrs Maddox: “I only mean that when ‘Maddox, to be sure!” | I said in it that Mr. Timperley had better come He followed the woman into a well-furnished for his own sake, or it might be the worse for parlour, where a cheerful fire was blazing in the | him . grate and a Jamp was burning on the table. Mrs.; “Well then, you said what yoa meant, I pre- Maddox begged him to be seated: and he accord- | sume?” observed Lord Ormsby. “‘ Aud so, now I ingly took a chair; for accident had suddenly | am here on Mr. Timperley’s behalf. Proceed with thrown him into the current of an adventure which your explanations. You are in a little trouble. Of he was determined to pursue to the very utmost, what description is it P” inasmuch as everything which now regarded Mr., ‘“ Why, the truth is, sir, 1 am bothered by a Timperley had become of the greatest moment on | landlord who never shows any mercy ; and so he account of the suspicion excited against him by has gone to extremes and put an execution in the valet James Nash. | my house.” “T think I have seen you before, sir,” said Mrs./ “Well, and you expect Mr. Timperley to assist Maddox, who having taken a chair, was looking | you in the matter?” said Ormsby. “ In/what ’ very hard at Lord Ormsby. | way 2” “Tt may be,” said the nobleman, who thought | “Well, sir, there is only one way that I know that perhaps her observation was only an indirect | of :"’—and now the woman fidgetted with hor way of asking what was hisname. ‘Come, let us | wine-glass. enter upon the business which has brought me “To be sure! there’s only one way !” interjected hither———[ mean to say on behalf of Mr. Tim-|the nobleman. “You want Mr. Timperley to pay perley. If it is necessary that you should know | the money ? Come, take another glass of wine, my name, I shall have no hesitation in commu- | and tell moe the exact truth of the matter. Oa my nicating it.” side I will frankly admit that I am charged by “Not at all necessary, sir, unless you think fit,” | Mr. Timperley to settle the business according to rejoined Mrs. Maddox. “Of course, in dealing | my own discretion.” with you it is just the same asif I wastreating| Again the woman’s eyes glistened, and sho vith Mr. Timperley himself, since you come on | helped herself to another glass of wine. lis behalf.” , « Well, sir,” she said, “I thought that Mr. Tim. “Precisely so,” said the nobleman. “And now | perley wouldn’t object to advancing me a few bo so kind as to explain But Ah!” he ex- , pounds; for if he only came to know how I have claimed, as an idea suddenly struck him: “we /| kept a certain secret ——” may as well have a glass of wine!”—and he flung; ‘“ But he does not know anything of the sort,” a couple of sovereigns on the table, _ said Ormsby, who, taking his cue from the woman’s The woman’s eyes glistened as she took up the own words, thought he might venture on this money; aud she was about'to ring the bell, when | observation. Lord Ormsby said, ““No—do not let anybody, ‘No, sir—I don’t suppose he does,” she im- else see me here.” mediately rejoined; “and I am sure if [ had not ‘Ab, true!” ejaculated the woman. “TI forgot | been in such trouble I should not have thought of that you might be particular. I will go and get | applyiag to him.” the wine myself,” ‘And what is this secret which you have so She left the room; and Ormsby mentally ejacu- | faithfully kept?” asked Ormsby. “Tell me at lated, “‘ This coincidence is truly wonderful! What. once: for the reward [ shall give you on Mr. soever regards Timperley is sure to be of im- | Timperley’s behalf will be in proportion to the portance! It was a happy idea of mine to give importance of the service you have rendered him. this woman wine to drink; for it will render her all Look! I have the power to fulfil my promise :’’— and taking out his pocket-bovk, he produced a roll Mrs. Maddox speedily returned to the parlour, of bank notes, on more than one of which the de- bringing a bottle of wine and glasses, which she vouring eyes of the woman caught the word Fretyr placed upon the table. She did not however give | in the corner. any change in the shape of money to Lord “Well, I must tell you, sir,” she resumed, “ that Ormsby: neither did he expect or mean it Sha it was something about Mrs. Chicklade.” filled two glasses; and while she drank off the “Ah!” ejaculated Ormsby: and be mechani- wontents of her own, Ormsby just touched his with | cally drew bis chair cloaer to Mira Maddox. “ Jt bis ips and then tbhrast it away from him. referred to Mrs, Onicklade, you said!” “ Tow,” he saad,“ bo pleased to enterupon your; ‘“ Yes, sir—the pour woman that was murdered, explanations.” | And of courgs if i had oniy mentioned ecertain J ' COmMiclbooksSsE@ ‘ 5}