The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 260: what you’re looking at

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

eee 246 considering all circumstances ?” THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. ey said Selina. | his chambers were situated in one of the Inns of “Mr. Osborne called—of course he was at once | Court leading out of Holborn, and therefore at no told—— “What! of the loss of the deeds ?” interjected the usurer. “‘T did not say so, father :”—and now Selina’s voice and manner suddenly became cold as if she were offended at the imputation. *¢ Well, well—I did not mean to be cross with you,” said her father; ‘‘but allowances must be made for all I have suffered. Has Bulteel been ?” “He called this morning, at eleven.” ‘¢ And why the deuce did I not see him ?” ‘“You were asleep, father—and Dr. Scott had expressly ordered that you were not to be dis- turbed.” Casey muttered an imprecation against Dr. Scott—and then inquired when Mr. Bulteel was coming again ? ‘‘He said he should call at two o ‘clock, father.” “Well, it’s two now—or close upon it. Why the deuce doesn’t he come? Oh! everything is combining against me!—losses and disappoint- ments—disappointments and losses! But I will triumph yet. If the ‘Trenthams have done this, they shall suffer for it, or make amends!” ‘Oh, my dear father, ” said Selina, in a voice of mingled reproachfulness and affliction, ‘can you possibly fancy for a single instant that the ‘Trentham family could be guilty of such a wicked thing as to steal your deeds ?” “JT don’t know what to think:—how should I?” exclaimed Casey, with reviving irritability. ““ How am I to account for it? Who could have done it except those that are most interested in the job ?—and though I confess I don’t see how ’twas done, yet ” ‘¢ At all events, dear father,” interjected Selina, “you must not jump to the hurried and unjust conclusion that the only way to solve the mystery is to attribute the—the—act to persons who, however great their embarrassments, would scorn the deed.” ““Then what on earth am I to think?” de- manded Casey. ‘‘Must I suppose that my wife or either of my own children would rob me?” Selina gave a convulsive start, as if she were about to ejaculate something from her lips, when a loud double knock at the front door echoed through the house. ‘¢ There’s Bulteel—that’s his knock!” exclaimed Casey. ‘'Go and bring him up at once.” ““Your medicine, dear father,” said Selina. is two o'clock.” ‘“ Perdition take the medicine!—But stay !” added the usurer, more quietly: “as I have got to pay for it I may just as well take it. Not that I think I want it; for this sleep has done me a world of good I feel quite strong again; and if it wasn’t for the recollection of all the accursed things that have happened to me——But let’s see Bulteel: he may have some good news.” Mr. Casey took his medicine; and Selina has- tened from the room, into which Mr. Bulteel was shortly introduced. He was a short, middle-aged, dark-complexioned person, with restless eyes and a cunning look: he was well dressed, and hand- somely embellished with jewellery. We may add 6 It that he belonged to the legal profession, and that | nner great distance from Hatton Garden itself. ‘What news? what news?” cried Mr. Casey. “ Nothing, either good, bad, or indifferent,” res sponded Bulteel; and then as he sat himself down by the side of the bed, he added, “ Nothing, I mean, except the opinion that Gramplin gives of the business.” “Ah! and what does he say?” exclaimed the invalid quickiy ; for he thought there was some- thing peculiar, if not actually embarrassed in Bulteel’s look and manner at the moment. “You know, Mr. Casey,” said this professional gentleman, “ that Gramplin is one of the cleverest detectives of the Force—but at the same time he is just as liable to err in opinion as other men. And therefore, if it weren’t for this reservation or proviso which I have just set forth, I should think that I was positively and actually insult- ing you and your family by repeating what the man says ” ‘“‘ And what does he say ?” demanded the usurer petulantly. Mr. Bulteel gave a short cough; and then he continued thus :—‘‘ Mr. Gramplin, the detective, is more blunt and matter-of-fact than delicate an polite. He says that as it is evident there was no burglarious entry into the premises for the purpose of carrying off those deeds, the act must have been accomplished either by one of the regular inmates of the house or else by some one from outside.” _ “Well, well,” interjected Casey, “‘ we know all this. If Gramplin can tell us nothing else 4 ‘But listen,” said Mr. Bulteel: ‘* Gramplin says that if it were a person from outside, he must have had an accomplice inside. Therefore—and it is this part of the business which is so insult- ing ” ‘“‘ Never mind! fore ——~” | “That either you yourself,” continued Bulteel, ‘“‘have put away the deeds for some good reason or another—or else that some member of your family, or one of the servants, must have been an accomplice of the thief from outside.” ‘““And why in the devil’s name should I put away and pretend to lose my own documents?” asked Casey, with sneering contempt. ‘Hem! My dear sir,” rejoined Bulteel, “such things are done—and Gramplin as a man of the world knowsit. Yor instance, if a person is going to become bankrupt-——” ‘Enough !” interrupted Casey, with angry im- patience; ‘“ this is ridiculous as applied to myself! As for the disappearance of the deeds, it is impos- sible to suspect either of the servants; and as for one of the family——” He paused — reflected—shook his head mys- teriously — and. then looked very hard at the lawyer. “Well,” said the latter, ‘what is now upper- most in your mind?” Goon. Gramplin says, there- ‘Wo !” cried the invalid abruptly; “I won't © think such a thing!’ She is too good—too loving ——too affectionate! But no matter, Bulteel, whe- ther the thief from outside had an accomplice in the house or not,—it is impossible, that this thief could be any other than Launcelot Osborne.” “Tt certainly looks like it,” said the lawyer ; YN Wn) COMO Colin