The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 393: what you’re looking at

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THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. I should decline——Indeed I see not very well how I can say yea, without consulting Azaline— and Lady Trentham—-and Launcelot-——” ‘“‘Stuff and nonsense, my lord! to be humbugged and trifled with! yes, Bulteel shall draw up the agreement: if no, he shall put in an execution this very evening; and hang me if I think that the horse-riding gal of the Circus will find you that money as she did the twenty thousand a fortnight or three weeks ago! But here’s Bulteel.” This ejaculation was elicited by a summons at the front door, which echoed through the house, and which Sylvester recognised to be the attorney’s knock; for it was expressive of a sense of im- portance on the part of the individual himself. In a few moments a domestic made his appearance, announcing Mr. Bulteel. The attorney bowed to the nobleman; and then turning to Sylvester, he said, ‘I wish to speak to you particularly.” ‘*WelJ, speak on!” cried the young man. ‘JT suppose you've brought the list-———” ‘You desired me to examine your deceased ‘“‘T have done father’s papers,” so, Mr. Casey “And I dare say,” interjected Sylvester, ‘‘ you are going to tell me that you have found some other documents which regard his lordship here? So if that’s the case, out with it at once: there need be no secrets!” ‘““T certainly have found a document,” answered the solicitor, the expression of whose countenance was peculiar, and whose manner seemed to have something cald and constrained in it as he gave his responses to the young man. ‘‘ Well, and what the devil is the document ?” demanded the latter impatiently. “If it’s an- other bond or warrant-of-attomey of his lord- ship’s, I'll throw it in with the rest—there'll only be something more to charge on the estate— that’s all. +9 ““T was about to inform you,” yejoined Mr. Bulteel, “that the document which I have dis- covered has no reference to his lerdship’s affairs. It is quite of another description.” “Of what description?” asked Sylvester. “ Why don’t you speak out, man?” ‘You had better retire with me, Mr. Casey. It is a private matter ” ‘* Hang the private matters !” exclaimed Syl- ester, putting himself into a passion, and also thinking that it was a fine thing to display a resolute will of his own, and be enabled to bully his professional adviser in the presence of a third person—-more especially asthe said professional adviser did not seem to be half civil and cringing enough on the present occasion. ‘Mr. Casey,” said Bulteel—‘“‘for the last time I beg of you to retire with me.” “T won't!” interjected Sylvester doggedly. “‘ Go on. You've found a document, you say ?” ““Yes—a will:” and the lawyer spoke with sfrong accentuation. ‘© A will 2?” cried Sylvester. ‘‘ Well, I suppose you want me to open and read it?” “Tt is already opened and read, Mr. Casey,” replied the attorney. ‘It was unsealed—in a secret drawer, the spring of which was discovered by accident ——” said the lawyer. I’m not going A positive answer I'll have—yes or no—within the hour! If Well,” interrupted Sylvester, ‘‘of course the governor has left me the whole or the best part of his property—sole executor perhaps a ‘“‘Nothing of the sort, Mr. Casey,’’ answered Bulteel. ‘Your father has left you next to no- thing ;—and he has bequeathed the bulk of his property—indeed the coincidence is a most sin- | gular one—to that very identical Stephen Ash- borne who the night before last-——” “‘ What!” vociferated Sylvester, with dismayed looks; “it’s a lie that you're telling—or else a forgery that has been committed !” ‘*Mr. Casey,” interrupted Bulteel, with a stern .expression of countenance, “if it were not that I could make allowances, and perhaps even sym- pathise with you ” ‘‘ Hang your sympathy !” thundered the furious Sylvester. “I'll prosecute —I'll indict! — I'll dispute the will! There can be no earthly pre- tence———” “There is every pretence—every reason, and every excuse for your deceased father’s conduct in this instance,” said Bulteel. ‘ The will itself explains it; for Stephen Ashborne is your half- brother—your father’s illegitimate son.” Sylvester looked confounded for a few mo- ments; but abruptly bursting forth again, he gave vent to some shocking imprecations, — adding, “‘It won’t do! that cock won't fight !— It’s all gammon! ven if it was true, a bastard isn’t going to cut off a lawful begotten son like this !—Don’t flatter yourself, my lord,” cried the young man, now turning towards Trentham, who had remained a silent but by no means disin- terested spectator of the present scene,—‘ don’t flatter yourself that it’s all up with me and that you've got to deal with another. Deuce a bit! I shall recover my own rights yet—and then, my lord, I'll keep you to terms. Azaline or ruin !— your daughter for me, or destruction for your- self!” “Neither!” exclaimed the voice of one wha abruptly entered the apartment at that moment. ‘“Ah!” cried Sylvester, turning pale, and re- coiling from the unexpected presence of this in- dividual. “Stephen Ashborne himself!” ejaculated Bul- teel. ooo CHAPTER LXXII. THE WILL. In order to explain the sudden apparition of Stephen Ashborne at Trentham House at that particular erisis, we must interrupt the thread of our narrative for a brief space, which however the reader will find serviceably occupied by the explanations we are about to place on record. When Sylvester Casey set, out from Hatton Garden, on his expedition to Trentham House, for the purpose of bargaining for the fair hand of Azaline, he left Mr. Bulteel in the study, or office, to look over his deceased father's papers. Sylvester had not quifted the house many minutes, when Stephen Ashborne knocked at the door. He inquired for Mrs, and Miss Casey; and he was asked to walk in. He was conducted to a parlour, where he waited a little while until the door opened and Selina made her appearance. YN Wn) COMO Colin