The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. 37 Let me depart—and I swear most solemnly that I will not merely send you five hundred guineas to any address that you may name, but I will also keep the seal of silence on my lips in reference to the whole proceedings! But if on the other hand you drive me to extremes, does it not occur to you that I may prove vindictive——” ‘““That’s enough, young lady!” interrupted Tim Gaffney: “you don’t seem to comprehend how the matter stands—and therefore I must tell you. If we were afraid of your peaching against us— giving a description of our persons—and having us advertised, or what not,—why, we would very soon put you out of the way. But that is not our game!—for you won't say a word about this ad- venture, for your own sake! We know we're quite safe on that score. A young and handsome lady, going gallivanting about the country in man’s clothes, isn’t after any good; and such being the ease, youll keep the whole matter to yourself. Perhaps you have a husband, ora father, ora brother, or some one that you would not dare have the thing known to. As soon as I discovered that you was a lady in disguise, I thought to myself that you must be 1ich, and perhaps of distinction. At all events I knew it was a perfect safe game that I meant to play; and that’s all about it. But *pon my soul, you are so well got up, ma’am, in that dandified dress—that I really did not at first suspect you was anything but what you seemed— a very pretty young gentleman—until just as we were getting close in to Addington—and then, if you remember, I happened to touch you on the bosom with my elbow as you was sitting by my side in the gig; and then you drew back so sud- denly, that what with one thing and another I suspected the truth. But come! all this is mere idle talk, and time is passing.” ‘** You refuse to suffer me to leave this place ?” demanded the lady. “We have already told you as much,” re- sponded Gaffney. ‘““T will send you a thousand guineas instead of five hundred, if you will let me go!” “If you hold out much longer, we shall make the ransom-money a thousand guineas instead of five hundred.” The lady: again literally wrung her hands in despair; and it was with the greatest difficulty she could prevent herself bursting into tears and giving vent to a flood of passionate weeping. ‘‘ Good God!” she cried, “do put faith in me! do trust in me, I conjure you! You, who are of my own sex,” she. continued, turning towards Mrs. Bax, “ will surely take compassion upon me ?” The woman shook her head; and Tim Gaffney said, ‘‘ Now, ma’am, be kind enough to finish the business at once. From this place you shall not stir until our conditions are fulfilled. Have you got any writing-paper, Bill ?” ‘* Well, it’s as much as I have,” man. ‘* Howsomever v “There is a sheet of paper, a new pen, and a piece of sealing-wax in the cupboard!” exclaimed the woman. She produced the articles; and the disguised lady, seeing that there was no help for it, pre- pared to write the letter. With a deep sigh she took up the pen; and she wrote these lines, ad- dressing them to a certain eminent banking esta- responded the blishment in the Strand :—‘‘ Pay the bearer five hundred guirieas, without asking any questions, and without a moment’s delay. To convince you that the signature is genuine, I will mention the fact that the last cheque which I drew was on the 2nd of the present month.” “There!” she said, passing the letter to Tim Gaffney: “you may now read what I have written before I append my signature.” “Tt is all right,” said Tim. ‘ And now, al- though I don’t want to see what name it is, yet you will please to write it in such a way that I may tell from this distance that you put nothing else in the letterexcept yourname. There! that’s right!” he added, as the disguised lady, taking back the paper, affixed her autograph. She then folded up the letter carefully; and she sealed it with one of the rings which she had just taken from her fingers, and which bore a crest. ° “Now,” said Tim, “I hope you’ve made sure, ma’am, that this money will be paid and that I shan’t get into any trouble by presenting the letter notwithstanding the orders you have given inside. Because, look you, ma’am—TI’m going to take cer- tain precautions; and therefore if you are playing me any trick —or if you hope that this letter will lead to my arrest, you had better think well of it before it is too late. Bill,” he continued, turning to his accomplice Bax, ‘“‘ I shall take Jack Peppercorn up to London with me. If all’s well, you'll see me here again to-morrow at about one o’clock in the afternoon. But if there’s anything wrong with me, you'll see Jack instead; and then you'll be guided by circumstances. For don’t you see, ma’am,” he added, again addressing himself to the lady, “if I am nabbed, you shall never come forward as a witness against me.” ‘“‘T thought you just now said,” interjected the lady, ‘that you felt strong enough in your own position, because you were certain that from mo- tives of fear and of prudence I should not dare speak of adventures wherein I have figured in male apparel.’ “Very true, ma’am,” rejoined Gaffney: “ but it’s a habit with us to make sure doubly sure. And now I’m off.” The fellow took up his hat; and making a bow to the lady, he just nodded his head to Bax and the woman, and took his departure. “‘ What can we do for you, ma’am ?” asked Mrs. Bax, as soon as Tim Gaffney was gone.- “ Will you take some supper? You can only have things in the rough here; and it’s easy to tell by your looks that you are accustomed to a better style.” The lady had fallen into a profound meditation the instant the door had closed behind Tim Gaff- ney; and she did not immediately answer the questions that were thus put to her. She never- theless heard them; for all in a moment she gave a start, saying, ‘“ Yes, I will take some refresh- ment.” The woman produced some bread, cold meat, cheese, and butter from the cupboard; and she spread a cloth upon thé table. The disguised lady watched these preparations ; and when they were completed, she said, “Could you give me some water ?” The man and woman looked at each other; and the lady saw that Mrs. Bax shook her head. “Come, this is all nonsense! 1” growled her hus- band inasurly tone. ‘Go and get a pitcher of COMO YN Wn) A A AS SS Ss SSS yr ns TE i i cS tt SE Colin