Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 48: what you’re looking at

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422 dn sach deep trouble and effliction on his own ac- count, Tell him 1] will come and see jiim in a few days. Te sure you tell him this, dear aunt !” Mrs. Timperley took her leave: and when she was gune, Cicely hastoned to her writing-desk, and thence took a penknife which sho had purchased on tho Continent. “This, properly sharpened,” she said to herself, “will servo the purpose as well asa lancot. It were unsafe for mo to go and purcbaso a lancet, which might afterwards be identified by the shop- keeper selling it! Besides, tho old man knew very well that if ho conveyed tho hint I should find the means of carrying it out. [is suggestion was suf- ficient! and now to work !” Cicely repaired to her fugitive husband's dress- ‘oom ; and there she found a hone, on which shot . t>ggork to render the blade of the penknifo os sharp as possible. She thus effaced the name of the Florentine maker ; and she imparted to that biadv a keenncss of edge that would have enabled it in this respect to vie with a razor. When this portion of her task was accomplished, Cicely procured a little sand, such as was used for tho cages of her canary-birds ; and filling a small lucifer-match box therewith, she embedded tho penknife in the midst of it. Finally she enveloped tho box in a piece of paper, and tied it round with @ bit of pack-thread. “Tt will not do to seal it, or scem too careful to prevent the packet from bcing opened, jest his lordship’s suspicions should be, thereby excited. As it now is, he will take it for granted that what 1 tell him is tho truth, inasmuch as he will natu- rally think that there can be no deception, for the very sinple reason that he might eut the thread, open tio box, and satisfy himeelf.” Having thus made alike her preparations and calculations, Ciecly proceeded to her noble father- in-law's house. She obtained an immediate inter- view with him ; and her first inquiry was concern- ing her ladyship. The answer was unfavourable, “Ludy Mendlesham,” said the nobleman, “ is evidently in @ vory precarious state. And no wonder! Good God, that such misfortunes should have fallen upon us! Ah, Cicely, when you warricd Ueetor, you came into a family which seems to be accursed! Have you heard from your husband ?” ““Yes—ho is at Brussels,” was tho reply. “Unhappy young man!” ejaculated Mendles- ham; “what in hoeaven’s name is tu becomo of him? I know not! We must remain abroad fur tho rest of his life—or at least for many yoars-——~” “Well, my lord,” interjected Cicely, “and this i8 Do vory particular hardsbip; for the Continent las its attrauctions—and so far as I am concerned, I should not care if I never set foot in England again, Lam poing to rejoin Hector in a few days.” “ By the byc, Cicely,” said the nobleman, “havo vou seen that wretched man—your uncle P” “Twas about to speak of him to your lordship,” was the response. “To mor” ejaculated Mendlesham, with a start. “Why, you know I can do nothing for him! You AGNES; OR, REAUTY AND PILEASURE, My uncle is nut so foolish,” resumed Cicely, “ag to supposo that your lordship can do him any good. But ] believo ho has at times acted as your professional adviser occasivnally—I know not for what business—my uncle has always been a closo man, and never gossipped about the concerns of his clients———”’ “Woll, well!” exclaimed Mendlesham impa- tiontly: “and what does he want with me P” ‘“ITe wishes to see you, my lord, if only for a few minutes: he begged me to request that you would not fail to call upon him. I ought to havo delivered this message a weok ago; but it was at the moment when thoso terrible calamities over- took us, and we had onough of our own immediato concerns to think of. And now that the first ox- plosion of anguish has ubtained its vent ” “Enough, Cicely,” interrupted Mondlesham : “J will go and see your uncle. Yes—he has at various times done little legal matters for me; and thera may now be one or two subjects ou which he wishes to discourse with me. I can go quito privately ——” “And if you whisper your nae to the gover- nor, my lord,” said Cicely, “ you will be enabled to sec my unfortunate uncle in his own coll.” Mendlesham looked at his watch, and said, “ It is now halfast two o’clack. J supposo that I could seo him this afternoon ?” “No doubt of 1t,” answered Cicely. “‘T will start off at once,” observed the noble- man, “Ah, by the bye, when I think of it,” cried Cicely, as if suddenly recollecting something, “your lordship can render mea service. It is a very trifling one—it ia simply to deliver this little packet to my unfortunate uncle, It contains snuff, The prisun-regulations are very stringent indeed—they will on no account permit tobacco i in any shape to enter the walls sd “Well,” interrupted Mendlesham haughtily, and do you therefore propose, Mra. Hardress, to convert me-—a pecr of the realm—iuto a emugeler of tobacco within the precincts of a gaol P” “Oh,” cjaculated Cicely, with a smilo, “if your lordship treats it in that light, thero is an end of the matter. 1 will go myeelf and tako the packet to my uncle: but as he scarcely expects me to- day, 1 shall be obliged to explain to him how your lordship refused to render him so trifling a ser- vice.” “No, no—that is not necessary!’ said Mendles- ham, who did not wish to make an enemy of Timperley, he being tho custodian of the secret in respect to Charles De Vere’s birth, and of the in- come which for such a Jong sories of yoars had been allowed by his Jordship to Mrs. Do Vere. “ Give mo tho packet, Cicely—I will deliver it for you. And—and you noed not tell your uncle that I at first rofused or hesitated.” “Cortainly not. But pray be carcful, my lord, and do not suffer any of the turnkeys or gaol. ' authorities to seo you slip the packet into the hand might as well ask me to appeal tu the judges to ' lot my son Heetor return witheut trial and with | fullest impunity.” of that unfortunate man whom you are going to visit.” Cicely then took her leave of hor father-in-law, and returned to her own abode. Her mind was now a prey to tho acutest suspense relative to the ‘time whon ber uncle might execute his suicidal cComicboo