Agnes Vol. 2 — page 198: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OK, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. CHAPTER XXXITI. THR BARONET AND HI# SON. Wea must return to Mr. Timperley, whom we left at the moment when he took leave of Lord Ormsby and Agnes at Sidney Villa. The lawyer returned to the cab which had brought him thither; for he saldom used his own private carriage, which was therefore willingly abandoned to the monopolising use of Mrs, Timperley,—for he thought it loeked unuch more professional, and seemed to convey the idea of preater hurry and bustle, to travel in street- cabs. Mr. Timperley now ordered the driver to tuke him to Sir Jghn Dalham’s villa—which, be it recollected, was at no considerable distance from the abode of Miss Evelyn. On alighting at the Baronet’s suburban rosi- dence, Mr. Timperley was immediately admitted by the footman who answered his summons at the front door. , “ How is your master P” inquired the lawyer. “Very bad, indeedgsir,” was thee reply—" as bad almost as bad can be.” ‘Indeed ! this is a aad account which I hear,” said Mr. Timperley. “Is your mgster confined to his bed ?” 0 Yes, sir:” and then the footman added with a signiticant look, “and I don’t much think he will Jeave it again — at least not to get out of doors. But you are rather a stranger here, sir P I haven’t seen you for some time past.” “Well, it is a few weeks sinco I was here,” said Mr. Timperley. “ Never since old Barrington got out of prison,” rejoined the footman. “ Ah, air! it wasa cruel blow for my poor master that day! And when he heard- ‘When he heard what?” asked the lawyer, perceiving that the man stopped short. ‘Come now, tell me. I think I know what you mean:” —and he slipped some silver into the lacquey’s hand. “ Well, sir,” pursued the footman, “ if you must hear the truth, of course I am bound to tell it. Sir Jobn hoard that old Barrington got out’ of prison because you had given up the very deed which kept him in!’ | “And was Sir John very angry P” asked Mr, | Timperley. ‘“* He was furious, sir, was the reply: “I never saw anything like it! He raved and went on 8o, ~—and declared that-——-but saving your presence, you know, sir——’’ “Yes, yea!—don’t stand upon any scruples?” interjected Timperley. ‘“ What was it that Sir John said P” “Why, sir,” pursued the footman, “he said that it was all your fault—that you had regularly ——-Now mind, I beg pardon, sir — but he said you had regularly sold him!” “Ah! but there are two sides to that story,” interjected Timperley. “I like to stand well with my clients on the one hand; but on tho other I like to do my business honourably and in a straight- forward manner. When I come to explain this 191 © No, eir—not at this moment,” was the answer. “He will bo in presently for dinner.” “TI believe he is very mach away.from bome—is he not P” said Mr. Timperley. “A great deal,” replied the footman. “ But yet no one can say that he neglects hia father. On the contrary, he ia always at Sir John’s beck and call when the humour takes the old gentleman to have Mr, Roderick with him. And then too, al- though Mr. Roderick is a good deal out at times, I don’t think he is unsteady: he never by any chance comes home the worse for wino-—-and there ave no dans knovking at the door for him as there used to be. In short, Mr. Timperley, young mas- ter had grown so steady of late that no one would recognise in him the barum-scarum fellow of some few years back. But perhaps you will now walk up-atgize, sir P’’ Teno one with Sir John ?” asked Timporley. “Noone at this moment, sir. Tho doctor was here just.mow—and master’s valet has gone of to get a presefiption made up. Sir Juhn sends all the way to Bond Streat for his medicines: he won’t trust to any of the chemists in this neigh- bourhood.” The footman now led the way up-stairs, and knocked at the door of a chamber on the second floor, A feeble voice was heard desiring the man to enter; and looking in, the lacquey said, “ If you please, Sir John, Mr. Timperley.” “Ah, Mr. Timperley P” cried the squeaking voice of the baronet—and its tones were similar in their querulous petulance to those of his litigating op- ponent Mr. Barrington. “ Well, 1 suppuse 1 must see him. Yes—let bim come in.” Mr. Timperley entered accordingly: the footman withdrew, and closed the duvor. The chamber was Negantly furnished: the bed-curtaing and window draperies were of figured blue satin, with deep golden fringes. A table was drawn near the couch; and on it were books and writing materiale. Tho mantel ornaments were of a custly description ; and on the tuilet-table were countless buttlos con- taining perfumes as well as cosmetica. In one of he opening chapters of our story we have described Sir John Dalham as a man past his seventieth year—shrivelled and withered, attenuated almost to a skeleton, with a repulsive countenance, a ca- daverous complexion and amall keen grey eyes, Strong passions iad traced their deep lines, toge- her with the wrinkles of age; and though the »hysical energies were well-nigh prostrated, yet the mind retained its strength marvellously, with all its antipathies and prejudices, its hatreds and its abhdqegees even more potent than those which a ex@ucised so strong an influence over the carcer of | | opponent, Mr. Barrington. As Tifffperley entered the rvom, Sir John Dalham reised himself up to a sitting posture in the bed ; and * ort a stern expression of countenance, he eau. “* And pray, sir, what brings you hither ? Toe it to got some more of my business your haras in order that you may betray me?’ “T have never betrayed you, Sir John,” answered Mr. Timporley, lookingsthe baronet full in the face with the utmost hardihood and sclf-aasurance. Don’t tell me that?” equealed forth the sep- tuagenarian: “you know you let Barrington out business to your master, he will be perfectly satis-' of prison !” fied. ° But Ah! by the bye, is Roderick at home Pr” | e a ee id hi “Tois is not true, Sir John,” rejoined Tim. COMRnIEGlOO SS COLUM