Agnes Vol. 2 — page 218: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEA women: “itis allright! I suppose yaw are Mr. Zimperley—or else perhaps a friend ?” “Yos-—-{ ama friend of Mr. Timperley’s,” ro- sponded Ormaby; “and I need scarcely tell you that as he is particularly engaged-——”’ “{ understand, sir,” interjected the woman: “he begged you to call to know what the business is P”’ “ fixactly so,” eaid Ormsby. “Aud you are -——” «i am Mrs. Maddog, sir, who wrote the note to Mr. Timperley.” “To be sure! to bo sure!” said Ormsby, just as if he were perfectly conversant with the con- tents of the note that had been written. ‘ Mrs, Maddox, to be eure!” He followed the woman into a weil-furnished parlour, where a cheerful fire was blazing in tho grate and a lamp wae burning on tho table. Mrs, Maddox begged him to be seated: and he accord- ingly took a chair; for accident had suddenly thrown him into the current of an adventure which he was determined to pursue to the very utmost, inasmuch as everything which now regarded Mr. | Timperley had becorge of the greatest moment on account of the suspickap excited against him by the valet James Nash, “A, “I think I have seen you bétore, sir,” waid Mrs. Maddox, who having taken a shair, Spa looking very hard at Lord Ormsby. “It may be,” said the nobleman, who thoughts that perbapa her observation was only an indirect way of asking what was hisname. “ Come, let wa enter upon the business which has brought me hither—-——I mean to say on behalf of Mr. Tim. | the nobleman. If it is necessary that you should know | the money P perley. UTY AND PLEASURA, Slt “ Woll, sir,” began the woman, fidguiting abou somewhat with her kerchief, “you must know sir, that I am in a little trouble,” “ Woll, proceed,” said Lord Ormsby. “You need not fear tu be candid.” “Tam sure ?'m very much obliged to you, sir for your kindness,” said the woman: “and if | did use anything lik» a threatening expression it the note, | did nut moan to give offence.” “TDhroatoning expression?” said Ormesby, ae: suininy a thoughtful air. “ Well, I read the note —though not very attentively porhaps———” “I don’t know, sir, as it was exactly threaten- ing,” suid Mrs Maddox: “I only mean that when | 1 said in it that Mr. Timporley had better come iv his own sake, or it might bo the worse for im -—— “Well then, you said what you meant, I pre- sumer” observed Lord Ormsby. “And so, now [ am bere on Mr. Tinperloy’s behalf. Proceed with | your explanations. You are in a little truuble. Of , What deseription is it P” “Why, tho truth is, sir, F am bothored by a ‘landlord who nover shows any mercy; and so he ‘hus gone to extromes and put an executiun in | my house.” ‘Well, and you expect Mr. Timporley tu agsist “In what ee you in tho matter?” said Ormsby. | way °” | © Well, sir, there is only one way that I know (of:""—and now the woman fidgettod with her | wine-plass. | “Pu bo sure! there’s only one way !” interjected “You want Mr. Timperley to pay Come, take another glass of wine, 8nd tell mo the exact trath of the matter. On my iside Lwyill frankly admit that L am charged by Mr. Truperley to settle the business according to } my own discretion.” | Ayain tho wornnu’s ayes glistened, aad she help herself to goothor glass of wine. ; Wall, sir,” she said, “1d thouzht that Mr. Tit. perlay wouldo't object to advancing me a few | pounds; tor it he only eaiae = tu kus how [ bave my name, E shall have nu hesitation in comumu- nicating 1.” Not at all necossary, sir, unless you think fit,” rejuined Mra. Maddox. ° Of cuurse, im dealing with you it is just the sume us if L was treating vith Mr. Timperley himself, siuco vou como on his behalf.” e * Precisely so,” said the nobleman. “ And now be su kind as to explain ——But Ah!” le ex. cliimed, as an idea suddenly struck bin: “we kept a certain seerep -——” may as well have a glass of wing!"—and be flang, “ But he dues not know anything uf the sort,” a couple of sovereigns on the tuabie. | said Orinsby, who, takiug hig cue tevm the wouuan’s The woman’s oyes glistened as she took up the own words, thought be might veouture on this money ; aud sho was about tu ring the bell, when observation. Lord Ormaby said, “Wo—de not let anybody. “Nv, sir ~L dou’t suppose he does,” she im- else see mo here.” imédiately rejoined ; “and J am sare if I had not “Ah, true!” ejaculated tho woman. “ I forgot been in such trouble L should not have thought of that you might bo particular. I will go and gut . applying to liu.” the wine myself.” | “And what is ¢his seerst which you have so She left the room; and Ormsby mentally ejacu- fuithfully kept?” asked Ormsby. “Tell me at lated, “ This coincidence ia truly wonde:ful! What- once: fur the reward i shall give you on Mr. svever regards Timperley is sure tv be of im.’ Limperloy's behall will be ia propurtion to the portance! It was a happy idea of mine to give Impurtange of the service you have renderod bin, this woman wine to driok; fur it will reuder her all Look! I have the powor tuo fullil my promise :’— oromunicative !” : aud taking out bis pockut-bovk, he produced a roll eedily returned to the parlour, ot bank notes, on more than one of whieh the de. ‘ine aud glasses, which she ' vouring eyes of the wuuraa caught the worl fiery She did not however give , in the corner, e of money to Lord; “ Well, L wuat toll yuu, sir,” she rasumed, * that She | 16 was something abuut Mrs, Chicklade.” AR! ejaculatot Ormsby : aud he ee he &é t om bringing a bottle placed upon the table. any change in the at Wrmeby: neither did he#xpect or mean it filled two glasses; aud While she drank off the euntentes of ber own, OrimaiX, just touched bis with cally drew bis chair closer tv Mra. Maddox. 4a lips and then thrust it a frum iim. referred to Mira. Cig) mada, your sat {}"" “Now,” he said, * be please entexupon your ‘f Yeu, sir—the i’ Yo womal that was murda, vs placations.” uf Guure” ity Lal wuly pivdtivued & eerbaits ECoOnnicloOolkXxs.conn