The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 228: what you’re looking at

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

—_— = —e see ee eS Oo Se ee 2 Oe oe ee re ee ee ee ee, eee eee een eee Oe —- —-~—# —-_. Ci Eee ener oe er Same wees eee THE MYSTERIES OF TRE COURT. “What was that adventure with a disguised Lascar the other night?” asked Sir Frodorick, “Come—I dare »ay your mastor did not wirh to frighton us at Tudor House, and therefore he has told you to hold your tongue: but you need not hesitate to explain everything tome .”—and thus speaking, Sir Frodorick placed a puinoa in the groom’s hand. ° “Why, sir, the truth is,” reaponded the do- mestic, ‘‘thoro wore two udventures with that Lascar—one about a weck back, and the other on tho night of the party. To which do you allude, sir P”’ lo both,” was the responre. On thea first occasion, sir,’? restmed the do- mostic, “*I think his lordship had taken a little tod much of your wine, sir—saving your pre- suncu—and he upset the phaeton. I was stunned on the sput; and when I camo to iny ronses agin his lordship was erying out ‘Step thief !’—and then his lordship went oneswearing terribly, mukiug mo believe that he had been robbod. There was somethire strange im his lordship’s manacr, “iro theuvh he deelaeed he had sof been robbed——’” e * And what abou, tho adventure of the night hefe: lust?’ inqawed Sir Frederick, very aux- 1OUsly * Why, sit, as we wereedriving homo, we siw a felowin wh: riugelime with gowns Als, Ash. ton; avd then Jas lordship eried out that he was the very sume Lasear who nad rubbed dian the ofl nig,” ‘Tho groom proceeded to relate the incident of the Lascar’s escape from Lord Ru-hbreok aud Christian, just as Mr. Ne lelife had alrendy de- tuled the circumstances to sir Frederick : but the groom of his own aecord added © that his lordship seemed atruck qmto aback when the pias wzuin spoke about thu sate and cush- 1X,” ‘€ And you havo not the slightest notion what the villain alluded to?’ said the merchant in- qruringly. ‘* Notgtho least, sir,” replied the bewildered frvoul, . “Now tell me, my good felloy,” eculinued saz Jrederiek—and he put another guines mto the domestic’s hand,---“‘ hus his lordship your master paid any cousidenablo sum of moncy yesterday or to-day——I mean, is it within your knowled7o that he has dono so? Whatover in- formation you give me, will do you no harm; oud you can keep silent as to having been ques- tioned in this way,” ‘““! don’t know, sir, whether his lordship has paid away any large sum of money,” answered (he groom: ‘‘ but raving your presence, sir, unl with no disrespect, 1] do know that thero wus an oxucution ont against his lordship for twelve or thirteen hundred pounds—be- euse he told me to tako caro that ho was always denied if ever Buiter tho Sheri ff’s-officer should happen to call. Well, sir, yesterday his lordship drove to Mr. Muy’s, the attorney’s, in ' Gray's Inn Square; and when he came out of tho office, he jumped into the ' he didn’t now caro a curse for a Se = ey ee ee ee ee tee OO @QQPG@nen=seee 4B eeeeeswa peeigr rs Riyine tho Kyffers in existence.” 8 Os OCU Wales oe ee Rey or onb-Giiel, Gaels ot. ee es Seen 8 o- ‘Sinatra cara Aenaielipmaem Oe InS Tana aS 215 eee need got realy; and ascending to the drawinge room, lic said to Rushbrook, Your lordship must pardon me for Ienving yon so abruptly : but I havo just received a letter which cailx me into the City.” “Well, I shall be off likowise,” said the Viscount. “Shall I give you a lift in my phaeton ¢’’ e “ft thank you, my lord,” rosponded the mer- chant: “but I set a value upon my neck, and your lordship’s reckless driving by no means suits my ideas of safety.” During his mde into London Sir Frederick Latham continued to reflect more and more on everything he had heard; and he wondered whether the inquiries he was about to institute would throw any light upon one portion of the topics which bewildered hm. He wis a man of romariable sacacity in buainess-mat- ters, and keenly prompt to seizo upon any clue which by any possibility night seom to promise the unravelment of a mystery. He repaired etraight to the offices of Mr. May, the solicitor in Gray’s Inn Square: that gentleman nlone at tho time in his private room; and he at onco rpccived Sir Frederick Latham. The lawyor and the merchant were person- ally unknown to exch othor: but the instant | the great namo of the latter was announced, the professional gontioman was ou tho alert to receive Din with all possible courtesy and respect, “Mr. May,” said Sir Frederick, taking tho rewt which was proffered to him; “Slam abuut to put threo or four questions which may seem singular: but I beg you not to refuse to anawer them on that account—nor to prejudge dispa- razingly the nobloman whore namo I shall havo to mention. 1 allude to my brother-in-law, the Viscount Ruastbrook.” “Ah, indeed!’ suid AIr. May, with the air of one to whom that namo was far frum un- familiar. e “You know the Viseountf”? continued Sir al —“T mean, of course, jofession- ally - -—” ¥ Ji have not the honour of being his Jord. ship's professiongl adviser,” interjected Mr, Afiay. *No—bué you have been vory recently engaped ayainst him,” resumed tho merchant ; and sur tirdiy, { understood, he called upun 7ou——~——” “Vine, ir Frederick,” responded tho solicitor: {his lordship came to settle a littlo mutter——hut to be candid with you, Vis- count Rushbrook paid me sume tlurtcen hunu- dred pounds (o settle a lability on which L had been compelled to issue an oxevution against his person.’’ “Precisely so,” said the merehant. ‘“‘ And now I am abort to ask the qnestion which nay xeom most singular. Did you happen to take the numbers of the notes m which Lord Bush- brook settled this Jinbility ?”’ Most assuredly,” exclaimed Mr. May: “for Tat onco sent off the money to my hanker’s ; and as a matter of precaution, Tinvariably keep the numbers of bank-notes thus confided to thu “* Breathe not a syllable to o sdul that I have | care of a clerk.’ eveu been questioning you,” said Sir 1 rede- rick. not whet*to think of the numerous quories * Would you oblige by favouring mo with a sight of those sme uumbers P’’ asked Sir Free As ho separated from tho groom—who knew | dorick. The lawyer, wondering at the request, ut unce that had been pnt to him—the merchant looked | produced the list,—which the merchant com- at his wateh, and found that it was now throes | pared with a shp that he took froin bis own o'clock, He ui once ordored his carriage to be | pocket-bovk. All the numbers on Mr. May's ) #7 pap tn Se ht | a | a eee ee ee Sy a OOO) ( ior SS (CO)