The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 306: what you’re looking at

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

SHE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. oe OP ee A dele OE Ne S68 4” . Tho attorneys then intimated to Saxondale the 'her ladyship from the scandal of oxposure in e amount of the addition to be made to his monthly | eallowangd until he should come of age:,and after _law-court.” “ But what counter-allegation docs Mr. Deveril . gnother lecturing, which he listened to with sundry | make ?” inquired Marlow. yawns and other evidences of impatience, he was at | @ “Mr. Deveril declares that her ladyship poured Jength permitted to take h® leave. . We cannot however immediately divert the reader’s notice from the office of Messrs. Marlow , and Malton: for soon after Edmund .Saxondale’s departure, the door of ‘the private room was again opened, and a clerk entered to announce that a gea- tleman giving the name of Mr. Gunthorpe requested an interview. Marlow desired hum to be at onco admitted; and our old friend bustled into the pre- sence of the attorneys,'with his hat in one hand, his forth in his ears an avowal of love—that she actod towards him in a manner the most indecorous—and that plainly avowing marriage to bo impossible, she offered to become hie. paramour.” Mr. Gunthorpe,” ejaculated Marlow, “it is im- possible’ this discourse can continue. My partner and I have bad the honour and pleasure of Lady Saxondale’s acquaintance ever since her husband's death—that is, about. nineteen years: and if we were asked to point out amongst the ladies of tho cane in the other, and his scratch wig turned the | Aristocracy one who by hor exceeding rectitudo of loast thing awry by accident. Having taken a seat, ho ut once said, “I believe, gentlemen, that you are tho attorneys of Lady Saxondalef” We have that honour,” replied Mu Mar “Then, gentlemen, I request that you mv your very best attention,” resumed five thorpe. ‘You doubtless read in the newspapers of | served My. Gunthorpe. “It is quite conduct, her unvarying prudence, her self-clevation above everything savouring of levity, much more above everything caloulated to excite the breath of scandal, we slould not hesitate to namo Lady Saxondale.” “Appearances cannot always be trusted,” ob- possible that a duel which recently took place between Lord | Lady Saxondale may have conducted herself during Harold Staunton and a young gentleman of the | along series of years with “the utmost propriety : name of Deveril. Now, in this Mr. Deveril I ex- | but in this instance it is evident enough to me that perience somo degree of interest-——” | she was beguiled: by a strong infatuation into the “TI think I onco saw him,” said Marlow, “ateLady | grossest imprudence. I also have as high an opinion Saxondale’s house. Did he not teach the young ; of William Deveril as you have of Lady Saxondalc. ladies drawing, or painting, or something of the | I know that Deveril was incapable of bending an kind, until he so misconducted himself towards their mother ?” - “Stop!” ejaculated Mr. Gunthorpe: “that is the very point I have come about. He did not misconduct himself. It is altogether a base fabri- eation on Lady Saxondale’s part-—" “Mr. Gunthorpe,” exclaimed Marlow, “I can- not permit this language. Her jadyship is our client-——” ° eo >, “And that is the very reason why I Have come toyou. Mr. Deveril, is perfectly incapable of such conduct as Lady Saxondale,bas represented. She has injured him in two ways—in # pecuniary sense by procuring exclusidp from the houses of ber acquaintanc&s, and in a moral senso by damaging his reputation. With regard to the formor it is a mere nothing in comparison with the latter. through his own industry and, other circumstances ; and if he were not, my purse would be open to him. But to be injured in the point which is dearest to an honourdble man—his character— this. is the source of affliction as well as the wrong that is to be vindicated; and if there is justice in. England, and it can be obtained for money, William Deveril shall have it.” . “Do you mean to threaten her ladyship with an action on Mr. Deveril’s account?’ asked Marlow. “Most decidedly,” responded Gunthorpe. “It appears to be the only gray of vindicating Mr. Deveril's fair fame. I called ufon her ladyship; Thank heaven, he is comfortably off impure look upon Lady Saxondale—much more of ing to offer aneinsulting overture. It is absv- lutely in. redibt. Evon before the duel, I was per- factly convinced of his1 in this respect: but since the duel I have received what I consider to bo the fullest corroboration. In a word, gentlomen, the night before that duel took place, he wrote several letters, amongst which there was one to me. I have since read it; and therein he confessed to me that he waa deeply enamoured of a young lady; and being so enamoured-—enamoured indeed almost to infatuation—it is not credible that he would havs made tender overtures to Lady Saxondale.” “ All this may be perfectly logical in your osti- mation, Mr. Guuthorpe: but we cannot sce with , your eyes. At tho same time,” continued Mr. | Marlow, “I must thank you for coming to call upon us with a viow.to prevent the disagrceables of a law-suit. It speaks well for yourself; and I am quite ready to confess that although wo do not doubt the issue for a nlinute, we should not like to seo Lady Saxondale’s name paraded before the country in such.a manner. What is it that Mr. | Deveril requires?” “A written. acknowledgment of the falsity ot Lady Saxundale’s. accusation: and this he pledges himself he will only exhibit in those quarters where he has reason to believe tie calumny has been: pro- pagated. I should have called upon -you ere this, had it not been for the duel which has stretched m poor young friend Deveril upon his bed: so that and she refused to make such amends as she.ought. | lost all thonght of everything except his dangor. I would have allowed the matter’ to be settled ag ; Now he is’ approaching convalesgence, and it is quietly as possible, so as to compromise hor as ptime to adopt measures to cloar his character.” little as might be: but she boldly stood out. Now, | “You are ayvare perhaps that Lady Saxondale both Mr. Deveril and myself are still averse to | has left town, and that she is plunged into the deep- takine extreme measures; ang therefore I thought : est grief on account of her youngest daughter Miss I would call and see if you, .” added Lady Saxondale’s | Constance Farcfield—or rather I suppose iriends and legal advisers, would interfere to save Marlow, “the Marchioness of Villebelle, as sho must | ECOMRniclacae SS (CO)