The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 354: what you’re looking at

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

a . - uaa <s-Qp ag Le PE ee, . —@~ eng .." ie = waeation UV dF we. Pr | {HE MSYTERIES OF THE COURT. a nnn —= ee eee P a ea ere iT aT I a Sm TA gn om a, <i Si gr fT eG ST a TE TT Ds I TNE IE IT OI TET TET, COT I library to write a few letters.” absence was not longer than she had spocificd; and on her return she sat down to join in the conversa- tion with her daughtor cad her gucsts. CHAPTER J,XXI. A TRAGEDY. | Tr was about half-past eight o'clock on this same evening of which wo are speaking, that Mr. Gun- tharpe and William Deveétil set out on foot from an hotel at Gainsborough, where they had arrived during the afternoon ; and they proceeded along the bank of the river towards Saxendalo Castle. The — 78 wa © 1s a eee egy hour,” said Lady Gaxondale, “ while I repair to the | agaip! Walk in, Thus. speaking, she quitted the room. But her 341 —_ dae Ss oe ee, Cites Ce EES » pees ey “S - . os OS eee Ee sir. Mother, hore is Mr. Deveril —and another gentleman along with him.” “ Thev are both heartily welcome,” said the olf woman, making her appearance; and in tho kind. mess of her hoart she grasped Deveril’s hand. Our young horo and Mr. Guothorpe entered the little sitting-room of the cottage, where tho old woman's daughter welcomed Doveril in her turn. But there were two other persons in this room— two females, One was handsomely dressed, anil had the air, if not exactly of a lady, at least of @ person ia good circumstances; while the other, who appeared to be her maid, carried a large brown paper parcel in her hand. It immediately struc ° Deveril that he had seep the countenance of tie lady before: but he could not at the instant ro- collect when or where, “Sit down, gentlemen,” said the old woman, bustling aboyt to give Mr. Gunthorpe and our aun had gone down half-an-hour previously,» the |henp chairs: “there's plenty of room. Woll, wa twilight was waning—the dusk was setting in—but | Aave got company this evening! Who would have by the appearance of the eVening there was no pro- | thought it? This lady and her maid have taken bability of the darkness being so great qs to render the walk by the side of the Trent at all dangerous. Deveril, moreover, had been there before, and per- fectly remembered the various features of the route. “TI wonder whether the fellow Chiffa will keep his appointment,” said Mr. Gwnthorpe, after they had walked a considerable distance—and it was now past nine o'clock. “T think thera cau be,no doubt of it,” roplied Deveril. “The man is evidently one who will do anything for money; and the prospect of roceiving a largo reward from you, sir, will win him ovor to our interests. But really I am quite ashamed when I think of all the trouble you are taking on my be- half—and what is more still, all %o monoy you are spending.” . “Stuff and nonsense!” ejaculated Mr.°Gunthorpe petulantly. ,“ How often am I to tell gou not to address mo in that wéy? If you ever speak to me again in such terms, I shall think that you mcan intentionally to offend me.” “No, my dear sir—you aqpnot think that: be- cause you know it ‘to be impossible. On the con- t:ury, you would doubtless consider it very extra- ordinary if I did not oxpress all my gratitude towards you. Ah! it was here,” suddenly exclaimed Deveril, ‘that I rescued that strange woman from drowning; and yonder is the cottage to which we were bothconveyed. You porccive that glimmering light P” » ; ““Yos,” said Mr. Gunthorpe; “and I tell you what, William—lI feel uncommonly thirsty; and we will just step out of our way that mych, and call upon those%good pedsants. There is plenty of time: fur Chiffin will of courso wait for fu That con- fouhided soup at the hotel in Gai ugh was so sult that it has left my throat asf dry as 1 I had been cating red herrings,’ , Mr. Gunthorpe and Deveril accordingly turned away from tho bank of the river and approached the cottage, which they reached in a few minutes. On a longer walk than they meant to ‘do, as thy say—artl were so tired they wore obliged to step in and sit down for a few minutes. But what will you take, gentlemen? Our fare is humble. yet such as it is, you are most welcome.” “ My fricnd here,” answered Devoril, ‘is exccod- ingly thirsty. A draught of water, or milk——” “Or cider?” cxclaimod tho old woman, “We (have got some good cider; and this lady and her maid havo pronounced it excollent.” 'Yos—tiat assurance I can certainly give you, gentlemen,” said tho haudsomoly-dressed feraale, who had never taken her fine dark eyes off Deveril since thé first moment ho entered tho cuttuge: for she: was evidently struck by tho exceeding beauty of his person, as well perhaps by having heard his name mentioned by the old woran’s son when he made his appearance. Deveril bowed courteously as she spoke; and acain it struck him that ho had seen her befure. “If it be not impertinent, sir,” she said, ‘are you the Mr. Doveril whoso namo created so much sympathy on a recent occasion?” —then as our hero again bowed, though somewhat distantly— for he did not much like tho hardihvod of his questioner’s looks,—she exclaimed, “Ah! I am well acquainted with Lord Ifarold Staunton, and his intimate friend Lord Saxondale too.” “Do you come figm London, then ?” inquired Mr. Gunthorpe, in his blunt manner. “I reside habitually in London,” wase tho re- sponse ; } but alittle business has brought mo dowa into these parts. I dare say,” added the lady, “that my name is not unfamiliar to you, gentlemen. I am Mademoisolle D’Alembort of the Italian Opera.” ; ; 2 “Ah!” ejaculated Deveril, now instantancously recollecting where he had seen’ her countenaute before. | *Yes—that is my name,” she continued, flatter- ing herself that it was in admiring surprise that the knocking at the door it was opened by the peasant ‘ young gentloman had sent forth that oxclamation. himself, who instantaneously recognizing Deveril as the light from tho room streamed But come,” she added, addressing herself to her ‘ eoubrette; “we must be off.” upon jis coun : tenrnee, gave vent to an ejaculation of surprise and | Rising from her scat, she ostentatiously took from joy. ‘This is kind of you, sir, to come’ and seo us | her purse a sovereign, which she tendered to tho old woman of the cottage, ‘who literally confounded r Se rN Re Sp a nsf OSS? LOAO© (C©) YN S (CO)