The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 376: what you’re looking at

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

¢—_____. “ Kind, ‘Bligabeth¢” ejaculated Mr. “Gudthorpe. || “But I must subdue these emotions for the present,” he murmured to himself: thon after a brief interval of reflection, he said, “ There aro many, many tore questions that I should wish to ask you: but I am fearful of appearing too obtrusive at present. Many | both.” Aud which, if I mistake not, Mr. Gunthorpe,” ‘said Lady Boss, accusting the eld geutleman and | looking earnestly in his countenance,, “ methinks | that you could clear up if you would. Yes—I am! convinced of it!” e At’ this ‘moment the door of tho parlour opened, and the invalid appoared upon the threshold, ° * Adolphus!” ejaculated Mr. Gunthorpo the in- stant he caught sight of the young nubleman’s countenance. “What! you know him?” said’ Lady Bess, with Increaséd surprise. ‘“ What is the meaninz of al this? Who are you, Mr. Gunthorpe? Pray speak —-tell us—koep us not in suspense——~" 9 “T knew Adolphus when ho was @ boy,” snid tho ' old gentloman, hig voico again becoming tremulous and his looks expressive of deep imward cmoti:!n, . as ho soised the invalid’s hand and pressed it | Warmly. Adolphus had been naturally sirprised at%o fer- vid a grocting from a stranger: but tho moment hie learnt, by Lady Bess’s words, that tho old gentlo- man was Mr. Gunthor pe of,whom Ienrietta had often spoken, he expressed the most enthusiastic delight at making his acquaintance. Mr, Gun- thorpe fazed upon I’m long and earnestly; anil then said in a solemn voice, “ Yes: assuredly you are the true and rightful Lord Everton!” “There cannot be a doubt of it,” observed Lady Bess: “we have proofs thé most positive, Well did Adolphus recogniae the portrait. his mother-——”’ > oo “Tho portrait of Lady Everton?’ said Mr Gun- thorpe. “Have you it here? If so, permit me to acc it.” “It is here,” said Khzabesheyniocking a writing- desk and producing the picture which she had torn . from the book at Lord Petersficld’s house. Mr. Guathorpe took it from her Land, and has- tened to the window, where he contonplated that portrait for sume minutes. Jiis back was turned towards Adolphus, Elizabeth, and Frank, during the time that he was thus occupied: but that his gaze THE MYSTERIES OF TIE COURT. ; @ . Fe fa a ee ee eee 0 eee Se el ES — ep = -_ - — > Cee oo @ points. we shall touch no more to-day. i or the pre- sent Jet me speak to you, Adolphus, relative to your own affairs, Do not regarl we as a stranger: I am not one. When you were a ov, J knew you well: but you doubtless recolleet me net. Law go much altered !"—and theso last wordy were uttered mysteries are ‘evidently surrounding you | mournfully. / "My dear air,” whispored Elizabeth Chandos, Oe Lae <A EES an ae pA NY a le AE ee aoe ey SP SCE | drawing Mr. Gunthorpe aside, “it paius Adolphus , to dwell too long upon the past. If you will, Lam ' perfectly disposed tu submit to you all the prouls | | have obtained in respect to the atrocious guilt. of his | une ‘le, the usurpiug Lord Everton. Come with mo into another room,” Mr. Gunthorpe according, followed Lady Bes: to tho oppusite parl§ur; and whon they were alony together, she narrated to hitn all that sbe had loins frou éhe lips of Adulphus relative to the ineiients of his earlier y8ars, and how ho was carricd olf {ro:n Everfdn Park in the middle of the night, just be- fore his father, General Lord Everton, was expectad home from India. Sho likewise explained how on ---———y- - —- see oe —_ . ) _— = that vory samo night the corpse uf another bov ot | the snine "age was substituted tor the livin, hel nr, Mrs Gunthorpe rose from his seat at this part of . the narrative, and paced tu‘and fro in the little apartinent in a state of the utinest excitement. “T knew that Everton,” galluding to the uncle, “was villain,” ue said: “but still L thuarht him not capable of such monstrous guilt as this! heaven, there 1s no punishinent tow vroat for sucha mtiscreant mpreray the art of Justice ere now 2” “Ah! my deaf sir,” responded Lady Bess, ina tone of deep molancholy, * beamuse there are reasons By . }Low is it, Blizabeth, that you have not : which indu@® mv to seek the settlement of all this | Without exposure to the world.” “ And those reasons?” asked Mr. Gunthorpo, with - a look of anxiety and suspenso. “T fear,” repliod Elizabeth Chandos, slowly, “that this bad man is acquainted with scerets re- lative to one whose honour and good name must bo | spared.” “And that ono?” cried Mr. Gunthorpe vele- mently. “Luddy Everton—the mother of Adolphus! By re. joined Lady Bess. have I revealed what [ know or rather suspeet-— “But to me, Klizabeth--tu me, | sav,” inter- “But not to Adolphus yet — rupted Mr.’ Gunthorpe, ‘with a vuiee and look of sulamn adjuration : “(® me must you tell every was intent, ‘and that hé studied the picture carncatly, j thing! 1 did not think of enteringglurther itu - waa cvident from the circumstance that his hea:l | explanations this day: but what you have betn say- moved not during those minutes. As he turned ing render®it uecessary. Tell me then, any dear away from the window and rave back tle portrait - ' Elizabeth—tell we, I bosecch you-- whut your sla- to Lady Boss, she obscrveyl that there was the mark | of a tear-drop upon if; and she felt more convinced than even ut first, that Mr. Gunthorpe was in some way or another intimately yet mysteriously con- nected with the ciroumstanges relating to the past and which the present was rapidly developing. “ My dear young friend,” said the old genticman, addressing himeelf to Adolphus, “the prinzipal ob- jeot of my visit hero to-day was to speak to you upon a certain delicate matter. I am indeed glud that I came,” he continued, flinging a rapideglance upon Mlisabeth and Frank: “fur I havo heard things which [I little expected to hear, and which have interested me profoundly. But dpon those a ee See eee ee ~~ ee eee a a - . | an Srl Caries oe a 8 picions are, o¢ what your knowled ze 1s 7 | “7 will, Mr. Gunthorpe,” responded the ann- gonian lady, doeply tupressed with the convtetion that he had not merely grave reasons but even some inysterious right thus to question her: then in w | low and solemn voice, sho added, ** My belief ts, Mr. Gunthorpe, that Lady Everton is my vwa mother, and thorefore the mother of Frank also?” My. Gunthorpe said nothing: “but he looked trangely at Lady Bess. Indeed, shrewd and pene- trating. though she was, she could not comprehend the nature of that look: but at least shefelt assured that it was fraught with a kind intorest fur ber. “ Yos—that indeed} is a grave consideration,” he ee See ees « - —_——eE 2 = = . = e OOO) (CO)