The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 378: what you’re looking at

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

eo ee ail ee ee, ee ee OS ee ee ey leeeeneneeneeremenenneeateraneeee =~ eee eR QENEETS Onteeme—~ctementtnnennee 2 5 : : as — THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 365 a footman, entergd; and presenting his with a catd, said, “This gentleman requests an immediate | much mistaker, she at the present moment bears interyiew with your lordship.” ® ~| the name of Mrs. Chandos.” “Sir John Marston?” said Lord Petersfield, who! ‘You are right, Sic John—you are right. Lady seldom suffered himself to be surprised out of his | Saxondale and Marlow both told mo the other day _ diplomatic gravity. @ Well, let him walk up ;”— | that Frank Paton, whom I placed with her Indy- and yet he was far fuom liking this visit. ship, bad found a sister in that woman. But do In a few minutes the Baronet made his appear- | you know-——” ance. He advanced with outstretched hand: but| “I know that she is a femalo highwayman,” in- the nobleman recvived him somewhat coldly, and | terrupted the Barunet. “It is a most extraordinary eyed him with a certain degreo of suspicion. , thing that I should be staying at Dover whon her “Many yours have elapsed since fou and I met, | adventure at tho Admiral's Head took place. I my lord,” said tno Baronet, gazing upon him as if | heard something of it at tho time, but little thought to myik the extent to which the ravayes*of time | that Mrs. Chandos—the heroine of that adventure had gone in respect to the nobleman’s person. —end our Elizabeth Paton were one and the sanp “It may be many gears, Sir John Marston,” | person. I do not read tho local newspaper habit- said Lord Petersfield, with his habitual diplomatic | ually; and thérefore the account, which gave a full caution ; “but Iam not prepired to say how many | description of her personal appearance, escaped my -~indeed I should not like to yonture a conjocture | notice. But yesterday I accidentally lighted upon without careful consideration——” the particular number of the Dover newspaper eun- “Your lordship appears to receive me soMcwhat | taining that report; and as I read on, 1 was coldly,” said tho Baronet. » struck with the conviction that Elizabeth Patun is ‘“‘No—not culdly,” rejoined PRetersfifld; “but I | Mrs. Chandos.” am not as yet assured—that is to shy, have not| “And you are right,” responded Petersfield. “ yet had leisifre to make up my mind whether you | have.been told that she is Frank's sistor. But what are Sir John Marston or not; and I should not like f it? and what connexion have her misdvings with to come to a hasty conclusion.” any clue——’ “ What nonsonso is this, Potersfield p” exclaimed | “ Who cuid that there was a connexion?” inter- Marston, with « movement of impatience: then | rupted the Baronot. “ }, tell you that she does pos- as he threw himself upon a seat, ho said, ‘Come, | sessaclue. You know that Villebelle has marricd throw off this diplomatic cautiousnuess and reserve | Constance Farefield.” of your's: for we have *to speak upon imporfint | “Ycs—I am aware of it,” answered Lord Pcters- business, I can tell you.” field. “Indeed, to tell you tho truth, I delicately “Well, thon,” said the diplumatist, “ granting ( Gropped to Ludy Saxondale a hint, »nany months that you are Sir Joha Marston—and considerin{: | ago, that tho Marquis had a wife living. Of course from the corroborative evidonce of your printed | I did not say how I kne@it: I pretended to havo card, coupled with your own*deliberate averment, | heard some such thing rumoured when I was in 99@ 9? that you may bo so-——_; Paris-—- “Why, you, know I am!” ejuculated Marston, } “ Well, but you sce the marriage has taken place,” stamping his foot with another paroxysm of im- | continued Sir John Marston. ‘“ Eliznbeth released patience.” “ What the devil makes vf go on in| Villebelle from all engagement towards her—frum this rigmarole style? Surely a matter of some six- | all bonds or ties——that is to say, so far as sho was teen years or so hus nof so changed me that you do | able. I should havo stopped the marriage most mot recognize me ?” effectually, had not Villebolle, when at Dover, whis- “Personal appearance Te"not always a trustworthy | pered in myvear a certain name, which convinced eredential,” remarked Lord Petersfield. ‘ But still, | mc with startling effect that Elizabeth docs possess as I was saying——” a cluc to past events that may proye fangerous “Tho deuco take what you were saying!” inter- | enough for us.” rupted the Baronet. ‘1 will very soon give you a| “And that clue?” asked Lord Potersfield, all his proof that I am that selMsame Sir John Marston— | diplomatic reserve having given place to intense Lady Everton's brother—with whom you and the ansicty. presemt Lord Everton did a certain business.” “The name of ®ady Everton was breathed in my “ Enouzh!” gaid his lordship, now looking anx- | ears,” rejoined the Baronet. jously around: then rising from his seat, ho ad-| ‘Ah! this is awkward,” said foterefeld. “ But vanced to the door—opened it—looked cautiously | what Gid you do? what have you done ?” out—and satisfying himsolf that thgre were noeaves-} ‘What wuld I do? I did not then know where droppers, closed it again. “ Now, Sir John Marston, |‘ Elizabeth was: nor did I know that she and Mra. ‘what bdsiness has procured me the honour—I might | Chandos were one and the same. I thought of perhaps say the ploasure of this visit ?”’ doing a thousand thimrs—of hunting ker out—of ‘That very same business to which I have already | locking her up in a madhouse, if I found her—or alluded,” responded tie Baronet. “Do you know | even of making away with her if necessary.” ° = * my lord that a certain young lady has discovereda| “Sir John Marston!” exclauncd Petorsfield, bg- clue-—-” coming White as a sheet. “ Eh—what ?” ejaculated his lordship, now speak-| ‘Ah! you may affect horror, my lord,” resumed ing rapidly enough; and his diplomatic countenance, | the Baronet: “but I was prepared for anything suddenly losing all its gravity, became expressive | desperate. , Yet where was I to search for ber? All of the utmost agitation. ‘Do yo mé&n Elizabeth | I know was that she had recently been to Robson Paton—or the Marchioness of Villebelle—or what- |—that’s my attorney, you know+-to ‘receive some aver sho may call herself?” money I allow her. So I wrote to Robson to ask if 6 e Se ED i aS “TI do,” replied Sir John: “and if I be not very COMIC OOO© SS (CO)