The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 379: what you’re looking at

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

¢ @ a 366 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. lg ee he know where she lived. His reply wus that he j they will’ discover all the rest.« There will be s did not even know whether she was in Iundon. 80 | terrific exposure. And now, what is to bo done?” I remained fretting, and fidgetting, and chafing at |* ‘“ What is & be done indeed ?” said Lord Peters. Dover, not knowing what on earth to do. At last, field, pacing the room in considerable agitation, all as I tell you, the Dover paper of some weeks back, phis studied reserve being scattered to the winda, and X ny EE _ containing the account of that business, fell into my | his natural feelin hands; then I saw at once that Elizabeth was the | female highwayman who stopped Marlow and Mal. ton, and that she lived somewhere near Edmonton. So I came up to London to-day—and have only just ciality. ‘“'Yes—what is to be done?” repeated the Ba- | ronet. “ You are rich, my lord—you bave feathered your nest well in varjous diplomatic servicos—and arrivod. My first visit is paid to you, that we may | you’can perhaps afford to disgorge. But with me consult together.” “Do you happen to have the Dover paper about you?” asked Peterslield: “for L know no more of arlow’s adventure than what ‘ho told mo at the time.” P “Yes—here it is,” returned Sir John Marston, producing tho journal. Lord Petersticld took it and commenced roading at tho column indicated by the Baronet: but fis ko | continued the perusal, his features began to express & gruwing amazement; and suddenly rapping his olenched hand upon the tablo, be ejaculated, “ Then, by heaven, it was sho !” | ¢ ‘What do you mean?” asked the Baronct has- til y: : ““T mean that Elizabeth has been here—that she has paid a visit to this house,” responded Lord Pe- tersfield in consternation. ” “I never could funcy What the meaning of that strange creature's intru- sion could be. I set her vown as mad. Marlow never happened to describe her person to mc—*-” “ But did you not recollect her #” inquired Sir John. “I never saw her sings her earliost childhvod,” answered the nobleman. “* When I took Brunk to school at Southampton, I carefully avuided seeing Hlizabeth. She was then sixteen: and theretore if sho had seen mo, she would havo remembered me again—which I was naturally anxious to avoid. Ah! this is indeed most threatening. What could sho have come hither fur? J can’t make it out. It was asguredly she. The description in this news- paper is life-like—handsome but largelly chisclled features—full lips, somewhat coarse and richly red --tecth white as ivory--olive complexion—a some- what bold and hardy gazo—a voice strony, but not it is vory different! I have no moro than I know what todo with; and if I were to give up my share I should be a ruined man. Indeed, it was buly to keeps tho woman quict and epable her to have enough to live upon, that I"have allowed her this four hundred a-year fur a littlo time past. 1 was fearful that if sho fell into poverty she might begin talking to people of the transaction of that mur- rlage—and thus ono thing might have led on to another, resulting in the fullest exposure. But I repeat that jf I am called upon to refund, I may as well go and drown enyself afterwards.” “‘ Besidas, the exposure! tho disgrace! tho dainn- ing infamy!” ejaculuted Lord Petersfeld. “ Would to God I had never done it!” “Ah! you wore something like myself in those timos, my dord,”’ saide Marston bitterly; “too fond of the gaming-table }" | “And Lady Petersficld!” continued the noble- mar, not heeding the Baropet’s' acerbic interjection : “what a blow for her! she who suspects it not! she who has not an idea of all this! And with her diabolical temper t»0o———Whiy it will be enough to make me blow my brains out !” “A pretty couple wo shall be, thon!” said Marston, with that bitter mocking laugh in which despuir sometimes breaks forth: oy, to drown myself—you to blow your‘brains out! But what és to be dono? It is no usg your walking up and dqwn ,tho room like this. Pray resume some of your diplomatic cunning as soon as ever you like. The souner, too, the better. Fortunately we know whero Elizabeth is—at a cottage near Edmogton. The report in the Dover newspaper lets us know that much. Now then, decide. Shall we lock ber up in a madhouse?P or shall we do that other thing—you know what harsh, and with flute-like tones——Yes, to be sure, | I mean?” itis the same! it is beyond all doubt!” “But upon what pretence did she come” de- | Lord Potersfield impatiently. manded the Baronct. ‘‘Consider—reflect! You must tax your mepory it is important wo should | able us to form an idea of the ' Marston, “under such circumstances. I tell you know. It may extent of the clue which she possesses.” ; ‘Do not allude to it, Sir John Marston!” replied “Tam not so bad as that.” € “ But I am bad enough for anything,” exclaimed what, Petersfield—an idoa tas struck me! Let you “Ab! « suspicion strikes me,” cjaculgted Peters- | and I go and Igy in wait in the neighbourhood of field. “On that very same day, I recollect full well; her residence; did when she couics out, wo will now, ber brother Frank was hore; and he hap- | shoot her dead. If you are afraid to fire the pistol, pened to qe that portrait pf Lady Everton which | 1am 1ot. Then we will swear sho tried to rob us: was published in the Court Beautics. men !” With these words Lord Petersfiold hurried from | Stop a mo- | and the respectability of your name—your high po- sition — your rank—all will give a colouring to the statement. We may.atterwards devise some means the room: but in less than a minute he ercturned, | to dispose of the boy Frank.” holding a book open in bis hand ;—and advancing up to the Baronet, “10 showed him whero a leaf had becn abstracted, exclaiming, “Yes—it is yee De. “Then rest assured, my lord,” replicd Sir John | “Sir John Marston, are you mad?” ojaculated the nobleman, becoming white as a sheet. The Baronet was about to reply, when the door opened, and g footman entered, bearing a card, and intimating that ‘tho gentleman wiuse nae it de- Marston, “that they are thoroughly upon the right ‘ scribed sought un immediate interview. track; and having discovered whv their mother is, | | “ Myr, Gunthorpe?” said Lord Peteriiold, insta ge triumpfing over cold artiii- oe ) OOO) ior COMIC SS (CO)