The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 395: what you’re looking at

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

ana a eee ee ea 984 THE MESTERIES OF THE COURT. “Silence!” again vociferated the old Baronet, | quirks and chicaneries might \be evolved during waving his band furiously. “I do not trea you | the course of his professional proceedings. as a vepbew———I discard you—I disown you!” Such was the attorney who now received a hearty “You were already prepared to do s0,” replied | welcome from Sir John Steward; and in s fow Edgar, drawing his tall form up proudly in the | rapidly uttered words Mr. Andrews explained how midst of his custodians, “before the incidents of | it was that he had come on the eve of the day this evening. Hest assured that I should feel | when he was expected to arrive. The deeds were myself bat little flattered or complimented by / all inished—he found that there was a late train being spoken of in the word as the relative of |—and he thought that he might just as well run such as you! And now, Sir John Steward, you ' down from London at once, instead of waiting shail hear me. You may exercise your power ; until the morrow, as he saw by the tenour of Sir tyrannously over my liberty: but you cannot | John Steward’s letters that he waa anxious to place s gag between my lips. I accuse you of keeping a young lady within these walls against get the business settled as soon as possible. Mr. Andrews was duly complimented by the Baronet ber will--I accuse you of contemplating the coer- | for the zeal which he had thus displayed; and as cion of this young lady into = marriage which is loathsome and repugnant to her—I accuse you he had come to take up his temporary quarters at Verner House, the vehicle which he had hired to of leaguing and conniving with an infamous | bring him from the railway-station was at once womaen-——” dismissed. Having been introduced to Mrs. Oxen- “Sir John Steward,” cried Mrs. Oxenden, her | den, the lawyer was conducted to the drawing- countenance livid with rage, “is this abominable | room,—whore the Baronet hastily explained to him language to be tolerated ?” the position of affairs in respect to Edgar Beverley “It is shocking,” interjected Beverley, “that a, and Christian. Mrs. Oxenden tempurarily quitted ‘man should be compelled to speak thus of a/ the room in order to revisit her sister; and when woman: but with you, Mra. Oxenden, I consider | the door closed behind her, the lawyer drew his myself bound to keep no terms and to be swayed chair nearer to that occupied by the Baronet,—at by no fastidiousness. Let your friend Sie John | the same time observing, “ This 1s a nasty business, Steward dare to pronounce a sentence of impriscn- ment againet me and my geverous-hearted com- panion, and [ will unreservedly proolaif a But at this mumont there was a loud knocking at the street-door,—which had been immediately preceded by the sounds of an equipage rolling up to the front of the mansion, althuugh these sounds had passed unheard in the dining-room on account of the excitement of the acone. “Who can this be?” ejaculated Sir John. “The present business must be suspended for a moment-——-I may be wanted——it is possible that it is some one for me. Keep the prisoners in secure custody——And I would advise you, Edgar, to retain a still tongue in your head if you wish me to show you any mercy.” Beverley flung a scornful look upon his uncle— but be made no verbal remark: he felt that he ought to do‘as much as he possibly could to pro- Sir John—a very nosty business; and you must manage it with great delicacy. Pray excuse me: but-——” “What do you mean ?” inquired the Baronet. “Ye itall right about the deed breaking off the entail and thereby disinheriting my graceless nephew ?” All right, my dear sir,” responded the lawyer, with a swile half obsequious, half professionally significant. ‘It is amougst these papers here :"’— amd he pointed to the ducuments which Jay befure him upon the table. “Then let mo sign it at once!” exclaimed the old Baronet, in his greedy haste thus to avonge himeelf upon the nephew whom he detested. “Softly—softly, Sir John !” said the Jawyer. “With all due deference, the matter cannot be settled in such a railway apceed. JY am bound to read the document over to you ” ‘pure the release of the young friend whose gene-! ‘“ Nonsense! nonsense!” ejaculated the Baronet _toub ‘services on his behalf had involved him inj We can dispense with all formalitiee——” thr present dilemma, Sir John Steward issued: “But, my doar Sir John,” again interposed the from the room, accompanied by Mrs. Oxenden: 'attorney—and it was with another obsequiqua Edgar and Christian remaining in the custody of | smile,—“ the document must be attested by com- ern Fe, the domestica. Ae the Baronet and his female accomplice passed forth into the hall, a footman was just opening the front door and giving admittance to a middle-aged gentleman, from the side-pocket of +hose overcoat peepod forth some parchments and other ceeds. Thie was Mr. Andrews, the London attorney, are right—and after all, something must bi dune whoee arrival was not expected until the morrow. He was an active bustling individual—talked with great volubility—and though really of good man- ners, was nevertheless inclined to be somewhat too servilely obsequious towards hie wealtby clients. He Was not exactly an unprincipled person—he would not of his own accord perform a dishonest action : but he was what might be termed a sharp precti- tioger, everything that the law allowed for tho wide that be sapoused, and believing that it wan perfectly cotsistent with the character of an ’ | petent witnesses. Now, pray listen to me. Here are all the decds—marriage-scttlements, dratt of will, and everything that you have ordered : bué do let them stand over uniil we have first discussed the affair which seems tc press with the most im- portance.” “Well, well,” said the Baronet, “no doubt you at once 1D respect to this ecapegrace of a nophew of mine and hie friend.” “Purdon me for appearing to dictate, my dear Sir John,” resumed Mr. Andrews; “ but yun really must not treat the matter magisterially. It would ‘perbapsa be all the better for me,” he went on to observe with a chuckle; “ because you would be certain to have actions for false’ imprisonment brought against youo——”’ “ And what dol care?” exclaimed the Barunet : honourable man te avail himself of whatscever “I have the means of paying the damages.” é See NOG SS