The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

—-—e Gey Gee _ ~- _ ee ee eee ee ey ee eee ee ee eee —_— ae —e ee eee SS ES, a see = a Oe TT qo rere eer a Co very day that the duel took place, that a tall man, of rentleroanly appearance, and well though plainly drevsed-—that is to gay, his apparel was genteel and of good materials, but without pretension —passod slowly along Mortimer Street ; and observing a card in a wihidow, announcing a firat floor to let ready furnished, ho knocked at the door. On one of the servants atfiworing it, he ro- quested to look at the rovms; and he was in the firat instance shown intu Mrs, Macat- lay’s parlour, while that rcspoctable female “tidied herself up a bit ’--to usc her own phrase. Having washed her face and hands, slipped on her silk gown and her cap with pink ribands, Mrs, Macaulay entered the parlour, with a simpering micn and a hulf-curtsey. She prided herself upon being an excellent physiognomist } for she always scrutinized well every applicant for her lodgings—so that shé tiight calculate the chancea of being paid her rent, or of having her tenants decamp suddenly sumo fine day. As & matter of course such disagtewable incidehts as these had been within the range of her expe- rience; and by treasiting up If het mind the countenances of the delinquenté, die regarded them as criterions for the formation ofc her judg- ment in future. Therefore, on enterltig into the presonce of the gentleman to whom we hive al- luded, sHe studied him with, all the keenness of her perception, yet withott appearing to dd so. As we have said, he was of tall stature: we may add that he was of commanding aspect. His hair, which was of an iton gray, was worn tucti away from above the forehead, and wis thin upon the crown. His whiskers, which were large, were a shade darker—yet quite giay at the roots. Handsome he might be considered, so far as the profile was concerned: but he had a cold stern look that was- almost saturnine, and which chilled the beholder. His cowplesion appeared to be made up of sallowness bronzed with the sun. As for his age, it waa by no theans easy to fix it: he might be ifty—he might eveti be several years younger or older; but that whiol might have led to the former, inference, Waa that ho possessed a fine set of teeth which were well preserved, He waa droased in black; and over his shoulders there hung loosely a dark blue cloak. Though it was only tho midglle uf October, the weather waa atill warmly genial, and’ the landlady therefure concluded he was an invalid or had lately been one, and thus sought to protect himself against the chance of taking cold. From the result of her survey, she could not exactly make up her mind as to whether abe liked hie appearance or not. He had the air of a gentleman: but then that cold severe atern look of his troubled and bewildered her. Besides, was not the Polish Count with an awful long name, arid who turned out to be no Count at all, but only s wild Irish adventurer, ard who had run away five pounda in ber debt,—was not he a very gentlemanly man? while, on the othor hand, did she uut decling to reeaivo as a lodver an elderly person, merely on account of his haughtily atern look—-and had nut thia very individual “lived fer the last tea yeare with Mxe.' Sifkin over the way, paying his rent aa regularly as clock-wotk, end mever venturing a bint that his tea and augor dis- appeared rapidly, or that mgmehow or another - Vee et jn ee THE MYATERIES OF THE COURT weg? een something was always wanted though a store of it had been Jaid in only a day or two back? There- fore, it was no wonder if worthy Mrs. Macaulay Wie Puszled huw to act in the present instance, and thet the tall goxtlentte countenance was oné which seemed to defy her skill as a physiognomist. “TI seo that you Have spartments to let,” he a and the milduess of his yoice, rich however in its sonorous harnichy, ahd tigctured with a deep mourtifulnest, Alimoit made "H8F start: for she had expected that Hulight but the sternost accerits could issite froti thoes lips, “Yee, sit,” she redpotidéd, cheering up con- siderably, and _ =* on the invariable simpetr of an obliging land v find them excellent apattitionits, and lid y—or——” Ie it for yourself “For myself only;” replied the stranger; and ‘ he made a motion towards the door, as if impatient to view the apiftinerits withont further delay or diseourse. “T will show you the rooms, sit,” continued, Mrs. Macaulay: und as dhe led the way up the aiiite, dhe intittered to horaelf, “Heavens! there's # broom where a broom should mot be!” and then as se teached the Janding, pho suddoiily upaned & closet-door and thrust a pail into it; still mutter. ing “That iilat Betsey! what van she be thinking of fF” \ The apartments were duly shown: the stranger therely dung i sitigis glance found the Urdwing- room atid the bed-chtriber, whitch were on the dtme lovel—and expressed hittself antiniied. “Tho rent, sir, is fou ptlnens a weele-—of course including attendance,” said Mrs, Macaulay: “but for this sum you have « chithber up-staite, in cde you keep a serviht df your own.” “T have none—aiid do not inean to key iny,”’ anawered the gontlomin. “Very wood, wir—just as sou thik fb!” ex- claimed Mts. Macaulay. “You will find mine a very quiet house; and J need tigt aay,” she added, druwing herself up, “thac it 4a Uf first-rate re- epectability. When should you like to come in, sir P”’ “A word or two first, if you please,” responded the strdtigey. “I dm soniewhat of an invalid, and seek quiet apartments. Have you any other lodgers in the house P” “The floor above is let, sir—but to the nictst, quietest young people that you could wish to see.” “allave they children P” asked the stranger. ‘“‘Thoy are brother and sister, air,’”’ rejoiged Mrs. Macaulay,—“ quite young folke, and highly re- spectable: for they have never once missed paying their rent aince they have been here—ghich is up- wards of six monthe. They go up and down stairs as quiet as mice——" ° “And you have no other lodgers ?”’ “None, sit. If you take these rooms, my lodg- ings will all be ocaupied. I only let out these two floors,” “Then I will take the apartments,” said the gentleman ; “and I shall come hither at ones. My trunk is at an hotel hard by: @ will go and send it-——.”” “Perhaps, sir;’ interposed Mrs. Macaulay, as } the stranger was advancing to the door—and she spoke in a p@id tone of subdued deprecstion, as mauch as to imply that he must not take offence as NOG “1 ghimk you will - SS CO