The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 369: what you’re looking at

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

your thoughts before you so glibly give utterance to them. For by proclaiming in so random a manner the very first and of course most inconsiderate im- ions which any particular occurrence or spec- tacle may make upon your mind, you may be unintentionally the cause of exciting the most dis- agreeable suspicions.” . « i bumbly beg your ladyship’s pardon,” said the map, who did not immediately perceive the drift of the noble lady’s observations, and therefore was for a few moments at a loss to comprehend how he had done wrong: “but | am sure I did not mean to give offence when I talked of the discoloured state of bis lordship’s body. And as for my saying tbat it seemed as if his lordship the late Marquis had been poisoned, the notion is absurd. But I made the re- mark before I knew whose coffia it was——”" « Enough apon the aubject, Mr. Northwitch,” said the Marchioness, in a voice which she now rendered mourpfyl though firm. “You have wounded my feelings deeply: but I pardon you—yes, cheer- fully perdon you. I know you spoke incon- siderately———* “ ] did, upon my soul, my lady,” exclaimed the sexton, guite concerned to think bow much mischief his usguarded words had eccasioned. “ We all know that you are a kind-hearted and excellent lady —and I would soomer cut my tongbe out than allow it to bart your ladyship’s feelings.” “I believe you, Northwitch,” said the Marchionese, in a tone of compassion and forgivenesa. “ But you moust learn, my good friend, that the remains of the dead often present the most remarkable appearances ——do they not, Mr. Roberts f”’ “* Assurediy, my lady,” responded the clergyman, who, although a well meaning and harmless kind of an individual, nevertheleas carried his obsequious- ness to the extreme of a fulsome sycophanay, aad was therefore ready te corroborate everything that his aristocratic patroness might say. “ The swollen and discoloured appearance of the eorpee of my long-dead husband,” continued the Marchioness, in a tone profoundly mournful, “is only one of the sad phases of decomposition—-—is it not so, Mr. Roberts ?” “ Beyond all master of donbt, my lady,” was the “And most sad and distressing is it for me, to have been doomed this day to gase upon the remains of one whom I respected so profoundly on earth,” coutinued the Marchioness, “but who for long years past has been a saint in heaven! Ah! Mr. Roberts, I am no hypoorite—I am inca- pable of affecting a feeling that is not intrinsically real. I therefore admit, with frankness and with candour, that I did not love the old and venerable nobleman who made me his wife—gave me his name—aad bequeathed to me that fortune which dishonest pretenders would now wrest from my grasp: no—I did not love him in the true sense of the term—but I respected him—I revered him—I esteemed him as a man who sought to ensure my happines» to the utmost of his power——” “j am glad your ladyship has said this much,” exclaimed Northwitch, with an honest exultation, although the interruption was somewhat of the rudest: “for that scandalous fellow Chapman declares that your ladyship hated and detested the late Marquis—and that your ladyahip loved an- other, saving your ladyship’s presence——.” THE MYSTERIZS. . “Northwitch, have done—be quiet—.ilence {* ex- claimed the Rev. Mr. Roberts, perfectly hor- rified at the sexton’s indiscretion, although it plainly arose from the man’s zealous devotion to the cause of the Marchioness in opposition to that of the Montgomerys. “The venom of scandalous tongues produces no disagreeable effects upon me,” observed the Mar- chioness, in a tone of bland resignation: “and what- ever rumours my worthy friend Mr. Northwitch has heard, need not distress him on my account. But assuredly this is not the most pleasant place in the world to choose for our conversation,” cried her ladyship, in a different voice: * and I feel the damp of the vault striking chill and cold to my very bones. Let us, then, proceed to search for the object which has brought me hither. Mr. Northwitch, you will oblige me by finding the coffin of the late Marquis’s father. The plate should bear the obituary date of 1745—but if you happen to find one of 1743-——_—” “ Here is the coffin, my lady, of which you speak,” exclaimed the sexton, pausing in the midst of the acratiny which he had commenced with regard to the tenements of the dead. “But the date is 1743” “ That will do,” said the Marchioness. “Now, wrench off the plate—or rather remove it gently if you can—and be careful to keep the four screws :"—then, turning towards the clergyman, she observed, “ Mr. Roberta, as my witness in this proceeding, you will] maintain your eyes fixed upon that plate and those screws, in order to be enabled to identify them on any future occasion.’ “} will do so, my lady,” answered the minister. The plate was wrenched off, and, together with the screws, was given into the keeping of the reverend gentleman. The Marchioness of Bellen- den then quitted the vault, having liberally re- muverated the sexton and his assistant, and having charged them to get the coffin of her deceased husbani properly repaired before they finally sealed the mouth of the family vault again. “ Accompanied by Mr. Roberts, the Marchioness now proceeded to the vestry of the church; and on reaching that room, she said, “In the first place, reverend sir, you must envelop that, cofin- plate and the screws in a sheet of paper and affix your seal to the packet, so that you may be enabled atthe proper time to prove the identity of those objects.” The noble lady’s instructions were immediately obeyed: and she then desired the clergyman to produce the parochial Register of Burials. Open- ing a small closet, or cabinet, which joined the vestry-room, Mr. Roberts took the bulky volume from the iron safe where it was kept; and the Marchioneas proceeded to examine it with the most careful scrutiny. At length sbe discovered the particular entry which she songht and of which she bade Mr. Roberts take special notice. A few minutes afterwards Lady Bellenden quitted the church; and, returning to the inn. she entered her carriage and took her departure from the vilaee, accompanied by the faithfal Mar gare Cenerentola eS a eS tS eS USNS ESaaipneputshansanamestedeseesemmmnmneenessret DOO AUC SS