The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 219: what you’re looking at

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—_— = ey 210 THE MYSTERIES OF THE GOURT. ~~ -—-— —w; He did net want his own money, as he had plenty of funds at his disposal: but the warning given him by the friendly-di waiter had rendered him determined to look after that which was his due; for he thought it by no means improbable that Baron Farthenless might endeavour to cheat | by him out of it—an opinion to which he was more or less justified in arriving, inasmuch as during the week he bad seen but too many instances of the dirty meanness and paltry expedients to which the members of the ducal retinue had recourse for obtaining wines, cigars, spirits, and other things beyond the limit of their actual allow- ances. . “What for you sall be waiting, yong mans ?” inquired Baron Raggidbak, taking our hero aside and speaking to him in a confidential whigper. “Tam waiting to see Baron Farthenjess,” an- swered Christian. “Does your lordship shortly expect him ?” *“Yes—I suspects him in one — fwo— tree minute. He am gone for to go to de palace to see de Prince; and he come back vare soon wid de moneys.” ae “Gone to the palace to get money pf the Prince?” ejaculated Christian, thus H g in- voluntary utterance to his amazement. |. “Yes, begar!” respond Raggidbak, “De vare goot Prince Albert gal} act as—. how you call it >——_—Oh! de banker do Duke a e times we sall be in England, ; waiting too for de moneys. I vare rich men in mine own epuntry— vare rich: but me forgot to bring over wid me fe tousand pounds which I was meant for to do. Have you got such a ting, yong mans, as six shjl- ling in your pocketP—and we sall drink one] , bottle of de wine till de Baron sall come back.” Christian was determined not to be mulcted. a second time by Baron Raggidbak; and 99 ha fave an evasive response,—whereat his lordghip faked deeply indignant and turned heughtily away, playing with his gilt brass watch-chajn,,, -_, Almost immedistely afterwards Be arthen- less made his appearance ; and then Chriatian was surprised to see how the noblemen and gentlemen of the ducal retinue crowded around the Privy Purse,—surveying him with looks of egger in- quiry, and ready to stretch forth their dirty handg with hungry evidity to clutch whatsoever spoil fe had to place at their disposal. And spgil it rea was,—spoil wrung from the overtaxed industry 9 the working classes, and which, though by Act Parliament passing through the hands of. a naturalised foreign Prince, was thus destined to |. find its way into the pockets of these German cormorants whom the reigning Duke of Maxe. Stolburg-Quotha had brought over with him, Christian was infinitely disgusted; and ag soon as he had received his own salary, he took his depar- ture. We must now observe that during the week which had thus elapsed since he entcred intg the service of the Duke of Maxe-Stolburg-Quetha, he had every day seen tho beautiful Isabella Vincent —bat only for a few minutes at a time; and on no occ&sion to enter into discourse with her, save in the presence of Mr. or Mrs. Chubb. His in- terest in the charming girl could scarcely be said to have increased—for it had already reached the point at which it had become the purest and sin- — cerest love. But he saw that some mystery enveloped her; and he was curious to fathom it. On returning to his lodging, between five and six o’clock in the evening, after receiving his salary from Baron Farthenless, he found a well-dressed but no means le-looking man knocking at the door of Mr. Chubb’s house. The summons was not immediately answered; and Christian accordingly waited on the steps with this indi- vidua]l,—who surveyed him, as he thought, in a rathar icious manner. He was a person of about forty years of age—by no means good- looking-—clothed in black—and exhibiting great neatness and carefulnees of toilet. Presently the door opened; and the servant-girl, evidently re- cognising the visitor, conducted him into the parlour—while Christian repaired to his own room. About half-an-hopr afterwards, Mrs. Chubb made her appearanca before her youthful lodger; and he at once saw py her countenance that some- thing had troubled her. This countenance of her's was never the sweatest in its expression ; and therefore when anything did transpire to put her out, it was vixenish and disagreeable to a de- gree. . “IT am come, Mr, Ashton,” she said, “to beg -= A ose 2 ee eee ee eee that you will suit yourself with other apartments . as soon as possible—this very evening, if so be you gan; and in cqursa, jf you insist upon it, I sha’n’t claim the week’s rent which is due, because I am not giving you § week’s notice.” “But what is tho meaqning of this?” inquired Christian, perfectly astonished as well as hurt by the suddenness of the proceeding. “ Never mind, sir! J have got no explanations to give—leastways,.thera is no call to have any words about it: bub as g gentleman I trust you will do me this faviour at once.” “ Mra. Chubb,” anawered Christian, half indig- nant and half remonsfrating, “it is impossible you can treat me in such a manner without explaining your condugt. [f my own behaviour has been im- proper or discourteous to yourself or any one be- neath your roof——”’_ ,. “ Well, sir,” interrupted Mrs. Chubb, softening anmewhbat, “there's no faylt to find with your con- ugt: you're a gentlemen; and you behaved as sich. But I do beg thie favi ur at your hands; , in course, if in taking another lodging you refer to me I shall say alj that’s good and proper. Pray don’t presa me any farther, there's a dear young gentleman: but see about moving at once.” “It 1s totally impossible that I can find another lodging this evening,” pnawered Christian, cruelly annoyed and perplexed: “but after the way in which you have juat spoken to me, I certainly feel myself bound to leava te-marrow.” “ Well, sir, I must make that do,” responded Mrs. Chubb; “and thank’ee kindly.” Thereupon ehe guitted the room; and Christian was left to deliberate upon al) that had occurred. Was it on Isabella’s account that he had re- ceived this notice? —was that man whom he had encountered at the street door, in any way connected with herP He hoped not: for there was something in the look of that individual which he by no means liked—a certain sinister expression which appeared to indicate hypocrisy, cunning, and other debasing sentiments. He now le ven lee ee = — 4 Wegner, We ae ee ee: ee ee ee, eee e (C (COL DOO CS (COL