The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 185: what you’re looking at

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173 «I daresay this person cap tell you, my Brunel,” said the 7° nate friend.” “ Well, ladies, I'm afeard there ain't much doubt orying,” said the elderly dame who had just naw spoken; “ it is heart-breaking !” ahe added, applying ber handkerchief to her eyes. The greatest sensation certainly prevailed in that room ; and while the elder ladies manifested mont absorbing interest in Mr. Nathan dened by ager-Countese of Moutgomery. “lf i¢ waan't for my man Jack which is bearin’ her company,” returned Mr. Crimp, “ashe would ba all slope in that house of her'n at this blessed minute. “Ah! yon havea man there, then ?” exclaimed nel, who was the first to suspect what . Orimp's calling really was, ber eldest son having more than once fallen into the hands of tha pain een she baving viaited him ines on one occasion. “Yoa—my man's at Mrs. Fitzherbert’s,” said Crimp: “and if the debt isn't paid presently, she'll Lave to go to my lock-upin Chancery Lane. That's the naked truth, ladiee—savin’ your presence——” “ Pray whoare you, py man ?” demanded the Dowager-Counteas of Montgomery : “ for you seem to take so deep an interest in everything which concerns my dear frieud Mrs. Fitzher- best——” “J do suspect he's whats called a sheriff's oGicer.” whispered Ledy Branel. “ T should faint at the bare notion,” shrieked the elderly lady who a minute ago had pretended to whimper in commiseration of Mrs. Fitsherbert's misfortunes. “ Pray put me out of suspense at ones, and ask that dreadful man what be really is.” “Who are you?” demanded Lady Brunel, addreasing the query in a somewhat sharp and imperious tone to Mr. Crimp. “I'm the bailiff what's arrested Mre. Fitzher- bert,” was the answer ; “and its out of sheer good natar’ and ‘cos I pities her case that I"ve gone the rounds of her friends to eee what they do for her." “Ah! then you have bean elsewbere this morning on Mra. Fitzherbert’s behalf?” ex- claimed the Dowager-Conntess interrogatively. epee’ Tibeve, may it pienso your lad —and with no success at all,” gaid Crimp, won- dering how much longer it would be ere the ex- pected loan was f ; “Pray where have you been, my men? asked Lady Brunel; and every head was now stretched forward with eager curiosity to enable the ear to catch every ayllable of Crimp's reply whatever it might be. “I went fuat to Lady Singleton—next tb the Marchioness of Banbury—and now I'm here,” he said, in a measured manner: “and I hope and ex- pect that I've got the right sow by the tail at last.” “ What does the fellow mean ?” exclaimed the Dowager-Countess of Montgomery, suddenly throwing off the mask of mildness and assuining @ demeanour full of indignation. “ But it is just like the insufferable impertinence of Mrs. Fits- herbert to send such a coarse vulgarian on her . She's fallen from her pedestal at last!” ejaculated Lady Brunel. ‘* And she will never remount it again,” ob- served the elderly lady who was whimpering at one moment, fainting the next, and now chuck- ling over the ruin of a fellow-creature. “ Well, this «wa catastrophe!” exclaimed one of the young ladies. “She who only a few weeks ago was s0 much envied!” observed another Honourable Miss. “And with whom any of us would have so cheerfully changed places!” cried a third. “But it is just what we all expected,” re- marked Lady Brunel; “and indeed what Mre Fitsherbert herself most richly deserves.” “ Her pride has been detestable!” exclaimed the Dowager- Countess, tossing her head indignantly. “ And then her character—her example— posi- tive contamination !” cried Lady Brunel. “I hope God will forgive me for having ever allowed my daughters to speak to such a creature.” “ You may go, fellow !” observed the Dowager- Countess, flinging the intimation at poor Crimp with that sovereign insolence of which a member of England's arrogant aristocracy {is alone capable. And, more utterly crest-fallen than ever, the poor devil slunk out of the splendid mansion, as if he had been detected in the commission of a theft. He only breathed freely when, safely ensconced once more in the backney-coach, he was borne out of sight of the patrician palace in which so flagrant a specimen of aristocratic heartlessness had been added to his experiences of human life. And now, while Lady Singleton and Misa ( 5 DOOLK (CO