The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 373: what you’re looking at

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tee eee a hsp peepee THE MYSTERIES. pended over the mouth with such precision and in gach a manner that on loosening the winch-rope which gustained it, the massive granite could not fail to settle exactly on the head of the buttress.” « * Sach was the condition in which we had left the storie on the Saturday night,” observed young Brooks; “ and when we went to work on the Monday morning, §o and behold! the winch-rope had given way and the crowning-stone had fallen upon the buttress. But as it had settled to a hair’s-breadth in the position which it was intended to occupy, your ladyship's eteward decided upon not having it disturbed for the mere sake of placing the coins inside the butéress.” “And therefore the ceramony did not take pinee f* exclaimed the Marchioness, inquiringly. “No, my lady,” respomied: yeung Beosks. “ Your ladyship’s steward gave: orders that. tile ceremony should be postponed. ust the newt Bittress is built———” “ But this is-absurd !° ried‘ the Marchiumem, in a ‘tone of apparent annoyance and digmttsfketion : “‘my’ ordess were explicit upon the subjest—and they have not been obeyed. I wrote to my steward)cemmanding him to have the usausi ceremony performed: at the proper time—end I eent him a quantity of old-ccins whidithe was te: use; in addition to the: varivaseprel- mens of the existing currency, for the purposes. Now thesy is a sort of superstitten in tae mints of many honest but shuple country-folks, reiaties: to the bap tizing of the foundation-stones of atmew bridge whit a botfie of wine, and the deposi®of’the coins. in tie first buttress ;-and I would use fir the woul have sucha prejudive shocked=——"" “Tem giad your ladpeiiginementianeétiy mat- ter,” obverved: Mrs. Biwalitt; “for I'camuasery ladyship that many of 'yeur ladyubipeSheuntes doclase: they will never cross that bridgs-—for, let it be built ever se etrong, they think it won't be safe on account of omitting the usual ceremonies when the first but- trees wap raised.” “Then we will have the a@hir righted to-morrow, my good woman,” said the Marchioness, in a tone of firm decision. “Let your son step up to the Hall and tell my steward that I have arrived at Malden Farm,,. where I propose to pass the night—and that early in the morning I will myself superintend the ceremonials relative to the bridge. Immediate preparations must therefore be made for the purpose—especially as the fuge stone over the first buttress must be raised “Y will go at once, my lady,” said young Brooks, rising from his seat, “and deliver your message at the Hall. I will then go an: ‘nform the overseer of the works that the masons must be at the bridge by day- light. Shall I tell the steward that he is to wait upon your ladyship.this evening »” “ Ne—I will see him in the morning upon matters of besiness,” retammed the Marchioness: “for it is now past eight o’clock—and I propose to retire to rest soon, in. egder to riee-early in the morning. The time bas passed s0 agreeably in your society, my worthy friends, and our conversation has been so varied——”" “ But there is one thing I quite forgot to mention te-your ladyship,” exclaimed Farmer Brooks, as an idea struck him-—“and that is, a lawyer's clerk was here yesterday inguiring for Lond Raymond Mont- gomery——” “Ahi Mr. noble ledge Rigden’s clerk, I presume?” said the “Yes—that's the name of the lawyer who eent SS oe ents anne oeeeseeeeenne him,” continued the farmer.” He came in a post- nite a bustle ———" * And eo important withal,” added Miss Brooks, who now joined in the conversation for the first time. “Oh! he quite put my daughter out,” exclaimed. Brooks, laughing,—“by asking her such a host of questions. Amd when he found that we could give him no clue to search after Lord Raymond, he ac- tually beseame saucy—-said it was very queer—very * And eo I told him he had better go about his bu- siness,” remarked Miss Bkooks ; “ whereupon he -grew more civil and even apdiegised for withthe had been saying of an offensive chimacter.” “And did he set off again om. hieveturn to Lon-,, don?” iigquired the Migehioness of Bullidadan. “Way. my lady--I believe not!:’ respeniied Miss Breehty.“ Tid said thathechoul@umke ingistes all over ths acifibourhood--¢iiss he sheuld):pssosed to the villigs of Bullendes—and thet hb chouli'leave no tens: untarmed to dizescver saitie:clasté his missing loedaliiys: But i¢ does not appensttfiat:he has much time fp making his seastliy besammerhe says that unlusp heean find him befice nebitigiiumthe 30th of May “Tid. loses every posdiliie<pretensionevm if he possessed’ any’ valid clu af all--to thwe estates,” addedthe MiircMioness: “WOU, this is the-39th-—t0- memrow wik bethe 300P) ———” “ pant: the: clectr cwees with)..-terpible-cath,” said Breoks, “‘bifore the tine wer up; he: woulidiscover fe youty nutitimna, cithurdentér alive.” “He lovery puitive, a6-nll events” observed Lady I shbultl. be truly piuassGte hea of my unfiartunate cousins eatity, ant: likewise of hi-huppiness. It is his mother the Dowager-Countess and his brother Eugene the Earl, who have carried on the suit with a merciless perseverance against me;—and I believe that poor Raymond has been more their tool than their auxiliary.” “Fe always spulie-of yeur ladyship in the most respectful terms,” said Brooks; “and I have frequently heard hint deplore the feuds which subsisted between. yourself and his family—the more so that your lady- ship’s self was a Montgomery previous to your mar- riage with the late Marquis of Bellenden.” “Poor Lord Raymond |" observed the Marchioness, rising from her seat as a signal of her wish to retire for the night: “I most sineerely hope that we shall soon reestve satéafactery tidings cemocening, him.” CHAPTES COXVIEL THE RAISING OF THE STONE. It was about seven o'clock on the following meening that the Marchioness of Bellesden osme forth from the homestead of Malden Fumn; wihtere shehad passed fhe night, and proceeded’ on foot towande the: spot where the bridge was being buité. She was atéended by the faithful Margaret, herstewand end. heasskesper from the adjucen? Hall, together with Ms. and Mse. Brooks and their daughter. The noble lady, clad in the mourning. gammente which so mush became her, walked a little in-adrance of the rest, but every now and then turned and spoke Aas (C DOO (CO