The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 229: what you’re looking at

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

— 218 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. “I have not seen the newspaper yet,” t,” returned |“ Petersfield and Marlow here—eh ? They no doube Lady Saxondale. “TI don’t think it is in the newspaper—in fact it can’t be; for it was only discovered this morning :”’ —and Edmund then proceeded to retail such par- ticulars as he had learnt at the tradesman’s shop. Lady Saxondalo made some remark upon the horrible nature of the case, and then appeared to bestow all her attention upon her book. “There will be a hanging-affair for that, I dare aay,” resumed Edmund with a negligent yawn. “For although there seems as yet to be no clue to the murderers, I have no doubt they will be found out in the long run: because it isn’t often that a murder does go undiscovered. Now, isn’t that curious though? but it’s really the case when I come to think of it.” Lady Saxondale raised her eyes, and looked at her son, as he thought, in a somewhat peculiar manner : but the next instant he supposed it could only be fancy on his part—aend indeed her eyes were al- most immediately bent down upon the book again. “When is old Mabel to be buried?” he inquired after a pause. “Why do you ask P”’ said Lady Saxondale quickly. “Oh! only out of curiosity. I suppose by way of saying something—for you don’t appear to be very much inclined for conversation.” ‘I am sorry to say that your conversation is sel- dom of a very entertaining or edifying character.” Thank you, my dear mother, for the compli- ment. The ladies don’t think eo generally: for I know I am a precious great favourite amongst them.” With what class of ladies?” asked Lady Saxon- dale, her lips curling with a contempt she made no endeavour to conceal. Edmund was about to give some impertinent e- ply, whem a footman entered the apartment to an- nounce that Lord Petersfield and Mr. Marlow had jus‘ arrived, and hud been shown into the Green “Whew!” was the prolonged sound which Lord Baxondale sent out from his lips at this intelligence: then, as the footman retired, he said, “There's not much difficulty in guessing what that old fogy and that bustling pettifogger have come here for.” “How dare you speak thus of your guardians?” exclaimed her ladyship. ‘“ You ought to treat them with res “Oh, yes! fine respect indeed, when they are plotting all kinds of things against me. But perhaps However we shall seer"—and he stopped short abruptly. Lady Saxondale looked very hard at him, evi- dently to fathom his meaning, which had a sort of mysterious self-sufficiency and assurance in it that for the moment somewhat troubled her: then turn- ing away with a look of disdain, as if she would not condescend to bandy any more words with one whom she certainly detested, she swept majestically out of the room. But the keys? there they were—left upon the table! Her ladyship had forgotten them, or else had not dreamt of the necessity of taking them with her. “Egad! it was high time that I should discover my mother’s secrete,” muttered Saxondale to him- elf as he triumphantly laid hold of the keys. eee — eee -_ oem think that they will dispose of me just as they choose: but perhaps they will find the difference However, I must not delay.” Thus speaking, he hastenod from the apartment— rushed up the staire—and re-entered his mother’s private chambers. The keys, of which he had pos- sessed himself, opened the locks that had previously resisted his endeavours. He examined wardrobe, cupboard, closet, and drawere—he scrutinised the but no Spanish dress could he discover. His in- vestigation had lasted at least half-an-hour, and he was about to retreat from the chambers, when he observed a trunk standing in the window-recess of tho wardrobe-room. He was some minutes be- fore he could find the right key to open this trunk ; but at length he succoeded—and lifting the lid, observed that it contained the more costly articles of the family plate which were not in general use, but were only brought out on occasions. Hoe removed some of the articles, and at length caught sight of the object of his search at the bottom of the trunk. With an ejaculation of joy he drew forth the dreds, unrolled it, and became convinced beyond the possibility of doubt that it was the same one which he had seen worn by the lady who had joined Lord Harold Staunton at the masquerade. He was now all in a flutter of trepidation and excitement lest Ledy Saxondale or any of the maii- servants should appear to interrupt his proceedings ; and it was with no very great care that he replaced in the trunk the massive silver articles which he had removed. This being done he locked the trunk again; and folding up the dress into as small a compass as possible, wrapped it in his handkerchief, and flew away with it to his own room. There he left it for a moment; and descending to the apart- ment whence he had taken the keys, deposited them on the table where he had found them. He then sped back to his own chamber, and enveloping the dress in a large sheet of puper, fastened it with a string. Summoning his valet, he ordered the do- mestic to follow him with the parcel; and issuing from the house, proceeded to the nearest cab-stand, where he entered a vehicle—took charge of the packet—and sent his servant back home. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon when Lord Saxondale returned to Evergreen Villa; and the moment Lord Harold Staunton and Emily Archer beheld him rush up the front with the parcel in his hand, they knew full well that his mission had been a successful one. The envolope was torn off—the dress was revealed—and Staunton at once pronounced it to be that which was worn by his masked companionat the Duke of Harcourt’s ball. “ Now we have the proof!” exclaimed Saxondale, as proud and rejoiced as if he had accomplished one of the noblest and best of deeds. “ You will keep your promise, Harold, and tell us all that remains to be revealed in respect to my lady-mother. For it now becomes more imperative than ever that [ should have the means for defying her. Would you believo it? when I left Saxondale House she was ia deep consultation with that prosy hum-dram Peters- field, and that talkative busy-body Marlow—all three of them no doubt laying their heads together to dispose of me just as it suits their good will and pleasure.” NOOK CO |