The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 257: what you’re looking at

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

They didn’t keep the bodies long above ground at t:e workus: so the funeral soon took place. That wery day I discharged myself, although my leg wasn’t cured: but that didn’t matter—for I thought Mr. Everton’s gold would be the best salve for it after all. Well, I lost no time in calling on Mr. Verclay—a sort of servant. Well, betwixt us we conveyed the body into the mansion by a back door, of which Mr. Everton had the keys. We placed it THE MYSTERIES OF THE OOURT. CHAPTER LIL. THR OATH PROPOSED. Ir was the afterncon, and Oonstance Fareficld sat | half-reclining upon a sofa in an at Saxondale House. She was alone: books and mu- singing, to her own accompaniment on the guitar, one of those sweet airs which her lover the Mar- quis of Villebelle so delighted to hear poured forth in the delicious harmony of her melodious voice; but when the guitar was laid aside, and although hands, her thoughts became entirely concentrated on the image cf him who possessed the worship of - | her heart. Svweetly beautiful was Constance Farefield; and she a disposition which, if never subjected to the evil influences of fashionable life, and if never warpec by the bad example of a mother, as dis- playcd 11 circumstances already related, would have reudored her a being of signal virtue, propriety, and prudence. But she existed m an atmosphere where virtue is a flower that soon sickens, fades, an? withers,—occasionally pining for a time ere it be blighted altogether, but often perishing with the unwholesome heat at once. On the present occasion Constance Farefield was inside | mcditating upon the promise which, as the readcr tne shay, and Barclay was sitting on the box. So I knowed what that meant: it was the young heir ti.st wag being took off to the lunacy ’sylum. Ah! t.v.ught I to myself——” “ No matter what you thought,” interrupted Lady Beas: “is that all you have to tell me respecting the transaction of the substitution of the dead pau- per for the living heir ?’”’ “ That's all,” answered old Shakerly. “Then take your money,” immediately rejoined the amasonian lady; “and trust to me to fulfil my promise when the aim now in view is accomplished.” The old knacker did not require to be bidden twice to pick up the gold coins, which he deposited in a greasy purse, or rather canvass bag; and then he emptied the bottle of sherry. Lady Bese bade him good night; and quitting the public-house, she returned to the cab which was waiting for her. I¢ bore her to the immediate vicinage of Agar Town, where she dismigsed it; and proceeding to Solo- mon Patch’s, she mounted her horse and rode away in a homeward direction. It was midnight when Lady Bess reached her cottage; and as she alighted from her horse, the front door was opened hastily. Frank Paton sprang male apparel, he bebeld therein the terrible con- is aware, she had a short time before made to the Marquis of Villebelle,—“ that in the world’s despit- she would love him on unto the end,” and that so eoon as he had secured the means of guaranteair< an adequate maintenance for them both, she would become his wife—that is to eay, she would accom. pany him to the altar, and go through the mockery of the iage ceremony: for no sophistry could blind her eyes to the fact that the Marquis was married already. But as she pondered upon this she hesitate? did she experience remorse? No: in her own thoughts and in her own resolves the Rubicon was already paseed; and she even —ardently and fervidly longed—for the coming of the hour that was to give her to the arms of . Ville- belle. It is impossible to deny that the young lady’s were excited and her } inflamed by certain things which had come to her knowledge. Was she not aware, from the conversation she had overheard between Mr. Gunthorpe and her mother, that the latter had offered to become the mistress of William Deveril, rather than resign the hope of gratifying the passion which she had conceived for that handsome young man ?—and as there were now no eecrets between the sisters, had she not Grmation of all he had that day heard from the lips , beard frcm Juliana the fact that this young lacy ee al OR mt lags - ae Eee GE oc! -ePeww wm - COMNMIC OO SS CO m |