The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 369: what you’re looking at

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358 spectators experionced unfailing amusoment—those of our readers who have never visited the Judge and Jury Society, will be enabled to understand how well sustained the spirit and interest of the proceedings must be.® Lord Saxondale waited until the end, when he adjourned to the supper-room below; and there he invited the Lord Chief Baron, the barristers, the clerk of the court, and the witnesses, to sup with him. The conviviality was kept up until a some- what late hour; and if it had not been that a couple of waiters conveyed Lord Saxondale into a cab, he never could have reached it of his own accord. Edmund slept until a late hour on the following day; and when he descended to the breakfast- parlour, it was with a racking headache and an newspapers lay upon the table. He took up ono; and almost the very first announcement upon which his cyes fell, was that of a horrible and mysterious murder committed in Lincolnshire. He read on: and callous, indifferent, emotionless though he naturally was, it was nevertheless with dismay and horror that he thus learnt the particulars of the frightful tragedy which had occurred on the bank of the Trent. The journal concluded its account by stating that the whole affair was involved in the decpest mystery, suspicion attaching to no known person. And mysterious was it indeed to Edmund Saxondale: nor could he of course form the slightest conjecture as to the author or authors of the crime. Having hastily dressed himself, he proceeded without delay to Evergreen Ville. The intelligence had already reached the cook, the groom, and the Consternation and dismay pre- wailed at the villa; and indeed great was the ex- citement throughout the neighbourhood, it being known that the mistress of the house and her at- tendant maid had met with their death under such | ago mysterious circumstances in Lincolnshire. Some relations of the unfortunate Emily Archer, and who dwelt in London, made their appearance at the villa soon after Lord Saxondale’s arrival there; and they took possession of the house and all the pro- perty it contained. After some little deliberation, it was decided that one of them—an uncle—should | c proceed without delay into Lincolnshire, and bring up the corpees for the purposes of respectable in- terment. Dispirited, and with a gloom sitting heavily upon his soul, Edmund quitted the villa and returned to Saxondale House, his mind filled with the awful tragedy which had taken place under such extra- ordinary and unaccountable circumstances. CHAPTER LXXVL MR. GUNTHORPE’S VISITS. In the neighbourhood of Stamford Hill was a hand- some residence, situated in the midst of spacious grounds, and commanding a beautiful view of all pn © Af the time of which we are writing (1844) Lord Obief Baron Nicholson illaminated the Garrict's Head, with his : but at the present period (1853) he ebines in undimmed glory at the Coal Hole tavern. THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. | the surrounding soenery. This house, after remain- ing unoceupied for some time, had within the last three weeks become the abode of Mr. Gunthorpe. The moment he had decided upon taking it, he lost no time in fitting i¢ up in a very handsome manner. Everything this gentleman did might to the shallow observer to be done on the impulse of the moment: but it was not so. The key to the reading of his character was this: that be made up his mind quickly, yet not without as much deliberation as the incident of the moment might deserve; and when once he had resolved how to proceed, he lost no time in out his plans. Thus, the very day after he had taken Stamford Manor—as it was called — -loads of the costliest furniture arrived atthe plece. He did not fit up the house by degrees, nor even take a week to do it: his orders were given at the moment to upholsterers whose warehouses furnished proofs of their com. petency for the commission; and as money to Mr. were promptly executed. —a. A COE ee: A few days after his return from Lincolnshire, and at about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, Mr. Gunthorpe entered his carriage, and drove to a pretty little cottage situated at no great distance from the manor. The moment his modest equipage stopped at the door, little Charley Leyden, nicely dressed, and full of joyous spirits, bounded forth to welcome the benefactor of his mother and sister. Henrietta herself was likewise speedily y seen, upoa the threshold fo greet Mr. Gunthorpe; and the old gentleman was introduced into a neat little parlour, where Mrs. considerably improved in health, received him with a degree of warmth which was due to one who had dragged her forth from the depths of poverty. *T am come to have half-an-hour’s chat with you, Mrs. Leyden,” said Mr. Gunthorpe, “respecting a certain matter you you needn’t go!” cried the old gentleman. “On the contrary—you are a very necessary person to the present conference. But you, Master Charley, ean run out and play in the garden till you are sent for, vee added, patting the child kindly upon the hee “Oh! do let me stay,” said Charley. “I am so fund of being where you are, I did not much like you at first,” be went on to observe with boyish uousness: “but since I knew you better——” “‘ Hush, Charley—hush!” interrupted Mrs. Ley- den, somewhat severely. “ You should not speak in this manner.” “ My dear madam, let him speak as be will,” said Mr. Gunthorpe: “everything he utters comes up from his heart, You are a good little boy, Charley; and here is something to buy a toy with,” he added, placing a five shilling piece in his hand. “Bat I would rather stay with you than have that, if you mean me to go away,” said the child, pouting his pretty lips and looking as if he were going to bry. “You must run out and play a little by yourself for the present,” said Mr. Gunthorpe, kissing him; “and if you do, you shall come and stay a whule day with me at my house.” Charley’s countenance now brightened up; and COUMIUC NOOK CO