The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 375: what you’re looking at

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364 observed after a long. pause. “ Biisabeth, you are | acting most wisely—most prudently» you are acting in’ « ‘way that does you infinite hunour.. Yes, my dear Elisabeth—the good name of Lady Everton whist be ecreened—must be protected: and therefore her -vile brother-in-law must be dealt cautiously with. You will admit me to your counsels—you wal saffer me to advise with you relative to each consecutive step you may take. I see that you are gifted with the soundest sense and the most mature : id se Be eaoured, sir,” responded the lady, still under the influence of that unaccountable power which Mr. Gunthorpe had in so brief a space of time ac- _ qtited over her, “ I shall be only too happy to have a gentleman of your wiedom and goodness to suc- cour and counsel me.”- ‘* And now one more word,” said Mr. Gunthorpe, looking her very hard in the face. “ You suspect who your mother 1s: have you likewise found any -Clue to the name of your father?” Lady Bess started at this questions and she gazed upon Mr. Gunthorpe with amasement and intense curiosity. How did he know that she was ever ignorant of her father’s name? Not a word to that effect had been spoken since he entered the house: not a word to that effect had she ever uttered to Henristta ; not a word to that effect had she ever breathed to a soul who, so far as she could see, might have mentioned it to Mr. Gunthorpe. How then could he know it? Who was he—this Mr. Gun- thorpe, that had become so suddenly interested in ber affairs, and evidently knew more than she could dream of ? “Ah, I see what is passing in your mind,” he exid: “but you must not become the questioner now. Perhaps the time will shortly come when I shall have strange things to tell you: but that mo- ment is not now present. Again I ask you, Elisa- beth-——and I conjure you tu respond——have you any idea who is your father P” “Wait one moment, sir,” she eaid; and namedi- ately left the room. ' dm less than a minute she returned, bearing a letter which she handed to him, saying, “Read this. It was written to me from Dover, by the Marquis of Villebelle, who met Sir John Mareton there.’ “Ah! Sir John Marston at Dover?” observed Mr. Gunthorpe, as he opened the letter: then, hav- pace to and fro in great agitation. She watched him without saying a word: for there was something in hie looks and his manner which made her feel a species of awe, as if there were sanctity in his emotions—a sanctity upon which she dared not obtrude. : “We have said enough for to-day, Elisabeth,” he suddenly exclaimed, stopping short and taking her hand. “There is mach more I wish to learn from your lipe—the entire history of your past life—the THR MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. a comparative stranger unto you. In a day or two you shall see me again: bu? take no step in the meantime without making me aware of it. And now one word more ere we /eave this room to return into the other. You have no funds—I think you told me—beyond a quarterly allowance of a hundred pounds: and your brother has nothing. You have Adolphus to maintain~——In short, doubtless you are not too well off. Give me pon, ink, and Mr. Gunthorpe epoke these last words with the tone of a man who was accustomed to command, and to be obeyed likewise the instant he com- tic and unaccountable influence which gave him an him; and seating himeelf at the table, he wrote something on a slip of paper. | “There,” he anid, flinging down the pen end ing up from the chair, “ you will accept that ae a proof of the cordial friendship I have offered you. . Now let us go into the other room :”—and without suffering her to wait and ece what he had written upon the paper, he led hes forth from the parlour. They entered the opposite one, where they had lef Adolphus and Frank; and Mr. ‘at once accosting the former, said, “ I now know all that Lord Everton. I said 00 just now. I remember your features. In me shall you find a friend.” Adolphus pressed the old gentleman’s hand with grateful fervour, the tears trickling down his cheeks. “Aed now,” said Mr. Gunthorpe, with an arch smile, “ have you no message to send tp Henrietta P Ab! that name fills your countenance with anima- tion. Well, my dear Adolphus, the girl is worthy . of you—and she has already learnt to love you. God grant that you may be happy! If I do not come again to‘see you to-morrow, I shail send some kind message by Henrietta, to furnish her with an excuse for calling at the cottage.” With these words, the old gentleman took an af fectionate farewell of Adolphus, Elisabeth, and Frank ; and hurrying forth, gave some brief in- to those who stood upon the threshold, he entered the carriage, which immediately drove away. The three proceeded to the parlour where he had left the slip of paper lying upon the table. It was a cheque upon Mr. Gunthorpe’s banker for five thousand Then more than ever did Elisa- beth, Frank, and Adolphus wonder who Mr. Gun- thorpe could be. EEE CHAPTER LXXVIL APPREHENSIONS. Lonp PETERSFIELD was sented in his library at about three o’clock in the afternoon, looking over a nurober of papers connected with his diplomatie avorations of past years, and ing history also of your brother Frank: but it must be ' certain overtures which he had recently been making postponed. You must think over ali that has taken | to the Ministers then in power, would result accord- place within the two hours past: you.must study | ing to his wishes. His desire was to obtain an to know me better. Then you will have the fullest | important embassy, which, according to rumour, confidence in me—and yon will speak without | would soon be vacant; and he was furbishing up reserve. I know—I feel that it is too much to ex- pect you to opon your heart entirely to me who am | his rusty ideas by the aid of the papers that he was | 60 deeply conning. In the middle of his occupation CN COMIC LOO CO “S