The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 79 placed on the table near the bed, just as ff its con- tents had been duly imbibed by her whose name appeared on the label. Breakfast was speedil ught up; and Lady Bees did most ample justide to it. By the time she had finished her meal and the things were cleared dway, it was eight o'clock; and in order to render the stratagem in respect to the surgeon as complete as possible, old Marshall stepped down the street to fetch him. In a few minutes Mr. Hood was duly escorted by Mrs. Marshall into the pretended invalid’s cham- ber. The surgeon was a middle-aged man, of rather a benevolent countenance, and of pleasing address. He had been long established in Dover and was much If he had a fault, it was in a certain sneaking affection which he cherished for money ; and therefore when he ob- served a well-filled purse lying upon the table close by his empty bottle, he could not help feel- ing pleased at having a patient evidently so well able to remunerate him for his services. ‘Lady Bees put on the most lugubrions look it was possible for her handsome and healthy coun- tenance to assume; and if the doctor had only seen her playing so fine a part with the breakfast ® quarter of an hour previous, he would assuredly have fancied that a lady of such an ap- petite must be endowed with an iron constitution. “ Well, how are we this morning?” he asked, in his blandest tones, as he took Lady Bess's hand. “ Pulse somewhat feverish—eh ?” Lady Bees thought that Mr. Hood’s pulse would be very likely to beat quickly if he had ridden nearly eighty miles in five hours and a half: bat though she experienced an almost irre- sistible inclination to burst out into the merriest daugh, she nevertheless so far controlled herself as to subdue that desire and modulate her voice into faint and languid tones, ss she said, “I feel some- _ what better now, doator. But I was very, very fil in the night; and I feared that the fit was coming on just now again when the landlord went to fetoh you.” “Ah! you must have snother draught,” said Mr. Hood. “No appetite, I suppose?” “Notin the least,” answered Lady Bess; and she thought it would be very odd if she had after the quantities of cold fowl, ham, and but- tered toast she had partaken of within the past “ Well, you must have a little gruel presently, with e piece of dry toast,” said Mr. Hood. “I am convinced I never should be able to take it,” rejoined Lady Bess; and Kate Marshall turned away to the window in order to prevent hereelf from barsting out into a laugh in the doctor's face. “Oh! you most take some ” ex~ claimed Mr. Hood; “ but of alight character, for you are still feverish, When did this indisposi- tion commence 7” “The lady arrived here last evening about seven o'clock,” Mrs. Marshall hastened to observe ; “end she complained tery soon afterwards— didn't she, E ate?” ‘Yes, mother,” was the response given by the eldest daughter. “ And then it was a little after three in the morning, I suppose, that you got so bad, ma‘am ?" seid the doctor, addressing his patient; “for I learn from my assistant that it was about that time he was rung up.” “] really took no note of the nour,” answered Lady Bess; “ but I know that I had been suffgr- ing ever since I went to bed, before the fit \paized upon me.” Mr. Hood remained a few minutes longer with his patient, asking her certain requisite questions —or we should rather say, certain questions which he considered requisite; and then he took his leave, promising to send another draught in the course of the forenoon, and desiring that he might be fetched if any change should take place in her condition. When the dootor bad fairly quitted the room, Lady Bess gave vent to her long pent-up mirth in peals of the most joyous laughter, wherein she was joined by Kate, who remained with her, Mre. Marshall having left the room with the doc- tor to escort him down stairs. “ And how do you really feel ?” inquired Kate, when the paroxysm of that convulsive merriment was over. ‘* I feel somewhat tired and stiff,” responded Lady Bess, wiping away the tears which had rolled down her cheaks in the excess of her mirth: “bat in all other respects I never was better, and cartainly never happier. 1 am not one, my dear Kate, who after an extraordinary exhilaration of the spirits, receives a reaction leading into a proportionate despondency. I am pretty nearly always the same—sometimes more elated perhape—but very seldom, if ever de- pressed. And now let me give you the history of that pleasant little adventure of mine which has compelled me to perform this feast.” The amazon thereupon recounted the incidents of the previous night, whicl are already known to the reader; and Kate laughed heartily at her friend's ludicrous description of the discomfiture which the two lawyers had experienced. * Now I do not think they are positively vin- dictive,” added Lady Bess; “ but they are keen, sharp fellows, and have got it into their heads that, being lawyers, they must vindicate what is called the maj of the law. So, it is highly probable that they will have instituted a hue and cry, or else achase after me. Perhaps, even, they may make their a in Dover presently, in the idea that I shall endeavour to escape into France. Well, let them come: I most cordially hope they will—for it is better to have the thing examined into down here and have done with it, than have to wait till I return to London and then send for all you as witnesses. But what time is the first train down ?” _“ Abont eleven o’clock for the French mails,” replied Kate. “And ft is now about half-past eight,” said Lady Bess, referring to her watch which lay upon the table by the bedside. ‘Well, I can at least reckon upon two or three hours’ good sleep.” “For which purpose I will therefore leave you,” said Kate; but as she was about to open the door, ane turned rome and with an arch emile upon her very good-looking countenance, said, “ Shall I bring you up the gruel and toast at eleven ?” “ Rather say a good luncheon, my dear friend,” responded Lady Bess, with another merry lengh: and then as Kate Marshall closed the door, the CONNEC MOO SS COMM