The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 274: what you’re looking at

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

THY MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 263 At this moment the door opened; and a clerk | earry the case up to the House of Lords and pro- entered, saying, “ If you please, sir, Mr. Oxenden wisheg to see you.” “ Mr. Oxenden?” repeated the lawyer. “ Me- ar I know the name—and yet I cannot recol- ect —-”” “It is that old gentleman, sir, who lives at Brighton,” said the clerk; “and against whom ou were once employed by some creditor—when, f you please to recollect, sir, Mrs. Oxenden called —a fine, tall, handsome lady—and she brought a cheque, which she had received from Sir John Steward, to settle the business.” « Ah, [ remember!” ejaculated Mr. Coleman. But I cannot seo Mr. Oxenden now—I am engaged——” “ Wait one instant!” cried Mr. Redcliffe, whose interest and curiosity had been awakened by the discourse. “ You had better see this Mr. Oxenden: I have reasons which I[ will explain.” “ Then ask him to walk up,” said the lawyer, turning to his clerk ; “and should Mr. Armytage eall, bid him wait—be sure to bid him wait !” The clerk withdrew; and Mr. Redcliffe said, “ With your permission I will retire into the next room—that room where, according to our arrange- ment, I am to be concealed when Armytage visits ou.” ’ “By all means!” said the lawyer: and rising from his seat, he followed Mr. Redcliffe into the adjacent room. “ But about thie Mr. Oxen- en 99 “ His wife,” interrupted Redcliffe, “is now the mistress of him whose name I can never breathe unlose to associate it with some fresh deed of crime or profligacy. My God! alas that it should be eo! I know much of these Oxendens—I mean by repute or rather, I should say, by informa- tion which I have received from the lips of Chris- tian, who was at the house of that very Sir John Steward at Ramsgate ” Here Mr. Redcliffe’s observations were cut short by the opening of the door of the adjacent room. Mr. Coleman accordingly left him in his place of concealment, and hastened to receive Mr. Oxen- den. “ There are particular circumstances, sir,” be- gan Mr. Oxenden, as he took the seat which was offered him, “that render 1¢ necessary for me to engage the assistance of some eminent and re- spectable solicitor. I bave no lawyer of my own; and you indeed are the only professional gentle- man in London with whom I have any acquaint- ance. Will you act for me ?” “If you will explain, Mr. Oxenden, the cir- cumstances to which you allude,” said Mr. Cole- map, “I shall be enabled to give you an answer.” “ My wife has been taken from me,” resumed the old gentleman: “she has been seduced from my arms by one who is very highly placed! I mean the Duke of Marchmont. I must punish the seducer—and I must procure an eternal sepa- ration from the woman who has dishonoured me. This is the reason that I require professional as- sistance ; and whatsoever amount you may de- mand in advance, I am ready to pay it.” ‘You mean, Mr. Oxenden,” said the lawyer, in- quiringly, “that you purpose to bring an action for damages against the Duke of Marchmont— and that if you be successful therein, you will cure a divorce P” “ That is my mesving—those are my objects,” was the reply. “I will never rest until I have punished that villanous seducer of my wife.” “And the evidence which you have to bring forward ?” asked Mr. Coleman. “‘ What evidence can be better than that the depraved woman is living under the protection of the Duke of Marchmont ? He has taken a house for her—he has supplied her with equipages—with horses and servants—he visits her frequently-—-—~” ‘If all this can be proved, it is sufficient,” in- terrupted Mr. Coleman, “I will make notes of the information you now give me—TI will institute inquiries—and if you will favour me with anothor call in a day or two, I shall be better enabled to give you my opinion upon the case.” Mr. Oxenden accordingly took his departure; and immediately afterwards Mr. Armytage was announced. Though Zoe's father was not above fifty-two years of age, yet he looked older; for care and anxiety had traced upon his countenancs the marks of their ravages. His hair was com pletely grey: there were deep lines upon his fore- head ; and that expression of cold worldly-minded calculation which his features had been wont to wear, had become subdued—or we should perhaps say had changed into one of settled wretchedness. He entered the office with the mingled nervous- ness and humility of a man who was very far from being in a condition to pay a large sum of money —but rather with the demeanour of one who, as Mr. Coleman had expected, came to sue for grace, lenieney, and forbearance. The lawyer did not, however suffer his countenance to betray that he thus anticipated what Armytage’a financial posi- tion might really be: but with all civility he mo- tioned him to a seat; and then resuming his own place at the desk, began untying the red tape which held together a number of deeds. “ Well, Mr. Armytage,” said Coleman, “ I pro- sume from your punctuality that you are here te settle the business according to agreement. And it is very fortunate, inasmuch as my client pe “Your client wants the money?” said Army- tage, with feverish excitement. “Then it ¢s a client who has advanced it? It is not your- self ?” *T indeed !” ejaculated Mr. Coleman. “T can assure you that the legal profession now-a-days is not quite so flourishing as to enable one who practises it, to advance fifty thousand pounds ——” *¢ Good heavens! what am I to do?” moaned the wretched Armytage, clasping his hands in de- epair. “ Am I to understand,” inquired Mr. Coleman, “that you have ¢ome unprepared with a cheque for this amount—an amount which yon 60 80+ lemnly undertook to pay, and for which you gave me this warrant of attorney, exercising full power over your person as well as your property “Gvod God! you would not take my person? you would not plunge me into a gaol?” cried Armytage, looking as if frensy had suddenly seized upon him. “T have already informed you,” responded Mr, Coleman, “ that it is not my money which you have had; it is that of a client. Iam not there- fore acting for myself—but for another; and i GaP as iE a ED, ms ee COMIC OOOlK<S conn