The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 371: what you’re looking at

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

356 THE MYS1 ERIKS. tion was necessary, but nevertheless giving it with the brevity and haughty curtness of an habitual reserve,—“the fact is that an accident which hap- pened close by to our carriage, has compelled us to demand the hospitality of this mansion for the night. Iam aware that it belongs to Sir Richard Stamford ;: but I presume, from certain observations which have fallen from your lips, that he is not here at the present time. Our acknowledgments are therefore due to you as Sir Richard's representative —and I shall feel obliged if you will order a chamber to be provided for our accommodation.” The latter portion of this sentence was delivered in a low tone and aside to the ear of the bagman, who, with characteristic keenness of perception, instantly comprehended that the Prince and his fair companion would occupy the same sleeping- room. With an obsequious bow, therefore, he re- treated from the parlour, and hastened to rejoin his wife and the Bryans, whom he found all busily em- ployed in making such preparations for the royal supper as time and materials allowed. The excitement caused by the arrival of the Prince and a lady of extraordinary beauty, almost entirely banished the affair of the ghost from the minds of those who were now bustling about to serve up a repast worthy of the distinguished guests. Fortunately there were the roast fow! and boiled ham which Mrs. Bryan had already spoken of; and Julia, assisted by an old cookery-book which happened to be at hand, hastily prepared some sweets, there being plenty of jams and pre. served fruits in the store-room The cellar fur- nished a supply of excellent wine; and thus the arrangements were completed to the satisfaction of Mr. Page, who superintended them all. Then, assisted by his wife,—for he wou:d not per- mit the Bryans to take any share in this portion of the ceremony, as he unceremoniously teld them that their hands were too brown and grimy-looking, —the ex-bagman carried the dishes to the parlour and served them up with all the pomp and circam- stance which he deemed appropriate to the occa- sion. The Prince and his fair companion sate down to the repast for which the night-air had their appetites; and while Mr. Page stationed himself behind the chair of the former, Julia took her post in a similar position with re- gard to the latter. Indeed, if the bagman had been all his life accustomed to the duties of a butler, he could not have acquitted himself more ably In that respect; and his wife, being pleased at having an opportunity of gratifying a vulgar predilection for gazing her fill upon Royalty, likewise endeavoured to render her services as acceptable as possible, The Prince and the lady conversed together uponin- different subjects during the repast : but the former never once addressed the latter by any name—so that neither Page nor Julia obtained the slightest knowledge who she was. That she was, however, one of the heic-apparent’s numerous favourites, they entertained not the least doubt; and that she was of the highest class of society, they likewise felt assured. When the cloth was removed and Jalia had re- tired, Mr. Page arranged upon the table the de- canters of wine and several dishes of preserved fruits, apples, and filberts; and having replenished. the hearth with fresh logs, he was about to leave the room, when the Priuce said, “I presume that Sir Richard Stamford has broken up his establish- ment here since the terrible occurrences to which the newspapers have given publicity 7” “Such is the fact, may it please your Royal Highness,” answered Page. “For some time there has only been an old couple in the house to take care of it; and I and my wife came here this evening to look over the baronet’s private papers, preparatory to the sale which is to take place next week.” “ 1 believe that the Manor was partially destroyed by fire—was it not ?” said the lady, now herself to the ex-bagman for the first time daring the evening. “A fire did occur, madam,” replied Page, quite delighted by the winning condescension of her manner and the dulcet musio of her voice: * bat it did little harm and was speedily extinguished. The effects are scarcely visible outside, and are chiefly confined, I fancy, to the room where the fire oo- curred.” “The two <sylesbury bankers, Sir Richard's partners, were both executed, I believe — were they not?” inquired the Priuce. “ They were, your Royal Highness,” answered the ex-traveller. “But whether or not one of them managed to come to life again—or whether his spirit haunts these premises, I cannot say. Cer- tain it is, however, that both my wife and myself saw Mr. Ramsey this very evening in the library, as plainly as I have now the houour to behold your Royal Highness.” “It would only require the circumstance of our taking refuge in a haunted house, to render the romance of our adventure complete,” observed the Priace, addressing himself with a significant smile to the lady, who laughed and blushed at the same time. “Your Royal Highness will of course be inclined to treat my story with disbelief, and perhaps with contempt,” pursued Page; “but I can assure your Royal Highness that if it were not Ramsey whom I and my wife saw this evening, it was some one so exceedingly like him that even the resemblance which Sir Richard Stamford bears to your Royal Highness is excelled and outvied in this instance. And as a proof that imagination bad nothing to do with the affair, I must beg to add that Mrs. Page and I were both struck with the conviction that it was Ramsey before we had even exchanged an idea or questioned each other as to our respec- tive impressions concerning what we did see.” “ But as a sensible man, Mr. Page,” said the heir- apparent, “ you do not actually and positively believe that you have seen a ghost ?” “TJ should be sorry to declare moet positively that I had—and I can scarcely bring myself to affirm that I have not,” responded the ex-bagman. “I saw Ramsey executed—I saw him hang for the usual time—I saw him cut down——” “And did you see him buried?” demanded the Prince, with a smile: for he was in a particularly good humour on the present occasion, and Mr. Page’s manner and discourse somewhat amused him. “Well—to speak candidly, 1 did no¢ see hin buried,” was the response to the question just put “The corpse was claimed, as I understood, by some friends——’’ “Oh! pray Ict us discontinue this topic!” ex- eee COMNGBOOKS