The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

122 THE COURT OF LONDON “We will say at eleven o’clock punctually,” answered Lady Holderness. ‘‘ And now let me impress upon you that the utmost precaution is to be adopted. Your servants will be all in their own rooms, the lodgers in the house will all have retired to rest, and you alone, Mrs. Lindley, re- member, I say, you alone will be sitting up to receive the unhappy young lady whom Lord Holderness will himself escort hither at the appointed hour.” “ Everything your ladyship has suggested shall be strictly attended to,” said Mrs. Lindley. ‘‘ I suppose I am to under- stand that not even my confidential servant is to see the young lady during her sojourn in my house? I am to attend upon her myself? ”’ ‘“‘ Precisely so,’’ answered Fernanda; “ and your recom- pense shall be most liberal.”’ “Oh, that assurance is quite unnecessary from your ladyship,” said the midwife. ‘ But do you not inquire after your friend, Caroline Walters?’’ she asked, as Fernanda rose to depart. “ Ah! I had forgotten her,” ejaculated Lady Holderness. “‘TIs the poor girl still here? ”’ ‘Yes, but she will leave me very shortly, I believe,’ re- sponded Mrs. Lindley. ‘‘ Would your ladyship like to see her? She often and often speaks of you.” ‘Speaks of me!” repeated Fernanda. “ How? Does she know who I am? ”’ | ‘No, no, Heaven forbid!” cried Mrs. Lindley. “ But hush! we are both talking too loud, and walls have ears! What I meant was that poor Caroline Walters speaks of the young lady, as she calls you, and she wonders whether you have entirely forgotten her.” ‘‘ T will come and see her in a few days, when I pay a visit to my husband’s unfortunate relative,’ observed Fernanda. ‘‘ But in the meantime do not tell Caroline Walters that you have either seen or heard anything of me.”’ ‘‘ Your ladyship is well aware that secrecy is the very life and soul of my profession,” returned the old midwife, gently repulsing the huge black cat which at the moment leaped into her lap. ‘‘ But will your ladyship take some refresh- ment? —or his lordship? A glass of wine and a bis- cuit — ”’ “ Nothing, I thank you,” said the nobleman, drawing his COmiclboookS.!