The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 369: what you’re looking at

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

RAO AT EARL MONTGOMERY’S MANSION 335 rative of Lord Florimel’s romantic adventure has excited within you.” ‘Then you played the eavesdropper, Rao, when your master was telling me that strange story? ”’ exclaimed Earl Montgomery. | ‘Yes, I have read all your secret wishes and all your fervent hopes, my lord,’”’ resumed the boy, without heeding the remark which the nobleman had just made, and which proclaimed an accusation that he would doubtless have denied if he could. At this instant the door was opened, and a servant entered the room. Rao started to his feet, evidently to save Lord Montgomery from any suspicion or misconstruction that might arise from the fact of his being found familiarly seated with a liveried page; and the nobleman threw at the boy a rapid glance expressive of his thanks for this proof of good taste on his part. ‘‘ Please your lordship,’’ said the domestic who had Just. entered the room, ‘“ Mr. Rigden requests an immediate in- terview. He has only one word to say, and will not detain your lordship a minute.” ‘‘ Show him in,”’ returned Montgomery. Then, observing the page, whose presence he had at the instant forgotten, he said, “‘ Step into the adjacent room, my boy, while I say a few words to my solicitor. It is not worth the trouble to make you step out into the hall for the short period that we shall be engaged together. ”’ This proceeding on the earl’s part was another - phase of that tacit respect with which he was inspired toward Rao by the belief that he was something more than he seemed, — an idea that forbade the nobleman from treating the boy as a mere lackey. And Rao understood the considerate feeling which was thus manifested toward him: for even as he glided into the adjoining room, he looked back to express his grateful appreciation thereof with a rapid, fervent glance. The sable page closed the door behind him; and at the same moment Mr. Rigden was ushered into the presence of Lord Montgomery. The attorney was a middle-aged man, with a pale face and keen gray eyes. He was dressed in black, wore a white cravat and ample shirt-frill, and was altogether very precise in his personal appearance. He took snuff, but he managed. (C(O) ALG 6)(0)(©)