The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 318: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSLPEHIEKS OF THE COURT. —————_ ae ee ae CHAPTER LXifti THE FOST-OL FICE. WE must now direct the reader’s attention to the interior of the Post-Office at Gainsborough. It was the hour of noon; and two clerks were attending to the business of the establishment—one paying the money-orders—the other sorting the letters as they were dropped through the slit in the window, and also answering such inquiries as might be made at the little trap-door of the usual fashion adopted at country post-offices. : “JT should think that Smith was sure to have come back last night,” observed one of the clerks to the other. “Yes: his holiday was up,’ responded the latter. “T wonder he hasn’t shown himself already this morning. He has had a fortnight of it.” “Where did he go to ?” “To London, I fancy. He said that he should. My turn comes next; and I have made up my mind to visit London.” At this moment four or five letters were thrust one after the other through the slit; and one of them falling farther than the rest, fell into an inkstand which was standing upon the counter. “Look here!” criec the clerk who attended to the sorting of the letters. ‘This comes, you see, of that rascally carpenter delaying to put up the letter- box again :”—and as he spoke he dried the soiled letter, upon a piece of blotting-paper. ‘“ What a nuisance it is! He promised to put it up again last night: but this is the way he always serves us whenever he has to do a job here.” * Tt’s too bad,” observed the other clerk. ‘“ But here’s Smith!” he suddenly exclaimed, looking through the aperture where he paid the money- orders. Almost immediately afterwards a young man of about two-and-twenty entered the office and greeted his two colleagues: for he was one of the clerks in the establishment. “So here I am again,” he said, in a tone of regret that his holiday was over. “ Well, Smith, how have you enjoyed yourself?” inquired both his companions in a breath. “Uncommonly,” was the reply. “I only wisk my holiday had been for a month instead of a fortnight. But by the bye, I understand Lady Saxondale has eome back to the Castle?” “She's teen there for some days past,’’ responded one of his comrades. “Is it true, though, that Miss Constarce has eloped with a French Mar- wis ?” “ Quite true,” replied Smith. “It has caused such a sensation in London! They say she cut off just at the moment the carriage was at the door, and that she hired some old gipsy-woman to come up at the time and draw off her ladyship’s attention. That’s the rumour. But of course I don’t know how true it is.” s “Ts ita good match for Miss Constance ?” “Or rather the Marchioness of Villebelle, as you must now call her,” replied Smith. “ Well, as for it’s being a good match, I don’t exactly know. I should think she might have done better—such a sweet beautiful creature ae she is. The Marquis, { understaad, is a very handsome man—quite 393 young: that is o say, not above six or seven-and- twenty; and he has got a diplomatic situation. But that’s all he has to depend upon.” *T’ll be bound her ladyship is precious wild,” exclaimed one of the clerks. “But when did you come back ?” “Last night. I travelled down with such a nice young fellow; and as we were alone together the whole way, we had quite an agreeable conver- sation. A more intelligent, amiable, but at the same time fine-spirited young gentleman, I don’t think I ever met with. Perhaps you remember reading about a duel that took place the other day between a certam Lord Harold Staunton and a Mr. Deveril ?” “To be sure: and the report was that Deveril was killed—but it afterwards appeared that he was oaly dangerously wounded.” * Well,’ responded Smith, “ this same Mr. Deveril it was with whom I travelled from London yes- terday. He still looks pale and enfeebled, but is fast reccvering of the severe injury he received.” “And what brings him down to Gainsborough ?” “TI dv not kuow: he did not volunteer any expla- nation, aud therefore of course I did not question him.” “Tt happens that Lord Harold Staunton himself is at Saxondale Castle at this very time,” observed one of the clerks: “cr at all events a letter, directed to him there, was sent along to the castle this morning.” “This is strange,” exclaimed Smith: “for Mr. Deveril appears anxious to see that fine old castle and its environs; and I promised that I would take him over there to-day. Indeed I expect him every moment: for it was noon that we appointed to meet. He is a total stranger at Gainsborough, and therefore availed himself of my proposal to escort him.” “Then you do not mean to attend te business to- day, I suppose?” observed one of his colleagues, laughing. “No. Mind you, my leave of absence is not up until to-night.” At this moment some one inquired at the open trap-door of the money-order clerk for Mr. Smith, whe immediately recognizing the voice, exclaimed, “ Ah! is it you, Mr. Deveril? Walk round, and we will take our departure in a few minutes.” Deveril accordingly entered the office, and was introduced by Mr. Smith to the other clerks. While they were conversing some one knocked at the trap- door of the window; and the particular clerk whose duty it was to answer questions, opened the said little door and gave whatsoever information was re- quired. At that same instant a lady, hurriedly passing the post-office, dropped a letter through the hole; and by accident it shared the fate of a pre- vious one by falling upon the inkstand. “Well, that is odd!” exclaimed the clerk who had just answered the questions of the inquirer at the window. ‘“ Who do you think it was that just threw this letter inP—and, by Jove, it has fallen into the ink! Now isn’t it too bad of that carpenter : “ Who was it?” inquired Smith. “Lady Saxondale herself.” Deveril started at this name: but the circum stance was not perceived by the other young men. FN cy LL LLL LL LLL LN —— ECOMICclMoookxs (CO)