The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 356: what you’re looking at

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

THE MSYTERIES OF THE COURT. Se L&T oAl hour,” said Lady Saxondale, “ while I repair to the library to write a few letters.” Thus speaking, she quitted the room. But hev absence was not longer than she had-specified; and on her return she sat down to join in the conversa- tion with her daughter and her guests. CHAPTER LXXI. A TRAGEDY. It was about half-past eight o’clock on this same evening of which we are speaking, that Mr. Gun- thorpe and William Deveril set out on foot from an hotel at Gainsborough, where they had arrived during the afternoon ; and they proceeded along the bank of the river towards Saxondale Castle. The sun had gone down half-an-hour previously: the twilight was waning—the dusk was setting in—but by the appearance of the evening there was ro pro- bability of the darkness being so great as to render the walk by the side of the Trent at all dangerous. Deveril, moreover, had been there before, and per- fectly remembered the various features of the route. | “T wonder whether the fellow Chiffin will keep | his appointment,” said Mr. Gunthorpe, after they had walked a considerable distance—and it was now past nine o’clock. “T think there can be no doubt of it,” replied Deveril. “The man is evidently one who will do anything for money; and the prospect of receiving a large reward from you, sir, will win him over to our interests. But really I am quite ashamed when I think of all the trouble you are taking on my be- half—and what is more still, all the money you are spending.” “Stuff and nonsense!” ejaculated Mr. Gunthorpe petulantly. “ How often am I to tell you not to adress me in that way? If you ever speak to me agvain in such terms, I shall think that you mean intentionally to offend me.” “No, my dear sir—you cannot think that: be- cause you know it to be impossible. On the con- t>ary, you would doubtless consider it very extra- oidinary if I did not express all my gratitude towards you. Ah! it was here,” suddenly exclaimed Deveril, “that I rescued that strange woman from drowning; and yonder is the cottage to which we were both conveyed. You perceive that glimmering light ?” “Yes,” said Mr. Gunthorpe; “and I tell you what, William—I feel uncommonly thirsty; and we will just step out of our way that much, and call upon those good peasants. There is plenty of time: fur Chiffin will of course wait for us. That con- founded soup at the hotel in Gainsborough was so salt that it has left my throat as dry as if I had been eating red herrings.” Mr. Gunthorpe and Deveril accordingly turned away from the bank of the river and approached the cottage, which they reached in a few minutes. On knocking at the door it was opened by the peasant himself, who instantaneously recognizing Deveril as the light from the rvom streamed upon his coun- tenance, gave vent to an ejaculation of surprise and joy. again! Walk in, sir. Mother, here is Mr. Deveril —and another gentleman along with him.” “They are both heartily welcome,” said the old woman, making her appearance; and in the kind ness of her heart she grasped Deveril’s hand. Our young hero and Mr. Gunthorpe entered the little sitting-room of the cottage, where the old woman’s daughter welcomed Deveril in her turn. But there were two other persons in this room— two females. One was handsomely dressed, and had the air, if not exactly of a lady, at least of & person in good circumstances; while the other, who appeared to be her maid, carried a large brown paper parcel in her hand. It immediately struck Deveril that he had scen the countenance of the Jady before: but he could not at the instant re- collect when or where. “Sit down, gentlemen,” said the old woman, bustling about to give Mr. Gunthorpe and our hero chairs: “there’s plenty of room. Well, we ave got company this evening! Who would have thought it? a longer walk than they meant to do, as they say—and were so tired they were obliged to step in and sit down for a few minutes, But what will you take, gentlemen? Our fare is humble. yet such as it is, you are most welcome.” “My friend here,” answered Deveril, “‘is exceed- ingly thirsty. A draught of water, or milk——” “Or cider?” exclaimed the old woman. “We have got some good cider; and this lady and her maid have pronounced it excellent.” “‘Yes—that assurance I can certainly give you, gentlemen,” said the handsomely-dressed female, who had never taken her fine dark eyes off Deveril since the first moment he entered the cottage: for she was evidently struck by the exceeding beauty of his person, as well perhaps by having heard his name mentioned by the old woman's son when he made his ‘appearance. Deveril bowed courteously as she spoke; and again it struck him that he had seen her before. “Tf it be not impertinent, sir,” she said, “are you the Mr. Deveril whose name created so much sympathy on a recent occasion?” —then as our hero again bowed, though somewhat distantly— for he did not much like the hardihood of his questioner’s looks,—she exclaimed, “Ah! I am well acquainted with Lord Harold Staunton, and his intimate friend Lord Saxondale too.” “Do you come from London, then ?” inquired Mr. Gunthorpe, in his blunt manner. “T reside habitually in London,” was the re- sponse; “ but alittle business has brought me down into these parts. I dare say,’ added the lady, “that my name isnot unfamiliar to you, gentlemen. I am Mademoiselle D’Alenbert of the Italian Opera.” “Ah!” ejaculated Deveril, now instantaneously recollecting where he had seen her countenance before. “ Yes—that is my name,” she continued, flatter- ing herself that it was in admiring surprise that the young gentleman had sent forth that exclamation, “ But come,” she added, addressing herself to her soubrette ; “we must be off.” Rising from her seat, she ostentatiously took from her purse a sovereign, which she tendered to the old “This is kind of you, sir, to come and see us woman of the cottage, who literally confounded This lady and her maid have taken © (Cc) MICLOOOKS (CO)