The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 256: what you’re looking at

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

226 THE COURT OF LONDON - as communicating with the road. And here we should perhaps observe that this by-lane branched off amidst the woodlands into two routes, — one affecting a junction with the high road to Birmingham and London, and the other leading to the beautiful village of Bellenden. It was there- fore impossible to decide whether the post-chaise which now emerged from the lane had come from the direction of Birmingham, or from that of the peaceful hamlet in whose church vaults reposed the ashes of one of the proudest and mightiest families of the British aristocracy. But the post-chaise stopped, the door was opened by a hand thrust forth from the window, and out jumped a thin, short, middle-aged man, who looked precisely what he indeed was. “Mr. Rigden’s clerk,”’ exclaimed Farmer Brooks, instan- taneously recognizing the bustling functionary, as he ap- proached the party with a quick step and an important self-complacency of manner. ‘“‘ There is something afoot betimes this morning,” he said, casting a rapid glance from one to another. ‘Then, as his looks settled upon the marchioness, he gave a sort of start as if he were suddenly struck by the conviction who she was, and, raising his hat, he observed in a respectful tone, ‘* I presume that I have the honour to find myself in the presence of her ladyship of Bellenden? ”’ ~The marchioness. bowed coldly and reservedly, for she was not prepossessed by the man’s appearance, and she had no particular reason to like or esteem any one connected with Mr. Rigden. | ~“ T have been hunting everywhere for your ladyship’s cousin, the Lord Raymond Montgomery,” said the clerk, unabashed by the freezing demeanour of the marchioness; ‘and I cannot obtain the least clue to his whereabouts. I was at Bellenden village last night — ”’ “And I was there yesterday afternoon,” said the noble lady, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the clerk had heard any particulars connected with her visit to the peaceful ane’ “So I was told, ” he observed, laconically. ‘‘ I slept their last night, and. now I am on my way back to Lon- don —”’ } ~ “ Tndeed, ‘sir, you hive come out of your way, I can tell - * Eomichbooks (E(o) mi