The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 257: what you’re looking at

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

THE RAISING OF THE STONE 227 you,” exclaimed Farmer Brooks. ‘ On leaving the village you should not have taken to the by-lanes at all — ” ‘‘T know that, my good man,’ interrupted the clerk; ‘‘ but I chose to come around by Malden Farm this morning — indeed, I got up at five o’clock on purpose — just to make a last inquiry concerning Lord Raymond and see whether anything had transpired with regard to him since I was here the day before yesterday. Because this is the 30th; and he must know that unless he fulfils a certain duty by twelve o’clock to-night, he loses any claim which he may now possess to the objects of litigation. I therefore fancied it just possible that he might have returned at the eleventh hour, as one might say —”’ “T have heard nothing of his lordship, I can assure you,” interrupted Farmer Brooks. “ But I thought that you were resolved to find him out, dead or alive — ”’ ‘Upon my honour, my good fellow — and saving her ladyship’s presence for talking thus familiarly,’”’ exclaimed Mr. Rigden’s head clerk, — ‘‘ I do really begin to feel assured that if Lord Raymond Montgomery should ever again turn. up at all, it will be only as a corpse, and not as a being full of youthful vigour, and animation, and life.”’ ‘“‘ Good Heaven! what makes you think that?” cried Farmer Brooks, while ejaculations of horror burst from the lips of the worthy man’s wife and daughter. ‘“‘ Oh, simply because people don’t disappear in this kind of fashion without having met foul play,” said the clerk. “* But may I take the liberty of inquiring wherefore you are all abroad so early, and what is going on at the new bridge here? ”’ | ‘““ Her ladyship is about to deposit a vase of coins in the hollow of that buttress,’ replied Farmer Brooks; ‘‘ and the masons are at this moment on the point of lifting that huge crowning stone.”’ | “With her ladyship’s permission I will remain a few minutes and witness the ceremony,” said the clerk. ‘‘ Thave not the slightest objection,’’ returned the marchion- ess; and with these words, she advanced close up to the spot where the masons had already begun to work the ap- paratus erected for the raising of the stone. The steward, the housekeeper, Margaret, Brooks, his wife, and his daughter, all took their station at a short distance COU G 0)(0)O) <S ANN