The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 335: what you’re looking at

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

THE DAGGER 315 Travers, it was said, inherited a considerable sum of money. So, in due course, he left Oaklands, and it was many a long year before I heard anything of him again. At length Farmer Leachley went up to London on some business, and on his return into Hampshire, he came across to see me. He told me that when in London he went to pay his respects to his Grace in Belgrave Square, and that as he was issuing forth from the mansion again he saw a splendid equipage r, and a well-dressed gentleman alight. He thought that the face was not unfamiliar to him, and though fourteen or fifteen rs had elapsed since he last saw Travers, and of course his appearance was altered by time, yet Leachley speedily remembered where he had seen that countenance before, for the well-dressed gentleman descend- ing from his chariot was none other than Travers. The recognition was mutual, but Travers, evidently much con- fused, attempted to pass hastily by Leachley. Leachley, however, was not the man to be cut in this style. He grasped the other’s arm, addressing him by the name of Travers. ‘Hush, my good friend!’ was the response, ‘that is no longer my name. I have risen in the world, as you perceive, and you must call me Mr. Armytage. There is no harm, I fancy, in a man choosing to conceal his plebeian origin when he moves in the highest society and is the companion of the best of the aristocracy. I shall take it as a kindness, for old friendship’s sake, if you will keep the little matter as secret as possible.’ Leachley assured him that he had no wish to injure or annoy him any in way, but that, on the contrary, he was glad to find he had such good reason for a change of name. This made Mr. Armytage, as he chooses to call him- self, very civil indeed, and he invited Leachley to his house in the Regent’s Park; but as Leachley was coming back into Hampshire that very day, he could not avail himself of Mr. Armytage’s kindness.”’ “‘ But it appears that this Mr. Leachley, of whom you are speaking,” said the princess, “‘ failed not to communicate the secret to you? ” “Oh, there was no harm in his telling me, my lady,” replied Purvis, ‘‘ as I never go up to London, and therefore have no opportunity of betraying him, even if I had the inclination, — which of course I have not; for there is no harm in his having changed his name, but, on the contrary, CONnnicloo® S (E) im