The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 392: what you’re looking at

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

386 Baronet petulantly, “is a document of the nature you mention P He may sign it as a stratagem to procure his freedom ;—and the stupid adage is, you know, that all stratagems are allowable in love as well as in war.” “This is the use,” rejoined Mr. Andrews :— “that you can display the document to Miss Hall—she will at once perceive that Mr. Beverley’s worldly interests ride paramount over his love— and the natural pride of woman will induce her to discard him from her heart for ever.” “On my soul, this is capital!” ejaculated Sir John Steward, clutching at the idea the moment that it was fully expounded to him. “ Why, my dear Andrews, you are as well versed in love- affairs as you are in those of the law. But what course do you mean to adopt ?” “ Will you be guided by me, Sir John?” asked the attorney. “To be sure! to be sure! ‘You are managing matters so well Pe “Then let us have Mr, Beverley up here at once. He must be alone with us—the servants can wait outside the drawing-room door—and I dare say the windows are high enough to prevent an escape. Shall I ring the bell P” Sir John Steward nodded an assent: the bell was rung—a servant answered the summons—the order was given—and in a couple of minutes Edgar Beverley was introduced to the drawing- room. The Baronet strove to render the expres- sion of his countenance as sternly grave as pos- sible, as he bade the domestics retire but wait on the landing outside: Edgar advanced into the room with a dignified demeanour, and took a seat some distance from the table. “This gentleman,” said Sir John Steward, “is Mr. Andrews, my solicitor—and he is desirous of having some little conversation with you.” “Then, as a gentleman versed in the law,’ at once observed Edgar, addressing himself to the attorney, “you will perhaps inform Sir John Steward that it may be dangerous to keep my friend Mr. Ashton any longer in the custody of a set of lacqueys: for what he has helped me to do —or rather to attempt—here this evening, can be justified by every principle of rectitude and honour.” “There will be no harm, Mr. Beverley,” replied the solicitor, “in your friend remaining a few minutes longer in his present position, inasmuch as I hope that you will both very shortly go away to- gether in freedom and in peace, as the result of the discourse I am about to hold with you.” Proceed, sir,” said Edgar, coldly. “* My dear sir,’ resumed Mr. Andrews, with a bland smile, “you cannot possibly entertain any animosity against me. If you do, I am sorry for it- But let us come to the point. This document, Mr. Beverley ”—and he lifted the deed from the table as he spoke—“ will have the effect, when duly signed by Sir John Steward, of breaking off the entail of his estates and enabling him to bequeath them to whomsoever he may think fit. You must therefore understand that inasmuch as you will henceforth have no prospective interest in your uncle’s property, you become entirely de- pendent upon his bounty. But on his behalf, I offer to secure you the sum of five hundred a year, on condition that you now at once sign a THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. paper which I in a few minutes will draw up, to the effect that you renounce all claim and preten- sion to the hand of Miss Hall.” Edgar Beverley sprang up from his seat in so violent an agitation that for an instant it appeared as if he were on the point of inflicting summary chastisement upon the person of the solicitor: but the next moment restraining the extreme violence of his feelings, he darted one withering glance upon his uncle, and then addressed the attorney in the following manner :— “Your position, sir, as the mere hireling agent for another, secures you from the effects of my re- sentment, But hear me reject with scorn and in- dignation the base—the infamous proposal you have made me! As for receiving anything from what yon have termed the bounty of my uncle, I should loathe myself were I to condescend to such despicable meanness. But when that falsely called bounty is offered as the price for a love which is above all price, no words are adequate for the ex- pression of my disgust and indignation. And now I demand that I may at once be free to depart hence—my young companion likewise——or, by heaven! there shall be lives lost ere I am again overpowered !” “Then, by heaven,” exclaimed Sir John Steward, rising up from his seat in a paroxysm of un- governable rage, “ you shall see before you leave this house that I am thoroughly in earnest in dis- owning and disinheriting you aye, by deed and by will!” With these words, the Baronet rushed to the bell, which he rang violently: and on one of the domestics om the landing hastily answering the summons, the infuriate old man ordered that the butler and another upper-servant should be desired to attend in the drawing-room. Edgar sate un- moved: for though he had just now demanded his liberty, yet it was entirely on Christian’s behalf : for he himself was by no means sorry to remain a little longer in the house, in the almost desperate hope that something would yet transpire in his favour. The butler and another upper-servant speedily made their appearance; and Sir John Steward, still in a towering rage, exclaimed with passionate vehemence, “I want you to witness a deed—a deed which my lawyer will now have the kindness to read over a deed—a deed But go on, Mr. Andrews!” added the Baronet with an oath. The lawyer saw that any further remonstrance would be unavailing; and though after his journey from London, he would much sooner have sate down to a good supper, and then betaken himself to bed, he was nevertheless constrained through fear of displeasing the Baronet to commence the reading of the document. The butler and his fellow-servant listened with a sort of vacant bewil- derment to the technical phrases, the endless cir- cumlocutions, and the labyrinthine language of the deed: the Baronet sate with an expression of grim gloating triumph upon his countenance: Hdgar Beverley was deliberating in his own mind what plan he could possibly adopt for the rescue of Laura—and so far from listening to the language of the document which was being read, he had no other sensation with regard to it than a continuous droning sound flowing upon his ear. At length, at the expiration of about, twenty minutes, Mr. O00 ooo) <S.