The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 232: what you’re looking at

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

THE FAMILY VAULT 201 memory well, and omit not a single word that he uttered. You know not how important it is to my interests that I should sift to the very bottom all-the particulars of Lord Montgomery’s visit to this place.”’ “IT am indebted to your ladyship for too much kindness not to be anxious to seek every opportunity of showing my gratitude,’ observed Mr. Roberts; ‘‘ but even if it were not so, aS a matter of justice I should give your ladyship all the information in my power, inasmuch as I consider your lady- ship to be the victim of a gross conspiracy to deprive you of your estates. Such is the prevalent feeling in this part of Warwickshire — ”’ “The prevalent feeling, but not the universal one, I sup- pose? ”’ said the marchioness, inquiringly. ‘Well, my lady,’’ responded the clergyman, “‘I must confess that there are a few individuals in the village and the surrounding parts who espouse the interests of the Mont- gomerys; but I suppose they have been well paid for their allegiance in this respect, otherwise they would not be so staunch and so bold in asserting their conviction that your ladyship must lose the lawsuit.” ‘Who are the persons you are referring to?” inquired Lady Bellenden; “‘ and what kind of characters do they bear? ”’ | ‘Characters, indeed exclaimed the parson. ‘Then, in a more serious tone, he added, “ It ill becomes a Christian minister to speak harshly of people behind their backs, or under any circumstances whatsoever; but I cannot con- scientiously declare that the individuals to whom [ allude are trustworthy, honest, or respectable. In fact, the landlord and the landlady of the Bellenden Arms will corroborate my assertions — ”’ ~“ But who are those individuals?’’ demanded the mar- chioness, impatiently; and as she spoke she drew forth a set of ivory tablets from her reticule. “In the first place, my lady,’’ responded Mr. Roberts, “there is Chapman the stone-mason — ”’ {?? ‘And he doubtless was employed by Earl Montgomery’s © agents to open the vault of the Bellenden family? ”’ said the marchioness, inquiringly, as she wrote down the man’s name in her tablets. — “ Precisely so,” returned the clergyman. ‘ The sexton GomilGaooks (S©)