The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 254: what you’re looking at

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

MALDEN FARM 223 o’clock, and I propose to retire to rest soon, in order to rise early in the morning. The time has passed so agreeably in your society, my worthy friends, and our conversation has been so varied —” ‘‘ But there is one thing I quite forgot to mention to your ladyship,’’ exclaimed Farmer Brooks, as an idea struck him, ‘and that is, a lawyer’s clerk was here yesterday inquiring for Lord Raymond Montgomery — ”’ ‘Ah! Mr. Rigden’s clerk, I presume?” said the noble lady. . “Yes, that’s the name of the lawyer who sent him,” continued the farmer. ‘“ He came in a post-chaise, — quite a bustle — ”’ | ‘And so important withal,’’ added Miss Brooks, who now joined in the conversation for the first time. ‘Oh, he quite put my daughter out,’ exclaimed Brooks, laughing, ‘‘ by asking her such a host of questions. And when he found that we could give him no clue to search after Lord Raymond, he actually became saucy, said it was very queer, very suspicious — ”’ ‘‘ And so I told him he had better go about his business,”’ remarked Miss Brooks; “ whereupon he grew more civil and even apologized for what he had been saying of an offen- sive character.” ‘““ And did he set off again on his return to London? ”’ inquired the Marchioness of Bellenden. “No, my lady, I believe not,’’ responded Miss Brooks. ‘“’ He said that he should make inquiries all over the neigh- bourhood, that he should proceed to the village of Bellen- den, and that he should leave no stone unturned to discover some clue to his missing lordship. But it does not appear that he has much time for making his search, because he says that unless he can find him before midnight on the 30th of May ea ‘* He loses every possible pretension — even if he possessed any valid claim at all — to these estates,’’ added the mar- chioness. “‘ Well, this is the 29th, to-morrow will be the 30th — ” ‘’ And the clerk swore with a terrible oath,” said Brooks, “before the time was up, he would discover the young nobleman, either dead or alive.” “ He is very positive, at all events,’’ observed Lady Bel- CORE Oe SS) (S©)