The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 365: what you’re looking at

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

334 THE COURT OF LONDON Widow Bushman, “‘ although particularly enjoined by Miss Aylmer — Lady Holderness, I mean — to be careful on that head. His lordship was terribly angry — ” “That will do, my good woman,” said the marchioness. ‘“ You may retire, and be kind enough to send in the next witness.” “Ts this child’s play to last much longer, madam?” demanded Fernanda, no longer able to restrain her im- patience beneath the air of contemptuous indifference which she had been assuming. “Let her ladyship pursue her own course, Fernanda,” exclaimed Earl Montgomery, in a bitter tone. ‘ This is our ordeal; she will have to pass through hers presently.” Lady Bellenden started slightly and threw a furtive sidelong look of uneasiness upon the nobleman; but instan- taneously recovering herself, she turned her eyes in the direction of the inner room. A third witness had just ap- peared in the form of a red-haired, scraggy, repulsive-looking young woman, with a very vixenish expression of counte- nance. She was totally unknown to both Montgomery and Fernanda, and though they did not choose to allow their features to show that they were at all interested in this new phase of the proceedings, they were nevertheless secretly filled with anxiety and curiosity in this respect. “What is your name?” asked Lady Bellenden, who conducted the inquiry with all the precision and solemnity of an Old Bailey pleader. ‘““Mary Price, please your ladyship,’’ was the answer; ‘‘and my father is one of the men whom his lordship, Earl Montgomery, hired to do a certain business down in the country. Joseph Warren is the other; and they’re now both in Newgate.” ‘“¢ And what was the nature of the business you refer to? ” continued the marchioness. “To put a handsome young gentleman out of the way, by burying him alive in the buttress of a bridge,’ returned Carrotty Poll. ‘There was a lady present on the occasion, I believe? ”’ said the marchioness; ‘ and the young gentleman ejaculated some name — ”’ | “Fernanda,” said Carrotty Poll. Lady Holderness threw a fierce look upon the Big Beggar- Gomicbooks