The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 366: what you’re looking at

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

THE FIRST ORDEAL O00 man’s daughter and the Marchioness of Bellenden, then biting her scarlet lip almost till the blood came, she averted her head and resumed an aspect of consummate indifference. ‘The murder of the young gentleman was not the only proceeding in which your father and his friend were en- gaged?’ said Lady Bellenden, inquiringly. ‘No, ma’am,” returned Carrotty Poll. ‘“‘ There was an entrance by night into a church, the opening of a vault, and a little affair with the parish register; but in this last business the earl only was concerned.”’’ ‘What proof have you of the opening of the vault?” asked Laura. “This ring, taken off the finger of a dead body which was all exposed in its coffin,’’ replied the red-haired witness, and she produced the jewel in question. “It bears the crest of the Bellendens,’’ observed the marchioness. ‘‘ The young woman,” she continued in ex- planation, “‘ called upon me this morning to know whether certain intelligence which she was able to give relative to some proceedings in the country would be useful to me, inasmuch as she had reason to believe the information bore materially upon the pending lawsuit. She stipulated for a large reward, which I have given her, and she has remained until this evening to repeat her testimony in your presence and proclaim all she knows. Have you any questions to ask her? ”’ Lord Montgomery made no reply, but kept his looks fixed upon the chandelier, and Lady Holderness tossed her head with a renewed air of indignant impatience. ‘You may retire,’”’ said the Marchioness of Bellenden. “But your ladyship had better command this witness and all the others,’ cried the earl, as a thought suddenly struck him, ‘‘ to remain quietly beneath this roof until the conclusion of the present proceedings; inasmuch as it will probably seem advisable to your ladyship, in the long run, -to place the seal of strictest secrecy upon their lips, which no doubt can be done by means of your ladyship’s gold,”’ he added, bitterly. ‘‘ In a word, I warn your ladyship, that if an exposure should take place, the honour and lives of Fernanda and myself will not be alone involved.”’ The looks of the marchioness gradually became troubled as the earl spoke; but conquering her emotions, she regained CORnNICLOOKS (E()