The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 350: what you’re looking at

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

THE FIVE THOUSAND GUINEAS 317 not, for his own sake, show such a letter as that to anybody. And now, what is the next step? ” she inquired. | “The next step,’ answered Emmerson, “is for me to provide five thousand guineas, which Lady Curzon will have to send over to Colonel Malpas with some appropriate letter which she will know full well how to write in the proper spirit; and as he will have to pay that amount to my solicitor in order to release himself, the money will come back to me again in the course of a few days, and therefore it will be all the same in the end. Let me see,’’ added Emmerson, con- sulting his watch, ‘‘ it is now half-past eleven. Hasten you back to Grosvenor Street, explain everything to the countess, and let her have the note ready written for Colonel Malpas. I will send up the money at three o’clock. It must be in notes and gold, and not in a cheque, because of course Colonel Malpas is not to know from whom her ladyship receives it.” ‘“‘ But for Heaven’s sake,’’ cried Gertrude, ‘‘ take care how you send the money. Remember that his lordship the earl may open any letter or parcel addressed to the countess — ”’ “ True! ”’ ejaculated Emmerson. Then, after a few mo- ments’ reflection, he said, ‘‘ Be you on the lookout precisely as the clock strikes three, and I will either call myself or else send some confidential person to Grosvenor Street with a parcel directed to her ladyship. The amount shall all be in notes, so that if I send, the messenger will not know what it contains.” ‘‘ At three o’clock precisely, then, either yourself or some one on your behalf will call,’ said Gertrude. “ It 1s not likely that I shall have an opportunity of waiting about in the hall, but the parcel can be given to the hall porter, and all will be right.” With this understanding Gertrude and the money-broker separated. But we need hardly observe that at the moment when Theodore Varian heard the lady’s-maid taking leave of his employer, he retreated rapidly from the door at which he had been listening, and resumed his seat on the high stool at the desk, where he appeared to be writing away with as much earnestness as if he had not for a single moment interrupted his own labours or diverted his attention to any other object. Shortly after Gertrude’s departure Mr. Emmerson went CoORnnicloooks (C(O)