The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 359: what you’re looking at

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

328 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘IT have already said that weeks and months passed away, and gradually the hope of meeting that lady whom I so much longed to see died within me. At length I was one day startled by encountering in the great hall of Buckingham Palace that nobleman whom I have so often mentioned in my narrative, — the one whom I saw first with a star upon his breast, and who had subsequently placed me at the boarding-school at Southampton. Though nine years had elapsed since last I beheld him, and though he looked very much older, and was even much altered, yet was I convinced that it was he. Obeying a natural impulse, I hastened for- ward and presented myself before him. ‘ My lord,’ I said, without then knowing his name, but merely being aware of his rank, ‘ ]1 am Francis Paton!’ Conceive my astonishment when, surveying me with cold and inscrutable look, he answered, ‘ Well, my lad, and who is Francis Paton?’ I said that I was astonished, 1 might have added that I was astounded, dismayed, and for the instant it really struck me that I must have made a mistake. But another and still more scrutinizing survey of that nobleman convinced me that I had not. I would have staked my soul upon the issue, could the matter have been put to the test. ‘ My lord,’ I exclaimed, with an indignation which I could not control, ‘IT am that Francis Paton whom you took from the cottage where Mrs. Burnaby died to a mansion in the country where I saw a lady whom I had seen before and whom I would sive worlds to see again. I am he also whom your lordship placed at a seminary in Southampton, and I am much mis- taken if it be not also to your lordship that I am indebted for the bread of servitude which I now eat.’ ”’ ‘You spoke with spirit, Frank,’’ observed Juliana. ‘The last portion of my speech was uttered with bitter- ness and reproach,” exclaimed the youth. “ But it was without effect. The nobleman continued cold, unmoved, inscrutable. If he displayed any emotion at all, it was an affectation of surprise, as he said, ‘ Young man, you are talk- ing in enigmas. I know nothing of the incidents to which you allude, and they are evidently secrets into which I have no right to pry. But as you have made such a mistake with- out sinister design, I will not chide. On the contrary, I am rather inclined to take an interest in you, and therefore if ever you need a friend, do not hesitate to apply to me.’ CONNIE KS (E(@)