The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

VERNER HOUSE 23 been private secretary to the Duke of Marchmont and to the Grand Duke of Maxe-Stolburg-Quotha, as well as to the unfor- tunate Earl of Lascelles, whose murder was wrapped up in such profound mystery, and he concluded by giving Edgar Beverley a rapid outline of his adventures with Mr. Sycamore. “Thank you, my new friend, — for such you must per- mit me to call you, — for your confidence,’ said Beverley; then, after a pause, he added, “I likewise have a tale to tell, and I am yearning to unfold it to your ears, but not in this room, where at any moment we may be intruded on by other guests at the hotel. We will have a private apartment and dine together.”’ Christian agreed; the bell was rung, the requirement was mentioned to the waiter, who at once led the way to a private sitting-room. Dinner was ordered, and Edgar Beverley went on conversing on general topics. It was evident that he reserved his own history until after the repast, when they might sit together without being continuously interrupted by the entrance of the waiter. Christian found him to be a young man of cultivated intellect, able to dis- course on an infinite variety of topics, — the lighter ones without descending to frivolity, the more serious ones with- out merging into levity or dogmatism. He gathered, how- ever, from his discourse that he was a lieutenant in the army, that his regiment was stationed at Brighton, but that he was on leave of absence. The more our hero saw of him the better he was pleased with his unaffected urbanity, his mild, gentlemanly manners, and the generosity of the sentiments he uttered on those topics which were calculated to evolve the best traits of the disposition. But there was likewise a manliness of spirit, a suitable pride, and a becom- ing dignity in Edgar Beverley’s character, so that it was evident he was a young man of the loftiest notions of honour and integrity. On the other hand, Christian Ashton himself proved equally agreeable to the lieutenant, and proportion- ately progressed in his new friend’s favourable opinion. _ Dinner was served up; it was somewhat hurriedly disposed of, for Lieutenant Beverley was evidently as anxious to commence his narrative as Christian Ashton was to hear it. The dessert was placed on the table, and when the waiter had withdrawn for good, the serious topic of the evening was entered upon. EGOMIGIOOKS (CO)