The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 309: what you’re looking at

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

278 REYNOLDS’ WORKS tatia Latham on the earliest convenient day which her ladyship may appoint.”’ “There must be some mistake here,”’ said Lady Anastatia, from whose cheeks the colour had flitted away for a moment, and to which the next instant it had come back with a deeper dye; yet her voice was calm as she spoke, and it trembled not in the faintest degree. “Tell this person to step up.” The lackey immediately retired, and in a few minutes Mr. Isaac Shadbolt was introduced into the room. In the mean- while Anastatia had examined some papers in her writing- desk, and thence she had taken forth three or four of those documents. “You, I presume,” said Anastatia, in a calm, lady-like manner, as Mr. Shadbolt advanced into the room, “ are the person alluded to in this note,’”’ and she held up the one she had received. - “ Precisely so, my lady,’”’ was the response. ‘I am honest Ike Shadbolt, at your service.” “Then, sir,” proceeded Anastatia, in a colder tone and with a more dignified manner, for it struck her that there was a certain approach to familiarity on Shadbolt’s part, ‘““T have only to inform you that there is some mistake in the matter, and which you will have the goodness to see rectified. Here are all the bills I ever received from Madame Angelique, and as you will perceive, they are duly receipted. Besides, I was never at any one time indebted to Madame Angelique in half the sum which this note of hers speci- fies.”’ ‘“T see the bills, my lady,” rejoined Mr. Shadbolt, “ and I observe that they are all receipted, too. But what is the date of the last?’ and he peered impudently forward. “ A year back,” said Lady Anastatia, who was evidently making an effort to command and preserve all the patience and civility which she was showing toward the man. — “ Well, my lady, but then there’s a bill since this last one,” said Mr. Shadbolt, boldly, ‘‘ and it’s that which — ” “No, you are wrong,” rejoined Anastatia, ‘“ inasmuch as I have not dealt with Madame Angelique for a year past,’’ and there was something bordering upon a calm, or, rather, suppressed indignation 1 in the tone and look of the patrician lady. ! ECORNICLIIOOKS (E(0)