The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 312: what you’re looking at

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

THE LATHAMS 281 ‘“‘ No, Sir Frederick,”’ responded Anastatia. ‘‘ You are well aware that I never issue invitations without previously con- sulting your convenience.” ‘You are welcome to do so at any time you may think fit,’ answered Sir Frederick, but more with the air of one who was conveying a permission than who was bidding his wife exercise a right which was indisputably her own. ‘ On my part I have invited no one to dine with us to-day, and therefore it is somewhat fortunate that after dinner I shall be left alone with your brother — I mean merely because he intimates that he has some business of importance on which to consult me.”’ “IT have not seen Robert for some months past,”’ said Anastatia, “‘ and I hope in the name of Heaven — ”’ ‘“‘ Again I tell you not to distress yourself,” interrupted Sir Frederick. ‘ If it is a matter of a little pecuniary as- sistance, he shall have it. Thank God, Lady Anastatia, your husband is a man who can afford it, without the slightest detriment to his own interests.”’ ‘“‘T know you are very rich,” said her ladyship; and then, as she looked tearfully up into her husband’s countenance, she added, ‘‘ But it is really too bad of Robert.” ‘“‘ He exercises the privilege of a brother-in-law,’’ remarked Sir Frederick, and there might perhaps have been a faint, though very faint, expression of irony in his tone, but Anastatia perceived it not. ‘You have been so good to him, you have done so much,”’ she said, ‘‘ and under such fearful circumstances too — ”’ “Lady Anastatia,’”’ interrupted Sir Frederick, without the slightest change in his tone, look, or manner, but with a sort of calmness, half-businesslike, half-self-complacent, ‘‘T have more than once begged you not to allude to those circumstances. Assuredly if I had thought that the con- versation would have taken this turn, I should not have spoken of that part of your brother’s note which hints at important business.”’ ‘But whenever my brother’s name is mentioned,”’ answered Lady Anastatia, ‘‘I am always reminded — yes, necessarily so,” she continued, with much feeling, ‘‘ of your great goodness and his wildness, I may even say his wicked- ness. Never, never can I forget it. And at the time when our parents would not see him, when he stood upon the very CORnNICLOOOKS (CO)