The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 339: what you’re looking at

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

308 REYNOLDS’ WORKS this announcement, and she was on the point of asking the domestic some questions, when he said, ‘‘ And perhaps, my lady, Mr. Shadbolt had better remain until your ladyship comes back to him.”’ Without a word Anastatia issued from the room, but when in the hall she put to the footman the question to which she had a few instants back been on the point of giving utterance. ‘What does Sir Frederick want me for? ” she asked, as if with an air of indifference. ‘Sir Frederick questioned me, my lady,’’ responded the footman, ‘ and to tell your ladyship the truth, I was com- pelled to inform him that Mr. Shadbolt had called for pay- ment of some little debt — ” ‘‘ Ah! — then Mr. Shadbolt himself must have spoken to you? ”’ said Anastatia, and it was with the utmost difficulty she could maintain an air of composure. ‘“‘ He only told me that much, my lady,’ was the lackey’s response. “I could not help answering Sir Frederick — ” “Certainly not,’ interjected Anastatia, with an air of dignified self-possession. ‘“ It was your duty.” Lady Anastatia Latham then proceeded direct to her hus- band’s study, with the determination, if needed, of making a certain confession, but it was with a sense of dismay that she adopted the resolve. She entered the study, where she found her husband seated at the desk, and reading a letter with his wonted demeanour of imperturbable calmness. ‘““My dear Anastatia,’’ he said, rising from his seat and advancing toward her, “ it has perhaps been a little oversight on my part that I have not occasionally given you the key of this safe in order that you may replenish your purse with- out the necessity of applying direct to me. Here is the key; you can restore it to me presently. And now, my dear Anastatia, delay not in returning amongst your guests.”’ Having thus spoken, with an unusual appearance of kind- ness, Sir Frederick at once issued from the room. The whole proceeding was so completely different from what Anastatia had expected that she was rendered absolutely speechless, and could not even murmur a syllable of acknowledgment for her husband’s generosity. When the door closed behind him, and she found herself alone, tears began trickling down her cheeks. She comprehended it all. “ Yes,” she said within herself, ‘‘ he suspects that I am CORNICLIOOKS (E(0) m