The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 76: what you’re looking at

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

THE TREACHEROUS HINDU WOMAN 59 nants of the repasts served up to her lodgers. What more could a landlady wish for? She could afford to look with a sort of disdain on the ordinary lodging-house keepers in the same street, and as for Mrs. Sifkin, the worthy Mrs. ‘Macaulay experienced an ample revenge for all the wrongs sustained at the hands of that woman by means of the envy and jealousy with which the latter now notoriously regarded her. Mrs. Macaulay, as we have said, was feasting off the cold chicken left from Mr. Redcliffe’s table, flavoured with a slice of ham that Mr. Redcliffe had for his breakfast, and washed down by two or three glasses of sherry which, being at the bottom of one of Mr. Redcliffe’s decanters, could not possibly be either wanted or missed by that gentleman. Presently there came a knock at the door, a good loud, commanding double knock, and when the parlour-maid had answered the summons, Mrs. Macaulay heard a masculine voice inquire, ‘‘ Is Mr. Redcliffe at home? ”’ ‘No, sir, he is not,’ replied the servant-girl. ‘‘ Indeed! ”’ exclaimed the visitor, “‘ I am very sorry for that; I wish to see him most particularly. When do you think he will return? ”’ ‘“‘ T’m sure, sir, 1 don’t know,’’ was the servant’s response, ““but his dinner is ordered for half-past five as usual. Perhaps, however, missus knows when he will come in.”’ Mrs. Macaulay made her appearance in the passage at this stage of the conversation, and she perceived that the visitor was a tall, stout man, with bushy whiskers, and if not of very elegant appearance, still far from vulgar. “Is 1t very important, sir? ’’ she inquired, for she was always mightily curious to glean whatsoever she could of Mr. Redcliffe’s proceedings or affairs. ‘“‘ Well, it is important,’’ answered the visitor. ‘‘ I have just arrived from India, and have got a letter for Mr. Red- celiffe. I should like to deliver it into his own hands. You know perhaps, ma’am, that Mr. Redcliffe was a considerable time in India? ”’ “I have heard so,” answered Mrs. Macaulay. ‘‘ Well, if 1t is so very important I think I can tell you where to find Mr. Redcliffe, for he had a cab fetched when he left about half-past two o’clock, and though I wasn’t purposely listening, — for I should scorn the action, — I nevertheless GomiilGaooks (C(O)