The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 96: what you’re looking at

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

THE PRISONER IN THE DOCK 79 common hack-cab, and, pale, haggard, and ghastly, entered the spacious hall, the numerous lackeys assembled there naturally supposed, as the governor of Newgate had done, that his Grace’s appearance was produced by the intense affliction he experienced on his brother’s behalf. ‘‘ What, is there company here to-night? ”’ he inquired, in a wild, vacant manner, of one of the footmen. “Yes, my lord. Your Grace must remember that this was the evening fixed for the occasion. But shall I inform her Grace that your lordship has returned? ”’ ‘No, no, not now,” responded Marchmont, impatiently; and reeling around like a drunken man, he issued forth from the palatial residence. The domestics looked at each other, shaking their heads half-ominously, half-compassionately, as if they feared he had gone mad. The duke entered another cab, and ordered the driver to take him to the Regent’s Park. There he stopped at the door of Mr. Armytage’s house, and knocked an impatient summons. ‘Is Mr. Armytage at home? ”’ he inquired of the footman who speedily made his appearance. ‘No, my lord,” was the reply, ‘‘ Mr. Armytage has gone into the country.” “Into the country?” ejaculated Marchmont. ‘ Impos- sible! I left him this afternoon — ”’ ‘“‘ Tt is quite true, my lord,’’ rejoined the footman. ‘ Mr. Armytage came just now in a cab, along with another gentle- man; he did not get out, but ordered a few necessaries to be put into a carpet-bag, and when it was brought to him, he said he was going away for some little time. He did not know for how long, but said that he should write and say when he was coming home again.” ‘And who was that other gentleman? ”’ inquired March- mont, eagerly. ‘“T could not see, my lord,’”’ answered the servant, ‘‘ for it was quite dark, and master was in such a hurry — ’”’ The duke tarried to hear no more, but turned abruptly away from the door and reéntered the cab. Twice did the driver ask him whither he was now to proceed, without re- ceiving any reply, but on the third occasion of putting the question, ‘he elicited the monosyllable, ‘‘ Home,’’ which was abruptly jerked forth. COMniicloooks (©)