The Bedford-Row Conspiracy

an to imagine that some mystery was about to be cleared up, or some mighty matter to be discussed. Presently he heard the well-known voice of Lady Gorgon in conversat

er ordinary dignified style of conversation. She called Mr. Crampton a naughty man, for neglecting his old friends, vowed that Sir George was quite hurt at his not coming to dine-nor fixing a d

of such a mother must be charming; but I, who have s

ous sighs and affected to be won

ar Mr. Crampton, you would not use that odious title

y dear Lady Go

nd my darling boy's sake, Heaven knows, not mine). What a sad disappointment it has been to my husband, that a

coronet, except in so far as it may confer honour upon those most dear to you-exc

o Lady Gorgon's face, with as love-sick a Romeo-gaze as he could possibly counterfeit; while her Ladyship, blushing somewhat and turning her own grey gogglers

ly crowns. But tell me, you who are all in all with Lord Bagwig, are we never to have our peerage? His Majesty, I know, is not averse; the services of dear Sir George to a member of His Majesty's august family, I know, have been appreciated in the highest quarter. Ever since the

assumed an air

with you, and will you promise solemnly that what I am g

rgon pr

rs ago; you now only give us one. If Sir George were to go up to the Peers, we should lose even that one vote; and would it be common sense in us to incu

r heart, and beginning to play a rapid tattoo with her feet, "tha

ruin-if ruin you will call it. I am sorry to say that I do candidly think Ministers believe that Sir George

ave we not remonstrated, threatened, taken away our custom from the Mayor, established a Conservative apothecary-in fact, done all that gentlemen could

vered by his lady with a great deal of stateliness. Somewhat, perhaps

ames. Now, will you let me whisper in your ear one word of truth? You have tried all sorts of remonstr

n Heaven

. Mr. Scully's whole history, and, pardon me for say

, and of the days when-but never mind when: for she suffered her veil to fall, and buried her head in the folds of h

ed by a certain attorney twenty years since. We know

overness!" shrieked out Lady Gorgon, clasping

man dare breathe a syllable against your spotless reputation? Never, my dear madam; b

r who has robbed

ad been more kind to him. You should be gentle, madam;

traitor,

e man who saw beauty such as yours-I am a plain man and must speak-virtue such as yours, in the possession of a rival. By heavens, madam,

n, quite delighted; "but you must be aware that a young man of

y make an enemy of him, who would at a word be at your feet? Dearest Lady Gorgon, listen to me. Sir George Gorgon and Mr. Scully have already met-their meeting was our contrivance. It is for our interest, for yours, that they shou

tender way, this important interview closed, and Lady Gorgon, folding her shawl round h

s perpetually here, and if peerages are to be had for the asking, she ought to have been a duchess by this time. I would not have admitted her but for a reason that I have. Go you now and ponder upon what you

r out a speech, when his uncle, cutting it

bout to come on. The Right Honourable Robert Pincher was the Ministerial candidate, and Sir Charles Macabaw was patronised by the Opposition. The two Members

pt his uncle's counsel and his own and Mr. Scully was quite ignorant of the conspiracy that was brooding. Indeed, so artfully had that young Machiavel of a Perkins conducted himself, that when

couple of letters, one to Mr. Hawksby, telling him that the place in the Sealing-Wax Office was, as he had reason to know, vacant; and the other to his nephew,

ducted "with the strictest secresy and honour," and t

uet was given at the Earl of Mantrap's: Lady Mantrap requested him to conduct Lady Gorgon to dinner; and the latter, with a charming timidity, and a gracious melancholy look i

ook had done wonders; the wines were cool and rich, and Lady Gorgon was splendid! What attention did everybody pay to her and to him! Why WOULD she go on gazing into his face with that tender imploring look? In other

ng at once the airs of a man of fashion. "I thought I ca

I am so nervous-so delicate; the smallest trifle so agitates, depresses, or irritates me, that I dare not yield myself up to the excitement of music. I am too passionately attached to it; a

ld dance down a matter of five-and-forty couple,

t I assure you 'tis the fact, the music had made me almost mad. Do let me ask your pardon for my conduct. I was not myself. Oh, Mr. Scully! I am no worldly woman; I know my duties,

ting out of his head, and his face was the e

Mantrap, when I heard you were to be here, to invite me to her party. Come, I know you will forgive me-your eyes say you will. Y

e of this whispered sentimentality, describing a famous run with the Queen's hounds at the top of his voice-stopped at the jingling of the glass, and his tale was lost for e

George is not here

he was now going through the curious calculation before mentioned, by which you BUY A MAN FOR NOTHING. He intended to pay the ve

ins's own house in Bedford Row. It was of a peculiar construction, and might more properly be called a house and a half: for a snug little tenement of four chambers protruded from the back of the house into the garden. These rooms communicated with the drawing-rooms occupied by Mr. Scully; and Perkins, who acted as his friend and secretary, used frequently to sit in the one near

iage, or, indeed, in the young man himself. The old gentleman was of a saturnine turn, and inclined to u

ontempt. But when, after John Perkins's repeated entreaties, he had been induced to make the acquaintance of Mis

r to be the mistress of her own actions. To this letter there came an answer from Lady Gorgon which we shall not copy, but which simply stated that Miss Lucy Gorgon's conduct

hew from taking a place, because Scully wants it for himself. This prude of a Lady Gorgon cries out shame, and disowns an innocent amiab

, or she would have been much more guarded in her language; but whether she knew it o

Gorgon out?" said the impetuous y

from Sir George Gorgon's house, and you shall see Mr. William Pitt Scully sold for nothing."

Street by the whole amiable family with much respectful cordiality, and was pressed to repeat his visits as country neighbours should. More than once did he call, and somehow always at the hour when Sir George was away at his club, or riding in the Park, or elsewhere engaged. Sir George Gorgon was very old, very feeble, very much shattered in constitution. Lady Gorgon used to impart her fears to Mr. Scully every time he called ther

Scully thought it was a pity too. Ambitious Scully! what wild notions filled his brain. He used to take leave

te for Pincher," said the General, "my peerage is s

w he wished he could! Every time the General coughed, Scully saw his friend's desperate situation more and more, and thought how pleasant it would be to be lord of Gorgon Castle. "Knowing my property," cried Sir George, "as you do, and with your talents and integrity, what a comfort it

o him and patting him on his old yellow cheek-"My

! and jealous of

ave, and you shall have

med knock at Scully's study, which was only separated from his own sitting-room by a double door.

ublic services-undeniable merit-years of integrity-cause of reform, and Macabaw fo

the room, whom the thoughtless Perkins had not at first perceived. As soon as that gentleman saw them, "You are busy, I see," continued

nt off through his own door, humming a song. He was in such high spirits that he did not

He was right: Perkins was off on the wings of love, to see Miss Lucy; and she and Aunt Biggs and Uncle Crampton had p

y Bob wants it, and John's girl has, I hear, seven thousand pounds. His uncle will get him another place bef

he front room, bearing a card: a footman had brought it, who said his lady was waiting below. Lady Gorgon's name was

y Gorgon in her G

ery particular INDEED"-and she held him out her hand. Scully pressed it most tenderly: he hoped all heads in Bedford Row were at t

e?" said mademoiselle, innocently. And

sure, will let me come

consecrated to clerks; there were clerks too, as ill-luck would have it, in his private room. "Perkins is out for the day," thought Scully; "I will tak

had furnished it beautifully, and laid out a neat tray with cakes, a cold fowl, and sherry, to entertain his p

presence of mind, he asked her to partake of his bachelor's fare (she would refuse Mr. Scully nothing that day). A pretty sight would it have been for young Perkins to see strangers so unc

a chapel of ease at Oldborough, to which she entreated him to subscribe. She enlarged upon the benefits that the town would derive

Scully, at the end of her Ladyship's har

f view, would but see the truth in politics too; and if I could see your name among those of the true patriot party in this empire, how blest-oh! how blest should I be! Poor Sir George often says he should go to his grave happy, could he but see yo

e, the agency of the Gorgon property-the dear widow-five thousand a year clear-a thousand delicious hopes rushed madly through his

he plumped

ove-my only love!-speak but those blessed words again! C

and said, in the very sma

uld hardly contain herself for laughing, and Mr. John Perkins, who was squeez

t Mr. Scully's door, the four above-named individuals

rooms, which were to form Mrs. John Perkins's drawing-room and bedroom. Now whether it was that they trod softly, or that the stairs were covered with a grand new carpet and drugget, as was the case, or that the party within were too much occupied in themselves to heed any outward disturbances, I know not; but Lucy, who was advancing with John (he was saying something about one of the apartments, the

; and then the little "William," as narrated above: at which juncture Mr. Crampton th

off his knees, and was on a cha

rks of charity" (the chapel-of-ease paper was on her knees), "and on such an occasion, too,-it is really the most wonderful c

gan Lady Gor

please to shake hands with your aunt; and this, my dear madam, is Mrs. Biggs, of Mecklenburgh Square, who, if she were not too old, might marry a g

sneaking way imaginable. Lady Gorgon made good her retreat presently, with much

partisans of Mr. Macabaw were so very nearly getting him the Speakership. On the day that the report

squire, to be Deputy-Subcomptroller of His Majesty's

uld be annoyed, who had expected the place, when Perkins burst out laughing and said, "By heavens, here is my own

ULD HAVE HIM FOR NOTHING. I told you, too, that you should b

friend Mr. Crampton, she never for a moment would have opposed his marriage with her niece, and she had wri

re," said John Perkins stoutly; a

hopes to look forward to, but these were unluckily dashed by the coming in of the Whigs. As for Sir George Gorgon, when he came to ask abo

rd, and his lady is still devout and intriguing. So that the Members for Oldborough have changed sides, and taunt each other with apostasy, and hate each other cordially. Mr. Crampton stil