TITTLEBAT TITMOUSE, Esq., } Grant of RENT-CHARGE on to } Estates at Yatton, of £2,000 Oily Gammon, _Gent._ } _per annum_.
This almost stopped the earl's breath. With trembling hands he put on his spectacles, to assure himself that he read correctly; and with a face overspread with dismay--almost unconscious of what he was doing--was gazing intensely at the writing, holding the parchment in his hands; and while thus absorbed, Mr. Gammon entered, having darted across the inn, and sprung up-stairs with lightning speed, the instant that his eye had caught Lord Dreddlington's equipage standing opposite to the inn. He had instantly recollected having left on the table the deed in question, which had been executed by Titmouse only the evening before; and little anticipated that, of all persons upon earth, Lord Dreddlington would be the first whose eye would light upon it. 'T was, perhaps, somewhat indiscreet to leave it there; but it was in Gammon's own private residence--where he had very few visitors, especially at that time of the day--and he had intended only a momentary absence, having gone out on the impulse of a sudden suggestion. See the result!
"My Lord Dreddlington!" exclaimed Gammon, breathless with haste and agitation, the instant he saw his worst apprehensions fulfilled. The earl looked up at him, as it were mechanically, over his glasses, without moving, or attempting to speak.
"I--I--beg your Lordship's pardon!" he added quickly and sternly, advancing towards Lord Dreddlington. "Pardon me, but surely your Lordship cannot be aware of the liberty you are taking--in looking at my private papers!"--and with an eager and not over-ceremonious hand, he took the conveyance out of the unresisting grasp of his noble visitor.
"Sir--Mr. Gammon!"--at length exclaimed the earl, in a faltering voice--"what is the meaning of that?" pointing with a tremulous finger to the conveyance which Mr. Gammon held in his hand.
"_What is it?_ A private--a strictly private document of mine, my Lord"--replied Gammon, with breathless impetuosity, his eye flashing fury, and his face having become deadly pale--"one with which your Lordship has no more concern than your footman--one which I surely might have fancied safe from intrusive eyes in _my own_ _private residence_--one which I am confounded--yes, confounded! my Lord, at finding that you could for an instant allow yourself--consider yourself warranted in even looking at--prying into--and much less presuming to ask questions concerning it!" He held the parchment all this while tightly grasped in his hands; his appearance and manner might have overpowered a man of stronger nerves than the Earl of Dreddlington. On him, however, it appeared to produce no impression--his faculties seeming quite absorbed with the discovery he had just made, and he simply inquired, without moving from his chair--