The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

92 we THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. ‘“ And what is your next demand?” asked the stockbrocker. ‘You will introduce me to Lady Todmorden’s ball next Thursday week,” responded Mande- ville. ‘Ah !"—and again the stockbroker glanced at his letters ; for he was now more than ever con- vinced that the Count had looked at their con- tents while he slept. ‘But proceed. What is the third demand ?” “That you write me a letter in the course of to-morrow or next day,” rejoined Mandeville, ‘‘ to the effect that you have made the different invest- ments with which I charged you; and you will mention, in a casual and natural manner, that the sum total is sixty or eighty thousand pounds—or you may even go higher if you think fit.” “TI understand you, Count!” said Warren, now assuming an air of familiarity. ‘‘ You wish to get into good society—and you desire to pass as a rich man.” | ‘“‘ Let there be no disguise between us,” said Mandeville coolly. “I am an adventurer—you are an insolvent. You shall help me to build up my fortunes—and I will save yours from total ruin. Is this a compact between us ?” ‘‘ Show me that you’ have the power to do as much for me as you promise,” replied Warren, “and rest assured that I shall not hesitate to what lengths I go on your behalf.” ‘* Listen,” pursued Mandeville, ‘* while I fur- nish you with weapons whereby you may bring those whom you now fear into the position of wretched grovellers at your feet. Mention their names one by one. Or shall I doit for you? First, then, there is Doctor Mordaunt——~” “True !” ejaculated Warren; ‘a man who if he once suspect that I am playing him false——” “You shall coolly avow it to-morrow,” inter- jected Mandeville; “and I tell you that you shall see him at your feet! But prepare to hear a strange story—something which you have little suspected, and which perhaps had better remain altogether untold, were it not an indispensable means of helpihg you out of the predicament wherein you are placed.” Mandeville then proceeded to relate certain facts to the stockbroker, who grew greatly excited as he listened ; and when the tale was finished, he started up, exclaiming, ‘‘ But who in the name of heaven are you that you could have become pos- sessed of a knowledge of such circumstances ?” “You know:who I am,” answered the Count. ““T am the Man-Devil :”"—and again he laughed with that mocking irony which seemed to be the veritable malice-mirth of a fiend. ‘But to be serious !—what if I had all these facts from the lips of one who was enabled to reveal them with the most fearful accuracy ?” ‘‘ But the proof! the proof!” exclaimed War- ren. ‘Give me the proof—and Mordaunt is in- deed in my power!” ‘Well, the proof,” said Mandeville calmly ; and with his characteristic easy deliberation of manner, he drew forth a pocket-book, turned over some papers, and selecting one, presented it to Warren, saying, “‘ I received it from Matthew Cal- vert himself,” ‘And he is no more,” said Warren: * the re- port of his death reached my ears a long time ago LP ‘He is no more,” replied Mandeville. ‘ But look! there is a proof which Doctor Mordaunt cannot controvert.” “By heaven, ‘tis as you proclaim it !”—and an expression of joy seized upon the stockbroker’s countenance : then he immediately added, ‘* The villain!—who could have thought this? And now I have him in my power!” ‘“Yes—Mordaunt is in your power,” rejoined Mandeville. ‘‘ Whose name comes next? Sir Moses Bellamy. Listen !” . Mandeville entered into particulars concerning this individual. Then the name of Mr. Smithers, a schoolmaster at Norfolk, was mentioned; and concerning him likewise certain information was forthcoming. Then the name of Michael Casey was adduced ; and Mandeville still proved himself able to make important revealings. “Is there any one else ?” he inquired when his narrative in respect to Michael Casey was finished. “There is no one else, I think, who is likely to press me at this particular moment. Neverthe- less,” continued Warren, after a minute’s reflec- tion, ‘‘ there is an individual, who if he happen to suspect anything, and were to turn round upon me, could in a moment work me the direst mis- chief——” ‘““You mean Seymour, the great railway con- tractor,” interjected Mandeville : and then he in his turn meditated profoundly for some brief space. “Respecting this man,” he presently went on to say, “‘ I will tell you nothing—there are certain reasons 2 ‘““Do not leave me at his mercy,” exclaimed /Warren, ‘after all you have done to save me from the power of the rest!” ‘‘T do not mean to leave you at his mercy,” re- plied Mandeville ; ‘“‘ but at the same time I do not intend to draw away the veil of mystery as I have done in the other cases. Listen! If Mr. Seymour threatens or molests you, look him hard in the face—assume a sinister significancy of ex- pression—and say to him these words: ‘ There 1s a secret in your life which you little think is known to me, but which in an extraordinary man- ner has come into my possession, and for the establishment of which proofs would not be want- ing. Beware how you drive me to desperation, and force me to retaliate against you ! —These are the words which you are to speak. Mark their effect !” There was a brief silence, which was broken by the stockbroker, who said, ‘Tell me, I beseech you, how came you to be aware of my difficul- ties? For you must understand that it is of vital importance for me to know in what quarters they are suspected : for I did not even think that my head clerk Phipps entertained the slightest notion a ‘Make yourself easy on this score,” interrupted Mandeville: “it was from your own lips, I tell you, that I ere now learnt enough to set me think- ing ; and then I saw those letters lying on the table before you. I read them Of course you know that I did. But now we understand each other—and it is sufficient. The compact exists —<loes it not ?” ‘It does,” replied Warren. ‘“ And now what is your wish in reference to Ethel Fraser, or Trevor —-whichever she calls herself ?” a ; COMO COnn