The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 116: what you’re looking at

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102 speech : indeed for a minute or two she was so confounded that she could not give utterance to another syllable. At length she said, ‘‘ But who told you, sir, that I had experienced misfortunes ? and of what nature do you suppose them to be 2” “Why should you wish me to recapitulate those facts which arc already so painfully im- pressed on your memory? No—I will not do it! Suffice it that I mention one name—that of the Duke of Ardleigh, to proye to you that I am con- versant with everything.” Ethel blushed: then she became very pale—her lips quivered—and the tears were about to start | forth from her eyes, when conquering her emotions, , she said, “Is it possible that the Duke of Ardleigh himself has sent you to me?” ‘‘ By heaven, no!” ejaculated Mandeville. my own inclinations. If any ask me to do a particular thing, it is the very reason why I would go and do the contrary. I | am a strange person—a sort of a philosopher after | my own fashion, deplormg the amount of evil there is in the world, and endeavouring to do some little good as a counteractive. But enough of egotism! Let us talk of your own affairs.” “Tam grateful to you, Count de Mandeville,” said Ethel, “for the interest—the ‘extraordinary interest,” she could not help saying, ‘‘ which you take in my behalf: but there is really nothing wherein I could employ your friendly services.” “You are mistaken, Mrs. Trevor,” replied Man- deville with an air of confidence. ‘‘There is not a lady in all London who stands more in need of true disinterested friendship than yourself.” Ethel was startled by this declaration, which was made with so much confidence, and with the keen grey eyes of the Count fixed steadily upon her. What on earth could he mean? There was about him a certain air of mystery which failed not to have its effect upon the already attenuated mind of the young lady. Indeed she felt almost frightened ; and as she now sank upon the chair which he had placed for her accommodation, she faltered out, ‘‘ Perhaps there are yet other calamities in store for me, and you may be ac- quainted with them ?” “You have commenced a severe struggle with the world, Mrs. Trevor,” interjected Mandeville, ‘and you require the hand of friendship to sus- tain you. You have your son to rear—and you have not a shilling which you can call your own.” ‘““You are mistaken, sir! you are mistaken !” exclaimed Ethel. ‘I have a handsome sum of money in the Bank of England.” “ You have not a farthing, madam, in the Bank of England.” Ethel started: the colour again mantled on her cheeks—-and she felt indignant at the curt positive contradiction she had experienced. “J repeat my words, madam,” Mandeville added: ‘‘ you have not a shilling in the Funds.” ' “Ob, sir, this is too much!” cried Ethel. “TI cannot think that you have come to insult mIne———” ‘‘ Heaven forbid, my poor young lady! I have come to help you just as a brother might hasten to the aid of a sister.” “But you are indeed wrong!” said Ethel mildly. THE YOUNG DUCHESS; GR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. “Tam indeed right,” interrupted Mandeville; ‘‘and it grieves me to repeat the assertion. You think that I am ignorant of your affairs? I know them full well. The Duke of Ardleigh gave you a settlement the other day, of five thousand pounds —for which amount Mr. Warren the stockbroker holds your receipts.” ‘‘ What mean you?” and a vague terror was now agitating in Ethel’s mind. ‘TI mean, my dear madam, that Warren holds your receipts ; and whether you have had the money or not, it does not signify: , “No, no! do not tell me this !” cried Ethel, as she recollected the documents which she had signed without reading them. ‘‘ Would you have me believe that I have been most cruelly deceived { and robbed ?” te l obey the bidding of no man—I follow only | one were to. “Tf we must use harsh language,” said Mande- ville, ‘‘ those are the very terms. You have been deceived and robbed.” Ethel looked aghast ; and then suddenly cover- ing her face with her hands, she moaned and murmured, ‘‘Oh, my child ! my child!” ‘‘ This, you see, is the way of the world,” re- sumed Mandeville, with an accent which seemed to be replete with cynical bitterness. “ A villain robs you under the semblance of friendship, and you believe him to be sincere. I come to serve you with a feeling of real friendship; and you mistrust me! But let that pass. You have been plundered, Mrs. Trevor - ‘‘ J will go to him !” cried Ethel passionately. “* 1 will demand my money! Iwill tell him that it is my child’s bread which he is taking from me !” ‘“‘ And he will laugh in your face. No !—he will shut the door in your face; and he will bid his lacqueys give you into custody if you dare create a disturbance. Think you that he is a vil- Jain without surrounding himself by villanous de- fences? There are your receipts—and that is sufficient for him.” “Oh, but the law will not suffer me to be thus robbed! Justice may be appealed to !” ‘“Yes—and in the presence of that same jus- tice there will be a complete exposure of your late connexion with the Duke.” ‘True ! true!”—and the wretched Ethel sank back in her chair like one annihilated. ‘ Ah!” she suddenly ejaculated; ‘‘ the Duke is rich— the amount to him will be nothing! For his child's sake I must make an appeal to him! Alas, yes—despite all my vows to the contrary !” ‘The Duke of Ardleigh left England this af- ternoon,” said Mandeville, “ for a three years’ tour upon the Continent. No letters can reach him except through his wife.” Kthel groaned; and then for a few minutes she sobbed violently. Mandeyille spoke words of comfort, and with an air of so much delicacy and trye friendliness that the poor young lady could not for an instant doubt his sincerity. ‘And after all,” she abruptly exclaimed, as she wiped away her tears, “it is better that he should have gone abroad !—yes, far better that I should not have the power to apply to him! Oh, now I understand the duty which I have to fulfil! I must work to earn bread for my beloyed boy ! God has suffered me to be sorely afflicted—but he will not abandon me altogether !” ‘God has not abandoned you,” answered the COMO YN Wn)