The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

hn eee sana onan ere eter 110 THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. forth presently by the private staircase,” pro- ceeded the Duchess, “‘ you will reach an avenue where there are statues. Between ten and eleven o'clock a gentleman will come to walk there. You cannot mistake him. He has light hair and a moustache: he is about six or seven and twenty years of age. You are to seize upon him But, by the bye, can you conceal your counte- nances ?” ‘“‘Look here, my lady,” said Tim, producing his black mask—an example which was imme- diately followed by his friend Peppercorn. ‘“‘Good,” said the Duchess. ‘ You are to seize upon that gentleman—you will prevent him from crying out, even if he should be so inclined; and though he is strong, he will scarcely be enabled to offer any serious resistance to your united force. Carry him down to the end of the avenue, and fling him into the tank which you will see at the bottom of the steps. Stop! “I do not mean that you are to do him an injury—and for heaven’s sake do not suppose that I have the slightest design upon his life! In fact, why should I not tell you the truth? Heis an im- pertinent coxcomb: who is persecuting me with his addresses: but I hate and detest him—and I wish him to be taught a lesson which he will not very speedily forget.” “T twig, my Jady,” said Tim; “and if I was married, it’s just the sort of sperrit I should like to see Mrs. Gaffney show. Any further orders, ma’am ?” ““T have something more to say,” pursued the Duchess ; ‘‘and this relates rather to the tact with which you are to manage the proceeding. I do not want the gentleman to suppose that it is done by my bidding, or that I am a party to it. Can you not pretend that you have some designs upon the house—that he is interfering with them by his presence—and that you therefore adopt this sum- mary means of teaching him not to meddle with gentlemen of your decided character ?” “ Leave all that to us, my lady,” replied Tim Gaffney ; “and if we don’t do the job in a style to please your Grace, then don’t never think of employing us no more.” “TJ rely upon you,” rejoined the Duchess. She opened the door—peeped out—and perceiv~ ing that all was clear on the private landing, she bade the two men hastily descend the staircase. This they did, Lavinia being at the bottom in readiness to open the door for them, A little later a phaeton and. pair stopped in a secluded lane which skirted one side‘of the park; and Sir Abel Kingston alighting, assisted Mr. Casey senior to descend from the seat: which he had occupied next to him, A domestic remained in charge of the equipage, while the Baronet and the usurer proceeded a little further along the lane. There, at a convenient spot, Sir Abel leapt over the palings, and assisted Mr. Casey to follow him. “Now I tell you what it is,” said the usurer with a more than usual hardness and coldness of voice; ‘this is the last time I suffer myself to be put out of my way, or to be put off in any shape or fashion. If I don’t see that everything is right and straightforward to-night——” “But it will be so!” ejaculated the Baronet. “Believe me, it will! I have got the appoint- ment—most likely I shall remain here altogether —_—_—_—_—_—— ————— ee —_ ee: ee eee to-night—a happy man, Mr. Casey! a very happy man !” ‘Well, I hope for your sake as well as mine,” interjected the usurer, “ that it will be so. I told you just now I had a serious loss to-day—no less than five thousand—never mind in what quarter —and I’m pressed for money.” ‘Come, come—that’s rather too good, friend Casey,” said the Baronet. ‘But I can assure you that you will presently see on what an admi- rable footing I now stand with the young Duchess. Success and triumph are within my reach. It is an appointment of the tenderest nature—I shall not see you again to-night, Casey—so you will have to return in my phaeton, according to our previous agreement. She adores me, Casey!” “Welf, then, the sooner you get some money out of her the better; for I tell you very plainly that if you don’t settle my claim in the course of a few days, I shall be compelled to take disagree- able proceedings. People don’t mince matters with me,” he ailded, his soul being full of bitter- ness at the recollection of the treatment he had experienced at the hands of Mr. Warren in the afternoon of this very same day. “Well, you need not go on threatening, friend Casey,” rejoined the Baronet; “for it will be all right presently, You shall see the beauteous creature folded in my arms; and unless any un- toward circumstance shall have transpired in the interval, you will see me lead her away towards the mansion, where she will bless me with the tenderest favours that a loving woman can pos- sibly bestow. But here we are in the neighbour- hood of the avenue. And now hide yourself amidst the evergreens, as you did on the former occasion: and hush! not a movement when once you are in your hiding-place! You must not so much as make a leaf rustle—or I shall be lost !” The usurer muttered something as he stationed himself in the spot indicated by the Baronet; and then the unprincipled Sir Abel passed out into the avenue, along which he flung a rapid glance. The moon was shining brightly: all was still and no Duchess was to be seen. “It is early yet,” thought Sir Abel, looking at his watch; ‘‘it is only just half-past ten o'clock, and she said between ten and eleven. She will certainly come! she could not possibly disappoiut me!—for by heaven, this is, so to speak, the crisis of my fate !” He walked along to a little distance, every now and then casting a look towards the mansion ; but still the Duchess did not make her appearance. Again he looked at his watch; and he was just on the point of returning to retrace his steps, when there was a rustling amongst the trees, and in the twinkling of an eye he was pounced upon by a couple of men with black masks upon their faces. ‘Villains !” ejaculated Sir Abel Kingston, making a desperate effort to release himself. ‘Hold your tongue !” responded Gaffney, in a disguised voice. ‘We'll teach you what it is to be on the look-out to spoil the work of gentlemen in the house-breaking line !” Mr. Casey, concealed amidst the evergreens, heard the sounds of scuffling and also of voices speaking at a short distance: he peeped forth, and beheld the Baronet in the grasp of the two men a YN Wn) COMO Colin