The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 204: what you’re looking at

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190 THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. the staircase—that Lady Langport had been there, and that the entire mystery was now cleared Up ; so that as she stepped into the carriage, she was not surprised at beholding the agitated appearance of her patroness, CHAPTER XXXVIII. TWENTY THOUSAND POUNDS. It was in the forenoon of the same day on which these incidents occurred, that a tall, handsome young man, about seven- -and- -twenty years of age, entered that narrow and obscure street behind Astley’s Theatre, where Mademoiselle Imogene dwelt. He gave a short and subdued double- knock at the door; and when the summons was answered by the servant-woman Fanny, he asked, “Is Miss Hartland within ?” ‘Yes, sir—she is at home,” was the reply. ‘Ts she alone?” asked the gentleman ; “or can T see her ?” “Miss Hartland is*alone, sir. I will inquire whether she will receive you, if you favour me with your ; name.’ “Tt 3 is of no consequence for me to give my name,” rejoined the gentleman, spmvevthnt im- patiently. ‘Tell your mistress that I wish to see her for a few minutes, on business of some little importance.” Imogen was in her little parlour, absorbed in delicious meditation, her love for Launcelot being now the sole engrossing thought; and little Annie was, as usual, playing with some new toys which the capricious yet unmistakable fondness of the actress had provided for her. Imogen was aroused from her reverie by that subdued knock at the door: she knew it was not Launcelot’s knock,— she thought it might be one of her theatrical friends, either Alice Denton or Mademoiselle Rose, paying her a visit: but when she heard a mas- culine voice, she listened to the colloquy which took place between her servant and the stranger. When it had reached the point whereat we broke it, off, Imogen opened the parlour door and said to Fanny, ‘Let the gentleman walk in.” — The stranger was accor dingly ushered into the little parlour. For a moment his eyes settled upon the handsome countenance and brilliant figure of Imogen; and then they were almost instanta- neously riveted upon the little girl, whose tran- scending infantile loveliness seemed to inspire him with a profound and even peculiar interest. AI- together there was something so respectful in the demeanour which he at the outset bore towards Imogen, and then so kind towards the child, that an impression was at once ‘created in his favour. For upwards of a minute did he keep his eyes bent upon little Annie, as if he quite forgot that any one else was present: and then suddenly turning towards the actress, he said with a cour- | teous bow, “ And you, then, are Miss Hartland >” Imogen inclined her head to express an affirm- ative; and at the same moment the visitor’s eye caught sight of the portrait suspended over the sofa, and which represented Mademoiselle Imogene in the fantastic-dress that constituted her favourite theatrical garb, and which set off the admirable symmetry of her shape to such striking’ advantage. She herself was now attired in a plain morning- dress: but the stranger gave a slight smile of recognition as he glanced from her to the portrait, and then from the portrait back again to the original. Imogen, having overheard the visitor say that it was upon important business he had called, experienced somé little degree of suspense; for as all her ideas were absorbed in her love for Laun- celot Osborne, she was led more or less to asso- ciate this visit therewith—and she fancied that the distinguished-looking young mai now before her might possibly be a relation or friend of her lover’s whom he had taken into his confidence, and who had brought her some message from him. be Might I ask, sir,” she said, with a glitter of suspense in her beautiful blue eyes, ‘to what cir- cumstance I am indebted for the honour of this visit ?” “You do not know who I am, Miss Hartland »” he said inquiringly. She answered in the negative; and again her looks were fixed suspensefully upon him. “This beautiful little girl,” he said, turning towards Annie, ‘‘ interests me much.” “Ah !” ejaculated Imogen. who may you be?” He reflected for a few instants: and then he said, “I had better tell you. It were more pru- dent to deal candidly with you. You know the Duchess of Ardleigh ?” ' &]_J—” stammered Imogen, a blush of con- fusion instantaneously seizing upon her hand- some countenance: then immediately, recovering herself, she added with a smile, ‘ How is it pro- bable that a being so humble ‘and obscure as I, can have any acquaintance with the Duchess of Ardleigh ?” © “You are discreet, Miss Hartland—yery dis- creet,” said the visitor : “and I am all the more deeply indebted to you. Well then, learn who I am—I am the Duke of Ardleigh.” “You ?”—and Imogen started back in affright. “'Yes—I,” he answered quietly, and with a smile. “ And I am here to express my gratitude in the first instance for the generosity with which you have maintained my wife’s secret--—” “Your wife’s secret ?’—and Imogen affected to look amazed. ‘* Yes—the secret of the Duchess of Ardleigh.” “You bewilder me,” said the actress; “‘ because you are playing some part that I do not under- stand. You speak of a lady whom I do not know—and you announce yourself to be a er- sonage whom it is utterly impossible for you to ‘Indeed ?” said the visitor, with another smile: : and producing ‘his card-case, he handed a card to “Then, pray, sir, Imogen, adding, ‘Permit me, Miss Hartland, to announce myself once again as the Duke of Ardicigh.” “Well,” said “the actress, “it certainly would be strange if you had obtained stealthy and illicit possession of this card-case for the purpose of playing out a particular part ; but on the other hand it strikes me as still more str ange that you should really be the Duke of Ardleigh.” ’ “Pray believe that I am—and’ again let me thank you.” “ You are thanking me for nothing,” interjected Imogen. COMO YN Wn) Colin