The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 249: what you’re looking at

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THE YOUNG DUCIIESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. 2395 Russia you will still leave Lady Langport ignorant of your whereabouts and the situation which you hold.” “ Decidedly, my lord—if such be your wish.” “Tt is,” continued Olonetz. “But if you happen to notice any letter arriving for the Prin- cess in the handwriting of Lady Langport or Mildred, you will at once act a friendly part ; ‘“‘ Ah, my lord!” ejaculated Ethel, ““do you not think that I would watch over the interests of the Princess as if she were a younger sister ?” “Good,” said the.Count. ‘I am convinced you will. And therefore you must not hesitate to re- port to the Countess Olonetz, or else to myself, any circumstance which may transpire to excite in your mind the suspicion that these women—I mean Lady Langport and her daughter Mildred— are at any time seeking to correspond with the Princess or her imperial father.” ‘““T repeat, my lord,” answered Ethel, “that in all respects will I do my duty according to my ability and my conscience.’ The Count looked at Ethel for a moment, as if he did not precisely comprehend in what sense she used the term “conscience:” for it assuredly is not a word that is to be found in the dictionary of Russian diplomacy. However, he seemed satisfied by the look of artless sincerity which Ethel’s countenance wore; and he proceeded to explain what her pecuniary remuneration would be, mentioning a sum the liberality of which filled her with amazement. “TI think,” he said, “if I recollect right—you have already mentioned the name of Lady Lang- port to the Princess? You told her with whom you were living ” ‘‘f may have done so,” responded Ethel, delibe- rating with herself; ‘“‘ but I am not quite sure.” “ At all events, the name must be mentioned,” said the- Count, “‘ because it is absolutely neces- sary I shounid inform the Grand Duke under whose care you have lately been dwelling. The name of Lady Langport need not therefore be kept a secret :—all you must be especially cautious about is to avoid letting drop a syllable which may establish the slightest connexion between herself and Mildred.” ‘“‘ Rest assured, my lord, that I shall be cautious,” answered Ethel. “T think we have now nothing more to discuss,” said the Count. “The Duke and his daughter have gone out with the Countess for an airing in the carriage—or else you might haye the honour of an interview. To-morrow moring you shall receive another letter from me, communicating the result of the report which I shall presently make to his Imperial Highness ; and as I have no doubt the issue will be favourable, I shall let you know at what hour you may come to take up your abode with the Princess Roxana.” Ethel rose to take her departure: but she hesitated for a moment—and then she said, “Lady Langport will naturally ask whither I am going and where I have been fortunate enough to obtain a new situation. What am I to tell her?” ‘‘ Ah, my dear young lady,” exclaimed Olonetz, ‘‘T must leave you to settle that matter for your- self. Make some excuse. Pretext and evasion are venial under certain circumstances. Yourown good sense must show you how very inconvenient it would be for Lady Langport and Mildred to learn that you of all persons were about to become the companion—the associate—I may even say the friend of the Princess. They might endeavour to make you the private means of communication between themselves and the Princess , ‘‘Oh, my lord! believe me, Lady Langport is incapable of such gross impropriety !” “Hem!” said the Count drily. ‘I confess I have no faith in the probity of a woman who is in herself a living counterfeit, and who has ma‘: her own existence one vast stupendous lie. More- over, there is Mildred herself, concerning whose utter want of principle and inordinate ambition there is no doubt.” ‘“‘ Well, my lord,” said Ethel, “I must be guided by your superior judgment and follow your pru- dential suggestions.” Then, with renewed expressions of gratitude for the ‘‘ kind and generous interest” (as she ex- pressed it) which the Russian Plenipotentiary had shown in her behalf, Ethel took her departure. So soon as she was gone, Count Olonetz re- paired to his own private cabinet, and opened an iron safe, the key of which was suspended to a thin but strong gold chain which he wore inside- the bosom of his shirt. He drew forth a book with black covers and a red back. It was not a printed book: it was half filled with entries made in manuscript, some with black ink and some with red. It was now with black ink that Count Olonetz made the following entry :— “ MremoRANDUM. — Ethel Trevor, English- woman, to be placed as spy on the proceedings of Grand Duke and Roxana. Ethel’s character— unsophisticated, artless, frank, and unsuspicious. Secrets may easily be wormed out of her. Cir- cumstances have rendered it more than ever necessary to take precautions against ambitious designs in a certain quarter. Not only is there now Mildred, the discarded wife and the mother; —but there is also Lady Langport the grand- mother of the Princess, who might perhaps take it into her head to reveal herself to her imperial granddaughter and seek to lead her into a cor- respondence. Ethel Trevor can no doubt be made use of as a spy without herself suspecting that she is serving such a purpose. One circumstance is especially useful. Mildred and Lady Langport are to remain in ignorance that Ethel Trevor is in” this particular situation; so that if they en- deavour to initiate a secret correspondence with the Princess, they will be unaware of the cer- tainty of their letters being intercepted through the recognition of the handwriting.” Having finished the Memorandum, Count Olo- netz restored the book to the safe, which he care- fully locked. But what was the use of that book? the reader may possibly ask. It could not serve for the mere purpose of registering matters which the astute Count could with the most perfect accuracy carry in his memory. No: but it was in case he should die, that the hints, views, and designs therein recorded might be rendered available for the information of other instruments of the Rus- sian system who might succeed him. Between four and five o’clock in the afternoon, the Grand Duke and his daughter returned from their ride with the Countess Olonetz; and the oO COMO con)