The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 275: what you’re looking at

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

eee ee eee = THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. 261 “You are an invaluable fellow,” cried’ Mande- ville ; “and here are ten guineas as a trifling re- ward :”—then, as the valet gathered up the gold coins, the Count turned aside, mentally ejaculat- ing, “‘ Ethel at the house of Count Olonetz ! And Ethel knows Mildred! What’on earth can be afoot ? This is something which I must inquire into.x—Ah! Ivan Zadouski! To be sure!—that name occurs most appropriately at the moment ! I have an excuse for presenting myself to Count Olonetz.” Mandeville’s mind being made up, he ordered his carriage to be gotten in readiness : and in the meanwhile he made some change in his toilet, at- tiring himself in full evening costume. ‘“ By the bye, Edmund,” he said, as he was about to leave the dressing-room and descend to his carriage, “you will proceed to Miss Alice Denton’s lodgings with my compliments, and she must keep herself entirely disengaged for to- morrow, as I purpose to pass some considerable portion of.the day with her. You ordered the wine and other things to be sent her this after- noon ?” “Yes, sir: I myself saw the things sent off to her new lodgings.” ““Good,” said Mandeville. * Ah! do you know whether she likes her new abode?” ‘It is impossible she can fail to like it, sir— such a handsome suite of apartments in a nice genteel quarter of the town, very different from the cheap rooms in the York Road which that miserable upstart Mr. Sylvester Casey allowed her! But you, sir, do everything so handsomely.” Mandeville smiled, but made no answer; and descending to his carriage, was in « few minutes at the mansion of Count Olonetz in Grosvenor Square. The moment the equipage dashed up to the entrance, a footman in gorgeous livery, and with powdered hair, hastened down the steps ; and as. Mandeville alighted, the lacquey inquired, “What name shall I have the honour of an-: nouncing ?” ‘Count Mandeville,” was the reply. ‘*Count Mandeville,” shouted the lacquey up the steps. ‘*Count Mandeville,” echoed another lacquey on the threshold. ‘““ Count Mandeville,” cried a third at the bot- tom of the staircase. By this time Mandeville had become aware that Count Olonetz was receiving company, and that he had been very naturally taken by the domestics to be one of the invited guests. Some elegantly-dressed ladies were ascending the stair- case—all within the mansion was a blaze of light —numerous domestics were hurrying to and fro —and the sounds of music were wafted fo the ear. For a moment Mandeville stopped short : he had fancied to find Count Olonetz alone—it had never for an instant occurred to him that he might be plunging into such a scene as this. But what was he to do ? how could he possibly retreat? His name was being shouted up the staircase, and nothing could be more ignominious than to turn tail and-beat a retreat. Besides, such a course was but little consistent with Man- deville’s self-possession and hardihood. So, after that single moment’s hesitation, he continued his way up the staircase. 2 ‘*Count Mandeville,” shouted a lacquey at the . tinued Olonetz, glancing around,— entrance of the gilded saloon: and the daring adventurer entered upon the brilliant scene. As by far the greater portion of the company consisted of English people, Mandeville’s ‘ nante was not only familiar to their ears; but he him- self was personally known to them ; and .being extremely popular, as well as much courted. in the highest -circles, he was at‘ once accosted by several personages, of. the British aristocracy— while, .as he looked around, he received bows and smiles from several ladies of the highest title. He thus--felf himself completely ‘at, his ease, for he knew full well that Count Olonetz would not: ven- ture to give him a disagreeable reception in the presence of such a demonstration as this. Nor was his calculation erroneous. Count Olonetz, on hearing his name announced, was astounded at his insolence, and was preparing to overwhelm him with his cold haughty dignity, when the Countess Olonetz hastily accosting her lord, in- - quired in a. whisper, ‘ Did you invite him?’ “No, not I,” responded the Count. “It isa bold game that he ‘is playing ; for he no doubt calculates that it will be of immense advantage to him if he can get his name into the newspaper as one of the guests admitted within our exclu- sive circle.” | “ What will you do ?” asked the Countess. “Confront him—overwhelm him But stay! What numbers press forward to greet him! And those ladies too who seem to welcome his pre- sence! He must be a great favourite! And perhaps ‘after: all, he: may have come for some special obj ect—he is a very clever fellow—-by no means likely to commit an error and place him- self in a false position——” “ And: then too he is "acquainted with many secrets,”. suggested the Countess. . True,” said Olonetz, whose mind was now made up in a moment. ‘Let us act cautiously. He approaches—we will receive him with a suit- able ‘degree, of courtesy.” Mandeville’ now. advanced with that elegant ease of manner which: was. his principal charac- teristic ; and he made his bow to the Count and Countess with the air of one who was an invited guest. They received him in a similar manner; and as'the Countess then moved’ away in. another direction, the Count said in a low but significant tone, ‘‘ Perhaps, Monsieur de Mandeville, you hres to speak to me about something import- ant ?” ‘“‘Tt was for that purpose I came, my lord,” was the response: and Mandeville assumed an air which might lead all who were looking on at the time to suppose that he was on terms of most perfect friendliness with the Russian Plenipoten- tiary. “Step a little aside,” said Olonetz: and he drew him towards a large pillar supporting an arch which separated the grand saloon from an apartment communicating with another suite. “YT think we may speak here at our ease,” con- ‘t unless indeed your business be of an importance rendering it desirable that we should: retire to my private cabinet ?” “Not at all, my lord,” rejoined Mandeville; ‘and first let me acquit myself of the imputa- tion of brazen impertinence and consummate rudeness, by giving your lordship the assurance Connicloooks Colin