The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 187: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee 180 mitr, MYSPURLINS OF LOBDON. wee me ee -—-— + em nn a ne ee EE eter While ho was yet speaking, tho appearance of; treat this most unpleasant affair as a purely busi Perdita underwent 4 rapid and signal change. Sho suddonly scomod to throw off the air of a suppliant, as ifsho woro discarding a mean garment that was unbecoming and abhorrent: her cheeks acquired a decper flush, her eyes 2 more dazzling brilliancy ;— tho blue veins in her forehead grew morw clearly tracecablo—her nostrils dilated—her lips wreathed into an expression of sovereign disdain—and her cn- tire form appeared to cxpand into more majestic proportions. A monient before she had seemed a voluptuous beauty, in the melting softness of an appeal for par- don at lovo’s shrine: now shi stood in the presence of the father and son,—proud—haughty—and mag- vificent as Juno—and armed with authority to wiold tho lightning-shafts and the thunderbolts of Jove. “Let us think of peace vo more,” she exclaimed : “but war—terriblo war,—war to the knifel Cast mo off—thrust mo from you—denounce mo as the wanton Perdita—proctaim me to bo born of a felon, and to have first scen the light in Newgate,—do all this if you will: I shall not tho loss remain your wife, Charles—and, as your wife, Tam ennobled,— I bear the proud title of Viscountess Marston 2” “ Miserable woman,” cried Mr. I[atfield: you deceive yourself—esen as Charles has been by him- self deccived! For know that he is illegitimate ” “Tis false! you would delude—you would mis- lord mo!” exclaimed Perdita, who, in spite of the tono of confidence in which she uttered these cjacn- lations, was painfully affected by the revelation that lind elicited them. “Itis true—too true!” cried Charles, with a bit- terness tliat carried conviction to the mind of Perdita, “Then if I cannot proclaim myself to be Vis- countess Marston,” ¢ho said, concealing with a des- perate and painful effort the chock which she had just experienced,—“ IT can still have my revenge against you both ;—for if my mother were a felon, Charles, vour father was the rame—if J were born in Newgate, the author of your being has passed through the hands of the public cxecutioner !” “Trend— wretch!” cjaculated the young man, fpringing forward as if about to dash her on the floor and tramplo her under foot. But the Land of his father suddenly grasped him asin an iron vice, and held him bactl; and all the whilo Perdita had maintained her ground—shrink- ing not a stop, retreating not a pace. “Coward!” she exclaimed, in a tone of ineffable sontempt, as she kept her eyes—her large, shining groy cyes—fixed with disdain upon him whom she had lately loved so fervently and so well, * Charles—Charles,” said Mr. Hatfield, in an im- ploring voice, as ho held his son firmly by both arms,—"'merit not by yvour actions that Infamous woman’s reproaches. I was prepared for what she dared to address to me “Ohl my dear father, this is terrible!” mur- murcd the young man, who felt a faintness coming over him, as the words which Perdita had spoken concerning lis parent still rang in his ears, and as hoe observed thedeadly pallor which had spread over that parent's countenance. “Compose yourself, Charles,” said Mr. Hatfield, tonducting him toa seat: then, turning round and rcoosting Perdita, ho exclaimed, “ Madam, lect us ness-matter: in short, lot us effect an arrangement which may be proper and suitable for both partics— tho basis being the immediate separation of yourself and myton,” “Yes—I have no longer any objection to offer to that proposal,” said Perdita; “for after his attempt tu strike me, J despiso even moro than I hato him,” “And just now,” exclaimed the young man, starting; from his seat, “you declared that I pos- sessed your heart. Oh! I amrejoiced that you have admitted your hatred towards me—because I have thereby received another proof of your boundless duplicity.” Perdita smiled scornfully—but deigned no reply. “Tieave the affatr in my hands, Charles,” said Mr, Hatfield, in an authoritative tono: then, observing with satisfaction that his son returned to his seat, the father addressed himself once more to Perdita, Who remained standing near tho mantel, “Madam,” lie continued, “you have already heard that the bright hopes in which your husband had indulged, and the golden visions which he had conjured up, aro all destroyed by tho revelation which I have this morning made to him,—tho revelation of the one fatal secret—his illegitimacy! Instead, then, of bcing Viscount Marston at present and Earl of Lmgham in perspective, he is still plain and simplo Charles Hatheld—and so he is likely to remain. By consequence, you, madam, aro Mrs. Latfield—and not Viscountess Marston now, nor with any chance of becoming Countess of Ellingham. If you require proofs of what Iam now telling you, I can exhibit them at once ;—for, knowing beforehand tho nature of the delusions in which my son had cradled Mis fancy, and the necessity of destroying them, I set outon this journcy provided with several papers of [s importance, For instance,’ continued Mr. Hatfield, taling forth his pocket-books; “here is tho certi- ficate of my marriage with Lady Georgiann Hatfield —and you may at once perceive by the date how impossible itis that ourson could have been born ix wedlock.” While thus rpeaking, Mr. Hatfield had sunk his voice to the lowest audible whisper—so that VPer- dita alone heard him: for the revelation Ce was making was of a most painful nature, although rendered imperatirely necessary under the circum. etances, Perdita planeed rapidly over tho certificate, and bit her lip with a vexation she could ne longer con- ceal;—for that document effectually sct at rest tho question of her husband's legitimacy or illegitimacy; and she indced found that instead of gaining a noblo titlo wy marriage, sho had formed an allfauco with an obscure young man who was dependant on his parents for even a morsel of bread. “Tt now remains for you to decide whether you chooso to proclaim yourself, wherever vou go, to bo tho wifo of Mr. Charles Hatficld;—or whether you will think fi¢ to resume your maiden name—or any other that may suit your purposes—and maintair a btrict sllenco henceforth relative to this most un- fortunate alliance.” Thus spoke Mr. Hatfield ;—and Perdits appeared to bo plunged in deep thought for afew minutes, “And what aro the conditions you annex to thoso alternatives?” she asked at length, fixing her oyes, which now shono with 2 subducd and sombre lustre, : In a penetrating manner upon Mr, latficld’s coun ao ny EConnicloooks (SO)