The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 330: what you’re looking at

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

TILE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. ol. _—_ ——_ -—-—s = necessary to propose such alternatives,’ said Mrs, Mortimer, “ State what you require me to do.” «To settle in France—wherever you please,” re- sponded Laura; “ and I will grant you an al- lowance of two hundred pounds every three months.” ‘‘The pecuniary portion of the conditions is liberal enough,” said Mrs. Mortimer; “but the rest is as despotic and galling as tho terms which Mr, Hat- field made the other day with you.” “JY much regret that prudence should compel me thus to dictate to you,”’ returned Laura: “ there is, however, no alternative. “’Tis for you to yield to my conditions—or open war will at once: com- mence between us.” ‘“‘T consent—I agree,” said the old woman, who knew that the timo was not yet come for her to show her tecth in defiance of her daughter. “So much the better!’ exclaimed Laura, but in a tone indicating that the matter was one of perfect indifference to her; for sho little know— little suspected how irretrievably her marriage with the Count of Carignano would place her in her mother’s power. “And now I havo ono question to ask you.” “Speak, Perdita,” obsorved the old woman. “Pray remember that my namo is Laura /” cried ler daughter, petulantly. “You perceive how necessary it is that we should dwell apart from cach other. Yourimprudence is really great; andthe question I am about to put to you, rofers to some matter in which you doubtless compromised your- self. Aro you acquainted with the Marquis of Delmour 2?” “Tho Marquis of Delmour repeated Mrs, Mortimer, with an expression of countenanco de- noting the most unfeigned astonishment, ‘ No— certainly not. I have heard of him, itis true; but only in the samo way that one hears of any other person conspicuous for rank, wealth, or station. I have never seen the Marquis of Delmour to my knowledge.” “Perhaps you have been in his company with- out knowing who he was,” resumed Laura. “ At all events, have you recently represented yourself, in any circle or place, as the widow of a General- officer whom you stated to have died in India?” The system of duplicity which the old woman dotermined to adopt towards her daughter, had so wel] prepared her to sustain any questioning or cross-oxsamination on any point, that she did not botray the least surprise, nor did her countenance undergo tho slightest chango as that interrogatory suddenly brought to her mind the conviction that Mr, Vernon and the Marquis of Delmour must be ono and tlio samo person, Without at the moment perceiving how this discovery could bo in any way nsofnl to her, but still acting with that reserve and wariness with which she had armed hersolf in order to mect her daughtor, she resolved not to montion a single word of anything that had occurred in Lon- don relative to the beautiful Recluso of the Cottage, her father, and Lord William Trevelyan, Accordingly, and without the least hesitation,— nor quailing, nor changing colour beneath the peno- trating gaze which Laura fixed upon her,—she said, “T do not remember ever to liave mado any such representation as that to which yor allude.” “Tt is singular—this coincidence,” mused Laura, audibly; “and yet itis of little import to me.” “Tt would appear, at all ovents, that you must bo ed wee (ge acquainted with this Marquis of Delmour of whom you speak ?” said Mrs. Mortimer, in a careless and indifferent tone. Scarcely were the words uttered, when a violent ringing at the front door was heard; and in a fow moments a voice, instantly recognised alike by Taura and her mother, exclaimed to Rosalie, “ Has your mistress retired to rost yet? I must sce hor immediately.” Tho abigail, suspecting that it would be better not to allow the Marquis of Delmour—for ho the visitor was—to be brought face to face with the handsome young Italian, unhesitatingly conducted the nobleman into the parlour whore Laura and Mrs. Mortimer were holding their interview. But tho moment Rosalie had closed the door behind the Marquis, he uttered an ejaculation of mingled astonishment and rage, and springing towards Mrs, Mortimer, exelaimed, “Ah! I meet you again, vile woman! Give mo up my daughtor —tell me where you have hidden her !” And ho caught her violently by the arm. “T know what you mean, my lord,” said the old woman, hastily: “but you accuse mo wrongfully.” “Wrongfully!” repeated the Marquis, his coun- tenance white with rage: “no—no! I only accuse you justly—for it must bo you who havo spirited away my child—my beloved Agnes !” “Ttis false 1” ejacniated the old woman, with an emphasis which made him release his hold of her and fall back two or three paces. ‘False, you say!” he cried. “Ob! then, if you havo really not dono this flagrant wrong—but if you are in possession of any clue——” “YT am—Ilam,” interrupted Mrs. Mortimer, seeing in a moment that a reward was to be obtained and her spite against Lord William Trevelyan to be gratified at the same time: for she did cherish tho bitterest animosity against that young nobleman, on account of his conduct towards her when, four days proviously, she had taken Agnes Vernon to his house in Park Square. “And yet I cannot conceive you to be innocent in this matter,” oxclaimed tl.e nobleman, surveying her with deep distrust and aversion—and all this time taking no notice of Laura, s0 profoundly were his feelings engrossed by the subject which now occupied his mind: “for wherefore did you visit the cottage where Agnes dwelt?— why did you intrudo yourself upon hor presence ?” “All that can bo readily explained, my lord,” responded Mrs. Mortimer, not losing an atom of hor solf-possession, ‘Thon tell mo where my daughter is—toll me what has become of her?” cried the nobleman, ia an appealing tone; “and if you have boen con- cerned in removing her from tho cottage, I will forgive you! Nay, more—I will reward you hand- somely.” “Your daughter is in safety—that muck I can inform you at once,” said Mrs. Mortimor. ‘ Thanks—thanks for this assurance!” cred the old nobleman, clasping his hands together in grati- tude for the relief thus imparted to his mind: then, suddenly recollecting the presence of Laura, he turned towards her, and in a tone of mingled sus- vicion and reproach, said, “But how is it that I find you with the very person of whom I spoke ta you somewhat disparagingly two short hours ago?’ “She claims some distant relationship with me, my dear Marquis,” Laura hastened to obrerve—bus CONMUC SS (SO)