The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 332: what you’re looking at

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TUE MYSTERIES OF LONDON, 327 _ rafan, from whose hands I was fortunate cnough torecene her; and, not knowing precisely whither to tnke ber, I thought it best to consult Lord Wil- jiam Trevelyan upon the proper course to adopt. His lordship, who is a man of honour—and pray remember to tell him that I say so,” she added, with 3 slight accent of malignity,—“ his lordship imme- diately placed her in the care of a lady of his acquaintance; and it isto him that you must apply, my Lord Marquis, for the address of your daughter’s new abode.”’ “And all that you have told me is true 2?” ex- claimed the old nobleman. “If it should prove otherwise, your lordship has in your own hands the means of punishing me,” responded Mrs, Mortimer. “Trne!” cried the Marquis; “and now J am somewhat consoled by the tidings you havo given me. My daughter is safe, and in the socioty of honcurable persons. I thank you, madam.” He then turned away to shako Laura cordially by the land ere he took his departure. “ You will leave toemorrow at mid-day, dearest,” ho said,in an under tone to her whom he fondly hoped to make his mistress, but who was so grossly deluding him. “Yes— without fail,” was the reply. “And on your arrival in town you will instantly send me word at which hotel yon take up sour temporary residence ?” continued the Marquis. “TI shall hasten to join you, and hope to havo a charm- ing villa ready to receive you.” “You are too good, my dear Marquis, to think so much of moat a time when your heart ts so severcly lacerated on account of your daughter,” said Laura, ‘likewise speaking in a whisper. “There is nothing that i would not do for you, beloved Laura,” responded the intatuated old noble. “You hold already a cheque for sixty thousand pounds: that is nothing to what I will do for you, my dearest angel. And if I allude to pecuniary affairs at all, it is to convince you how anxious I am to ensure your happiness, not only now—but like- wiso when I shall be no more.” Thus speaking, the Marquis of Delmour pressed Laura’s hand fervently, and was about to hurry away, when, suddenly recollecting something, he drew her still farthor aside, and said in a very low whisper, “Ilave nothing to do with that woman, dearest! Idislike her looks—I mistrust her alto- gether. Sho is evidently an adventuress. Oh! how could I have ever supposed even for an instant that such o wretch was the mother of such an angelic being as my Laura?” Another fond and impassioned look —another pressure of the hand—and the Marquis was gonc. Of all this latter dialogue which took place be- tween that nobleman and Laura, and which was carried on in a very low tone, Mrs, Mortimer, who strained all her auricular faculties to catch oven a syllable, succeeded only in overhearing a very short sentence. But that one sentenco she did manage to catch; and a highly significant as well as deepiy important ono was it for her. And these were the words which she thus coucht*—“ You hold already a cheque for sixty thousand pounds !” Quickly as the first glass of sparkling wine in- fuses a delicious sensation throughout the entiro framo,—so speedily did that ono sentence create a burning tovin tho breast of the old woman. Sho —— ee ee er | saw through it ail :--Laura bad wheedled the Mar- quis out of that immense sum—and now sho in- tended to jilt him, and espouse the Italian noble! “A choque for sisty thousand pounds!” thought Mrs. Mortimer within herself, while the Marquis and Laura were still whispering together: “sixty thousand pounds! Well—woeo shall seo! It is better than a paltry six hundred.” And, while thus musing, she affected to be smelling the flowers on the mantel-picce, until tho door suddenly opened and closed again instanta- neously—and then she turned round towards Laura, for the Marquis was gone. “And you assured me that you knew nothing of the nobleman who has just Ieft us?’ said Laura, fixing her eyes with cold contempt on her mother. “Y knew him onlyas Mr. Vernon until I saw him here this evening,” was the answer, “ Butit was to him that you had passed yourself as the widow of a General-officer in the Indian army,” persisted Laura: “ and yet you denied having ever made such a representation to any one. You per- ceive, mother, that I cannot trust you: you are full of duplicity and deceit even to mce—and still you complain that a coolness subsists botween us.” “Y may observe, on my side, Laura,” retorted the old woman, with a subdued aad cunning malig- nity, “that you were not more communicative to mo relative to the Marquis of Delmour than I was disposed to be to you. We are therefore oven upon that score; and, at all events, let us not dispute. I shall now leave you, Laura—for I am well aware that my room will be profcrable to my company. It is my present intention to remain in Paris; and from timo to time I will send you tidings of my whereabouts, so that you may duly remit mo my quarterly income, as promised just now. The cheque of the Marquis I shall send through the medium of some Parisian banker.” The old woman then took hor departure, a cool “Good-bye” being all the farowoll salutation that passed between her daughter and horself as she crossed the threshold of the handsome suitoof apart- monts, ‘Thank God! sho is gono!” thought Laura, as sho hastened to rojoin her handsome Castelcicalan, who was growing impationt of her protracted ab- sence, “Tho haughty and self-sufficient creatare 1” mur- mured Mrs. Mortimer to herself, as she hastily descended tho stairs: “she is completely in my power—at my morcy—in every way!” And did the old woman romain in Paris in ful- filment of her declared intention ? No:—wearied and exhausted by travel as she al- ready was, but animated with an indomitablo energy, Mrs. Mortimer hastened, late though the hour now was, to procure a post-chaiso and four; and while Laura was passing a night 6f voluptuousnoss and love in the arms of the handsome Count of Carignano, her mother was speeding along the road to Boulogne, on her way back to London. ———— CIIAPTER CLXXNXKY. THE LAWYER'S HEAD CLERK. Iv was about four o’clock in the afternoon of the day following tho incidents just related, that Mr. James Heathcoto, the lawver was seated at his (C(O) (C DOO <S LL (SO)