The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 191: what you’re looking at

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

Se, = Wet Os eee gg eet = oe i78 Angelique begs to add that sho has placed her outstanding accounts in the bands of Mr. Isaac Shadbolt, who will save her ladyship the trouble of sending to Brixton Hill, by personally waiting on her ladyship at So-and-So Mansion.’—There ! what-do you think of that?” exclaimed Shadbolt triumphantly. ** None of these ladies owe me anything at all,” responded Madame Angelique: “they have all paid me——” “I know that very well,” snid Shadbolt; “and ‘you know equally well that it has nothing to do with the case. You write the billete—let me take them—and you will very soon see if in every in- stance I du not obtain the money. If any indig- efation is shown, I shall very soon give the fair ones to understand that it is a bribe for your eccresy in respect to their former doings at your house, In short, it is a genteel and pleasant little mule uf extortion which they cannot possibly ree gist.” Maurlamo Angelique reflected for some moments; ani then she said, “I would rather not do it— much rather not.” “Oh, I understand!” cried ber ‘visitor .petu- lantly; “you have not suflicien, confidence in honest Ike Shadbolt? you think that when I once got Lold of the money, I shall use the ‘last eyllable of my name— which means bolt. But there's no- thing of the sort to be feared. Hovour amonget ahem! I mean honour betwixt Madame An- gelique and honest Ike Shadbolt.” * Still { would rather not,” answered the retired milliner, How ridiculous !” ejaculated Shadbolt. “ You know that you can trust me. SBesides, givo-me one little billet ata time; and as I bring back the cash to be divided, you cen give moe another.” “You do not understand my objection,” said Madame Angelique. ‘The tsuth is that my late business was nearly gettirg me into such serious trouble—as no one better knows than yourself— that when I settled down here at this ville, I made up my diind to lead a quiet life and.avoid every- thing that could possibly invulve me in diflicult:es for the future.” ‘ “But thero is no chance of trouble in what I I propow,” persisted Shadbolt. “The proceed. ing b9 P “It is extortion—or attempted extortion—or whatevor the English laws calls it,” observed Ma- dame Angelique. . “Not a bit of it! Suppose, for instance, a lady dofies you—takes the high ground—says that she owes you nothing—that sho can produce your re- ceipts—and that she does nut understand tho nature of the threats held out through me? Well, if we roally sce that the game can't be played in that quarter, an apology muSt be made, ‘ Ma. Jame Angelique presents her ¢ ompliments to Lady So-and-Sy, and deeply rae -ets that a mistake should have been made j:. respect to her ladyship’s account, which was entirely owing to an erroneous entry in Madame Angelique’s books; but which is now completely rectifi:d.’—What ean be better than that ?” k “hig does indeed look feasible,” said Madame Angelique: “but I will think over it-———there is ne hurry for a dey or two——TI will let you know,’ i mmemmmictemtineemmmmmmiemtannnttinnsimmetiitemriaieitheitieminmmrstmtemmrrentinn earner t THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. ee oo. es = = “ (food |” said Shadbolt. *‘There is, as you say, no hurry in the matter, And now I'll ring for lunch,” With that free-and-casy, independent manner which characterized him, Mr. Isaac Shadbolt pulled the bell; and when the pretty maid servant -an- ewered the summons, he said, “ Your mistress wants yuu to bring up lunch, my dear.” “ Yes, sir :”—and the girl was about to retire. “‘ Stop one moment I", exclairaed Mr. Shadbolt, “ Bring up everything eold there is iu the larder, so that I can take my choice———and some battled stout—port and sherry, of course——anid [ don’t mind having @ glass or two of that fine old Medeira———”’ “ Bring up the tray, Jano, as usual,” said Ma- dame Angelique, thus addressing hersclf to the servant and cutting short ber visitor’s multifarious orders. “Mr. Shadbolt,” she continued, when the mail-servant had withdrawn, “ I must beg of you to let me ‘be the mistress of my own house. ‘You are very welcome to visit me—and if we enter into that ‘business of which we wero just now talke ing, it will:be necessary that you should call fre- quently, But you must not usurp an authority within theee walle—you would compromise me seriously. Pray bear in mind that I have got an entirely new set of servants———none of those that I had at the other estallishmeut. All they know of me is that I am Madams Angelique, the fashion- able milliner, avho has retired from business on a fortune " * And quite enough for them to know! De- pend upon it, my dear madam, you ehull never be compromised by honest Ike Shadbolt.” “J hope not,” reaponded the Frenchwoman ém- phatically, ‘“‘Thore is not a soul in the noighbour- heod who suspects that there was anything wrong in that establishment of mine: the clergyman has already left his card—two or threo good families bave likewise called ———"” “Then you will be giving a party soon,” ex- claimed Mr. Bhadbolt : “ and I shall be master of the ceremonies. By tho bye, that is an uncom. ‘mon pretty gir]—the parlour-maid, I mean ” “JT hope you will not speak to her familiarly, nor look at her ineolently,” said Madame Ange- lique, with grave and serious demeanour. “No, no, my dear madam !” responded Shad- belt. “Ido not forget that you have grown re- apectable. Ah! it’s a capital thing to become respectable—and settle down in a respectable neighbourhood —and be visiied by respectable families —and go to the Protestant Church or the Catholic Chapel in a respectable way on Sundays ——Ah, by the bye! if Il were you, my dear madam, I would come tho church-dodge: there's nothing like the churoh-dodge. Be sure to hire a pew-—go to church regularly: and if you can enivel a little bit in the middle of tho sermon— of course oboosing the proper part—yuur respecta- bility is established.” Madawe Angelique could not help smiling at this tirade into which Mr. Isaae Shadbolt launched forth ; and ebe said, “ Well then, if you are so very anxious that 1 should keep myself respectable, pray do your best to keep up my respeotability. Don’t call the servant-girl my dear——”’ “ Nor yet chuck her under the chin,’ added Sr. Shadbolt t ECOMRniclacae SS (CO)