The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 236: what you’re looking at

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

eee ee THR MYSTRRIES OF THE COURT. * Ask him, Sir Frederick—ask him!” exclaimed Annatatia: “he is here—he will tell the truth— he will not see his own sister trampled down into the dust! Ask him, I say, who it was that I met at Madame Angelique’s house !” But Sir Frederick Latham waited not for what- soever response the Viscount would have given to this appeal. A wild ory of joy burst from the lips of the Gity merchant: it seemed as if all in a moment his neturo had become chacged: his business-like coldness vaniebed—his countenance grew full of the expression of excited feelings; and flinging hie arms round Anastatia’s neck, he ex- claimed, “ Pardon! pardon” It was now a most affecting scene, That proud scion of the moneyocracy was melted at the biiss- ful thought that hie wife, the lovely daughter of the nristocracy, wae after all worthy of him ;—and she forgot everything oxcept the one idea that she was restored to ber husband’s confidence. And both alike forgot for several minutes the prosence of Lord Rushbrook, who, retreating into a window recess, sat watching this scene with an interest which though deep, was nevertheless altogethor selfish; for it occurred tu him that while there was peace-mnking in one quarter, there might be forgiveness fur himself’. And now Sir Fredezick Latham led his wife into another window-yccass; and thero they sat down and conversed tomcther. It was the mumont for explanations; and Anastatia’s were given in the following manner :— “ You remember, my dear husband, that the first incident which rendered you intimate with our family, was tha¢ dreadful circumstance of my brother’s crime—-the forgery which he committed in tho name of the Marquis of Swalccliffs. Tunt bill fell into “your hauds : my father went to you — and you promised tu save my brother from expo- sure. But the Marquis of Swalecliffe himecif ap- peared to be inexorable. My brother was not really upon the Continent; he was concealed at the hdlse of his tailor, M. Bertin.* Oh, how pain- ful it is for me to rovie'y all these things! And yot it is needful now : fur the explanation must be given. Yes—do not interrupt me: I will pro- eced. My father and mother bad vowed that never again would they see Robert: he dared not come to the house—be dared not go to you :—what was he to do in that fearful dilemma? He wrote a letter to me: he besought mo to meet bim : he told me that my own milliner, who lived next door to his temporary lodging, would arrange an interview. Utterly unsuspicious of the fright- ful risk which ry reputation was incurring, I went to Madame Angelique’s. i dared not men- tion my brother’s. name: for he knew nog at the time, nor did I, whether the Marquis of Swale- cliffe might not have given information to the police tu capture him ; and i¢ was therefore roqui- site to use every possible precaution: I merely asked for the gentleman who was waiting to see me. Qh, that Robert should have ap frightfully perilled the good mame of his own sister !” Anastatia’s teare\ rained down her cheeks Sir kindness than he had over displayed towards har, besought her to desist from her nations, for that he himeelf was perfectly satibiied : but again wiping away her tears, she in- sisted upon proceeding. Frederick, with m eer “IT saw Robert there—I met him in that place, which I little indeed suspected to be a acéne of gilded infamy. He wrete a letter to the Marquts of Swalecliffe, dated from Brussels, and beseeching him to be mercifal. hie letter Robort implored me to forward to the Marquis, with a note from mysolf to the offect that [ woyld receive whatao- ever reply his lordship might voucheafe. In that note which I penned to the Marquis, I added a prayer in support of the one* my brother had already addressed to him. His lordship sent me & prompt enawere He said that for my sake he would do that which otherwise ha had been re- solved not todo. It was necessary that [ should seo my brother again, to communicate this re- sponse; and I saw him at the same place. Two or three times subsequently I aaw him there, to report how the negotiation was progressing with yourself. Through your means the difficulty was settled, and my brother in due time affected to have returned from the Continent. Now, my dear husband, you comprehend how it wae that I visitod the interior of Madame Angelique’s estab- lishmont on a few occasions prior to my marriago.’ “And doubtless, Anastatia,” observed Sir Fre- derick, “it was for a similar reason, after marriaje, when your profligate brother again fell into diffi- culties, and when some usurious attorney thrent- ened to proceed againet him crimivally——" Yes,” responded Anastatia, “ again did he pre- tend to fly tu the Continent—aguin was it given out that he had gone to Paris or Brussels, that the officers of the law might be thrown off the scent. You remember, my dear husband, you strictly for- bade me to hold any communication with my brother: but what could I do when he privately transinitted to me the most pathetic letters, de- claring that he was in poverty—imploring me to see himP In a word, I wont! Alas, it was so easy to pretext a visit to my milliner’s; and as heaven is my witness, I suspected not the cha- racter of that house! And 1 am convinced, my dear husband, that by many and magy o lady- friend of mine was its character equally unsus- peetod-———"” “No doubt, Anastatia,” interjected Sir Frede- rick ; “and it was by the merest accident that I myself one day learnt from the impertinent com- municativeness of some fashionable debauches the infamous traiic which Madame Angelique was carrying on. IL was astounded; and as a matter of duty I’at once warned you of the character of that house.” "And I also was astounded!” answered Anas. tatia; “and I had not the moral courage to make you that confession which, if candidly given at the time, would have saved us so much misery to-day. But a senso of shamo—deep buraing shame,—or shall [ say wounded modesty—sealed my tongue. I could not look my husband in the facp and con- fess to him that bhad penetrated within the walls of that den of infamy. [I therefore held my peace. But, Oh! when next I saw my brother, how bis- terly did 1 reproach bim for the frightful risk which he had made me ruh! Alas! you know his manner—he endeayoured to laugh it flippently away—and then he pleaded ignorance of the nature of that establishment; aud if I did not altogether believe him, at least I forgavs him. Yet ever since that day on which your revelation ewes, ECOMRniclacae SS (CO)