The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 237: what you’re looking at

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

CEeette «mp Guibas ———— _ L ',. S@eeiwewwans «2 « i? weer! w° es oo aeeteretnneseneeesnaesecennsteeeee gee of the infamy of that establishment came like a thunderbolt upon my ears, I have been haunted with terrors lest you should discover that only secret of my life which I studied to conceal from you. At last the extortioner came; and then s great battle took place within me. I longed to everything to you: but I hed not the moral courage to do it. Alas, no! I had not!l—and [ submitted to that‘ villanous demand. You know the rest.” “And now, my dear Anastatia,” responded Sir Frederick, taking his wife’s hand and pressing it to his lips, “it is my turn to give you explana. tions. I will tell you how my suspicions were aroused—how they were strengthened—how they were fostered.” Sir Frederick eocordingly narrated all those in- cidents which have been described to the reader, — how he had firet missed the contents of his cash- box—how he had examined the papers in the desk —how he had visited Madame Angelique—how he had traced some of hie lost bank-notes to Lord Rushbrook’s possession—and how be had dis- covered the final secret from the false Lascar. “It ie I who have now to ask your pardon, my Anastatia,” added the merchant, “for having vio- lated the sanctity of your writing desk.” “You were justified,” answered the lady ; “and moreover this is not merely the day of revelations, but also the day of forgiveness.” “And toa certain extent,” rejoined Sir Frede- rick,—“for your sake—at least so far as forgive- ness in such circumstances can extend—sball it be accorded to that guilty one who has been the cause of so much mischief.” Meanwhile Lord Rushbrook bad remained sit- ting in the window-recess: but he had not caught a single syliable of all that was thus taking place between his sister and his brother-in-law. The merchant approached ‘nim, and spoke in the dullowing terms:— “It weraa mere waste of words to endeavour to reason with your lordship upon the profligacies and villanies of the career which you have been pursuing. The perils and difficulties of the past operate not with you as a aalutary warning for the present or the future. What conduct could have been more abominable than your's When you would even have sacrificed the reputation of your own sister to the selfishness of your personal safety? Because you could not stir abroad at the time, you induced ber to meet you ina place of infamy,—where, if you had the ordinary feelings of a men, your blood would boil with indignation at the idea of your pure-minded sister ever having set her foot! I fear that you are incorrigible, my lord ; for this last act of your’e—the robbery of your own sieter's husband—a felon's foulest crime proves you to be so thoroughly biack-hearted ead uoprincipled that there is nq hope for you!” Anestatia had remained in the window-recess, where she was now weeping end sobbing: the sounds of ber grief were wafted to the ear of her busband; and Sir Frederick, turning upon her a look of such kindness and compagsiph apd as never be- fore be hed displayed, said, “Weep not, Anas- tabia !—your brother is not worthy of these tears!” Viseount Rashbrook, having a presentiment that something was about to be done for bim, thought ‘t better to preserve the humblest demeanour ; and =° SES (a2 Wed uty we ww ee ee e THE MYSTSRIRS OF THE COURT. indeed he was completely overwhelmed with shame and confusion, notwithstanding his recent endene vour to carry off the affair with an insolent self- sufficient flippancy. “TI know that I have bebaved bad, Sir Fredee rick,” he said: “but Jook at my position! An ap- pearance to keep up, and nothing to maintain it with—or at least only such a beggarly income that any small tradesman is better off‘than I! Come —you have said enough in the shape of reproach —-I am giad it is all right between you and Anastatia——” “Lord Rushbrook, listen to me!’ interrupted the merchant; “for this scene shall now be brought to an end. It is totally impossible that you can ever again set foot within these walls: nor will I permit you—if it be possible for me to pre. vent it—to remain in the British metropolis, where your proceedings are so incessantly calculated to damage evesy one who is connected with you. I have a proposition to make: accept or refuso it as you will. If you choose to go upon the Continent, [ will make you an allowance of one thousand pounds » year: but it shall be paid in monthly portions, and only to yourself personally—not by written order nor cheque—so that there may be a guarantee that you remain, altogether in Paris, or wherescever else you may choose to fix your abode. But if, on the other hand, ‘you refuse this Rropo- sition, I warn you, Lord Ruehbrook, that you will receive no farther pecuniary assistance from me; and whatsoever difficulty you may plunge yourself into, you must bear the consequences of. Decide this moment!—and if you accept my terms, you will leave the British metropolis to-morrow.” We need hardly inform the reader that Via- count Rushbrook was only too glad to accept an offer which promised him ao liberal a permanent addition to the limited allowance he received from his father; and he took his departure from Tudor House. When he was gone, Anastatia expresséd her warmest gratitude to her husband for the munilfi- cence he had thud displayed towards her brother, as well as for his great leniency and forbearance in tacitly pardoning him for the foul robhery which had been brought to light. “These incidents, my dear Anastatia,” an- ewored the merchant, “althouh so painful, may not have been without their uses. In the first place, your erring brother will be compelled to leave London, where he has constantly disgraced and imperilled himeelf; and let us hope that with e handsome income in a foreign clime, he may enter upon a new path. In the fecond place, your soul, Anastatia, is now relieved from tho necessity of maintaining a secret which, you were always afraid would transpire; and in! the third place, methinks that our hearts have been drawn nearer towards each other than ever they were before. Certain it ie that I feel different towards you! There may have been pride and coolness in my former demeanour-—I have treated you too little as a wife and a friend: but berfooforth it shall be different !”’ Anastatia threw herself into her husband’s arme; and he folded her to his breast wing ronl and loving tenderness, LOAO© SS (CO)