The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 252: what you’re looking at

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

al i ee 9 ————EEEE—————————— es ee ee ee eee = ewe a a re at eee =e wien rw Sw OD Sea cb . TUM MYGTERIES OF TAR COURT. hia dansewse and two others were in the midst of an elegant pus de trois, when all of a sudden thera was a cry uf ‘Fire!’ trom the back part of the stige. Only imagine the coufusion and terror which immediately ensued atnongst the whole company of singers and dancora assembled for the occasion, as well as amonyat the other theatrical oHicials and the number of spectatora whom the coursrsy of the directos hai udmitted! It was bnt tvo true that through the negligence of a carpenter or a scene-shilter the placo was on fire. I remember that some of the young females were so paralysed by consternation as to be utterly unable to help themselves s*—thoir brains appcared to bo turned! All the gentleinen present ren- dered their services with prorptitude and pregence of mind: but 1¢ was to the daring conduct of the Baron De Margaux that the flames were extin guished and the whole theatre was saved from conflagration. Tho event had however an unfor. tunate sequence; for the diamunds ef the cele- brated danseuse to whom I have been alluding, wero nowhere to be fuungd when order was again restored. The danseuse was a pray tg tho most distracting grief; and sbe levelled the bitterest reproaches against her tireewomen. The was however much excuso for those poor Creatures; for it was in the immediste vicinago of the dressiug- rooms that the fire lgad caught; and therefore the instant the alarm was given, they had rushed forth m wildest terror, thioking only of saving their hives and utterly rcgardless of the ensket of jewels.” “ Agd were they never discovered P” asked tho notary's wife. “fam convinced they were not!’ murmured Zoe, thus involuatarily giving an audibls expression to the ulea which was passing in her wind, The words were not however presieely caught by any one present; and the Viscountess Delormo inquired, “What were you saying, my dear friend . “ Nothing,” responded Lady Ovtatian Meredith. J] monnt nothing particular:"g-but she had an abstracted air as sho thus spoke. “1 ennnot precisely say,” continued the Viscount Delorme, “ that the real author of tho robbery was not discovered; though 1 may pomtively affirm that tho jewels themselves wero not. Que of the scene shifters was proved to have ruslied out of the theatre in a very suspicious manucr the mo ment the cry of fire was raised: he was arrested — and though I have forgotten “tho particulurs, yet I know thet the circumstantial evidence was deemed sufliciently strong ugainst him to induce the criminal tribunal to declare him guilty; and ho was sontenced to some very severe punish- ment.’ ‘And the poor danseuse lost her diamonds?” gail che notary, in a toue of sympathy. “ Yos: and they were of exceeding value,” re- joined the Viscougt Delorme. “ But, speaking of the Baron Do Mafgaux, i¢ is my duty aa well as my pleasure to observe that whenever we have met be has invariably demonstrated the utmost friendship towards me. <A few days ago I acci- dentally encountered him in the neighb »urhood of tho old Chateau; he was passing throygh the vil- lage at the time—and he halted there fur refrosh- ments while the two horses were being changed.| in getting a claep-kuife from his pocket. Eee SMe eb WM 46 ete te ete te = —_ =a e eu - 439 ee on es eee Glad to meat so excellant a friend, who had saved my life a¢ Aladrid, I asked him to be present at that bappy coremany of thie morning which gave me the hand of my beluved Clarine.” “And oxery friend of your's, dearest Alfred,” whispercd tha young lady, “ shall ever be esteemed aaa friend by me. The wament you first informed me how deeply you were indebted to the Baron De Maryzaux, I was rejoiced to learn that he was ta be prowat at the coremony of this Gay.” Lenving the conversation to progress in thie mannor at the hdtel, we must follow Lord Oota- vian Meredith, whu had iseued from the room almost immediately after the Baron Dea Margaux quitted it. WWastily descending the stairs, the young noblewau fugud one of the, Viscount De- lorme’s footmen lounging at the front dour; and be inquired which direction the Baron hed teken. The footman replied that the Baron bad through the village in the direction of the post- house. Thither QOotavian therefore proceeded ; and on coming within suzht of the post-hoyse, he abser zed the Baron talkin tu the pustmagter him- self Standing aside in the ehade of eomo trees, go ast) avoid being scen, Octnvian kept hie eyes upon the Baron, and presontly observed him sauntor away from ghe spot where he had juat buen standing. Instead of returninz into the vile lage, bo passed out of it; and when at a distance of about two bundred yarda from the posting: house, he stopped and lovked around. Meredith still wanaged to keep out of sight, though retaining the Baron constantly in view. Tuc Baron went on a little farther —probably to the distaneo of about another hundred yards; and then he whistled. The road on both sides was borderod by trees; fur the village was on the oute skirt of tho forgst. Meredith concealed himself anovgst the trees on one side of the road; and in afew ninutea he behgld an individual issue from amonsst the treas vo the uther sido and juin the Baron. Peeping cautivasly along, Octnvian got near onough to listen to their corversution—a proceeding which the thick fringe o' hedge border- ing the road inghat particular spot, allowed hira thus tw accomplish. It is not now necessary to explain why he thus listened, or what he over- heard, as these details will presentiy travapire in thew proper @lace. Suffice 16 for the present to way that the conversation was not very long, and that so spon as if was over the Buron speeding awns, re-entored the villa,re. The man with whon he bad been discoursing, walked on a little distance in a contrary direction, und therefore ayay frum the village: but all ofa sudden, at the point where the hedge coased, he plunged in armougst the trees on the same side as that where Moredith had romained concealed. Of all thease movemonts Octavian was aware; and gliding amongst the troos, ho in a few minutes contronted the individug] to whom we ars alluding. He wae a shor:, atost foan, attired in a peasant garb: there was nothing sinister in his appear- ance:—on the cuntrary; he might be taken for a quiet and ivoffensiva rustic. Hoe started on thus suddenly meeting with sume one in that maze of shade: but almust at the samo instant Octavian sprang at him and hurled him fo the ground. The fellow struggled desperately, and even a ué Dasa eal Re ER eee el aS! Ee Ee, sel a AB =_/2 es ee COMIC OOS ior SS (CO)