The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 300: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. ap CS SRDS by a groom on this oceasion, for sothe reason which it fa not worth while to describe. It was by acci dent, and with no settled purpose in view, that Sir Frederick Latham rode in the direction of Brixton Hiil,—where, as it will be recollected, Madame Angelique’s villa was situated. “But let us leave Sir Frederick for a few minutes, while we look inta the interior of that villa. Madame Angeliqué was seated at dessert: but her countenarice bore the evidences of a certain inward trouble or uneasiness, It was clear that the milliner, on retiring from business, had not found the mental tranquillity°whiech ahe had hoped to experience in the eeclusion of her beautiful villa. Presently there was a knock at the doors and Mr. Shadbolt was announced by the pretty parleur-maid, whose face expressed mingled anger and disgust; for eho detested this visitor, and he had just taken the liberty of tapping her cheek in the hall. Mr. Shadbolt—as was now ysual with him—had been dining luxuriantly, and it seemed as if the viands of which ,he had partken, had been washed down with a considerable amount of generous wine, Indeed it was in a state of semi- ebriety that he was thue introduced into Madame Angelique’s presenco. “ Well, what news?” the inquired, taking a seat, end at once filling a wirse-glass for himself. ‘It is singular that I have not seen the Duke,” replied Madame Angelique, rather in a musing fone to herself, than exactly addressing her visi- tor. “What DukeP Your friend Marchmont of whom you so constantly apcak P” he inquired. “Yes. I forgot I had not seen you since he one yesterday. It was immediately after you eft.” ‘Well, I can tell you,” rejoined Shadbolt, “ that the Duke is lying in a desperate state at his hotise fu Belgrave Squaie.” * Ah!® ejaculated Madame Angelique: and then she muttered to herself, “No wonder! no wonder !” r “fF suppose you know,” continued Shadbolt, “that hie brother Lord Olandon suddenly turned up yesterday and was arrested P” ‘Yes, L know it all,” anewered Madame An- gelique. “Tread the paragraph that was in thie moruing’s paper ; and the evening one,” she added, lancing towards tho Globe, which lay upon the sofa, “ eontains a longer account of what yesterday took place at Bow Street. It seoms that the very Mr. Coleman eoncerning whom you had been frightening me so———” ““Yes—the arrest took place at his office,” said Shadbolt, speaking with his mouth full of take; “and the Duke himself was in the place at the time. There was a Hindoo woman too——” “T know it,” interrupted Madame Angelique curtly. “When the Duke called upon mo after you left the villa yesterday, I told him all you had been saying to me——.” ° “Welland what then?” asked Shadbcit with & mumentary eagerness. “ Why, to speak plainly,” responded the French- woman, “tha Duke was not much inelined to be- lieve thet Goleman was a man who would accept a bribe of two hundred guineas to desist from pro- eecuting me. However, be said ho would gu and nee Mr. Coleman on my behalf; and, es it must 8 am t-Et aus $37 SS aT ae aS A REID have happened, the Duke’s brother was there ab the very same moment, So the Inspector said in the aceount of the capture which he gave to the magistrate, aud whieh is in the newepaper.” “But the Duke did not come back to you— oh P” observed Mr. Shadbolt, “ Well, ail { can tell you is that if you hadn’t given me that little dou. ceur of two hundred guiness to allp into Cole- man’s hand——' right Pe ‘ “T hope it is it, and that you have not been deceiving ae p said amd lique, looking very hard at Mr. Shadbolt. “I deceive you?” he . *What— honest Ike Shadbolt deceive bis dear and intimate friend, the amiable end agent ent Stadame Ange» lique ? Bo indeed - ok at 0. Do I om ® man ca 0 a dirty tri “I hope Sot’ pied the women j “and I bope likewise that everything is now safe in that quarter P”’ The reader will have no doubt comprehended thet the unprincipled Shadbolt bad been playing a trick by working on Madame Angelique’s fears, in order to obtain the money of which heetood in need: for his extravagances werg Unlimited, and he had taken to gambling. . You see, my dear riend,” he continued, refilin his glass, and helping himself to enother slice o cake, “all those lawyer fellows are open to bribes and as Coleman knows so much about you, we shall have to fee him ooeasionally. But what think you of letting me make an attempt in some other quar- tor, a8 a means of raising the wind P” “No, never!” ejaculated Madime Angelique firmly, “That business of the Lathams was enough for me. I never was so frightened in my life had “Well, well,” said Shadbolt, “just as you please. I must take myself off gow: I just dropped in te inquire after your precious health, and tell you how nively and comfortably I had settled that little affair with Coleman.” °%e S But what of the Duke of Marchmont P” said Madame Angelique. “ How did you leern——” “That be was in so desperate @ condition P” ox. olaimed Shadbolt. “ Why, everybody at the West End is talkjng.of it. It seems that he took on so about his brother, he went home in a state border. ingon frenzy, and was seized with delirium. That deallI know. Ab! by the bye, there is somothing else I just now heard at the West End. Tho very Hindoo woman we were talking of-——" ‘What of her?” demanded Madanie Angelique eagerly. “ Bhe is dead,” replied Shadbolt. “Dead!” ejaculated the milliner. “Yes, dead. Ah! by the bye,” repeated Shad. bolt, “I recollect you once asked me something about that Lady [pdora with whom the Hindoo woman lived ———" Yes—and you told me at the time that she was instigating Coleman to prosecute me,” “Did IP Well, I dare say it wag so,” observed Shadbolt carelessly: for though sufficiently sharp, he had not = memory strong enough always to fee tain the recollection of the numerous perversions of trgth or actual falsehoods to which he was prone. “But aboat this Hindoo woman — goonah P” said Madame Angelique. “J could not exactly learn the rights of in” re. aes eae | ECOMRniclacae SS (CO)