The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 313: what you’re looking at

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

A nN 800 the bye, I recollect! Captain Stanley once called him by his Obristian name—and that name itself is Christian,” “ Ohristian #’ almost shricked forth Mrs. Oxen- den. “'Tall—slender—elegant, you say—about nineteon? With a beautiful set of teeth—and lips like those of a woman——” “The same!” cried Alexis. him ?” “Yea, it must be be! His name is not Oraven -—j¢ is ‘Ashton—Obristian Ashton—and he is a bitter enemy of mine {” “Heavens! what have I done?’ exclaimed Alexis, now more frightened than over. “Oh, I see it all!” “ And this Mr. Ooleman—the lawyer who has “ Coleman?” echoed Alexis; with a start. “Why it is he who caused me to be arrested last night !— and this Oraven—or Ashton—or whatever his name is—paid the whole money with an appearance of the most off-hand ity |” ‘‘ Wretched boy!” cried Mrs. Oxenden ; Ps what is all this that I hear? - You bave suffered your- self to be made a dupe, in order that those design- ing fiends might extract from your lips whatso- ever it suited them to learn Y’ wt" Forgive mo!” said Alexis, entreatingly. “You tel] me that no harm will happen to your: self if you ubey Mr. Ooleman in all things. Is it not so P” “That is the assurance he gave me,” replied Mrs. Oxenden; “but placed as I am in Cireum- atances so dreadfal, how do I know whom to believe ?”’ Here there was a ” nook at the outer door of the elegant dressing-room; and the voice of the lady’ semaid was heard, saying, “If you please, ma'am, the post-chaise 3 is atrived, and Mr. Cole- man ie waiting.” “You must go, Alexis!” exclaimed Mrs. Oxen- den: “I have but « few minutes left for my toilet !”—-then"as she embraced him, she said, “I forgive you for whatecever mischief you have om easioned. Do not distress yourself about it |—let us hope that things will end well, and that I shell soon return! But for heaven's ‘sake be cautious io future! You know that I love you, my dear Alexis—and for my sake—Ob, for my “sake, be prudent |” He vowed and protested that he would follow ‘her advice: she placed a sum of money in his hands; and he departed by the secret staircase. Ten minutes afterwards the post-chaise, contain- ing Mr. Coleman and Mrs. Oxenden, drove away from the front door of the house. “Do yoa know CHAPTER CXLIIL OMRISTIAN AND ALEXIS Iz was about three o'clock in the aferncen of the same. and Obristian Ashton was .alighting frome bab at the door of Mrs. Macaulay’s house Street. He had just returned from Fernie whither he had been to pay his usua to Lord Olandon. Scarcely had he di cab, when he beheld « person hastening to- ae “% THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. wards him; and he at once recognised Alexis Oliver. The countenance of the young man ex- pressed the most fiery indignation; and Ohristian immediately suspected that this evidence of rage was connected with the proceedings of the previous night. He therefore assumed a calmly dignified demeanour, and thus awaited the explosion of Alexis Oliver’s fury. “Mr. Ashton,” exclaimed Mrs. Oxenden’s para- mour, “ you are a villain!” 7 Perhaps it would be better, sir,” replied our hero “that we should avoid a disturbanoe in the open street. Be ao kind as to follow me up-stairs: we shall be alone together; and to whatsoever you may say I shall doubtless be prepared to give an answer.” Alexis accordingly accompanied Christian up to the sitting-room: thé latter closed the door—and then said, “I see, Mr. Oliver, that you know who Iam: but I beg you to understand that I have no reason fe regret nor to be ashamed of my pro- ceedings of last night. Where there are high and itaportant “duties to be performed, the most honourable character will condesocend to a little dissimulation; and really, after all, it does not strike me that you have much to complain of ee | = If, Mr. Ashton,” rejoined Oliver, “ you would throw in my teeth the pecugiary obligation———” “Nothing was further from my intention!” ex- claimed Christian. “Had you suffered me to proceed without interruption, I should have simply added that you were burning to reveal certain secrets, which I therefore had no parti- cular trouble to elivit.” * But you have mado the most villanous use of them!” ejaculated Alexis; “and you must give me satisfaction! Name your friend, sir; and mine shall call upon him this evening. I have been wandering about in the hope of encounter- ing you—I thought 1t was useless to inquire your address of Captain Stunley, as he was evidvatly in your plot: but accident fortunately threw me in your way.” “If you consider yourself aggrieved, sir,” ane swered Christian composedly, “I am bound to meet you according to the provocation you have just given me. I name Captain Stanley as my friend.” * Alexis said not another word: but bowing baughtily, he issued from the room. He had already made up his mind whose assistance he would invoke in case he should succeed in finding an opportunity to challenge Ohristian to a duel; and he at once bent his steps to the house of the individual whom he thus purposed ‘to engage as his second.» Tais was none other than the Hoa. Wil- son Stanhope. Mr. Stanhope was seated at the time in com- pany with his mistress, Marion Sutton. It was an elegantly furnished apartment; and the young woman was half reclining upon a sofa, listening to the protestations of love which the infatuated Stanhope wis pouring forth, Sbe has already been described as a full-grown beauty, but still quite youthful, and with all the freshness of youth blooming upot her rich luxuriant charms. Already somewhat to atoutness, yet with a perfeat symmetry of form, she had an air of sensuous in- dolence—a voluptuous kind of lasiness and languor ¢ LOAO© COLUM