The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 45: what you’re looking at

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fainted with Joy—-and she vowed that she could be happier with you ‘on Afty with his Grace of Mazchmont on tqo hundred.” “Why this is as good asa romance |” exclaimed the delighted and credulous Augustus. “ Quite as good,” answered Madame AAgelique : and she no doubt thought precisely what she said. “Oaly conceive, my dear Softly, the, honour, the fame, and the glory of running off with a Duke's unjatress! ‘Why, it is better than running off with his wife: because a man of the world is always more sensitive in respect to his misttess than he is to his wife. How you will be spoken about !— what a noise you will make !—what a sensation! —— and all the ladics will emilingly call you the naughty man {” ° “"Pon my soul, it will be quite delicious!” ex- ’ olaimed Lieutenant Softly. “ But is she beautiful P” * Beautiful, elegant, and accomplished,” rejoined Madame Angelique. “She is the daughter of an old French Marquis; and Marchmont took her by wy aid, from a convent betwoen two and thres months ago. She never really liked the Duke: her only object was to escape from a seclusion which she abhorred; and as for ber virtue, apart from this one little failing, Iam ready to guarantee ‘¢ in a bond of a hundred thousand pounds, or on an affadavit sworn before the Lord Mayor of Lon- don.” Of course such guarantees clinched the argu- ment—at least in the mind of the credulous, con- eeited, and frivolous Augustus Softly; and already as elate as he could be with his preaumed conquest, * he gave vent to his delight in the most extravagant expressions—all of which Madame Angelique care- fully echoed, while laughing in her sleeve. “Feeling confident,” she resumed, “that you would grant the dear girl an interview, I sent to request that ehe would pay me a visit this after- noon. But would.you belicfe it? she is so frenzied with delight, that she orders her maid to petk up, bag and baggage—and away she comes, leaving the splendid apartments the Duke had provided for her—and upon ber toilette-table a rose-tinted perfumed billet, with a few laconic lines to the effect that she separates from his Grace for ever! I told her that her conduct was madness, as she could not possibly be sure that you would take her under your own ion-——though it is true that old Lord Wenham, who was here just now, and saw hey alight at my door, offered me two hundred and fifty guineas if I would use my in- fluence———” “By Jove, I will just make is double!” eja- culated Softly. “I hope you will not feel “Y really do not know,” said Madame Ange- lique, with a very serious counterlance, “ whether I ought to receive anything in’a transaction which is really eo delicate, and which I merely undertook to manage from motives of pity for the sweet creature and out of regard for you, Bat if you must writee chaque for five hotdred guiness, I cannot think of woanding your feelings by refusing to oP * HEOG Dusky I got that loan Armytage this inething !" thought the ag r, wae, he flag to the deck to pen the cheque: “or me I should have cut bata devilish sorry ugare: Ne Sa TS eect a eee Gute with the ald lady—and should have lost the French guineas a week, than | bea * Dear me, what creatures you young Guards men are [” said Madame Angelique, as if musing to herself, but taking very good care that the Hon. Augustuse Softly should cato%’ the: words whioh she uttered. “I never saw such killing men—their very looks are sufficient to conquer female hearts in a moment |" “ Where is the beauty P” asked Softly, drinking in all this pleasant flattery. “T will go and fetelx her,” said Mademe Ange- lique: and she issued from the boudoir. Mademoiselle -Armantine had passed the pre- ceding night in the arms of an attaché to a Foreign Embassy:—-not a German one, for Ma- dame Angelique knowing very well that the Ger- man representatives of - their native princes, were a set of scurvy paupers, never allowed them to set foot in her estahlishment. The French girl was in an elegant evening toilet; and she looked ravishingly beautiful. Madame Angelique com- plimented her upon her bewitching appearance ; and then addressed her in the ensuing man- NEF :-—~ “You are already aware, my dear Armantine, that I am about to give up my business, and that I have already provided in the handsomest man- ner for those dear girls Eglantine and Linda. Your turn is now come; and between you and me, my dear, you are the best off. What think you of a goung, handsome, «and elegant officer of the Guards—exceedingly intelligent and accom- plished—~witty and clever—not yet of age, but able to raise as much money as he thinks fit P” Armantine’s countenance expressed her satisfac. tion with the proposed arrangement, Madame Angelique; “and it is all the more de- lightful to me, inasmuch as the trouble [ am taking is purely disinterested. But there are one or two little things that I must tell you, my dear young friend.” ; She then explained the particulars of the tale which she had told the Hon. Augustus Softly,— adding, “You can safely give him the same as- surances: for I will take care that Marchmont like with the Duke; and as for that palit of the history which flattered the young officer with the idea «f the violent passion you have conceived for him en “Trust to me to play my part properly,” inter- ected Armantine. “Of all men as a protector, I could best fancy an officer in the Guards !” joined Madame Angelique; “and if within s twelvemonth you do not ruin him completely, :t will be your own fault. My dear girl, the repu- tation of w young lady is never established until she has ruined thrée or four of her lovers. at your celebrated actresses———-But no matter ! Boftly must be dying of impatience; and you must accompany me forthwith. Remember, my dear, bashful tenderness and modest joy—that is your ous ‘ \ “J am glad thst you are pleased,” continued _ shall not contradict you. I can do anything I . “ He will allow you fifty guineas a week,” re- Look. COLUM LOAO© SS (CO)