The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 68: what you’re looking at

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TWE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. when he knew he could not procure leave of ab- sence from his regiment, would be to renounce his commission—and when the reason should be known, to be cut by everybody as a coward. Yet the cer- tificate must be forthcoming! Would the date of it matter so long as it was displayed P Certainly not. Then the only alternative which could be adopted, was the marriage of the Hon. Augustus Softly with+ Mademoiselle Armantine by special liconce on the morrow. All these reflections passed through Mr. Softly’s brain, ea Armantine doffed the red coat and the cap. He looked at her. She was exquisitely shaped—her countenance was beautiful. But then, to marry one’s mistress! Still it was better than to be sacrificed to the vengeance of 4 blood-thirsty firo-cater; and Mr. Softly came to the conclusion that it was the best course he could possibly adopt. Armantine fully comprehended all that was passing in his mind: she Javished her caresses upon him— she declared how much she loved him—she ssid everything to gratify his vanity and minister to his pride—she protested that she was ready and | willing to make any sacrifice to ensure his happi- neas— she would even flee from the countfy, though her own heart should break—but she dreaded the vengeance of the terrible Cartwright on account of her dear Augustus! Could Mr. Softly resis? all this? Impossible ! Hoe drank glass aftér glass of champagne—pis blood was heated with the wine and with Arman- tine’s seductive caresses—he likewise experienced an awful horror of Captain Cartwright ; and thus, amidst the strange and unnatural confusion of his feelings and bewilderment of his thoughts, he de- cided on securing the charmer as his wife, and thereby averting the hideous vengeauce of the fire-eater. CHAPTER XCIII. THE OLD LORD AND HIS MISTRESS. TuB scene now changes to the sumptuously far- nished house which Lord Wenham had hired for the accommodation of his beautiful Eglantine— who was passed off on him aa the immaculate niece of the hot very immaculate Madame Angelique. The reader will npt have forgotten that his lord- ship was an octogenarian, with bowdi form, wrinklod face, an absence of teeth, a continuous backing cough, and a mumbling stammering mode of speech. ‘Well nigh in his dotage, he had placed implicit confidence in the specious tale of Eglan- tine’s virtue, and in the specious mannor in which the young lady had played her part towards her “ wicked aunt.” Immensely rich, and a widower, the antiquated nobleman thought that he had a perfect right to minister to bis own pleasures ; and he had not therefore hesitated to form thia most expensive connexion, . I¢ was in the forenoon on the day following the incidents which we have related in the preceding chapter; and if we peep into an exquisitely fur- nished boudoir at Miss Egiantine’s new abode, we shall find the young lady and her ancient pro- tector eeated at breakfast. His lordship had passed the night at the house ; and he was com: pletely infatuated, like an old dotard as he was, with his beautiful mistress. Wo should observe that tilere had been all the shyness and of a veritable virgia bride in tho first instances and new that some days had elapsed sinoe the con- nexion began, Eglantine appeared to entertain so lively a fense of the old lord’s generosity and kind- ness, that she behaved as if she already esteemed and could soon love him. They were seated, as we have said, at breakfast, ~—Egiantine in a charming deshabdillids —~ Lord Wenham in a dressing-gown and black velvet skull-cap, The contrast was immense—end af. forded a striking illustration of the varieties of ap- pearance which buman beings may present to the view,~how one may be formed to fascinate and another to disgust—how grace, elegance, and love- liness may belong to youth, and how loathsome ugliness may characterize old age. And yet that old lord was infatuated enough to hug the belief that he had already rendered himself agreeable to Eglantine—that she esteemed him—and that she would acon love him. And he moreover alread doted upon her: he would sooner have parted with title and wealth than have separated from her. He was jeqlous too—as jealous as he could be ——not because she had given him any reason for the sentiment, nor because he was deficient in conceit of his own merite—but because it is in the nature of all men to be thus jealous of young wivos, and still more of young mistresses. * My dear gir),” he presently said, after having contemplated her for two or three minautes,— “ugh! ugh! this dreadfal cough of mine!——= you seem pensive to-day? Tell me, my sweet girl—ugh! ugh! if it weren’t for this horrible cough I should feel quite young again !—But tell me, what it is that makes you look so pensive ?” “Pensive—am I pensive?” ejaculated Egian- tine, as if suddenly starting up from a reverie: “J am eure I did not think I was! And “Ugh! ugh!—and yet——ugh? ugh !|—this dreadful cough! But why, my dear, did you qualify your assuranceP Pray be candid with me —ugh! ugh! If there is anything you want—— ugh! ugh |———anything more I can do to ensure your happiness———” “ Your lordship has already done so much for me,” responded Eglantine, “as to leave not a single wish unfulfiled. Indeed, I had never formed any euch wishes at all—for I did not foresee what my fate was to be !”—and as Kglantine thus spoke in a tremulous voice, she suffered her eyelids te droop—her air became pensive again—and thon she hastily passed her kerchief across her brow, as if wiping away tears. “Come, come, my dear girl,” said the old noble- man, “ what--what—ugh ! ugh!—perdition take this cough of mine |~ugh! ugh!—what, what is it that makes you so melancholy ?” “To be candid with you, my lord,” answered Eglantine, suddenly looking up with an air of the most artless sincerity into the countenance of her aged protector, “I have been thinking what my uncle would say to me if he know what I had done -—or what he would do to my aunt if he learnt to what she hes brought me?” “ Your uncle--ugh! Your aunt—ugh ! ugh!” stammered and coughed Lord Wenham. “I never a er COMIC OOO© SS (CO)