The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

= —_——- 3 owe ee: ee eee eee » @ IE Sqn ee 6 eee 2 ee - a= a 8 ae A ee — —_ eS re en ED | “eg@e= ene ee ee eee eee oe: Ge 2 Ae — es ee. wee OB eee ees De ee.. 2 A THE MYSTERIES OF THE GOURTI. ee See wwe eee Ce 185 ey: ats: Se Ga es GS ES eee 260 af Oe Ces pee ee 1 at once intorrupted her withethe assurance that I entcrtained no such mcan and inercenary idea; and I then very frankly procecded to inform hor that I was cMhmoured of a young lady with whose love I was blessed in return—that I had not dared reveal to her the cireumstange of my woddo® conditifn— bus that if if wero possible to procure and destroy the evidenecs of that marriage, tho boon conferred upon yne would be immense. Hor8upon my wife at once promised Yo rolicve my mind in this respect. She told me that sho yas in possession of tlfe marringe certificate, togethor with cortain docu, ments testifying to the authenticity of that certifi- cate, and signedby those who witnessed the bridal. All these papers she frankly offered to place in my hands, so that I might do with them as I chose. | You “may conceive, Constance, with what joy and gratitude I acceptea® this offer. She accordingly Tho Marquis strained hor to his breast—covered her lips and hor cheeks with kisses—lavished upon her tho tenderest epithets-rand breathed the rhost solemn protestations, and pledges in her ears. to be mine so soon as I shall havo obtained the means of guaranteeing an adcquate maintenance ? At the beginning of this conversation, I informed you that a change in the Fronch Ministry had piven power to an individual who has influcnce enourh to compol the King to do me justice, though so tar- dily ; and in a shoft time I may expect a diplomatic situation. Then——” | , | “ Yes—then,” murmured Constance, “I will be- come thine !” Again wero there caresfings, and etnbracings, and the breathing of tender vows; and the two lovers | experienced, if possible, a greater amount of happi- made an appointmont for me té receive the papers; | ness, cr at all events of satisfaction and content, in and sho promised that thoy should be fuitefully | consequence of the cxplanations which had taken remitted to me-on ene day, at tho hour, and af tho | place on this mennorable occasion. ye named. We then partod, as mere acquaint-| ‘Now, dearcst Constance,” said the Marquis, iMecs, in tho samo way that we had just met, yur | “you shall play ino ono of those beautiful airs which intétview having lastc® but fora fow minutes, | carry such in@fablo bliss in unto my heart when the and the whole conversation being confined to the } music is made by your fair fingers. You have your topics which I have mentioned. Weglid not even shake hands, nor mako any inquiry into each other’s circurnstanees, beyond tho one question which my beseech this favour in vain?” | Constance took up the instrumant and began to wifo pug to mo whether I was in want of moncy. *f"| run her fingérs*ovor the strings, while the Marquis, have now nothing inore to eny, unless it be to add | rising from the seat, leant against tho pedestal of a that the appointinent was faithfully kept by an: hugo vase that stood close by, 60 that Ia tender emissary from any wife, and the papers were all’ gaze might embgace tho entire form of that ravish- placed in my hand. T have them at iny restdeneo—- ; ing creature whom he lo¥%ed so fondly and who loved [ have not. destroyed them—and were it not for my | him so devotedly in retura. Tat searcely had the oath’s sake, I would show them to you, dear Con- | binuteous Constance hegun to strike the strings of cance, But I dare not reveal the names waick | ver guitar, when Juliana, who in the meanwhile had appeur in the taarriage-certificalo ang the other ' gone through the ceremony of the toilet and ex- ducuments. Now, save and except tho entry in the | changed her deahabillée for o dinner costume, came register af tho British Ambassador's chapel in Paris, : hurrying down the gravel-walk with tho intimation no evidence could possibly be produced -- unless i that Lady Saxondalo had returnod, and that she hai ‘And now, dearest,” ho said, “ you will not refuse guitar with you—and I am sure that I shall nwt | indeed by my own hand—to prove that I was ever ‘ wedded to another. Finally, I will ask you, Con- stance, whethcr under all these circumstances— especially the last—I should nut hao been almost iustified in representing myself as single and un- intimated her intention of taking halt-an-hour's ramble in the garden Lefgro dinner. The Marquis snatched a hasty embrace from his adorod ono; and hurriedly shaking hands with hier sistor, he mado good his retrvat by tho side-duor of wnarricd ?” the garden. ° Constance gave no immediate angwor: sho re- ficcted profoundly. What course was she to pursuo? — That she might in all safety become the wife of tho P Marquis of Villobolle without having hor right to OnAr sak EXE. ‘that name over disputed, seemed beyond the poassi- FLOBINA. bility of doubt :* but on the other hand, could sho ° . look upon herself as the legitimate and lawful wife Wy must now return to Lady Florina Staunton, ef this nobleman who had been wedded to another ? ' whom we loft at tho moment when searccly able to Again, on the favourable sida, Ib was scarcely} subduo a violent outburst of her anguish, she to be supposed that the English law would re-. sought the window-recess with the seeming pretext cocnizo #marriage such as that which tho Marquis! of beholding the dcpartyro of Tady Saxondale’s had been so inysteriously led into; inasmuch as i+ ' apleridid equipage, but in ronlity for the purpose of had uever been consummated, and appeared on the : jiiding bor tears. Lady Macdonald, not for un in- very face of it a mockery too scandulous to be re- | stunt suspocting that evory syllable Lady Saxoudale gurded in the light of a grave solamnity.. Andon | had attered was a dagger plunged deep dewn into this samo favourablo sido, tov, wis the young lady’s ; the heart of hor niece, began commenting in tho love for the French nobleman:.so that after a fow | bitterest manner upon the presumed insolence of minutes’ deliberation tho arguments on this side | William Deveril; and thus cach word spoken by the proved tho weightier; and extending her fair hand ' aunt produced a fresh pang in the bosum of tho ty the Marquis, sho exclaimed, “ No, Etionno, I! gentle Florina, Still however did the unhappy cannog separate from you! I cannot resion this : young lady remain in the rvom: for she was a!raid dream of bliss! I Jove you -and in ¢ho world’s: that by a too precipitate retreat sho would axcite despite will I love you on uulg tho end” | dauly Mucdonald’s suspicion. Lt was an excrus oe Ss ee oe wes ee coat we ——aP = Lg © om OP Qe, Ss ee ee womemems 2S eee ke ow om... bh me = oe eh = 2 ee ele ) Ez 3 + ANICLOOO© ior SS (CO)