The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 327: what you’re looking at

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

y ae i i eel a a eee ane Of eee e279 7- Gee ee Al4 at length within a few days of the — of the Opera, Mr. Gunthorpo arrived in London. By in- quiry of the munager ho found out where we wero residing; for in the general interdiction against Angela’ s address being given at the theatre to ang- buly, & special execption was made in favour of our old friond. You know with what sueceas my sister made her debué in London, and ow she has achicved a succession of triumphs. Once more rb- ferring to that unfortunato affair of the.duel, I must. observe that Mr. Gunthorpe discovered it was to take place, and came upon the ground to prevent it. You can have no difficulty, in conjecturing, my dear Florina, from whom he obtained the information. 1 was compelled on thas morning to suffer the kind old gentleman to undergo some indignity on. the ‘part of tho seconds in the duel: they bound him to . gute in order to prevent hisinterference. But had I ncted in his defence, I should hyyg incyrred the | | risk of being proclaimed a coward, asd my inter- vention on bis part would have been asetihed to a THE MYSTERIES a GS 22 CG Sees Og 2 . desire on my own to espape the duel. During the} ..@ weck that } lay so dangerously ill in consaquence af my wound, Angela did nat appear at the Opera, the apology being @ severo indisposition, And now, Florina, T haya told you everything that regards myscll: I haye not concealed from you my humble pure ntusre——” “And if possible,” murmured the besuteous creature, “} love you all the more for your cane ¥ dour. But those ‘mysterious words whish yo futher uttcerod upon his death-hed, soem to ring: in my ears as if I myself bad heard then? =. And L also think of them often,’ peepor! Deveril. “It would stem as if 9 person ‘of name of Thompson, the manager 4 rstong | troup—most probably that to "od. with arente id the time belonged—is acquainted mf pa to which my father alluded in his lant pth You may be surg that immediately op my stpiva) in England E instituted inquiries amongst persong ace: uninted with dramatic affairs, to ascertain if this | Thompson could be heard of. I alsv inserted some advertisements in the newspapers, requesting bim tu c&nmunicato his address; and, if needful, he should be liberail) rewarded. But the stcps I thus touk all proved vain; and therefore am I foarful that iny {uther’s secret has died with him.” _ At this moment the clock over. the entrance-tower of Saxondale Castle proclaimed one; and the lovers were thus made aware thatthey hod been full two hours together. Almost immediately afterwards the bell rane fur iuncheou; and. Florina, starting from the seat, exclaimed, “ We must separate now, dear William! for it I do not answer that summons, o domestic will be sent to inform’ me that lunchton is served up.” ‘¢ Tow long, think you, dearcst Florina, that you will stay at‘ Saxondale Castlo?”’ asked Deveril. . “Tho invitation was- for somo weeks,” she re- ' aponded: “but if I must dissimulate my aversion and horror of Lady Saxondale, it will be impossible to play the hypecrite so long. I could not do such Violence to my feelings-—— “ Perhaps circumstances may transpire to abridge your visit,” said Deveril. Gunthorpe should advise, aftor all that has passed between you and me to-day, that everything which we have learnt concerning Lady neue should ; Wresex p if | not be ¢ inspira bab ‘“ For instance, if Mr. ' OF THE COURT. bo made known to your aunt—efor remember Mr. Gunthorpe is, as he informed me, the intimate friend of “your uncle the Marquis of Eagledean, : and he may therefore feel himself justified in inter- fering to save you and Lady Macdonald from the contamination of Lady Sdxopdale’s society —~” “Tn that case,” ejaculated Florina, “my aunt would flee away in a moment. Sho is a good woman, though worldly-mipded, but upright.and | conscientious.” eo” ‘We phall sco witat will happen,” said Deveril, fognwhile you must, dear Florina, dissomble youre faplings towardg fgdy Saxondale, whatsoever amount of violence you may do yourself. - - And now farewell. for the present, my well-beloved! To- morro J must roturn to fipndon.” 6 moe brew dearest Willigm—tfarewoll.” Papi embraoed tenderly and affectionately, een daperatdd “ee «4 ©. | OHAPTER LXV. | SR qoorpent AND THR RESCUE. BREIL scalod the low fence, traversed g park, avy making a small circuit, regained ne sfver’s b ani, wh ph not only led towards (rains- 9 ve hut key; constituted the most agreeablo ks o he oe fi ‘pyoided the dusty highway. fol in order to avoid exciting renin "byt rte re nco of @ vehicle waiting in Hig! hhourh ae thus he had a good walk of some few miles bel him: Hoe was still rather nfoe led from the effocts of the duel to take Hs ‘exorciggs hug whet fatigues would he not have in 2 gbtain an interview with Floring {- = and st weeriness was there that could rid for dy, the delicious reflections y all that had just tdiken placo! | Jndeod, our young hero filt as if he woro alto- re ir $ now being. Never had his heart felt sv ight—-never had his spirits seomed so buoyant. A new strength appeared to invigorate him: he felt as if ontering entirely upon another phase of exist- ence. - As ho was proceeding along the bank of the river enjoying tho luxury of his reflections, he observod a strange-looking woyan approaching from the con- trary direction. She was dressed in a sordid slovenly ot wrotohedly, clad: a dirty whito appeared bencath an old straw bornet; and though it was.the middle of summer, she wore 4 dingy-coloured cloak. all tattered round the lower A® she drow nearer still, Devoyil could not observing that: her-foatures were singularly harsh, coarse, and repulsive; and she had altogether a look of a sinister character. “T suppose,” she said in a grating voice, “that building I seo yonder if Saxondale Castle ?” “It ia,” replidi Deveril. “Thank you f@ the information,” said the woman: and passing by, she continyed her way in the direction af the baronial structure. Deyeril, ag ho walked on, could not help wonder- ing wh&t that woman wanted af the Castle, and he concluded that sho was one of those persons Who go about the country seeking the charity of wealthy indiyiduals. Bu “— these thoughts were still a a a TE aE EI TIE TIE a IT Sc I TE TT OE TGC TT TEE TT IS ST LE eR aT a a Ta a I a EO NOG SS Py) (CO)