The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 337: what you’re looking at

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$24 THE MYSTEEIES OF THE COURT. to the propagation of Lady Saxondale’s calumny, I | us wasta time: for I really havé important thinge resolved that my sister should not form another en- | to talk to you about. In the first place, Emily, do gagement at the expiration of her present one. you remenfer all that affair I told you‘ of con- With the two thousand guineas which sho will have received by the time it is over, and with my ow” resources-——" “You thought you could livo very comfortably indeed ?” said Mr. Gunthorpe. seo. Perhaps I may bo inclined to add a your store: for of course you will not refuse to allow me to do exactly what I choose. I have not forgotten, William Deveril, that when I first knew you at Florence you declined the temuneration I | offered for conipleting Signor Vivaldi’s picture; cerning Lady Saxondale ?” “What! and the masquerade dress, and so forth?” exclaimed Emil Edmund and I often talk of it, and have a good “Well, we shall , laugh over it into the bargain. By the bye, Edmund little to | seems to love his mother amasingly—does he not ?”" “You of course nan the Very reverse. But tell my, Emily—have you repeated those circumstances to anybody else? Have you gossipped. concerning them gmongst your frionds and chmpanions at the Opera? Do speak frankly and truly: for 1 am and tu speak candidly, it was that circumstance | most anxious to know.” which first gave mo such a high opinion of you. Depend upon it, the money is bearing good interest for you, in my pocket. ” ‘‘ My dear Mr. Gunthorpe,” replied Dayeril, affected and astonished,—for his worthy frie jd nover spoken before with so much frankn the liberality of his ulterior intentions,—“ I do ua know———I am at a loss to conceive——how I have deserved so much goodness at your Hands.” But I hope you will not fancy that I ever entertained any sollish views when proffering you such little atten- tious as it was in my power to show ?” * Selfish views ?—ridioulous !” ejaculated tho old gentleman. “I am not bo blind to tho true cha- racters of men. But here wo are:’—and as he spuke, the carriage stopped in front, of Deveril’s picturesque little villa. You will come in and sup with yée” said our young hero. “ No—not to-night: ¢t is too late. Good bye, my dear boy—good bye :”—and Mr. Gunthorpe shook Deveril warmly by the band as the latter alighted from the vehicle. ‘To-morrow morning I sliall come to you early, to make our arrangements about leaving for Lincolnshire. Once more good night.” CHAPTER LXVIL.- IME DANCER AND THR TWO LORDS. Ar the samo time that the preceding ecene was taking place, the following one was occurring else- where.. The elegant drawing-room of, Evergreen Villa in the Seven Sisters’ Road was Kghted by the superb lustro suspended from tho ceiling; and the beautiful Emily Archer was seated upon tho sofa, with Lord Harold Staunton, by ber aide. He had only been announced a few minutes ; and as yet the conversa- tion had merely touched upon those ordinary fleet- ing topics which are too trivial to be recorded here. Harold had however leafiit that Lord Sexondale might be very shortly expected ; and therefore he was anxious to make the most of whatsoever interval temained for him to be alone with Emily. “Now, my dear girl,” he said, “ I wigh to speak to you very seriougly-—— “What! are you going to make mo an offer of marriage?” exclaimed Miss Archer, Jaughing so as to display her brilliant teeth. “ Perhaps I might do a worse thing than that,” replied Harold, in order to flatter her. “But as you say that Saxondale will soon return, do not let | | Fou allow ** No—I have not—upon my honour I have not,” replied Emily. “1 do not pretend to be of a very serious or prudent nature: but those were circum- stances which, coming to my knowledge in the way they gid, I kept to myself.” “You are sure of this P you are certain that you have no? inadvertently let drop a word to a soul ?” said Harold, with evident eagerness. “TI repeat—-and more solemnly gtill if you wish it—that I have not. Iam sure that I have not,” added the danseuse, gophatically. “ But tell mce— havo you made it up with Lady Saxondale ?—for | Edmund informed*me that you had gone suddenly off upon a visit to the Castle in Lincolnshire.” “Yes:—I have made it up with her—and all things considered, I should be sorry to do her an injury,” observed Staunton. | “Then I presume—— “Presume what you will, my dear girl,” inter- rupted Harold; “but do not waste time in unneces- sary remarks. Whoro is that Spanish dress? You have got it here—f wish you would give it to mo.” “Ahi” ejaculated Emily, as a sudden thought atruck her? and then she muttered to herself, “ ‘To be sure! @ have been fool, with a knowlodge. of such a secret as this—— “What are you saying to yourself P”? demanded Harold, some slight misgiving springing up ip his mind. “I was thinking,” ‘responded Miss Archer, “ that I would rather not part with the dress for the moment :”--and there was altogether a change in her manner and her looks, from a mixture of languor and levity, to # mien of seriousness blended with resolute decision. “Emilyy I do not understand you!” ejaculated Harold. “You cannot refuse to do me*such a trifling favour? Consider on what terms we have been—how friendly—how intimate——” “Yes: but I must look out for my own interests,” responded Miss Archer. “You have made it up with Lady Saxondale; and you have your own purpose to serve in screening her reputation. It never struck me until just now that by the pos- session of this secyet I may serve my own purposes “To be sure!” said the young nobleman. “I did not for‘ a moment think that you would give up the dress without some little consideration. Will to present you with five hundred | likewise.” guineas ?’t Ahl” again muttered Emily to herself: “the thing is indeed serious in their eyes—very serious, “To be sure, I do.: ECOMRniclacae SS (CO)