The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 349: what you’re looking at

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

<2 al al ree ; 6 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 336 erence lager ¢ “Tt may be so: but one of course doos not know| Lady Saxondale bit her lip with a Voxation.whick everybody who frequenta places of public amuscy | she could not possibly control. She had endea- ment.” “Our conversation is likely to be a Jong one,” said Emily; “and as I am fatigued with travellife by railway and by post-chaisc, you will permit me to be seated :”—saying which, she deposited herself in a free and easy mannor upon a sofa, and un- fastened the ribbons of her bonnet to give herself air —for the eveuing was closo ard sultry. “ Now perhaps,” observed Lady Saxondale, like- wiso taking a seat, but with a cold, distant, formal air, as if to rebuke the familiarity which hor visi- tress seemed inclined to display,—“now perhaps, you will have the goodness to inform me for what purposo you have sought this interview.” “Docs your ladyship really mean me to un- derstand,” exclaimed Kmily, “that my name is unknown to you? Well, of thate no matter. I will apeedily cxplain who I am. .At“the, Kalian Opera [ am Mademoiselle D’Alembert—where I condoscend to dance, apparently for the diversion of such as your ladyship who lounge in the Doxes, but in reality becauso it euits my whim and gratifics my pride. But at my own house, Evergreen Villa— where I live in excellent style—my name is Miss Archer; and it is as Miss Archer that I now intro- duce mysulf to your ladgship. I may add that your son Lord Saxondale has recently been a very inti- mate friend of mine—watil las¢ night, when I picked a quarrel with him for the express purposesof caus- iny a lasting breach between ys. 4 certain Lord farold Staunton,” pursued Emily, with a significant and hall-malicious smile, “who I believe is wil known to your ladyshif, can explain thege particu- lars the next time you see him.” The danseuse delivered herself of this speech in a sort of half-flippant, half-familiar manner, which stirred the proud soul of Lady Saxondalo to its nothormost depths; and sho looked coldly stern and supremely haughty as she bent her gaze upon Miss ‘Archer, . “You have introduced yourself, it is true,” said ‘ther ladyship: “ but the object of ‘your visit is as yet ‘WeOnoxplained.” “ Tt is‘really difficulé for me to beliove that your ladyship has no suspicion of the object of my visit,” resurned Emily: “but if it be so, explanations are easily given. In short, your ladyship has only to reflect whether there be unytbing at all peculiar in respect to yourself and Lori Harold Staunton, in order to arrive at a complete idea of my purpose.” “ You are speaking in a manner which is almost sufficient to induco me to order you from my pre- gence.” | e “ No—your ladyship will do nothing of the kind,” was Emily Archer’s cool response. “I can read the human countefiange welf enough; and at this mo- ment while [ am addressing you, there is a certain trouble in your's—though I must confess that it would escape the notice of any one who was nota very close observer. Now, in plain*terms,” con- tinued Miss Araher, “I am confident that you do know that Lord Ifarold Staunton called upon me last night in London and made certain proposals‘ to me. He offered me monies which could not have possibly been his own, and which you must have therefore placed in his hands—or at least pro- { mised to furnish for a particular purpose.” * Sees. — .. eee PRP Mate cts CO SSNEQe ===: 3. enti PeSigenr <ikeetage voured to overawe the danseuse—to brow-beat her —to reduce her, in short, to that state of sub. mission in which it woujd be comparatively easy to dictate her own terms, instead of having terms dic- tated to herself. But in this aim she was frus- trated by the cool solf-possossion—we might almost say the impudent effrontery, of Mademviselle. D’Alembert: and therefore her ladyship perceived it to. be necessary to ‘vo upon quite another tack. “Will you, in a few words,” gho said, “tell me precWely what you demand? There need be no farther explanation between us in tho forin of pre- face or prelude. I om avell aware—indeed I do not attempt to deny, that there is some foolish and absurd scandal onisting against mo in certain quarters; and unfortunately my own sun has, in his natural thoughtlessness, piven encouragement t#R. It were easy for me to ridicule the scandal and scorn the scandalmongers; but the world is so wicked, that it is not always prudent to make light of alch matters; and therefore, if your stipu- lations be at all reasonable, I do®not know that I shall refuse to accede to them.” , ‘I require ten thousand pounds,” replied Emily Archer; “on which condition I will give upa certain dress that I have in my possession.” “Your torms are excecdingly high, Miss Archer,” responded Lady Saxondale; “although, as a matter of course, the sum yeu have named is but a trifling one to me." : “Oh! in that case,”*oxclaimed the danseuse, “I cannot consent to bate one farthing; and indced your ladyship ought to be very much obliged to me for not doubling the amount of my demand.” “Were you to hint at auch a thing,” rejoined her ladyship, “I would close the nogotiation atonce, But so far as ton thousand pounds o, I Will offer no objection You have. the ess with you, you say.” “It is in the postechaiso which has brought me hither from Lincoln. -My maid, who accom. panied me, has it mi charge.” ‘You must be well uware, Miss Archicr,”’ resumed Lady Saxondale, “that I have not so large a sum as ten thousand pounds in the castle at this moment.” “Your ladyship’s chequo upon your London banker will fully angwer the purpose,’ observed the danseuse. "hat I cannot give. My bankers would be surprised at my drawing go large a deaught in favour of a young lady engaged at tho Opera. It would -be immediately bolioved that I was encouraging my son in a certain course to which I will no Yarther allude. ‘T'o-morrow I can pro- cure the money in notes and gold from my banker at Gainsborough ; and therefore,” con- tinued her lddyship, “if you do not fnind Wuit- ing in ,, Lincolnshire untjl to-morrow even- se “Oh! I have ,not the slichtest objection,” ox- claimed Emily. ‘It wil) suit me well. I will return at once to Lincoln, Namo your own hour, Lady Saxondale, when I can meet you here to-morrow.” “You cannot be at all surprised if I adopt somo—s [ think, necesyary—precaution in re- spect to this second interview which mus f take p 9,” “Stipulate your own conditions; they shall be attended to.” CONNIE OOS 5 SS (CO)