The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

} Sgt ee 2 sete E reeset, en é CLS, i ee Oe ee Pea, Sar aE Ra, — — — Snel i ne nt THR MECVERIES OF THE COURT. he drank in the whole with his amazed sense of hearing. Thus did be terry there until the end and ever after the double’doora had elesed bebind the Duke acd Mr. Stanhope, it was a long time eve Christian ovold venture to draw a breath reely. ‘ Sod hnavens, whet a tale had he heard ! What a diabolical conspiracy had become tevenled to his knowledge!--in what « fearful light was the chabaster of lie employer suddenly presented to his cotiprefension! , But was it not watural that the youth should aty to himneeM, “It is Providence that placed me here on this occasion, to Icarn the deeply-plotted scheme of villany, and to be- come thé divine instrument in frustrating it !” His first impulse was now to rush to the ding- room—prosidim té the two conspirators that their horrible «nachinations bad come to his knowledge —rash forth in dlegust from the house—end on the morrow reveal everything to a magistrate, or to the relatives of the Duchess, if he could Snd owt who they wore. This, we say, was his first impale; and he was etartipg from his feat to obey it—when a thought struck him, and he sat down again. If he were to carry out such A plan, would # succeed? should be be beheved P woald not the Duke and Stanhope indignantly deny the imputation and denodnce it as the raving of 4 madman or the odiows calumny of a miserable impostor? And would not the world give its faith to the bold donial of those two men of high s¢ial position, rapher than to the unsupported testimony of an obscure individual ?—might not such conduct on Christian’s part be even at- tributed to a vindictive feeling towards the man who had recently inealted his sister? All these considerations induced Christian to pause. Then, what course should he pursue? His mind was far too unsotticd—his thoaghts were too muoh excited, to allow him to come to any conclusion on the present occasion. He aecordingly stole forth from the hbrary-- groped his way along a passage to the back staitcase—and succecded in reaching his chamber without disturbing any ome. We should here observe that when the house- hold had retired to rest, Mr. and Mrs. Calvert fancied that the young secretary had already sought bie own room,—little dreaming that le had fallen asleep in the library and wae continuing to slumber there while lamp and fre went out. @ Hom ey Ey CHAPTER XXII, AN ADVISER. e Cugistiaw awoke after a few houre’ of troubled repore ; sande it was still dusk on that cold wintry moming. He did not therefore immediately get up—bat began to arrange all bis confused ideas, ao de to ookvince himself that what was upper- most ig bie thoughts was not merely the recollec- tion of 4 dream. His convietjone told him that it wen imdeod all tuo true; and he perceived the ueedesity of deciding on thé course which he should Bee the varions reasote which bad occurred to nit on the preceding night, and which we have tis detailed wt the close of the last luiptelly fet ™ j be knew. Yet how could he romain in ployment of & man whom he had thas ¢ be to be the most blaek-hearted of villains? Ona : : other hand, if he wore to withdraw from the bulesey how coald he serve the Duchess and fruiteate ie satanic plot which was in ombryo for hor désteabe tion? No—he must remain beneath that rut: for onos more did the thought revert te his sited that heaven iteélf had willed him to beeome iti own instrument for the salvation of an imosent lady and the confusion of her foes, Stowld he spesk to the Duchess upon the subjactP No: nok for a single moment could he hope or expect that she would betieve him. If she had known hin for years, it would be different: but he wie a utter stranger to her—-ho had only been i the house a fow houre—she had soon him Dut for a fow moments—and if would bo tho height of mad- hess to expect that she would give credit to 4 tale eo horribly damonatory to her husband’s character. He roust remain quiet for the present—he must wateb the progress of events-—and he must dot ad- cordingly. But how could he assume a placid and ful demeanour jn the presence of the Duke? how could he imaintain a becoming deportmont before one whom he now knew to be a detestable mis ereaut ? abominated dissimulation: he was high-ti and well principled : his soul waé imbued with the loftiest notions of honour and integrity: be was aa truthfal for one of his ows sex, as his sitler was for s being of the feminine race. And yet if Ohristian remained at March mont House, he wust dissimulate—he mast to & certain extent play the hypocrite—~he must trent the Duke of Marchmont as if he koaw newght te his detriment--he must wear a contested, Wf not 8 smiling and cheerful countenance: in a word, he muat play a part which he despised, loathed, aud abborred. lt wae difficult indeed for Christian Ashton to bend himself to this necessity: and yee for the sake of the Duchess he resolved ta do so, Tle felt that any sacrifice of feeling must be made on his own part in order to save au innocent jad from the atrncious machinations which had b devised for Lb r destruction, At about ten o'clock he attended the Duke m the hbraey; and his Grace bade him git down & answer tho letters which bad come by that morte ing’s pust. ipagters from the bailiffs of the Duke's provineciat éetates—from tenants soliciting renewals of leaess, or requesting forbearance in respect te arrears of rent—from country-gentlemep earnestly begging the Duke’s interest to procure Government situa tious for their sons or other relativése—and se forth. On the backe of the greater portion of these documents, the Duke noted the replies whieh were to be transmitted» and Christian procooded to executo his work to the béit of hig abniity. As ¢ach responsive letter was finished, he handed it dgross the table tu the Duke of Marchmunt,—who was evidently well satisfied with the manner in wheb his young storetary acquitted bimself of bls duties. Thus nearly two hours were passed sy amd it was about noon when « footman entered éyid prevented to his Grace 4 card upon a massive dnd exquisitely wrought silver dalver. -—e 1 ow «tn a-ha re dep i, ows a rag lege ECOMRRICLO© These wero cliciy on business. - | Oates Pn oad SS CO