The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

rt , ™ 118 rican ememnl ; ; you and youe siste# Kad been performing a gene- rous act of chavity towards that poor crea- ture——”" “Whose répid pithway to the grave was smoothed by K i tistin. added Christian, who experien " iilmitable admiration for the cha- “Atid WRtré ate you living now?’ inquired this gentleman, with his characteristic abruptneses. “ How ié your amiable sister? 1 have thought of you both eomistimes ; and indeod have been going to ask Mrs. Macaulay concerning you—but some- thin z wW alWajié oceurted to put it out of my Cait. “Fam grateful, sir,” answered Christian, “ to letrn that my sister and mysclf have enjoyed your consideration. Christina is living with Lady Octa- vian Meredith——” “ Ah, then you no longer dwell together—you and your sister?” exclaimed Mr. Redeliife, now sutveying the youth with an increasing interest. “No, sit; circumutances compelled us to éepa- rate. Wo have to earn our own living: but, thank heaven! my sister is comfortably ptovided for.” “ And you?” asked Redehffe. | “Iam for the ptesent private secretary fo the Duke of Merchmont,” responded Christida. “Ah!” ejaculated Mr. Redcliffe: aif then ho hastily observed, “But why do you speak ad if wore not? Is it because you feel your present position to bo a mere temporary ose P”’ “ Yoa, sir; for that and anothe? tedson——” Bat then Chriatian stopped short, sorry even that hé fad said so much. | “Yfon the Duke of Marchmont cause to be distatisfied with you? has be given you notice to leave hip P” “Ob, no, sir!” exclaimed Christian, spouking with a aort of ardour, in the conaciousness tbut he wins givitig cdrdplete satisfaction to his ducal em. ployer, dnd that the tenure of his offteo depended entitely upon himeelf. | ‘e Perhaps you are dissatisfied with your situa- tidn P*” aeid Mi. OO inguiringly: and Chris- tian perceived that his dark eyes were fixed keenly a ire re °— “Frankly speakftig, sir,” respontied the youth, “Tf 4m not well pleased with the post whigh I occupy; abd thutigh for a time I may keep it———.” | But herd again he dtopped suddenly short, as the ides dashed to him that possibly Mr. Redeliffe might be acduninted with the Duke—in which Koase it would be the height of imprudencé for hidi (Christian) fo onter into any explanations with regard to the point whereon he had begun to touch. “You néed not be afraid to epeak frankly and candidly to nie,” observed Reduliffe, whd qcined at of ‘ ‘te fathom tho motive of He Joiith’s hesifation, ¢} have not the slightest. acy alntahcs with the Dike of Marehmont ; and even if it were otherwise, I dituld not betray anything that you might in confidence reveal to rae, rerien r I experieiice j |u interest th yoo ; a you think fit tb eget me as a friend, you shail find me deserving of thé title, If I remeinter Aight t Dave ea ! that you and your sister aré twins, and thal y " are arp a length oti. iwtely, and’ alg in stdcod dkioente. 7 tan hahs: your own wits Just now gid ade to. THE MYSTERIES OF THB COURT. understand that you are both dependent on your- selves for your support. In this case you may nead the sdviee of t friend, even if at the momei you require no more substantial auccour: but both should be cheerfully given by mé.” . ; Christian expressed his gratitude for theae af- surances; and he e ced a profound pleasure at thus becoming the object of proffered friendship on the part of one whose character he already so much admired. . e “Think not, young gevtleman,” continued Me. Hodctiffe, “that I am inspired by agy impertinent curiosity in aeeking your confidence—— “Oh, no, sir! Not for a moment,” exclaimed Christian, “could I entertain an idea so injurious towards you {” | “ Listen,” proceeded Hedcliffe. « 4° youth of your age--thrown wpon his own réeourees, and abroad as if were in the wide world—must in. evitably on vatious occasions need suitable counsel and advice from older and more experienced leads. If I err not, you are at this present moment in some such position. Your sister is well provided }for —and I rejoice to bear it: but you yourself appear to be less satisfactorily situa na wotd, you are not happy at the Duke of March- mont’s: or else something bas occurred ———” “ Something Aas indeed occurred,” said Christian, in a mournful voice: and after a few instants your sister only was comfortably situated, atid yow | reflection, he added slowly and thoughtfully, “Yes -~—I do indeed require the counsel of some one who is enabled to give it. I feel that I am placed in a situation of considorable embarrassment — that I have a duty to perform towards an inno- cent lady whose destruction is resolved upon— but yet that in the performance of this duty I must play the hypocrite——” “All this, Christian Ashton, is most serious,” observed Mr. Redcliffe. “Let us walk to a more wecluded place where we can converse fogether, E see that you will give me your confidence; at again I assure you that you shall never repent it.” Mr. Redcliffe and the youth diverged away together from the neighbourhood of Park Lane where their encounter had taken plact; and they rambled slowly across the wide open field of the Park. During this walk Christian explained to Mr. Redoliffo ‘Low he had happened to fall asleep in the library on the preceding night—bow he bad overheard the conversation between the Duke of Narchmont and the Hon. Mr. Stanhope—how, aftor serious deliberation with himeelf, he had vesclved to diseemble hia looks in the presence of his Grace, and retain his situation in the hope of frustratin® the diubolical scheme which had been initiated against the Duchess—but how when once this object should have been achieted, he was de- termined to seek his livelikood eleewhare. Mr. Redcliffe listened in profound dilence.e He spoke not a singlé 6 Hable throughout Christian’s narrative: he vitked dlowly by the youth's side, with his eyes bent down ;—and when the tale was ended, upwards of @ miinute elapeed ero he bieatlied a word of comméat. ) “This is indeed moat serious,” nS which you have entertained in ay —_ @ Queene eee 9 eee ee oe tne eesanera frees eer aS SS SS a owe with, are all just and intelligent, cannot ECONnNIG OOOkKS.COnnr