The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 298: what you’re looking at

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

al THE WYSTSRIES OF THE CotRY., OcqQuienes deg eves! Eee = ete a pee 928 wy ee ee — — / found the ayeah acevssible to bribery on the very Sret vecasion when | dropped her a hint that a xreat nobleman had fallen in love with both hér- self and ber mistress: but she isa strange creature in her way—for she at once declared that her mistress should have the honour of your Grace's preference, and that she herself would be content to assist in the enterprise.” “Ts her mistress at all gay?” inquired March. mont: “has she been brought over tu thia country by some wealthy, nabob, who by dying or on saving her, has enriched her ?” “ Nothing of the sort, wy lord!” cried Madame Angviique: “she is a paragon of virtue and pro- pricty, This much the ayah assured me, —giving me tu understand that the astutest artifice and the most unscrupulous force must bo emploved for the variyuinhing of that stubborn virtuo of hers.” “Then methinks it is a sumewhat difficult task?” eid the Duke, helping himself to another glass of wine. “By no means, my lord!” rejoined Madame Angelique. “The train for the artifice is laid + it will be for you to use the violence. J have mnanaved admirably---and success 33 certain.” * But what in tho namo o! heaven,” cried the Duke, “is the lady doing in this country P Surely you must have learnt some particulars——” “he ayah is a woman of few worda—speaks only tu the point—and is by no means diapased to waste her breath in unnecessary commutmications. I could obtain nothing more from her,” contiuned Madame Angelique, “thau what was absolutely necessary for the carrying out of our aims. Listen, mv lord. I ero now informed your Grace that fortune favoured mo—and it was eo. Assisted by the avah, [ obtaincd admission to the lady; and the conversation tovk such a turn—no matter how —that IT came away with the thorough under- standing that she is to visit Oaklands for a tew days ” © What! have von made her beheve she ic to be the vuest of the Ducness and mysclt ?’ exclaimed Marchoont, evidently at a loss to comprehend the Invlimers proceeding. “Quite the contrary, my lord! The lady eup- poses that you aud the Duchess will not be there at ull—but that out of kindness sho is to bo per- mitted te make your country-seat her howe for a few days; and in her ingenuou-ness,”" added Madame Angehque, with a moching au, “ sue has been led to fancy that it is quite eustomary in q? 6 cee ee Laren verwendet 4) EE A ees ee eee |e «8 we 237 ee ow pele nr ethein twits tf ere Gere 4. ee ws you. kor hogy will the matter standP Hera isa lady, who has lived long enough in Knglaod apd spoaka the lanyuage woll enough ta comprehé | all its custoins, proceeding of her own acourd to your country-sené - leaving her servants behind her —disearding for the time being her own nabitual eostume—-baving Bugtist dresses made expressly for the purpose, -——why, who on earth would believe her tale if she were to proclaim that she had bees invoigled into vw snare? Shell not L be ready to stand forward to yive ny own version af tho manner in whieh the arrangement wus effected between herself and me ?-~shall [ not at oneo boldly affirms that 1 was a messenger of love from your Grace tu her~—and that sho accepted Che overiura ond wont to tho appuintinent? Make her understand all thia, my lord -and rest assured that sho will rathor seek to vetl her shame as closely as possible, than to expose it usclessly.” * Yos—the plot ia admirable!” exclaimed the Duke; “and you are the most accomplished of useful women, But when is the afPue to come off PY “I will write to the lady to-morrow,” Madamo Angelique; “and T havo no doubt that on the day atter she will repair to Oaklands. It is for your Graco to deapatch a mossenger with suitable instructions, so that she may be reecived by the servants in the light of an honoured gucst at whose disposal the ontire estabhsiment is to be placed so lony as it nay suit ber to sojuurn there.” “Twill seal off tha necessary instructions the very first thing in the aporning,” responded the Duke. © And vow, to discoursé upon another sub- jeet—what about Lettico Radney 7” AN. the unirratefal wretel!’ emed Madame Angeligne, with an indignation that -culd not possibly have been greater af it were bid on the most honest grounds: “to serve mo in such a way after all £ had done for her !” “Well, but what has become of her?” inquired the Duke. “That is exactly what [should like to ascertain —but bbe has been spirited away, no one knows where. They say sho is peottent. fenitonee in- deed P= 0 ed with as mueh disgpust as if il were a heayous cine the bare idea of which ¢has exeited her, Madame Angelique screwed up her cofin- tenance Suto a atrange contort. “Well, reheve your feehoys with a glass of wine,’ saul the Duke. ‘Madame Angelique followed his Gracu’s counsel ; this country for a nubleman thus to place big man.) And went oa to exclu, “Who would havo be- fiom ut the disposal of a foreurner of Cietane tion, no matter whether inalo or female.” Well, but what plan do you suggest?” asked the Duke; “for T cannof for the lite of ine ” Listenpmy lord! The lady will go alone to Onklands: of that I am confident; -u:.d what ie more, she has provided herseif with a quantity of European dresses so that she may not have an extraordinary appearance. Of course her Graco the Duchess will remain ignorant that the Jady is af Oaklands: but what is to prevent your lordship from finding your way there late some evening, and entering stealthilv?P You find the bird in your own cage-—and what is more, she has flown voluntarily thither. She must succumb; and then 1 will be fur your Grace to convine> her of the impossibility of her invoking tho law to punish [age ae eatin Ghiitpeepeewereetes leved 16?) Mout poople, when their girls pet into trouble, leave tera to pet eus again as best they may. fiut here was I—with a sense of humanity whieh no doubt was carried to an extreme,-~hero was J, wy lord, rnshing off to Liverpool to ser tho wreteh, and to offer to find her lawyers, and coun- gel, and all that sort of thing—on condition that abe kept my name out of the question: but the pnison-door was banged in my face--and I was voll that Lettice Rudneay did not want to see me, oat wank to see mol ome, her very best friend! ---nnd now I hate her so that IT eould scratch her cves out if she caine across mo?’ “But have you no idga,” imqured Marcbmorit, “who wha at the bottun of all those proceedings on her bebalfP The newspapers spoke of ime Aucntial frienda——’? COMM responded . ©, eee papas. | a oe ee EE, es EE TS sf wee a of ee 6 Ene ee ee NOG SS CO