The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 391: what you’re looking at

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

ee THE MYSTERIES OF THE OOURT. 380 Bat before Christian had time to give him an answer, the door opened; and the ‘riendly moun- vehank made his appearance. Edgar surveyed him with the intensest anxiety: but it only lasted for a few instants,—-inasmuch as the man drew forth a billet which ae presented to the lieute- nant. “Heaven be thanked!” ejacuiated Beverley : and recognizing the handwriting, he pressed the letter to his lips. “You had better withdraw now,” said Christian to the mountebank: “but come back presently in ease there be aught else wherein your services may be rendered available.” The juggler retired; and in the meanwhile Edgar Beverley had torn open the precious billet and was deeply absorbed in its contents. Chris- tian glanced at him for a moment, to assure him- self that all was right; and the Took which he thus flung, led to a satisfactory conclusion, inas- much as his friend’s countenance was radiant with joy. “Yes, my dear Ashton,” exclaimed Beverley, grasping our hero’s hand when the perusal of the lettor was finished; “ tho hopes you have held out will be realized. Here! read for yourself.” ‘‘'No,” responded Christian: “a communication of that kind is sacred.” “ But, my dear friend,” rejoined Edgar quickly, “J have no secrets from you! Bemdps, should | not be wanting in a proper contidence—would it mot be unkind—ungeuerous 7 “ Lovers,” interposed Christian, “ write to each other in that fond endearing strain which consti- tutes the sanctity as well as the charm of their correspondence. [ can assure you that I have a delicacy in reading the lotter: pray sit down and tell me all that it ie necessary for me to kuow for the furtherance of the plans in which 1 am eo heartily and so gladly succouring you.” “You shall have your own way,” answered Beverley. “But perhaps you will be surprised that I ain tous happy and joyous whor. 1 tell you that this very note,—which gives me the assurance of my Laura’s unwavering love, and of her readi- neas to be rescued by me from au odious captivity, _ -likowise acquaints me with the fact that I am najight but a poor lieutenent who henceforth must . look upon himself as having nothing but his - a 7% «y can of course understand,” said Christian, “that if you run away with Miss Hall—whom, by the bye, you denominated Neville in your his- tory I ‘“* Because her name is Laura Neville Hall,” re- mafked Edger. “J wae about to say,” resumed Christian,” “that J can well understand bow your uncle will at once stop your allowance: but he éannot alienate from you yayr rightful heritage if he should die without lawful male issue.” “‘Yos—but he Aas that power!” answered Beverley : “this note conveys to me the fact. Some old document, which a lawyer bas just disinterred from amidst dusty mouldering papers, establishes | the right of breaking off the entail. What care I for that? Laura will be mine—and if we be poor in one sense, we shall be rich in the wealth of, our heart’s love. Ob, yes, my dear Ashton! I am supremely happy—I am full of hopo and conii- rainnn dance—we will scatter all difficulties to the winds —and never, never will you have served a more greteful friend than I shall prove mysolt to you !” “JT know it,” answered Christian. “ And now tell] me, what course are we next to pur- sue P” “Tt ia ae we suspected,” resumed Beverley: “my villanous uncle seecks to make Laura his bride; and her vile sister alas! that I should be thus compelled to speak of my beloved’s nearest relative! is the chief agent in carrying out the hoped-for sacrifice of youth and innocence to old age and iniguity. But by some means Laura has succeeded in lulling them into security; and by a wrong interpretation of certain words she has uttered, they flatter themselves that she has given her consent. Not however that their vigi- lance is relaxed: on the contrary " “We will baffle them, however watchful they may be!” exclaimed Christian. “Pray pro- ceed.” ° “It appears that Laure sleeps in a chamber situated between two others,” continued*Beverley. “The first—which opens from the landing —1s occupied by her eter Mrs. Oxenden: then comes her own: and besond that 16 a dressing-room in which a bed has been made up for the accummo- dation of a horrible negress whose influence has been used to coerce and intimidate the poor girl.” “ But is there a wmdow to Miss Hall's apart- ment P” inquired Christian hastily: ‘I mean, in there a window looking upon the front or back of the house ?” “Tt looks upon tho front,” answered Beverley ; “and she has so accurately described it in her letter, that we cannot possibly mistake it. She moreover tella me that it will not be difficult for her to retire to her chamber at about half-past nine o'clock this evening: the negress will not seck the dressing-ruom until ten; and Mrs. Oxenden will not repair to her own chamber until half-an- hour later. Whatever, therefore, is to be done, wust be accomplished between half-past nine and ten o’elock.”’ “There are thirty good minutes.” exclaimed Christian; “and almost as many seconds would be sufficient for our purpose. We will enlist the ser- vices of the friendly mountebank—we will have a postchaise-and-four in waiting—and if success do not crown our enterprise, I shall never have been more mistaken in all my life.” Our hero and the lieutenant continued to deli- berate upon the details of their plan until tho friendly juggier returned to the hotel. Ho re- ceived his instructions, together with a liberal reward for the faithful execution of his mission of that day; and the man took his depar‘ure in- finitely delighted with the lucrative employment which he had thus temporarily found. In the same way that love at one time feeds itself with the wildest hopes, sv at anotber does it torture itself with a thousand anxicties. Yet, paradoxical though the phrases may seem, love’s. hopes are ever interwoven with mistrust, and ite approbensions are permeated with‘beams of hope-. ‘fulness. Love hopes on in the face of despair iteelf; and it sometimes despairs when it ought to hope. It is a passion whieh in its association i a Eby eines aS NOG @ SS