The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

75 a ee ee ET SO = Co wy ae sesame ineneeninisi i Siasa ta iaacaaaaaaaaacasaaaaasmamamsaaeasa tates meeeemeniene eran eae eee raninn aemememendl 2 4 by un wresistible attraction were they brougiit to- wether again and again; and cach successive day ~eld them more and more in each other's society. his wae at least sume happiness for them: it was another dream in whieh they were to a certain extent eradied,—but a dream to the waking up from whieh they neither dared to look forward. At length however they were startled from this dream, a8 rudely as a loud clanging bell smites upon the ear ofa sleeper ; and they were startled up, too, unto a sense of anguish as acute as that which the doomed one feels when wakened by the stmk- ing of the clock which tells him that in another hour he is to die. One morning, when the letters and newspapers | by the Duke | were placed upon the breaktast-table, THE MYSTFRIES OF THE COURT. with any postmark upon it; and therefore it had not come frow any-distance. The writing of the address was unknown to the Duke: but it occurred to him that it was written in a feigned hand. The writing all sloped backward instead of forward, just as if penned by the left hand instead of with the right: in short, i¢ bore every indication of & studied attempt to disguise what it naturally would have been. e The Duke opened it: but soarceiy bad he read the first two or three lines, when the note dropped frown his hand, He grew pale as death: sickness at the heart first seized upon him —then an almost maddening ruge; and he was rushing to the door, when he abruptly stopped short. He grew calm all in an instant: but it'whe a terrible of Marchmont’s side, there was one document: calinness—a calmness full of deep portentous atnonget the missives, which the experienced eye menace. He picked up the note, and read it of Bertram at once recognised as a despatch from |; through. Its cuntents were not long: but they the Foreign Office ; and the quick glance which he | were significant — fearfully, terribly significant. threw upon the Duchess, made ber likewise aware that something might now be expeeted-—something that should decree the doom of separation. The Duke took up the packet—oponed it—read it — and then, extending his hand to Bertram, said with 4 amiling countenance, “ Permit me, my dear nephew, to be the first to congratulate you on your appointment as Minister the Court of Florence.” “And I, my dear brother,” exclaimed Lord Clandon, with every demonstration of pride and joy, “likewise congratulate you on this distin. gnished promotion.” Eliza proffered congratulations ulao: but tt was with an almost preteriuman effort that she kept duwn the flood of feelings which surged up inte her very throat. Mrs. Bailey and the other gudsts followed. in the congratulatory strain: but the Duchess pétcvived that it was with a forced urbanity and » difficultly ?eproseed pelutance of impatience, that Bertram responded ia & suitable and becoming manner. “You pereeive, ny dear nephew.” fetdnted the Duke, “that sodr nvinination to the Musean fm- bossy ia accompaniéd by the strictest inwneticns that you eet off for Itnly With>the Jeast possible doluay. Much as 1 shall be grivted to part with you, I dare nat suffer my own selfish feelings to therefore, Bertram, you must bid us farewell.? '“ Yee—to-morrow !” said the young inan, in a voice the strangeness af which was only colnpre- hended by Hiiza- unless indeed it were also under- atood by Lord Clandon, who knew the their love: for Mre. Batley was at the too busy in the discussion of pie to take notice of anything else. After breakfast Elizo and Béitram walked forth together in the garden: Mrs. Baitey and the uther guests atcompanied Lord Clandon on a visit to the grapery: tho Duke of Marechmont retired to the fibrary, to acdress pe fetter to the Foreign Seerétary thanking that Minister fur the pronipt attettiots-paid to his request on Bertram’s behalf. But df’ marching the hbrary, the Duke perceived @ note Iytey on the wriling-table, ad- dreumed to himedif. We wondered that it aboulu have been jeft thor¥, yietéad of being brovight ip into him, as was the -enttom with all correspond. ence, the instant of Sty divival. It wae not & ietes monent | This much might’ have been judge’, were an observer present, by the growing corrugation of the Duke’s brow,—the contraction of hia forehead into lines ao deep, so strongly marked that it appeared as if they never could leave that fore- read in ite wonted smoothness again. “Wo,” he muttered between hie teeth, “it can- ndt be! It isa foul base ealuidiny. Av anony- mous writer !—what faith is to be put in bin? Axd yet—and yet ——-fiernal God! if it be ‘so, I aia the inet miserable of men. Aye, but my ven- geéance ahall be terrible !” Then He padéed tu and fro in violent agitation, — nilil suddenly stepping short again, he looked at the letter onee more. Dark and ominous was the Shade which came over his countenance: his e.es shone wilh a sinister fre—his lips, aeliy white, quivered as if with the palsy. “Wo, nol” he ejaculated at length, and as if in answer to some thought or plan which had almost settied itsatf In his mind; “not without better proot’ than thief" ite aowly foldéd ap the note—consigned it to walstcoat-pocket—and issucd from the mansion | * a private staircase and a sile-dour. He de- scended into the grounds, ~ plunging at once in the midst of the must thickly wooded avenues. Ina 3 few minutes he beheld bis wife and Bertram walk. stand in the way of your public duties. To-morrow | ing ata little distance. She was not leaning upon his arm: there was nothing in their demexnuur to confirm the syspicion and justify the jealous rage Which that anonymous letter had excited in the the avenue: he concealed huaself bebihd a group of evergreens, too thick for himself either to see or a piece of Perigord , to be seen. But it wad to their discuurse, as they passed the spot, that he meant to lieten. In a few minutes théy drew near; and quite unconsciuns who was hidden by those bushes, they did pass, “T shall leave immediately after broukfast to- morrow morning,” Bertram was saying. “I must firat repait to London, to pay wy respects to the Sceretary for Foreign Affure; and thon without loss of time must 1 proceed to Florenbe. Jr iz most kind of my uncle to bave interested himself in procuring me this appointment.” “ Most kind!’ observed Eliaa.. Then there was a pause in the discourse; ao thar asfiby passed on, the Duke heard no more F the convergation when i was resumed. Bus rf @ ELOOO© | Duke's soul. Presently they turned at the end of |’ secret uf. SS