The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

aa a GS THR MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. not to be deceived by an assurance which was belied her deliverer’s look and manner: “sou only tell me this fo get my mind mt ense. Oh, I understand!” she exclaimed, a light sud. denly breaking in upon her goul: “you will be forced to obey those false and unnatural lawa which society denominates the code of honour! But it shall not be so,” she added, abruptly re- gaining a degree of firmness, and her countenance expressing Snabromptly- taken resolution. “ You have acted genéfeusly towards me: I will perform my duty towards you.” - “What do you mean?” cried Meredith, in astonishment. “Will you let me know, six,” inquired the oung girl,“timidly and bashfully, “the name of fire to whom I am under such deep obligations P” Octavian now understood her in a moment. She purposed to give the proper authorities notice that a duel was to take place; and she hoped that by adopting thie couree, she would prevent it without suffering his own honour to be compromised. But iz: the first place, Octavian was no coward-~—and indeed thought lightly of the prospest of the im- pending duel ; and in the second place he saw that if the authorities wore to interfere to prevent 16, the worst construction would be put on such a result by his antagonist, who would doubtless pro- claim to the world that Meredith himself had deli- bemtely prompted the young girl to give private intimation to the magistrate. So rapidly did all these thoughts flash through his mind, that there was no apparent interval of hesitation or refleetion eon his part, ere he replied to the query she had put, by saying in a collected off-hand manner, “ My name is Richard Percival !” “Then, Mr. Percival,” immediately added the young girl, “accept my gratitude for your generous conduct towards me.” With a graceful inclination of the bead, she was hastening away: but Octavian was almost imme- diately by her side, saying, “ Will you not auffer me to learn wha it is to whom I have been enabled to render the service which is deemed deserving of thanks 7” The young girl etopped short, and reflected gravely for a few moments. It was evident enough that she wag deliberating whether she should tell her neme: it was also evident that abe feared it would savour of ingratitude and actual rudeness to deviive ;—for she at length observed slowly, “ You have a right to ask this question, sir. My name :s Christina Ashton.” . “Then, Miss Ashton,” at once responded! Lord Octavian Meredith, “ you will permit me to escort you to your own residence, for fear lest you should again encounter any individual who’, ering the garb of a gentleman, possesses tho attributes of a ruffan, and fs unable to appreciata the mmnocence and the respectability which ought to be a suffi- cient shield against such treatment a9 you ¢re now experienced.” oe . “T should be sorry, Mr. Percival,’ answered the maidey, “to en'yross any more of your time, Pray suffer mo to continue my way alone.” “Mies Auhton, I Dave read your thoughte—I have fathomed your intentions!” exclaimed Me- redith. “You are going straight hence to 2 magis- trate-----Now, if I eoeiiae ithfully that I will udt engage in @ ducl——” | ie ¢ ame le “Alaa, sir!” said Christina, “you emtnot dis- of your own actions in this mattas, ‘< Bave read in hooks of that falee code of honoty whieh, belonging % a bygone barbarism, has baeeitile grafted upon our modorn civilization-—” “Miss Ashton, I entreat you not to takes step which you meditate !" interrupted Octéveid “Do you know that you would expoua me to as es | thing far woree than the hazard of losing my Ite. , & —you would expose me to that of losing honour? The world would call me coward ; bat te swear unto you that in spite of all the magisterial and police authority, I would vindicate my repu- tation and my character !”” N neh ny ¢ ¢ HRS GUase re PLE ad , . Lif ae Ay - bys ik eh omvrantin® “ Ah, is it so P” murmured Christina mournfullys | for she was amitten with the truth of what hes deliverer had just said. “You sce therefore, Octavian, “that if avtually challenged by that per- son, I must go out with him. Iwill no longer attempt to deceive you: for such is the real truth. Do not however be alarmed on my socount. If mortally wounded, I should in my last moments be rejoiced to think that I had rendered & ser'vite to an amiable young lady such ag you are." The tears started into Christina's eyes at the bare thought of a fellow-vreature’s existehnco—per- haps a most valuable one—buing jeopartise or lost on her account; and moreover, for a natu- rally sensitive disposition and for a foeling heart, there was something irresistibly touching in the tone and manner in which Octavian had last addressed her. She still lingered,-- forgetful in the agitation of her mind that the interview had already been too much profonged, considering that she was stunding there conversing with one who was almost a total stranger to her: for we should state that though she herself had on former ocva- sions been noticed by Meredith, she, had never observed him. Indecd, so far as she waa con. cerned, she did not recollect having evor seen him before the present occasion. “You percoive, therefore, Misa Ashton,” con- tinued Meredith, “that you really must suffer this matter to take its course; and that you would be doing x75 a positive injury by any direct inter- ference. At the*same time, I fully appreciate the enerosity of your motives; and 1 feel myself Found to offer that you shaljl be made acquainted with the result. IfI fall in the impending duol, some friend of mine shall wait upon you with the intelligence: but if I survive, I will do myself the pleasure of calling, to convince you personally of my safety.” ; Fad Christina Ashton been less inexperienced than she was in the ways of the world, she would have penctrated this somewhat insidious and per- haps not altogether handegme endeavour to draw from her lips an avowat of the place of her abode: but artless and guileless herself, she was unsure picious of underhand dealings on the part of others. The same motive which had prompted her to mention her name, now at once instigated her to mention her address: and having hastity done so, she again bowed and continued Ker ’ 7) WAY. ° CS Meredith had no longer the faintest shadow of an excuse for detaimng her—though he: would glad! y have gotte on lingering in conversation with a being whose beauty had made euch a deep im- NOG (C Miss Ashton,” reamed” : ty ir t ‘ “ty LY ‘ pera L : SS