The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 177: what you’re looking at

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164 quietly suffer an amiable and virtuous lady to become the victim of the most nefarious con- spiracy.” Having thus spoken, Mr. Redcliffe unlocked the box; and when he raisod the lid, the contents were found to consist of beautiful female dresses. “ After all,” said Christian, “this box seems to furnish no such clue, sir, as you doubtless ex- pected to discover.” But ecarcely were these words spoken, when one of the servants of the house made her appear- ance; and Mr. Redcliffe at once closed the lid of the box, before she had an opportunity of catch- ing a glimpse of its contents. “If you please, sir,” she said, “a young lady is inquiring for you. She gives the name of Miss Eveleen O’Brien.” “Let her be shown up,” responded Mr. Red- cliffe, in that curt manner with which he was frequently accustomed to issue his orders: then, the moment the door was closed behind the ser- vant, he said to Christian, “The arrival of this young person is most opportune. I did not ex- pect her until to-morrow: but she doubtless brings us some important intelligence.” The door again opened; and Eveleen made her appearance. She stopped short on finding that Mr. Redcliffe was not alone: but he hastened to take her hand, saying in a hurried whisper, “ Fear not !—this youth is in my confidence. You have fulfilled your promise—you have left that den of infamy—and henceforth you shall find a friend in me.” . Eveleen murmured her gratitude; and Mr. Redcliffe, making her sit down, said to her, “ Now, Mies O’Brien, have the goodness to communicate whatecever you may have to impart.” “J have succeeded in discovering, sir,” re- sponded the young Irish girl, “that for the last six days the establishment has been busy in making up certain elegant dresses which are exact coun- of others previously made for the Duchess of Marchmont. As much secrecy has been ob- served as Madame Angelique could possibly main- tain in the matter: but as you may suppose, the affair has created no little surprise amongst the girls in the work. It is very certain that the Duchess of Marchmont herself did not order these counterparts ; because instructions have been issued to abstain from the slightest allusion thereto in her Grace's presence the next time her Grace visits the establishment.” “ And do you happen to have seen these dresses ?” inquired Mr. Redcliffe. “Oh, yes!” responded Eveleen: “for inasmuch as the hands were so busy, I volunteered to render Madame Angelique a little assistance; and it was by these means that I got amongst the workwomen | chair and discovered what I have told you.” “There is tho box, Mies O’Brion,” said Mr. Redcliffe: “have the kindness to examine its con. ten’ 99 Eveleen did as she was desired; and at once the dresses to be precisely the same as those which she had seen making up as the dupli- cates of the costumes originally fashioned to the order of the Duchess of Marchmont. Christian was bewildered by all that he thas heard ; but Mr. Redcliffe threw upon him a sig- nificant look, as much as to imply that Ae was not THE MYSTERIRS OF THE OCOUR®. altogether so much at a loss to fathom the mystery : —then again turning to Miss O’Brien, he said, “One of your companions—Lettice Rodney, I think her name is—has either left you, or is going to leave ?” gh one has already left, sir,” answered Eveleen : “she went away the first thing this morning. She did not say whither she was going—nor how long she should be absent.” “I know whither she is going,” responded Mr. Redcliffe. “Now, Christian, you mast take your departure; but before you go I have a few words to aay to you :”—then drawing the youth aside, he whisperingly went onto observe, “To-morrow morning you leave for Oaklands. I also shall repair into that neighbourhood in the course of to-morrow. At a distance of about two miles thence, on the Winchester road, there isa turn- pike. If you can possibly to meet me there on Saturday next, at three o'clock in the afternoon, I shall be giad to see you. But if not, then for each successive day, at the same hour, shall I be sauntering on the spot—uantil you make your appearance. Take care and use all possible ion: watch well the of the Duke—but beware how you excite suspicion.” Having given these instructions, Mr. Redcliffe directed Christian to cord up the box again; while he himself re-sealed the packet containing the key, impressing it with a blank stamp which be bad in his possession. Our young hero then took his departure, bearing the box with him to March- mont House in Belgrave Square. ‘When he was gone, Mr. Redcliffe bade Eveleen excuse him for a few minutes; and he descended to Mrs. Macaulay's parlour. It was now about half-past nine o’clock ; and the worthy woman was quietly and comfortably supping off the remainder of a pigeon-pie which had been served up at Mr. Redcliffe’s dinner-table. She was therefore for a moment discomfited when that gentleman, having knocked at her door, immediately entered before she had even time to say, “Come in.” Bat Mrs. Macaulay was by no means the woman to be long thrown off her guard: and rising from her seat, she put on her very best emiles— cast a glance at the mirror to assure herself that her cap with pink ribbons sat properly on her head—and “Well, Mr. Redcliffe, this ig an honour! It’s the firet time that you have entered my parlour since the day you took my 1 Bat pray sit down, sir. You sce I am just picking a little bit. The fact is, my dear sir, I had two pigeon-pies made—one for you, and one for myself———” “ And I wish ae eee appetite, my dear madam,” Mr. Redcliffe, as he took a Here were both joy and surprise for Mrs. Ma- caulay! He either believed her tale of the dupti- cate or else, with the kindest consideration, he affected to believe it: and whichever were the case, it was all the same to the worthy woman. And then, too, be had addressed her so familiarly ! “My dear madam!” It was the first time he had ever thus spoken to her—the first time he had ever used the word “dear” epithetically in respect to herself. A ion flashed to Mrs. Macaulay's mind. Could he mean matrimony? Hed the cap and pink ribbons which became her eo COMMIC DOO Col