The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 350: what you’re looking at

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

‘HE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. Thera was something so frankly iagenuous in Ash- ton’s countenance—something eo nobly magnani. mous in the expression of his fine dark eyes—that it was no wonder if the stranger should be thus attracted towards him. Every moment during which the silence lasted, the bagriers of agremeny and cold formality appeared to be melting away } and at jength the stvanger said, “ You have spoken kindly, sirs you wil] perdon me for intimating that I have a secret longing to know mere of you.” — “I will frankly confess,” apewored Christian, | “ thet I bave felt an interest im your for though older than I by some three or foyr years, you are nevertheless too young to experigace the heavy: band of affliction without exciting sympathy.” Christian mentioned bis owm name; and with characteristic frankness wenk on to explain that he himeclf had known bis sorrows, together with a twin-sister whom he dearly loved—bat that after a temporary experience of the world’s bitteruces, fortune hed so far smiled on them both as to plave them in comparatively bappy positions. Guz here furthermore intimated that ke bad been private secretary to the Dake of Marohmont and to the Grand Duke pf Maxe-Stolburg-Quothe, as well as to the unfortunate Ker of Jascelles, whose murder was wrapped. up in such profound mystery ; and he concluded by giving Edgar Beverley a rapid outline of hig adventures with Mr, Sycamore. “Thank you, my new friend—for such you must permit me to call you—for your confidence,” eaid Beverley: then after a pause, he added, “I like- wise have a tale ta tell~and I am yearning to unfold it to your ears: but not in thig room where at any moment we may be intruded on by other guests at the hotel. We will have a private apart ment and dine together.” , Christian agreed: the bell was rung—the re- quirement was mentioned to the waiter, who at once led the way to a private sitting room. Din- ner was ordered; end Kdgar Beverley weat.oa conversing on general topics: it was evident that he reserved his own history until efter the vepast, when they wight sit together without being continuously interrupted by the entrance of the waiter. Christian found him to be a young man of cultivated intellect,—eble to discourse on an infinite variety of topies—the lighter oues with- out descending to frivolity, the more serious ones without merging inte levity or dogmatiem. Ke gathered however from his discourse that he was a lieutenant in the army—that his regiment was atationed at Brighton—but that he wag on leave of absence. The more our hero saw of him, the better be was pleased with his uvaffected urbanity, his mild gentlemanly manners, and the genordsity of. the sentaments he uttered on) those topics which were calculated to evolve the best traits of the disposition, But there was likewise a man- liness of epirit—a suitable pride and a becoming dignity, in Edgar Beverley’s character : eo that it was evident he wae a young man of the loftiass notions of honour and integrity. On the other hand, Christian Ashton himself proved equally agreeable to the lieutenant, and proportionately prugressed in his new friend’s favourable opinion. Dioner was gerved up: i¢ was somewhat hur- riedly diapoped of—for Lieutenant Beverley was 839 avidently es anxious to cammenoce bis narrative as Christian Ashton was to hear it. The dessert was placed on the table; aud when the waiter bad withdrawn for good, the serious topic of the evening wea entered upon. | CHAPTER LV. EDGAR PEVERLEY. “Ty what Tem about to relate,” began Edgar Beverley, “ you will pardon me if I do not par- | ticularise names; as yeu will see by the nature of Tle stranger at once grasped ovr hero's band,— | announcing his name to be Edgar Beverley. wy history that it involves certein delicate mat ters; and should the results turn out eontrary te my spprehendone—in 8 word, should the sad mis- givinge which haunt me prove uafounded, I should naturally regret having epeewily mentioned the names of individuals with disparagement. The reserve, therefore, which on this point 1 am abous to maintaia, must not be regarded asa want of confidence, but only as a proper and honourable precaution.” : “ Rest assured,” answored Christian, “that 7 shall take this preesution oa your part as another proof of these good qualities whieh [ have already learnt to admire in you.” ‘‘Thenking yoa, my new friend, for your favour, eble opinion,” seid Beverley, “I will at once enter upon my tale, But it is necesmry that I should commence with a few particulars relative to my parentage aud my family. My father was the younger brother of a man of weelth and tithe: he wea poor, being totally dependent on big commie- sion es a ciptein in the same service to which I pow belongs and he mortally offended all his relatives by wedding a young lady whoge beauty and qoeomplishmente aonstituted er only dower, Of that union I wae the sole ingue; and my mother died a few weeke after giving me birth, My father was long inesonsolable for her loss—vuatil af length he became sensible of his duty towards me, and reficeted that as ehe hed left behind her a pledge of her love, the infant ought now te engrose all hie oare. And he became the fondest of parents to ma. He obtained the rank of major afew yeare after my birth; and though his pey waa limited, yet he gontrived by the most rigid economy to give me a good education. On reach- ing the age of twelve, [ was cent to the Royal Military College at Sandhurst,—my father bidding me keep it in mind that he had neither money nog interest to ptoouze me a commission, and that I must therefore endeavour to obtain one by the uisite proficiency in my studies.. I applied my- self thereto with all possible estiduity ; and at the age of sixteen I obtained an ensigncy in the ——th regiment of the line. Fortune and misfor- tune came upon me at the same instant: for on the very day that I reed my name in the official gazette en an officer in the Queen's servica, my poor father was stricken with paralyeia, which in lees than a fortnight proved fatal.” Here Edger Beverley paused for upwards of an minute, during which he was visibly struggling agaimet hie emotions; and then he resumed bis narrative in the following manner :— . “T havo stated that my father, in contraquung @ (GO) an (C DOO Col