The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 133: what you’re looking at

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120 he won't drink at your house again—or if he does, it will only be what he sees you drink likewise—aye, and Ars also. However—an idea strikes me! Do you think he will want to go down into the back kitchen again ?” ‘# It is impossible for me to say,” replied the mil- liner. “But, doubtless—if you particularly wished —I could entice him thither—upon some pre- tence——” “Be it so—and Jeave all the rest to me!” ex- claimed Frederick. “He shall be made away with as assuredly as his name is Mobbs—and when he lies under the stone along with Peter Grumley, I will guarantee that not a trace of the deed shall be left behind. And now, my dear Mrs. Brace, with your leave I will take a glass of your excellent champagne, just ta put me into spirits to unfold the rest of my plans.” The milliner rose mechanically from her seat— opened a cupboard—brought forth the wine—drew the cork—and filled a glass for Frederick Dray, as he reclined in lolling indolence in the arm-chair. Yes—the mistress waited upon the domest?c ;—and the elegant, fashionable milliner of Pall Mall—the friend of the Prince of Wales and the depositress of many a noble lady’s secrets and many an aristocratic frailty —was now in servile attendance upon her own lacquey! ce “ You are as amiable and captivating in manners as you are agreeable in person,” said he, as he looked ainorously over the glass which he was raising to his lips. fe Mrs. Brace row awoke as it were from a dream: or rather, her mind shook off the numbness which had crept upon it while the footman was detailing with such cold-blooded calinness his designs relative to Mobbs. She then perceived the immense error she had committed in so far compromising her dig- nity as to obey the man’s commands relative to the wine, instead of. at once taking a proper stand and assuming a decided attitude to convince him that there were certain limi.s beyond which he must not pass in his bearing towards her, no matter how grave were the interests that linked them, But, by.at once succumbing to l:is arrogance, she had suffered him to gain a tremendous advantage over her; and it was now no easy task to regain the ground which she had lost. “ Have the kindness to proceed with whatever you may have to say to me, Frederick,” she observed at length: “ for should any one come in, tbe familiar manner which you have assumed towards me would | excite the strangest suspicions.” “ Familiar inanner, indeed I” echoed Dray, ia an i offended tone. “ Well—supon my word, that is 1 rather an assumption on your part. Am I not about to commit a crime and etdanger my safety in this world and my salvation in the next, entirely on your account? And do you think that I an- ticipate no reward? As a matter of course, Such a deed is worth its price; and that price must be paid to me.” “ What recompense is it that ya claim?” asked the milliner. “Your hand, my dear—your hand in honourable marriage,” replied Dray, sipping his champagne with a nonchalant ease and stretching out his legs with the air of a Home Secretary wher giving a refasal to a deputation imploring that the life of eome convict may be spared THE MYSTERIES. 6 “ Marriage!” echoed Brace, in mingled anger and amazement: but instantly recollecting herself, she said, “Surely you are not in earnest, Frederick? I thought you intended to marry Harriet.” | “ Harriet was all very weil a little while ago, my dear lady,” returned the man, with a supercilious air and an affected drawl: “but circumstances have transpired, you understand, to enabld.me to look to a more elevated position. You are a handsome woman—a very handsome woman; and I shall be proud of you asawife. I am not particularly ill- favoured ; and you need not be ashamed of me as a husband.” “Bat remember that I am older than Frederick —some years older,” said Mrs. Brace, making a feint to contest a point which she was prepared to yield eventually—but only because she was now more than ever determined to rid herself of this importunate accomplice so soon as an op- portunity should serve. “ Weill—you may be a little older, my dear,” ob- served Dray, growing more familiar alike in his man- ner and his language : “ but you are a splendid crea- ture—and I long to pillow my head on that superb bosom which now sinks and rises so gerttly. Ah! often when I have stood behind your chair at dinner or supper-time, and looked over your shoulders to catch a glimpse of that bosom, J have thought to myself how happy should I be if you would only take a fancy to me. Then, when I have looked into your fine eyes, and beheld your beautifal white teeth shining between your moist red lips, I have felt such strange sensations come over me that I have more than once resolved to steal to your chamber in the middle of the night and either persuade or force you to submit to my wishes. And now at last —at last,” continued Dray, his imagination heated with the wine which he was drinking and to which he was so utterly unaccustomed,—“at last I stand upon the threshold of that gratification which I have so often and so deeply coveted. Ah! my dearest creature, you are indeed worthy that I should commit a crime to serve you—even though that crime be murder: but, on the other hand, you will not say that Iam unworthy of an adequate reward ?* “ No—I will not prové ungratefal to you, Frede- rick,” answered Mrs. Brace, assuming a tender tone and fixing upon him an amorous look: though, not- withstanding the ardour of ber lascivious nature, and — despite of the fact that Dray was really a handsome young man, she experienced not the slightest incli- nation nor the faintest sensual impulse in his favour. “Then you will consent to become my wife, dear Fanny f” said the man ;—and, placing the glaes upoa the table, he rose from his seat—apuroacked the mil- liner—threw his arms about her neck—and fastened his lips greedily to her own. “You naughty fellow, be quiet,” said Mra Brace, gently repulsing him. “ Let us do all that we have agreed upon—and then we shall have leisure and opportunity to talk of Jove. Come — finish your champagne and retire: because I have several met- tera to attend to. And, by the bye, you will not say a word to Harriet at present——” . * No—it is not worth while,” remarked Frederick, “And yet the sooner [ put the poor. girl out of sua- pense, the better: for to tell you the real truth, she.is in a certain way——” ANICLOO© (C SS