The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 79: what you’re looking at

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xing through my brain at the instant that the door was opened; and springiog forth from the carriage, I instinctively gazed up at the house to see where it was that it had stopped. Taat rapid glance showed me that I had been put down at the door of my own home; but it was not so rapid as to be able to turn and take a deliberate survey of the carriage which had brought me thither. Foras I looked round, the barouche was already dashiog away—and in another moment it was lost to my view in the obscurity which still prevailed.” “ But you caught a glimpse of the colour of that carriage?” exclaimed Lord Montgomery, inquir- ingly; “and you noticed whether there were ar- morial bearings upou the panels f” “ So far from having made any such observations,” responded Florimel, “I should not have known the vehicle again, had I met it an hour afterwards. Nor would you have manifested a greater keenness of perception, had you been in my place: for when I was first thrust into the carriage at the gate of De- vonshire House, the proceeding was so rapid and my confusion was so great that I bad scarcely an in- stant to notice anything ;—and again, when I alighted from the vehicle at the door of my own home, it glided away into the mist of the morning, quick as the glance which I sent after it. But if I dared hazard an opinion upon the subject—and if the slightest reminiscence did really remain on the point --then I should say that from the rapid and imper- fect view which I had of the carriage when | was thrown as it were into it at the gate of Deyonshire House, that it was a plain one and of a dark colour. But this may be all conjecture, and most likely is, [ have now little more to say—and yet I will not omit a single detail, since you appear to be so in- terested in the narrative.” “ T am indeed interested,” exclaimed Lord Mont- gomery: “ for it is altogether one of the most exciting, thrilling, and piquant adventures that I ever heard. But you had reached that point where you alighted from the carriage and it disappeared with such ra- pidity. What happened next?” “ Nothing very remarkable,” returned Florimel, ; “I went up-stairs and sought my couch, where I slept soundly until the afternoon. I then rose, dressed myself, and descended to the breakfast- parlour, where I found my brother reading the newspaper. ' J hope you enjoyed yourself, Gabriel P be said, in a somewhat severe tone, as he eyed me suspiciously.—‘ Very much,’ I answered, wondering what was uppermost in his mind.—‘ But why did you send word that the carriage was not to return and feich yeu away 2 he demanded, fixing his looks keenly upon me—lI started in amazement; for [ had sent no such message at all. But the truth flashed to my mind in an instant; and I compre- hended that my fair unknown must have been the suthoress of that message countermandinz my brother's carriage in order that hers might take its place and perform its part, as indeed it had so effec- tually done.—* You Aave been in bad company, Ga- bru,’ continued my brother, observing the changing eolour of my cheeks and the emotion of my manner, and utterly mistaking the cause: nor did I choose to enlighten him upon the subject—but I allowed him to read me a long lecture on the impropriety of gtaying out until seven o'clock in the morning—and when he had concluded I hastened off to call at Devonshire House. For I will candidly confess —_ ame: ” ES a. a THE MYSTERIES. that an invincible feeling of curiosity had by this time sprung up within me, subduing the chivalrous resolves which | had previously made never to seek to penetrate the mystery of the night's adventure; —and under the plea of leaving my card at the ducal residence, I made certain inquiries of the gate-keeper and the hall-porter, who had superin- tended the marshalling of the carriages when the party broke up. Those inquiries I of course insti- tuted in @ very guarded manner; and I was even enabled, in consequence of my intimacy and rela- tionship with the Duchess, to question some of the footmen and pages belonging to the ducal establish- ment. No one, however, recollected the particular incident of a strange carriage taking me up ;—and, in fine, I could glean in that quarter nothing at all calculated to throw any light upon the subject. Fifteen months have elapsed since that period—and I am still as much in the dark as ever.” “Then your fair unknown never fulfilled her pro- mise of contriving another interview ?” exclaimed Lord Montgomery. “ Never,” replied Florimel. “ Again do I pronounce the adventure to be ona full of the most charming romance,” said the Earl; “and I am not surprised that it should have been se vividly recalled to your memory by the unmis- takable overtures conveyed to you this morning by means of the masquerade-ticket and the blue domina Depend upon it, Florimel, your mysterious uoknown has adopted this method to obtain another interview; and you cannot possibly forego the pleasure——” “ [ havealready besought you as a friend, Eugene,” said the young nobleman, in a serious tone, “not to tempt me from that allegiance which I am so anxious to maintain towards my beloved Pauline.” “Then you are determined not to accept the invi- tation to that masquerade?” exclaimed Lord Monte gomery. “Ina word, you will not go?” “ No—ten thousand times no,” answered Florimel, “'T have done so many foolish things in my life, that I may as well endeavour for onee to do a wise one; and I have broken so many solemn pledges, that I am resolved to adhere faithfully to at least one pro- mise at last. Do not, however, think that I cheer- fully resign the chance of meeting my fair unknown again—if from her this card and this domino do really come: on the contrary, it will cost me a pang —but I shall feel more satisfied with myself after- wards.” Thus speaking, Lord Fiorimel tore up the mas- querade-ticket and tossed the pieces into the fire ;— and he then rang the bell. Rao, the sable page, instantaneously glided into the room. “Take this domino, my boy,” said Florimel, “and burn it in the kitchen fire. Ihave particular reasons for wishing that this should be done immediately.” As Lord Florimel gave utterance to this singular command, Lord Montgomery started with evident uneasiness, and even stretched out his hand towards the domino as if in obedience to a sudden impulse prompting him to save it from the destruction to which it had just been doomed. At the same mo- ment the black page Jaid his own hand on the gar- ment; and Montgomery caught the rapid, piercing glance which Rao threw upon him. “Let the boy take the domino, Eugene,” said Florimel; “do not attempt to change my purpose, I implore you. When the domino is once destroyed ElOOO® SS