The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 273: what you’re looking at

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263 “Listen, Alexis—and I will give you a proof of my confidence. My busband is about to com- mence a process against the Duke of Marchmont: he will of course succecd—and then he will sue for a divorce from myself. In this also he will succeed ; and on the day of his success I become freed from matrimonial trammels. So far so good -—is it not?” “ Up to that point indeed,” replied Alexis, “ the project is admirable. Bat in respect to the Duke-——” “ Listen to me again,” proceeded Mrs. Oxenden. “The Duchess of Marchmont is a well-prihcipled lady; and think you not that she would be shocked if she learnt that her husband was maintaining 8 mistress in a most sumptuous manner P—thiok you not that she would remonstrate with him—and that when sho found that remonstrances failed, she would become indignant—she would feel her own position to be insupporteble—she would sue for a divoreeP And are there not means of goading her up to that point P are there not such things as anonymous letters, for instance P—and cannot you, my Alexis, become my assistant to a certain ex- tent in working out theee aims? It is for you to pen the letters which shall make the Duchess of Marchmont aware of her husband's proceedings. Let the very first convey to her the intelligence that he has expended thousands of pounds in pur- chasing diamonds for his mistress! Let epistie follow upon epistle ; and let each one be written in terms which shall wound the pride of the Duchess to an intolerable extent! I repeat, we will goad her to desperation, so that if she have only the ordinary feelings of a women, she will seek to separate herself from the man who treate her thus. Yes, Alexis, there must be a doable divorce; and then—Oh! then,” added Mrs. Oxenden, with a triumphant expression of countenance, “ trust to me to compel—yes, I use the word compel—the Duke of Marchmont to conduct me to the altar !” ‘These are grand schemes!” said Alexis; “and you know that I will enter into them. Only tell me how I am to act-———” “We will eo arrange the details of our proceed- ings,” said Mrs. Oxenden, “ that they shall be cer- tain to result in success. J am prepared for all their intricacies: I do not blind myself to the magnitude of the obstacles which I have to en- counter. Bat I possess the requisite energy! In- deed, Alexis, it is a stake worth playing for! And you whom I love so well,—you who have inspired me with & passion such as never before burnt in this heart of mine-——” “Ob, my adored friend!” exclaimed the youth, clasping the infamous woman in his arms: “how rejoiced shoald I be to hail you as Duchess of Marchmont!” We need not carry our report of this conversa- tion any further: but before concluding the chap- ter, we will make a few observations. As already atated, Alexis Oliver was only playing a subtle and treacherous part. He in reality experienced not the slightest attachment towards Mrs. Oxenden : it suited his purpose to become her pensioned paramour—and therefore to flatter her in every sense and to fall into her viows. On the other hand Mrs. Oxenden was completely infatuated with him; and the wonted strength of her cha- racter was positively absorbed in the weakness of THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. this pagsion. Biinded thereby, she was ready to give him her completest confidence: she fancied that he was sincere in all he said—that he loved her with the ardour that he professed—and that it was herself, and not her purse, that was the object CHAPTER CxXZXVI. THR LAWYER'S OFFICE. Tem seone shifts to a lawyer's office in Bedford Row, Holborn. The name of Mr. Coleman was upon the door-post; and that he was in a very floarishing way of business, might be judged from the fact that he kept numerous clerks —that the car- riages of wealthy clients were often seen stopping at his door—that the tin-cases of his own private room contained deeds of immense valae and im- portance, of which he was the custodian—and that his account at his banker’s was always one which rendered him a valuable customer. Mr. Coleman had not as yet reached the prime of life: he was intelligent and active--and he bore an unblemished character. It was about three o'clock in the afternoon that Mr. Redcliffe ontered the clerks’ office, and in- quired if Mr. Coleman were disengaged ? By the respectful manner in which the qaery was answered, and by the alacrity with which one of the clerks hastened to conduct Mr. Redcliffe up-stairs to the lawyer’s room, it might be judged that the visitor was a client of no insignificant importance. Mr. Coleman received him with the utmost respect ; and when the clerk had retired, the man of basi- ness said, “I expected you, Mr. Redcliffe. It is for to-day! And let me hope that the result will be as you have expected—and that the time is not far distant when I shall be enabied to address you by another name.” “ Heaven grant that it may be so!” replied Mr. Redcliffe: and then, as an expression of the deepest anxiety, and even of intense anguish, passed over his countenance, he added, * Oh, this species of un- nataral warfare which I am waging it rencs my heart !” “And yet, my lord—Mr. Redcliffe, I mean,” eaid the lawyer, thas suddenly correcting himeelf, “if the warfare itself be unnatural, it has been by the most unnatural circamstances forced upon you.” “Yes—God knows it was not of my secking !” rejoined Mr. Redcliffe: “or at least the original causes thereof——But no matter! Let us trust to the issue. Are you confident that Armytage will come P” “Yes—he is certain,” replied Mr. Coleman. “ He will qome to sue for time :—perhaps he will even ask for farther advances————” “ Think you,” inquired Mr. Redcliffe, his coun- tenance assuming an expression that was half gloomy, half sad,—“ think you that the web has so completely closed in around him ” “I am convinced of it!” replied the lawyer. “TY have watched his progress day and night, I might almost say—TI bave fathomed all hia procecd- ings—I havo penetrated afl the desperate ventures in which he has embarked ; and 1 know that his failure has been signal and complete !” ie ey EEE an =a ae COMME OOO SS} (CO