The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. Princess Indora: he had the most cogent reasons for destroying her life, so that he might silence her for ever; and here was the hitherto useful and willing agent of whom he had made a tool for the purpose of carrying out his fell design,—here she was, we say, suddenly slipping out of his hands! “You surely cannot be serious?” he at length faltered out; “you would not abandan a business —pardon me, an avocation—which is so lucra- tive P”’ a . 4 a, “And which makes me the dupe of others!” rejoined Madame Angelique, with emphatio tone and gighificant look. a “What mean you?” inquired Marchmont. “Your words seem pointed—and yet to one who has always been your friend——” “You have paid me, my lord, for the services which I have rendered,” anawered Madame An- gelique; “and on that score we are quits, But you have endeavoured to render me your instru- ment in the accomplishment of a deed from which I now recoil, with hhorror,—yea, and even with wonder that I could have ever contemplated it! With all the arts of sophistry you led me to be- lieve that I incurred the most termfic dangers at Indora’s hands-———” oo, _ “Aad had you not the proof?” inquired the Duke, Vainly endeavouring to conceal the bitter | good vexation and even the terror which he,experienced, “Did not an agent of the polico——” | “ Yea—he came, certainly ; but I was altogether mistaken as ta the origin of his visit. In one word, my Lord Duke, the Lady Indora hag nothing to do with this proceedipg on the part of the Com- missioners of Police: it all emanates from some wealthy person in the back-ground, who acts through the medium of his attorney, Mr. Cole- “ Coleman—Coleman P” said the Duke, thus re | peating the name in a musing tone. “Surely I have heard it before—and somewhat récently too. Coleman? Ah! I recollect !—it is that lawyer who has beenadvancing Armytage such considerable sums of money !” . ; ; _ “Do you then know gnythjng of this Mr. Cole- man, my lord?” inquired the Frenchwoman. “Bat it matters nopt——-My mind is made up how to act. I am this evening more at eage than for a long time past I have been ; and never—never will I again saffer myself to be beguiled by the repreventations of one who was all the time endeavouring to serve i owa purposes.” os : “You allude to me,” ejaculated the Duke, as- suming ap air of indignation; “and you wrong me! I thought you in danger from that quar- ter 99 . “ Well, well, my Jord, we will not dispute the point,” interrupted Madame Angelique: and then abe ironically added, “I have no doubt your Grace will now congratulate me on having acquired the certainty that I am no longer in any peril from that quarter ?”’ - -_ “Oh, of course!” exclaimed Marchmont; “if it really 1s so. But beware, my good friend, how you suffer yourself to be lulled into a false secu: rity. It is at such times that the blow falls heaviest———” Low . “Thank you, my lord,” interrupted the milliner, ~ Tem fully. prepared to meet all contingencies of that sort. To-morrow I dismiss the girle—or tather I find them protectors, as their kind and excellent friend who stands in the light of their mother ought to do.” Madame Angelique chuckled at her own dis- gusting levity—and the Duke for an instant bit his lip with vexation. He saw that the milliner was resolute in the plan she had proclaimed: lie saw too how hopelees it was to attempt to enlist her services any farther in the prosecution of his designs; and he likewite felt how necessary it was to keép on friendly terms with her. A seal must be placed upon her lips in respect to all that had recently occurred ; and thongp for her dwn sake she would keep silent on those points, yet it by no means suited the Duke's interests that she shonld speak disparagingly of him in any other sense, “Well, my deak madam,” he accordingly said, assuming his blandest tone and his most affable look, “ I do indeed congratulate you on this change in your position—I am glad you have reason fo feel so confident im respect to the Lady Indora. And now, as you are about to retire info private life, if there be anything I can do——” “ Yos—there is something,” responded Madam Angelique. “ The four girls must be comfortably provided for: I mean to leave off basiness with a character—and those charmers of mine must not go forth into thé world to proclaim what [ have been. So little has actually transpired in respect to the true character of this house, that the pablic in general will give me credit for being a respectable milliner who is retiring on & fortune legitimately obtained.” “To be sure, my dear madam!” ejaculated Marchmont; “you will keep your own counsel with respect to the pest—yoa will provide for the | girls, so as to deal their lips; and those friends who have so long patronised your establishment— myself amonget the number—will of course do the best t@ sustain your respectability by their pood “I expect nothing less at their hands,” an- swered Madame Anyeliqne; “and I purpose to test the sincerity of the friehdship of four of my principal patrons. To begin therefore with your Grace, I give you your choive éf the four young ladies in the saloon.” “Commend me to Eylantine!’ exclaimed Marchmont, Who at once saw the necessity of yielding to that which was in reality a command on the part of the Frenchwomab. “To-morrow I will take handséme apartments somewhere for Eglantine—I will let you know the address im the course of the day—and shecan then remove thither.” “ Kgilantine must prove af exception from the choice,” answered Madame Angelique. “I had forgotten at the moment that I havé a particular way of disposing of her. Either of the other three———”’ “It is imposible, my dear madam,” interrupted the Duke, “that I can take either Armantine or Linds, who have been so long beneath your roof, and who are so well known amongst all your patrous! I should be laughed &t—ridicalod-——~” “Then why not Marion?” demanded the Frenchwoman, “And now I bethink me, I can place Armantine and Linda equally as well as I can Eglantine. Therefore, my lord, it must be Marion.” (CO G OOO SS} (CO