The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 210: what you’re looking at

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

¢ ee aa ill isaseerveusstereppe-eee-ereee> THE MYOTERING OF THE COURT. is as mad as a March hare, there are others in tiie world who do: and so, you see, they are to have him taken care of at Dr. Burdett’s asylum. “Mad!” ¢ the domestics, exchanging with each other. “Yeo—mad to be sure,” answered the clerk. “Do you think any one in his sound senses would carry on such games as he has been playing? This marriage Of his is quite enough to convince any sensible that he must be a stark lanatio—or else a perfect idiot, and mproper to be left at large. I will tell you such a game! It was resolved to lock him up; and Marlow sent for two emiment lunacy-doctors to get them to see his lord- ship and report upon his state of mind. Well, Marlow was talking over the business with the two doctors in his private office just now, when who should make his appearance in the very nick of time, but Lord Saxondale himself? So, af course Marlow had him in; and it was fortunate it hap- pened as it did, because it saved the doctors the trouble of coming here on some pretence to call upon his lordship. Marlow dexterously led him into conversation on those points which prove his | coldl madness; and his lordship talked in such a way signing a certificate that he was of unsound mind, and that it was dangerous for his own interests to leave him at ‘s “But I don’t think,” observed the footman, pothing about it, ae T had already given notice to ¢ but——” Toh, mone of your bute!” interrupted the clerk: “it’s all right—Lord Petersfield knows what he is about—and so do Marlow and Malton. Besides, there’s another person who has given consent; and I shouldn’t wonder if you saw that other here presently, to put certain matters to rights :” —and the clerk looked significantly up at the house windows. “ Who do you mean P’ demanded the hall- “ Never mind who I mean. I daresay you will see all about it before the day is out—or I am very much mistaken :”’—and with these words the clerk, bestowing a nod half-patronising, half- significant upon the domestics, waited of The page hastened to communicate to one of the maids all that had happened, and everything he had thus overheard. The maid in her turn lost no time in acquainting one of her mistress’s principal dependants with the facts; and thus by the time Adelaide descended to the drawing-room, in the expectation of going out shopping with her husband, she received the astounding intelligence of what had taken place. Ordering her maids to retire, sho threw off her bonnet and shawl, and sat down in no very enviable state of mind to re- flect upon her position. But scarcely had she begun to meditate,—and a very painful medi- tation it was upon which she ‘was thus entering, -—when a page came in to announce that a foreign gentleman, who said that it was unnecessary to give any name, requested to see her ladyship. Adelaide knew full well who the visitor was; and wild feelings of mingled hope and suspense, nance betrayed not the emotions that were thus excited in her soul. She bade the page introduce the : but the moment the door closed behind the youth, Adelaide pressed her hand to her brow to steady her thoughts;—and then, as an expression of anguish swept over her features, she murmured to herself, “What am I to do if he should reject me ?”’ But as the door opened again, she composed her looks ; and rising from the sofa, awaited with ap- parent calmnese the presence of him who was about to enter. The visitor wasa Frenchman, and of exceedingly handsome appearance. His age was about six- and-twenty: he was not tall, but his figure was modelled to the most admirable proportions. He had dark hair and eyes; and a glossy black moustache gave additional effect to the brilliancy of his teeth. He was well dressed — genteelly, but without pretension; and his countenance as he entered the room, indicated a certain degree of mournfulness, blended however with a look ex- Plily od distewthy co fad He bowed somewhat and distantly to Adelaide: and then glanc- ing to the door, as if to convince himeelf that it was closed and that the page had retired, he said, “Iam here, madam, in obedience to your urgent summons. May I request that the explanation of your object will be promptly and briefly given P” “ And is it thus that we meet P” asked Adelaide, in a reproachfal tone, while her countenance as- sumed an expression of tender upbraiding, not un- i with the evidences of inward agitation: ‘is it thus that you accost me after such a long, long separation ?” “Ah! madam, circumstances have sadly altered since last we beheld each other,” responded the Frenchman, with bitteraces in his accents. “ Altered P” Adelaide: “yea, they have altered! But have you not received from me the written assurance that my love is still the same P —end if it be not to address me in similarly fond terms, wherefore are you here now P” She motioned to a chair as she spoke ; and while the Frenchman took it, she resumed her own seat on the sofa. “You ask me why I am here, madam,” he said, still cold and reserved, and still with an inflexible severity impressed upon his handsome counte- nance: “I will tell you. It is because I perceive by your letter that you would never rest satisfied —that you never would abandon a certain hope to which you cling—until you had received from me the positive and deliberately uttered assur- ance——” “Stop, Henri!” ejaculated Adelaide: “give not utterance to words that will stamp my unhap- pines, until you have heard me speak |” ‘* Proceed, madam. I will lis “Let us go back, Henri, to other times. Do you remember how much we loved each other ?— have you forgotten that when I was first intro- duced into the brilliant society of Paris, and was surrounded by suitors, my heart’s affections were bestowed upon youP—have you forgotten that hdenielely ale ase rsomebeniiet dein apelin mony and reduced you to comparative poverty, I thrilling joy and poignant apprehension, instan- | of my own accord offered to fly with you—I pro- taneously sprang up within her: but hor counte- posed to link my fate with your's, and to accept. —e-wii awh =_ = a Ce a rl = ec eo — ede eee -ow oth. om [ee a i ow a, COLL (C DOO CS (GO)