The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 223: what you’re looking at

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

a a ann n,n, LT 216 I would not breathe aloud, even if I stood alone in the middle of a heath, and could see a mile around in every direction, so as to be assured that there were no listeners near. You may therefore com- -prehend, Harold, thas it is a secret of the most stupendous importance ; and you may conceive the dire apprehension which haunts my mind, now that T know this woman to be in the midst of a nest of my reptile-enemies.” “It is indeed alarming,” observed Harold. “Deveril is assuredly no friend of your's: he is intimate with my uncle, who is likewise a foe-——” “‘Yes—and it appears that Angela Vivaldi, the celebrated dancer who left the stage some time back, is William Deveril’s sister. This girl,” con- tinued Lady Saxondale, “is to the newspaper paragraph—in the kindest man- ner to Madge Somers. Tho journal speaks of her as a young lady of undoubted virtue, most amiable disposition, and heart. You may con- ceive the influence which such a being is likely to obtain over a woman whose mind is attenuated by iliness, and whose conscience perhaps is somewhat touched. Besides, there are many reasous why this woman ie to be deemed most dangerous by me. She has already extorted large sums of money from me-——" “And what would you have done with her ?” demanded Harold. “As for into Devoril’s houss, and accomplishing that which Chiffin’s knife failed to do——” “ No, Harold: such a course cannot be adopted,” interrupted Lady Saxondale. “ But the wo- man can be removed elsewhere, somehow or an- other——— “‘Yes—that is the only plan!” ejaculated Staunton. “Have you already settled any project in your mind ?” “T have,” answered Lady Saxondale. “Listen. Y will explain it; and you shall then tell me whether you approve of it, and whether you will assist in carrying it out.” They continued to discourse together for some time longer,—indeed, until past ten o’clock; and they came to a thorough as to all matters in which they were so darkly and deeply interested, ere Harold took his departure. When be had gone, Lady Saxondale ascended to the drawing-room where Adelaide was seated; and ing a chair near, she said, “I think it would be | man better for both our sakes that we should lose no time in co to specific terms.” “Buch also,” responded Edmund's wife, “is my opinion :”--and she spoke with the same decisive enlmness as did Lady Saxondale. ‘“‘ What do you propose F—for as you are the initiative, you have doubtless some defined conditions and ts to suggest.” “In the firet placo,” answered Sexondale, “I must understand whether I have rightly inter- preted your feeling in respect to Edmund. You are a woman of strong mind, sound intellect, good talents, and fine accomplishments. You may be weil assured that it is not in mere idle flattery I tell you this. I know you to be above the im- pression which such flattery could alone make upon a frivolous heart. Being therefore as you are, and as [ have described you, it is utterly impos- sible you can have any real affection for Edmund. You coveted a certain social position, with the THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. enjoyment of wealth; and you may have your wishes gratified. In one respect they are already fulfilled: you have exchanged an unappreciatea French title for an appreciated English one. As for money, I will be liberal m my offers. There fore, do you consent that your husband should re- main where he is ?”’ “ Does it suit your purpose that he should be there?” mguired Adelaide: then without waiting for an answer to her question, she said quickly, “ But of course it does! You will continue to enjoy, even after he has attained his majority, full control over the estates, the mansions, and re- venues which belong to the proud name of the Saxondales—-uniless indeed the wife may in that assert claims, rights, and privileges superior to those of the mother.” “ Understand me well, Adelaide,” responded Lady Saxondale : “I will be all or nothing—I will be omnipotent in the ways which you have meii- tioned, or’ I will throw the whole into confusion, so that no one shall reap any benefit. For the Chancery Court, Adelaide, would reduce us both to mere cyphers in a moment; and I have the power of flingmg into the vortex of that greedy and infamous tribunal. Nay, more :— as Edmund is a minor, a suit in the Ecclesiastical Courts for the dissolution of this into which you have invei him—you see I speak plainiy—could be successfully maintained.” “Perhaps it might,” rejoined Adelaide coolly : “but you would not dare initiate it, in the face of all I have learnt concerning yourself.” “I do not wish that you and I,” responded Lady Saxondale, “should assume hostile attitudes— although perhaps I may be less in your power than you think: for Harold Staunton revealed nothing whieh you could positively and actually lay hold of to serve as an offensive weapon against me. The Marquis of Ragledean will take take no ini- mical etep towards me; becayse it would be com- promising his nephew, whom with all his faults he “ But Mabel Stewart ?” observed Adelaide. “Her body would not be found in the grave where it was laid,” answered Lady Saxondale, is as calm and collected a manner as that which Ade- laide herself adopted. “It was taken up by re- surrectionists, and fell into the hands of a medical ove peerT y. However, lo not bandy words in this way: it will only te ill bloody and we are terms of pce not the reciprocal modes of earring on ve Proceed.” observed Adelaide; “and rest as- sured that I am as desirous of coming to an amicable understanding as you yourself may be. But I remember that you were speaking ere now as tothe feeling which I experience for your son. It is perhaps somewhat, too hard to tell a mother I see you amile diedainfully-——” “I do,” responded Lady Saxondale: “but per- haps you do not comprehend the reason. However, pray go on; and hesitate not to express yourself openly and frankly. We must not stand upon punctilios and niceties.” “TT was about to say, then,” continued Adelaide, “that your son is assuredly no very loveable objcct.- Hoe is vain without anything to be vain of—conocsited without the sightest justificatios (GO) iC CYL DOO CS (COL