The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 25: what you’re looking at

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12 sipated her own, amongst the profligate and dis- solute.” “ AR falso—abominably, atrocieusly false!” ejacu- lated the Marquis, springing up frem his chair, and inning to pace the apartment in a terrible state of excitement and rage. “Oh, the monsters to whom the welfare of these dear children was en- trusted !-—Oh, that miscreant Everton! Shall they, af er all, be suffered to escape condign punishment ? or shall not a terrific vengeance alight upon their heads? But no, no: there are a thousand consi- derations——-I must calm myseli—I must compose these wildly agitated feelings of mine !”’ Thus speaking, Lord Kagledean resumed his seat ; end giving his hand to Mrs. Jameson, he said in an altered voice—a voice fall of solemn emotion,— * You have been a kind and faithful friend to your mistress: accept my heartfelt gratitude |” “ Ob, my lord,” she replied, the tears still stream- ing down her cheeks, “ you know not what happ?i- | re mess you have imparted to my soul! And what happiness, too, is now in stere for her ladyship! Bat let us hasten to discourse om those subjects which require mutual explanation; for I long—-Oh, I long to be enabled to go and commenee break- ing to my dear mistress all the joyous intelligence that I shall have to impart!’ “In respect to my beloved children Eiisabeth and Frank,” said the Marquis, “I need not tell you that now they are under my care, they are amply and richly provided for: but the fortunes that I settled upon then upwards of sixteen years ago, have been self-appropriated by those villaine Petersfield and Marston.” “Heavens, her ladyship’s é6wn brother!” ejaca- lated the housekeeper. “And it is falee, then, that Elizabeth has led an evil Hfe—that she ran away from her husband the Marquis of Villebolle, with a ad paramour—— “ All false—all diabolically false!” exclaimed the Marquis: then, m a graver tone, he added, “ It is my firm conviction that no female in the laad can boast herself more pare, more chaste, than my daughter Elizabeth. f have not time now to enter into details: suffice it for me to tell you that her marriage with the Marquis of Villebelle was « plundered! But litth did he imagine that poor Frank’s memory would be so good in recognizing those whom he had seen in his carlier years. One day, two ladies whom he had met in the eompany of Kis mother at Everton Park, and also at &. James's, appeared at Court together. I know not who they could have been———” «Lady Hedketh and her besutiful cousin Miss “They ssust cousin Miss Villiers, when they appeared at Court together. But although he thus recognised them, he knew not their names. They, as a matter of denied that they were acquainted with him-—denied indeed that they knew who he was, or had ever seen him before. Doubtless the report of his death had not reached their ears; or else they would have seemed still more surprised. But certain it is that soon afterwards Lord Petersfield thought it better to have Frank removed from a place where he might meet them again; and he soccordingly transferred him to the service of Lady Saxondaw, at whose mansion he was no doubt well aware that Lady Hesketh and Miss Villiers did not visit.” “Oh, what a ramification of treachery!” oried Mrs. Jameson, holding up her hands in astonish- ment and dismay. “ Years have elapsed since any communication took place between these ladies and my mistress: for when Lady Everton resolved upon to this seclusion in Wales, she broke off all her past friendships—resigned all her previous acquaintances |” “ And therefore,” observed the Marguis, “ Lord Petersfield entertained little fear that your poor mistress would learn from Lady Hesketh or Miss Villiers that her son Frank was really alive and had been seen in a menial capacity at the Palace. But now, Mrs. Jameson, have the goodness to explain to me those matters concerning which I am yet in the dark,—all that occurred, in short, from the time that I quitted England in the year 1828.” “I will, my lord,” responded the old house- keéper: “but it shall be as succinctly as I can—for ‘Tam sure that you are impatient to have speech of her ladyship.” ‘« Yea,” replied Lord Eagledean : “ but ere we meet, I would rather be acquainted with everything —so that she may be spared the pain of having any ex- planations to give. ° “Your lordship can well understand,” resumed Mra. Jameson, “thas the knowledge of my poor lady’s secret put her completely in the power of that bad man her brother-in-law. He came and gave his orders at the Park just as if be were the master. He represented to my poor mistress that after all he had learnt, che was not a fit and proper persen to have full oherge of her son Adolphus during the father’s absence. He removed Adolphus to the western extremity of the building,—lodging him m apartments to which there was a communi- cation by means of the private staircase. He in- troduced creatures of hisown to surround the boy— to attend upon him--and doubtless to keep watch over him also. As the time approached for my lord's arrival from India, Mr. Everton sent up all the old servants of the Park ta the town-house ia London, for the purpose, as he said, of making the fullest preparations there to receive his lordship. I was packed wf along with the rest; and Everton Park was left in the hands of the strange domestics whom Mr. Everton had planted there. I went when I found that Mr. Everton himself was about to proceed to London and pase a few days at his the Park after I and my ‘ellow-seryants had re- town-residence; although I did nos particulary fron may cations lips THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. (COIMUC DOO CS (COL