The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 251: what you’re looking at

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344 hed 4 cortain prospect in view while deliberating whether I should accept your proposals: perhaps I seasoned to myself that if I sacrificed everything for you, a divores might be obtained between my hadband and myself, and that then you would make me your wife. But now, under existing cir- eumstances, the sacrifice you ask me to make is far greater than I regarded it while deeming you wanmsrried. Therefore,” added Mrs. Chesterfield, a dam voiee, and beading wpoa the Viscount ax equally decisive look, “I have met you here now to proclaim, emphativally and pesemptorily, that is at an end between us. As a msn ef honour you will never breathe to a living soul thet for a single moment I had the weakness to ear to your words————” “ My God, Augusta, speak not thus !—my own edoved Augusta !"—and the Viscount appeared the very image of despair. “Recall those dreadfal wards! —they are my doom—my desth knell ! Oh, that the same lips from wheneo you learnt the aeeret of my marriage, should have forborne to tell you that it was an unhappy one! Or perhaps thet mush was likewise to your If not, I declare it new. I never loved her who bears the name of my wife: I never loved before until I beheld you. Oh! mine is a heart that craved an Object whereon to bestow all the immensity of that love whereof it is capable; and my i had often depicted the beew ideal of her whom I could thus love passionately and. ly. There was a void im this heart of mine to be filled up; and therefore was it that the very first moment my eyes settled upon you, I bebeld the idol of my imagination—the deas ideal far which I yearned— the object whieh could alone occupy that place in my heart! Augusta, will you refuse such a love as this? Na, you will not—you. will not—it is wapossibie! I ses that your looks are melting— howe severity Jp Gissipeting—you will mot drive me to «What am I to dof-Oh, what am I to do?” ootd Mrs. Chesterfield y, with all the appearance of one who was eruelly bewildered how to ast, “What are you to do cried Chateaunecef, asiaing both her hands and pressing them in his | i own: “what are you todof You are to breathe the word which will sonfirm my happinces, and thereby give me the means of ensuring your oven i” “ Ensuring my own happiness?’ said Augusta, im @ mmnsing strain. “Oh! it is a tremendous risk thas I run im abandoning my husband for the eake a you! YWee~it is a risk which I dere not en- conmter——--there is a reason-——” “And that reason?” cjaculated the Viscount de (Whateaumenf, full of the most anxious sus- panée. “Thies that by remaining falthfal to my husband,” enewerel. Mrs. Chesterfcid, averting her head, “} secure a the child aime Prapeagadan my besom:: if K surrender to myself into your “J will be = father to yonr child!” responded the Viscount, in 2 low voies, but replete with a concentrated jey that be wes enabled thus to re- move the last aruple whieh appemwed to exiet in the mind of his adored one. “ Then I om your's,” abe answered : and she re- THE MYSTEHIBS OF THE COURT. sisted not, when rapturogsly citohing her ia his arme, he etrained her to his breast. quaa=ummmmg> CHAPTER CXXXVIIL THB AWATOMICAL HMUSGSBU M. Ir was midnight—midnight in the dull and gloomy month of November; and neither moon nor star peeped forth from the leaden sky. A drissiing rain was falling,—so that the street-lamps looked ge if seen through a mist; and no one was abroad, save those whom duty or necessity, or other urgent circumstances, compelled to remain exposed to the molement atmosphere. The tall stiff policemen, capes: the daughters of crime stood shivering in doorways; end houseless mendicants endeavoured to draw their rags more closely around them. The hour of twelve wae being prociaimed by the countless tongues of Time throughout the me- coat-pockets,—the right one cluiching the end of his club, which reaching up to his armpit, was thus concealed by the alcove of the arm itedf. He walked quickly—did Mr. Ohiffin the Cannibal: for, as the reader may suspect, he was bent on im- Another diverging alley brought him to the back of the particular premises which he sought; and although there was a door in the wall, he paused not to force it and he forthwith mounted those steps last alluded to. It was almost completely dark im the gardea,— no lamp being there to shed a ray upon the scene, and no moon nor star, as already stated, appearing ee renee ree eee areca COMMUC DOO CS (COL