The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 276: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. noxious to the severest criminal laws of the country. I am aware it was argued in his defence that no life was taken by Aés special hand: but he was the leader of a party committing an unlawful act—and the weapons of his followers spilt the blood of Spanish subjects. Were he a Spaniard himself—were he of high interest and influential connexions—I should still be unable to listen favourably to any appeal mado on his behalf. ‘What, then, can I say to you? ‘With every dis- position to attend to the strong and t re- commendations of my friend the Marquis of Ville- belle—with every disposition, too, to serve a young lady of your I am afraid ‘“No, sir—do not crusi’ me with despair at once! Do not—do not, I entreat you !”—and Kate Marshall fell upon her knees before the Minister. e “ Rise,” he said, her hand: and as she obeyed Lim, he still oantieued to hold that band in his own—while at the same instant an unmis- takable expression of passionate desire glowed upon his features. “Perhaps,” he ,went on to observe, “a means may be found Kate understood him in a moment. It was no longer possible to doubt his meaning: it was conveyed in the si of his look—the pressure which she felt her hand was his entire appearance. In short, that high public had revealed himself as an unprin- cipled libertine, about to make an overture which was comprehended even before it was uttered. Kate matched away her hand: the flush of in- dignation glowed upon her features; and she was turning away, when, suddenly smitten by the idea—it was a last faint hope—that she might possibly have misinterpreted his and done him an injustice, she fixed her eyes steadily ‘wpon his countenance, saying, “Surely, sir— surely, you will not suffer me to depart with the conviction that there is no mercy in the soul of a Spanish statesman |" “Sit down once more, Miss Marshall,” responded the Minister, suddenly becoming cold and haughty : then, as sho resumed her seat, he went on to ob- serve, “I explained to you ere now, that even if the plea for mercy on behalf of this offender were backed by high family interest, I should not know how to concede the point. You yourself must comprehend the difficulty of obtaining such a con- cession. There are no grounds upon which a pardon ean be accorded, or a commutation of the sentence Be decroot But if it would be difficult to yield to an interest really powerful, how can you expect me to give an affirmative answer to the intercession of a stranger? Should I not be seriously compromising myself? should I not be liable to the attacks of those ill-conditioned per- sons who are ever ready to hold up public men to scorn and hatred, to suit their own factious aims? In a word, should I not be running an immense risk by diverting the tide of justice from its course, in a case which presents not the least ground for such a proceeding on my part P” ‘I am aware of all this, sir,” Kate : one Oh! the satisfaction which your own heart experience———” She stopped short, as a half-scornful smile began wreathing the moustached lip of the Minis- Hope, which bad again been rising—though faintly enough, it is true—in her sank down again, like the wing-wearied bird from some ineffectual soaring into a celestial ar and she felt that her heart was weeping tears of blood, at the same time that a fresh gush of the tide is the risk that I should run: and permit remind you, Miss Marshall, that the days romance are over. We live in times of stern reality—in times when the actions of individuals are necessarily influenced by @ certain degree personal selfishness. The Marquis of Villebelle, a would be likely to grant—save and except under circumstances of an extrao character. Ina word, you ask a life. What if I grant it? Is there to be no recompense for me P’”’ “Yes, sir,” responded Kate, now speaking with renewed firmness : “ your reward will be found in the consciousness of having performed a deed which will raise up two of your fellow-creatures from the abyss of woe; to the height of exultant happiness. And in the warm gratitude of our hearte——” “Oh, that universal word gratitude!’ exclaimed the Minister scornfully: “it is uttered by every one who has a favour to ask. Young lady, do you not reflect that every criminal now in a Spanish gaol, might send a relative, a lover, or a friend, to demand of me a similar boon, and offer s similar reward,—the boon being a life which is implored —the recompense, gratitude! In good sooth I should thrive upon so much gratitude, were it of a substantial, a tangible, and a serviceable value. But it is mere siry word—an empty name! Must I once more remind you that indi- vidual actions are now ruled by selfishness? You ask me a life: the favour you demand is immense —the greatest, the highest which i¢ is in mortal’s power to bestow. And in return, you offer a recompense the meanest, the poorest, the paltriest, the most contemptible |’ “Qh, sir!’ murmured Kate, rising from her seat, and almost convulsed with affliction ; “if the treasures of the whole world were at my disposal, I would lay them at your feet: but, alas! I have not wherewithal to give you such reward as may be commensurate with the boon that I implore.” “Gold?—who spoke of gold ?”’ said the Minister, contemptuously. “I have enough. It was not to paltry dross that I for a moment alluded. Were you an old wrinkled hag, and if you were enabled to lay at my feet countless sums of the yellow metal, I should at once return an abrupt negative to your demand. But is there no reward which |» young = se woman can be- stow P” « Now, sir, I dare not for another moment seek to blind myself to the true nature of your mean- ing |” — and as Kate Marshall thus spoke, her whole appearance indicated the sudden uprising of womanly pride and dignity. “You wield great and almost you have au- power— thority of life and death: but your present con- duct towards a friendless foreign woman who im- plores a boon at your hands, is not the finest chapter in your career. He whom I love must perhaps die—and my own heart will be broken: (COL (C DOO CS (COL