The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 277: what you’re looking at

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270 Pe a a A aaa eee aca aaaaaaatacaaaaaaaraataasaaaaa ras aasatasaacaaaacammma seca aaa! but the time may. come when your Exeellency | my heart the conviction that the day must come. will look, back with remereefal sorrow upon: the incident of this day, and when perbape- yeu will regret that you have thus planted a dagger into a bosom already.teo deeply wounded.” Having thus spoken, Kate Marshall was moving towards the door, when the Minister exclaimed; “Stop! Perhaps you may yet think better of yokr own conduct—and then it will be too late. Remember that with one strake of the pen I can give you the life which you demand: but also with a stroke of the pen, I cam onder it to be be taken away within the week that is passing!” “But you will net do this deed. of cruelty !” sion. “No—you will not do it! Ab, mr! you aroa married man-you have a wife who doubt- less ‘loves you:——” “It is useless, young lady,” interrupted the Minister, “for us to comsinup arguing thus. Uns derstand well your own position—think not of mine. Your lover lies under sentense of death: with the least sacrifice on your part you can sewe him— a merifice, teo, the secret of whicls need never be knewn to him——’ * Knough, sir!’ ejaculated Kate Marshall, ones mare displayimp nll the prideful dignity of an in- jused, outraged woman: “I have already heard too mueh, Edward Russell must die——’” She paused for a few momenta, as the tide of unutter- able feelingy surged. up into heer throat,. and the teazs came to the vory brims of hor ogee: but with aa almost preteriruman effort she kept them back ; and in a voice of unnataral calmness, went on to say, “ Yeo+-he must die! for he would not consent-to be saved at such a sacrifice as that which you: have dared to suggest. Ah! you spoke of keeping the foul: atrocity away from his cars? Think you that I could look him in the faee with- out the tell-tale blush of shame revealing my dis- honour? No: I am net the in dissimu. lation which your Excellency may be. And as for him whese:hfe 1 am.come to aak,—I repeat that he would scorn to accept it om such conditions: he would execrate your—he would loathe me—he would refuse to retain a life that had been purchased by so much villany on the one hand,. aud se much pollution on the other. Yes, sim—the contemned, the branded, the doomed smuggler’ has his own fine feelings, at least im one sense; and those feelings finer than you, who are a-great Minister, cam possibly boast of pessesaing! These feelings, sir, shall not be wounded nor outraged by me! Oh,. im my eyes, infinitely superior is that con- temned, branded, and doomed smuggler—though wearmmg the felon’s chains: in a dungeon-cell— infiuitely superior is‘ he, I say, than the great statesman. who stands before me now, proposing in his dastard cowardice, and abhorrent meanness of soul, to make a human life the aubjéct of barter | i for a woman's honour! I leave you, sir: I leave you to the enjoyment of sugh feelings as you may be enabled to experience after a ecene such ae this. I leave you for the purpose of writing to the Mar- quia of Villebelle, and informing that generous nobleman how his well-meant letter has been received, and the treatment it has procured me at hands. But that is not all:—for where- soever words may the infamy of your conduct, shal] I make it known; and there is in > — TRY. MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. when yoo will shrink appalled and in utter loathing from the contemplation of your villany.” The Minister of the Interior had listened coldly in one sense, but with impassioned feelings in an- other, to the long, the eloquent, and the reproach~ fil addreee which Kate Marshall thus delivered. He listened celdly, we say, because he was un- moved aad unafiected by the bitterness and terri- ble satire of her remarks: he-wae-not even angered | by them: the words, though berbed.like arrows, fell innocaously awny from a soul teo mooh indu- rated by an utter unscrupulousens of character to be penetrated by them. But om the other hand beauty of Kate's appearances: Indeed, saperbly handsome did the young’ woman seem then,—with the flush of indignation upon her cheeks—hee blue ~ eyes lighted up with firé—her nostrils dilati her ivory teeth looking brilliant between the coral lines that were wreathed with the strong into a nobler stature and mpre magnificent prepor- ¢ions,,.as she thus boldly stood, dealing forth the terrible invective of her outraged feelings- Minister had likewme risen fram h sonehalance, yet there was a ful passion in his eyes—the: gloating: desire upon his cheele—and breath came thicls and almost panting. parched throat and between his. quivering hpx Strange and striking those two beings,;—the fine form of the Engiish- woman expressing the prideful indignatiom of her- sex-—the short slender figureof the Minister seem ing asif it might be overwhelmed by the immen~ sity of that anger. And yet the one whose aspect was 80 giorions, was impotent for all suolx purpose : while the one whose presence was so insignificans, was endowed with the mightiest power. “Stop yet one moment, Miss Marshall |” the Minister, as she was turning away: “it is not the proposition which I am about to renew—but a piece of advice that I am about to give. Be- é explam the particulars of this interview. Madrid 1s vast its baildings are numerous—but there is not a wall which hath not cass to drink in whatsuever: may be spoken to the disadvantage of those who occupy high pleces. Follow my counsel—and you will not be molested: disebey me in only a mangle tittle, and you shall be made te rue the conse- a a ee TS a a was tho contrast. between. (COL (C DOO CS (COL