The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 282: what you’re looking at

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

ca a a a I RS: AT The Minister's wife and Kate Marshall re- mained together for nearly an hour longer in deep and earnest discourse: but what the nature of it was, need not now be particularized. Suffice it to say, that Kate took her departure with hope in her bosom ; and on returning to the hotel, she gavo the landiady to understand that she had ex- no unfavourable reception at the hands of the Minister of the Interior and his wife—but that a definite answer could not be given to her prayer for three or four days to come. CHAPTER CXLVILI. THE APPOINTMENT. Ir was on the fourth morning after the interviews with the Minister and his wife,—and consequently verging towards the end of the week, within the limit of which it was so vitally necessary to adopt @ decisive measure on behalf of Ned Eussell,—that Kate Marshall again apparelled herself in her handsomest costume. She expended a consider- able time over her toilet,—paying the minutest attention to every detail, and studying to render herself as attractive as possible. No doubt she felt that there was something meretricious im all this: but the image of her beloved was uppermost in her mind,—she was doing it for his eake—and this was her consolation. Her heart too beat high with hope; and this inward excitement geve @ rich carnation bloom to her countenance. Never had Kate Marshall appeared to advantage : never had her handsome countenance looked hand- somer—never were the rich contours of her shape more admirably displayed by the aids of apparel. It was bordering upon noon, when, having finished this careful toilet, Miss Marshall entered a hired vehicle, and was driven to the private dwell- ing of the Minister of the Interior. This house, as already intimated—and like many of the man- sions at Madrid—had two entrances. One was considered the private means of access to the family compartment: the other communicated with the official rooms of the Minister himself: for we should have observed that although he transacted his principal busiess at the Ministry of the Interior, he nevertheless reeetved, at a certain hour, applicants and visitors at his own private residence. Perhaps he had more mottves than one in adopting this course: it might be that there were certam matters which he could conduct with greater privacy at his own abode than at the building officially devoted to the department over which he presided. It was at the entrance to the Minister’s apart- ments that the vehicle which bore Kate, stopped to set her down, as on the preceding occasion. She was conducted up to the waiting-room : several other persons were there assembled ;—but almost tmmediately after her arrival, she was desired by the usher to follow him into the Minister’s pre- sence. It was evident therefore that this usher _ had received his instructions how to act im case Miss Marshall should call again. The colour was heightened upon her cheeks as she followed the official to the same cabinet where she had before Ee — OD ee Onegin | 276 seen the Minister of the Interior ; and on entering that apertment, she observed that he was now alone,—the having been doubtless ordered. to withdraw. The Minister endeavoured to main- tam a cold reserve of manner,—as if he did not choose to show too much pleasure at the fulfilment of his prophecy. At the re-appearance of Miss — Marshall, nevertheless, the gradual flushing of hig previously pale cheeks, and the fiercer burning of his dark eyes, denoted but too plainly the flaming. up of the ‘devouring. desires which her presence had on the former occasion excited withm him. Bowing with a distant courtesy, he motioned Kate to a scat—and resumed his own, from which he had risen on her entrance. “Your prophecy is fulfilled, sir,” said Kate, speaking in a low but firm voice. “I am here once more.” “ But have you been mindful of the warning I gave ?” demanded the Minister, his eyes travelling slowly and with gloating eagerness over her entire form: “have you borne in mind the assurances I so emphatically held out, that it would be useless to have recourse anew to intercession and entreaty —to threat or upbraiding ?”’ “I have borne all this m mind,” answered Kate, her looks sinking beneath the devouring gaze of the libertine Minister. “Then I am to understand, Mies Marshall,” he went on to say, “that you have consented to my. proposition ?”’ “Tam resolved to save at any price the life af him whom I love:”—and still Kate spoke in a low but firm tone. “It 1s well—and your decision is a wise one,” said the Minister, every feature of his countenance being expressive of the inward exultation that filled his heart. ‘‘ Doubtless you reflected thas the period of delay is drawing to a close—and that to-morrow,—or the day after to-morrow at latest, the order for your lover’s pardon should be trans- mitted to the Captain-General of Catalonia ?” “ Such has been my reflection,” rejoined Kate: “and to ensure the transmission of that pardon, have I returned to fulfil your propheoy.”’ “Then listen |” said the Minister, as he now ap-~ proached Kate; and taking her hand, he bent towards her—eo that his breath, hot with the fever of desire, played upon her cheek. “This night, as the clocks proclaim the hour of ten, must you be with me. No one need mark your arrival: no one shall be nigh to observe your approach. I will give you the key of that door at the entrance——- In short, everything shall be managed with a be- coming delicacy.” “TI expect as much at your hands, sir,” answered Kate: “for heaven knows that if the shame and dishonour which I am this night to encounter, be- came whispered abroad in the world, it would drive me to despair and to self-destruction !” “Fear nothing !” quickly answered the Minister, who was almost maddened by that close survey of Kate's countenance,—a survey which showed him that she was still in all the freshness of her charms —that no artificial colour lent the hue of the rose to her cheeks: while at the aame time he could drink in the breath that was pure and balmy as the gentle breeze of a Spring morning. “ Fear nothing,” he repeated. ‘“ You have but to hint at any other arrangements—and they shall be adopted. (COL (C DOO CS (COL