The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 284: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIRZS OF THE OOURT. action, would make known my shame to the world? No, sir: I should be but too anxious for the secret to be religiously kept. But if, on the other hand, you deceive me in respect to the should I scatter all other considera- tions to the wind; and the idea of vengeance be- coming paramount, I should prociaim all my wrongs—because when once that v been wreaked, I myself should have no longer a single tie to bind me to existence. I ahould perish —and in self-destruction throw off the cuil of shame !” The Minister of the Interior perceived nothing anreasonable in all this: on the contrary, he merely beheld therein the natural precaution which a wo- man was likely to take when having to deal with a . person of unscrupulous character. For his Excel- lency knew full well that such was his character— and that in such a light it must be viewed by Miss Marshall. But on this score he was altogether in- different; he considered himself to have risen by his own talents and intrigues high above the opi- nion of the world at large—and consequently to place him in total independence of the opinion of an individual. He was infatuated with Miss Mar- shall’s beauty:—possessed of the strongest pas- sions, he was excited to a more than ordinary de- gree by her handsome countenance and her fine shape : he longed to clasp her in his arms—yearned " with avidity to make her his own. Therefore it was without any farther hesitation that ho yielded to what he regarded as a mere ution on her part; and seating himself at the desk, he penned in the English language pre ~isely such a document as she had suggested,—appending his signature, and affixing the ministerial seal of the Home De- partment. “One single embrace ere you leave me, Miss Marshall!’ he said, as he presented the paper; and he made a moverent to suit the action to the word. “ No, sir—not now !” she emphatically exclaimed, retreating a couple of paces. “I am no brasen- face that can thus calmly and deliberately surren- der myself to the arms of a stranger. Understand me well, sir!” she continued, again with averted countenance, and with that crimsoning of the checks which showed how revolting it was unto the sensitive delicacy of her feelings to be compelled thus to argue and expatiate.upon such a subject : “ understand me well, sir! I am pure and chaste: it is no meretricious female whom you are thus wooing by coercion instead of by sentiment; and again do I repeat that in the broad daylight, with the sun shining, I cannot look you in the face and think of all that is to be consummated. This night, punctually as the clecks at Madrid proclaim the hour of ten, shall I keep the appointment which has been made.” With these words Kate Marshall, having secured the document in her bosom, moved towards the door; and the Minister of the Interior sought not to detain her—sought not even so much as to touch her hand again. That door closed behind her ; and when he was once more alone, he gloated 277 the afternoon, a lady—wearing the graceful Span- ish mantilla, which completely concealed her coun- tensnce—called upon her at that hostelry. They were closeted together for nearly an hour; and then the visitress took her leave,—departing on foot as she had come, and with the mantilla com- pletely hiding her features, so that she could not had | possibly be recognised by any one belonging to the establishment. This lady was the wife of the Minister of the Interior: but wherefore had she thus stealthily sought an interview with Kate? This question will be speedily answered by tho in- cidents which we are about to record. The hours passed—evening came—the dusk set in—and at length the iron tongue of Time pro- claimed the moment of the appointment which Miss Marshall had consented to keep with the Minister of the Interior. This functionary had given an intimation to his domestics that they were to be out of the way so far as his own private suite of apartments was concerned; and they, com- prehending full well that their master had in hand one of his wonted affairs of gallantry, took the hint and were careful to obey it. Faithful to his promise to Kate Marshall, he extinguished the lights in the vestibule—on the staircase—in the spacious landing to which that staircase licd,— everywhere, in short, fram the entrance-door to that of his own chamber—and‘within tho chamber itself likewise. He was apparelled in a dressing- gown—his feet were thrust into slippers: his heart was beating with tho excitement of his pas- sions—for his fervid imagination was enabled to define and delineate all the contours of that shape which the dress of his intended victim had con- cealed, although to a certain extent developing them. He thought to himself that the moment was now at hand which was to give him one of those rewards for which he had laboured, and toiled, and intrigued ; inasmuch as he regarded the possession of power, not merely as a crowning triumph of his ambition, but likewise as the means of gratifying his insatiate lust for pleasure. It was, as we have said, ten o’clock—and already for at least five minutes had tho licentious Minister been waiting in the vestibule,—waiting thore in the darkness for the arrival of her whom he expected. Nor was he kept long in suspense. The bell at the entrance rang: he flew to open the door—and a female form, closely veiled, passed into the vestibule. “ Beauteous creature, I thank thee,” exclaimed the impassioned Minister, “for thus punctually keeping the appointment of love !”—and now foeel- ing that he had a right to consider her his own, shrouded in the darkness as they were, and all arrangements being made by him in faithful com- pliance with Kate Marshall’s stipulations, — he tore up the veil, and straining her in his arms, preased his lips to her's. “Now,” he said, “let me lead you hence.” She had spoken not a word: she appeared to have surrendered herself like a willing victim to his embrace. She accompanied him up the stairs : the landing was crossed—the chamber was en- over the idea that within a few hours thence, the | tered. superb creature who had just quitted his presence, would be his own—abandoned completely unto him—clasped in his arms! Kate returned to the hotel; and in the course of For obvious reasons we must pass with somo degree of haste over this scene. Suffice it to say that half-an-hour had elapsed from the moment that the Minister of the Interior had conducted (COL (C DOO CS (COL