The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 289: what you’re looking at

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

THR MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. conclade that circumstances were adverse—that I was no longer the mistress of my own actions— that I was either in a prison or else being hurried. out of Spain——” “And in that case?” inquired the Minister’s wife anxiously. “In that case,” Miss Marshall, “I implored and entreated that his lordship would lose not a moment in taking ing to Madrid—calling on your husband—and making such use of my written narrative, corroborated as it was by that undertaking, as under all circum- stances he might think fit.” “Then no harm is done which may not be re- paired!” exclaimed the lady, in a joyful tone. “You have conducted all these my dear Miss Marshall, with a most delicate con- sideration towards myself, and with far more con- sideration than my husband deserved at your hands. But come—let us hasten away froni this dreadful place.” Kate did not require to be told twice to put on her bonnet and shawl: the turnkey was waiting at the end of the as the door of the cell opened, he hastened forward to take the light and guide the two females forth. In a few minutes they stood in the open street; and Kate breathed the air of Freedom once more just as the prison clock was proclaiming the hour of three in the morning. The hotel where she lodged, lay in the same direction as that which the Ministey’s wife had to take; and therefore they procee to- gether. Had it been otherwise, the magnanimous lady would have all the same felt it her duty to see Miss Marshall safe to her own residence. “You will now snatch a few hours of that repose which must be so » said the lady to Kate, when they reached the door of the hotel. “ By ten o'clock I shall again be with you, the bearer of Edward Russell’s pardon; and you will then lose no time in ing another courier with the precious document to Count Christoval at Barcelona.” The Minister’s wife bade Kate a temporary fare- well; and the house-porter speedily answering her summons at the gate, she obtained admission into the hotel. Seeking her own chamber, she lost no time in retiring to rest; and well-nigh exhausted both in mind and body, she soon fell into a profound slumber. When she awoke, it was nine o’clock ; and the good-hearted landlady was standing by the side of the couch,—infinitely rejaiced to have heard that her guest had come back in the middle of the night, and to find that the intelligence given to her by the house-porter to this effect was indeed true. But inasmuch as the landlady had been kept in ignorance of gll those transactions which were going on in regpect to the Minister, his wife, and the stratagem devised by the latter,—the worthy woman could not conceive how it was possible Kate had been arrested as a Carlist Spy—an allegation which ahe herself had not for an instant believed. She ingly said that she supposed it had been all a mistake on the part of the police P—and Kate, not wishing to be led into farther explana. tions, readily assured the landlady that such was the case. — At ten o'clock, faithful to her promise, the Minister's wify—again closely veiled—called upon ~~ Kate, and presented her with a packet, not only eontaining her lover’s pardon, but likewise the letters which had been taken from her trunk on pour forth her fervid gratitude to the excellent- hearted lady: again was her joy displayed with bright smiles and glistening tears. Oh! to think that she should have succeeded in her cherished aim after having experienced so many threatening adventuree—eo much affliction—and even at one time so much despair! This crowning happiness was almost too much for her: but she was not one of those women who are apt to faint in periods of excessive grief or excessive joy; and thus her natural fortitude soon came to her assistance. She lost no time, while the Minister’s wife was still with her, in penning a few hasty lines to Don Chria- toval,—a few lines likewise to her beloved Edward Russell, assuring him that she was about to set off in & post-chaise to meet him at Barcelona. The pardon, and this note for Russell, were enclosed in a packet addressed to Don Diego Christoval: and then Kate hastened to the landlady’s apartment, to inform her that her lover’s life was saved, with- out any condition of minor punishment,—and to request that a courier should be at once obtained to bear this second on the heels of the first. The worthy woman was eo delighted that she could scarcely leave off embracing Kate, who was na- turally impatient that not a minute's unnecessary delay should occur ere the messenger was in his saddie. She saw the man depart; and then hurried up to her own chamber, where the Minister's wife was waiting her return. “Now, my dear Miss Marshall,” said this lady, “before we I have acertain duty to fulfil, —a duty which, I have much pleasure in stating, was suggested by my husband: for he feels thas even the granting this pardon is scarcely an ade- quate atonement for his conduct towards you. You perceive, therefore, that his regrete of last night were not transitory. Indeed he has been profoundly touched by all these circumstances— and not the least by the proofs of love which I have exhibited towards him. He desires me to seek on his behalf the exprees assurance of your forgiveness; and he beseeches that you will not refuse to accept the contents of this purse-——Nay, do not shake your head, my dear Miss Marshall f You will accept this trifling present from me, even if you have any scruple in receiving it from him P” “Dearest lady,” answered Kate, with tears in her eyes, “I consider that his Excelleney has made every atonement; and from the very bottom of my heart do I forgive him the temporary un- casiness. which he caused me. And you, dear lady—you have proved yourself the kindest, the best of friends! But I cannot that purse —I need it not——Though not rich, I have ample means for my present purposee——” “Enough, my dear Miss Marshall !” interrupted the lady: “we will say no more upon that subject. But you will not refuse to wear this for my sake :” —and she drew from her finger a splendid ring set with brilliants. Kate could not reject a gift so generously and also so delicately proffered: she accordingly accepted it; and after many embraces ana kind words, she and the Minister’s wife bade each oting — = Oe oe “Ow 6 eee CN EE eee ww eee (COL 5 ( DOO CS (COL