The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 303: what you’re looking at

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a ee rr TT CE pa a a a ae ne Oe a aaa 298 THE WYSTERIES OF THE COURT. your presence, must you renounce your husband —renounce every family tie, if need be—and be- ‘come wholly and unconditionally mine! From that hour too ehall we dwell together, wheresoever your inclination may suggest that we fix our abode : and we shall be as husband and wife. But now, Augusta, not another word on this subject! not a remonstrance! I am determined: it is a duty— and I will fulfil it !” The wily woman could well afford a perfect gush of enthusiastic feeling as she strained the young | Viscount in her arms and covered his cheeks and i his lips with kisses. “ And now I go,” he said, “at once to give the requisite instructions toa notary. I shall return to pass a few hours with you. Unfortunately I have guests this evening at the.chateau; and I for some time past been troubled and anxious os account of those relatives who were so dear to her. She had heard of the terrific exposure which took place a few months back at Saxondale Castle, when the double wedding was so strangely i interrupted and broken off: she knew therefore that her sister Jidians was y and irredeemably disgraced, az.d that her mother’s name had suffered at the seme time in the estimation of the world. She likewise knew that her mother and Juliana were not now together—that the former was in E and the latter somewhere upon the Continent; and she was grieved that her sister suffered her not to become acquainted with the place of seclusion to which she had retired. Constance was also aware «hat her brother Edmund had married the Baroness de Charlemont who was tried for the murder of must be there———inasmuch as for the present it is! kar first husband;—and all these circumstances better I should keep upon terms with my wife until all arrangements be carried out. So that at six o'clock I shall be compelled to leave you: but to- morrow I promise to be earlier with you than to- day.’’ Having embraced Augusta Chesterfield, the Viscount de Chateauneuf took his departure to give instructions to a notary to prepare two deeds ~—one making over half his revenue, together with the chateau itself, to Stephanie—and the other as- signing so much of his property as would produce five thousand a-year, to the woman with whom he was so profoundly Soon after six o'clock in the evening, the Vis- countess de Chateauneuf commenced her toilet for the party. One cof her maids, on ascending to her mistress’s chamber tc render the wonted assistance, gave her the pleamrg intelligence that the Vis- count had just entered and was likewise gone to dress. Thus Stephanie was relieved from her fears lest he should not be punctual, A little before seven they met in the drawing-room; and for the first few moments the Viscount was troubled and embarrassed, as he thought that in a few days he was to deal a blow fatak to the happiness of the unfortunate and confiding wife who now greeted him with such sweet emiles. This feeling rendered him ‘musually kind, and even affectionate towaris her :—at least his manner had the appearance of affection; and Stephanie was radiant with happi- neos, as she said to herself, “ Yes, he loves me—he loves me! How could I ever have doubted it?” In a few minutes the guests began to arrive— some fifteen or sixteen in all; and amongst them the Marquis of Villebelle and Ccnstance. The Marquis had within the last few days received a much higher and far more lucrative appointment than that which he had held at the Court of Madrid: he was now to be accredited as Minister to the Court of Naples—but he had still leave of absence for a few weeks ere setting out for his new post. Being rous in his worldly circum- stances and bicesed in his love for Constance, he was supremely happy; and his fine countenance reflected the feelings of his heart. The Marchioness of Villebelle—for s0 we must call Constance— looked eminently beautiful; and she also was happy in her Etienne’s love, as well as in the con- were sufficient to depress her somewhat. Never- theless, her hasband’s love—so sincere and so de- voted—was powerful enough to mitigate much of that fuli amount of grief which she would other- wise have experi s and-no one, as she entered the brilliantly lighted saloon at the Viscount de Chateauneuf’s mansion, would have suspected that the felicity of the Marchioness of Villebelle was thus We will pass over all details in respect to the sumptuous banquet which was served up: let our readers suppose it to be over, and the company dispersed about the suite of gilded and brilliantly lighted saloons thrown open for their reception. There was music in one: in another the tables were spread with splendidly bound volumes and prints: in a third the card tables were set out ; and the fourth opened upon a spacious winter- garden, or conservatory of glass, heated by artifi. cial means, and ining a varied selection of the choicest plants as well as of several fruit-trees from the ics. The Viscountess de Chateauneuf and the Marchioness of Villebelle, who had already conceived a friendship for each other, were seated together upon a sofa in the musio-room: a young lady was at the piano—another st the harp: others were sitting with young gentlemen, and listening to the melody, or perhaps whispering with each other : the elderly gentlemen and ladics were in the card-room: in short, all the company were ly occupied in some way or another. The Marquis of Villebelle had accompanied the Viscount de Chateauneuf into the conservatory; and for some little time they were engaged in examining the exotics and the fruits of the palm, ths banana, the citron, and the orange trees. “My dear Viscount,” said the Marquis, when the inspection was concluded, “you and I have ‘nown each other since our boyhood ; and though there has been an interval of some years since last wo saw each other, yet is the friendly feeling of other times in no way diminished on my part.” “Nor on mine, my dear Villebeile,” Chateauneuf, warmly grasping the hand of the “IT am sure of it,” resumed the latter; “and therefore you will not think it strange or imperti- nent that I am about to speak to you on a certain templation of the honours bestowed upon him by! subject. In a word, my dear friend, you are not the King, and which his own talents had won. i happy: and if there be any circumstance in which But still the felicity of Lady Saxondale’s younger : daughter was not complete: inasmuch as she had ERE ee Oe eS | Ga a vou require the counsel or consolation of one whe experiences @ sincere regard for you———~” COMMUC OOO|KKS (COL