The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 304: what you’re looking at

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

qe THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. “But wherefore, Villebelle,” interrupted the Viscount, “do you think that I am unhappy ?” “ IT know it,” was the response given by the Mar- quis. “ WhenI met you the other day in company with the Viscountess,—although we were onlya brief ten minutes together,—I nevertheless saw that you had moments of abstraction, and that your mind seemed to be wandering to other subjects far dif- ferent from those which had arisen in conversation. After we my wife observed to me that she thought you had something darkening your soul. To-day, 3 my dear Chateauneuf, I have observed the same manner on your part. My experiences of the world have been somewhat severe; and its have enabled me to catch at a glance the slightest evidences of unhappiness in those with whom I come in contact. Think not for a moment that I seek to penetrate, through mere impertinent curiosity, into your affairs: but there have been times in my life when I should have hailed the counsel and the solace of a true and sincere friend as something as welcome as an angel-visit. I am your friend, Chateauneuf; and that is the reason I am thus speaking.” The Viscount bent down his eyes, and reflected profoundly for more than a minute. He was too intelligent not to be perfectly aware how very serious a step he had resolved to take, in renounc- ing his wife for the sake of Mrs. Chesterfield; and though very far from entertaining the idea of retracing his way, or revoking the preliminaries which he had that morning initiated with the notary,—yet it occurred to him that it was alto- gother a matter on which ho really ought to consult friendly advice. The notary himself had strongly urged him to adopt this course; and though Jules, in his infatuation for had impatiently rejected the legal gentleman’s counsel at the time, —it now recurred to him with added force, in consequence of the observations made by Villebelle. “IT do not know,” he said, abruptly breaking silence, and raising his eyes as suddenly, “that I am unhappy~——In one sense I am the happiest of men——” “You ought to be,” said the Marquis. “You possess ample revenues—a fine position—a beau- tiful, amiable, and affectionate wife——But, eh! L hope that I have said nothing indiscreet P” he ejaculated, perceiving that a cloud came over the handsome countenance of the young Viscount. “ My dear friend,” said the latter, taking the hand of the Marquis and pressing it with a sort of convulsive force, “ you have indeed touched a true chord, though not in the manner you intended or supposed. I said that in one sense I was the happiest of men; and I meant that I am thus happy in possoasing the tore. ot oe te aden adorable of women. But this, Villebelle,” added the Viscount, lowering his voice, to a scarcely au- dible —“ this is not my wife!” The Marquis was amased: for with all his ex- perience of the world, and with all his penctration, he had failed to discern that the Viscountess de Chateauneuf possessed not her husband's love. “ Yus—it is as I tell you,” continued the Vis- count, having glanced around to assure himself that they were alone together in the conservatory. “My wife is as nothing to me: my mistress is ev The former makes me wretched: the latter ig the source of all happiness. Ab, my dear © ogee, 6 eeET 7 eee eee ee ee ee © 299 friend! you cannot read the real disposition of women by merely beholding them at the dinner- table, or in the midst of brilliant society. Doubt- lees I have my faults:—but who has not ? Stephanie has however ten thousand times more failings than myself. Do not misunderstand me! The mow is not purer than her chastity as a wife; but I speak of infirmities of temper which are but too well calculated to make a household unhappy and drive a man to distraction. Regarded individually, each perbaps is an airy nothing; but aggravated —accumulated—taken together, they constitute an msupportable tyranny. One single drop of water falling on the stone, makes no impression; but the constant dripping wears it away. A single blow upon the head, does httle harm beyond the transient pain: but a continuous succession of blows produces madness. Thus is it with those infirmities of temper to which J have alluded: and now do you comprehend me f”’ “TI understand and I am astonished,” replied the Marquis of Villebelle. “ZI am sorry that I should have turned the conversation in a manner to evolve such a topic,—a topic invested with the solemn sanctity of a family secret.” “Do not be sorry on that my dear Villebelle,” replied Chateauneuf: “I am giad that you have thus spoken. I do indeed require a friend: for I am about to take a step of paramount importance——nothing less than separating from my wife !” The is of Villebelle looked deeply con- cerned, as i he was. He needed not to ask the question whether the Viscountess was as yet aware of her husband’s intention ; for he felt assured that she was not. He therefore experienced an illimitable compassion for that young lady, who was evidently lulled into the security of her own love—cradled in the confidence of her own affec- tion—unsuspicious of the storm which was gather- ing above her head. He was concerned, too, on account of his friend Jules de Chateauneuf: for he could not but consider that it was indeed a fear- ful atep that he had resolved upon taking. “Yes,” continued the Viscount, “I am deter- mined———uniless indeed ycu show me good reason to induce me to alter my resolve. A manis bound . to consult his own happiness: he must not sacri- fice it for the eake of one woman, when it can be ensured bw another,—al . the former bear t the more sacred title of wife, and the latter be in the false position of a mistress. Such is my case: —can you therefore blame me? I shall not act dishonourably in financial matters with regard to Stephanie. Though none of her fortune is by deed _ settled upon herself, I purpose to give her half; and a moiety of my own half shall I settle on my mistress. Thisis what I have promised the latter : and indeed, I have already instructed a notary to draw up the requisite deeds.” “Jules de Chateauneuf,” said the Marquis of , Villebelle, addressing his friend in a solemn voice and with « grave countenance, “ you have done well to consult me in this instance. You have brought yourself to the edge of a precipice: for God’s sake, let mine be the hand which is to draw you back! ‘You must reflect—this resolve which you have adopted in madness, must be renounced in the hour of sober deliberation. What! for some of | ’ | | | | ! | | those little peculiarities of temper which no women | > eee" "ees Ce Oe (GO) an (C DOO CS (COL