The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 305: what you’re looking at

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

“"Yes—those were indeed days of pleasing pain,” said Constance; and she hastily passed her kerchief across her countenance: for the retrospect had conjured up certain associations with regard to her mother, her brother, and her sister. “Do not weep, my beloved wife,” said the Marquis, drawing his chair closer to that in which che was scated; and her hand he pressed it ywarmly—whaile ‘he gazed with tender devotion upon the countenance over which the shade of sadness had come. “No happiness can be perfect, Oon- stance, in this world. There are always some drawbacks ; and we must accept with gratitude the amount of felicity which we do experience. Only conceive how infinitely superior is our condition, to that of a wedded couple who enjoy not each other’s love, and know not therefore the charms of sweetest domesticity!” — “Yes—I am not unmindful of all that,” an- swered Constance, thanking her husband with an affectionate look for the attempt which he thus made to console and cheer her. “ Nevertheless, you must edmit, Etienne, that it would indicate hardness of heart if I did not feel the calamities which have overtaken my family. My mother dis- graced-—her name become a bye-word in the society which she once adorned—convicted of having propagated a serious calumny in respect to Mr. Deveril;—Edmund having made such a shock- ing match ;—Juliana I know not where—but she, alas! disgraced likewise——Oh, Etienne! promise me, promise me, my beloved husband, that if ever you obtain the slightest hint as to where my un- happy sister has secreted herself, you will tell me— that I may fly to her—that I may console her! For I am sure that whatever her faults may have been, you would not debar me from the perform- ance of such a duty ?” “No, dearest Constance—not for a moment would I!” exclaimed the Marquis; “and you will not even require my solemn promise that if acci- dent should render me acquainted with the seclu- sion to which your unfortunate sister has fied, I - would not lose a moment in revealing it to you.” “A word from lips, dearest Etienne,” re- sponded Constance, “has ever the sanctity of the most solemn vow. Yee—I know that you would not for an instant hesitate to let me see my sister, if you by any chance obtained tidings concerning her. But we will now talk on other subjects: [ must not be sad and gloomy when in your socie « No,” rejoined the Marquis; “because my happiness depends upon your's. And now, Con- stance, I have to inform you that at twelve o'clock I am going somewhere with the Viscount de | him Chateauneuf. It is to carry out that experiment to which I have alluded. [I shall tell you nothing more now: have patience, my beloved one, until my return. You need not fear that I shall be very long absent.” But in the meanwhile, let us see what the Viscount de Chateauneuf was doing elsewhere. This nobleman was much struck by the remarks and remonstrances of his friend Villebelle at the time the discourse was taking place in the : but when he awoke in the morning, the effect thereof waz much We can- not say that it had altogether passed away,— and likewise possessed of feelings naturally too good, not to have experienced, even after the lapse of some hours, the lingering influence of Villebelle’s impressive language. But he was still as much infatuated as ever with Augusta Chester- field: her image, which was uppermost in his mind, was full of a ravishing beauty; anc he said to himself that such a woman was worth any sacrifice for. Nevertheless, he preserved a certain degree of kindness of manner towards Stephanie at the breakfast-table; and he studi- ously avoided taking offence at anything which she said. He moreover faithfully kept the pro- mise which he had given to the Marquis of Ville- belle, and hinted not a single syllable of the in- tentions which he harboured in respect to a eepa- ration. The Viscountess, finding him more gentle towards her—more lenient—more tolerant—secretly flattered herself that a favourable change had taken place within him; and she lost no opportunity of lavishing upon him the evidences of her sincere love. Even during the ordinary routine of the breakfast-table and the accompanying converea- tion, there are a myriad little ways by which a fond and adoring woman can display her tender- ness for the beloved one: looks, and words, and attentions, all may be rendered available for this purpose. And so it was with the Viscountess on the present occasion; and more than once Jules de Chateauneuf was compelled to admit to himeelf that the affection his wife cherished for him was deep, tender, and sincere. It was about half-past ten o’clock when he issued forth from his mansion to pay the accus- tomed visit to Augusta; and he set out thus early, according to the promise made her preceding day. On reaching the little villa, he found Mrs. Chesterfield expecting his arrival; and she welcomed him with the usual amount of blandishments, caresses, and smiles,—all lavishly given and rapturously received. in did he seek in his own mind to contrast the fervid en- dearments of Augusta with the more ingenuous and unsophisticated evidences of his wife's affec- tion: but the comparison he drew was favourable to the former. He sought to persuade himself that there was something insipid and mawkishly sentimental in the love of Stephanie—while the - ardent caresses of his mistress filled his soul with an almost frenzied passion. It was a complete infatuation under which he laboured in respect to Mrs. Chesterfield: it was a devouring, furious, storm-hke whirl of passion through which, by her blandishmente and the gorgeous splendour of her voluptuous beauty, she had the power to hurry “Dearest Augusta,” he said, in the course of conversation, “I have a great favour to ask you.” ‘‘There is no favour, beloved Jules, that you can demand at my hands,” responded the syren, “which I am not prepared to grant. Name it. Is it some new proof of my devoted love which you require P” “No—scarcely that,” answered the Viscount. “T will explain myself in a few words. Yesterday I met a friend, a certain M. Meurics, who was a schoolfellow of mine—a of wealth and standing; and he dined with me last Remember, Augusta, he is one of my oldest ac- bevause Jules de Chateauncuf was too intelligent | quaintances ; and we entertain a very sincere Ea «a=. ° eoraErr: ane Ogee eee eee = a o ee ao eee hea 7-2 © owen ob | | (COL (C DOO CS (COL