The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 365: what you’re looking at

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364 ahould be the fullest exposure of the tremendous cheat which she had palmed upon society: buf in an instant it occurred to her that if her salvation were possible, it could only be by means of a hypo- critical cajolery, and therefore was it that she strained her son to her bosom. The discourse which ensued was rapid; and each successive sen- tence spoken by our hero, was full of hope and enco t for that vile bad woman. She learnt that Madge Somers was dead, and that she had revealed nothing beyond the bare fact of the fraud iteelf in respect to her own son who passed as Ed- mund Saxondale, but who was really the supplanter of him who was known to the world as William Deveril. Moreover, her ladyship received the wel- come intelligence that the stupendous secret was to be kept—that nothing was to be made known— that the lips of Angela and the Marquis of Eagle- dean were sealed—and that William himself pre- ferred his comparative obscurity, to the attainment of rank and riches by the ruin of his mother. It was not therefore difficult for Lady Saxondale to bring herself to lavish caresses upon our hero—to press him to her boeom—to acknowledge him as her offspring—to welcome him as her son—to speak kindly and to look tenderly. But her heart was in reality unmoved towards him: those maternal yearnings which are so natural on the part of woman, and almost so invariable, were in this instance stifled, subdued, and crushed beneath the weight of selfish considerations. Had he proclaimed an intention of demanding his righte and appealing to the tribunals, she would have : him as her son—she would have repudiated his claim to be considered her offspring—she would have dared him to the proof; and she would have risked everything in the desperate struggle of one last fight for the maintenance of all that she had committed so many crimes to consolidate. But he bad acted otherwise—her conduct was shaped ingly—and when he went forth from her presence, she felt herself in reality more aafe and secure than for many months past she had been. No wonder therefore that a smile of satisfaction and exulting triumph appeared upon her features : for in this brief interview she had comprehended all that was grand, noble, and mous on the part of her son; and she felt confident that what- soever he had promised he would faithfully perform. The glance which she threw over her present position was in every way reassuring and comfort- ing for the bad heart of this unscrupulous lady. Madge Somers was dead; and she need trouble herself concerning that woman no longer. Lord Harold Staunton, being irreconcilably at variance with his uncle the Marquis of Eagledean, was altogether upon her—and therefore in her power. She needed not his services to forward her aims; and she could consequently dictate to him her own terms. In this respect her resolution was taken: she would retain him as her para- mour: for having become excluded from the socicty in which she was once wont to move, she did not intend to stand upon any scruples in the gratifi- cation of her passions. Over Edmund her dominion was likewise completely established: the crime which he had committed and the vices to which he was addicted, rendered him pliant and ductile in ber hands. She had no farther fear of the Mar- quis of Eagledean’s animosity on account of past THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. occurrences: her son would prove her friend in that quarter. As to Dr. Ferney, she flattered herself that a little cajolery or the simulation of intensest anguish, would at any time over-ride his scruples and prove more potent than his qualms of conscience. Thus altogether, as she contemplated her present position, Lady Saxondale felt satisfied, elate, and triumphant. CHAPTER CLXIV THE COUNT AND COUNTESS OF TOLEDO. Urwanrps of eight months had elapsed from the date of those incidents which we have been relat- ing; and it was now the autumn of 1845. A glorious autumn it was too—but nowhere more glowing nor richer in nature’s produce of fruits and flowers than in the southern districts of France. In the neighbourhood of a beautiful little village, on the French side of the Eastern Pyrenees, a delightful cottage-residence was situated in the midst of a spacious and well-kept garden. There were likewise pleasure-grounds and shrubberies— an orchard—and a piece of water, on which the swans floated in graceful stateliness. In the stables attached to this dwelling, there were three or four horses; and in the coach-house a close carriage and an elegant phacton. The occupants of this ing villa were a gentloman and lady, two male domestics, and two females. The house and premises had been to let for some time until within about a couple of months of the period of which we are now writing—when they were suddenly taken by the Count and Countess of Toledo, the gentleman and lady already alluded to. They arrived one evening with a couple of attendantsp— one male and one female—in a post-chaise from a northernly direction—it was believed from Paris; and they balted for a day or two at the vi inn. During their walks in the neighbourhood, they perceived the villa-residence 80 charmingly si- tuated in the midst of its grounds; and taking a fancy to the spot, they decided upon settling thera, at least for a while. The house was to be let fur- nished, and belonged to the old notary of the vil- lage: a bargain was soon struck—the Count de Toledo needed to give no references, for he had something much better in the shape of a well-filled purse; and hiring the house and premises for a year certain, he paid the entire rent in advance. It was under auspices which thus seemed par- ticularly favourable in the eyee of the villagers, that the Count and Countess took possession of the cottage. Their domestic establishment was increased by the hire of two more servante—one at some adjacent town the Count purchased the horses and carriages. They lived in good style— paid their bills regularly—and were therefore well spoken of throughout the neighbourhood. They were speedily visited by the few good families re- sident in that district, and thus seemed to have just as much society as could be wanted by per- sons for whom @ somewhat retired and secluded mode of life evidently possessed the greatest charm. The Count de Toledo was, as his title implies, a (COL (C DOO =a CS (COL