The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 366: what you’re looking at

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THE MYETERIES OF THE COURT. Roaniard ; and his age appeared to be about seven or eight-and-twenty. He was a fine man—but of features too coarse to be styled actually handsome ; and there was a certain roughness in his manner as well as in his appearance, which, though neither positively rude nor uncouth, yet showed a de- ficiency of that polish which is to be acquired in the drawing-rooms of the fashionable world. But it was understood that he had served in the Spanish army, and for several years had passed his time in received when the reader was first introduced to her at the Durands’ villa, was from her ladyship ; and it made her acquainted with the omnipotent sway which Edmund's wife had obtained over him, as well as of the mother’s determination to con- sign him to a madhouse. Subsequent correspond- ence from the same quarter informed Juliana of Adelaide’s death in Lincolnshire: but the young lady did not euspect that it was a foul murder instead of an accident. In her own letters to her camps or barracks, during the civil wars between | mother, sho mentioned nothing of her amour with the Christinos and the Carliste. It was therefore supposed that this partial roughness of manner hich characterized him, had been derived from the Viscount de Chateauneuf: but she gave due notice of her several of abode—of the death of her child—and of her removal to Paris Nis snilitary fe and as his conversation was in- again. Lady Saxondale liked her daughter too teresting, varied, and full of anecdotes,—moreover, as he was proficient in all manly sports, was ex- ceedingly hospitable in his entertainment of the few friends who visited at the cottage, and was liberal in his dealings with the village tradesmen —living also in good style, though in that com- parative seclusion,—he soon became a favourite with all who knew him. His person, if not hand- some, was of a fine manly appearance: his dark hair, singularly luxuriant, curled naturally: his large black eyes were full of fire; and he had a magnificent set of teeth. His form was well set, muscular, and athletic,—powerful without being ungainly. He was a superb horseman, and managed his spirited steed with the utmost skill and expertness. But it was said that he was vain and conceited, inasmuch ag he studied a certain affectation in his dress, as if he were fond of the display of a varied and cxtensive wardrobe,—some of his garments being of those ouiré fashions which at that time had begun to be prevalent in the French capital. The Countess de Toledo was an English lady, and remarkably handsome. Indeed, not to make any unnecessary inystery upon this point, we may as well at once state that she was an old acquaint- tirmg to some remote and obecure French town, had there lived in seclusion, as well as under a feigned name, until the time arrived when she was to become a mother. The child perished at ite birth; and when perfectly convalescent, Juliana She had previously ascertained that her sister and the Marquis of Villebelle, neither of whom she had any inclination to meet, of encountering in the capital any persons whom she would rather not meet: and taking handsome apartments, she looked about her for the p of entrapping either a wealthy husband or a Julians had determined not to revisit England. She had not a sufficiency of brazen effrontery to bold her head erect and look the world in the face where her shame was well known,—as her mother had done. With Lady Saxondale she had occa- sonally corresponded :—that very letter which she o te —EEE@Bese we eso ome oe See little to be very pressing in her letters that she should return to England: on the contrary, she wrote her approval of Juliana’s resolve to remain abroad, and was by no means niggard in remitting funds as often as they were asked for. It was in Paris, on her return thither after her confinement, that Juliana fell in with the Couns de Toledo, who was living in style at one of the most fashionable hotels. At first she con- sidered him somewhat repulsive in his looks and uncouth in his manners: and no wonder, when she contrasted him with the delicate beauty of Francis Paton, and the exquisite gentility of the Viscount de Chateauneuf. But as their acquaint- ance improved, the first feelings of aversion rapidly wore off: the fine eyes and splendid teeth of the Count de Toledo were no inconsiderable saving- clauses m his favour: he was good-humoured and entertaining—liberal and frank-hearted ; and Ju- liana saw that the conquest would be a much more easy one than that of a nobleman or gentle- man of a greater drawing-room refinement. Be- sides, the Count in due course began to pay his addresses with an evidently honourable intention ; and a marriage with a Spanish nobleman who seemed possessed of ample wealth, was a chance by no means to be discarded by a young lady in so false a position as Juliana Farefieid. When she perceived that the Count de Toledo was serious in his intentions towards her, she pru- dently instituted inquiries concerning him. She had in her service a French maid of exceeding shrewdnces and quick intelligence; and through her she ascertained that the Count was really, as he had often informed her, a frequent visitor at the house of the Spanish Ambassador in Paris. This was sufficient to guarantee his respectability, —while his mode of life cvidently indicated tho possession of ample means. On her side, Juliana took good care to let the Spanish nobleman become awaro that she was the daughter of Lady Saxon- dale, and the sister of the bearer of the same proud title: she devised a story of ill-health in England, and the advice of physicians, as the cause for her residing abroad; and sho did not forget to mention that her younger sister was marsied to the Marquis of Villebelle, a French- man of high standing and at that time Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Naples. Being thus mutually satisfied with each other, there was nothing to prevent a matrimonial al- liance; and as the Count ent de Toledo was a rigid Catholic, the nuptials were solemnized in a twofold manner—first in a French Church, and immediately afterwards in the obapel of the English Emtas, 868 ene (COL (C DOO CS (COL