The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 371: what you’re looking at

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

870 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. peeress at her husband’s mansion in the midst of his wide domains. The Count, comprehending what thus at times was occupying her thoughts, assured her that the present Ministry could not possibly last much longer—that it had already en- dured for a greater period than could have beon anticipated—~and that its fall would no doubt prove in its results favourable to the wishes which they both so deeply entertained. Juliana made no reply to her husband’s representations: in her heart she feared that he only held out these hopes in order to appease her, but in which he himself was by no means sanguine. It was one beautiful afternoon at the end of March, that Juliana was seated by the open window of the cottage parlour, while her husband was smoking his cigar in the garden. At every turn he passed by the casement, and bent upon her a fond look, at the same time bestowing some kind word. Having finished his cigar, he ap- proached the house for the of entering— but again lingered in front of the window to make some ing remark. By one of those movements which have no particular meaning, he took off his hat as he stood near the casement; and so power- ful was the glow of the sun that it made his hair, which was of a dark colour, seom absolutely light in the golden beams which poured their effulgence upon his head. Juliana was just on the point of admonishing him not te himself too much to the fervid heat of the unclouded euti,—when she noticed that he dropped his hat with a sudden start, and as if all in ean instant thrown into some degree of excitement or confusion. But as quickly recovering his self-possession, he said to his w “T will rejoin you, dearest, in a few moments “= and then hastened away towards the farther extre- mity of the garden. Juliana thought there was something singular in this proceeding ; and she at once issued from the cottage. On emerging into the gardem, she beheld her husband entering the orchard, in company with a man whom she recognised as that isbourer who on two previous occasions had sought relief. A gloom came over her countenance: she liked not the aspect of these circumstances; and from the shade of some trees, she watched her husband and that individual as they passed slowly along in the orchard. She saw them stop short, and both ges- ticulated violently; so that she now wondered that the man should have the impertinence to as- @ume so thteatching an attitude in the presence of the Count. A suspicion that there was something more in the re visits of this person than she had hitherto been led t believe, entered her mind ; and this gave rise to other reflections, which were by no means calculated to relieve her from anxiety. | Still she kept her eyes fixed upon her heshand and his companion: buf as she suddenly bebeld them te—the man remaining where he was, and the ¢ retracing his wa idly towards an ity ing that sho at Resuming her seat in the partout, she awaited the Count’s entrance,—composing her fea- tures as well es she was able, and wondering whether he would tell her what had taken place. He entered the cottage in a few minutes; but in- stead of rejoining her in the parlour, went straight 0, 2 up to the bed-chamber where the cash-box was kept. She at once surmised that it was to procure fresh means of relicf for the man who thus ap- peared to have such strong claims on her husband’s bounty. He did not remain many moments up- stairs; and on d ing, just looked into the parlour to inform his wife that he would be with her in a few minutes. ‘He then sallied forth again; and Juliana, haunted by suspicions which grew stronger and stronger, though they were still utterly vague and indefinite, hastened up to the bed-room. The Count, in his hurry, had forgottea to lock the strong-box, of which he was invariably apcustomed to keep the key; and ag Juliana hap- pened at this time to know exactly what amount there ought to be in the casket, she was speedily enabled to estimate how much had just been taken thence. To her surprise and annoyance, aa well as with a still strengthening suspicion, she discovered that a very formidable inroad indeed had been made upon their pecuniary resources, so that there was scarcely sufficient left to meet the tradesmen’s bills that would be coming m at the end of the week. She descended again to the parlour,— sadly troubled, byt still utterly at a lose to conceive how it was possible that a mere labourer on her husband’s estate could have obtained such a hold on his lordship as thus to extort from him so large @ pecuniary succour. She now felt assured that on the occasion when the contents of the cash-box had so mysteriously diminished, novessitating at the time a repetition of the Count’s visit to his intendant,—the assistance he had afforded the poor man must have been to » far greater amount than ife,|he had represented, and that thereby the ex- haustitn of their funds was to be accounted for. All those things agitated, bewildered, and per- plexed the mind of Juliana: but in the midst of her troubled reflections, the Count entered the room. He at onve, with his wonted frankness, inforined her that thé man who wad succoured on previous oveasions, had called again to implore tuay oeaily his lordshi “ As you may ” hi ip went om to way, "1 was little gratified by this renewal of his importunities: but as he solemnly assured a a ee ee nae nmeelt permanently, y & sum of ready money, P agreed to belp kim for the last time,” "And to what stnount did you thus assist ime 7 uired Juliana, not suffering husband to Pelveive that the incident had ef all troubled hee “T gm afraid I have been rather foolish,” re- sponded the nobleman, with a- good-natured langh : “for I have gives the fellow a sum sufficient to make a gentleman of him.” | wit But how is it possible,” aaked Jolians, still th a perfectly ingenuous air, “ & poor man should need such dimple supplies— and that you should consent thus to niinister to his wanton extra p” Tt struck Juliana that the Oount eyed her strangely for a moment—with a keenness as if to penetrate into the depths of her soul, and ascertain whether she had any deeper motive than mere passing curiosity for putting these questions. She maintained he? votmttenance perfectly: the reader knows she was a perfect mistress of cissimulation ; and she did not choose to let her husband perceive that she had been smitten with any disagrecable (COL (C DOO CS (COL