The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

136 THE MYSTERIES OF THR COURT. “It is just why Marchmont és welcome,” said Linda, the German girl, who also spoke English well: “ because he is sure to give us champagne.” “Hold your tongues, you selfish creatures !”’ cried Eveleen, the Irish girl, with that interesting intonation of voice which gives such a peculiar charm to the Hibernian accent upon the lip of a well-bred daughter of the Emerald Isle, “Let us welcome him in another way :”—and with sportive joyousness she wound her arms about the Duke’s neck, at the same time kissing him upon either cheek. “Oh, if that is the sort of welcome you have in store for me,” said Marchmiont, “pray let it be given at once.” Thereupon Miss Lettice folded him in her em- brace: Mademoiselle Armantine was the next to dispense her caresses; and though the German girl came last, yet she held him longest in her arms. “ And now my fair ones,” exclaimed the Duke, laughing with the air of a man who purposely sought this kind of society for the purpose of escap- ing from more serious, and perhaps unpleasant reflections—“ let us have champagne and fruit, and we will pass a merry evening together. But first of all I must have a few words with Madame Angelique—and in private too. I have something of importance to speak to her about.” ‘You know where to find her,” said Lettice : “she is in her own room at this moment. Go quick, Marchmont—and if you remain too long, we will all four come in a body, armed with champagne-bottles, and with forced fruit as mis- siles, to drive you back as our captive.” ‘*Chains of festooning flowers ahould not be omitted from the implements of your coercion,” answered the Duke, forcing himself to speak in a gay manner : though, as he opened a door opposite the mysteriously contrived mirror, he could scarcely keep back a sigh which rose up into his very throat. Closing the door behind him, he traversed the well carpeted passage, and tapped at another door on the same storey. The well-known voice of Madame lique bade him enter; and-he found her seated at table with none other than her neighbour M. Bertin. There was an exquisite supper upon the table,—a repast consisting of succulent French delicacies, served up on silver plate, and flanked with bottles of champagne, Bur- gundy, and Bordeaux. The room was a small one —but furnished in the most luxurious manner. It was Madame’s boudoir; and a door facing the one by which the Duke had entered, communicated with her bed-chamber. M. Bertin rose and bowed obsequiously: but Madame angelaue contented herself with a half-courteous, half -familiar at the same time i a chair. “I am sorry to disturb you, my dear madam, in the midst of so agreeable a téte-d-téte,” said the Duke, speaking in the French tongue, with which he was perfectly conversant: “but I have some business of importance to discuss with you. Shall I return presently P” “By no moans, my lord,” answeted Madame Angelique, in a most gracious doubtless well knew that the Duke’s gold would indemnify her well for any little inconvenience she might experience on the score of the delicacies of the supper-table getting cold. manner: for she. Qari? ~ ante —». SEP Gc Ww “And it just happens,” said the discreet and obsequious M. Bertin, “that I have a couple of letters to write——” “Which need not take you more than a quarter of, an hour,” observed the Dake,—thus indicating the interval that he wished the tailor to remain absent from the milliner’s boudoir. M. Bertin bowed and withdrew : but eo far from returning into his own house, or having any letters at all to write, ho merely lounged away the pre- scribed quarter of an hour in an room. Meanwhile let us see what took place between the Duke of Marchmont and Madame Angelique. “TI believe, my excellent friend,” said his Grace, “that you make all my wife’s dresses “I have for some years enjoyed the honour of her Grace’s patronage,” was the milliner’s re- sponse. ‘And mine too, for that matter,” exclaimed the Duke, with a laugh. “But joking apart, have you made any dresses for her Grace re- cently ?” moment, my lord,” answered Sites this Madame Angelique, “I have three or four in hand for the Duchess of Marchmont.” “ Good !” ejaculated the Duke. can make duplicates P” “ Make duplicates, my lord!” cried the milliner, with a most genuine amazement. - “To be sure. Why not?” “Oh!—of course, if your Grace wishes it, I could make a dozen of precisely the sam ” “ Never mind tho dozen,” rejoined t Marefmont : “a duplicate of each will answer all my purpose. But recollect, the work must be so well done and the resemblances so exact, that her Grace’s own maid, if appealed to upon the subject, could not possibly suspect that there were duplicates of her mistress’s raiment.” “ All this can be done, my lord,” replied Madame Angelique: “and without for a single moment attempting to pry impertinently into your Grace's reasons and objects, pardon me for expressing @ hope that no ovil consequences will redound to myself?” “TJ will take care of that,” answered the Duke. “When will these dresses be ready ?” “Her Grace tells me, my lord, that you are all going into the country the day after to-morrow ; and the dresses which her Grace has ordered, must consequently be sent some to-morrow night.” “ And when can the counterparts be in readi- ness f”’ inquired Marchmont. “Tt will take a good week, my lord——~” “ A week P—nonsense !” ejaculated Marchmont. “T cannot possibly get them done in less time. — | Say on the sixth ing hence,” added Madame Angelique, after a little reflection. “ Of course you “Very good,” replied the Duke: “that mast suffice.” ‘They shall be positively at Marchmont House by nine o’clock on the day named———” *‘ No—you must not send them direct to March- mont House,” exclaimed the Duke: “that will never do! There must be no trace———But how can it be managed P” “Shall I forward the dresses in a box to Oak- lands, my lord ?’ asked the milliner. “A box so light as that will be with nothing but woman’s trampery in it, would seem suspicious COMMUC DOO CS (COL