The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 251: what you’re looking at

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344 had 4 certain prospect in view while deliberating whether I should accept your proposals: perhaps I seasoned to myself that if I sacrificed everything for you, a divores might be obtained between my hadband and mysslf, and that then you would make me your wife. But now, under existing cir- eumstances, the sacrifice you ask me to make is far greater than I regarded it while deeming you wamarried. Therefore,” added Mrs. Chesterficld, a dim voice, and besding wpon the Viscount ax equally decisive look, “I have met you here now to proclaim, emphetivally and peremptorily, that is at an end between us. As aman ef honour you will never breathe to a living soul thet for a single moment I had the weakness to ear to words————” “ My God, Auguste, speak not thus !—my own edaved Augusta !"—and the Viscount appeared the very image of despair. “Recall those dreadfal wards! —they are my doom—my desth knell! Oh, that the same lips from wheneo you learnt the aecret of my marriage, should have forborne to tell you that it was an unhappy one! Or perhaps thet mush was likewise to your If not, I declare it new. I never loved her who bears the name of my wife: I never loved before until I beheld you. Oh! mine is a heart that craved an Object whereon to bestow all the immensity of that love whereof it is capable; and my 1 had often depicted the beau ideal of her whom I could thus love passionately and adoringly. There was a void in this heart of mine to be filled up; and therefore was it that the very first moment my eyes settled upon you, I bebeld the idol of my imagination—the dean ideal for which I the whieh eould alone ocoupy that place in my heart! Augusta, will you refuse such a love as this? Na, you will not—you. will not—it is wapossibie! I ses that your looks are melting— Mhewt severity Js dissipeting—you will mot drive me to «What am I to dof-Oh, what am I to do?” cond Mrs. Chesterfield y, with all the appearance of one who was cruelly bewildered how to ast, “What ere you to do cried Chateaunecef, be and asiaing both her hands and pressing them in his | i own: “what are you todof You are to breathe the word which will confirm my happinces, and thereby give me the means of ensuring your oven |” “ Ensuring my own happiness?” said Augusta, in eo mnaing strain. “Oh! it is a tremendous risk thas I run im abandoning my husband for the eake a you! Yee—~it isa risk which I dere not en- connter——-there is a reason-——” “And that reason?’ cjaculated the Viscount de QWhateaumenf, fall of the most anxious sus- panée. “This that by remaining faithful to my husband,” enewerel. Mrs. Chesterfcid, averting her head, “J secure a name for the child which I bear in my beeom: but if I surrender myself inte your amg" “I will be = father to yonr child!” responded the Viscount, in » low voies, but replete with a concentrated jey that be wes enabled thus to re- move the last aruple whieh apposed to exiet in the mind of his adored one. “ Then I om your's,” abe answered : and she re- THE MYSTEHIBS OF THE COURT. sisted not, when rapturogsly citohing her im his arme, he etrained her to his breast. quaa=ummmmg> CHAPTER CXXXVIIL THS AWATOMICAL HMUSGSBU M. Ir was midnight—midnight in the dull and gloomy month of November; and neither moon nor star peeped forth from the leaden sky. <A drissiling rain was falling,—so thet the street-lamps looked ae if seca through a mist; and no one was abroad, save those wham duty or necessity, or other urgent circumstances, compelled to remain exposed to the molement atmosphere. The tall stiff policemen, capes: the daughters of crime stood shivering in doorways; end houseless mendicante endeavoured to draw their rags more closely around them. The hour of twelve wae being proclaimed by the countless tongues of Time throughout the me- coat-pockets,—the right one clulching the end of hie club, which reaching up to his armpit, was thus comoealed by the slceve of the arm itedlf. He walked quickly—did Mr. Ohiffin the Cannibal: for, as the reader may suspect, he was bent on im- Another diverging alley brought him to the beck of the canticclae veecsiane Ciieh De sought; and although there was a door in the wall, he paused not to force it ani he forthwith mounted those steps last alluded to It was almost completely dark im the garden,— no lamp being there to shed a ray upon the scene, and no moon nor star, as already stated, appearing ee re eee erence COMMUC DOO CS (COL