The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 193: what you’re looking at

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180 —“for I did all this entirely through devotion to ou.” 7 * Forgive you, dearest Editha!” exclaimed Malpas, much of whose enthusiasm of tone and manner was affected: “how can I do otherwise than forgive you? You have risked much—I do not think you are precisely aware how much—for my sake: and it is fortunate that we are in such hands as Em- merson’s: Heisa perfect gentleman—possessed of great influence in the City—and will soon be an Alderman,” added the Colonel, sententiously; for he was making these remarks in order to propitiate the bill-broker whose close vicinage was 60 little sua- pected by the Countess of Curzon. “Tt is indeed fortunate that the bills are in such hands,” said the Countess, now bitterly repenting the imprudence into which a passionate infatuation had betrayed her at the time. “But does he already know that you have received them from me ?” “I was compelled to confess the trath, Ediths,” replied Malpas: “or else he would have given me into custody on a charge of forgery.” “Ah! then you hesitated not to sacrifice my honour in order to save your own!” ejaculated the Countess, suddenly starting from the sofa, while the rich blood mantled in scarlet glow through the transparent duskiness of her skin. “Pardon me, Editha,” said Malpas, confused and humiliated: “but what could I do?” : “Risked Newgate—death—avything, sooner than betray the honour of a confiding woman!” exclaimed the Countess of Curzon, fixing upon her paramour a look of withering scorn and superb contempt “ Did I risk nothing for you when I forged my hus- band’s name to save you from a debtors’ gaol f— have I risked nothing in giving you that love which could-alone prompt me to such a perilous act? It was in a moment of utter contempt and indifference for all consequences, that I became a forger: and that supreme recklessness was produced by my devotion to you! Now, sir, you have rewarded me by betraying my honour iato the hands of an usurer———"" “ For God’s sake use no harsh words with respect to Emmerson!” exclaimed the Colonel. “ Your honour is safe in his keepiog—he will not betray eee “Wretch!” ejaculated the Countess, bitterly. “Mauch asI loved you a minute back, I now hate and detest you! Viper—would to heaven that I had the power of crushing you under my foot !”’ “Editha, you are raving!" cried Malpas, his countenance ghastly pale and his lips livid and qui- vering. * Do you intend to quarrel with me for ever ?” “My pardon you can never obtain, sir!” an- swered the Countess haughtily. “If my heart were henceforth to feel one moment’s tenderness towards you, I would stab it to the verycore. But enough of this portion of the painful drama. One word more—and I take my departure. Am I to under- stand that you will arrange with Mr. Emmerson for these bills and that you will provide for them in due course ?—or will you crown your infamy by suffer- ing the transaction to reach my husband’s ears f” “I will provide for them--on my honour I will provide for them?” exclaimed the Colonel. “ But hear me——” “ Enough, sir!” ejaculated the Countess with im- perious tone and haughty manner. ees an Ee, oe i EE ER -_S -——/ THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. She took up her bonnet and cloak: he advanced, tremblingly aad pale, to assist her in putting on the latter; butshe repulsed him with a gesture of scorn. He essayed to murmur a few syllables of abject entreaty—but she darted upon him ea loek that seemed fraught with the scathing powers of light- ning. A moment afterwards—and she was gone! Throughout this scene the bill-broker had re- mained a hidden but profoundly interested observer in the cabinet with the glass door. It was the first time he had ever seen the Countess of Curzon: and he was astonished as well as enraptured at the peculiar style of her loveliness. Her beanty ap- peared.to him of the Mauritanian species which characterised the Moorish women who once made Spain their home, and the memory of whose Cc has been preserved in many a tradition, legend, and romance. On throwing off the cloak which enveloped her entire person, Editha had appeared in a dark velvet dress, which seemed most befitting her complexion: and the admirable _ fashion of the costume set off the sculptural sym- metry of her shape to its utmost advantage. Then the power of her eyes, so luminous in their intense — darkness, and so splendid with their long jetty | lashes—the rich hue of the flush that so often mantied on her cheeks during the conversation with her now discarded paramour—the vivid red of those lips that were so delicious in their moist fulness and that seemed to breathe sweets even when the words that passed through them were sharp with scorn—the quick heavings of that bosom which the low-bodied dress left more than half exposed—the grace, the elegance, and the dignity of her attitudes, all adapting themselves to the style of the discourse she was heariog or giving utterance to at the time,—in a word, every charm and every attraction that invested or sur- rounded her, produced a powerful effect upon Emmerson. She departed in anger, as we have already de- scribed: and then the bill-broker, unlocking the door, came forth from the place of his concealmept. “Now, Emmerson, are you satisfied?” said Mal- pas, still trembling beneath the influence of that withering, blighting, scathing look which Editha had last thrown upon him. “She is the only woman I ever saw whose love is worth dying for,” responded the bill-broker: then, gazing upon Malpas with somewhat of that scorn and contempt which he had caught as it were by transfusion from the noble lady who had just taken her departure, he said, “ How feel you now, Colonel, after the closing scene in this drama, as the Countess so appropriately styled it ?" “ Whatever has happened, Mr. Emmerson,” re- ‘plied Malpas, moodily, “tis you who have driven me to it. But now that you have heard my inno- cence proclaimed from the lady’s own lips—now also that you know every minute detail of the entire transaction—what course do you propose to adopt ?” “IT am not decided at present,” answered the bill-broker. “You may however rest ascured that I shall not take any step which may compromise the Countess of Curzon. But you will come to my office to-morrow morning and give me your own bill—mind, your own bdill—for the amount which you owe me.” _———_ —_ — am ee eee eee | COMME OG CO