The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 383: what you’re looking at

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

870 THE MYSTERIES business wae of the utmost importance, induced one of the servants to arouse the mistress of the place. Finally, after some little trouble, Gertrude was en- abled to obtain an interview with Mrs. Gale: and the moment they were alone together, the damsel requested that she might see the Countess of Curzon immediately. Mrs. Gale asked if anything unplea- sant had occurred; to which Gertrude replied in the affirmative, without however entering into par- ticulara. Mrs. Gale, notwithstanding, heard enough to induce her to repair tothe chamber where the Countess and Emmerson were together: and to be brief, in a few minutes E.ditha was cenducted to the apartment where Gertrude had waited. Mrs. Gale witherew: and the Countess of Cur- gon, who had only huddled on a few clotnes, ex- claimed with a tone and loo of pvignant alarm, “ Good heavens, Gertrude! what has happened ?” The abigail proceeded to narrate all that hud taken place,—how the Earl had returned—ho# he had discovered that she was disguised in her inistress’s apparel—how he had opened the desk aud possessed himself of Lady Lechmere’s note as well as the forged bills—how he had locked her in the bondvir—and how she had escaped thence in the manner just described. It would be impossible tu convey an idea of the thrilling, feverish, aod rapid transitions of emotion through which the Countess passed, as these harried incidents struck one after the other npon her ear. Alarm at the return of her hosband— terror at the discoveries he had made—admira- tion of Gertrade’s devoted conduct—the excite- ment of absolute horror at her perilous descent— and then fresh fears and appreheasiuns on her own account,—these were the startling and stirring feel- ings which in rapid succession were conjured up by Gertrude’s narrative. But when the intrepid young woman displayed that eoil of rope made of twisted shawls, and which she had brought thither, Editba’s emotion of wonder and admiration triamphed for the instant over the more selfish sensations of alarm on her own account; and fliuoging her arms about the girl's neck, the Countess embraced her with the liveliest gratitude and affection. “J thought your ladyship should know of al! that has happened as speedily as possible,” said Gertrade. “In the first place, I feared lest his lordship should by any accident suspect that you were here and come to seek you. Secondly, | thought that if when you returned home in the morning, disguised ia my apparel and unprepared to receive the Earl, you suddenly encountered him, you would be so completely overwhelmed that no possible excuse or explanation would come to your aid. And thirdly, it struck me that if any tale can possibly be made up to save your lady- ship’s honour, it will be necessary to love no time in putting Lady Lechmere on her guard, ehould the Earl take it into his head to call and question her. For alli these reasons, I felt assured it would be better to warn you at once of what had oc- curred; and henve my resolve to escape from that bondoir and join you here at any risk.” “Never, never, dear Gertrode,” exclaimed the Ceunteas, “shall I forget this more than kinduess —this positive devotion—on your part. No sister would have risked a hundredth part as much for me! Bat what is to be done? what on earth can OF THE COURT. be done? Idiot, idiot that I was to leave those bits in my desk !—yes, or to leave even so slight & cue as that note which he showed you, and the contents of which you have recapitulated to me! Ah! wretched woman that I am,” she oried, wringing her hands bitterly. “ Like all my five sisters—like my mother—like my aunts —like every female member, tu fine, of my family—am lL destined to be dishovoured and disgraced! QO Gertrude, Gertrude! what a scinda!—what ao excitement will there be in the fashionable world to-morrow when the explosion takes place :” “But lady—dear lady,” interrupted the girl, “is all this risk that Ihave run to be in vain? Can you devise nothing—can you think of nothing to avert the impending ruin?” “TI do not see what can be done,” answered the almost distracted Editha. “Even if I cuuld get back unperceived iuto the house, the evidence is too strong ayainst me. Those bills—those dread- ful billa—and thea Lady Leehmere’s uufor.uua e note—O Gertrude, I am undoue—I am andone/ Ruin is inevitable—destruction is certain !” “Yes—if you meet your misfortunes half-way, or sink down under them at once,” exclaimed Gertrude. “But, happen what will, your ladyship must not stay here another minute: for if the Earl did come and find you itn such 4 place—pardon me the obser- vation—there would then be no hope nor chance of either explaining away existing circumstances, or of eventual reconciliation.” “They what would you advise?’ asked the Countess, with all the fluttering of painful excite- ment. * Whither shall I go?—what asylum shall I seek ?” “ Come home, my lady—and dare it all!" rejoined Gertrude: “that is the best plan! Who knows what the chapter of accidents may turn up in your favour ? But of course, if you once absent yourself from your home and the houschold knows it, then do you con- vict yourself beyond all redemptioo.” .“But how, in the name of heaven, are we to enter?”” demanded the Countess. “Surely not by the same way that you ere now quitted the mansion ?” she said, with an hysterical laugh. “Your ladyship forgets,” said the abigail, “ that if nothing had happened you would have returned home b:tween five and six in the morning, as on for- mer occasions.” “ Yes—dressed in your apparel, my dear Ger- trude,” exclaimed the Countess, suddenly recollect- ing these matters which had been lost sight of in the poignancy of her alarm: “and I have the key of the area-door with me——Ob! all this had slipped my memory !’’ “Hasten, my lady—and let us depart,” said Ger- trude. “Come—time presses——” * One minute, and I will return!” exclaimed the Countess: and she quitted the room where this col- loquy took place. What she said to Emmerson on returning to him, or what they arranged between themselves during the few minutes that they hurriedly conversed while the Countess finished dressing herself, matters not now. Suffice it to say that the infatuated bill-broker wrote her Jadyship a check upon his banker fora couple of thousand pounds, and that she soon after- wards quitted Mrs. Gale's establishment in company with Gertrade, Back to Grosvenor Street did the lady and the nee EOE OOO OL Ss