The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

1%A moment, who that nobleman was ?—‘ Lord Peters- field,” was the answer.” ' “Lord Petersfield! my father’s trustee—my brother's guardian—my mother’s intimate friend !” exclaimed Juliana. “ But I ought to have sus- pected as much, knowing that it was he who recom- mended you to Lady Sexondale. Proceed, dear Frank— ” “That Lord Petersfield was he whom I had seen in my earlier years, I felt convinced,” resumed the youth, “notwithstanding his denial. Wherefore should he have proffered me his interest-—he even used the word friendship—unless I had that claim upon him? But what connexion was there between him and the lady whom I regarded as my mother ? was he a relation or merely a friend? Vain queries were thees that I put to myself! and how futile were all the conjectures they raised up! But with- out dwelling at too great a length on this part of my narrative, let me hasten on to relate another inci- THE MYSTERIES OF THE COUNT. founded, and sank overpowered on a seat: then I burst into tears—for the conviction struck to my eoul that all those who could tell me anything of my mother, were inspired by the terrible determination to ignore my claims upon their sympethy and their confidence. The approach of fresh arrivals recalled me to myself: I dashed away the tears from my eyes, and rising from the seat, resumed my post at the door of the ante-chamber. Then, as I regained my com- posure—or at least was able to collect my ideas—I resolved to wateh those two ladies when they came forth again—escertain who they were—and thus endeavour, by making inquines concerning them, to follow up the clue, if any were thus afforded, in the hope of reaching the desired aim and discovering who that lady was that had left her image so inde- libly impressed on my soul. But in this design I was disappointed. When the concert broke up, come portion ef the visitors took their departure by one avenue of and some portion by another; dent. A few weeks after I had thus encountered | and thus I missed the two ladics whom I so Lord Petersfield, her Majesty the Queen gave a Concert at Buckingham Palace. A thousand cards of invitation were issued; and at the appointed hour the vicinage of the royal dwelling was crowded anxiously sought. From that day forth I have never again ecen them.” “Did they not visit the palace again?” asked Juliana. “TI cannot say,” replied Francis; “for within a with brilliant equipages. My duty on the occasion placed me in a kind of ante-chamber which | week I was somewhat summarily informed that my the company had to pase to the Yellow Drawing | farther services would be dispensed with, inasmuch Room, where the gueste were first to assemble ere | as some reduction was to be made in certain depart- the Concert-Room was thrown open. For some | mente of the royal household, and that the juniors time there was a continuous flow of all the elite of in each were to be first dismissed. I was however renk and fashion : but for « brief interval there was | assured that so far from any fault being found with & pause—a lapse, s0 to epeak—in the living stream; , me, I had given the utmost satisfaction; and as a and thus two or three minutes passed ere any fresh , prouf thereof three months’ salary was paid and the arrivals made their appearance. At length I beard | best testimonials presented to me. I could not bélp footsteps approaching — light airy steps—aend the | thinking that the true cause had not been assigned rustling of dresses. The next moment two ladies, | for my dismissal: a secret voice appeared to whisper whose ages might respectively have been thirty-two ' within me to the effect that it was found incon- and thi t they were not sisters, at least to venient, and perhaps dangerous, in certain quarters judge from their looks)—entered the ante-chamber | to stand the chance of being accosted or importaned on their way to the State Apartments. Ah, those by me when visiting the palace. However, the day faces! I recollected them in a moment—they were came for me to leave—and I departed accordingly.” the same I had seen by the couch of the lady at the | “Then, no doubt you remembered Lord Peters- country-mansion—the same I had subsequently seen, | field’s promise?” said Juliana inquiringly. aleo, at that mansion, on the last occasion of my| “Yes: but it was far less with the idea of secking being conducted thither! For observe, Mies Fare- his aid in procuring another situation, than to have field—Juliana, I mean —— dear Juliana! -——ob- an opportunity of pleading my cause before him serve, I say, that my memory has not only been vividly keen and scrupulously faithful relative to all incidents associated with the mysteries of my ear- lier years, but will remain immortal in that respect. Be not surprised, ; ladies. Though years had passed over their heads, yet in their passage they had merely developed and perbape heightened but by no means marred and little changed the mingled sweetness and glory of their cherms. Obedient to that same impulse which had me to address Lord Petersfield, I sprang for- ward and threw myself pointedly, but not rudely, in once more, that I sought him at his mansion. The moment I sent up my name his lordship reeaived me—and received me too with kindness: that is to say, with as much kindness as it is in his nature to show. I told bim of my dismiseal from the palace, at which he appeared to be surprised; though in my own mind I had the intuitive conviction that this surprise was merely feigned on his part. I threw myself at his feet, that he would say but one word to lift the veil which enveloped the past in so much mystery: but he was immovable! He pretended to pity me, and affected their way.—‘ What is it?’ they both asked in a to believe. that I must be under some breath : and at that moment I can well believethey monomaniac idea. In short, I could obtain nothing recollected me not.—‘ I'am Francis Paton,’ I said; from him in the shape of revelation. He spoke and then I exclaimed, ‘Oh, you recognise me! you ' kindly to me, as I ere now said—and observed that know me now” for I caw that they both started and he eould at ance help me to another situation, as he then exchanged looks of mingled uneasiness and happened to be aware at the time that his friend Bat instantaneously recovering them- | Lady Saxondaele needed a page. He gave me a selves, and as if in pursuance of the same tacitly un- | note to her ladyship; and thus was it that I entered derstood resolve how to act, they said coldly, ‘There this mansion.” ie come mistake ’—and passed on. I fell back con-: Francis Paton ceased speaking; and tha big te«e ElOOO (CO