The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 182: what you’re looking at

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

I eee ee ee THE MYSTELINS OF THE COURT. 171. lated to leave upon the mind; and Henriette would ' the garb of bypoerisy, and t and by holding out hopes of much rathet have remained in the companionship | eventual surrender throw him off his guard and ob- of her own thoughts than have the society of this tain relaxations of her imprisonment which might woman forced upon her. furnish an opportunity of escape. But against this “I am come to ascertain whether you have found ° project the purity of her soul revolted: she could everything comfortable, and/also to inquire into | not bring herself to play such a game of duplicity, your present frame of mind:’ "end as Mrs. Martin |—end moreover, on escond thoughts, she doubted thus spoke, she fixed her searching eyes earnestly | whether it would succeed with one so wary and ex- upon the young captive. perienced in all degrees of cunning as Lord Everton. “‘You may surround me with all the riches of the; Thus, when that nobleman made his appearance universe,” was the reply; “ but they would give me shortly after mid-day, Henrietta was in that ner- no comfort in my present position. As for the | vous agitated state which left her altogether unde- state of my mind, it is not to be comprehended by | cided in what manner to receive the author of her one who has admitted herself to be inaccessible to | | present sufferings. His lordship has already been sympathy as a marble statue.” | described to the reader as an old man of about sixty- “ At all events, your spirit is not broken, Miss,” | five, made up with all succedaneous contrivances said the woman, with that same biting irony which | end with ll ih artifices of the toilet, so as to wear she had displayed on the preceding evening. ae Cay Wak bo ana ae Be Henristta gave no answer : she did not choose to | r be drawn into a war of words nor an altercation | gate members of the arstoereay and » long career with Mrs, Martin. of crime, practised with impunity, had rendered him “Tam sorry to see that you are alike obstinate | bold and daring in adopting the means to erstify hie and perverse,” resumed this woman: “but such a/ passions. For this sole purpose indeed did he seem humoar will in no respect tend to your tranquillity. | to exist,—regarding wealth only as the instrument Lurd Everton will be here by mid-day: he will see by the aim was to be accomplished, and not as you then—and I should advise you to treat him | a something whereby he might benefit his fellow- creatures. We will not pause now to state the cir- ‘cumstances under which he bad become possessed of the title that he desecrated and the riches that he —those eyes that were wont to beam with 20 mild , prostituted. Suffice it to say that there wore some and serene a light. “It is impossible not to com- | strange tales told concerning him at the time he be- prehend the detestable meaning which is clothed in . came Lord Everton: but having once succeeded in your words. If you yourself are utterly callous to : grasping rank and fortune, he, with characteristic all ideas of virtue, at least do not think so ill of shamelessnees, defied the world and laughed at what your sex as to imagine that al! are equally in- | it said of him. We may however observe here that famous.” he was « widower and childless, and that there was “These are hareh words, young woman,” said ' no heir to his title or estates. For this he cared Mrs. Martin, as ehe bit her nether lip, and her eyes | inothing; he had no ambition to perpotuate his fora moment glared fiercely upon the young cap- name, being utterly indifferent as to what might tive : then suddenly conquering her excitement, she | happen in the world when once death should have said, “Am I to understand then that you do not | called him away from it. Hoe lived, thought, and choose to be on friendly terms with me ?”’ acted solely for himself: he was selfishness personi- Henrietta flang a glance of disgust at the woman, | fied ! ev kind as to decide in which of the three rooms you | tered the drawing-room of Henrictta’s apartmenta, eloose to sit.” with a smirking self-sufficient look, a jaunty air, “So that you may sesk another?” was Mrs.|and a debonnair gait. Henrietta had frequently Martin's bitterly uttered response. “ Bat no—it is | seen him at the Opera, where she had been perse- nut my purpose to foros my society upon you. cuted by his overtures; and then she had thought Perhaps the time will came when you yourself will him exsoodingy ney but now she regarded him qek it. For mark me, Henrietta Leyden! a pri- | a6 8 hideous monster—something to be loathed as suner are you here to remain eo long as you refuse | well as execrated to be shrunk from the overtures of Lord Everton; and when the days | as well as viewed with led indignation and lang wearisomely long upon your hands, you will| terror. For the farther insight which she had ob- welcome my presence with gladness.” tained into the iniquity of his character since the « Never!” was Henrietta’s emphatio response. first moment she set foot in Beech-Tree Lodge, had The woman threw upon her a mocking glance, even the effect of enhancing bis physical ugliness and thea took her departare, locking and bolting the r estimation. door behind hen. “My dear Henrietta,” he began, with a tone and In nervous suspanse did Henrietta await the manner half of cajolery and half of assurance, “I threatened visit from Lord Everton ; and when she | am given to understand that you are not very well heard the clock of Hornsey church proclaim the | disposed towards me——”" hour of noon, her excitement rose to a pitch that| “My lord,” interrupted the damsel, “you have was almost intolerable. She could not settle her | snatched me away from a mother whose invalid mind to the adoption of any particular course. At | state demands all my care, and from a little brother one instant she resolved to overwhelm him with re- who will be desolate without me. How can I pos- proaches—at another to throw herself at his feet and | sibly think of such an outrage without execrating teacech him to restore her to liberty. Then she | the author of it—and perhaps in time burning to thought that she would do well to array herself in avenge it P => , CONNICLOS (CO