The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 197: what you’re looking at

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a a a aa at at 186 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. entirely his own—the natural pride of a man of This note Deveril at once despatched by a porter high feeling,—“ had you spoken in other terms I in acab to his villa-residence in the neighbourheod ahuuld certainly have held myself bound to make of the Regent's Park. He then resumed his writing, an apology for my intrusion within the precincts of and penned several letters. The first was also to Lady Macdonald’s dwelling. Indeed, I have already ; Angela—another was to Mr. Gunthorpe—a third to said as much as to express my sense of its impro- | Florina, and the others to friends or acquaintances. priety, and therefore my sorrow that I should have | The task had occupied him nearly two hours; and beon guilty of such conduct. But, considering the | when he had finished this correspondence, he sealed tone which your lordsnp now thinks fit to adopt | the several letters and pecked them all up together towards mo, T decline t0 ouc, * Sngie word in the in a sheet of paper. He then wrote upon the out- shape of excuse or apology.” side of the envelope, “It is earnestly requested that “Ah! is this your decision P” exclaimed Lord | the letters contained heroin, may be delivered imme- Harold fiercely. diately to their respective addressees.” He then “It is—most positively,” returned Deveril, with | locked up the packet in his writing-desk, and put the increasing hauteur. key in his pocket. “Then,” immediately rejoined the nobleman,{ It was now half-past ten o'clock; and a double “you will name the friend to whom I may send knock at the front-door resounded through the mine.” house. In a few moments Mr. Founster was an- “What! would you provoke me to a duel?” |! nounced. He was s young man of four-and-twenty, cried Deveril, who had scarccly apprehended that it | with a pleasing countenance, a genteel figure, and an was Harold’s intention to push matters to this ex- | air of mingled good-nature and frankness. treme—and his heart smote him at the idea of| “My dear Deveril,” he said, taking our hero's standing up in a hostile manner against the brother | hand, “how the deuce have you managed to got of her whom he loved so devotedly. yourself into this scrape with Lord Harold Staunton “J have already told you, Mr. Deveril,” was | —vou who are of such a peaceable disposition and Staunton’s answer, “that you must afford me eatis- | excellent temper?” faction. I do not wish to give any unseemly pro-| Deveril gave Mr. Forester a hurried outline of vocation on my part: but as it appears,” he added | what had taken place—or rather of such particulars scornfully, “that you yourself require some euch | as he thought fit to describe,—leaving Florine’s inducement to make you show your courage, I am | name altogether out of the question, and suffering forced to act thus. Consider, sir, that I have given | his friend to retain a similar i ion to that you a blow :”—and with the tips of his fingers he | which Lord Harold himself had received in respect touched Deveril on the cheek. to his intrusion into the garden ; namely, that it was to seek an interview with Lady Macdonald, for the purpose of explaining away Lady Sexondale’s calumnies. “ Well, it is an unpleasant business,” said Fores- ter: “but it seems there is no alternative save to exchange shots. Ofcourse you know, Deveril—— and mind, I do not say it because I think it will make any undue impression on your mind——but it is my duty to mention the fact, that Lord Harold Staunton is what is teemed——” “IT know what you mean,” observed Deveril quietly, “a crack shot. I have heard it mentioned that he has performed the most astonishing feats with the pistol.” “JT have seen him,” rejomed Forester. “ But you, iny dear fellow—what eort of a marksman do you consider yourself ?” “T have never practised, and scarcely ever fired « pistol in my life,” responded Deveril. “ Besides, you do not think for a moment, Forester, that I mean seriously to attempt the taking of my adver- sary’s life?” “You will be insane if you do not,” was his friend’s answer: “for if you risk your own life, you certainly ought jo do your best —" “Enough upon that point,” interrupted Deveril “At all events I shall do my duty. And now tell me, have you received a visit frum his lordship’s friend ?” “Captain Lennox of the Guards called upon me at half-past nine o'clock,” replied Forester. “I had leg. ba! argon, Cashes eee Tt Oe es Meeeived your Bote, which not a littl eettvichod mea, : gent business retains me in town. I intend te weep at my ledgings, but hope to be with you early in | However, everything is settled. You had better the forencon to-morrow. Your affectionate come and pass the night with me—we will have “WILLIAM.” | supper and champagne, and so forth--—” “Enough, Lord Harold!” exclaimed the young artist, his own spirit now thoroughly aroused. “ You have asked me to name my friend—I refer you to Mr. Forester, whose apartments are in the Albany.” “T have some slight knowledge of Mr. Forester,” responded Lord Harold, “and will lose no time in sending a friend to communicate with him.” He then bowed coldly and distantly, and turning on his heel, walked away without entering the pre- cincte of his aunt’s dwelling. Wilham Deveril lingered for a few moments to let him get to a distance, and then likewise pro- ceeded up the lane into Cavendish Square. We may here observe that on quitting the bal- cony, Lady Fiorina retreated into another apart- ment, which did not command a view of the garden nor of the premises at the back of the house. She therefore did not observe that William Deveril, on issuing forth from the enclosure, had encountered her brother in the alley. Deveril bent his way direct to the Albany, where he inquired for Mr. Forester; but learning that this gentleman was not in at the moment, he penned a hurried note to prepare him for the visit which he might expect from Lord Harold's friend in the course of the evening. Having left this note with the porter of the Albany, Deveril proceeded to his lodgings in Pall Mall; on reaching which he imme- diately sat down at his writing-table and wrote the following lincs :— « Pall Mall, } pest 8 o'clock. «« Dearest Angela, : gS = I a I 2 I TO I I RS I I TT a a a I GES Sa I I I I A ETI TO IE SIE DETTE COMME MOO + am & (CO