The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 230: what you’re looking at

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

TRSVST SHE | — eae ee lee = +f = ———— rr eee - i a gE Ta _——_ en Pee . _— ——s es se nee a=] a eee a NE THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. rR TE Sr fel SSNS STowuny“nsgpneruicbendsndese “TI will keep my word and tell you everything,” eeplied Lord Harold He accordingly narrated to his astonished listeners the whole of his adventures with Lady Saxondale, in respect to the scene at the masquerade—the in- structions she had given him relative to Deveril— the reason he had therefore sought a duel with the young artist—and the manner in which he was treated by Lady Saxondale when he called upon her, es already described. Astonished indeed were those listeners; for they were little prepared to hear that the circumstance of the duel was in any way mixed up with the incidents of the masquerade at Har- eourt House. ‘“ Jt is not perhaps a very pleasant tale for a son to heer of hie own mother,” added Lord Harold Staunton; “and I take heaven to witness that you never would have heard it, Edmund, if I had been treated otherwise by her ladyship. But after all the I at her hands, you indignity I experienced can scarcely wonder if I sought to be revenged. My ‘vengeance is now consummated : I desire no more. I have made you acquainted, Edmund, with your mother’s crime—for a crime assuredly it is that she committed, in thus seeking the death of young Wil- liam Deveril. She is now in your power! You may control her and coerce her at will: ehe can no longer deny her identity with the heroine of the masquerade. You need not fear therefore the plots and schemings which her ladyship may have con- eocted with Lord Petersfield and Mr. Marlow. But tell me—will there be any loss of friendship between sible you could think of such a thing? You had a perfect right to fall in love with my mother if you chose ; and I am only sorry she has used you ao ecurvily. As for seeking to be revenged on her by putting her in my power, the effect is to do me the greatest ible service: and therefore so far from entertaining any ill feeling towards you, I con- sider myself immensely your debtor. We will pass @ jovial evening: Emily does not go to the Opera to-night, and we will draw a few champagne-corks before we go to bed. To-morrow I will pay another visit to my lady-mother—see what she may have to eay—and then if she holds out any more threats about sending me abroad, or compelling me to live at the castle in Lincolnshire, I will let her see that Iam not to be trifled with.” We need not linger over this scene, which in many respects is a painful one to describe. Let us hasten to observe that Miss Emily Archer, Lord Saxondale, and Lord Harold Staunton sat down to a delicious banquet at about six o'clock, and re- mained at table until a late hour. On the following day Lord Harold learnt by a paragraph in the news- paper that Mr. Deveril was now altogether out of danger; and he therefore no longer feared to return to his lodgings in Jermyn Street. He bade farewell to Miss Archer, with whom he exc significant looks as he thanked her for all the marks of kind- ness and hospitality she had bestowed upon him at x Villa; and then he accompanied Lord Saxondale to the West End. “TI should like to know as soon as possible what said, when they reacned the point where they were to seperate. “Let us dine together this evening,” answered Saxondale. “I dare say I shall have something to | tell you. Emily goes to the Opera to-night—and ac ac tae i rT eo I am well disposed to amuse myself.” The two young noblemen accordingly settled an appointment, and then parted—tho one returning to his lodgings in Jermyn Street, the other bending his way to Saxondale House. It was a little past noon when Edmund again crossed the threshold of the stately mansion; and he was at once informed by the hall-porter that her ladyship had ordered that when he came in he was to be told she wished to see him on very important business. This was exactly what ho wanted: he was desirous of bringing matters to an issue, and literally panted for an opportunity to display his power over his mother. Accordingly, without loss of time he hurried up to the apartment where she wae seated. He found her alone, as on the previous day; and he saw by the cold hauteur of her looks that there was a sternly settled purpose in her mind. “Edmund,” she said, “have the goodness to sit down and let us see if we can talk quietly and peaceably together for a few minutes.” “Well, my dear lady-mother,” he answered with his usual flippancy of style, as ho threw himself with a languid air in « half-reclining position upon a sofa, “you can talk away as much as ever you like, and I will listen. You needn't be afraid of fatiguing me; because it suits my purpose very well to hie here for the next half-hour.” *“‘ Even at the commencement you put on this in- sufferable coxcombry,” resumed her ladyship. “Do you really think, Edmund, that it ie becoming, or calculated to inspire respect? Believe me, you only render lf ridiculous. But it was not on this subject that I wished to speak. Are you attend. ing P” “ With the same respect and earnestness am.if it was to the fag-end of a three hours’ sermon and you was the preacher. But you mustn’t think I wusn’t attending because I had my eyes shut: I can always hear best like that.” “Now, Edmund,” exclaimed Lady Saxondale, her cheeks flushing with anger, “I began by speak- ing kindly to you, and you answer me in this im- pertinent style. You appear to think that therod is something very fine in defying me: but depend upon i¢ that you will discover your mistake. Now tell me, once for all, shall we converse as if we were on good terms with each other, or will you have moe explain what I have to say in the form of commands which are to be enforced ?” ‘Let it be whichever way you choose,’ answered Edmund, with a prolonged yawn. “I dare say it will be all the same in the long run.” ‘If you treat the matter thus, I will without farther preface tell you what hae been resolved upou by your guardians end assented to by myself:”— and as Lady Saxondale thus spoke, she drew herself up with a haughty stateliness. “The post of At- taché to the Embassy at Berlin has been placed af your disposal; and it has been accepted on your be- half by Lord Petersfield ——” “How exceedingly kind!” interjected Edmund, laughing in s subdued manner with his cracked ‘akes place between yourself and your mother,” he , voice. EO NOG SS CO