The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 235: what you’re looking at

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

S34 possibly could, Lady Saxondale recollected her letter to Lord Petersfield, and again descended to the drawing-room. Almost unmediately afterwards the door opened, and Frank Paton made his appear- ance. With the utmost difficulty could Lady Saxon- dale prevent herself ordering from her presence the THE MYSTERINS OF THE COURT. education—I think I am justified in presuming thet you are clever: but mind, I do not wish you te anawer in the affirmative without having well consi- dered the question whether you are clever or not. I may however add that if sufficiently clever, I think I can venture so far as to promise you & youth who was.the object of her daughter's lovo | clerkship in a government office———” and the cause of her shame. But she saw the; At this moment the footman returned to the necessity of proceeding cautiously in whateoever she | room, to announce that the Duke of Harcourt had might do; and she bade him take the letter to , just called and desired an interview with his lord- Lord Petcrafield and wait for an answer. Frank bowed and quitted the room: but he felt that while ship. The cautious diplomatist looked exceedingly grave, standing before her ladyship, he had looked troubled | and appeared to reflect whether it were possible that and confused. And no wonder, when we consider that he was in Juliana’s own chamber at the time her mother had knocked at the door. The young page issued from the house, and took the direction of Portman Square. As he went along he thought tu himself that if he had an opportunity of speaking to Lord Petersfield alone, he would again fling himself upon his knees in that noble- man’s presence, and beseech him to give him some intelligence concerning that lady whom in his carlier years he had thrice seen, who had caressed him so tenderly, and whom he so confidently be- lieved to be his mother. On reaching Portman Square, he found that Lord Petersficld wasat home; and he waited in the hall while a servant touk the latter to his lordship. In a few minutes the footman re-appeared, bidding Frank follow him. “Then I am about to see this nobluman,” thought the page to himself, “who I feel convinced knows more co ing me than he has ever chosen to admit. Surely that letter uf which I was the bearer, could not myself ?”’ But the youth had no farther time for reflection ; for he now found himself upon the threshuld of the apertment where Lord Petersficld was seated. He entered—the door closed behind him—and he was now alone with that nobleman. “Francie Paton,” said the cautious and solemn diplomatist, “it may be that you are somewhat surprised at being asked into my presence? I do not say that you are—end I do not wish you to reply without previous reflection. Take time—— “My lord, I am not al ” Fee sponded the young young Page eng tearee tains snyself of the belief thet your lordship is positor of some secret respecting m wd ay sister. And Oh! if it be to tell me anything on that point——” rapidly,” interrupted sternness : “You must not speak so Lord Petersfield, with even a degree of but almost immediately wearing a milder aspect, he said, “ Neither must you assume any such opinion as that which vou have eo rashly, so precipitately, and I may even eay so unadvisedly put forward. Young man, I wish to know——but do not auswer hurriedly—I never like taking people unawares——— I wish to know, I say, whether you are so well the Duke could have any sinister motive in view: but at length coming to the conclusion that such a result was noe to be apprehended, inasmuch as his Grace was an ultra-Tory and therefore entertaining the same opinions as himself, he resolved to see the Duke at once. Bidding Francis Paton await his return, Lord Petersfield issued slowly and gravely from the rvom. On thus finding himeelf alone, Frank lstlessly— or wo might say mechanically—began to turn over the leaves of one of the books which lay upon the table. The volume which he had thus happened to light upon, was of large folio sise, handsomely bound, but with the binding very much faded and the leaves themselves the least ingy with the influence of time. The front page showed that it had been published in the year 1829, consequently about fifteen years back: it was cntitled Beauties of the Court, and consisted merely of a number of por- traits of ladies, with no descriptive letter-press whatecever. In short, it was one of those luxuri- ously got up pictorial works issued to fill the pub- lisher’s pocket by gratifying the vanity of ladies in the aristocratic circles, and therefore only fitted to lic upon a drawing-room table. The young page’s thoughts were far away from this volume the leaves of which he was turn- ing over: but still as Lord Petersfield continued absent, he went on looking at plate after plate—and as the engravings were most superbly executed aid formed of the very hi atyle of the art, it was no wonder if Frank, who possessed He had turned over opwards of a dosen pages, and had contemplated the countenances of the most beauteous pesresses and the loveliest daughters of the aristocracy, when he suddenly lighted upon one which caused him to start suddenly as if galvanised : with s powerful electric force, while an ejaculation of mingled wonderment and joy burat from his lips. Then, quick as lightning, did his eye glance to the foot of the plate to learn the name of her whose well-known and beauteous features were represented there: but indescribable was his disappointment on beholding naught save this inscription——“ A Por- TRAIT.” contented with your position that you would} A portrait! yee indeed; and one which he had be unwilling to change it? But understand me | not failed to recognise:—but a portrait of whom ? thoroughly. I mean, suppose that I could procure ; Hurriedly did he turn over leaf after leaf of thas you a better one. But let me explain what I mean book in the hope of discovering some ive by the word better in this sense; because there never letter-prees: but there was none. He looked to should be any mistake as to the real application of | the index to see whether it should happen to mene terms. Better signifies ——~ ahem —— it signifies , tion the original of that portrait: but it did not. better: that is to say, better in point of standing | The pang of disappointment was however mitigated and better in point of salary You received a good by the pleasure of contemplating that transcend- CORNICE Oe SS