The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 400: what you’re looking at

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

TUE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. BRY fo, Jet in te re eee ent ane roved about the personification of despondency and despair. I could not help pitying him: but I eould not love him. Never, perhaps, in this world did man testify eo wild, se romantic, so devoted, and enthusiastic a love, without inspiring «6 reci- procal feeling. But he did mot. I repeat that I pitied him, even when most angry at this outrageous prisonage which I endured; but, ao—I could not love him. “And during that interval of eight months, I had not the slightest opportanity of making even an attempt at escape. It is trae that when out walking with Isabelle, and fullowed at a short dis- tance by one of the band, I might heave suddenly darted off: but coald I hope that my limbs woald prove swifter than those of the alert and athietioc Catalan bandit? and I was resolved not to saffer the mortification of making any ineffectual en- deavour to s.nancipite myeelf. I must frankly confess that at last I got eo accustomed to this 2 e ' Various eS. cd would be kept, and on the first appearance of one of the flying columns in that immediate neighbour- hood, it was his intention to remove with his band into the wild fastnesses of the Pyrenees, where thoy could remain until the present danger should be over. At the same time Don Diogo assured me thet if the peril became more serious than he could at that moment anticipate, he would at once send me under safe and honourable escort into France. He availed himself of that opportunity to fall upon his knees again in my presence, vowing that if [ would consent to become his companion fur the rest of our lives, he would ag once take: leave of his asecciates and fly away with me into another country. But still did I persevere in my refusal: for I was prepared to encounter all risks and mect all dangers, rather than surrender myself up to onc whom I did not love. “ For several days Don Diego himeelf, dieguised in garbe, to a distance to learn tidings relative to the movement of the Captain- strange mode of life, that it became far less irk. | General’s troops; and une cvening, on his return to some to me than might have been supposed. In- the tower, he brought intelli of such import- doet, I had few inducements to make me wish to ; ance that a council of the whole band was imme- return to the great world again—that world in | diately called. In these deliberations the women which I had already experienced some misfortunes. | were accustomed to be present ; and on this occasion But atill 1 longed —On' most fervently longed to |! I was amongst them. J had already picked up the embrace my beloved bruther; and I was also fearful ‘ Spanish language with the utmost facility, though I that should the Christino soldiers ever take the could not converse in it with the same fluency and tower by surprise, there might be a general fasi- | ecouracy as I could in the French tongue. I never- lade of all ite inmates, men and women without the discrimination—and my unfortunate self amongst them. For I knew full well that the most atrocious barbarities were cummitted by the Spanish soldiers, nv mercy even being shown to females or innocent children. That Dun Diego Christoval himeelf full well suspected my hope aud idea of ing, there cannot be the slightest doubt: and hence the pre- cautions which he took to anticipate any endeavour of that kind on my part. Nevertheless, I was not made pusitively to feel that I was a prisoner: it was a sort of honourable captivity in which I was kept. For instance, the door of my chamber was less understuod all that was said ia my prusence. It appeared from what Don Di that one of the flying eolums was at a distanco of about ten miles from the tower, and that it was coi. manded by a brigadier-general, to whom the son of the Captain-General was attached as aide-de-camp. It further appeared that the officers had fized thei- quarters at a little farm-lwuse, the occupants of which experienced a devoted friendship for Don Diego Christoval. At the council which sat to de- liberate upon these particulars, a bold and daring project wae started by Christoval himsolf. Tuis was nothing less than to make a midnight attack never bolted outside at night: but then, although I | upon the farm-house, carry off. the son of tho was thus at liberty to quit my room if I choso, I , Captain-Generel, and hold him as a hostage for the could not have issued ferth from the tower, as ; ealety of the band. Nay, moro—it was even cal- there were two sentinels ever posted at the entrance- | culated that an immense ransom might be obtained door. for his restoration. Thie propusal wae received “One day, after the return of the Count and his | with enthusiastic acclaim by the members of the band from @ marauding expeditiun, they brought | band; and the women themselves weloumed it with the intelligence, which they had gleaned at some | delight. It would have been s of sheer distant village, that the Captain-General of Cata- | madness, were it not for the friendly disposition of lonia had marched forth from Barcelona at the | the occupants of the farm: but under those circum- head of a considerable body of troops, with the | stances it was one which presented every chance of intention of scouring the Catalan hills and anni- | being successfully carried out. y, &@ little hilating the guerilla and bandit hordes which in- | before midnight, Chrietoval and ten of his followers, festod those districts. It was likewise understood | —two remaining behind ae sentinels,—eet out upon that the military commandant intended to divide | their expedition. During their absence I remained hw troops into five or six flying columus, with , with the Catelan women in the common room of a view to carry on his operations in various parts the tower: for I naturally felt anxious as to the of the principality at the same time. It was there- result, and could nut possibly retire to rest. I feared fure a serious danger which now appeared to be | that in case of failure, a pursuit might be instituted imminent, I sought an opportunity of speaking | by the truops; and their arrival at the tower might alone with Christoval, and represented tu him that | promptly follow. Besides, although not entertain- if he really entertained towards mo the devoted | ing the slightest affection fur Don Diego—and in- passion which he had professed, it was cruol to a | deed having much reason to be displeased with bim degree to expose me to the chance of falling mabe | ~<there was nevertheless a certain friendly feeling tho hands of the Captain-General’s troopy. He. ; which I experienced towards him, at ali events suf- bade me fcoar not; for that an incessant hwk-vut ' fiount to render me anxious for his safety. The COMIC OO