The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 74: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 61 “ No—far from it: and between you and me, my lord, the conquest will not prove altogether so difficult as you may fancy. But here she comes! Hasten away for a few minutes!” Lord Saxonds'e, whose ear had suddenly caught the sounds of an approaching vehicle at the same time as the lady's-maid’s, at once acted in obedience to her suggestion, and hurried higher up the road. Then stopping and looking back, he perceived a breugham drive up to the gate of tho villa-garden. The lady's-maid immediately issued forth—the coachman leapt down—and one person only emerged from the carriage. That person was a female—and she at once entered the precincts of Evergreen Villa. “Now then,” thought Saxondale to himself, as he experienced a thrilling exultation of the heart, “it is about ten to one that within a very few minutes I shall have the happiness of being in the presence of Signora Vivaldi. That soubrette of her’s is an artful hussey, and is pretty sure to manage the business cleverly. Ah! now the coachman takes the vehicle round to the stables. I wonder how long I shall have to wait here ? Perhaps the maid is already opening the matter to her mistress. But if the world only knew what I have discovered to-night—that the beau- tiful Angela Vivaldi, whose virtue has been paraded off as immaculate as her loveliness is transcending, is nothing more nor less than the kept mistress of one of the great Dons of the Opera, what casting up of eyes, and holding up of hands, and lifting up of voices there would be! Well, after all, it will be a conquest of its kind— because I know she has refused so many offers an d has treated so many letters with contemp- tuous silence.' And yet, if she should all of a sudden receive me into favour it will be rather astonishing. But the soubrette spoke confidently enough! Ah! I know what it must be! This Signora has her pride and has refused two or three Marquises, four or five Earls, and a whole score of Barons, just because they were not of ancient family; and I presume that cunning soubrette, knowing that I am descended from an- cestors who lived in the time of the Tudors, is very well aware beforehand that her mistress will not say nay to me.” In these and similar muaings did half-an-hour pass, while the conceited young nobleman was kicking his heels toand froin the road. At length he became uneasy. Was it possible that the lady’s-maid had been laughing in her sleeve at him the wholetime? He began tofearso. But if it were the case, would it not add the crowning ig- nominy to all the previous humiliations of this memorable night? Saxondale was rapidly falling into despondency. But ah! the front door of the villa opens—a female form trips forth and speeds down to the gate! With hope suddenly reviving —not merely reviving, but soaring up into exul- dation—Lord Sarondale hurries thither: and the first glance he obtains of the lady’s-maid’s coun- tenance, is the harbinger of happiness. “ Well, what news have you for me?” he im- tiently asked. “ Vet this be the reply,” responded the soubreéte: and she opened the gate. Edmund bastened in: the young woman shut the gate—and hurriedly conducted him into the ball. There, as she closed the front door, she oe @ Gruppe ER 4+ GP one aE ee threw upon him a look full of arch meaning, and whispered “Did I not tell you that I should succeed ? did I not promise a triumph ?” Lord Saxondale could scarcely retain his joy as he breathed the most liberal promises in the ears of the young woman. “ Walk in, my lord,” she said throwing open a door leading out of the hall. “ My mistress will be with you immediately. She is merely making aome change in her toilet.” Saxondale entered an apartmtment that was not merely elegantly, but even luxuriously far- nished. A table in the centre was spread with a supper consisting of several cold dainties and choice wines. The curtains had been drawn closely over the windows; and the room was lighted by a lustre suspended from the ceiling. “Now,” thought Lord Saxondale to himself, “in a fow minutes—perhape in a few seconds——I shal] have an opportunity of gazing close upon those charms which I have already devoured a distance. But hers isa loveliness which cann diminish by ancar view. Ah! what happiness!” and he literally rubbed his hands with delight. At this moment he heard female voices whis- pering in the hall: then the door opened—and then a lady of tall stature, great beauty, and elastic walk, entered the room. She was clad iy an elegant wrapper thrown loosely around her; and in her appearance there was not merely that negligent abandonment of one who has just put on a deshabillée, but also a meretricious exposure of her charms, She was not the Signora Vivaldi—and thero- fore Lord Saxondale at once took her to be either a guest or a relation of a falr danseuse. He eccordingly bowed with the politest courtesy, but volunteered no explanation of his object in obtaining this interview. “Your lordship will doubtless think moe very indiscreet and wery imprudent,” said the lady, motioning him to be seated, as she threw herself listlessly upon @ sofa placed near the supper- table, “in receiving you at this time of night—or rather, I should say, at so early an hour in the morning: but from all that my maid told me of your lordship’s anxiety to form my acquaintance, I was vain enough to suppose——" “Your maid?” echoed Lord Saxondale, with unfeigned astonishment. “Surely there must be some mistake? It wasthe fair mistress of the villa to whom I was dosirous of paying my respects.” “ And I, my lord,” answered the lady, reddening with mingled indignation and wounded pride, “ am the mistrees of the villa! If your lordship is disap- pointed, and expected to meet some other person, your lordship can retire. It was not I who sought this interview: and therefore the humiliation of the mistake will not rest with me.” “ Do not be angry; I beseech you !* cried Saxon- dale, scarcely recovering from his bewilderment. “ It ig true that I had been led to imagine another lady lived here: but tha one in whose presence J have the honour to find myself, is ao charming a substitute that it is as it were only finding myself in one part of Paradise when I had fancied tha I was being led to another.” ‘S Your lordship at all events has the art of turn- ing a compliment most prettily,” sald the young lady, smiling so as to reveal a set of very beautiful CONNEC MOO SS x COMM