The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 187: what you’re looking at

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

176 SNe TEEN EER acca caacaaccaaccacaaca acca, THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. ‘Having only been here a few days,” responded Madame Angelique, *I cannot as yet say much about it: but I have every reason to believe that I shall like it.” “Well, I think I am a little too early for lunch,” said Mr. Shadbolt, taking a gold watch from his pocket: “so we will have a little chat upon business before the tray is brought up.” ‘What business can you have to talk to me upon P” inquired Madame Angelique. “ Now that those girls are fully disposed of —— | “Ah! was not "al that capitally managed ?” ejaculated Shadbolt, with a loud hilarious laugh. “That was my idea—and it was I also who found Cartwright to carry out the business.” “"Yea—there is no denying tat ¢ that the affair was capitally managed,” said Madame Angelique. “ But——” : “Ah! Cartwright is a clever fellow—is he not ?” proceeded the visitor. “In some respects he beats honest Ike Shadbolt. Only think of that young fool Augustus Softly marrying Armantine, and being so eager to display the certificate to ‘Cart- wright the next time he called——” ‘Well, Armantine is excellently provided for— at least for the present,” observed Madame An- gelique. “She will of course ruin Softly in pro- cess of time——” “Ob! that’s a matter of course!” ojaculated Shadbolt, with another bilarious laugh. “ But I’m sure I don’t know which to admire most,— the way in which Cartwright managed with that fool Softly in respect to Armantine—or the man- ner in which he dealt with old Lord Wenbam in t to Egiantine. At all events we have done well for the two girls. Armantine is married to an Honourable—Kgiantine to a Lord. And as for Linda—she is happy enough with Cartwright himself. Ah! buat you should heve seen that miserable fellow Choker’s countenance when I per- sonated Mr. Downy of the firm of Catchflat, Sharply, Rumrig, and Co.——” “TIT have no doubt of it,” ssid Madame An- gelique, rather impatiently: “but we have dis- cussed all these subjects before.” “‘Yes—and we have divided the spoil too,” ex- claimed Mr. Shadbolt with a laugh. “I must say that Armantine came down very handsome with five hundred pounds the moment she had married Softly—and Kglantine with five hundred aleo when she became Lady Wenham. But it was also generous on our part to let Cartwright keep all he got by Linda for himself,—you and me re- maining content with five hundred a e very identical sums we got from the girle——I suppose we must now call them the Hon. Mrs. Softly and Lady Wenham. Nothing like speaking respectfully of ladies in high condition !"-—and Mr. Isaac Shadbolt laughed hilariously. “And you have made a good use of your share of the money, as well as of all the other little emoluments you have derived from your acquaint- ance with me :”—and as Madame Angelique thus spoke, she slowly surveyed the well-dressed, gem- bedisened person of Mr. Shadbolt. “To be sure, to be sure!” said this individual, complacently playing with the watch chain which festooned over his silk waistcoat. “But now to business! It is my intention to make hay while the sun shines—strike while the iron is hot: that , is the invariable maxim of honest Ike Shadbolt —and it is one to be followed by all sensible people p”” “What do you mean P* asked Madame Ange- lique. “Of course you cannot suppose——” “That I am to prey upon your purse P” inter- rupted Mr. Shadbolt. “Certainly not! Ah! you see that I understood what was passing in your mind. But come—don't be alarmed !—it is all fair and above-board. Do you not recollect that when you were going to give up the millinery establishment, I said I would put you up to making a little money in other ways “T recollect perfectly,” answered Madame An- gelique: “but I thought when we had accom- plished all those things in respect to Armantine, Eglantine, and Linda——” “That my inventive genius was exhausted P Nothing of the sort! It only shows how little you really know of honest Ike Shadbolt. Bless you, my dear madam! I am up to a trick or two I can assure you:”—and he winked most know- ingly. “Well, what do you mean P” asked the French- woman impatiently. “I wish you would come to the point.” “During your time,” proceeded Mr. Shadbolt, “TI mean while you have been in business, you have been enabled to oblige countless numbers of great and wealthy pereons, both male and female. I mean, in plain terms, that many lords, ladies, and gentlefolks, have seen the interior of private rooms at the fashionable establishment which you have just given up-———eh P” “To be sure,” said Madame Angelique. “ And what then P—what do you mean me to under- stand ” “You shail soon see,” continued her visitor; “and then you will form a still higher opinion of your obedient hamble eervant, Isaac Shadbolt, Esquire. Please to listen attentively. At this fashionable house of your’s there have been wives who did not come there to meet their husbands— and there have been unmarried ladies who did not afterwards marry the lovers whom they mot there, but who have since been conducted to the altar by credulous ones who little suspected their antece- dente. Is not all this true?” “Very true,” responded Madame Angelique. “And now I see what you are driving at———” “Stop! let me finish, and we will debate upon the subject. You suet be aware, with a little re- flection, that in having accommodated so many | different ladies and gentlemen, you established everlasting claims upon their gratitude—and which claims, my dear madam,” added Shadbolt signi- ficantly, “ they will not dare to ignore. I tell you what you must do. Just make out a list of some ten or a dozen of the ladies who are thus indebted to you, so that we may hold a committee of ways and means and vote the amount which each lady is to contribute to our treasury. Then I tell you how we'll manage it. You shall write a sweet pretty little note—pink paper--scented—folded into three-cornered shape—and ail that sort of thing ; and you will say in each note something to the following effect :—‘ Madame Angelique, baving retired from business, respectfully solicits the ear- liest convenient settlement of Lady 8o-and-So's account—474J., as per bill delivered. Madame Cw eee ae ee NOOK — COMM (G