The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 197: what you’re looking at

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186 thing bordering upen a calm, or rather suppressed indignation in the tone and look of the patrician lady. Ah, well, ma’am—it’s all very fine,” ejaculated Shadbolt, “for your ladyship to make this state- ment: but there is Madame Angelique’s counter- statement ” “T repeat, sir,” interrupted Lady Anastatia haughtily, “there is some mistake! I will how- ever look over my accounts, and see whether by any possibility there is one of Madame Augelique’s which has remained unpaid. I am however pogi- tive that all the billsare here :”—and she indicated the receipted accounts which lay upon the table. “And I am equally positive, my lady,” re- sponded Shadbolt, “that you do owe Madame Angelique this money—no matter whether an ac- count has been sent in or not.” , Anastatia had already shown more coldness and more hauteur, more indi ¢ impatience and more proud dignity, in the epace of a few minutes than she had ever done before: but it was now with the very baughtiest indignation and the very utmost of her indignant pride, that drawing her fine form up to its full height, she bent her beauti- ful blue eyes upon the intending extortioner,— saying, “This is the firet time my word was ever doubted: and your conduct is bordering upon in- solence. You can retire, sir. I will myself com- municate with Madame Angelique in the course of a day or two.” “Very good, my lady,” said Shadbolt, who was more than half inclined to speak with a still greater degree of insolence. “Mind you don’t Surzet.”” . He then strolled jauntily out of the room; and Anastatia felt so hurt—her feelings were so wounded, her pride was so insulted—that she could scarcely keep back an outburst of tears. Not for a moment did she euspect the real purport of the note and the real object of the visttor—namely, that an extortion was intended: she firmly be- lieved it was all a mistake on Madame Angelique’s part, but that the ex-milliner hed entrusted her business to a very rude person whose coarse vulgar manners were ill calculated to qualify him for such a mission. A being of Anastatia’s natural gentleness and amiability, felt such a scene as this far more than a worldly-minded woman would have done; and the very effurt of summoning up her dignity, as well as that unwonted display of indignation, were fullowed by a reaction, which, as we have just aid, almost reduced her to the weakness of tears. Shadbolt had not left the room many moments when Sir Frederick Latham entered. “T have just received a note from your brother, Anastatia,” he said, “in which the Viscount tells me-—— But you look distressed? Has anything happened to annoy you P” . The question was put merely with that calmly kind courtesy which Sir Frederick was wont to Observe towards his wife; and there was perhaps a slight expression of concern on bis countenance : but there was no endearment of manner—no Careasing encouragement—no solace conveyed in sympathizing anticipation of whatecever might be told him. Anastatia’s grief was now suddenly mingled with contusion: and hastily gathering up the papers which lay upon the table —pamely, the receipted bills which she had produced, and Ma- EO THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. dame Angelique’s note which she had received— she swept them all into her desk—at the same time faltering forth, “No, no—nothing bas an- noyed me !” “TI am giled to hear it,” said Sir Frederick Latham: but for a few moments his cold blue eyes were fixed steadily and searchingly upon his wife. “You have hed a letter from my brother ?” she said, now partially regaining her self-possession : and at the very instant she raised her own eyes towards her husband’s countenance, his looks were withdrawn from her, as if he would not for the world have it supposed thet he was in any way surprised or troubled by the confasion of her man- wer and the singularity of her conduct. “Yea—I have received a note from Viscount Rushbrook,” continued Sir Frederick Latham, the calmness of whose look and manner completely restored Anastatia to her own self-pogsession. “ His lordship ennounces his intention of coming to dine with us to-day; and ag he moreover hints that he has a little private business on which ho is desirous to speak to me-——"" “JT bhope—I hope,” murmured Anastatie, as if seized with some new cause of vaxation, “ that my brother Robert——-” “Do not by any means annoy yourself,” con- tinued Sir Frederick, in the eame calm imper- turbable manner as before. “It is not om that account I mentioned the circumstance of his letter. It was simply to learn whether you expect aay friends to dine with us to- a “No, Sir Frederick,” responded Anastatis, “You are well aware that | never issue invite tions without previously consulting your con- venience———” “You are weloome to do go at any time you may think fit,” answered Sir Vrederick, but more with the air of one who was.conveying @ perzis- sion than who was bidding his wife exercise a right which was indisputably her own. “On my part T have invited no one to dine with wa to-day; and therefore it is somewhat fortunate that after dianer I shall be left alone with your brother —— I mean merely because he intimates that he has . some business of importance on which to consult me.” “JT have not seen Robert for some months past,” said Anastatia; “and I hope in the name of heaven ” “ Again I tell you not to distress yourself,” in- terrupted Sir Frederick. “If it is a matter of a little pecuniary assistance, he shall have it. Thank God, Ledy Anastatia, your husband is a man who can afford it, without the slightest detri- ment to his own interests.” “TI know you are very rich,” said her ledyship + and then, as she looked tearfully up into her bus- band’s countenance, she added, “ Bat it is really too bad uf Robert ” “He exercises the privilege of a brother-in- law,” remarked Sir Frederick: and there might perhaps have been a faint—though very faint ex- pression of irony in his tone: but Anastatia per- ceived it not. “ You have been so good to him—you have done so much,” ebe said,—“ and under such fearful cir cumstances too——” “Lady Anastatia,” interrupted Sir Frederick, ElOOO (CO