The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 203: what you’re looking at

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193 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. him hold his peace on that score; and he ex- claimed, “Oh, it was nothing! Only the strange manner in which that fellow darted away after I had given him a few shillings.” The groom’s thoughts were still too much in confusion for him to perceive at the moment that there was something strange in the business, and that his master was speaking oevasively. ‘When he subsequently reflected upon it, it was too late to put any further questions. Rushbrook now inquired if the groom were very much hurt? The man responded that he was con- siderably shaken; but he congratulated himself on having broken no bones. The Viscount re- sumed his seat: but he drove very cautiously for the remaininder of the journey; and all the way homeward to his father’s residence in Park Lane, he never ceased inwardly cursing his ill lack, which had deprived him of a sum that was so much needed by existing circumstances. CHAPTER OXXII. THE BRILLIANT ENTERTAINMENT. Four or five days elapsed after the incidents which we have been describing; and Lady Anastatia Latham knew not precisely what course to adopt in respect to Madame Angelique. She had pro- mised Shadbolt at the time to call upon her: but the pledge was hastily given, for the purpose of getting rid of the man; and afterwards Anastatia did not like to fulfil it. Equally distasteful to her was the idea of writing to Madame Angelique upon the subject of the claim made upon her; and thus these four or five days had passed away with- out anything being done. A grand entertainment was now about to be given at Tudor Lodge; and this was for the moment engrossing her ladyship’s attention. “You will see to-night a very interesting young couple,” said Sir Frederick Latham to Anastatia, as they Were seated together at breakfast on the morning of the day on which the entertainmet was to be given. ° “A young married couple ” said Anastatia in- | e “No—brother and sister,” responded her hus- band ; “and they are twins. Their name is Ash- ton; and as if all circumstances should combine to augment the interest which envelopes them, they bear the names of Christian and Christina.” “Perhaps it was a mother’s pious love which bestowed these names upon her twin-offspring ?” said Lady Anastatia. “I do not know the circumstances,” answered Sir Frederick Latham: “ but I will tell you how i¢ is that Mr. and Miss Ashton are to be our guests this evening, and wherefore I am about to ask you, Anastatia, to show them all posible attention.” “You know fall well, Sir Frederick,” responded the ainiable wife, “that no expressed wish of yours is ever wilfully neglected by me. I will show Mr. and Miss Ashton every attention—not merely bes cause you desire it—nor because mere ordinary courtesy would have prompted such conduct on my part—but likewise because I am already interested in this young brother and sister.” “I was about to give you some little ex. planation,” resumed Sir (Frederick. “There has been for a while past an Indian lady of rank staying in the British metropolis— but maintaining a strict incognita. By the death of her father ahe has recently attained a still higher rank; and’ large funds have been re- mitted to England for her use. These moneys were paid through our correspondent’s house at Calcutta; and it yesterday became necessary that I should see the lady of whom I am speaking, af her residence in the district of Bayswater. There I met Mr. and Miss Ashton, as well as a gentle- man of the name of Redcliffe. Having received the lady’s instructions in respect té the large funds which our firm holds on her account, I ventured to hint that if it were agreeable, you, Anastatis, would call and pay your respects. The lady ex- pressed her thanks, and with much courtesy gave me to understand that she was desirous of living in se- clusion during her sojourn in this country. Bat she remarked that she by no means wished to condemn her beloved friend Miss Ashton to a similar mono- tony of existence : for it appears that Mise Ashton resides altogether with the Indian lady—while Mr. Ashton and Mr. Redcliffe were only the temporary visitora of a few hours. To be brief, I succeeded in inducing Mr. and Miss Ashton to accept an in- vitation to our entertainment this evening ; and you may therefore expect them.” Sir Frederick Latham, as Indora’s financial agent, had necessarily been made acquainted with her queenly rank: but as the matter was a secret, he—with the characteristic caution of business- habite—forebore from revealing the truth even to his own wife. He had striven hard to induce Indora to visit at his house. He had calculated that :f she would only make her appearance for an hour in his brilliant saloons, the presence of a lady of euch matchless beauty—even though her Sove- reign rank should still remain concealed—would give an immense eclat to the entertainment. Bat Indora had declined,—not merely for the reason which she had alleged, but likewise because she deemed it her duty to bestow as much attention as possible upon the wounded Sagoonah. She never- theless urged Christina to acoept the invitation: while Mr. Redcliffe had by a sign intimated to Christian that he eleo was to respond in the affir- mative. Thus, although Sir Frederick had failed to obtain the presence of Queen Indora at his mansion, he had nevertheless succeeded in respect to the young brother and sister, whose personal beauty was of so exceedingly interesting a cha- racter, and who could not therefore fail to create a sensation. But Sir Frederick did not choose to enter into these full explanations with his wife, Lady Anastatia: he never suffered her to perocive the amount of pains he took to render his enter- tainmente so brilliant, attractive, and varied, that they should even excite the envy of the patrician guests who might be present at them. At about nine o’clock in the evening there was @ continuous line of oarriages rolling along the avenue of Sir Frederick’s grounds, and setting down the fashionably apparelled guests at the mansion. The edifice itself was a perfect blaze of light; and all the arrangements were upon a ecale EOMICOOOLKS. CO