The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 223: what you’re looking at

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

212 THES MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. The ex-milliner was startled; and her guilty conscience instantaneously smote her with the idea that her recent successful extortion, the pro- ‘eeeds of which she had duly shared with Mr. Shadbolt, was known to the victim’s husband. “ Whether you have anything to fear as the re- sult of my visit,” continued Sir Frederick, “de- pends entirely on yourself. If you answer all my questions in a manner proving that you are responding faithfully and truthfully, you have nothing to apprehend: but, if on the other hand, you prevaricate or attempt to deceive me, I shall at once take measures which you will repent.” “Good heavens, sir, what do you mean?” faltered the terrified Frenchwoman, now bitterly herself repenting her folly in having jeopardised anew after having so well escaped from former perils. “Lady Anastatia Latham,” continued the mer- chant, fixing his cold eyes upon the ex-milliner, “very recently paid some five or six hundred to an of your’s by the name of Shad- bolt. You see that I know everything ; and it is therefore hardly that I should allude to your billet in which you made that demand.” “Oh! I will give back the money at once, Sir Frederick !” exclaimed the terri§ed Frenchwoman, quailing beneath the merchant's cold searching “ No—that is not the object of my visit,” he responded. “I care nothing for the money. All the world knows that to Sir Frederick Latham such a sum is as & of water to the ocean. You confess that you had no real claim to that money P”’ “It is but too clear, Sir Frederick,” replied Madame Angelique, “that you know this much already. But what do you want of me ?”—and she quivered from head to foot. ‘I want you to tell me,” rejoined the merchant, with a coldly resolute air, “by what means you gained such power—such ascendancy over my wife—the means by which you were enabled to exercise this terrorism—this coercion ? candidly, Madame Angelique; and I will not merely forgive you for the extortion—an extortion which would transport you—but I will go so far as to declare that no evil nor inconvenience shall result to yourself from whatecever information you may give me. Come, shall I assist you ? -Well, then, let me at once proclaim my knowledge that your late establishment was not altogether for millinery purposes.” “Ob! but, Sir Frederick,” exclaimed Madame Angelique, “ what—what will become of poor Lady Anastatia P” “You have almost said sufficient in those few words,” answered the merchant, quivering in- wardiy, though outwardly he still betrayed no emotion, “to prevent me from wishing to continue this discourse. Nevertheless you must speak out : if you have any regard for yourself, you will have none for Lady Anastatia. Come, be quick !—ex- plain whatsoever you may have to tell me without more useless parlance.” “TI will, Sir Frederick—I will,” replied Madame Angelique. “Lady Anastatia—Ah! it is shock- ing that you should drive me to this confession |— certainly did make use of my establishment in a particular way———” Speak “She received a paramour there P”’ said the mer- chant, still speaking in a voice which trembled not. “Well, yes, Sir Frederick. Women will be women——”’ “ Proceed, madam,” he said sternly. “ My wife met a paramour at your house? How long was this ago P”’ “Well, Sir Frederick, th first time it might have been between two and three years—perhs quite three years—as far as I can recollect-———” “Profligate even befoge marriage!” muttered the merchant to himself. “Go on, Madame Angelique,” he added audibly. “How often do you suppose-———”” “Oh, not very often, sir!—a very few times!” exclaimed Madame Angelique. “ And has this ever taken place within the lest two years?” inquired the merchant, thus including the period which had elapsed since his marriage with Lady Anastatia. “ Well, Sir Frederick,” rejoined the French- woman, “to tell the trath, there may have been some three or four interviews within the term you name—but that was more than a year ago—indeed for the last twelvemonth I have seen nothing of Lady Anastatia—and she suddenly ceased to deal with me.” “ Now tell me, Madame Angelique,” continued the merchant, “who was the paramour that my guilty wife thus met? Or perhaps there was more than one?” he added, with a slight perceptible bit- terness of tone. * No—only one: of that I am certain,” an- swered the Frenchwoman. “ But [ really do not know his name-———indeed I don’t think I ever saw him-———” “ NoP I presume because he was admitted into your house from that of your accommodaticg neighbour, M. Bertin, next door?’—and there was Dow a more perceptible tincture of bitterness in Sir Frederick Latham’s accents. “Ie it possible that you were ever in my house P’” asked Madame Angelique. “TP Never, madam !” and the merchant drew himself up with a cold disdainful hauteur. “I beg your pardon, Sir Frederick,” said Ma- dame Apgelique: “but as you seem to know everything, I thought perhaps—pray excuse me I intended no offence——-some of the first people have been in my late establishment——” “Bo it appears,” said the merchant, half drily, half bitterly; “female as well as male. But can you not afford me any clue to the discovery of this peramour of my wife’s? Do you not know, madam, that it is now a husband who is seeking to learn the author of his dishonour—the name of the villain who bas wrecked his happiness —— Noa, not wrecked his happiness! I will not admit thet the profligacies of a vile woman and of some un- principled libertine can wield eo tremendous an influence over Sir Frederick Latham.” ‘Really I am unable to give you any informe- tion on that head I would if it were ia my power I have no reason,” continued Madame Angelique, “ to conceal anything from you. I very seldom saw the gentlemen who came to my esta- blishment: it was sufficient for me that any lady might say she had made an appointment there— and all was managed secretly through the aid of teustworthy domestics——”’ eonnicboo cS) (CO