The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 64: what you’re looking at

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53 without seeming to do so, as he thus spoke; and she was shrewd and penetrating enough to discover that beneath his parade of magnanimity there was a real cowardice. In truth the Hon. Augustus Softly was as chicken-hearted a young gentleman as ever by such paltriness of disposition disgraced the British uniform. Let the reader recollect that we are by no means drawing him as a type of British officers generally—nor of those of the Gaards especially. In his foppery, his conceit, his extravagance, and his dissipated habits, he might certainly be taken as the representative of a large class of military men bearing commissions: but in the cowardice of his nature he constituted an ex- ception. ““ Come,” said Armantine, suddenly assuming a most lively air, “ we will not talk any more about this odious captain. The ohampagne ought to put us in good spirite. Come, sing me a song |” “¥ never sang in my life, my dear girl,” replied Softly. “The Guards, you know, don’t sing.” “Well, but we must do something to amuse ourselves,” exclaimed Armantine, now exhibiting all the gaiety and sprightliness that characterize the women of the country to which she belonged. “Ah! there is your uniform! I have a very great mind to try it on and see how it fits me.” “Do!” exclaimed Softly, “Capital idea !— delicious, ’pon my honour !” Armantine sprang from her seat, laughing merrily; and first of all she put on the Hon. Augustus Softly’s cap with the gold band round it. She looked at herself in the glass; and as the cap rested above the long flowing glossy hair, and the countenance wore an expression of mis- chievous archness, Mademoiselle Armantine looked quite charming. Softly was enraptured: he con- sidered the whole proceeding exquisite ; and any one might indeed have envied him the facility with which he was amused. “‘ Now for the coat!’ exclaimed Armantine: and she was about to put it on. “What! uver your drees ?” said Augustus. “You wicked fellow, what would you have moe do?” and ashe tapped him playfully on the cheek. “Surely it will fit mo as it is? You are not so very stout—neither am I.” Thus speaking, and laughing merrily all the while, Armantine put on the red coat: but she could not fasten it across her bosom. Mr. Softly volunteered his aid; and as he availed himself of the opportunity to snatch divers little licences with his beautiful mistress, the playful tapping of the cheek was renewed, accompanied by peals of laughter more hilarious than ever. But all of a sudden Armantine’s countenance underwent a striking change; a faint shriek burst from her lips; and on the Hon. Augustus Softly turning hastily round in the direction to which her eyes were looking, he started on boholding the cause of her affright. A very fierce-looking gentleman was atanding upon the threshold, holding the door half-open, and surveying the scene. Hoe was tall, and some- what stoutly built,—his form being indicative of great strength; while the expreasion of his vounte- nance denoted « veritable fire-eater. Ho was of the middle age—perhaps a trifle past it; and had groy whiskers and moustaches,—the latter conei- derably enhancing the fiercencas of his look. His brows, naturally thick and overhanging, were now much corrugated, as if with the infuriate feelings which were pent up in his soul, but seeking to have a vent, and determined to find one too. He wore a sort of semi-military apparel, of a somewhat antiquated and well-nigh exploded fashion. A surtout coat, all frogged and braided over the breast, and fastening with hooks and eyes, fitted tight to his strongly built person, and was closed up to the throat. He had grey trousers, with red stripes; and on his head was a species of foraging-cap. He wore buckskin gloves; and had altogether the air of a military man of the old school. Mr. Softly’s fears at once suggested that Armantine’s terror could have been created by nothing but the appearance of Captain Oartwright —and that therefore the formidable Captain Oart- wright this fierce-looking individual must assuredly “Save me from him, my dear Augustus!” eaid Armantine, flinging her arms about the neck of her lover, and clinging to him as if in the very frenzy of terror. “Oh—yes—yes! Tll—T'll save you, my dear,” stammered the young Guardsman, with a very pale countenance. “ But perhaps the gentleman —the Captain, I mean—for I suppose it ¢s Captein Cartwright to whom I have the honour of speaking — will be so good as to explain———” “Explain, sir?’ ejaculated the fierce-looking individual, now seeming ten thousand times more fierce than at first: “I never explain !—unlese it is with such things ae these:” and he pointed towards a sword and a pistol-case which lay upo a side table. “ Perhaps, sir,” said Mr. Softly, plucking up all the courage he could possibly call to his aid in order to meet the present crisis, “if you were to do me the honour to—to sit down—and—and take a glass of wine——” “My demeanour here, sir,” interrupted the Captain, closing the door violently behind him, depends entirely on the anawers I receive to a few questions I am going to put. In that young lady, sir, I entertain a very deep interest———” “Don't for heaven’s sake, irritate him, my dearest Augustus!” whispered Armantine, as with countenance averted from Captain Cartwright she tremblingly clung to her lover’s arm. ‘* A very deep interest,” continued the fierce- looking intruder; “and moreover I have hor father’s authority for taking any step that may seem good to me according to circumstances.” “Ab, my poor father!” murmured Armantine. * But pray, my dear Augustus, do not —do not anger this dreadful manor he will kill us both outright !” «I may at one time have entertained a tender sentiment for that young lady,” continued Captain Cartwright; “bat circumstances have occurred to alter that feeling—and now it is a fraternal o7 paternal regard that I experience for her. I have traced her hithor. If you tell me, Mr. Softly, that sho is your wife, I shall bo satisfied—I shall rcjoico—I shall fill a bumper uf champagne—— and what is more, I shall drink it!” Here, as if to render his words all the more im- pressive, Captain Cartwright strack the table such DOO <S on cpr greener ent A Tn SS SAS THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. etree” CP PTO CA tPCT LI SC CE ETT co