The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 65: what you’re looking at

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54 a violent blow with hie elenched fist that Mr. Softly shuddered to the innermost confines of his being; while his mistress whispered in a hastier and muvre tremulous tone than ever, “ He is mad! he is desperate! For heavon’s sake say anything everything to pacify him! I know all your courage, my dear Augustus: bat think what a dreadful thing it would be for me if he stretched you weltering in your blood at my feet |” At this horrible idea poor Softly gave vent to a low moan; and he trembled so perceptibly that the reader may marvel how it was that Armantine could whisperingly add, “For both owr sakes re- strain thie dreadful ardour of your’s!—curb your fiery temper !—tell him everything—promise him everything—or he will massacre us!” Meanwhile Oaptain Cartwright, having dealt that terribly energetio thump upon the table, took three or four strides to and fro in the apartment as if to compose his excited feeling: but if this were his object, the aim was not reached—for it was with the fiercest possible expression of counte- nance that he once more accosted the miserable Augustus Softly. “Yes, sir,” continaed the fire-eater, “if that young lady is your wife, I shall be happy—TI shall rejoice: I shall be enabled to speed to her father with the agreeable intelligence. But if, sir, on the other hand”—and here Captain Cartwright ground his teeth as if with an uncontrollable fury at the bare idea he was about to explein,—“ if, sir, you cannot look me frankly in the face and say that she is here without discredit or dishonour to herself, I shall be compelled, sir—painful though the alternative bo—to embrue my hands in the blood of a fellow-creature !’’ Having given vent to this frightful threat, Cap- tain Cartwright did not dash his clenched fist upon the table—but he stalked straight up to where the young officer’s sword lay, and he deliberately drew the weapon from ite sheath. “Just heaven, he will murder us!” whispered Armantine, as if in a dying voice. “For my sake —for both our sakes—tell him I am your wife !” “But, my dear girl——” “Did you speak, sir?’ demanded the officer, turning round upon Softly with such fierce abrupt- ness that the unfortunate young gentleman felt his blood all curdling in hie veins, his teeth chat- tering, and his limbs trembling. “Did you speak, sir, I ask?—did you give me an answer to my question® ‘Yes or no—is that lady your wife ”’ *'Ye-e-e-8,” replied Augustus, in such @ ter- rible state of bewilderment that he scarcely know what he was saying. “Yos?’ exclaimed Cartwright. “Speak it out more plainly !”” “For heaven’s sake,” whispered Armantine, “ dearest Augustus-——” “Yes, she is my wife!” said the young officer, seeling as if by tho assortion his life was suddenly saved. “Then look up, Armantine—and be not abashed!” exclaimed Cartwright. “Never mind this masquerading nonsenso—-dressing yourself up in yous- husband’s regimentals! New-married peupie are as silly as lovers after all! Mr. Softly, you are # man of honour—I am proud, sir, to make your acquaintance. There is my hand.” THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. returned the sword to ite sheath ; and hastily draw- ing off his buckskin glove, he presented his hand to Softly. The young gentleman took it; and now Mademoiselle Armantine ventured to look round upon the fierce Captain. “Do not be afraid of me any longer,” he said, atsuming a milder tone and look. “Here’s my hand for you also—and now I can communicate joyous tidings to your father. But, Ah! I forget something! The marriage certificate? I must see it—-I must satisfy myself before I compromise my word in communicating with your father.” “Tell him you have left i¢ elsewhere,” hastily whispered Armantine. “Tell him anything—for heaven’s sake do! His look is already chang- in g.”” “The marriage certificate, sir?’ said Captain Oartwright sternly. “The certificate® Oh ye-e-e-2,” stammered the Hon. Augustus Softly. “It’s all right—it’s—it’s at a friend's of mine—where we had the wodding- breakfast-——-ye-e-e-s, that’s it.” * Good !” exclaimed Captain Cartwright: “you are a man of honour in every respect—and it re- joices me that I can be proud of your friendship instead of having to wreak a frightful vengeance upon you. Here’s to both your healths !” Thus speaking, the now appeased fire-eater filled himself a glass of champagne, and poured the con- tents down that throat from which such terrible menaces had recently come forth. “Mr. Boftly,” he continued, “I mast see this certificate. I can say nothing to Armantine’s father until I have received indisputable evidence that she és your wife. To-morrow I am engaged to fight a duel in the morning—to trounce a rascal in the afternoon—and to break a fellow’s head at my Club in the evening. But the day after, sir, at two o'clock punctually, I shall be here. I don’t like using threats, sir,”—and here the Captain looked most overpoweringly fierce: “but if the certificate is not forthcoming, I shall be compelled, sir—dis- agreeably compelled—to inflict such a chastisement on you ” “Oh, Captain Cartwright!” exclaimed Arman- tine, as if in an agony of terror: “sparo these dreadful threate!—the certificate will be forthcom- ing! Will i¢ not, dear Augustus ?”—and sho looked appealingly at her paramour. “'Yo-e-e9s—Oh! yes,” responded the miserable Softly, who again felt that all the blood was curdling in his veins and that his hair was stand- ing on end. “Good!” exclaimed the Captain. “The day after to-morrow at two o’clock I shall be here !” He then stalked out of the room, closing the door violently behind him; and the miserable Mr. Augustus Softly sank with a hollow groan into an arm-chair. He looked the very picture of wretch- edness: but Armantine filled him a glass of wine seated herself on his knee—wound her arm about his neck—and plied all her most witching cajoleries—lavished too all the most tender ca- resees, with such effect that the young gentleman rallied sufficiently to envisage his position and discuss it within himeelf. What was tobe done? To appeal to a magise trate for protection against the fire-eater, would be virtually to avow a dastard inability to protect While thus speaking, the terrible captain had | himeelf. To run away from London at a moment CONIC OOO co