The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 96: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES. 49 had alinded to him as a frierd—and shame at the idea that he was probably no stranger to her frailty. But with that winning manner which seemed natural to him, and which on sceount of its femi- nine softness was so well calculated to inspire confi- dence, Lord Florimel approached her—took her hand—and ead in # reassuring tone, “ T am indeed a friend, Miss Clarendon ; and in that light I wish yon to consider me. But we have not a moment to delay unnecessary discourse: you must return home immediately—your sister, who is an angel of goodness, will receive you with open arms—and you nay likewise expect to embrace your father-——” « My father!” repeated Octavia, with a convulsive start, and with 4 wild expression suddenly springing up in her eyes. “Fear nothing, I say—your father suspects not your absence, and need not know it,” Florimel has- tened to observe. “Pauline is the depositrees of your secret—and she would sooner die than betray you.” “Pauline knows all !—my father is returned !” gasped the wretched girl, sinking upon a chair ;—and then a flood of tears came to her relief. *In the name of heaven, compose yourself, Miss Clarendon!” said Mrs. Brace, caressing her with a great show of affection. “Do you not comprehend what this kind nobleman has told you? Your sister has learnt your secret, and will do all she can to aid “Tt is this that cuts me to the soul,” exclaimed Octavia, bitterly : “for how shall I be able to look my pare and virtuous sister in the face ?” « She loves you—loves you tenderly, Miss Claren- don,’”” said Florime “ But, for heaven’s sake, come! It is now seven o’clock—and you must be home before eight !” Octavia started up—dried her tears—and, the dread of her father’s wrath arming her with sudden energy, declared her readiness to depart. But as it would be dangerous to the reputation of Mrs. Brace’s establishment for a lady and gentleman to be seen issuing forth together at that early hour m the morning, the milliner undertook to accompany Octavia in the hackney-coach as far as Piccadilly, where Florimel could join them and take her place. This was accordingly done : the vehicle, with Mrs. Brace and the young lady inside, proceeded as far as the beginning of Bond Street, where it waited for Flormel, who passed out of the establishment by the house in St. James’s Square. The milliner then alighted—the nobleman took his seat by Octavia’s side—and the coach moved rapidly off towards the Edgeware Road. Florimel now proceeded, in terms as delicate as possible, to give his fair companion certain n etplanations. He told her how he had heard of her sister's charms and was resolved to win her heart— how he had called on the previous evening in female attire—how Pauline had discovered his treachery by some inadvertent expressions he had used—how he fell upon his knees before her and besotght her for- giveness—and how a virtuous passion had superseded the base intentions that had originally animated him. He then informed Octavia that while he and her sister were seated together in the back parlour, her ther had & tedly arrivea—that Pauline had cing him to believe that Octavia had tad abreadty i tive’ to rest—and that he (Florimel) baal subsequently quitted Patline’s alarms by de- claring the he knew where her sister was and would guarantee her safe return before eight in the morn- ing. He added that being in Mra. Brace’s confidence, he was acquainted with Octavia’s amour: but he assured her that he neither knew, nor sought to learn, who was the object of her affection. Octavia scarcely comprehended all these details— for there was a confusion in her brain: she however understood enough to convince her that Pauline would save her from exposure in respect to her father -—and that was all she cared for ! The explanations of Lord Florime] had scarcely reached their conclusion, when the coach came within sight of the villa; and the nobleman ordered it to stop. Octavia alighted—and, having mur- mured a few words of gratitude to her generous friend, she hurried away towards the house. Florimel waited until he saw Pauline appear at the garden-gate to receive her sister; and the hasty signal which the younger Miss Clarendon made to him, as he kept his head out of the carriage-window, convinced him that Octavia was in time to escape detection on the part of her sire. He then ordered the coachman to take him to his own residence in Piccadilly. CHAPTER XXIII MR. PAGE’S RESEARCHES. Our readers will remember that we left Mr. Page in his bed at the George and Blue Boar, at the time when, awaking in the morning after his night’s adven- tures in the eastern district of London, he found himself attacked by a violent fit of rheumatism. It will likewise be recollected that he sent for medical assistance ; and the doctor immediately recommended him to take a warm bath. This the commercial traveller did; and, on returning to his bed, he fell into a sound sleep. It was four o’clock m the afternoon when he awoke; and he found himself so much better that he got up and sat by the fire. A basin of mock turtle soup, which he then discussed, appeared to improve him still more; and he was able to walk about his room with comparative ease—the rheu- matism having subsided into a mere sensation of stiffness in the limbs. On making inquiries of the waiter, he ascertained that his employer Mr. Hodson had called in the course of the day; but on being informed that Page was asleep, the merchant had taken his departure, as he was unwilling to disturb him. Our readers have seen quite enough of the com- mercial traveller to be well aware that his disposition was of the most restless, bustling, and excitable nature; and they will not therefore be surprised when we inform them that he was most anxious to make certain researches suggested by one of the papers contained in the pocket-book. This document was the scrap whereon the follow- ing lines were scrawled with a pencil, and in a tremulous hand :— “V.ook under the stone in the farthest corner to the right, in the cellar. Use it wisely, Julia—and you will prosper : act rashly—and you will be ruined.” That this note was written by the old man who had died in his presence on the preceding night, COMGLOO S COMM