The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

88 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. oe plumpness; though at the same time the most | commission I gave you this morning, when you se punctilious critic of female beauty would not have | kindly insisted upon doing something as a prouf of pronounced her too stout. She possessed magnifi- | your affection P” cent dark dair—a pair of fine bright eyes, with| “TI have it here,” he responded, significantly tap- nobly arching brows—and a beautiiul set of teeth. | ping his waisteoat-pocket. “Ah! I dare say you Thus, altogether, Emily Archer—or Emile D’Alem- | thought I had gone and lost it all at cards to- bert, which was her theatrical pseudonym—was a /| night: but you see you are mistaken.” very handsome and attractive young woman. “Then I suppose you called upon old Musters, as At the moment when we thus particularly. notice | I told you?” observed Emily. her amidst the throng in the Concert Room on the | ‘ Yes—to be sure: or else how could I have ob- night in Ase he ae ee 1 aes ue Soe aa the sag As ee srr Sooty oi = Inasmuch as young Lord: Saxondale, who pro- | addition to my allowance from o rd Petersfie mised to see her there that evening, had not as yet | or those pfs fellows Marlow and Malton, it was made his appearance. Several other gay gallants out of the question—particularly as that blessed had accosted Miss Archer: but. she gave them no| mother of mine has been making mischief between encouragement to continue discoursing with her.|me and my guardians. Would you believe it ? The fact was, she was mightily pleased with her new | they want me to go abroad as Unpaid Attaché to an conquest—knowing him to be the heir to immense | Embassy; or else to go and bury myself down in estates on attaining his majority; and therefore she | that dreadful old castle :n Lincolnshire.” was too anxious to retain him in the silken chains of her fascination to risk losing him by » flirtation with other aspirants. Thus, if Miss Archer re- mained faithful to Lord Saxondale—and meant to do so, as long as it suited her convenience—it was through no love of him, but because her self-interest was gratified. Suddenly her countenance brightened up, as she beheld the young nobleman enter the Concert Room; and nodding familiarly to three or four fashionable acquaintances whom he recognised, he passed amidst the throng and speedily joined Miss Emily Archer. “‘ How late you are to-night!” she said, affecting to pout her lips as she gave him her hand. “I thought you were not coming.” “‘ My dear girl,” responded Saxondale, “I was dining with my friend Lord Harold Staunton and @ number of other men, and after dinner we had cards—so that really the time slipped away without my noticing it. But when I did see how late it was, I hurried off at once—and here I am. Now pray be so kind as to look as pleasant as you can.” “TI will, since you have made an apology,” an- swered ee? ae ie judge pretty hie from cis Seca 2 vs pan manner that he had foun e means of comply- **The Oo were sent down this morning. ing with a certain request sho had made in the | Tam ale to have got rid of that sober-looking morning. brougham, which was all that Mr. Walter would “There now! you look quite radiant,” said the | allow me. And by the bye,’ added Emily, “ the infatuated Edmund. coachman has got his new livery; so that the equi- “But mind,” she immediately rejoined, in a low | page altogether is quite charming. And now thatI whisper and with an arch smile, “that you do not | think of it, my dear Edmund, I have to thank you fall in love with Angela Vivaldi again to-night; for for the case of champagne which came down to the you were desperately enamoured of her before you | villa last night, and the new service of plate from knew me. Indeed, you told me so.” the silversmith’s in Bond Street.” “My dear Emily, it only required to know you| We will not however prolong our details of this in order to put the Signora Vivaldi altogether out | conversation. Enough has been already recorded to of my head. Besides,” added Saxondale, in a very | show that the shrewd and cunning ballet-dancer had low ‘and mysterious whisper, “my friend Lord , succceded in enmeshing the foolish young aristocratic Harold Staunton——you know him ?” | pigeon in her toils, and that she intended to pluck “ Yes—I think I do,” replied Miss Emily, ap- | him most unmercifully so long as this infatuation on pearing to reflect for a few moments: though, in | his part should continue. good truth, it was very far from necessary—for she | But turn we now to another part of that Concert was full well acquainted with that nobleman, as of | Room ; and there, in the remotest corner—retiring eourse he was with her. “Well, what about him?” | bashfully from the gaze which the eee gal- “Oh! he intends to pay his court to Angela.” lants insolently flung upon her as they passed—was “She is a onde verithle prude,” observed , @ young creature of about sixteen, and whose beauty Emily Archer: “ but the stillest water is sometimes _ was rather of the pensive and interesting character that which runs the deepest. And now tell me, | than of the striking or dazzling description. In- my dear Edmund, have you thought of the little deed, at first sight, there was nothing particularly somewhat alarmed lest the young nobleman should be suddenly removed’ from beyond the sphere of her influence. “Don’t be afraid, my dear Emily,” responded Saxondale: “I am not quite such a fool. Besides, since you have given me this introduction to the old money-lender, and he is so exceelingly com- plaisant, I shall feel myself perfectly independent of my guardians and my mother. I got a couple of thousands from old Musters this morning; and here is the thousand,” he added again tappiug his waistcoat-pocket, “that you require. But shall I give it to you now?” | *No—you are coming home with me presently, I hope,” answered Miss Emily, with her most bee witching smile. ‘‘I ordered supper to be in readi- ness, and champagne to be put inice. Besides, I have got my new carriage——” “Ah! is it come home?” asked Saxondale, “The coach-builder promised me it should be at Evergreen Villa by noon to-day.” * And he kept his word, my dear Edmund.” “ And the two cream-coloured horses, with their splendid new harness ?” a rn “But you will not, though?” said Miss Archer, ~ COM cloookxs (E()