The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 203: what you’re looking at

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183 to take place. The young artist seemed as cool and eollected as ever; anda stranger gazing upon him would not have known that there was anything unusual in his mind. He was dressed with his usual neatness, and appeared as if he had enjoyed several hours of calm and refreshing sleep. An excellent breakfast was served up, of which Deveril partook. When it was over Mr. Forester looked at his watch, saying, ‘‘It is now half-past five—my carriage will be at the door in ten minutes. If you have anything particular to say, you had better do so at once.” “T have but one request to make,’ answered Teveril, producing a small key from his pocket. “Take this—it opens the writing-desk at my lodg- ings. If I fall, you will know what to do.” “Depend upon it, my dear fellow,” returned Forester, ‘‘ whatever your instructions are they shall be fully and faithfully attended to. Have you any- thing more to say ?”’ “Nothing,” responded Deveril, “except to ex- press my thanks for your kindness.” Mr. Forester’s valet entered the rvom to announce that the carriage was in waiting. That gentleman now produced from a cupboard an ominous-looking box in a green baize bag; and this the valet at once conveyed down to the carriage. Forester and Deveril followed, and took their seats in the vehicle, which then drove rapidly away. During the ride to Hampstead the two gentlemen egonversed upon indifferent matters; and Deveril showed that young as he was—being, as the reader is aware, scarcely twenty, though he looked a year or two older—he possessed a firm and courageous mind. Not that he treated the matter with unbe- coming flippancy—very far from it: there was a certain gravity and sedateness in his’mien and tone which became the position wherein he was placed, but which was as far removed from the sentiment |. of fear as it was from levity. On reaching the heath, Forester and Deveril left the carriage, which drove away to a distance so as not to excite suspicion in the neighbourhood ; and they proceeded on toot to the appointed place. Forester had purposely put on a loose over-coat that he might carry the pistol-case concealed beneath it: fur the ominous-looking box before referred to, was the one containing the deadly weapons. It was twenty minutes past six as they entered the field where the duel was to take place; and the quick glance which Forester threw around showed him that they were first upon the ground. It was a beautiful morning: the sun was already shining brightly—the birds were singing in the trees —and nature, reviving from the lethargy of night, was arraying herself in her most cheerful smiles, Deveril could not help heaving a sigh as he reflected how perverse was the heart of man, that by its pas- ‘sions it could lead to the desecration of a world which the Creator had made so fair and beautiful, and the sunny joyousness of which too often formed so strong a contrast with the deeds enacted by its human denizens. His meditations were however cut short by a sud- den ejaculation from the lips of Forester, who cried out, “ Here they come !”—and -Deveril, looking in the direction where his friend’s eyes were fixed, be- held his opponent accompanied by two individuals alvancing across the field. THR MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. Lord Harold Staunton, ere quitting his lodgings, had made certain hasty improvements in his teilet: nevertheless his appearance was not altogether cha- racterised by the same degree of neatness as that of William Deveril. On the contrary, he looked as if he had passed a portion of the night in a debauch. His companions were Captain Lennox and the mili- tary surgeon. The former was a fine tall man, of commanding appearance, and evidently of great physical strength; he wore a moustache, which to- gether with his thick brows and keen piercing eyes, gave him a certain fierceness of look; while his air was haughty, self-sufficient, and aristocratic. As for the surgeon, he was altogether of an opposite appearance—being short and stout, with a rubicund face and a particularly red nose, as if he were amazingly addicted to the pleasures of the ta- ble. Lord Harold bowed with distant politeness to Mr. Deveril, who returned the salutation in a simi- lar manner, The two seconds—namely, Captain Lennox and Mr. Forester—almost instantaneously proceeded to a settlement of the preliminaries, — measuring the ground, and loading the pistols in each other’s presence,— during which proceeding the military surgeon walked apart, and while pre- tending to blow his nose, applied a brandy-flask to his lips. The seconds, having made their arrange- ments, placed their principals in their proper sta- tions; and thus, to use Captain Lennox’s military phrase, “the ground was made clear for ac- tion !”’ “ You have. nothing more to say to me beyond the instructions already given?’ inquired Mr. Forester of Deyeril, as he handed him a loaded pistol. : ‘“ Nothing,” was the answer, returned in a tone of grave firmness. “Then there need be no farther delay,” re- joined Mr. Forester. “It is arranged that Captain Lennox will give the signal. Observe where he has now taken his place with a white kerchief in his hand. When he drops that kerchief, you will avert your head, raise the pistol, and fire.” Deveril intimated that he understood these instrue- tions; and Mr. Forester drew aside to a little dis- tance, so as to avoid the chance of receiving Lord Ha- rold’s bullet. This nobleman had in the meantime re- ceived his weapon from Captain Lennox, who had immediately after posted himself in such a position that he formed with the two duellists the apex of a triangle. The military doctor had seated himself under a hedge, where he regaled himself with a se- cond dose of the contents of the brandy-flask to set- tle the qualms of an empty stomach. . Everything was now ready: but just at the very instant that Captain Lennox was about to let the handkerchief fall, a loud stentorian voice roared out, ** Stop !” All eyes being turned in the direction whence this command emanated, the unmistakable figure of Mr. Gunthorpe was seen clambering over a gate in the hedge close by where the doctor was seated. Up jumped the medical gentleman, as much star- tled as if a whole posse of policemen had appeared upon the spot: but on perceiving that the new comer was alone, he regained his self-possession, and deliberately took a third pull at the brandy- flask. Over the gate did Mr. Gunthorpe scramble, ne ee —_—_—.— <SEiGO COMMICELO®