The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 239: what you’re looking at

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

bb | THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. possibly could, Lady Saxondale recollected her letter | education—I think I am justified in presuming thes to Lord Petersfield, and again descended to the! you are clever: but mind, I do not wish you to drawing-room. Almost immediately afterwards the | answer in the affirmative without having well censi- door opened, and Frank Paton made his appear- | dered the question whether you are cleyer or not. ance. With the utmost difficulty could Lady Saxon- | I may however add that if sufficiently clever, I dale prevent herself ordering from her presence the | think I can venture so far as to promise you @ youth who was the object of her daughter’s love | clerkship in a government office——” and the cause of her shame, But she saw the| At this moment the footman returned to the necessity of proceeding cautiously in whatsoever she | room, to announce that the Duke of Harcourt had might do; and'she bade him take the letter to | just called and desired an interview with his lord- Lord Petersfield and wait for an answer. Frank | ship. bowed and quitted the room: but he felt that while | The cautious diplomatist looked exceedingly grave, standing before her ladyship, he had looked troubled and appeared to reflect whether it were possible that and confused. And no wonder, when we consider the Duke could have any sinister motive in view: that he was in Juliana’s own chamber at the time | but at length coming to the conclusion that such a her mother had knocked at the door. result was not to be apprehended, inasmuch as his The young page issued from the house, and took | Grace was an ultra-Tory and therefore entertaining the direction of Portman Square. As he went along | the same opinions as himself, he resolved to see the he thought tu himself that if he had an opportunity | Duke at once. Bidding Francis Paton await his of speaking to Lord Petersfield alone, he would | return, Lord Petersfield issued slowly and gravely again fling himself upon his knees in that noble- | from the room. man’s presence, and beseech him to give him some On thus finding himself alone, Frank listlessly— intelligence concerning that lady whom in his : or we might say mechanically—began to turn over earlier years he had thrice seen, who had caressed the leaves of one of the books which lay upon the him so tenderly, and whom he so confidently be- , table. The volume which he had thus happened to lieved to be his mother. On reaching Portman light upon, was of large folio size, handsomely bound, Square, he found that Lord Petersfield was at home; | but with the binding very much faded and the leaves and he waited in the hall while a servant touvk the | themselves the least thing dingy with the influence letter to his lordship. In a few minutes the footman ‘of time. The front page showed that it had been re-appeared, bidding Frank follow him. published in the year 1629, consequently about “Then I am about to see this nobleman,” thought fifteen years back: it was entitled Beauties of the the page to himself, “who I feel convinced knows | Court, and consisted merely of a number of por- more concerning me than he has ever chosen to traits of ladies, with no descriptive letter-press admit. Surely that letter of which I was the bearer, | whatsoever. In short, it was one of those luxuri- could not regard myself ?” ously got up pictorial works issued to fill the pub- But the youth had no farther time for reflection; lisher’s pocket by gratifying the vanity of ladies for he now found himself upon the threshold of the 1 the aristocratic circles, and therefore only fitted apartment where Lord Petersfield was seated. He | to lie upon a drawing-room table. entered—the door closed behind him—and he was | ‘The young page’s thoughts were far away from now alone with that nobleman. this volume the leaves of which he was turn- “Francis Paton,” said the cautious and solemn | ing over: but still as Lord Petersfield continued diplomatist, “it may be that you are somewhat | absent, he went on looking at plate after plate—and surprised at being asked intu my presence? I do | as the engravings were most superbly executed and not say that you are—and I do not wish you to | formed specimens of the very highest style of the reply without previous reflection. Take time——” | art, it was no wonder if Frank, who possessed a “My lord, I am not altogether surprised,” re- | refined taste notwithstanding his menial position, sponded the young page; “ because I cannot divest | proceeded with the inspection. myself of the belief that your lordship is the de-| He had turnea over upwards of a dozen pages, positor of some secret respecting myself and my | and had contemplated the countenances of the most sister. And Oh! if it be to tell me anything on | beauteous peeresses and the loveliest daughters of that point 6 the aristocracy, when he suddenly lighted upon one “You must not speak so rapidly,” interrupted which caused him to start suddenly as if galvanized Lord Petersfield, with even a degree of sternness: | With a powerful electric force, while an ejaculation but almost immediately.wearing a milder aspect, he | of mingled wonderment and joy burst from his lips. said, “ Neither must you assume any such opinion | Then, quick as lightning, did his eye glance to the as that which vou have so rashly, so precipitately, | foot of the plate to learn the name of her whose and I may even say so unadvisedly put forward. | well-known and beauteous features were represented Young man, I wish to know——but do not answer _ there : but indescribable was his disappointment on hurriedly—I never like taking people unawares | beholding naught save this inscription——* A Por- I wish to know, I say, whether you are so well TRAIT.” contented with your present position that youwould | A portrait! yes indeed; and one which he had be unwilling to change it? But understand me not failed to recognise:—but a portrait of whom? thoroughly. I mean, suppose that I could procure Hurriedly did he turn over leaf after leaf of that you a better one. But let me explain what I mean book in the hope of discovering some descriptive by the word better in this sense; because there never letter-press: but there was none. He looked to should be any mistake as to the real application of the index to see whether it should happen to mene terms. Better signifies —— ahem it signifies tion the original of that portrait: but it did not. better: that is to say, better in point of standing The pang of disappointment was however mitigated and botter ir point of salary You received a good by the pleasure of contemplating that transcend- CONnRICLOOKS .(e@