The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 317: what you’re looking at

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

802 THE MYSTERIES did your bidding my reward was to be the highest that woman could bestow. To the best of my power I did your bidding. Heaven knows but too well that I did my best to lay Deveril dead upon the ficld,—and the crime is registered in that same heaven against me! When I sought you afterwards, how was I treated? I need not do more than re- mind you of all that passed between us. Now you have summoned me into your presence again—but not willingly, spontaneously, of your own accord. No: again do you require my services; and there- fore did you send for me to become your in- strument, your agent, and your tool. In all these matters you have shown yourself intensely selfish, Harriet; and I have nething to thank you for. But do you suppose that I will consent to serve your purposes thus, as a mere convenience—a sort of hireling? °’Tis true that our connexion has be- come suddenly intimate: yet what guarantee have I that when your aim is answered and this dilemma of your’s is settled, you will not cast me off with scorn again? At all events, as you have sought to make me serve your purposes, it is but a just retali- ation that I should make you serve mine. It there- fore suits me to claim you as my wife; and upon the written condition that you will become so, will I repair to London and completely baffle all your enemies.” “ And you have maturely considered your plans?” gaid Lady Saxondale, over whose countenance sud- denly passed that same dark and ominous expres- sion which had on two or three occasions appeared , thereon during her disputes with the deceased Mabel. ' “ Have I not spoken in the calm, quiet, and deli- berate style of a man who has well considered the project which he propounds r”’—and as Harold gave utterance to these words, his own looks assumed the firmest decision: for he had construed that ominous expression on Lady Saxondale’s face to be the mere effect of her angry feelings—he con- sidered it indeed to be the passing cloud of an in- dignation to a tempestuous outburst of which she dared not give vent. “Well then,” said her ladyship, after a pause, “if you be so resolute, I have no alternative but to consent—inasmuch as I perceive you consider me to be so completely in your power 4 ; “You understand your position,” interrupted Harold. ‘ With a breath I could destroy you. My testimony on the side of Deveril in the law-suit which is threatened, would be damnatory: for re- member, there is the masquerade-dress which your own son possessed himself of, and which could be | brought as a proof of my tale.” “ Knough !” exclaimed Lady Saxondale, for a moment biting her lip; and as she turned towards a table, on which there were writing materials, that sinister expression, so darkly ominous, again ap- | peared upon her countenance. She seated herself at the table, and prepared to. write: but suddenly throwing down the pen, she looked up and said, “ Perhaps you had better draw | up this promise of marriage in your own terms; and I will either copy the document, or sign the one you write.” “No: we need not take so much trouble as to make copies. You ean write to my dielation, Ars you ready ?” rE EEEEIEEEEEEEEEEe eee eee inn [a OF THE COURT. “Tam. Proceed.” ‘ ** Now then, begin thus:—‘I the undersi Harriet Saxondale, feeling myself to be under the deepest obligations to Lord Harold Staunton, for delicate services which he has rendered me, and entertaining for that nobleman the sincerest love and affection, do hereby pledge myself to bestow upon him my hand in marriage at the expiration of one month from the present date; and inasmuch as I am aware that for my sake he is renouncing certain brilliant prospects of his own in a matri- monial point of view, I do hereby bind myself in the sum of one hundred thousand pounds to fulfil this compact within or at the period above spe- cified.’ ” “Ts that all?” asked Lady Saxondale, who had written with a firm hand to Staunton’s dictation. “1 think that is an admirable document—terse and business-like—and with as few falsehoods in it as such a thing can possibly have. Your love and affection for me, and the brilliant matrimonial pros- pects which I renounce, are the only fictions: but they are beautiful ones of their kind. A lawyer would have crammed in a thousand falsehoods, and not one so romantic or touching.” “Cease this levity, Harold: for the carriage is already at the door.” “Pardon me: but I was in a lively mood. Now your pretty signature to that docement—and I am off.” “‘Tt is completed,” said Lady Saxondale. “ And here is a cheque for a thousand guineas. Will that suflice tor the purposes you have in hand ?” “If not, I can easily write for more,” he ree sponded: “but depend upon it, I do not wish-to encroach more than I can help upon funds that will shortly be our’s jointly. And now farewell, my dear Harriet.” He embraced Lady Saxondale, who suffered rather than returned his caress; and then having hastened to take leave of his aunt, Juliana, and Florina, Lord Harold Staunton leapt into the car- riage and set off on his way back to London. Immediately after he had taken his departure, Lady Saxondale sat down and penned a letter in a feigned hand. She then.ordered her carriage, ob- serving that she had to go to Gainsborough (the nearest town) in order to transact a little business with the banker there. As Juliana expected a call from Mr. Hawkshaw, she did not volunteer to ace company her mother; and as her ladyship’s in- tended ride appeared to be of a purely business character, Florina also preferred remaining at the Castle. As for Lady Macdonald, she was too much fatigued with the long journey of the previous day to stir out; and thus Lady Saxondale’s secret hope was fulfilled, that she would be enabled to visit Gainsborough alone. She had in reality no business of any kind to transact with the banker, but merely sought an opportunity of putting her letter with her own hand into the post, so that none of her _ dependants might perceive the address, —~ a mile VOOIKS (€©)