The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 341: what you’re looking at

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926 minutes, when a hired cab drove up to the gate; and in the clear star-light Lord Harold recognized Edmund Saxondale in the individual who alighted. He waited till he saw him enter the villa, and then, opening the garden-gate as noisclessly as pos- sible, he stole round to the back part of the house. Through the kitchen-window he perceived the cook, the housemaid, and the soubrette, seated together at supper,—the groom and coachman not living in the house. Now, from certain antecedent circum- stances, it was well known to these domestics that Lord Harold had been on very intimate terms with Miss Emily Archer: and they therefore were not particularly surprised when they saw him enter the kitchen and place his finger to his lip, as much as to imply that they were to be silent. Then, beckon- ing the soubrette out into the back garden, he thrust a few guineas into her hand, saying, * You must manage to get me stealthily up-stairs to your mistress’s chamber.” “ But his lordship is here,” responded the young lady’s-maid, though not refusing to take the money. *T know it, my dear girl,” replied Harold, tap- ping her upon the cheek. “I met him just now in the road, and he told me that he was only going to stay half-an-hour. You know very well it is all right. So do not hesitate.” “Oh, I am sure that I have no objection, my lord !” rejoined the sowbrette : “and one thing is very certain—that missus hkes you infinitely better than Lord Saxondale. She has told me so a hundred times over.” “ Of course—I know it well. And now do not delay; but contrive to introduce me as stealthily as you can,” urged the nobleman. “ Come then,” said the soubrette, who delighted in being the confidante of an intrigue. “ You will have to pass through the kitchen, you know.” “ Never fear. The other servants will not tell his lordship,” added Staunton, affecting to laugh merrily, as if it were a capital joke. “ Besides, I shall put a golden seal upon each of their lips as I pass through.’ “Ah! you put seals on lips, my lord ?” said the soubrette, surveying him archly. “ Yes—like this,” he replied, throwing his arm round her waist and kissing her. “O fie, my lord—I did not mean that,” said the gicl; yet it was precisely what she did mean, and what she sought: then, as she arranged her co- quettish cap, she added, “ Come quickly, since so it 1s to be.” She now led the way back again into the kitchen, where Harold threw a sovereign into the lap of the housemaid and another into that of the cook, both of whom were highly delighted at this proof of his generosity. The soubrette conducted him cautiously up the stairs; and as they passed the drawing-room door on the first landing, it struck them both that high words were being exchanged between Edmund Saxondale and Miss Archer. “In consequence of this altercation there was all the less chance of his footsteps being overheard; and he was safely escorted by the soubrette to the exqui- sitely furnished chamber of the danseuse. There the wax-candles were lighted; aud Harold, seating himself on an ottoman at the foot of the bed, said in a whispering voice, “I can make myself comfort- able bere for the pr esent. a THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT, Se ee ee —EEE The soubrette threw upon him a wicked lovk, and issued from the room. The moment Harold was alone, he commenced a search in all Miss Archer’s boxes, drawers, and cupboards, for the masquerade- dress,—treading however upon tiptoe as lightly as he could, and conducting his proceedings as noise- lessly as possible. Meanwhile what was taking place in the drawirg- room? The reader is well aware that Edmund Saxondale possessed a very bad temper—one of those tempers, indeed, that may be described as of a nasty spiteful kind; and if ever he had anything to annoy him, he was accustomed to vent his wrath upon the first person that he thought he might make his victim in this respect. Now, he had been dining with three or four dissipated young mea at an hotel at the West End; and happening to have a few words of dispute with one of them, he had been insulted in a manner which were he possessed of proper spirit, he would have resented signally. But not having the courage to risk a duel, he had quitted the company in a pet—had thrown himself into a cab—and in an execrable temper, had reached Evergreen Villa. On entering the drawing-room where Emily was seated, he at-once said, “ Well, I do think you might show a little more pleasure at seeing me.” “What do you mean?” demanded the danseuse, who, having made up her mind to break with Lord Saxondale, was neither in a mood to put up with his ill-humour, nor yet altogether displeased at finding a motive ready made for quarrelling. “ Do you suppose that I am going tc rush from the sofa and throw myself into your arms ?” “At all events, you needn’t treat me so cool as you do. What the deuce do I have a mistress for, unless it is to make herself avreeable ?” ‘“‘And pray what do I honour you with my favour for, unless it is that you are to make your- self agreeable to me?” “Why, you ungrateful minx, you!” ejaculated Saxondale: “I have done everything for you. What did you possess when I took you from that beggarly Mr. Walter? how much were your jewels worth ? how was your house furnished? what sort of an equipage had you? how much money did he allow you?” “You mean paltry fellow,” cried Emily, her hand- some countenance flushing with an anger that was utterly unfeigned; “how dare you reproach me with those gifts which I so richly deserve ? Why, there are plenty of young men who would be re- joiced to ruin themselves for such as I am. An actress or a danseuse las not established her faine till she has sent half-a-dozen lovers into the Bench or through the Insolvents’ Court.” “ Well, I can tell you very candidly, T don’t mean to ruin myself for you—and so that’s all about it. How do I know that you are faithful to me? How do I know, I say?”—and Lord Saxondale looked spitefully at his mistress: for what he had just thrown out as a taunt, rebounded back to his mind with all the violence of a suspicion. “Tam sure,” responded Emily Archer, contemp- tuously, ‘I am not going to offer you any proof of my fidelity, even if I could.” * Because you know that you Edmund. “Hah!” he suddenly stooping down, he picked up a can’t,” retorted ejaculated: and gentleman's kid =: -——-~———_ ECORNICLOO® SS (€©)