The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 395: what you’re looking at

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389 ‘me to live with this husband of his choice a day, nor an hour, nor a minute. On the contrary, he stipulated as a part of his proposition, that we were to separate immediately after the ceremony and see each other no more. When I had recovered from the astonishment into which this proposal had thrown me, I speedily reflected that it was one which, singular and indelicate though it appeared, I should nevetheless do well to accept. To a person who was about to leave a’ situation with only afew pounds in her pocket, and utterly uncertain how soon she could procure another—without any known friends, too, in the whole wide world—the offer of five thousand pounds was magnificently tempting. Indeed, it was 8, temptation too brilliant and dazzling to be refused. I therefore speedily made up my mind to accept the offer. But having no very high opinion of Sir John Marston’s integrity, I insisted upon receiving the money before I would conclude the strange bar- gain. He told me that the moment the ceremony was over I should have to sign a certain paper without reading its contents, and that the object which he had in view would not be answered unless J affixed my name to that document. He there- fore proposed that immediately after the ceremony nud previous to the signing of the paper, the money should be placed inmyhands. Tothis I consented; and Sir John Marston then told me that in a couple | of hours the bridegroom would bethere. Ireturned to my own chamber, and he immediately issued from the hotel. “When I was alone—the children being at the time with their mother Mrs. Lloyd—I reflected upon the step I was about to take. That Sir John Marston had some deep selfish purpose to serve, there could be no doubt: but what it was, seemed tmpossible for me to fathom. If I rejected his pro- posal, how should I better myself? If a large sum of mency were due to me, and he only meant to pay me a part, what measures could I take for ob- taining the whole? where was I to look for the. source of such money? to whom was I to address myself for information or complaint? I was pro. foundly anxious to escape from the thraldom of a governess’s life; and here was alittle fortune within my reach. All things considered, and all the cir- cumstances being well weighed, I resolved to perse- vere. Thus making up my mind with coolness and firmness, I maintained qa remarkable equanimity of mind,—experiencing no nervousness, nor anxiety, nor excitement. I looked upon the whole affair as a purely business-transaction, and was prepared to go through with it in that sense. “It was a little after nine o’clock in the morning when the interview between me and Sir John Mars- ton had occurred: it was about half-past eleven when Lady Marston and Mrs. Lloyd entered my chamber and bade me accompany them to another room. They knew what was about to take place, and spoke to me encouragingly on the subject. They were evidently fearful that I should retraot my promise: and they addressed me in terms sicken- ingly fawning and coaxing. I gave them to un- derstand that I required no such show of false friendship on their part—that I had made up my mind how to act, in order to serve my own views — and that if by so doing I served their’s at the same time, it was through no love that I bore them. Soon afterwards Sir John Marston made his appearance, ne _— wee | to become a Marchioness! | titled to. —_ «saa THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. accompanied by a very handsome young Frenchman who spoke English perfectly, and whom he intro duced to me as the Marquis of Villebelle. So I was This did not however flatter my pride in the slightest degree: for I cared nothing about artificial rank and the nauseating blazonry of titles. Nor did the agreeable person of the young Marquis produce any tender impression upon my heart; and notwithstanding his good looks, his graceful bearing, and his elegant man- ners, I remained perfectly willing to carry out the Baronet’s conditions to their utmost limit, and se- parate from my intended husband the moment the ceremony should have been performed. Besides, I should have loathed myself if all in a moment I could have made up my mind to fall into the arms of a man whom I had never seen before, and whom therefore I had not been led to love. “Well, to proceed with my narrative. No pre- parations in the shape of apparel were made for this singular wedding. The white veil, the virgin dress, the orange blossoms, and the bouquet, were all wanting. I was well but plainly attired, and with no one single indication that I was about to become a bride. Indeed, the other inmates of the hotel remained in perfect ignorance that any such ceremony was contemplated. Sir John and Lady Marston, Mrs. Lloyd, the Marquis of Villebelle, and myself, entered a carriage hired for the occasion, and proceeded to the British Embassy, where my hand was duly united in marriage to that of the French nobleman. The chaplain, who solemntzed the rite, gave me a certificate, which I securee about my person. We then returned to the carriage, end _ drove back to the hotel. There I at once tock leave of the Marquis, and repaired to the room where Siz John Marston and I had held the conversation skrea hours back. In about twenty minutes he joiued me, accompanied by an elderly French gentieman, dressed in black, and whom he introduced to me as a Notary Public. This functionary produced several papers, and requested me to show hii the marriage certificate. I did so: whereupon he filled up a couple of papers attesting that this certificate had been exhibited to him; and one of these duplicates he handed to me, bidding me keep it. He then produced another document, of which he likewise had a duplicate, and which set forth that for certain reasons of a delicate character, known only to the persons interested, a separation had been agreed Le upon between my husband and myself,—~lI retaining - all rights over whatsoever property I might be en- These papers I had to sige; and one of them was also left in my possession. Next the no- tary produced a still more elaborate document, and then Sir John Marston, interposing, said in French that ‘the Marchioness of Viulebelle was already acquainted with its contents, and it was not neces- sary to read it.’ I was very much inclined to demur to this: but Sir John threw upon me a look which seemed to say that I was completely in his power as to the five thousand pounds; and not knowing but that I might have really been so—and indeed more than half fancying I was—I held my peace, Thereupon Sir John drew forth his pocket-book, counted down the amount of five thousand pounds in French bank-notes, and placed them near me. [ signed the document, over which a large piece of blotting-paper was thrown so that [ could not cateh EO) JOOKS