The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

_. THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. CHAPTER YV-: BLIND MAN’S BUFF. At the charming village of Richmond, which, as most of our readers are awate, is about nine miles to the westward of London, there stood a handsome house, in tlie occupation of a widow lady named Owen. She had resided there some time—kept her carriage—was visited by all the feighbouring fami- lies of distinction—and occasionally gave splendid entertainments, at which however the principal attractions were decidedly her own four lovely daughters. The names of these young ladies were respectively Agatha, Emma, Julia, and Mary: the eldest was about twenty-two—the youngest sixteei ;—and they were allin the same style of beauty. ‘Their Hazel eyes shone with an eloquent vivacity—their dark brown hair was usually worn in flowing ringlets— aud their animated countenances breathed volup- tuousness and soft desires. ‘The tallest of them was not above the middle height of women: but their forms were all modelled to an admirable symmetry —the light shape and supple movements of each charming girl producing the mingled effect of bril- liancy and grace. ‘They usually dressed pretty nearly alike: and at Richmond they were denomi- nated the Four Goddesses. ~ But lovely as they were, it did not appear that even the eldest, although two-and-twenty years of age, had received any eligible offer of marriage: and this most probably arose from the fact of its being whispered that the Princes of the Royal Family were very intimate at the house. Not that scandal had gone So far as to silly the fame of the young ladies by any positive or specific aéser- tion: but still it was known that the Prince Regent and his brothers, the Dukes of York and Cumber- land, did visit Mrs. Owen in a private manner — and although the girls were envied, caressed, and petted by their fashionable acqtidintances all the more on this account, young gentlemen Were nevertheless rather shy of seeking their lands in marriage. This circumstance did not however seem to trouble the minds or interfere with the happiness of Agatha, Emma, Julia, and Mary. They were light-hearted, joyous, good-tempered girls; and their pleasing manners, sprightly conversation, and elegant accomplishments rendered them universal favourites. They never wanted partners in the dance—the handsomest and gayest gallants ea- gerly pressing forward to ensure their hands for a quadrille, however backward these suitors might be in requesting those self-same hands in marriage. Mrs. Owen was a lady who did the honours of her dinner-table or ball-room to the utmost per- fection. She dressed with splendour, but with good taste: and now, in the gilorious embonpoint of forty-five and with the remains of a beauty that must have been truly splendid in her earlier years, she was still a remarkably fine woman. She had been a widow, it was believed, for a long time: but what her htisbakd was when alive, did not seem to be generally known. It was about eight o’clock in thé evening— and the four young ladies were assetabled in the drawing-room of théir abode at Richmond. Mrs. Owen was in another apartment—or to tell the truth, in the housekeeper’s room, superintending the arrangements for a very choice little supper that was to be given at ten precisely. Her daugh- ters weré all dressed with the most perfect ele- gvance—although, in compliance with the fashion of the day, their white shoulders were left com- pletely nude and their fair bosoms so much ex- posed that little remained for the imagination in order to fill up the picture of each glowing bust. { The time-piece upon the mantel in the drawing- room had struck eight, we say,—when a plain car- riage and pair drove up to the house; and the Prince | of Wales alighted, followed immediately by the Marquis of Leveson. They were at once ushered into the mansion—and the carriage was taken round to the stables. But however privately and unostentatiously this royal visit was paid to the Owens; the arrival of the Prince Regent and his veteran companion was duly observed by an ill-looking man who stood conceal ed behind a clump of trees at a short distance. This individual, whose age might have been some- where betwixt thitty and forty, was short, thin, and excessively pale: and the ghastly aspect of his face } was enhanced by the lank black hair that appeared | below the slouching brims of a battered hat, and also by the dark eyes that shone like burning coals in the deep sallow hollows in which they were set. He wore a shabby shodting-jacket — corduroy breeches—leathern gaiters—and a heavy pair of lace-up boots. A cotton handkerchief was tied loosely round his neck ;—his shirt was not particu- larly clean;—and altogether there was an air of such determined ruffianism and desperate villany about this individual, that no traveller, however brave, would relish meeting him in a lonely place. From the clump of trees where he had concealed himself, he observed the arrival of the Prince Regent: but when he saw that his Royal Highness was accompanied by the Marquis of Leveson, he gave vent to a bitter imprecation expressive of annoyance. He howéver remained in ambush, with his keen eyes fixed upon a pathi-way leading round to the back door of Mrs. Owen’s house. In a few mifutes a livery-servant came hurrying along from that direction with stealthy steps and looks cast furtively around, as if he were fearful ol beifig observed: and, approaching the trees, he in a few moments joined the rufhan who was already coricealed in ambush there. “ Well, Dan’el,” said the livery-servant, “ you see he’s come ?” “ Yes—but who the devil’s that old buck along with him ?’”’ demanded the fellow, in a harsh voice the natural intonation of which was savage and even ferocious to a degree. “Tt’s only the Marquis of Leveson—one of the Prince's pals,” replied the livery-servant. ‘* But you know, John,” rejoined the ruflian, “ that we haven’t calculated upon there being two to deal with. We thought, from what you said, the Prince wWds sure to come alone ——” “ Well, Dan’el, and how the detceé could I foresee that his Royal Highness would bring the old Mar- quis?” interrupted the servant. “ From what I gleaned from the young ladies’ tiring-maid, the Prince only was expected: but as the Marquis is likewise intimate at the house, it isn’t very astotiish- ing that he should have borne And, after all, won’t it be a esconmlebooks, ———S 23 | (0)