The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 101: what you’re looking at

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———— oe THE MYSTERIES OF THP COURT. 95 then said, “So you have come after the situation of amanuensis ?” “Yes, my lord,” was the youth’s response: and he trembled with the nervous anxiety of mingled hope and fear. “First of all,” said the Duke, “ before we speak another word upon the matter, sit down at the table and give me a specimen of your writing.” | His Grace then took up the newspaper again, and continued the reading of an article in the midst of which he had left off. Christian sat down; and now that the Duke’s eyes were no longer upon him, he felt much less embarrassed than at first. He took up a pen—opened a book which lay near—and began to copy on a sheet of paper a portion of its contents. His hand trembled as he first took up that pen: but when he thought of all that was at stake—of how much seemed to depend on this initiative test of his capacities—of his beloved sister Christina—and how she had parted with her raiment on the preceding evening —when he thought too of how joyous his heart would be if he were enabled to return and tell her that he had succeeded at length in procuring a situation,—be was suddenly inspired with a forti- tude which surprised himself; and his hand trem- bled no more. “That's enough, I dare say, for me to judge by,” exclaimed the Duke, at the expiration of about five minutes: and Christian hastened to proffer the paper on which he had been writing. “This is excellent!’ eried Marchmont: “the very thing! a most gentlemanly hand! I sup- pose, my lad, you have been well educated ?” Christian replied, with a becoming modesty, that he had certainly been at a good school, and that he hoped he had profited by that opportunity for instructing himself. “Tt’s the very sort of handwriting that I wanted,’ proceeded the Duke,—‘a gentleman’s, and not a clerk’s. I have had three or four appli- cations this morning—and none would suit. There was one fellow who covered a sheet of paper with as many flourishes as a writing-master—so that my letters would have had the air of so many tradesmen’s circulars. You see, young man, I have a great number of letters of various sorts to answer; and as I dislike the trouble of it, my correspondence gets confoundedly into arrear. So I have resolved to take an amanuensis, who will sometimes write to my dictation, and at others make out a good letter from the passing hints I may give him, and from the nature of the corre- spondence which will in itself be suggestive of the proper response. Now, do you think you can manage this?” “TI should not hesitate, my lord, to undertake it with confidence,” answered Christian, hope rising still higher in his soul. “ But if your Grace would give me some letter to put my capacity to a far- ther test 4 “No, no—I don’t think it is necessary,” inter- rupted the Duke. “You are well spoken, and genteel—which last is another great recommenda- tion in your favour. I think that I may safely give you a triai. The terms,I propose are fifty guimeas a-year; and as you will live in the house, you will of course have nothing to find except your clothes,” , ‘‘ Live in the house, my lord,” murmured Chris- | tian, hope sinking again to the very bottom of his heart, where it became well nigh extinguished : for the thought of separating from Christina was not to be endured. “Oh, yes,’ said the Duke, carelessly; “you must live in the house, so that you may always be at hand: because it is not to be supposed that I can ever be ready at stated hours to attend to my correspondence.” ““ My lord, I am exceedingly sorry-———I deeply reeret the situation would have pleased me SO but, but——” and the tears came into the poor youth’s eyes. “ Why, what’s the matter ?” demanded March- mont sharply. “If it don’t suit you, you can re- tire—and there’s an end of the business.” “Oh, my lord, it suits me—it would be the saving of me!” exclaimed Christian, with much feeling. “ But I have a sister dependent on me —we are orphans—I could not separate from her x “A sister P” observed the Duke: and it imme- diately struck him that if she were as beautiful as Christian himself was handsome, he should have no objection to become acquainted with her. “ And pray how old-is your sister ?” ““ My own age, my lord: we are twins.” “Twins, eh P” ejaculated Marchmont, more and more interested: for now he felt convinced that there must be a great similitude between the brother and sister, and therefore no doubt remained as to the beauty of the latter. “And pray, how old are you?” S “Seventeen and a half, my lord,” replied Chris- tian. mont. “ Christian Ashton,’ was the response. The Duke was somewhat struck by the name: he thought he had heard it before : he reflected for a few moments—and all of a sudden it occurred to him that Lord Octavian Meredith had mentioned the name of Ashton as that of the beautiful crea- ture for whom he had fought the duel with Mr. Stanhope. But the Duke did not suffer Christian to perceive that he was in any way struck by the name ; and after a pause, he quietly asked, ““ Where do you live ?” The youth named the address in Park Street, Camden Town; and Marchmont recollected that it was not the same mentioned to him by Lord Octavian as that where his Grace was to call in the event of Meredith succumbing in the duel. But all in a moment another thought flashed to Marchmont’s mind. Octavian had represented his “fair unknown” as having been seen walking with a youth whom by the striking likeness he | knew to be her brother. Putting two and, two together, the Duke, who was cunning enough in such matters, began to surmise that Miss Ashton must have been Octavian’s “fair unknown.” But stiil there was the discrepancy in regard to the address ; and this was to be cleared up, in order to prove that Christian’s sister was really the same Miss Ashton who had caused the duel, and whose identity with the “fair unknown” the Duke more than half suspected. “ Have you lived long in Park Street, Camden Town ?” he inquired, as if in a careless manner. “ Between nine and ten weeks, my lord. Pre- “And what is your name?” inquired March- ren A eH VOY OY eect