The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

136 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. “Tt is just why Marchmont is welcome,” said Linda, the German girl, who also spoke English well: “ because he is sure to give us champagne.” “Hold your tongues, you selfish creatures !” cried Eveleen, the Irish girl, with that interesting intonation of voice which gives such a peculiar charm to the Hibernian accent upon the lip of a well-bred daughter of the Emerald Isle. ‘“ Let us welcome him in another way :’—and with sportive joyousness she wound her arms about the Duke’s neck, at the same time kissing him upon either cheek. “Oh, if that 1s the sort of welcome you have in store for me,” said Marchmont, “pray let it be given at once.” Thereupon Miss Lettice folded him in her em- brace : Es Gon aes Armantine was the next to dispense her careSses; and though the German cirl came last, yet she held him longest in her arms. “And now my fair ones,” exclaimed the Duke, laughing with the air of a man who purposely sought this kind of society for the purpose of escap- ing from more serious, and perhaps unpleasant reflections—“ let us have champagne and fruit, and we will pass a merry evening together. But first of all I must have a few words with Madame Angelique—and in private too. I have something of importance to speak to her about.” “You know where to find her,” said Lettice : * she is in her own room at this moment. Go quick, Marchmont—and if you remain too long, we will all four come in a body, armed with champagne-bottles, and with forced fruit as mis- siles, to drive you back as our captive.” ‘“Chains of festooning flowers should not be omitted from the implements of your coercion,” answered the Duke, forcing himself to speak in a gay manner: though, as he opened a door opposite the mysteriously contrived mirror, he could scarcely keep back a sigh which rose up into his very throat. Closing the door behind him, he traversed the well carpeted passage, and tapped at another door on the same storey. The well-known voice of Madame Angelique bade him enter; and he found her seated at table with none other than her neighbour M. Bertin. There was an exquisite supper upon the table,—a repast consisting of succulent French delicacies, served up on silver plate, and flanked with bottles of champagne, Bur- gundy, and Bordeaux. The room was a small one —but furnished in the most luxurious manner. It was Madame’s boudoir; and a door facing the one by which the Duke had entered, communicated with her bed-chamber. M. Bertin rose and bowed obsequiously: but Madame Angelique contented herself with a half-courteous, half-familiar smile,— at the same time indicating a chair. “T am sorry to disturb you, my dear madam, in the midst of so agreeable a téle-a-téte,” said the Duke, speaking in the French tongue, with which he was perfectly conversant: “ but’ I have some business of importance to discuss with you. Shall I return presently ?” “By no means, my lord,’ answered Madame Angelique, in a most gracious manner: for she doubtless well knew that the Duke’s gold would indemnify her well for any little inconvenience she | might experience on the score of the delicacies of the supper-table getting cold. I ee te i, tt en te et re et ee st a a “And it just happens,” said the discreet and obsequious M. Bertin, “that I have a couple of letters to write M: “Which need not take you more than a quarter of an hour,” observed the Duke,—thus indicating the interval that he wished the tailor to remain absent from the milliner’s boudoir. M. Bertin bowed and withdrew: but so far from returning into his own house, or having any letters at all to write, he merely lounged away the pre- scribed quarter of an hour in an adjoining room. | Meanwhile let us see what took place between the Duke of Marchmont and Madame Angelique. “T believe, my excellent friend,” said his Grace, “that you make all my wife’s dresses ?” , “TI have for some years enjoyed the honour of her Grace’s patronage,” was the milliner’s re- sponse, * And mine too, for that matter,’ exclaimed the Duke, with a laugh. “But joking apart, have you made any dresses for her Grace re- cently ?” “At this very moment, my lord,” answered Madame Angelique, “I have three or four in hand for the Duchess of Marchmont.” “Good!” ejaculated the Duke. can make duplicates ?” “ Make duplicates, my lord!” cried the milliner, with a most genuine amazement. “To be sure. Why not?” “Oh!—of course, if your Grace wishes it, I could make a dozen of precisely the same sort.” “Never mind the dozen,” rejoined Marchmont : “a duplicate of each will answer all my purpose. But recollect, the work must be so well done and the resemblances so exact, that her Grace’s own maid, if appealed to upon the subject, could not possibly suspect that there were duplicates of her mistress’s raiment.” “ All this can be done, my lord,” replied Madame Angelique: “and without for a single moment attempting to pry impertinently into your Grace’s reasons and objects, pardon me for expressing a hope that no evil consequences will redound to myself?” *T will take care of that,’ answered the Duke. “When will these dresses be ready ?” “Her Grace tells me, my lord, that you are all going into the country the day after to-morrow ; and the dresses which her Grace has ordered, must consequently be sent home to-morrow night.” “ And when can the counterparts be in readi- ness ?” inquired Marchmont. “Tt will take a good week, my lord sf “ A week ?—nonsense !” ejaculated Marchmont. “T cannot possibly get them done in less time. Say on the sixth evening hence,” added Madame Angelique, after a little reflection. “Very good,’ replied the Duke: “that must suffice.” “They shall be positively at Marchmont House by nine o’clock on the day named bs * No—you must not send them direct to March- mont House,” exclaimed the Duke: “that will never do! There must be no trace But how can it be managed P” “Shall I forward the dresses in a box to Oak- lands, my lord ?” asked the milliner. “A box so light as that will be with nothing but woman’s trumpery in it, would seem suspicious “OF course you * coOmicooo S (C(O)