Rosa Lambert — page 219: what you’re looking at

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208 $e eee a ————— characters, as from the words they had uttered. So I at once affected to speak rather lightly of you: and over the wine I gradually drew them out. I gave them to understand that you were now an object of perfect indifference to me—and that if I had ever cared for you, the feeling had long since passed away. They believed me to be perfectly sincere in what I said; and by degrees I extracted from them all that was going on. They were much struck with your beauty the first time they beheld you—which was the day before yes- terday, when I told you who they were: but they had not then the least idea of who you were—they were even ignorant of the name under which you are now passing, and all about you. Yesterday morning, Sir John Haverstock was walking on the pier when he met Mr. Montague, who you re- member once dined with us at the lodgings in Jermyn Street. Montague was on the point of bowing to you: but you either did not see him, or else did not choose to do so. Haverstock however, observing that Montagne recognised you, inquired who you were. The reply was that he had known you as Miss Lambert when you were living with me. Haverstock, struck by the name, asked if you were called RosaP—and on receiving an affirmative response, he discovered you to be his cousin. So then he hastened to make himself known to you; and to use his own words—as he spoke to me last evening over our wine—‘he playedhis part so well that you gave him credit for the kindest feeling and the most generous sen- timent of kinship..—Belmore, happening to come up at the time, was at once introduced to you; and to throw you all the more completely off your guard, Haverstock, with every appearance of genuine frankness, proclaimed you to be his cousin.” “The villain!” I ejaculated, unable to control my exasperated feelings. ‘Calm yourself, Mrs. Beaumont,” said Alvanly : “there is no need for excitement—you will be enabled,to teach these puppies a lesson. But let me continue this narrative, as I gleaned it all from the lips of your cousin and the Marquis last night. Of course you understand that Haverstock purposed to worm himself into your confidence and get on intimate terms with you, in order to play off his seductive intents. When he and the Marquis took leave of you yesterday, they were both enraptured with your beauty—which, to use their own words, ‘not merely stood the test of a near view, but developed fresh charms the more closely it was contemplated.’—Haverstock, who is an arrogant boaster, vaunted that in less than ten days his triumph should be complete. Beimore demanded fair play, vowing that as they had both together admired you first of all, he ought to be admitted to his own chance of carrying off the prize. Now, Haverstock, you must know, is im- mensely proud of his intimacy with the Marquis of Belmore ; and in order to maintain it, he would make any concession. So, as they got on talking, they laid a wager of five hundred guineas as to which of the two should be successful.” “Ah! they did this?’ I exclaimed, my blood boiling with indignation. ‘“ Yes—it is as 1 tell you,” rejoined Alvanly ; “and all these things were made known to me ? last evening over the wine. Of course I affected ROSA LAMBERT, to be hugely delighted with the proceeding: I seemed to enter into the spirit of it,—at the same time giving them to understand that the conquest would not be quite so easy a matter as each in his vanity appeared to anticipate.” “And why, Mr. Alvanly,” I asked indignantly, “did you not rise up from your seat and denounce them as two impertinent coxcombs ?—why did you not give them the same assurance which you have given me, to the effect that you still entertain a sentiment of friendship towards the object of that ribald discourse P?” “Softly, softly, my dear Mrs. Beaumont,” said Gustavus. “ You forget that I am a man of. the world—a man about town as well as they are— a man who pursues his own pleasures, which are not always the most moral ones, and who there- fore has no right to set himself up as a Mentor towards others. You forget, too, that when men get together they frequently talk in this way and do this kind of thing—and that if one acts the part of moralist towards the rest, he gets im- mensely laughed at—while as for betraying their secrets, it would be tantamount to getting himself kicked out of all society as a contemptible sneak.” “True, Mr. Alvanly!” I exclaimed: “it is but too true—and I have to implore your pardon for the high tone which I ere now assumed. Instead of thanking I reproached you “ Say nothing more upon that subject,” inter- rupted Gustavus, with considerable kindness of manner. ‘“ You know that in my own way I am not a very bad sort of fellow; and not for a moment do I pretend that it was with any moral views I have been betraying the secrets of those two men. If the lady in question were a stranger to me—or if I were indifferent with regard to her—I should let Haverstock and the Marquis pursue their own course unmolested and unbe- trayed. But it is because I do entertain a friendly feeling towards you—and because I know that the force of circumstances rather than your own in- clinations, drew you into a particular path—I could not possibly keep silence on the matter under discussion. You must now follow your own course: but on no account must you betray me to those men. If you remain in Ramsgate,—and I certainly should not advise you to fly away on account of two such puppies,—but if you do remain, I say, you must not suffer them to perceive that you have the slightest inkling of their design. Were you to act in a contrary manner, you would at once be placing me in the light of a dastard tell- tale. This you will avoid. And now you com- prehend wherefore I asked you to walk away from the view of the crowd; because I would not have those fellows suppose it possible that they are being betrayed by me. I have fought one duel on your account, Mrs. Beaumont,” added Gus- tavus gravely; “and you would not willingly involve me in another.” “Not for worlds!” I exclaimed. “And now let me proffer my sincerest thanks for your generosity on the present occasion.” “TI require no thanks,” answered Alvanly. “I have given you a proof of the friendly feeling which I entertain towards you; and it is for you to decide upon the course which you will adopt. Ah! by the bye, when I bethink me, I may add that if anything clse of importance to yourself im cM ale * Oe SO Oe ee EE Cerne tee PREY Fem eee ETE nets EOMIG i rte | - » 4 t a, i uate i, i 4 reer om WT Tea er a> wt. Toe cele ALE MAALCAA t Ch LAA LELLLLE O AN CL Aly Pe pee oti _ ; bp ‘s.com ray 5 < (oy (e) (©)