Rosa Lambert — page 243: what you’re looking at

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

cr rs EE ERE ES RRR em Bmw a i eo” 232 — — your lordship think if I were to ring the bell and summon my male domestics to thrust you hence ?”’ “Even if you were to summon them for such a purpose,” answered Belmore coolly, “I should soon teach them manners by knocking them both down: for let me tell you that I have not taken lessons of Ned Brallagan, the Champion of Eng- land, for nothing.” “Then, in addition to your lordship’s other maniiold accomplishments,” 1 observed contemptu- ously, “ you excel in the art of pugilism. Perhaps you are attached to the delectable amusement of wrenching oft’ knockers—of beating the police—of upsetting apple-women’s stalls—of tearing down barber’s poles—of shifting signs—and, in a word, all those elegant little recreations in which, as I have heard, the youthful scions of the British aristocracy so much excel.” “Go on, Rose, as long as ever you like,” said Belmore, still maintaining a cool insolence both of look and manner. “ Every phase which your countenance assumes, only develops some new charm to enhance my love; and every word which falls from your lips, only tends to confirm my hatred. I told you just now that if you dared to summon your lacqueys, I would speedily make them repent any audacity which they might think fit to display; and now I tell you that you will not dare to summon them at all. No!—as Mrs. Beaumont you seek to live vespectably,” he con- tinued, with a sneer; “and you would not risk the chance of my proclaiming that your real name is Rosa Lambert, and that you are the sister of him who the other day eo “My lord,” I interrupted the Marquis, in a low deep voice, as I felt that my countenance grew deadly pale, even to my very lips,—“ this is beyond even cowardice on your part: it is a diabolic cruelty—a fiendish inhumanity! What do you want with me?” I ejaculated, with an abruptness which for the moment startled him. “ You re- peated certain overtures which were previously rejected: andI reject them again! Now, will you leave me? Beware, my lord, how you drive me to desperation. If you think to coerce me by threats and menaces, you are wrong. Nay, more —if you proclaim war against me, and commence the campaign by exposing me in the presence of my domestics, I will at once take up arms in my own defence—I will seek a magistrate, and publicly brand you in a police-court as what you really are -—2 villanous, unscrupulous, cowardly persecutor of an unoffending and unprotected female !”’ “It was not my intention,’ replied Belmore, still speaking coolly, “to descend to any such mean and pitiful arts as that of exposing you in the presence of your servants. you my protection—and you refuse it. You re- ceive me in a way which places us in antagonism: —by your own conduct you make us enemies. Then, be it so! As for your threat about the magistrate, L value it no more than your menace to summon your lacqueys. JI have sworn you shall be mine—and mine you shall be. There are a thousand reasons wherefore I have sworn this, I long to possess you—and I will possess you. I long to be revenged upon you—and I will be re- venged upon you. My rival in a wager succeeded in winning you aye, and in winning the wager at the same time; and he exults over me. It shall ROSA LAMBERT. I came to offer | 7 sooner or later be for me to exult. Ah! you would know the truth? Well, be it go. There és an- other wager laid. The former one was for five hundred guineas—and I lost it; this is for one thousand—and [I will win it.” “Villain!” I interrupted him, starting up to my feet, my blood boiling in every vein, and my eyes flashing fire: “you dare talk thus to my faceP Begone begone, I say !—or by heaven, I shall not many moments longer remain the mis- tress of my own actions !”—and I stamped my foot with an uncontrollable rage. “Yes—I am about to take my departure,” re- turned the Marquis of Belmore, with a cool and easy insolence which goaded me well nigh to an infuriate frenzy: “and if you choose to create exposure, or engender suspicion amongst your domestics, by any intemperate vehemence on your own part, it will be your fault—not mine. When I came hither just now, I did not think that the conversation would take such a turn: it was my hope that we might manage matters peaceably and amicably—or at all events, that we might discuss them quietly. But it has happened otherwise ; and your’s is the fault. However, we now under- stand each other; and I do not at all regret that I have put you upon your guard as to my inten- tions. The honour of the triumph, when achieved —its glory and its rejoicing—will be all the greater. Then indeed may I exult over your cousin Haverstock: for he took you unawares— whereas I have given due notice of war; and’the result, if in my favour, will be all the more credit- able for me. Really, Rose, you ought to feel proud to find yourself the object of all this atten- tion—this trouble—this besieging and beleaguer- ing—and this wager-laying. Itis not every young lady who holds so lofty a position.” Having thus spoken, the Marquis of Belmore bowed with a sort of free and easy courtesy, and issued from my presence. I had listened to him in silence throughout the delivery of his last long speech, because the warning which he had given me against betraying aught to the domestics, through my vehemence, had suddenly made me aware of the prudence of his suggestion. I had resumed the seat from which I had sprung a few moments before; and though my countenance was averted, asif in sovereign contempt, I nevertheless did listen to every word he uttered, in order that I might become so far acquainted with his inten- tions and hopes as he thought fit to reveal them. When he had taken his departure, I reflected upon all the details of this interview. At first I wept scalding tears to think that I was thus made the object of infamous wagers and abominable plots— that I should be the focus of the ribald thoughts and libertine competition of two unprincipled pro- fligates: but soon wiping away the tears, I said to myself, “This weakness is unworthy of me! If I yield to its influence, it may seem to my own senses as a harbinger of defeat in the warfare which has just been proclaimed. No—rather let me arm myself with all my courage to encounter whatsoever devices and machinations an unscru- pulous miscreant may seek to put in foree. If i be upon my guard, how can I be vanquished ?—if my eyes bo open, how can I walk into a snare? I am not again to be tricked with drugged wine: I aim not again to be deluded by a villain in a female OE LE I Se ee eee tr ee — com Ebooks