The Seamstress; or, The White Slave of England — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

—_— —- —— i eq 0 ee ee Nm nr re a ee re ee RT ee SO ee a ee 24: THE SEAMSTRESS. affection for that young needlewoman. Nay, more “Fear not that I shall proclaim your crime than that—it has come to his knowledge —no> elsewhere,” said the Duchess in a low deep tone. matter how —that your lordship took a part ) “It is to save, and not to endanger you that I in preventing his marriage with the object of his | have sought this interview "7 love 2 | « But how learnt you all this?” demanded her “Well, Bop es Sat if I did,’ exclaimed the husband, springing up savagely and with a glare Duke, almost angrily, ‘are you going to upbraid | of horror in his hollow eyes. “If you received me for thus rescuing my els son anor a marriage | your information from another, then that other which would have disgraced him must be acquainted with my secret and be able “ How know you that he would have been dis- 'to use it against me. But ‘if you have not been graced?” demanded the Duchess, sharply; then, | _ thus informed, you must have played the eaves- instantly bridling her emotions, and remembering | dropper that although she might feel as a mother while “Js this the time to fasten a quarrel upon me, her daughter was being thus contemptuously al- | my lord?” interrupted the Duchess, with mingled luded to, yet that the Duke only knew Virginia dignity and reproach. Mordaunt as .a poor seamstress, she said in a “Ah! I understand it all!’ exclaimed the Duke, milder and softer tone, “‘ My lord, the happiness | his features ghastly with a vindictive rage, and of the Marquis of Arden is too deeply concerned | his ashy lips quivering nervously. ‘ Mrs. Lovel in his aifection for the humble maiden, to render | was once my son’s mistress—they have met again it a matter of consideration whether she be rich or | —she has told him all And now, perhaps,” poor, well born or of low origin.” : added the Duke, suddenly changing his voice into “ Aucusta, we will argue this point another | a tone of bitter sarcasm and giving vent to the time—on a more convenient occasion,” said the | hideous mocking laugh which is sometimes as- Duke, impatiently : for if was now approaching | sumed by utter desperation, —“ and now, since the ten o’clock, at which hour Mrs. Lovel was to | secret of my connexion with Lovel is known, you call. : and.Charles had better provide between you the “There can be no opportunity more suitable | money to pay that scoundrel’s forgeries—for I than the present,’ returned the Duchess, with | know not how to raise a shilling to do it !” ealm deliberation: ‘‘inasmuch as you will be “ You speak to me with a heartless irony and a forced to give me your full confidence before the ; dreadful bantering as if you thought I was an day is out.” enemy seeking to torture or outrage your feel- “What mean you, Augusta?” demanded the | ings,” said the Duchess: “ but perhaps you will Duke, once more contemplating his wife with think differently when I assure you that Charles mingled terror and amazement. has already gone forth this morning with the ne- «T mean, my lord, that the time for secrecy | cessary funds to save Lovel from transportation— and mystery is past,” rejoined the Duchess, “and | yes, and to ensure his departure from the kingdom that you should seek counsel and sympathy from | the moment he is released from custody.” those who are able to afford you both and who “Ts this true, Augusta?” exclaimed the Duke would be dragged into the vortex of calamities | of Belmont, scarcely able to credit his ears—while which threaten to engulf yourself. Tell me, | the ghastly and horror-stricken expression of his then — tell me what has become of Virginia countenance subsided into a look of mingled won- Mordaunt derment and incredulity. ‘On my soul, I am ignorant of everything that “Tt is true, my lord—perfectly true,’ replied concerns her!” exclaimed the Duke. “I never| the Duchess. “ But if you consider that you owe spoke to her in my life—I + me any gratitude for taking this step and supply- “Then you employed some agent to do the|ing the funds for the purpose, you will at once work of mischief,’ interrupted the Duchess, ‘‘and | and unreservedly explain to me the particulars of prevent the marriage which was on the point of | the device which was practised to separate Vir- taking place betwen Virginia and the Marquis | ginia from your son.” some twenty months ago ?” And as she thus spoke, the Duchess of Belmont “ Yes—I employed an agent, Augusta,” replied | resumed her seat with an air which was meant to the Duke, shuddering with a hideous presenti- | imply that there was no need to precipitate the ment. “ But wherefore these questions?” interview towards an end. “A moment’s patience! The agent whom you| ‘“ Augusta,” said the Duke, placing himself near employed,” continued the Duchess, fixing her | her, but in such a manner that his countenance eyes piercingly upon her husband, “was the same | was averted as he spoke,—“ your French lady’s- one whom you bribed, according to your own | maid was a very demoness of intrigue, cunning, admissions made to me, to warn you of the mo-| and artifice. °*Iwas she who discovered the secret ment when my speech should return! Yes—that | of my son’s love for Virginia: ’twas she who pro- agent was Clementine ts posed to adopt some measure to break off every- “Clementine!” repeated the Duke, his eyes| thing between them. And I assented with avidity glaring with ineffable horror. ‘* What of her? | to the offer that she made to act in my behalt. She is no more——” Thus authorized by me, the wily Frenchwoman “Ob! unhappy man,” exclaimed the Duchess, | insinuated herself into Virginia’s confidence, and rising from her seat: ‘‘ witat demon instigated you | told her some tale of villanous seduction of which to hire the bravo’s hand to remove that poor weak.| a supposed sister was represented as the heroine. woman from your path ?” By previous arrangement, Charles, Clarissa, and “ternal God! is it my own wife who hath myself rode through the Regent’s Park in the become my accuser?” cried the Duke of Belmont, | carriage while Clementine was w ralking there with fulling back in his chair and covering his face with | Virginia. You may guess, then, how easy it was his hands, lfor the Frenchwoman to find a denonement for —————