The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 320: what you’re looking at

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

THE MILLINER AND THE DUKE 289 name in a musing tone. ‘‘ Surely I have heard it before, and somewhat recently, too. Coleman? Ah, I recollect! — it is that lawyer who has been advancing Armytage such considerable sums of money.”’ “Do you then know anything of this Mr. Coleman, my lord?’ inquired the Frenchwoman. ‘“ But it matters not; my mind is made up how to act. I am this evening more at ease than for a long time past I have been, and never, never will I again suffer myself to be beguiled by the repre- sentations of one who was all the time endeavouring to serve his own purposes.”’ “ You allude to me,” ejaculated the duke, assuming an air of indignation, ‘‘ and you wrong me. I thought you in danger from that quarter — ”’ “ Well, well, my lord, we will not dispute the point,’’ in- terrupted Madame Angelique; and then she ironically added, ‘““T have no doubt your Grace will now congratulate me on having acquired the certainty that I am no longer in any peril from that quarter? ”’ ‘“‘ Oh, of course,’”’ exclaimed Marchmont, “‘ if it really is so. But beware, my good friend, how you suffer yourseif to be lulled into a false security. It is at such times that the blow falls heaviest — ”’ “Thank you, my lord,” interrupted the milliner, ‘‘ I am fully prepared to meet all contingencies of that sort. To- morrow I dismiss the girls, — or rather I find them pro- tectors, as their kind and excellent friend who stands in the light of their mother ought to do.”’ Madame Angelique chuckled at her own disgusting levity, and the duke for an instant bit his lip with vexation. He saw that the milliner was resolute in the plan she had pro- claimed; he saw, too, how hopeless it was to attempt to enlist her services any further in the prosecution of his de- signs, and he likewise felt how necessary it was to keep on friendly terms with her. A seal must be placed upon her lips in respect to all that had recently occurred; and though for her own sake she would keep silent on those points, yet it by no means suited the duke’s interests that she should speak disparagingly of him in any other sense. “ Well, my dear madam,” he accordingly said, assuming his blandest tone and his most affable look, ‘‘I do indeed congratulate you on this change in your position. I am glad CORNICLOO© Ss (CO)