The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 162: what you’re looking at

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

THE LIBRARY 139 and decision were depicted in the expression of her features, and in the boldness, indeed, we might say the hardihood, of the looks which she bent upon the duke. She was beauti- fully apparelled in ball-costume, and therefore was evidently one of the guests who had been invited to the entertainment, or had at least found her way thither. ““ My explanations will not be very long, my lord,’’ she began, ‘‘ and I repeat my assurance that your Grace has nothing to apprehend. Indeed, that we may all the better understand each other, I will be very candid with you. My life has not always proved the most virtuous that can be conceived. I was once the mistress of an officer in the Guards, subsequently of a rich old baronet, who very re- cently died at his country-seat near Ramsgate. I am mar- ried; my husband is old enough to be my father, almost my grandfather, and we are poor.”’ ‘You are poor? ’’ ejaculated the duke, clutching eagerly at the avowal. ‘“‘I will make you rich! I will make you rich! But proceed.”’ ‘Certain schemes in which I was embarked,’ continued the lady, ‘‘ and which I[ had hoped would all turn out to my advantage, failed most signally. I came to London to stay with some friends; your Grace knows them. I allude to Sir James and Lady Walmer. I formed their acquaintance at Brighton, and they know nothing of the worst part of my antecedents. They received an invitation from the duchess to her Grace’s ball this evening, and they brought me with them. We arrived late, having been engaged to dine else- where. We entered her Grace’s saloons just as your lordship was retiring. In your lordship’s absence, Captain Walmer, the baronet’s son, offered to introduce to me a partner for a dance. To whom should he thus present me but that very officer of the Guards whose mistress I was a few years back! ”’ ‘Who is he? ”’ inquired the duke, quickly. ‘“‘ Colonel Tressilian,”’ responded the lady. “And you yourself, madam, your name? You have not yet mentioned it.”’ ““ Mrs. Oxenden,”’ she rejoined. ‘“‘ On being thus presented to Colonel Tressilian I lost not my presence of mind, for I relied upon his honour not to expose me. He bowed as if to a stranger, and I thought that I was safe. He offered me his arm, but instead of leading me to join the dance, he con- CORNICLOOKS (CO)