The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

THE DUKE AND HIS MISTRESS 25 ments’ reflection. ‘‘ But pray, tell me what object you have in view —”’ ‘“No matter,’ interrupted the lady. “It is sufficient for you to perform the part which I enjoin, and you will find that it is a lucrative one. Go to a solicitor at once.” “T will, I will,’’ exclaimed the old man. “ Yes, yes, for more reasons than one.’’ ‘What do you mean? ”’ asked his wife, contemptuously. ‘You surely do not pretend that you are really affected by my having left you?”’ | ‘We will not discuss that point,” rejoined Mr. Oxenden. ‘“‘ Suffice it to say that I shall be too happy to carry out your suggestions to the very letter. But as Il have no money wherewith to commence this suit, and as I cannot suppose that any solicitor will enter upon it without some guarantee against loss on his own side — ”’ ‘‘ Enough,” interrupted Mrs. Oxenden, ‘ you shall have money.’ Then as she opened her writing-desk and took forth a number of bank-notes, she laughed, exclaiming, “Ts it not singular to use the duke’s own money in bringing an action against himself? Yet so it is. Here, Mr. Oxen- den, take these notes. And now depart.” The old man did as he was bidden, and on quitting the house, he bent his way direct to an attorney of whom he had some little previous knowledge. Mrs. Oxenden, having thus dismissed her husband, re- tired to her toilet-chamber, to dress for her afternoon’s ride in her magnificent carriage. She opened the casket con- taining the splendid diamonds, and contemplated them with satisfaction and triumph. She had not as yet rung for her maid; she was alone in that dressing-room. It was elegantly appointed; every possible refinement that could be intro- duced into such a place was to be observed there. A velvet curtain, with a massive gold fringe, separated it from the bathroom, which was also most luxuriously fitted up. Be- yond the bathroom was a little antechamber, communicating with the bedroom on one side, and having a private stair- case on the other, this being for the accommodation of the lady’s-maid, who could thus in a few moments attend to the summons of the bell without being forced to take the - more circuitous route of the principal staircase of the house. Such at least was the original aim of the architect who Gomiileaooks (S©)