The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

eee 136 THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. of the ‘diplomatic services” of her husband, — both of which sources of revenue would neces- sarily die with her. Having thus introduced the Todmorden family as far as it is necessary for our present purpose, let us at once proceed to the details of the ball whereat all the elite of fashionable society were to be present. It is. not necessary to enter into any lengthened description of the splendour of the entertainment, the elegance of the costumes, or of the urbane attentions of Lady Todmorden herself towards her guests. We will suppose that equipage after equipage has set down its exquisitely appa- relled freight—that the greater part of the company has arrived—that the saloons are nearly filled— and that dancing has commenced in the principal apartment, while in another the card-tables are becoming occupied by the more elderly personages. We will suppose likewise that nothing can be more delightful to contemplate than the brilliant scene, while the music pours its rich harmony throughout the brilliantly lighted mansion. In one of the smaller apartments to which some of the guests who were not dancing retired for the purpose of conversation, or to lounge away the time until they thought fit to dance or were asked to do so, the Duchess of Ardleigh was seated. As her Grace was one of the most brilliant stars in the higher sphere of the fashionable world, she was quickly surrounded by a number of satellites, male and female. The conversation progressed for some little while on a variety of subjects, until Lady Todmorden presently approached the group, saying, with a smile, ‘““I am every moment ex- pecting a guest of whom I mean to make quite a lion.. I am told great things about him. He is]. fresh from Paris, and can tell you everything that has recently occurred in Parisian circles, In fact, he has only been about ten days in England.” -“ And pray,” inquired a lady of title, “ who is this phoenix of perfection that you are going to introduce amongst us ?” “T'll be bound,” cried Lord Aldershott—a young nobleman of nineteen—" I know who her ladyship means! I dined in his company the day before yesterday, with Warren and Tiffany, and two or three others.” ‘*‘ And a very fine fellaw he is,” interjected Mr. Tiffany, who advanced towards the group at this moment. “Whom do you mean?” inquired several voices. “Really,” said a young lady, ‘ our curiosity is now at the highest degree.” “Oh, I thought,” ejaculated Lord Aldershott, “that anybody would have guessed we were talking of Mandeville.” ‘‘Ah! Count de Mandeville!” said the lady of title before-mentioned. ‘‘ How foolish not to sur- mise that it was he! My brother the General was telling me that he met the Count yesterday with Captain Cauliflower. He was intro- duced ' “And what does the General think of him?” inquired an elderly lady. ‘He came home quite charmed with the Count,” was the reply. ‘And this, then, is the lion whom your lady- ship promises to introduce presently?” said a Marchioness, who had not before spoken. “Yes,” responded Lady Todmorden, with the satisfied air of one who perceived that she was sure to make a hit by the introduction of an in-~ teresting guest: ‘you shall see him presently.” “Has he been introduced to your ladyship ?” asked some one. ‘“‘ No—I have not seen him yet; but in conse- quence of certain representations that were made to me through a mutual friend I sent the Count a card of invitation. He called yesterday—unfor- tunately I was not at home. He left his card-— But, Ah! here is some one who can tell you more about the Count than perhaps you already know. Mr. Warren!’—and Lady Todmorden beckoned the stockbroker towards her. “‘T was just observing to Lord Eagleton,” said Warren, ‘‘what delightful entertainments your ladyship always gives. I don’t know how it is, but your ladyship contrives to have the atmosphere so attempered that it is never too hot nor too cold.” “Flatterer!” said Lady Todmorden, tapping Mr. Warren with her fan. ‘Did I not see you dancing with Alicia?” she asked, .in a low tone, thereby alluding to her second daughter. ‘‘'Yes—-I have just handed the Hon. Miss Alicia to-her seat ; and I was now seeking for Miss Catharine, to whom I have the honour to be en- gaged for the next quadrille.” ‘Hark! the music is playing for a waltz,” in- terrupted Lady Todmorden; ‘and therefore you have plenty of time to remain here with us for a few minutes, and tell us what you know about a ‘certain personage whose name is upon everybody’s tongue.” ““ Does your. ladyship mean the Count de Man- deville ?” asked Warren. -“Whom else could I mean? Are you sure he will be here to-night ?” ‘“‘T am confident of it. Who could neglect an invitation which is almost tantamount to a com- mand ?” “Again I say flatterer!” interjected Lady Tod- morden, with a satisfied smile and another gentle tap of her fan. ‘Tell us about your Count de Mandeville.” “What would your ladyship have me tell you?” asked Warren. “Not that he is a noble- man of very ancient family—or that he is elegant in manners and unsullied in reputation? because unless he had possessed these qualifications, I should never have ventured to solicit your lady- ship to smile upon him. But if you speak to me in reference to his fortune——” ‘‘ Well, after all,” interjected the elderly lady to whom we have before alluded, and who had half-a-dozen marriageable daughters, “‘it is just as well to obtain information on this head.” “Indeed I am quite unable to tell the extent of the Count de Mandeville’s fortune,” continued Warren: “but if one may judge by the easy in- difference with which he flings eighty or a hun- dred thousand pounds upon the Stock Exchange by way of speculation Pardon me, my lady!” Warren suddenly cut himself short; “but the quadrille is about to commence :”—and away he went to seek the fair hand of the Hon. Miss Catharine Todmorden, who was engaged to him for the next dance. The moment Warren had disappeared, all the members of the group began to renew their com- 99 ee conniclooolkks.conn oO