The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 209: what you’re looking at

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THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. 195 ‘“‘ Despised ?” exclaimed Casey starting with anory impatience. '‘ Yes——despised,” repeated Selina firmly. ‘‘ Do not the Trenthams look down upon us? have Lord and Lady Trentham or Miss Azaline called on us since the bridal day was fixed ? has her ladyship ever set foot within these walls ? has his lordship ever come hither except to see you, and you only, for purposes of business? am I as yet even so much as acquainted with those whom you wish to become my father-in-law, my mother-in- law, and my sister-in-law? I tell you we are contemned and despised by that family, father !” exclaimed Selina, with a sudden vehemence. ““And now I demand of you for the last time whether vou will sacrifice me, your daughter, in such a manner ?” ‘‘Ah! you think they despise us ? Gold, my dear girl,” continued the miser, with a strange sinister expression of countenance, ‘‘is better than titles now-a-days ; and we shall yet see that haughty peer and peeress, with their children, humbling themselves unto us! Mark my words! It will be you and I who will triumph, Selina, when on the morning of the 31st, after the bridal ceremony, we shall present that proud family with the securities for eighty thousand pounds. Yes—eighty thousand pounds! Would you like to see them, Selina?” ‘“‘T have no curiosity on the point, father,” was the response, given in a colder tone than she had yet adopted. “‘But you shall see them!” exclaimed Casey. “At least I will show you deeds regarding the Trentham family for sixty thousand pounds! There are twenty thousand more at my lawyer’s office. But look, Selina! sixty thousand I am going to show you—and all a portion of your dower !” *The miser rose from his seat and advanced towards a cupboard. Selina rose also: she became paler in the face—and her features at the same time acquired a colder and more rigid expression. Her father opened the cupboard, and took out a tin box, which he proceeded to unlock. “Now, Selina, look! Deeds and documents— mortgages—and bonds, representing sixty thou- sand pounds !—no less than three-fourths of your dowry! Why, what is the matter with this lock? Ah, that’s right! the key turns now Af this moment a loud cry of mingled rage and terror burst from the miser’s lips; and the tin box fell upon the floor. It was empty: the deeds had disappeared ! “Perdition!” exclaimed Casey. ‘But no! it must be the wrong box! Yes, yes!” and he picked it up. A terrible imprecation rang from his tongue as he saw that it was the right box: he dashed it upon the ground—-and then stood looking at it with a ghastly, demented look. And all this while Selina stood close by the table, on which her hand rested. And she was very pale—and her features were very rigid: but for one instant there was a quiver passing through her form as her sire gave vent to that terrible im- precation. “This is unaccountable!” muttered Casey to himself: and staggering back, he sank into his arm-chair. ‘Who could have done it? How— how——” But he gasped for breath. Selina rang the bell for assistance; and before it arrived her father sank back senseless { in his seat. Then, as she raised his head and pillowed it upon her bosom, she let fall a shower of burning tears—and that bosom was convulsed with the most excruciating sobs. rae CHAPTER XXXIX. MANDEVILLE AND MILDRED, In order to render cur narrative as complete ag possible, we must go back to that point at which Ethel left Mildred and Countde Mandeville stand- ing face to face in Cork Street. At the first in- stant an ejaculation of mingled astonishmént and terror burst from the lips of Mildred; and theri an expression of fiercest, rage and hatr ed settled upon her countenance as she abruptly darted to- wards him. He the while was standing with an easy defiant air, a peculiar smile of mockery and intelligence upon his lips, and his eyes fixing themselves upon those of Mildred, atter having for a moment flung a glance upon Ethel who was beating a precipitate retreat. Indeed, much as Count Mandeville was surprised to behold Ethel at the momént—and anxious though he were to encounter her again—yet all his thoughts were now concentrated in this meeting with Mildred, and he felt it to be more important that he should remain to converse with her than follow in pursuit of the retreating Ethel. “Devil!” fiercely burst from Mildred’s lips as she bent upon Mandeville those eyes which were usually full of a voluptuous languor, but which now flashed forth vivid lightnings. ‘Tf you mean it to be war between us, I accept the challenge,” said Mandeville, in a firm though quiet tone, and with a look that was self-possessed and defiant: ‘“‘but perhaps a few instants’ reflec- tion will show you that it were better we should be at peace.” ; ‘‘Peace?” echoed Mildred, in a tone of bitter irony. ‘‘Yes—peace,” said Mandeville. ‘You saw that tall old gentleman with me yesterday in Re- ge ent Street? Look! you may see him again now! here, at the end of Burlington Street :”—and Mandeville pointed in that direction. ‘Ah, he has disappeared !” ‘Well, who is that old gentleman ?” asked Mildred, now watching Mandeville’s countenance with a certain degree of anxiety. ‘That is Count Olonetz, Russian Ambassador Extraordinary to the British Court.” “Count Olonetz?” ejaculated Mildred. “ The same who negotiated with me by means of his attaché, at Madrid, when you—fiend that you are! were again seeking to sell me to the hands of my enemies.” “You do wrong to reproach me on that parti- cular account,” answered Mandeville calmly: “tor methinks that if you will take the trouble to search your memory, you will find that on the particular occasion to which you are alluding, the attaché of Count Olonetz gave you money to en- able you to leave Madrid.” “And that old gentleman is Count Olonetz?” oO COMO SS