The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 285: what you’re looking at

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THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. 271 would have no cause to regret his bounty towards me.” “Well, Count,” said the Ambassador, “I will do my best for you. Yes—you may reckon upon me.” Mandeville then took his leave; and he drove towards Grosvenor Square. But he alighted from his carriage in an adjoining street, and thence pro- ceeded on foot to the mansion of Count Olonetz ; for he did not wish to make his appearance with a pomp and ceremony that might be calculated to attract the notice of the Grand Duke, who if he found Mandeville so frequently confetring alone ' with the Plenipotentiary, might fancy that he was playing him false in respect to the appointment with Ivan Zadouski. Mandeville was at once admitted into the pri- vate cabinet of Count Olonetz, who happened to be alone when his visit was announced. Olonetz received him with a sufficient degree of civility ; and pointing to a seat, at once said, ‘ Have you called in reference to the business which you men- tioned to me the evening before last ?” ‘““T have come to speak to your Excellency,” responded Mandeville, “in reference to Ivan Zadouski.” “‘T thought so,” said the Russian Ambassador. ““T myself have been thinking of what you told me; and while I admit that the coincidence is somewhat singular that Mildred and Zadouski should both be visiting London at the same time, yet I do not mean to go to such an extreme as to confess that I am particularly uneasy on the sub- ject ” wc Then your Excellency may be—and with reason too,” said Mandeville. ““ How ? what mean you ?” demanded Count Olonetz. “I mean, my lord,” resumed Mandeville, “ that Zadouski is playing some deep game ; for he has by some means or another succeeded in inducing his Imperial Highness the Grand Duke to grant him an interview.” ‘¢ What !” ejaculated Olonetz. ‘' Impossible ! You must be mistaken !—or else you must enter- tain the design of imposing upon me !”” _ “Ah! this is too strong, my lord !” cried Man- deville, rising from his seat with an air of indigna- tion. “Such language as this to me!” ’ “And pray, sir,” asked Olonetz, with all his haughtiest dignity, ‘since what date is it that you have discovered any reason for me to observe such particular niceties of language to- wards yourself ?” “ Since the other night, my lord,” replied Man- deville, with a self-complaisant smile, “ when you gave me my title of Count in the presence of your guests, and therefore acknowledged me to be all that I have passed myself off as.” Olonetz bit his lip for a moment; and then, forcing himself to smile, be sajd, ‘‘ Well, I must confess, Count, that you are no mean diplomatist.” “ At all events, my lord,” added Mandeville, still maintaining an air of the utmost confidence and self-possession, ‘I am not any longer to be looked upon as a miserable spy—a mere dirty agent in the pay of Russia. I will continue to serve the Russian interests to the utmost of my power, on condition that my good offices shall be recognised, and rewarded in a genteel and liberal manner.” “ Proceed, Count,” said Olonetz, who felt him- self compelled to humour an individual who on former occasions had proved himself so serviceable, and who indeed was all the move useful because he was thoroughly unscrupulous. ‘‘ You were telling me that his Imperial Highness the Grand Duke has actually given an appointment to Ivan Zadouski ?” *‘ Such is the fact, my lord.” “But for what earthly purpose can this be?” asked Olonetz. Mandeville shrugged up his shoulders, saying, ‘Ah! there I am at a loss to throw any light upon the subject. One thing is however ccrtain, —and this is that the Grand Duke has no hostile intent towards Zadouski.” “But the motive of Zadouski himself?” aaid Olonetz, who was evidently bewildered. * Rest assured, my lord,” responded Mandeville, “ that Zadouski is playing some deep, wily, cun- ning game; for, as 1 told. your Excellency the other night, he is « man of desperate for- tunes _?» ‘Count Mandeville,” interrupted Olonetz, speaking very seriously, ‘‘ you will not be of- fended—you must not be offended if I ask you to afford me some proof of these pommicatate facts which you are mentioning.” ‘Your lordship shall behold the meet your own eyes, if you think fit,” answered Man- deville. ‘‘Ah? Then you are indeed well informed !” ‘As I will hasten to convince your Excellency,” rejoined Mandeville. ‘ But I must first stipulate for certain conditions.” ‘“‘ Name them,” said Olonctz. ‘In the first place, my lord,” pursued Mande- ville, “ you will not mention one syllable of all this to the Grand Duke—you will not by any means or at any time suffer his Imperial High- ness to learn—no, nor even to suspect that it is I who have betrayed him in this proceeding ?” “Ah, then,” said Olonetz, who was as sharp and keen-witted as any living mortal, “ you have had “ia communication with his Imperial High- ness?” “No,” said Mandeville, without changing a muscle of his countenance. ‘ But knowing what I do know of Russian power, policy, and capabi- lities, I should be loath enough to offend a Rus- sian Grand Duke.” “' T understand,” said Olonetz, whose suspicion was subdued, though not altogether allayed. ‘I promise that the Grand Duke shall know nothing of you inthe business. What further stipulation have you to make ?” “That your Excellency suffers the interview to take place,” rejoined Mandeville, “ and that you will not act until afterwards. For if this be not so, treachery will be suspected somewhere-———” “Tt shall be so,” said Olonetz. ‘ But answer me,—have you any objection that Ivan Zadouski should be seized upon immediately after the in- terview ?” “On the contrary, my lord,” responded Mande- ville, ‘‘it is the very course which I myself would have suggested.” ‘Then be it so. And now for the remainder of ‘the information which you have to give me?” asked Olonetz. ‘The appointment, my lord, is made for half- past eleven on the night of the 4th of June.” I LT A AT LL TLL EI eT A OE eS SA SS RP CAS oO COMO with | Colin