The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 325: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIZS OF LONDON. proud to Jay his title at my feet, were I disposed to decorate my brow witha coronet. My father— who, as you have doubtiess heard, zacumulated some money in India—left me well provided for; and that fortune I shall cheerfully abandon to my mo- ther, preferring to remain dependent on your- self.” “Ah! sour father dwelt along time in India!” exclaimed tho Marquis, as if struck by a sudden idea. “Is it possible, then, that I could have, en- countered your mother in England? But, no—that woman could not have been the parent of sucha lovely, charming creature as yourself !” “Po whom do you allude, my lord?” demanded Laura, now seized with the apprehension that her mother might be known to the wealthy lover whom she had succeeded in ensnaring, and whom she in- tended to fleece of the grent-r portion of his for- tune, “Tt was but a momentary thought—it exists no longer in my mind, dearest,” responded the noble- man, who, as he gazed upon the bright and splendid being before him, felt an ineffable disgust at having even for an instant associated herin any way with the loathsome old hag to whom he was alluding, “Tho fact is,” he continued, “I met a certain female in London—or rather, in the neighbourhood of London—a short time ago—indced, just before I left England; and this woman bore the name of Mortimer.” “Tt is not altogether an uncommon one,” ob- served Laura, maintaining an unruffied countenance; though her heart palpitated with continued appre- hension, “The singularity of the coincidence is that the female to whom J am alluding announces herself as the widow of a General-officer who had dicd in India,” resumed the Marquis. “My lamented father was o merchant,” said Laura, “Then of course there can be no identity in that case,” continued the nobleman. “ Besides, having nn intimate acquaintance with all military matters —as I myself held the post of Secretary at War many years ago, and have since taken a deep interest in that department—I am enabled to state that no Gencral-officer of the name of Mortimer has recently died in India.” “The woman, then, of whom you are speaking, 2as an impostress?” said Laura, interrogatively. T have little doubt of it,” answered the marquis. But let us not dwell upona subject so perfectly indifferent to us. We were talking of our plans. Will it suit you, dearest Laura, to qnit Paris to- morrow, or the day after at latest?” “To-morrow, if you will,” the young woman hastened to reply: for she now trembled Jest her mother should suddenly return and perbaps prove, though unintentionally, a marplot to all the plans which her intriguing disposition had conceived. « To-morrow, then, be it,” said the Marquis. ‘At noon I shall call for you in my travelling-chariot. We will return by easy stages to London; and, on our arrival in the English capital, the handsomest mansion that money can procure shill be fitted up with all possible speed for your abode.” “Tcare not for asplendid dwelling in London itself,” replied Laura. ‘“ Ratker let me have some ‘beautiful and retired villa in the suburbs, where you can visit inc at your leisure, and where we can pass 320 well aware that many a French nobleman would be TR RD Te the hours together withour intrusion on the part of a host of visitors.” Your ideas on this subject concur with mine,” observed the Marquis, enchanted with the belief that Laura intended to retire from the fashionable world and devote herself wholly to him, “The se- clusion of a charming rilla will be delightful; and I think I can promise,” ho added with .a smile, “that the said villa will have more of my company than my town mansion, Bui I shall now take my departure—although with reluctance: it is how- ever necessary for mo to make certain preparations this evening, as I am to leave Paris thus unexpect- edly to-morrow. Fora few hours, then, my Laura, adiou—adieu !” The old man embraced the young woman with the most unfeigned—unaffected fondness; and as his arms woro cast about her neck, and he felt her bosom heaving against his chest, he longed to implore her to allow him to remain with her until the morning —for tho dalliance an the toyings he had already enjoyed had inflamed his blood, and he aspired to be completely happy without delay. But he feared lest he should offend her by any manifestations of sen- sual longings; for he flattered himself that the connexion which had commenced between them had its origin in sentiment on her side. Ho accordingly withdrew-——but reluctantly—from her embrace; anc took his departure, promising to call for her punc- tually at noon on the following day. CHAPTER CLAXXIT. AN UNEXPECTED VISIT AND A DREADED ANRIVAL. Tyr moment Laura heard the outer door close behind the Marquis of Delmour, sho exclaimed aloud, “I have triumphed! I havetriumphed! He isin my power—he fell at my feet—he said, ‘Laura, I adore vou ’—and the proof of his utter credulity is here—here !” Thus speaking, she clutched the draught for sixty thousand pounds—dovoured it with het eyes—and then secured it in her writing-desk. “Yes: sixty thousand pounds !” she murmured to i herself, as she resumed her voluptnously reclining ‘position upon the ottoman;—''sixty thousand pounds—gained with but little trouble and in a shart time! It would scarcely matter if I never touched another picce of gold from his purse; for I am now independent of him—of the hated Hatfields —of all the world! But I will not abandon my doating English Marquis ina hurry: I will not cast aside a nobleman who is s0 generous—so rich—so confiding] No—no: ho will be worth two hundred thousand pounds to me;—and then—yes—then, I may espouse 3 peer of high title! My fortune,» assured—my destiny is within the range of prophecy, [ have taken a tremendous step this evening: an hour has seen me grow suddenly rich—already the possessor of sixty thousand pounds! Thanks to this more than human beauty of minc—thanks to that witchery of manner which I know s0 well how to assume—and thanks also to that fascinating in- fluence wherewith J caninvest my language at will, the Marquis has becomo my slave. Thus docs the strong-minded—the resolute-—the intellectual man EConnicloooks (CO)