The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 94: what you’re looking at

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TRE ‘Wewrantws. 79 had alluded te him as a friend—and shame at the idea that he was probably no stranger to her frailty. Bat with that winning manner which seemed natural to him, and which on account of its femi- vine softness was co well calculated to inspire confi- denoa, Lord Flosimel approached her—took her hand—end eaid in a russeuring tone, “ I am indeed ae friend, ‘Miss Classndoa; and in thet light I wish you to eonsider me. But wp hase not s moment to delay in unnecessary discuures: you must roturn oome immedistely—your sister, who is an angel of .goodness, will reosive you with epen arme—and you may lilkewieo expect to embrace your father-——” * My father!” repeated Octavis, with a convulsive start, and with a wild expression suddenly springms ap in her eyes. “Fear nothing, I say—your father suspects not your absence, and need not know it,” Florumel has- tened to observe. “ Pauline is the depositress of your secret—and she would sooner die than betray you.” “Pauline knows alli!—my father is returned !” gasped the wretched girl, sinking upon a chair ;—and then a flood of tears came to her relief. “In the name of heaven, compose yourself, Miss Clarendon!” said Mrs. Brace, caressing her with a great show of affection. “Do you not comprehend what this kind nobleman has told you? Your sister has learnt your secret, and will do all ahe can to aid you——"" “It is this that cuts me to the soul,” exclaimed Octavia, bitterly: “ for how shall I be able to look my pure and virtwons sister in the face ?” “ She loves you-—loves you tenderly, Mies Claren- don,” said Flerimed. “ But, for heaven's sake, come! It is now seven o'clock—and you must be heme before eight !”” Octavia started up—dried her tears—and, the dread. of her father’s wrath arming her with sudden energy, deciesed her readiness to depart. But as it would be dangerous to the reputation of Mra, Braee's catablishment for a lady and gentleman to be seen issuing forth together at that early hour in the morning, the milliner undertook to accompany Octavia in the hackney-coach as far as Piccadilly, where Florimel could join them and take her place. This was accordingly done : the vehicle, with Mrs. Brace and the young lady inside, proceeded as far as the beginning of Bond Street, where it waited for -Florimel, who passed out of the establishment by the house in St. James’s Square. The milliner then alighted—the nobleman took his seat by Octavia’s side—and the coach moved rapidly off towards the Edgeware Road. Florimel now proceeded, in terms as delicate as possible, to give his fair campanion certain pecassary ions. He tald her how he had heard of her .had already retired to rest—and that he (Florimel) had subsequently quieted Pauline’s alarms by de- claring the he knew where her sister was and would guarantee her safe return before eight in the morn- ing, He added that beingin Mra Brace’s confidence, he was acquainted with Octavia’s amour: but he assured her that he neither knew, nor sought to learn, who was the objest of her affection. Octavia scarcely comprehended all these details— for there was a confusion in ber brain: she however understood eneugh to convince her that Pauline would save her from exposure in respect to her father —and that was all she oared for ! The explanations of Lord Florimel had scareely reached their conclusion, when the coach came within sight of the villa; and the nobleman ordered it to stop. Qotasia alighted—aend, having mur mured a few words of gratitude to her genersus friend, she hurried.away towards the house. Florime] waited until he saw Pauline appear at the garden-gate to receive her sister; and the hasty signal which the younger Mies Clarendon made to him, as he kept his head ont of the carriage-window, convinced him that Octavia was in time to escape detection on the part of her sire. He then ordered the coachman ¢ take him to his own residence in Piccadilly. CHAPTER XXI{ITI. @R. PAGE'S RESEARCHES. Our readers will remember that we left Mr. Page in his bed at the George and Blue Boar, at the ime when awaking in the morning after his night’s adven- tures in the eastern district of London, he found himedif attacked hy a violent fit of rheumatism. I¢ will likewise be recollected that he sent for medical assistance ;.and the doctor mnmediately recommended him to ¢ake a warm bath. This the commercial traveller did; and, on returning to his bed, he fell into a sound It was four o'clock in the afternoon when he awoke; and he found himeelf so much better that he got up end sat by the frre A basin of mock turtle soup, which he then discussed, appeared ts improve him still more; and he was able to walk about his room with comparative ease—the rheu- matism having subsided into a mere sensation of stiffness in the limbs. On making inquiries of the watter, he ascertained that his employer Mr. Hodson had called in tha course of the day; but on being mformed that Page was asleep, the merchant had taken his departure, as he was unwilling to disturb him, Our readera have seen quite enough of the com- mercial traveller to be well aware that bis disposition was of the most restless, bustling, and excitable nature; and they will not therefore be surprised when we inform them that he was most anxieus to make certain regearches suggested by one of the papers centained in the pocket-book. This document was the scrap whereon the follow- ing lines were scrawled with a pencil, and in & tremslous e “Look under the stone In the farthest corneréo the right, in the cellar. Use it, wisely, Julla—and you wil prosper : act rashly—and you will be ruined.” That this note was written by the old man who had died in his presence on the preceding night, COMIC OOO SS co