The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

SME MYSTERIES OF TRE COURT. CHAPTER V. BLIND MAN'S BUG. Az the charming village of Richmond, which, as most of our readers are aware, is about nine miles to the westward of London, there atood a handsome house, in the occupation of a widow lady named Owen. She had resided there some time—kept her cafriage—was visited by all the neighbouring fami- lies of distinction—and occasionally gave splendid entertainments, at which however the principal attractions were decidedly her own four lovely daughters. The names of these young ladies were respectively Agatha, Emma, Julia, and Mary: the eldest was about twenty-two—the youngest sixteen ;—and they were all in the eame style of beauty. Their hazel eyes shone with an eloquent vivacity—their dark brown hair was usually worn in flowing ringlets— and their animated countenances breathed volup- tuousness and soft desires. The tallest of them was not above the middle height of women: but their forms were all modelled to an admirable symmetry —the light shape and supple movements of each charming girl producing the mingled effect of bril- liancy and grace. They usually dressed pretty nearly alike: and at Richmond they were denowi- nated the Four Goddesses. Bat lovely as they were, it did not appear that even the eldest, although two-and-twenty years of age, had received any eligible offer of marriage: and this most probably arose from the fact of its being whispered that the Princes of the Royal Family were very intimate at the house. Not that scandal had gone so far as to sully the fame of the young ladies by any positive or specific asser- tion: but still it was known that the Prince Regent and his brothers, the Dukes of York and Cumber- land, did visit Mrs. Owen in a private manner ;— and although the girls were envied, caressed, and petted by their fashionable acquaintances all the more on this account, young gentlemen were nevertheless rather shy of seeking their hands in e. This circumstance did not however seem to trouble the minds or interfere with the‘happiness of Agatha, Emma, Julia,and Mary. They were light-hearted, joyous, good-tempered girls; and their pleasing manners, sprightly conversation, and elegant accomplishments rendered them universal favourites. They never wanted partners in the dance—the handsomest and gayest gallants ea- gerly pressing forward to ensure their hands for a quadrille, however backward these suitors might be in requesting those self-same hands in marriage. Mra, Owen was a lady who did the honours of ner dinner-table or ball-room to the utmost per- fection. She dressed with splendour, but with good taste: and now, in the glorious embonpoint of forty-five and with the remains of a beauty that must have been truly splendid in her earlier years, she was still a remarkably fine woman. She had been a widow, it was believed, for a long time: bat what her husband was when alive, did not seem to be generally known. It was about eight o'clock in the evening— and the four young ladies were assembled in the drawing-room of their abode at Richmond. Mrs. Owen was in another apartment—or to tell the _ -_ @ Sees” “QE ~ Eee 3 truth, in the housekeeper's room, superintending the arrangements for a very choice little supper that was to be given at ten precisely. Her daugh- ters were all dressed with the most perfect ele- gance—although, in compliance with the fashion of the day, their white shoulders were left com- pletely nude and their fair bosoms so much ex- posed that little remained for the imagination in order to fill up the picture of each glowing bust. The time-piece upon the mantel in the drawiag- room had strack eight, we say,—when a plain care riage and pair drove up to the house; and the Prince of Wales alighted, followed immediately by the Marquis of Leveson. They were at once ushered into the mansion—and the carriage was taken round to the stables. But however privately and unostentatiously this royal visit was paid to the Owens, the arrival of the Prince Regent and his veteran companion was duly observed by an ill-looking man who stood conceal ed behind a clump of trees at a short distance. This individua), whose age might have been some- where betwixt thirty and forty, was short, thin, and excessively pale: and the ghastly aspect of his face was enhanced by the lank black hair that appeared below the slouching brims of a battered hat, and also by the dark eyes that shone like burniug coals in the deep sallow hollows in which they were set. He wore a shabby shooting-jacket — corduroy breeches—leathern gaiters—and a heavy pair of lace-up boots. A cotton handkerchief was tied loosely round his neck ;—his shirt was not partieu- larly clean;—and altogether there was an air of such determined rufflanism and desperate villapy about this individual, that co traveller, however brave, would relish meeting him in a Jonely place. From the clump of trees where he had concealed himself, he observed the arrival of the Prince Regent: but when he saw that his Royal Highnesa was accompanied by the Marquis of Leveson, he gave vent to a bitter imprecation expressive ef annoyance. He however remained in ambusb, with his keen eyes fixed upon a path-way leading round to the back door of Mra, Owen's house. In a few minutes a livery-servant came hurrying along from that direction with stealthy steps and looks cast furtively around, as if he were fearful of being observed: and, approaching the trees, hein @ few moments joined the ruffan who was already concealed in ambush there. “ Well, Dan’el,” said the livery-servant, “ you see he’s come f” “'Yea—but who the devil's that old buck along with him?” demanded the fellow, in a harsh voice the natural intonation of which was savage and even ferocious to a degree. “It's only the Marquis of Leveson—one of the Prince’s pals,” replied the livery-servant. ‘But you know, John,” rejoined the ruffian, “ that we haven't calculated upon there being two to deal with. We thought, from what you said, the Prince was sure to come alone ——” “ Well, Dan’el, and how the deuce could I foresee that his Royal Highness would bring the old Mar- quis?” interrupted the servant. “ From what [ gleaned from the young ladies’ tiring-maid, the Prince only was expected: bat as the Marquis is likewise intimate at the house, it isn’t very astonish- ing that he should have borne his roya! pal company. And, after all, won’t it be a more lucrative sffair f” _ COMuicooOolkxs.conrn