The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYVTBRCES OF TRE COVERT. ap ——@nr eee ~@ — - EEE ee about to give. The meren® a visitor arrives, you will hasten to your own apartment and pull down the window-blind. But you will on ro eccoant quit the roum until 1 send word that you ca dosa. On the contrary, you will remain there to listen atten- tively for the bell in the paseage: and the moment you hear it ring ones, you will draw up the blind. Do you understand me?” “ Perfectly, my lord,” was the reply. “ Butif you should hear the bell ring tvice, Brock- man,” continued the Marquis, “ you will, at the ee- cond peal, hasten down to the Crimson Drawing- Room, where I shall in that case need your ce.” “Very good, my lord,” answered the valet. “Has your lordship any farther instructions?” he inquired, wondering whether he was to receive an explanation of the extraordinary proceedings and precautions just detailed by his noble master. “Nothing more, Brockman,” was the response. *J am now going straight to the Crimson Drawing- Room, where you can order breakfast tw be served up” The valet bowed and withdrew, considerably die appointed at being thus left in the dark relative to the affair now in progress, The moment the door closed beh'vd him the Marquis opened a drawer and took out several Bank-notes to the value of two thousa:d guineas. Having carefully copied the numbers of the notes upon a slip of paper, which he lecked up in the drawer, he placed the notes them- selves iv his waistcoat pocket, and then descended the atsirs to the Crimson Drawing- Room. This apartment, which borrowed its distinctive enithet from the hue of the draperies and the cushions of the chairs and sofas, was furnished with the most luxurious splendour. It was very lofty— aod the ceiling was painted {6 represent the sky at the hour of sunrise, in order that the rosy tints which the artist was thus enabled to introduce should inatch the crimson paper on the walls and the colour of the furniture’s rich trappings. The mirrors in this superb apartment were four in number and of enormous size. Magnificent porcelain vases were Billed with flowers that rendered the atmosphere fra- yrant; and the light, softened and sabdued 5y the bangings at the windows, was of that auroral tint which the sun-beams borrow when passing through bowers of futl-blown, blushing roses. There were two doors to the Crimson Drawing- Boom—one opening from the landing, aud there- fore serving as the usual means of ingress and eyrese; and the other, at the opposite side of the apartment, leading into a suite of chambers to which the dependants of the household generally lad no access. The key of the door thus commu- nicating with that secret range of rooms, was al- ways in the possession of the Marquis; and when thuse rooms required cleaning and dusting, the housekeeper aad Stephen Brockman were excla- sively entrusted with that duty. It was of this suite thet a romour existed to the effect notified at the commencement of our narrative: namely, that they contained pictures and statues of such a character as to excite maddening desires even in the breast of the sternest anchorite or the coldest virgin. But to resame our tale. The Marquis of Leve- eon seated himself in the Crimson Drawing Room, and parton: of the choculate that was served ap. EY > While thus lingering over his breakfast, he re . viewed ali the precantions he had been adopting. Contrary to his habit upor first rising in the morn- ing, he had dresssed himaelf for the day, becanse he did not krow how soon his expected vi-itor might come, or how late he wight be kept wait- ing fur the arrival. He had ordered pistols to be placed ready at hand in case of need; and he had devised the means of summoniny his valet, if his presence should be wanted. He had numbered the Bank-notes; and the drawing np of the blind in Brockman’s spartment was also * portion of the ramified preparations he had made. Pieased with his review of these arrangements, the Maiquis finished hie breakfast, and rang the servants’ bell fur the footman to remove the silver tray. The domestic who answered the sommons brought in some letters whioh had jast arrived by the twopenny post; and the noblewan proceeded to examine them with the lvisurely ease of une whe is pretty well assured that his circuinstances in life ere a guarantee agaiowt the arrival of any dis- agreeable correspondence. The first letter which he opened, ran as fol- OWS i— “ Tussday eveeng, Seplember 17th, 1814. “Start not, my dear uncle, when you see my kand- writing and learn that I am onca :ncre in Londoa. J re- turned on Sunday evening, but ain ; reverving the strictcst incognita, for reasons which you can too weil divine I propose calling upon you to-morrow (Wednestay) at about twelve o’clotk. Pray be at home—anl. what ie mare, contrive to be disengaged and alone, as 1 ish to speak te you on matters of the greatest impurtauce. * Your affectionate uivca “ERNESTINA DYSART.” “Poor Ernestina!’ said the Marquis to himself, as he laid down the letter. ® She is the only one of the whole family that I ever :»ved. But then, while yet a mere girl—and befure that unfortunate marriage into which she was invei zled—she nursed me during my long and serieus illness——Poor Earnestina : Yes—I will see her— ¢o be sure I wil! see her |” And the Marquis rose to rit.g the servants’ bell, in order to give orders that his niece, Lady Ernestina Dysart, should be admitted when she called at mid-day: but suddenly recollecting thut he had already i-sued instructions to the effect that every one, no matter who it was, should be shown up into his presence, he returied to his seat. Resuming the examination of his letters, he opened the second one on the pile which the fuut- man had placed befure him; aud he read its oun- tents as fullows :— * Tuesday evening, September 17th, “ My tort, “Much as I ceplore the neceselty of holding personal communication with yuur lordship, circumstances never- theless coinpel me to reque«t an interview in the courses of to-morrow. I shall therufure walt upou your lordship at about one o'clock. “I have the honour to remain, my lord “ Your lordship's obedient servant and nephew, * ALGERNON CAVENDISE.* “The inaolent boy!” ejaculated the Marquis, tossing the letter indignantly upon the table. “ He disowns his relative—and then requests an inte- view! And doubtless, if the world knew all, he would be termed high sapirited—and so forth! > | COMuicooOolkxs.conrn