The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 69: what you’re looking at

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a Bot I will see him—yes—lI will see him: fur I am éurious to know what he can possibly want with me. By the bye, howstrange is this coinvidence— the brotner and the sister both coming ty me on the same day—both writing at the same tiine—and yet not in concert! No—for I dare aay that A!ger- non and Ernestina have not met for some time pist.” Thus musing, the Marquis of Leveson took ap a third letter; and instantly recognising the hand- writing of the address, he opened it and rvaid the following lines :— “13, Stratton Street, Plecadiliy, “ September 17th, 1814. “Dear Lerd Leveson, “J have a particu'ar favocr to request of you, which I am certain you will grant. But I do not like to commit it to paper; and therefore I will do myself the pleasure of calling at Leveson House to-morrow (Wednesday, the 18th) at about three o'clock, Do be at home, there's a dear geod soul. “ Your sincere friend, “ELIZABETH BATHURST.” “Upon my honour! methinks I have done well to remain at home the whole day,” murmured his lordship to himself. “ What a troop of visitors! And I suppose that my friend Miss Bathurst wants © borrow some more money of me. Borrow, mideed! As if she would ever repay me! Why, it is but six weeks or so, since I lent her a thous: nd pounds. Isis very clear that she is not coming for the purpose of returning it—otherwise she wouid not intimete that she has a request to prof- “eo, Ah! it is very fortunate for such ladies as Miles Bathurst that there are such men as the Marquis of Loveson in the world.” The current of the nobleman’s musings was curned into another chann-l, when, on taking up the fourth letter, he recugnised the handwriting of wre Owen, The epistie contained the following vords :— rer “ Richmond, Tuceday een:mg, Sept. 17th. “ My dear Leveam, “To-morrow morturg I shall be in London with the zisls. All is settled-—:.d they are to take their departure at once. I have received a letter from ear gracious Queen 0 that effect. They have all four been well tutored by no: aml I am certein that not evcn the members of the famous Secret Police of Paris, nor yet the most astute orethren of the Order of Jesuita, '..uld be better prepared ’o play thelr part than are my) ¢<ighters. I shal! take them to-morrow as far as Woolwich and see them embark: ana then I shall recirn at once, passing through London on oly way homeward. I therefore propose to call upon you vetween four and Gv to-morrow afternoon, as I wish to cave a few Wonls with ; ou 1p private. “Faithfully your's, * ANNE OWEN." “This is not extraordinary !” exclaimed the Sarquis aloud. “Fuur appointments made fur to-day, in addition to the une which had induced me to remnin at home! Itis scarcely credible— and if such a string of coincidences in & romance or novel, the reader would cry out against such an improbability. Well, at all events my day will be thoroughly occupied! But if the visitor,—the visitor of visitors, as I may call him or lier, whichever it is to be, who will call with the pocket-book and to reosive the two thousand thes visitor, I say, arrives while either of the others happens to be with me, 1 must at mee wet rid of the latter, be it niece or nephew— View Bathorat or Mrs. Owen.” ee aa eee oe THE MVYATERIZFS OF THE COURT. Having arrived at this determination, the Marquis of Leveson proceeried to examine the remaining let- ters: but their conicnts were not of a character te interest the reader. Having run through bis correspondence, the noble- man rose from hin seat and advanced to one of the windows. Qn the opposite side of the street a beg- gar-man was posted. A wretched object, in truth, did he seem, with his garinents in rage, a white handkerchief bound round his head as if he had sustained some injury, and a biaok patch over one eye. But the Marquis, as he caught sight of that miser- abie-looking creature, only smiled significantly and turned away from the window. CHAPTER XVIL. ERNESTINA AND ALGERNON, Puncrua.Ly as the time-piece upon the manter proclaimed the hour of noon, a hackney-coach stopped at Leveson House; and a lady, handsomely dressed, but closely veiled, alighted. Ou entering the hall of the mansion she threw back her veil, and revesied a countovuance that was strikingly beautiful Her age appeared to be about four-and-twenty ; and a certain air of melancholy which gave a plaintive expression to her features, enbanced the tender iuterest that her style of loveliness was calculated to inspire. The ha!l-porter instantaneously recognised this lady, and greeted her with the profoundest reapect. A footman who was in attendauce inforined her, ia answer to the inquiry which she made, that the Marquis was at home; and he at ouce conducted her to the Crimson Drawing- Room. “Lady Ernestina Dysart!” exclaimed the do- Mestic, thus annouucing the visitress as he flung open the door of the apartment. “ My dear niece, [ am rejoiced to see you,” said Lord Leveson, advancing to welcume her: then, kissing her aflectionately upon the forehead, he con- ducted her to a seat, placing himself near her. We have before ebserved that there seems in the human character to exist a uecessily for loving euetbiug or somebody. Tlie most selfish of scan- dal]-mongering old women will love their cat: the most griping of misers may cherish an affection for a faithtul dog;—and the most brutal ruffian eft- times ié gentle and ducile with bis mistresa. So it was with the Marquis of Leveson. Unprincipled and heartless as a voluptuary—selfish and egotistical to a degrees with regard to his pleasures—and ready to sacrifice anybody or anything to the gratification of hin sensualities,—thie detestable nobleman enter- tained a truly paternal aflecuun for his niece Ervestina. Truty bad he Simecif observed, in the musings which her letter had excited in his mind, that she was the ouly being he had ever loved. His wife he had never cared for: and without a tear had he followed her to the grave. He had no childrea— and he hated his nephew, Lord Algernon Cavendish, who was his heir: all other relatives that pe had, did he likewise hate or else feel indifferent about~— with the exception of Algernon’s sister, hia niece Ernestina. He had loved her from her childhocd and his aficction was increased by the tender car GORMGOOOKXS TR, <A MT a I a a TTT TTT ee . w ' COULM