The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 189: what you’re looking at

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

gp rare LS THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. oD 178 “ My dear friend,” rejoined the disupated young nobleman, “ I must confess that I have not behaved well—especially as you know I am very fond of Flo. Bat when one hold of a new mistress ——" “Understand me, Edmund,” interrupted Lord Harold, “I do not at all object to your amour with Emily Archer: but I must remind you that being engaged to my sister, you at least ought to show her proper attention. However, if you pay your re- spects in Cavendish Square to-morrow, you can tnake some apology for your neglect. Take care how you keep the visor of your helmet up too long while drinking your lemonade; for some one might enter this alcove abruptly, and ise you—in which case you would lose all the amusement of the sncognito for the rest of the evening.” “Trust me,” exclaimed Edmund, “I do not mean to spoil my fan, I can assure you.” “Tel) me, my dear fellow,” said Staunton, “ what on earth put it into your head to wear such a dress as that? It must keep you as stiff as if encased in buckram. And as for danging, of course you will not think of such a thing with your pasteboard armour.” “TI will tell you, Harold, why I had this suit made for me,” respunded Saxondale. “ You know that I am descended from an ancestor who fuunded my family in the time of the Tudors; and eo I thought I could not do better than represent my ancestor here to-night.” “ Are your mother and sisters coming ?”’ inquired Harold. “ To tell you the truth I know very little about it, but I believe that Juliana and Constance had fancy- dresses made. And as for my lady-mother, I have not heard her say anything on the subject. For myself, I had my pasteboard panoply sent, as you know, to your i 7 “'Yes—and a precious deal of trouble Alfred and I had to put your armour on for you,” observed Lord Harold. “If the knights of the olden time had so much difficulty in getting on their mail, they must have spent half their lives in dressing and the other half in undressing again.” ° ‘‘And now I bethink me,” exclaimed Saxondale, as « sudden recollection struck him, “we were so occupied in fitting on this precious armour of mine, when I was with you in Jermyn Street this even- ing, that you had not leisure to finish the anecdote you had commenced.” “It can be told in a few words,” rejoined Lord Harold. “But bere—read this note, if you can manage to do so through the bars of your helmet. You may perceive it was dated the day before yes, terday.” Thus speaking, Staunton drew forth a billet, which he handed to Lord Saxondale, who received it with his pasteboard gauntlet ; and having clumsily managed to open it, read the following lines :-— “TO TEBE LOBD HAROLD STAUNTON, *« A lady who loves you, but of whose pession you are not aware, desires an opportauity of conversing with you for a few minutes and without restraint. This op the apperel in which you mast appear, sad which will best become that handsome person which has made so deep an iapression on my heart. Lord Uarn!d, for that cccegion you must play the part of a Syanish Caratlier : and inasmach as it is possible that there may be other gentiemen who will choose the same elegant and pic- taresque style nf costume, I beseeoh you to wear in front of your cap the diamond-clasp which I enclose. You may know me by the costame of Queen Jonbelis *f Sowin —not the child-Queen of the present day, bat the wife of the great Ferdinand and the patroness of Christopher Columbus. As the Queen of Spain therefore, it will oaly be fitting and proper that [ shoul! receive your homage; and I shall accordingly expect to be acoosted by my gallant Spanish cavalier on Wedneniay night at Har- court House. In order to give adititional weizht to this mandate, I sign myself for the present, “ISABELLA OF SPAL¥.” The writing was in a female hand, bat evidently disguised ; and as Lord Saxondale returned the note to Harold Staunton, he glanced through the bars of his helmet at the clasp alluded to therein. It was a beautiful and costly ornament, and was therefure an unmistakable token that the fair writer of the letter, whoever she might be, intended no jest, bas was in downright earnest. * You are a fortunate follow, Harold,” observed Edmund: “and this love-affair promises to be of a very interesting nature. Of course, you have not the slightest idea who the lady is?” “Not the slightest,” responded Staunton. “I know nothing more than you yourself have gathered from that letter. It was left at my lodgings the dav before yesterday, by sume messenger who imme- diately went away. Whether the lady is old or young, handsome or ugly, tall or short, I know no more than yourself: but I should hope and imagine that she possesses some share of beauty—otherwise she cannot expect that her gift of the diamond-clasp will be sufficient to chain me to her chariot wheels.” “ Depend upon it she is handsome,” observed Edmund: “for she must have great faith in her own charms and be accustomed to conquest, thus to single you out as the object of her ion.” “That is just what I think,” rejoined Staunton; “and unless she is a very great fool, she must be tall and elegant, and puasess a queenly figure to have chosen the costume in which she is to make her appearance. But the room seems to be filing now: let us lounge forth from this alcove again. Wo shall have to separate presently, Edmund, when my unknown inamorata makes her appearance, and perhaps she may engross mv for all the reet of the evening. Therefore wo may as well make an ap- pointment for to-murrow—that is to say, unless you intend to cut me altogether and devote yourself entirely to Emily Archer.” y“ How can you say such a thing, Harold?” ex- chimed Saxondale. “You know very well that I consider you my best friend. We will dine together to-morrow evening at Long’s, and chat over all things interesting to ourselves. So that is an ap- pointment, remember. By the bye, have you made - {any progress in your pursuit of the beautiful Angela portu nity will be afforded by the masquerade-ball given by | Vivaldi ?” their Graces the Duke and Duchess of Harcourt next Wedneeday evening, and to which you are no doubt in- wear, known to each other. Permit ° «6 @ ass ae es oo bd a “ Candidly speaking, my dear Edmund, I have ot,” answered Lord Haruid Staunton. “I cannot even find out where she lives; and you know per- fectly well that the idea of obtaining access to her DOO (G me therefore, by virtue of my sex, to dictate to your at the Opera is preposterous. But I bave no? | aia SS (CO