The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 199: what you’re looking at

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

ce rr a oe CO Oe | mg ee ee =p SR = zg a a a ees i nee ena cae eee 188 to take place. The young artist seemed as cool and collected as ever; and 8 stranger gazing upon him would not have known that there was anything unusual in his mind. He was dressed with his usual neatness, and appeared as if he had enjoyed several hours of calm and refreshing sleep. An excellent breakfast was served up, of which Deveril partook. When it was over Mr. Forester looked at his watch, saying, “It is now half-past five—my carriage will be at the door in ten minutes. If you have anything particular to say, you had better do so at once.” “T have bat one request to make,’ answered Deveril, producing a small key from his pocket. “Take this—it opens the writing-desk at my lodg- ings. If I fall, you will know what to do.” “Depend upon it, my dear fellow,” returned Forester, “whatever your instructions are they shall be fully and faithfally attended to. Have you any- thing more to say?” “Nothing,” responded Deveril, “except to ex- press my thanks for your kindness.” Mr. Forester’s valet entered the room to announce that the carriage was in waiting. That now produced from a cupboard an ominous-looking box in a green baise bag; and this the valet at once conveyed down to the carriage. Forester and Deveril followed, and took their seats in the vehicle, which then drove rapidly sway. During the ride to Hampstead the two gentlemen eenvereed upon indifferent matters; and Deveril showed that young as he was-—being, as the reader is aware, scarcely twenty, though he looked a year or two older—he possessed a firm and courageous mind. Not that he treated the matter with unbe- THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. Lord Harold Staunton, ere quitting his lodgings, had made certain hasty improvements in his toilet: nevertheless his appearance was not altogether cha- by the same degree of neatness as that of William Deveril. On the contrary, he looked as if he had passed a portion of the night in a debauch. His companions were Captain Lennox and the mili- tary surgeon. The former was a fine tall man, of commanding appearance, and evidently of physical strength ; he wore a moustache, which to- gether with his thick brows and keen piercing eyes, gave him a certain fiercences of look; while his air was haughty, salf-sufficient, and aristocratic. As for the surgeon, he was altogether of an opposite appearance—being short and stout, with a rubicund face and a particularly red nose, as if he wera amasingly addicted te the pleasures of the ta- ble. Lord Harold bowed with distant politencas to Mr. Deveril, who returned the salutation in a simi- lar manner. The two seconds—namely, Captain Lennox and Mr. Forester—almost instantancously proceeded to a settlement of the preliminarice, — measuring the ground, and loading the pistols in each other's presence, during which proceeding the military surgeon walked apart, and while pre- tending to blow his nose, applied a brandy-flask to his lips. The seconds, having made their ments, placed their principals in their proper sta. tions; and thus, to use Captain Lennox’s military phrase, “the ground was made clear for ac- tion |”? “You have nothing more to say to me beyond the instructions already given?” inquired Mr. Forester of Deveril, as he banded him a loaded coming flippancy—very far from it: there was a | pistol. certain gravity and sedatences in his mien und tone which became the position wherein be was placed, but which was as far removed from the sentiment of fear as it wae from levity. “ Nothing,” was the answer, returned in a tone of grave firmness. “Then there need be no farther dolay,” ined Mr. Forester. “It is thas Captain PO- joined On reaching the heath, Forester and Deveril left | Lennox will give the signal. Observe where he has the carnage, which drove away to a distance so as | now taken his place with a white kerchief in his mot te excite suapwcion in the neighbourhood ; and | hand. When he drops that kerchief, you will avert they proceeded on toot to the appointed place. Forester hed purposely put on a loose over-eoat that he might carry the pistol-case concealed beneath it: fur the ompous-looking box before referred to, was the ome containing the deadly weapons. It was your head, raise the pistol, and fire.” Deveril intimated that he understood these instruc- tions; and Mr. Forester drew aside to a little dig- tance, so as to avoid the chance of receiving Lord Ha- rold’s bullet. This nobleman bad in the meantime re- twenty minutes past six as they entered the field ' ceived his weapon from Captain Lennox, who had where the duel was to take place; and the quick ‘immediately after posted himself in such a position giance which Forester threw around showed him that he formed with the two duelliata the apex of that they were first upon the ground. |@ triangle. The military doctor had seated himself It was a beautiful morning: the sun was already | under s hedge, where he regeled himself with a se- shining brightly—the birds were singing in the trees ' cond dose of the contents of the brandy-flask to set- and nature, reviving from the lethargy of night, tle the qualms of an empty stomach. wee arraying hereelf in her moet cheerful smiles, Everything was now ready: but just at the very Deveril could not help heaving a sigh as he reflected instant that Captain Lennox was about to let the how perverse was the heart of man, that by ite pas- ' handkerchief fall, a loud stentorian voice roared out, sions it could lead to the desecration of s world which | “Stop !” the Creator had made so fair and beautiful, and! All eyes being turned in the direction whence the, sunny joyousness of which too.often formed so this command emanated, the unmistakable figure visong a contrast with the deeds enacted by its of Mr. Gunthorpe was seen clambering over a gate - buman denisens. |in the hedge close by where the doctor was seated. His meditations were however cut short by a sud- Up jumped the medical gentleman, as much star- den ejaculation from the lips of Forester, who cried tiled as if a whole posse of policemen had appeared out, “ Here they come !”—and Deveril, looking in upon the spot: but on perceiving that the new the direction where his friend’s eyes were fixed, be- comer was alone, he regainod his self-posecssion, held his opponent accompanied by two individuals and deliberately took a third pull at the brandy- advancing across the field. flask. Over the gat did Mr. Gunthorpe scramble, COMM DOO (CO