The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 288: what you’re looking at

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en ee ee THR MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 277 “I wish you good evening, Sir John Marston,” moreover, ib was so kindly given. But without the said the Marquis, bowing coldly and moving towards | slightest prospect of reward should I have acted the door. §ust as I have done. I sincerely wish your lordship “ One word !—do let me have one word more with | all possible happiness.” you!” exclaimed the baronet, whose ideas were évi- | Kate Marshall then quitted the room; and soos dently in a state of cruel bewilderment. “Do you | afterwards the Marquis of Villebelle retired to his know—I beseech you to tell me—do yeu know {own chamber. On the following day, at about where your wife dwells ?——or ehall I say the lady | eleven o’elock, the Marquis, Constance, and Mary- who was once your Wife-—=for I know not now how | Anne, teok a kind leave of the Marshalls and em- to speak of her. Tell me, if you be acquainted with | barked on board the steam-veseel for Calais. They her shode~I besesoh you to tell me——” experienced no molestation of any kind: nor did is “ Again I say good eveamg, Sir John Marston:” | appear that their movements were watched by end the Marquis of Villobelle, with a etill colder | spies. From Oslais the j was immediately and haaghtier bow, quitted the room,—the berones parmued to Paris; and on the day after their arrival making no farther effort to detain him. in the sovereign city of France, they repaired to the On his way beck to the Admiral’s Head, the | British Ambassador’s Ohapel to pase through the Marquis could not help wondering in what con- | matrimonial ceremony. The chaplain proved to be sisted the talismanio effect of the mere name of Lady | the same who had pronounced the marriago-blessing Kverton. That it hed been potent to quell the |—(what a mockery it was)-~upon the Marquis of proud spirit and level the haughty assurance of Sir | Villebelle and his first wife. The cireumstance of John Marston, was evident enough. Nor less did | the former marriage was at once remembered by the reverend gentleman; and the Marquis assured him posttion of the Marquis and the fact that he had re- cently been appointed to a diplomatic situation at the Spanish Court, being considered ample guaran stance to confirm. But that the lady whom he had | tees for his respectability and honour. The cere- i mony was therefore ; and Constance now called herself Marchioness of Villebelle. In the afternoon she wrote a long letter to Juliana, which she directed to Saxondale House, not thinking that her mother would after all have persevered in the originally contemplated visit into Lincolnshire. Karly the next morning the Marquis and Marchioness of Villebelle, attended by Mary- Anne, and by a valet whose sarvices had been en- gaged on sufficient recommendation, set out on their journey towards the Spanish frontiers; and in due time they reached the city of Madrid without La ration. ~-he could not help thinking. On arriving at the Admiral’s Head, he gave a quick nod of intelligence to Kate who looked out of the door of the bar-pariour; and she saw that all wes well. Ho rushed up-stairs; and the fervid em- brace in which he at ones strained Constance, as well as the glow of joyous animation upon his handsome countenance, convinced her and Mary- attendant had retired to the chamber provided for them, the Marquis sat down and wrote a letter. This he sealed—but placed no address upon it. He then rang the bell, and summoned Kate to the room. “T have a favour to ask you,” he said as soon as she made her appearance. “ It is evident that you ere acquainted with the lady who, if she chose, might have called herself the Marchioness of Ville- CHAPTER LVIU. THE RECREATIONS AND THE HORRORS OF LONDON LIFE. It was about half-past nine o’elook in the evening, belle, but who has so generously released me from | that Lord Harold Staunton, having dined quietly at all the trammoels of that mysterious marriage. Tell his own lodgings in Jermyn Street, sauntered furch me—are you acquainted with her address? I am ! with his cigar; and passing down the Haymarket, sure you must be. But I do not wish you to men- | he encountered his friend Lord Saxondale. | tien it to me: indeed it were perhaps better not. The | “I was just going up to your place, Harold,” favour I ask is that you will forward this letter to | said the dissipated young nobleman. “I thought her.” perhaps you would want company, and we migist “I will do so, my lord,” replied Kate, receiving ' make another night of it the ssaled epistle fram his hands. “Upon my word, Edmand,” observed Staunton, “And now, Miss Marshall,” resumed Villebelle, | as the former took his arm and walked oa with him, “you are wonderfully unconeerned at what took place yesterday.” “let me once more express to you my gratitude-——” | “Oh! I require no thanks, my lord,” she ex- claimed. “You have already rewarded my father | “Ah! about Constance? Well, what doses it berally: and behold!” she added, raising her hand matter, so long as she marries the Marquis? Give end displaying « beautiful ring upon one of her | mea light for my cigar.” well-formed fingers: “I have just reccived this as a « But they eny that the Marquis is already mar- “I have heard your Ue (anaes a oo ee VE memento from that beautiful and amiable young ried,” retursied Harold. mind accepting the ring, because it is a gift that “Oh! my mother will say anything when it ene might take under such cscumstances; and suits ber purpose,” exclaimed Lord Saxundale. Seeger —- - Oe Eom a a ee | a © —tm —_—aE — GED awe eee « ,. = -. GON GoOO