The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 399: what you’re looking at

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383 TUE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. were a sister addressing « brother; and I went on ' anxiously for an opportunity of escape: but this I to represent that for his own suke the sooner we feared I should shat Aer gr hari pata emir parted the better—that his infatuation would only , of the tower was guarded day and night by two become the greater, his love the more intimately | sentinels, the men téking their turns: while from interwoven with his entire being—that the hour for | my own chamber-window there was no possibility parting mast come at last, sooner or later—and that the hunger it was postponed, the more deeply would it be fe.’ by him when it did come. He replied that he was aware of all this—that he had reasoned with himself a thousand times upon the subject during the few past weeks—but that he had not the couraze to let me depart. He terminated by conjuring that I would remain one month longer —only one month : toat if I consented, he would act precisely in ac- curdance wit: my wishes—that he would never, obtrude himself on my presence, save when I chose tu receive him—that he would not ask me to walk wi'h him, unless I myself first signified my willing- ncess—and to be brief, he used so many impassioned arguments and vehement entreaties, that I knew of flight, as it was too narrow for me to pass myself through it. To be brief, the month passed; and at the expiration of that time, Ton Diogo sought a private interview with me. His manwer was as up his mind to part with me—that I was dearer to him than life iteelf—that I neod fear nothing at his hands, as he was perfectly contented to live on the same terms as at present—but that t harsh, and unjustifiable though his conduct might be in retaining me a prisoner, he could not help doing so. I now remonstrated with him seriously, y: but I saw that he was not how to refuse. The thought struck me, too, | resolved—and from something which he let drop, i that if I did refuse, the madness of his passion was such that he might be rendered desperate, and my position would be made far worse; and the idea eunultaneously occurred to me that my best course would be to throw him off his guard so that I mizht escape. I therefore consented to remain another month at the tower. But I informed him that i¢ was absolutely necessary I should com- became evident enough that he hoped by perse- vering in his delicate attentions and tender assl- duities, to make a favourable impression ia the course of time upon me. I made kim compre- hend that this hope would be cruelly disappointed —and that if he persisted in retaining me captive at the tower, his conduct would efface all the gene- rous and h lo treatment I had municate with my brother in England, who would | at his handa. He was deeply moved by what I be uneasy at my long silence. He said that if I : said: and yet he relented not in his resolve to keep would write tu him, addressing my letter from the ! me a prisoner there. French town of Perpignan, in the Pyrenees, one of his men should proceed thither and post the letter ; and that if my brother wrote back to me to the post- office in that same town, he would send again at the expiration of ten days to fetch the letter for me. I gratefully accepted thts proposal, and wrote to “I must now pass over a period of abont eight onths and bring my narrative down to the mogth of June, 1840. During these eight months I re- mained at the tower. Every month was I per- mitted to write to Frank, the letter being posted ‘at Perpignan; and as regularly was his answer Frank at Southampton, desiring him to write back | brought thence for me. I contiaued to receive the to me at Perpignan. I said nothing of my disagree- | utmost attention, kindness, and delicate treatment able adventure at Barcelona—nor of the strange | from Christoval, his men, andl the women: my company with whom I had been living for six weeks liberty was alone refusel me. It is scarcely pas- past: but I led him to believe that I was in a. situation as governess in an English family. At | the same time I wrote a letter to Mrs. Knight at Barcelona, explaining wherefore I had fled so pre- cipitately, and telling her how the whole affair was a base conspiracy on the part of her wicked son to! ruin me, ‘n revenge because I had rejected his dis- honourable overtures. This letter I sealed and enclosed it in the one to Frank, desiring him to post | it at Southampton, and alleging some excuse for wishing such a thing done. When my packet was sible to comprehend the strange romantic pession of that man. He never forgot hitnselt ‘o my presence —never uttered a word to give me offence—never bent upon me a look which threatened me with ‘insult. He never eo much as took my hand, much less offered to carry it to his lips. He stadied to the utmost of his puwer, apart from keeping me | Prisoner, to testify the devotedness of his passion. ' Often and often did I remonstrate, entreat, threaten, display indignation, and have recourse to prayers, all in their turn: bat in vain! I have seen that in readiness, I gave it to the Count: and he at once | man woep thefitterest tears when I have thus ad- despatched a messenger with it to Perpiznan. the expiration of ten days I duly received Frank’s nuswer from the school at Southampton, and there- fure acquired the assurance that my own packet had ' been duly posted. “I may here add that as my own garments were now wearing out, the messenger who had been sent | finger upon my At | dressed him: I have seen him sob like a child as [ have thrown myself at his feet and besought him to let me depart: but yet he had the courage and firmness to conquer his emotions safficsently to mako him refase my prayer. And he too has thrown himself at my feet, but without so much a: laying a garments: he hes and to Perpignan, brought back with him s quantity of | implored that I would lend a favoerable ear to his stuffs of various materials suited for dresses; and { tale of love, and cunsent to let a priest join cur these were presented to me by Isabella. On the one | hands in marriage. When I renewed my represen- land I could nos help being toached by tuis delicate | consideration on the part of Christoval: but on the other hand, the circumstance made me apprehend that he by no moans intended to part from me at the expiration of the month. I therefore watched ‘ tation that I was already marriod, he showed by his look that he could searcely believe me: and yot he never eaid so in words. His appoarance changed —he grew careworn—and though he rolaxed not from those pursuits which belonged to his lawles _— eee NOOK