The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 53: what you’re looking at

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Alfred made kus appearance in the room, they saw by his countenance that he had been successful. He | THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. had been the fate experienced by several other aspirante in the same quarter, and who had adopted at once gave the two young noblemen an account of | those vulgar means of imparting their hope ano his proceedings; and they applauded the perse- | their proposala to the object of their passion, verance and skill which he had exhibited in tracing -he fair one to her suburban abode. * But now, my dear Harold,” said Lord Saron- dale, when the valet had retired, “we have not yet settled who is to avail himself of the information just obtained. You say that you are considerably smitten with the Signora, and that her brilliant Gppearance this night bas made a much deeper impression on you than it did on the first occasion. On the other hand I am equally mad in love with be ——=no disparagement to Florina——for you know, of course, that when I say love, it is a very different sort of thing from what one feels for the young lady one is going to marry.” “Well, well, you need not sermonisze upon it, Ed- mund,” said Lord Harold. ‘“ We don’t want to be rivals in this business; and our pretensions are equally great: that is to say, it is nothing but pre- tension altogether on either side. So the fairest thing will be to tuss up who is to evail himself of the information Alfred has brought us.” “ By all means!” cried Lord Saxondale, delighted with the course proposed, which he thought had something manly and of a sportsman-like character about it: then taking a sovereign from his waistcoat- pocket, he tossed it up in the air, crying, “ Heads or tail, ?” “‘ Heads!" exclaimed Lord Harold. “Tis tails!” actually shrieked forth Saxondale, with childish delight. “It is for you, then,” rejoined Lord Harold, with a alight accent of pique and vexation, “to do the best you can in this matter :”—but instantly reco- vermg his good-humour, he refilled his giass and eaid, ‘‘ Here’s success to your love-suit with Signora Vivaldi !” CHAPTER X. TUE COTTAGE. Tax next day Lord Saxondale did not go near his friend Lord Harold Staunton: but he sent a brief note of excuse, stating that he meant to devote him- self to the new enterprise which he had in hand. | ing Having taken his breakfast in his own room, so as to avoid encountering his mother, with whom he did not wish at the present time to have any fresh “ ecene,” bc «<—"ained secluded there all the morn- ing to debtes~e upon the course he should adopt in order to onain admission to the presence of the fair Angela Vivaldi. From what he had heard con- cerning her, he saw that it would be useless to write her a note beseeching her to grant him an inter- view: for durmg the week which had elapsed since he first discussed the subject with Lord Harold, he had learnt from several quarters sufficient to con- vince him that it was not by any of the usual means of gallantry that the beautiful dasseuse was to be won. It may be remembered that he had originally thought of addressing a note to Angela Vivaldi at the Opera itself; but Harold had assured him then, that if he did so his missive would only be treated with contempt. He had since secertained that such Saxondale therefure saw that some other plan must be chalked out, and that the whole affair must be But how was it that after all the reports he had heard relative to Augela’s virtue, he could possibly be vain and arrogant enough to expect that he him- self was the fortunate being whose aspirations were to be crowned with success? It was for the very reason of his being thus vain and arrogant, tnat he entertained such a hope. Conceited to a degree, he had the highest opinion of himself, and world not believe the truth which the mirror told him, that he was vory far from good-looking. On the contrary, he flattered himself that he possessed every qualifi cation for a perfect lady-killer—that wherever he chose to smile, hearts must be won— and that it was impossible for any female to resist his powers of fascination. In addition to the higk opinion which he entertained relative to himself, he had a very mean one of feminine virtue m generat; and we have already seen that in his first converss- tion with Lord Harold Angela, he flip- pantly ignored the possibility of chastity in con- nexion with any female figuring upon the stage. From his ea.'liest infancy, also, he had been so fawned upon, “ my-lorded,” toadied, and flattered that he really believed there was something talismanic in the name of Sexondale, and that the brilliancy of his rank, the immensity of the fortune which would soon be at his entire disposal, the splendour attached to his long line of ancestry, and his own personal would prove altogether overpowering if he had but an opportunity of playing off the whole artillery of these attractions upon the young danseuse. Bat what plan was he to pursue in order to ob- tain acceas to her? He had decided upon not writ- ing to solicit an interview; and he reasoned that it would be equally useloss to present himself at her suburban villa and send in bis card with the hope of being admitted to her presence. He thought that in the first instance he had better recounoitre her abode, and endeavour, if possible, to scrape acquaint- ance with her lady’s-maid, or any one of her domes- tics who might furnish him with hints for prosecut- his echeme: he might also ascertain if she walked out at all in the neighbourhood during the day; and if she did go out alone for a ramble, he might trust to the chapter of accidents to furnish means for an introduction to her. But then, on the other hand, he reasoned that if a well-dressed, elegant, and aristocratic-looking young gentleman (as he flat- tered himself to be) were seen lounging and loiter- ing about the fair one’s villa, her suspicions would be excited, she would be placed upon her guard, and his projects might be defeated. How then was he to preceed? Suddenly an idea struck him. What if he were to disguise himself in a far humbler ap- parel than he was wont to wear, and thus pursue his inquiries and researches in the neighbourhood of her abode? The thought delighted him: there was in the adventure which tickled his fancy; and he fell into a train of reflections Porootly con aistent with his miserable narrow-mindedness, frive lity, and self-conceit. CONE DOOkKS