The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

60 “ Only what? You have got something at the very tip of your tongue and do not like to say it.” “ Well, my lord, I am speaking to a stranger,” returned. the young woman, somewhat more seriously than before: “and of course I do not like to gossip about my mistress’s affairs to every~ body.” “ Your mistress belongs to the Opera ?” observed Yaxondale. * Ah! then you know something about her ?” at once exclaimed the soubreite. “ And now I re- member your lordship did say something about entertaining certain viewsand requiring my assist- ance. Was that said for fun or in earnest ” * Quite in earnest,” anewered Saxondale; “ and it wae for that purpose I promised you a reward. Indeed, if I had not been robbed——” “Robbed! I thought you bad lost your money at cards?” “To be sure! I said so. But cannot a person be robbed at cards as well as on the highway 7” “Certainly. However, I have your lordship's promise for a proof of your kindness; and as I con- sider your word to be your bond, Iam juet as ready to listen to what your lordship has to say as if I had the gift in my pooket.” “From something that hae escaped my Hips,” resumed Edmund, “ you have seen that I know a littl about your mistress. I have seen her at the Opera—and to see is to admire. Bat there is still another step which is to be explained by stating that to admire is to burn to possess. Now, in plain is there an to hope ?” ‘ I¢ all depends, my lord,” replied the soubrette. “ Depends upon what?” inquired Saxondale. “ Termse—offere—settlemente—and so forth,” was the answer. “Then, is your mistress mercenary 7” “ Not exactly mercenary—bat she loves money, just as a great many other ladies do, as a means of procuring pleasure, to live in good style, keep her carriage and servants, and so forth—all of which she could not do with her salary at the Opera.” ‘* And yet she is handsomely paid, according to report,” remarked Edmund. “ Not so well as people think, ” re joined the soubretie. ‘' But you asked me if there were any hope? It is for you to get acquainted with my mistress, and see what she says. You do not seem too bashful, my lord, in making known your wishes; and certainly she will not be too bashful in giving you an answer. Of course I shall say everything I can in your favour; and you know that a lady’s-maid in these cases possesses great influence with her mis- trees. ‘Undoubtedly. You are her lady’se-maid, then ? I thoughtseo the very first moment! saw you. One can always tell a lady'e-maid-———” ‘\ Yes—we have a certain air,” remarked the young woman, tossing her head conceitedly. “* Bat why, my lord, do you not come and call to- morrow ? orelse write a very tender and affeo- tionate billet 7?” “ Good heavens!” exclaimed Saxondale: “is it possible that your mistress would either receive me as a visitor without any introduction, or take no- tice of any letter I might send her ?” “Well, considering that you area lord,” re- sponded the soubrette slyly, and with a sort of mysterious confidence, ‘1 think it very probable Craps 2) Gy ~~ Genii antgap agi my mistress might dispense with the usual formali- ties. Indeed, if she were to come bume alove pre- sently, [am not quite sure but that you might be pardoned for your boldness in introducing yourself to her at once.” “Is this possibie :” exclaimed Edmund, now so elated that he forgot all the previous misadven- tures of the night. “ It is s0 possible,” was the response, “ that I should advise you to make the attempt. Or if you ere too bashfal, you can just walk a little way up the road and leave me to say a few words to my mistress, Then, if I were to come down to the gate and ask you to walk in and take supper with her— for she always bas supper when she comes home, - and it is now ready served in the drawing- room ————"" “Tf you are not trifling with me,” exclaimed Edmund, “and if you could really manage what you bave just proposed, it should not be merely twenty guineas that I would put into your hand to-morrow, but fifty.” “ Well, my lord,” answered the soubretic, “it all depends upon whether a certain person comes home presently with my mistress. And that, to tell you the truth, was what I alinudud to jost now when you told me I had the tip of my tongue that I did not like to ak out. “But who is this certain person?” inquired Saxondale. ‘Mr. Walter, at the Opera.” “ What, one of the great authorities of the esta- blishment ?” ejaculated Saxondale. “Oh! 1 know him tolerably well. I have frequently spoken to him behind the scenes—a stout, elderly gentie- man-——~” “ The same,” responded the soubretic. “He's a nice enougno manin his wey, but very particular indeed; and that was why I was fearful that if he did come home presently with my mistress, he would be angry on finding me talking to any one at the gate. Oh! he is so pertéoular,” repeated the abigail, “and treats my mistress just as if she were his wife--hands her in and out of her (are riage with the greatest respect-——-” “But whet, then, has he to do with your mis- treee demanded Saxondale. “Is he related to r “Oh ! my lord, how stupid you are! Can't you guees ?”-—then with anotheralylook, and oncemore in a m tone of confidence, the soubretie added, “ He is justas mach related to her as your lordship wishes to be.” “ Do you mean to tell me she is living under his protection 7” demanded Edmund in astonishment. The soubrette nodded her head affirmatively. ** Ob, the aly pues !” Saxondale: ‘‘and rumour speaks so highly of her virtue! Well, after all, I was right,” he observed, musing audibly, “in what I said to my friend Staunton, when J declared that I had no great opinion ef the virtue of any female upon the stage. Bat still ] did think that she was virtuous as yet—although I fancied that her virtaé was not an impregnable citadel. And you tell me,” he continued, again addressing him- self to the soubrette, “ that your mistrves is living ander the protection of this Mr. Walter ?” ‘“Yes. Is there anything astonighing in it ?” bo ens af all! Bué ie she muah attached ™m CONNEC MOO SS COMM