The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 154: what you’re looking at

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

| TAHE MATERIES OF THE COURT. , 143 Besides, when she now again looked at him, and : away from Indora’s countenance; and she said to saw that he had a calm demeahour, she naturally | Mark, “ You can introduce her Grace hitber.” supposed that he himself eruld not have for an | Indora knew perfeetly well that Lavinia was a instant conjectured that such a suspicion had en- | lady of stainless reputation, noted for her amiable tered her mind. and excellent qualities, and whose character af- “ And when am I to go?” she asked » “ when | forded a striking contrast with that of her ducal shall [ pay this visit to the Lady Indora P”’ ' husband. She had therefore granted the audience * Without delay, Lavinia,” responded the Duké. | after a very brief hesitation: but during the few ** Let the carriage be ordered—and proceed thither | minutes which elapsed until the Duchess of March at once. Perh:ps it would de as well if you were | mont was introduced, Indora was engaged in a to prepare a note beforehand, corttaining some such | thousand conjectures ae to what the object of this words as these: —‘The Duchess of Marchmont | visit could possibly mean. earnestly requests an immediate interview with the | Lavinis was introdaced; and Indora rove to re- Lady Indora.’—This will ensure you admission: | ceive her. Mark at once retired: the Queen and | whereas if you merely sent in your card, it might : the Duchess were now alone together: but the be refused. Will you do all this, Lavinia P—and | latter knew not that i¢ was a lady of Sovereign will you likewise promise me that whatever you rank in whose presence she thus found herself. may hear—whatever the Lady Indora may tell | The very first glances which thoy threw upon one you ” another produced mutnally favourable tmpressions. “Yoo, yes,” interrupted the Dachess hurriedly : | Phe extraordinary beauty of the Queen struck “T faithfully promise that whatever she may tell | Lavinia with astonishment as well as with admi- me, shall not deter me from my parpose of serving | ration: while the modes‘ly-dignified demeanour, your cause to the best of my endeavours!” Thus speaking, Lavinia hastened from the room, to prepare her toilet for the visit which she had to pay. picion flashed in unto her mind {n spite of herself : for it struck her at the moment that she beheld and feminine air of self-confidence—frank, open, lofty, and yet utterly exempt from boldness —which characterised her Majesty, at once proclaimed the Again had that withering, blighting sus- | high-minded, weil-principled, pure-hearted woman. On the other hand, the more soft and winning beauty of Lavinia-—the pensiveness which habitu- something peculiar in her husband’s look:—and | ally rested in her large blae eyes—and the balf.— entreating air with which she bestowed the saluta- then, too, that constant reiteration of the entreaty that she would not be shocked at anything she might hear concerning him, naturally excited the suspicion which connected the Duke in some way or another with the paragraph in the newspaper. But Lavini& was resolved to perform her promiee; —and doing her best to dispel that sickening sut- picion, she took her seat in the carriage which was to bear her to Indora’s villa. We will not dwell upon the vatious conflicting ideas which agitated the mind of the Duchess as she was conveyed towards her destination. She shuddered as the carriage halted at the gate lead- ing into the grounds where eo foul a deed had been perpetrated on the previous night; and she inwardly murmured, “ Heaven forbid that the hostility which- seems to oxist between this lady and my husband, can have any reference to an episodé so terrible as that —or that it forms one of the causes of offence for which I am to humble myeelf even to tlre knecling at her feet !” The summons at the gate was answered by the faithful Mark,—who, perceiving « splendid eqai- pave with a ducal coronet upon the panels, has- tened to the carriage-window, to whieh a beautiful lady was beckoning him. “Have the kindness,” said Lavinia, “to give my card and this note to the Lady Indora, and I will await any message you may bring back.” tions of courtesy upon Indora, at once riveted the interest of that Eastern lady. They sate down together; and the Duchess began by apologising for the intrasion of such a visit on the part of a perfect stranger. She spoke in the low fluid tremulous votce which indicated a distressed and suspenseful state of mind,—white hee looks softly buat eloquently implored the Queen’s eonsideration and forbearance. “Your Grace need offer no apology,” replied Indora; “for by the tenour of your note, brief though ite contents be, I am led to conjecture that some business of importance has procured me the honour of this visit ?” * ¥¢ is indeed of great importance to myself— and—and—to another!’ responded Lavinia tre- mulously. “But first let me ask how fares it with | your servant P”—and here the voice of the Duchess quivered and faltered more and more: “ for I have read that paragraph in the newepaper.” “ My servant lies in a very dangerous condition. She ie totally unconscious: but atill the medical attendant gives hope of her eventual recovery :”— and as Indora thus spoke, sho fixed her dark eyes earnestly apon the Dachess as if to fathom the motives of this visit. “ My present proceeding must have already ap- peared most singular,” continued Lavinia, scarcely Christina Ashton had gone with her brother to | knowing how $0 approach the subject which she pay a visit to Isabella Vincent; and Indora was alone in thd drawing-room, when at about the hour of noon the ducal equipage drove up to her gate. Sio wondered who the visttress could be: for she caught a glimpse of Lavinia as her Grace leant forward at the oarriage-window to give the note and card to Mark. The reader may imagine the Queen’s astonishment when her faithful major- domo entered with that card and that billet. Mark himself perceived the amazement of his mistress: bat that expression of surprise quickly passed had to explain; “and perhaps when my purpose is made known, it may appear more singular still ——But, Ob, madam! whatever cause of offence my husband may have given you, I beseech your ladyship to pardon him !” Again did Indora fix her eyes upon the Duchess: for she was full of wonderment as to the extent of the revelations which the Duke might have made to his wife, and to what topies such revelations might refer. Lavinia suspected what was passing in che Queen’s mind; and she hastened to say, COMIC DOG (CO