The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 191: what you’re looking at

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

180 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. examining the note with a critical eye. “ Very prettily written—accurately folded—the paper of a neat pale pink—the seal delicate and well formed =-just such a billet as is worthy to be borne by so polished a gentleman as honest Ike Shadbolt.” With these words he stuck his hat airily and jauntily upon one side of his head; and pausing at the luncheon-table for a few moments to toss off another glass of wine, he took his departure. Madame Angelique resumed her reading of the French papers and fashion-books for some little while, until she thought it time to ascend to her dressing-room and perform her toilet: for she was as yet in deshabillée. In the meanwhile the carriage was ordered to be gotten in readiness to take her out for a drive: but it occurred that when she herself was dressed, the equipage was not quite prepared for her reception. Madame Angelique accordingly strolled in the little garden which separated the villa from the main road ; and as she was passing by the gate, she perceived a person whom she took to be a poor Lascar sailor, walking slowly along. Just at that instant an open car- i ing from a ique’s quick eye at once recognised them asa genteel family dwelling in the neighbourhood, and who oocupied the pew next to her own at ohurch. But this family had not called upon Madame Angelique ; and the ex-milliner was very anxious to win their good opinions. Here therefore was an oppor- tanity to display her charity: here was an occasion to prove that if she possessed wealth she knew how to use it for the relief of her suffering fellow- creatures. Pausing at the gate, she beckoned the Lascar to approach,—at the same time that she drew forth her purse. “You seem to be suffering very much from fatigue, my poor man,” she said, speaking in Eng- lish, and holding a half-crown over the gate at the very instant that the carriage with the ladies rolled past. The Lascar only shook his head—but said no- thing. Madame Angelique then addessed him in French: but still no reply—and only a shake of the head. She gave him the money: but as he took it, it struck her that a more savage, sinister- looking rascal she had not seen for a very long time. He made an awkward bow, and continued his way. Madame Angelique’s carriage was now in readiness; and she rode forth for her airing. She had not proceeded very far when a gentleman on horseback rode hastily past the carriage, pro- ceeding in the same direction which the equipage iteel€ was taking. The ex-milliner at once recog- nised the Duke of Marchmont, though it did not seem as if the nobleman himself was aware whose dashing turn-out be was thus passing. He was unattended by any groom; and Madame Angelique said to herself, “ His Grace is bent on some mis- chief, [ll be bound !—or else he would not be thus alone. Doubtless he is after some fair one? Ah, he will miss my assistance and intervention in such matters—as will a great many other persons likewise !” The carriage having proceeded for about three miles along the main road, turned into a lane, so that by a circuitous route it might regain the villa,—thereby diversifying the excursion, and enabling Madame Angelique to enjoy the freshness of the breese that was wafted through the foliage of the shady lanes along which the equipage was now proceeding. ll of a sadden the carriage passed @ spot where Madame Angelique caught sight of the Lascar whom she had relieved, and who was now talking to a gentleman on horseback. This horseman she also recognised :—he was the Dake of Marchmont. The ex-milliner was struck by the singularity of the circumstance. Neither the Lascar nor the Dake had recognised herself as the equipage swept by; and she had distinctly heard the Lascar speaking at the moment —though what he was saying she could not distinguish. To herself he had been unable—or at least had affected to be un- able to speak cither English or French: whereas with the Duke of Marchmont he was now in dis- course. And then too, could it be possible that the Duke was merely inspired by charitable motives to stop and talk to the man P—vwas he after all riding about that neighbourhood for his pleasure, without any settled purpose P—and was the meet- ing with this Lascar as purely accidental, as casual, acd as aimless, as it might have been with any other beggar. No: Madame Angelique was per- fectly convinced that such was sot the case. What, then, could it all mean? She was bewil- dered—she was lost in conjecture: her cariosity was excited—but she had no means of gratifying it. It was verging towards five o'clock when this little incident took place: the drive was nearly at an end—and the villa was at no great distanse. The equipage was nearing the point where the lane turned into the main road,—when the sounds of a galloping horse were heard; and in a few mo- ments a riderless steed swept past. It came from behind—therefore from the same direction where the Duke and the Lascar had been seen together: and what was more, Madame Angelique felt con- vinced that it was his Grace’s horse which she hed just beheld. The carriage stopped—the footman leaped down from his seat next to the coachman--and coming up to the window, he said, “‘ I fear, ma’am, there's some accident. It etrikes me it was the horse of that gentleman whom we saw in the lane———~”’ “ The very same idea struck me!” said the ex- milliner. “ Let us go back as quick as possible! —the unfortunate gentleman may hare been thrown !” Madame Angelique—bdeing impressed with the conviction that the Duke of Marchmont was en- gaged in some private business, most probably of a character which he would rather not have pryed and penetrated into—had forborne from mention- ing his rank and her own knowledge of who he was. The eqaipage had to pass out into the road before it could turn to retrace ite way along the lane; and this caused some little delay. But pre- sently it was returning in the directioww whence it had previously come: while Medame Angelique from the windows, and the eervants from the box, were looking out*in expectation of beholding the thrown horseman. On went the equipage,—antil at length ejaculations burst from the lips of the domestics on the box; and in a few moments the carriage stopped at the very place where the ex- milliner remembered to have seen the Duke and the Lescar talking together. COMIC DOG (CO