The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 224: what you’re looking at

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

eg ee $HW MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. , ‘918 ! “Do you think it would be of any use,” in- quired Sir Frederick Latham, “if I were to go and question M. Bertin P” “ Not the slightest,” responded Madame Ange- lique. “M. Bertin never knew with what parti- cular lady eny particular gentleman might have had an appointment. It was sufficient for the gentleman to afford @. Bertin some proof that he had no sinister nor hostile motive in seeking to pass through his house into mine——” “I understand,” interjected Sir Frederick. “ There is consequently no means for me to dis- cover the name of my guilty wife’s paramour ?”’ “None that I can point out,” replied Madame Angelique. “But pray let me beseech you, Sir Frederick Latham—do let me beg and entreat that you will deal mercifally with her ladyship! Ah! sir, consider——” “Silence, madam !” interrupted the merchant sternly: “it ie not for you to offer these interces- sions—it is for me to act as I think fit. We made a bargain at the outect—and I will keep it. You have given me all the information in your power ; and you shall not suffer therefrom. For the pre- gent [ enjoin you to maintain the strictest secrecy as to everything that hes now passed betwéen us. It is possible that I may have to see you “ At any hour, Sir Frederick,” exclaimed Ma- dame Angelique, “may you obtain access to me. And relative to that little sam——” Keep it—keep it,” responded the merchant, disdainfully : and taking up his hat, he issued forth from the apartment. No one, on perceiving Sir Frederick Latham issue forth from that villa—deliberately mount his horse—and as methodically take a shilling from hie purse to give to the poor boy who had held the animal, would have conjectured how much his feelings had been inwardly agitated, or how tensely they were still wrung. He had affected in Ma- dame Angelique’s presence that the supposed guilt of his wife, and the presumed villany of some para- moar, could not wield so great an influence over him as to wreck his happiness altogether ; but he had not in that declaration expressed the trath. His was the sort of pride which was exactly the one to be most wounded by tho exposure of his dishonour. He was too shrewd and coldly calcu- lating not to be aware that if an explosion took place, all bis friends and acquaintances would in their mingled scandal and wisdom observe “ that it was just what he might have expected for marrying out of his own sphere.” And then too, if he brought the affair before the tribunals and sued for a divorce, he would have to parade all Madame Angelique’s evidence—he would have to show that Anastatia had been incontinent before her marriage—and those same scandalous wise- acre friends of his would, with knowing shakes of the head, whisper amongst themselves “ that a daughter of the aristocracy would never have thrown herself away upon him unless she had very reasons for so doing.” } But how was Sir Frederick to act? To consign te oblivion everything he had heard, was impos- sible : to live with Anastatia as before, was not to be thought of: to abstain from making her ac- quainted with the fact that everything was disco- vered, waa more than even the oold calculating worldly disposition of Sir Frederick Latham could | bend itself to. For the first time in his life the great merchant found himself bewildered how fo act ; and, as he rode homeward a thousand painful thoughts conflicted in his brain. On reaching Tudor House, he learnt that Anas- tatia had gone out in the carriage, and that her ladyship had left a message to the effect that she intended to proceed to town to call on her parents, the Earl and Countess of Fordwich. Sir Frederick was glad that his wife was thus tem. porarily absent ; it afforded him an opportunity of deliberating a while on the course which he ought to pursue. But feeling as if the confined air of his study oppreseed him, he walked forth into his grounds. While there, he beheld a carriage drive up to the gate; and as the equipage entered, he saw that it was Queen Indora’s. The Queen herself was not however in it: the occupants were Mr. Redcliffe, Christian, and Christina. The twins had come to psy the usual visit of courtesy after having been invited to the entertainment at Tudor House: while Mr. Redcliffe also deemed it suit- able to pay his respects in the same quarter, inas- much as he himeelf had likewise been invited, though he declined the invitation ; and moreover Sir Frederick was the British financial agent for that royal lady whom Mr. Redcliffe was engaged, wen circumstances should permit, to conduct to tar. OHAPTER CXXVIL THE BANK-NOTES, Tue great City merchant was for almost the first time in bis life in one of those moods which are utterly unoongenial for the reception of visitors : but the occupante of the carriage had already seen him in the grounds—and it was therefore impos- sible to deny himeelf. The carriage stopped—the twins and Mr. Redcliffe alighted—and Sir Fro- derick Latham advanced to weloome them. The merchant maintained his wonted de- meanour: no one could have suspected that any- thing unusual had occurred. After some little discourse he requested Christian and Christina to ramble about the grounds and gardens at their pleasure, while he remained conversing with Mr. Redcliffe. The twins were glad of this opportunity to leave the two gentlemen together: for they knew that Mr. Redcliffe purposed to make a par- ticular communication to Sir Frederick Latham. Accordingly, after a little more conversation on general topics, Mr. Redoliffe said, “ Sir Frederick, I think it my duty to inform you of something which happened the night before last—and thereby to put you on your guard against a character who is evidently of a very desperate description, and who appears to be lurking about the least fro- quented suburbs of the metropolis.” “Do you mean a robber—a highwayman—s lurking thief?’ asked the merchant. “I do,” responded Mr. Redcliffe. “The night before last, my young friends Mr. and Miss Ash- ton, when returning from your house in the car- Fiage, wero intercepted by a villain dressed as a Lascar, but who is beyond all doubt an English y | COMIC OOOlK<S conn