The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 270: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THR COURT. 269 “ Everybody has admired them, ma’am,” he re- sponded ; “ and many offers have been made.” “ What is the price?” inquired Mrs. Oxenden. “Eight thousand guineas, ma'am,” was the shopman’s answer ; “ with a discount of five per cent. for ready money.” a these are the lowest terms?” said the ““ “Phe very lowest, ma’am :”—and the shopman began to look eager; for he perceived that there was ea chance of her being a purchaser—but he also feared lest she should slip through his hands. Mrs, Oxenden examined the diamonds more closely ; and all the other personages present looked on with interest—for they likewise thought that a purchaser was found at lest. The door opened : Colonel and Mrs. Tressilian reappeared— and at that very instant Mrs. Oxenden said to the shopman, “I will give you your price for the dia- monds: they are mine.” “Oh, how unfortunate!” was the involuntary ejaculation which barst from Mrs. Tressilian’s lips, and the meaning of which may be explained to the effect that the proprietor of the establishment had just stepped out, but was expected to return in afew minutes, when Colonel Tressilian, in order to gratify his wife, would have been prepared to meet his demand. All eyes were turned from Mrs. Oxenden fo- wards Mrs. Tressilian, who with the twofold vexa- tion of disappointment, and of having betrayed it, could not prevent the tears from forcing their way. Nothing could exceed the asnoyance of Colonel Tressilian himself, when Mrs. Oxenden darted a look of haughty triumph upon bim and of con- temptuous pity upon hie wife. The Colonel grew pale and bit his lipe with concentrated rage: then turning suddenly on his heel, he led his wife forth from the room. Mrs. Oxenden accompanied the shopman to the counting-house,—-the proprietor of the establish- ment having just returned. He was by no means prepared to trust a stranger with such a costly amoant of property—nor even to send the diamonds to her house without previous payment. Nor did she choose to expose herself to the humiliation of a refusal on the point. She therefore desired that he would send the bill in an envelope to his Grace the Duke of Marchmont; and she inti- mated that it would be paid on presentation. The jeweller bowed, and attended the lady forth to her carriage. He now comprehended that she was a Duke’s mistress: but i¢ was no concern of his, so long as the bill was paid—of which he entertained not the slightest doubt. And the bill soae paid; and the diamonds were sent home to Mrs. Oxenden. But the Duke of Marchmont was astounded at this act of extrava- gance,—an extravagance which was more wilfal and wanton than any whereby he had previously found himself victimised on Mrs. Oxenden’s ac- count. Accordingly, on the following day, at about the hour of noon, he proceeded to the residence of his new mistress, with the firm resolution of remon- strating against ber conduct. She expected this visit; and she was prepared to give Marchmont guch a reception as she deemed most suitable under the circumstances. It was by no meaue her inten- tion to wheedle nor to cajole him, nor to take the trouble of condescending to blandishments: she had essumed the attitude of an imperious mistress from the very first—a mistress in two senses of thd term; and she did not feel inclined to step down from her pedestal. She was apparelled in a dark dress which set off the symmetry of her shape to the fullest advantage of its ‘superb contours; aod she felt all a woman's pride in the consciousness of her grand beauty. The Duke, feeling that circumstances had be. come exceedingly serious, had summoned all his courage to his aid; and on entering the apartment where Mrs. Oxenden reoéived him, he at once broached the purport of his visit. “You drew heavily upon me yesterday,” he said; “and it was at least very inconsiderate ta take such a step without previously consalting me. It might have happened that I had not sufficient in my bankers’ hands to meet the cheque which I was at once compelled to draw——”’ “And doubtless your bankers would have ho- noured it all the same,” said Mrs. Oxenden, with a species of haughty composure. “Bat I would not overdraw them for the world,” answered the Duke. “That is not howe ever the precise question. It is whether or not-——~” “There is no question at all,” interrupted Mrs. Oxenden. “On the night that you and I were so strangely thrown together, you said to me, ‘ You are poor; I will make you rich: there is nothing you cah ask which I will not grant: money in abundance; riches; gold; and gifts.’—These were your promises. Are you fulfilling them when you play the part of a niggard for a few thousand pounds? It is not the first time that you have made @ grimace on account of my purchases; and it would seem, therefore, as if we did not have a thorough understanding together at the outset. If not, let us have i¢ now.” “ There i is moderation in all things,” replied the Duke of Marchmont; “and you ought to be rea- sonable. Frankly speaking, I have not the means to support sach marvellous extravagancies 28 “And I tell you, my lord,” oxclaimed Mra Oxenden, her dark eyes now flashing angrily, “that you do possess the means, and that you shall furnish me with them! You are immensely rich; and I am positively ashamed of you for daring——-Yes, I will use the word daring—te come and plead pauperism in my presence.” “ Mrs. Oxenden,” exclaimed the Duke, making a desperate effort to assert his own empire over her imperiousness, “ I cannot and will not minister to your boundless extravagancies. If you choose to be reasonable henceforth, we will say nothing more of the past. Two or three thousand a-year will keep you in affluence; and this amount I do not grudge—very far from it |” “Enough, my lord!” ejaculated the lady ; “x6 is high time for me to speak. Not many weoks have elapsed since ® young Hindoo woman was nearly murdered—— “Why refer to this?’ demanded the Duke. “Did you not promise——” “That the seal of secrecy should remain upon my lips,” continued Mre. Oxenden, “so long as you remained faithful to your own side of the compact. in one word, my lord, you are in my power—and you know it. Recollect, I overheard COLUM ClOOO cS) (CO