The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 311: what you’re looking at

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860 the bye, I recollect! Captain Stanley once called him by bis Christian name—and that name itself is Christian.” * Christian ?”’ almost shrieked forth Mrs. Oxen- den. ‘“Tall—slender—elegant, you say—about nineteen? With a beautiful set of teeth—and lips like those of a woman ” “The same!” cried Alexis. him P” “Yes, it must be he! His name is not Craven —it is Ashton—Christian Ashton—and he is a bitter enemy of mine |” “Heavens! what have I done?” exclaimed Alexis, now more frightened than ever. “Oh, I see it all!” “ And this Mr. Coleman—the lawyer who has come to me——” “ Coleman P’”’ echoed Alexis, with a start. “Why it is he who caused me to be arrested last night !— and this Craven—or Ashton—or whatever his name is—paid the whole money with an appearance of the most off-hand generosity !” “Wretched boy!” cried Mrs. Oxenden ; “ what is all this that I hearP ‘You have suffered your- self to be made a dupe, in order that those design- ing fiends might extract from your lips whsatso- ever it suited them to learn |” “Forgive me!” said Alexis, entreatingly. “ You tell me that no harm will happen to your- self if you obey Mr. Coleman in all things. Is it not so P” “That is the assurance he gave me,” replied Mrs. Oxenden; “but placed as I am in circum- stances so dreadful, how do I know whom to believe ?” Here there was a knock at the outer door of the elegant dressing-room ; and the vwuice of the lady’s-maid was heard, saying, “If you please, ma’am, the post-chaise is arrived, and Mr. Cole- man is waiting.” “You must go, Alexis!” exclaimed Mrs. Oxen- den: “I have but a few minutes left for my toilet !’—-then as she embraced him, ehe eaid, “I forgive you for whatecever mischief you have oo- casioned. Do not distress yourself about it !—let us hope that things will end well, and that I shall soon return! But for heaven's sake be cautious infuture! You know that I love you, my dear Alexis—and for my sake—Ob, for my sake, be prudent !” He vowed and protested that he would follow her advice: she placed a sum of money in his hands; and he departed by the secret staircase. Ton misutes afterwards the post-chaise, contain- ing Mr. Coleman and Mrs. Oxenden, drove away from the front door of the house. “Do you know CHAPTER CXLIII. CHRISTIAN AND ALEXIS, Ir was about three o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, and Christian Ashton was alighting from acab at the door of Mrs. Macaulay’s house in Mortimer Street. He had just returned from Newgate, whither he had been to pay his usual vieit to Lord Clandon. Scarcely had he dismissed the cab, when he beheld a person hastening to- THE MYSTERIES OF THE OOURT. wards him; and he at once recognised Alexis Oliver. The countenance of the young man ex. pressed the most fiery indignation; and Christian immediately suspected that this evidence of rage was connected with the proceedings of the previous night. He therefore assumed a calmly dignified demeanour, and thus awaited the explosion of Alexis Oliver’s fury. “ Mr. Ashton,” exclaimed Mrs. Oxenden’s para- mour, “ you are a villain!” “Perhaps it would be better, sir,” replied our hero “that we should avoid a disturbance in the open street. Be eo kind as to follow me up-stairs: we shall be alone together; and to whatsoever you may say I shall doubtless be prepared to give an answer.” Alexis accordingly accompanied Christian up to the sitting-room: the latter closed the door—and then said, “I see, Mr. Oliver, that you know who Iam: but I beg you to understand that I have no reason to regret nor to be ashamed of my pro- ceedings of last night. Where there are high and important duties to be performed, the most honourable character will condescend to a little diesimulation; and really, after all, it does not strike me that you have much to complain of ee SZ . “If, Mr. Ashton,” rejoined Oliver, “ you would throw in my teeth the pecuniary obligation ——” “ Nothing was further from my intention!” ex. claimed Christian. “Had you saffered me to proceed without interruption, [I should have simply added that you were burning to reveal certain secrets, which I therefore had no perti- cular trouble to elicit.” “ But you have made the most villanous use of them !” ejaculated Alexis; “and you mast give me satisfaction! Name your friend, sir; and mine shall call upon him this evening. I have been wandering about in the hope of encounter- ing you—I thought it was useless to inquire your address of Captain Stanley, as he was evidently in your plot: but accident fortunately threw me in your way.” “If you consider yourself aggrieved, sir,” an- ewered Christian composedly, “Iam bound to meet you according to the provocation you have just given me. I name Captain Stanley as my friend.” Alexis said not another word: but bowing haughtily, he issaed from the room. He had already made up his mind whose assistance he would invoke in case he should euneceed in finding au opportunity to challenge Christian to a dagl; and he at once bent his steps to the house of the individual whom he thus purposed to e as his second. This was none other than the Hon. Wil- eon Stanhope. . Mr. Stanhope was seated at the time in com- pany with his mistress, Marion Sutton. It was an elegantly furnished apartment; and the young woman was half reclining upon a eofa, listening to the protestations of love which the infataated Stanhope was pouring forth. She has already been described as a full-grown beauty, buat til! quite youthful, and with all the freshness of youth blooming upon her rich luxuriant charms. Already somewhat inclined to stoutness, yet with a perfect symmetry of form, she had an air of sensuous in- dulence—a voluptuous kind of laziness and languor ae eee ennushessepseeesieesycgenneneen ancpeeseeenetentesl EloOOOlKS COMM (CO LS]