The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 170: what you’re looking at

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

155 always borne in the presence of the world an un- * tainted reputation, falls m love with a young man, much her inferior in what society has chosen to denominate rank. She is too mucha slave to the artificialities and fictions of this same society to think of marrying the young man: but she has so little rerard for decency, virtue, and real prudence, as to offer to become this young man’s mistress. Yes—this she did in language glowing and warm ; and she appeared to think that she had only to make the proposition in order to have it at once accepted. But this lady has grown up daughters, to whom the best and brightest example should be afforded: and yet in her foolish infatuation, and blinded by her passion, she offers to become the paramour of this young man whose personal beauty has aroused her desires. He rejects the proposal in terms of forbearing gentleness, but with loathing and abhorrence in his heart. Commiserating this lady who has so far forgotten herself in her unfortunate pas- sion, he is even generous enough to promise the concealment of her folly—or shall I say her wicked- ness? But she menaces him with a terrible ven- geance.’ He leaves her with sorrow in his heart that so much depravity can exist, masked by a beauty of the grandest and most lofty character; and he hopes that her repentance may enable him to throw the veil of secrecy over what has occurred. But conceive what his feelings must be when he discovers that this lady, too faithful to her threatened plan of vengeance, deliberately and purposely calls upon her acquaintances and friends in order to pro- pagate a tale entirely to the prejudice of this young man.” Mr. Gunthorpe ceased speaking—but continued to look very hard at Lady Saxondale, from whose countenance indeed he had not once removed his eyes during the whole time he was delivering that lengthy address. He saw that notwithstanding her natural strength of mind and her proud assurance, she winced at his words—writbed under his narra- tive as he developed it—experisnced an increasing confusion—and showed conscious guilt in every lincament of her countenance. “llr. Gunthorpe,” she said, with a desperate effort to resume her self-possession, “it would be worse than childish for me to affect ignorance of the allusions you have been making. But, sir,”— and she felt her fortitude revive as she went on speaking,—‘“ if you dare attribute such conduct to me—if you dare put such a version upon whatso- ever passed between Mr. Deveril and myself—I must denounce you as a calumniator and must order you from my presence !” “ Be it as you will, madam,” said the old gentle- man, rising from his seat and taking up his broad- brimmed hat from the chair on which he had depo- sited it in companionship with his gold-headed cane. “ But perhaps you are not aware of the course which it will be necessary to take under ex- isting circumstancesP Lady Saxondale, I am a rich man—and for no purpose would I sooner dis- pense a portion of my wealth than to procure justice for this Mr. William Deveril whom you have so cruelly and wantonly injured. Doubtless you thought, Lady Saxondale, that with your high position—your proud name — your lofty station— and, if need were, even with your gold—you might ¢rush at your will that young man? But it shall not eee be so. He is not without friends: at all events he has one in me. And I now warn your ladyship that the tribunals shall be appealed to—an action for de- famation of character shall be commenced against you 73 “Enough, sir—enough! T have already heard far too much,” eried Lady Saxondale, starting up from her seat: for she saw that there was now no alternative but to meet the affair with a brazen effrontery—to take a bold and desperate stand—and to bid defiance te a'l rsenacves and to all hostile pre- ceedings. “One word mere, wedam,” said Mr. Gunthorpe, whose manner seemed to be invested with an autho- ritativeness irresistibly powerful, and which despite the resolve to which she had just come, exercised its influence over Lady Saxondale. ‘ You possess two daughters—two grown-up daughters—young women indeed of a marriageable age, and for whom you are doubtless anxious to seek befitting alliances. Consider, madam, the demoralizing example which your conduct is but too well calculated to set them. Think you that if you push the present deplorable incident to the utmost extreme, nothing will trans- pire detrimental to yourself? Yes—believe me, all the world will put faith in William Deyveril’s story in preference to your own; andif the verdict of a jury should stamp you as a calumniatrix, it will by the same decision proclaim you to be nothing more than a demirep. ‘Then, madam, what will become of your daughters ? will their mother’s evil reputa- tion accelerate their chances of forming suitable and proper matrimonial connexions ? And your son too, over whom, as I understand, your autho- rity even at present is by no means well established, —will he regard the exposure of your gross pas- sion for Deveril and your licentious overtures, as a reason why he should become more obedient ? Think of all this, Lady Saxondale, ere you precipi- tate matters to an irrevocable extreme, At present you may privately repair the injury done to Deverill in those quarters where you have privately inflicted it. I know that it will be gall and wormwood for you to be compelled to recant your allegations, con- fess that they were calumnies, and give some expla- nation for your sudden hostility towards him; but ten thousand times werse will it be if in a court of justice all the details of the case are brought to light. Now, madam, for the last time, what is your decision P” “T have nothing more to say, sir,” responded Lady Saxondale, desperately clinging to the resolve she had already formed, and to meet all conse- quences with a brazen eftrontery. “If I have listened to you so long, it is, I repeat, out of respect for your age rf “ No, Lady Saxondale,” observed Mr. Gunthorpe, showing by his look that he could read to the depths of her heart as plainly as the eye can penetrate through a crystal streamlet to its pebbly bottom; “sou have been influenced by no such generous motive. Itis fear, Lady Saxondale—fear that has made you listen to me to the end——yes, fear I repeat, despite tne powerful efforts which you have exerted and are still exerting to conquer the sentix ment! But I will inirude no longer,” At this moment the door opened from the landing, and Lord Saxondale entered the rom. He was lounging in with that fashicnable affectation of lan- a a a a a a THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT, ECOMmiclboooks (CO)