The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 228: what you’re looking at

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

CS Enemas THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 213 Zaxondale, taking it as such. “ And now tell me, “Tt would be really capital fun,” observed Ed- Harold, how is Deveril? have you heard anything ' mund, with disgusting flippancy, “to be put in pos- more about him? For I saw by this morning’s paper | session of any secret which would place my mother that the report of his death was incorrect—that he | in my power. By Jove! she should not bully me survived—and that the wound is not even mortal, | then: I would very soon be even with her. There- though terribly dangerous.” fore, my dear Staunton, so far from offending me, “TI know no more on the subject than you do,” | you could not do me a greater service than by telling answered Staunton. “In fact, I am playing at hide- | me all about this adventure of your’s.” and-seek till the result developes itself in one way ‘Tt is too complicated at the present moment,” or another. For of course until Deveril is pro- | replied Lord Harold: “ and besides which, I want nounced completely out of danger, I am liable to | to obtain some positive proof of the fact that the arrestat any moment. But I want to speak to you, | Spanish Queen at the masquerade was Lady Saxon- Saxondale, most particularly.” | dale. In my own mind I know it was—I am “Ts it any secret?” asked Edmund, glancing to- | morally certain of the identity: but as I did not see wards Emily, whom he was evidently fearful of her face, she could of course turn round and indig- offending by excluding her from a knowledge of , nantly deny the fact: for you will excuse me for what was about to be said. saying, my dear Edmund, that your lady-mother is “Just as you may think fit to decide,” responded , not wanting in what may be termed a bold effron- Harold. “It is about that lady in the Spanish dress tery.” that you know o ” | “ Wanting in it!” ejaculated Edmund. “On the “Ah! at the masquerade?” cried Saxondale. contrary, she has got plenty of it. But what sort “ Oh, no—what earthly necessity can there be for of proof is it that you require, Harold, in the case secrecy on that head? Besides, as I really have , we are speaking of?—and can I assist you in any no secrets at all from my dear Emily——” way ?”’ “T understand,” said Lord Harold: “you have| “It is precisely your assistance that I require,” already told Miss Archer everything about that little answered Staunton: “and I am sure that you will adventure of mine at the masquerade——that is to | give it to me all the more readily after what you say, as far as you are acquainted with it.” have been saying—because it is of course very con- “Well, to confess the truth, I have told Emily,” | venient as well as important for you to get your observed Edmund. “But then she is discretion ' mother completely under your thumb.” itself.” “To be sure! What would you have me do?” “And I do enjoy hearing of intrigues and adven- | “T suppose that you would not hesitate to avail tures of that kind !”’ exclaimed the danseuse. “Do yourself of an opportunity for searching Lady Saxon- tell us, my dear Lord Harold, whether your adven- ' dale’s wardrobes, and drawers, and cupboards, for ture has turned out as you could wish : for we know | some particular object—would you ?” nothing beyond the fact that in pursuance of a| “Not I indeed! I will ransack and rummage certain note you met some lady at that masquerade. | them from top to bottom if it is necessary for your Of course it is a delicious intrigue—a delightful | purpose.” affair of gallantry! Come, take some champagne,| “It is,” rejoined Harold. “Do you not compre- and then tell us all about it. What happened? and: hend? If we could only find the fancy-dress which who was the fair inamorata ?” | Lady Saxondale wore at the masquerade, it would “ Now,” resumed Lord Harold after a brief pause, | be impossible for her to deny her identity with the d wing which he reflected profuundly, “I have not | character of Queen Isabella. The chances are a the slightest objection to state the issue of my ad- | hundred to one that the dress is secreted some where venture: but will you, Edmund, promise that what- ; 1a her ladyslfip’s apartments.” soever I may say you will not be shucked or annoyed ? | And if so, I shall be sure to ferret it out,’’ ex- In a word, will you give me free permission to speak | claimed Edmund. out frankly ?” ! “Oh, do, my dear Edmund,” said Emily Archer, “Why, of course,” responded Saxondale, sur- | with witching accents and looks of cajolery. “I am prised at the question. “If it regarded either of | always atraid that your proud and haughty mother | | my own sisters, or my lady-mother, I should like to | will be separating you from me; and it will bea hear all the particulars.” | great relief to my mind to know that you are in “Perhaps your random observation may reach a ' possession of a secret which will put her upon her little nearer home than you imagine,’ observed ; good behaviour.” Lord Harold. |” “T have already promised to do my best in the “Ah! I begin to suspect,” ejaculated Saxondale. | matter,” responded Edmund. “I will go home to- “Ts it possible that my own lady-mother has taken ; morrow morning and watch for an opportunity to it into her head to play tricks of this sort? Well, , ransack the place: although, by the bye, I did not now that I bethink me, it was exactly her height intend to show my face there for the next week—tor and figure é | the old housekeeper is dead, and somehow or another “ And it was she herself!” rejoined Lord Harold. | I havea great aversion to be beneath the same roof “This is delightfully amusing!” exclaimed Emily | with a dead body. It is not, you know, that I am Archer. “You were saying, Edmund, the other | in any way frightened; but it seems as if there was day that you wished you had some means of exer- | a sickly smell—a nauseating kind of odour. How- cising a power over your mother, as you know that | ever, I will return to Saxondale House immediately — she is doing her best with your guardians to make | ‘dear Harold, I cannot make all this affair out. them send you abroad in the diplomatic service or else compel you to go and live down at your old castle in Lincolnshire till you come of age.” after breakfast to-morrow morning. But still, my What on earth did my mother meet you at’ tho Harcourts’ for, after wriling that letter—uulesa COMICMookxs (CO)