The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 292: what you’re looking at

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

Se THE MYSTERIES OF THE “TI wish you good evening, Sir John Marston,” paid the Marquis, bowing coldly and moving towards the door. “ One word !—do let me have one word more with you!” exclaimed the baronet, whose ideas were evi- dently in a state of cruel bewilderment. “Do you know—I beseech you to tell me—do you know where your wile dwells? or shall I say the lady who was once your wife ——for I know not now how to speak of her. Tell me, if you be acquainted with her abode—I beseech you to tell me ie “Again I say good evening, Sir John Marston :”’ —and the Marquis of Villebelle, with a still colder and haughtier bow, quitted the room,—the baronet making no farther effort to detain him. On his way back to the Admirals Head, the Marquis could not help wondering in what con- sisted the talismanic effect of the mere name of Lady Everton. That it had been potent to quell the proud spirit and level the haughty assurance of Sir John Marston, was evident enough. Nor less did the Marquis of Villebelle ponder upon the extraor- dinary revelation that had been made to him by the paper at which he had glanced on the desk. Yet this afforded him no clue to the reading of the other mystery: or if for a moment it engendered a sus- picion, it was one which there was no other circum- stance to cor‘irm. But that the lady whom he had married five years back in Paris, had experienced a strange destiny—perhaps most wrongful treatment —he could not help thinking. On arriving at the Admiral’s Head, he gave a quick nod of intelligence to Kate who looked out of the door of the bar-parlour; and she saw that all was well. He rushed up-stairs; and the fervid em- 277 moreover, it was so kindly given. But without the slightest prospect of reward should I have acted just as I have done. I sincerely wish your lordship all possible happiness.” | COURT. Kate Marshall then quitted the room; and soon afterwards the Marquis of Villebelle retired to his own chamber. On the following day, at about eleven o’clock, the Marquis, Constance, and Mary- Anne, took a kind leave of the Marshalls and em- barked on board the steam-vessel for Calais. They experienced no molestation of any kind: nor did it appear that their movements were watched by spies. From Calais the journey was immediately pursued to Paris; and on the day after their arrival in the sovereign city of France, they repaired to the British Ambassador’s Chapel to pass through the matrimonial ceremony. The chaplain proved to be the same who had pronounced the marriage: blessing —(what a mockery it was) —upon the Marquis of Villebelle and his first wife. The circumstance of the former marriage was at once remembered by the reverend gentleman; and the Marquis assured him | that there existed no impediment to a second al- .liance. This averment was sufficient,—the social position of the Marquis and the fact that he had re- cently been appointed to a diplomatic situation at the Spanish Court, being considered ample guaran- tees for his respectability and honour. The cere- mony was therefore solemnized ; and Constance now called herself Marchioness of Villebelle. In the afternoon she wrote a long letter to Juliana, which she directed to Saxondale House, not thinking that her mother would after all have persevered in the originally contemplated visit into Lincolnshire. Early the next morning the Marquis brace in which he at once strained Constauce, as and Marchioness of Villebelle, attended by Mary- well as the glow of joyous animation upon his | Anne, and by a valet whose services had been en- handsome countenance, convinced her and Mary- gaged on sufficient recommendation, set out on Anne that there was nothiag more to fear. That evening, after Constance and her faithful altendant had retired to the chamber provided for them, the Marquis sat down and wrote a letter. This he sealed—but placed no address upon it. He _ then rang the bell, and summoned Kate to the room. “T have a favour to ask you,” he said as soon as she made her appearance. “ It is evident that you are acquainted with the lady who, if she chose, might have called herself the Marchioness of Ville- belle, but who has so generously released me from all the trammels of that mysterious marriage. Tell me—are you acquainted with her address? Iam sure you must ¥e. But I do not wish you to men- tion it to me: indeed it were perhaps better not. The favour I ask is that you will forward this letter to her.” “Twill do so, my lord,” replied Kate, receiving the sealed epistle fram his hands. “And now, Miss Marshall,” resumed Villebelle, ‘‘let me once more express to you my gratitude ——” “Oh! I require no thanks, my lord,” she ex- claimed. ‘“ You have already rowarded my father liberally: and behold!” she added, raising her hand and displaying a beautiful ring upon one of her well-formed fingers: ‘“ I have just received this as a memento from that beautiful and amiable young lady who indeed merits all your love. I did not mind accepting the ring, because it is a gift that their journey towards the Spanish frontiers; and in due time they reached the city of Madrid without ee any more adventures worthy of nar- ration. CHAPTER LVIII. THE RECREATIONS AND THE HORRORS OF LONDON LIFE. It was about half-past nine o’clock in the evening, that Lord Harold Staunton, having dined quietly at his own lodgings in Jermyn Street, sauntered forth | with his cigar; and passing down the Haymarket, he encountered his friend Lord Saxondale. “IT was just going up to your place, Harold,” said the dissipated young nobleman. “I thought perhaps you would want company, and we might make another night of it together * “Upon my word, Edmund,” observed Staunton, as the former took his arm and walked on with him, “ you are wonderfully unconcerned at what | took place yesterday,” “ Ah! about ConstanceP Well, what does it -matter, so long as she marries the Marquis? Give me a light for my cigar.” . “ But they say that the Marquis is already mar. ried,” returned Harold. “I have heard your mother herself say so.” “Oh! my mother will say anything when it ene might take under such cxcumstances; and suits her purpose,” exclaimed Lord Saxondale. tS sete eee GoOnnGoaooks (CO)