The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 315: what you’re looking at

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

300 THER MYSTERIES OF THE COURT, i ceiving you: I do not even know that I have any | obtain witnesses to the whole or any portion of particular object in thus vindicating myself up to| those transactions in which I so fatally involved the present time—unless it be that it is natural for | myself, the result would be exposure—ruin—dis- a woman to take creait for as much virtue as she grace—dishonour——Oh, I could not survive it!” possesses, even in the presence of him to whom “ And he has threatened you with an action?” that virtue is about to be surrendered.” said Harold, in a thoughtful mood: it was not how- “Ido believe you,” responded Staunton, in a | ever precisely upon what he had heard that he was | voice which showed that he spoke with sincerity. | thinking, but rather upon a subject which had gra- “Tam sufficiently acquainted with the world to be | dually arisen in his mind within the last few able to discover a demirep, no matter how thick | minutes. may be the veil of hypocrisy that she wears; and} “He has threatened me with an action—or the having known you for some few years, I should | alternative is that I sign a document to be circu- certainly have detected you ere now. Yes—I do} lated privately, denying the truth of the state- believe you; and therefore all the more welcome | ment I had made to my friends concerning him. are you to me, dear Lady Saxondale !” That I will never do. I would sooner risk the law- Thus speaking, he passed his arm round her waist ; | suit. To sign the death-warrant of my own honour and in the shade of the avenue where they were | —to commita suicidal act in respect to my own fame, walking, he embraced her. There was an interval | were impossible !”—and Lady Saxondale spoke with of silence—and they proceeded slowly on, he still | the vehemence of a strong excitement. | with his arm round her waist. “To be sure—you cannot do that,’ rejoined “But you have not told me what I can do for | Harold. ‘*A document to be circulated privately, you,” he at length resumed. “Iam sure there is|—no, no—that will never do! As well the ful something in which you need my services.” exposure! Even if you lost the law-suit, you might “ No—not at present, I can assure you,” answered still persist that your cause was just, and that you Lady Saxondale. “ But tell me candidly—indeed, I | were an injured woman: but if you once sign such beseech you to speak with the utmost sincerity—for | @ paper, all is over.” it is important. Have you breathed to a soul,| “ That is exactly the view I take of it. Mr. except Edmund, those circumstances that so much ' Marlow has written tome. Of course he does not angered you against me?, Pray do not deceive me. | believe Deveril’s story for a moment: but how could If you have, I shall forgive you, and must make the | I ever look him in the face again if I were to write best of it. But if you have not, so much the | and tell him that I will sign an acknowledgment of NT better.” , my own guilt ?” “Ts it then so very important?” asked Lord| “It is indeed most serious,” rejoined Staunton. Harold, slightly fencing with the question. “Edmund’s mistress is the only one to be feared: “Ah! I perceive that you have told some one?” | on my valet Alfred I can rely.” ejaculated Lady Saxondale. “Now, Harold, listen} “You have not brought him down with you?” tome. You must not leave me in the dark in this | said Lady Saxondale quickly: “ for I could not look respect—you must not be afraid to confess the | him in the face——” ° extent to which you have betrayed me. Iam pre-| “No,” answered Staunton. “My aunt and Flo- pared to give myself up to you—I will eyen en- | rina had to bring their two maids; and they would deavour to love you—I feel that I already begin to | not consent that too many persons should encumber like you; and if you devote yourself entirely to my | the carriage. Besides, from motives of delicacy— interests, there is nothing I will not do to serve you. | having unfortunately told Alfred the whole story Therefore pray be candid; and to show you that I | in a fit of spleen and spite—I would not insist upon em inclined to put the fullest confidence in you, I | bringing him.” will tell you presently wherefore I am so urgent in| “ But who is Edmund’s mistress? I suspected asking the question.” that he had one, as he has been so constantly away ‘‘T will therefore speak without reserve,” said | from home of late——”’ Harold. “Unfortunately,” he continued, “you ren-| ‘She isanopera-dancor, known as Mademoiselle dered me so bitterly vindictive against you, that I} D’Alembert: her real name is Emily Archer. I wes not careful how I compromised you. There! can no doubt manage her. She is venal—and are two persons besides Edmund, to whom I have | money will effectually silence her.”’ told everything.” “ But if she should have already gossipped upon *'fwo persons! Who are they ?” the subject ?” observed Lady Saxondale, One is Kdmund’s mistress—for I suppose that | “I do not think it is likely,’ returned Staunton : you know or suspect that he has a mistress; and); “but of course I cannot take upon myself to the other is my faithful and devoted servant Alfred.” | answer for her discretion. You see that I do not “Good Ged! this is most serious,” murmured | buoy you up with vain hopes,” Lady Saxondale: and Staunton felt that she shud- | ‘ No: it were foolish to do so, Will you return Cored in the half-embrace in which he still retained to London, upon some pretence, as soon as possible, her as they walked slowly along. | and see her? You shall have cheques upon my “Why is it so serious P” he inquired. bankers, that you may possess adequate means to “ Because,” she rejoined in a thick voice, but with satisfy her rapaaity. Can you not pretend to- bitter accents, “IT am threatened with a law-suit for | morrow that you have received some important the defamation of William Deveril’s character; and | letters from London requiring your prompt presence tbat persevering, obstinate, dogged old man, Mr. | there?” Gunthorpe, is at the bottom of it all. It is doubt- “Yes: leave it to me to manage,” replied Staun- loss his gold that will enable Deveril to carry on the | ton, still thoughtfully and almost abstractedly, as if process. If by any accident he should contrive to | while he was talking upon one subject he was re- ee ee COMMICLOOOKS EO)