The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 342: what you’re looking at

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

i a A A A A A RNS THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. $27 2 glove from the carpet. “This is not your’s, at all ; concealed in the house, it would not be in Emily’s évents ; and Idon’t think you can advance it as one | own chamber, he searched the one immediately be- of your proofs of fidelity ?” hind it. Lord Harold Staunton, hearing him rush “ To be sure not,” replied Emily, with the calm- | so quickly up the stairs, naturally fancied there was esi indifference. “That glove belongs to a better | something wrong; and not wishing to quarrel with man than you are——although,” she murmured in | Saxondale at a time when he entertained matri- an undertone, “I have quarrelled with him.” monial projects in respect to his mother, he thought “What's that you are saying ?” ejaculated Saxon- | to escape unperceived while his friend was in the dale, livid with rage. “Who has been to see you | back room, whither he had heard him enter. But while I was out? You promised to remain alto- just at the moment that Staunton was stealing vether alone this evening, as you were not going to | forth, Saxondale came out again from that room; the Opera 4 and they met face to face upon the landing. Then “ But it appears that I have had a visitor,’ re- | was it that ejaculations of astonishment and rage torted Emily, with a malicious smile. burst forth from Edmund’s lips: for he was instan- ‘«¢ And who was your visitor ?” demanded Edmund, | taneously struck by what appeared to be the perfidy trembling with rage. | of his bosom-friend. As for Staunton, he was really “ T owe no account of my actions to you,” was the | thrown quite aback; and his natural effrontery response, disdainfully given. availed him not for the moment. “ Yes—but you do, though,” ejaculated Saxon- “This is too bad, Harold !’’ said Lord Saxondale, dale: “for if I thought you had deceived me and | suddenly experiencing the most fiend-like hate were making a fuol of me, you may depend upon it | against his former friend, but yet not having the I would not take the thing very easily. But I see | courage to testify his resentment in a manly way. how it is—you want to pick a quarrel with me, to Before Harold could make up his mind what re- drive me out of the house. Perhaps you have got | sponse to give, Emily Archer, closely followed by the owner of this glove concealed somewhere? or | the soubrette, came hurrying up the staircase,—the you are in hopes he will come back to reclaim it? | furmer laughing right merrily. By Jove!” he suddenly exclaimed, “I have a very “Very well!” exclaimed Saxondale, white with great mind to search the whole place from top to | rage: “this is no longer a place for me. Of course, bottom.” /Lord Harold, everything is at an end between us ; “Do so,” said Emily, contemptuously. “ But |and as I understand that you have been on a visit observe, if yeu find no one, I shall take your sus- | to the Castle, I hope that for decency’s sake you picious as an outrage leaving no alternative but to | will not again set foot in any house that will one break off everything between us.” | day be mine.” “You are trying to prevent me from doing what| Having thus spoken, and without waiting for any I threatened,” cried Saxondale, “and therefore I | reply, — indeed, not without a fear that Harold will do it.” might probably kick him down stairs,—Lord Saxon- Thus speaking, he seized up a wax-candle from | dale turned abruptly round and sped away with ¢ the mantel-piece and rushed out of the room, leaving | rapidity which had something ignominious in it, the door wide open—while Emily, throwing herself | and almost gave him the air of being the injuring upon the sofa, sent forth a merry musical laugh, | party instead of the one who was injured. Neither which reached his ears as he dashed up the stair- | Harold nor Emily made a movement or uttered a case. word to retain him: for the former felt all the awk- Almost immediately afterwar ls the soubrette stole | wardness of his situation, while the latter was per- into the drawing-room; and bending over her mis- | fectly indifferent so far as her late admirer was con- tress, said with frightened looks, “ Good heavens, | cerned—and indeed, was not sorry to be quit of ma’am, he will be discovered!” him. But so soon as he had disappeared from her “What do you mean?” cried Emily, with un- | view, she suddenly ceased laughing;—and with a feigned astonishment. dignity which even the most depraved of women “Oh! you kuow well enough. Lord Harold——” ,| can assume at times, she advanced up to Staunton, “Lord Harold?” echoed the danseuse. “ He took | saying, “ You are a detestable villain!” his departure before Saxondale eame.” “Ah! these are harsh terms, Emily !” ejaculated “But he retarned—he told me that I was the young nobleman, his countenance becoming to admit him—he went up-stairs—he is there | suffused with crimson. now 7 “Dare not address me in that familiar style !”— “Ah!” ejaculated Emily, the truth instanta- | then turning to her sowbrette, Emily said, extending neously flashing to her comprehension. “ But he | her arm and pointing towards Harold, “That man will not find it though: for it is in a cupboard down | is a robber—a lurking thief—a sneaking burglar !” stairs.” | “ By God! Emily, this is more than I can en- “Find what, ma’am ?” dure!” exclaimed Staunton, all the colour vanishing At this moment ejaculations of astonishment and , from his face and leaving it livid pale rage, bursting from Saxondale’s lips on the landing | “ Yes—you are everything I have described. above, reached the ears of the danseuse and the Begone, my lord!—or as true as I am a living soubrette. For a moment the latter looked dis- woman, I will give you into custody for felony.” mayed: but the former, bursting out into a hearty| ‘I will make you repent this,” muttered Harold fit of laughter, exclaimed, “Oh! this is excellent— between his teeth, as he passed by the dansouse this is delicious! Will it not be something to be and began descending the stairs. talked about? Come, let us see!” | “ You will make me repent?” she exclaimed, in Meanwhile Lord Saxondale had ascended to the mingled mockery and indignation, ‘“ Begone, sneak- landing above; and thinking that if a lover were ing thief! I defy you!” 1») * Comicloooks.c@