The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 83: what you’re looking at

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a ee — 66 did than ever; and his air of diplomacy hung about him with a truly awful effect. When asked which soup he would prefer, he gave the domestic such an overwhelming gaze that the unfortunate footman wislicd the floor would open and swallow him up: but when pointedly asked by Lady Saxondale which part of the turbot he preferred, he looked as if he thought there was a design to entrap him into some snare or take an advantage of him. In this way his lordship helped to render the ceremonials of the dinner-table more coldly ceremonious still, and the formalities more icily formal. As for Lady Saxon- Cale, she did the honours of the table with the dig- nified grace and well-bred courtesy becoming he? rank, and also her’position as mistress*of the house: but despite all her efforts to throw a veil over the thoughts that were agitating within her brain, there were nevertheless moments when the keen eye of Juliana could detect a sudden expression of anguish flitting over her mother’s proud countenance; and she likewise noticed tne almost preterhuman effort which on those cccasions her ladyship exerted to rise dominant as it were above the internal agony that was torturing her. More than ever, therefore, was Juliana’s curiosity excited; and in the secret depths of her own mind did she resolve by some means or another to penetrate the mystery. It was not till past nine o’clock that the ladies withdrew to the drawing-room, and the gentlemen | were left at table to drink a few more glasses of wine ere summoned to partake of coffee. Thank heaven! the disgusting and bestial system of sitting for hours over the wine after the ladies have retired, has of late years been rappluly fallinz into desuetude, English habits in this respect yielding to the civilia- mg influences of French examples. But still, at dinner-parties, the gentlemen persist in remaining a little while to enjoy a jovial glass until coffee be served up in the drawing-room ; and so it was upon the present occasion. Mr. Marlow, glad to be re- Nieved from the shackles of those formalities which had hitherto prevailed, began to rattle away with his wonted volubility, and quite alarmed Lord Pe- tersfield by suddenly asking that nobleman which | his lordship preferred, generally speaking, the French or Rhenish wines? The cautious diplomatist gave Mr. Marlow an awful look, as if he shrewdly sus- pected the cunning lawyer meant to take some ad- vantage of him by so pointed a question: then in grave and solemn tones, he announced that it was a subject which, considering the rival interests that existed in respect to wines between France and Germany, he could not possibly be expected to give an opinion upon, until he had examined all the most recent parliamentary documents bearing on the point. Indeed, his lordship more than hinted that the very stability of existing treaties might be jeopardized by hazarding too rash an opinion on such a grave and important subject. Lord Saxondale and Lord Harold Staunton, who had hitherto been separated during the dinner, now took advantage of the comparative freedom which the withdrawal of the ladies permitted; and getting together they began to chat in a low tone upon affairs interesting only to themselves, “Well, how have you got on with the beauteous Angela?” asked Lord Harold. “ Not at all,’ was the response. adventure! I cannot tell it you all now, “ But suchan Your oe ee ee ee ee — THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. valet Alfred, despite his cleverness, wrong 4 “What do you mean? Did he not put you on the true scent ?” “ At this very moment,” returned Saxondale, “ I amas ignorant as ever I was of the abode of Signore Vivaldi.” “Then she does not live at the place to which Alfred followed her ?” observed Lord Harold, with unfeigned surprise. “It was not she whom Alfred followed at all. But mind, it was not poor Alfred’s fault; and so I do not blame him . The lady whom he did follow, is just of the same height as Angela—and when wrapped up in a cloak and veiled, might in the hurry of the moment be easily taken for the Signora.” | “Then whe in heaven’s name was she?” asked Staunton, scarcely knowing whether to believe his young friend’s story or not. “ You know—at least by sight — Mademoiselle d’ Alembert ?” “ What, Emily Archer? of course I do—and so do a dozen others.” | Tgn’t she a splendid creature 2?” asked Saxon- dale, his ear not having caught Staunton’s last words nor his eye having noticed the somewhat sar- eastic smile which appeared on his friend’s lip. “ Having been disappointed in my hope of meeting Angela, it was 2n immense consolation to fall in with Emily Archer as a substitute. Well, to be brief, she and I have made certain arrangements together ; and this morning, after breakfast, she wrote the prettiest, sweetest, and genteelest little billet in the world, telling her friend Mr. Walter that she thanked him for all past kindnesses, but "was compelled by circumstances to give him his dis- -missal.” “Then you have taken her under your protec- tion P”’ asked Staunton: and as Saxondale nodded an affirmative, he immediately added, “Of course you ‘have abandoned your love-campaign in respect ta ' Signora Vivaldi ?” “Oh, certainly! Miss Archer stipulated that as one of the conditions “i “And therefore you will not consider it treacher- ous or unfair on my part if I take up the pur- suit which you have thus renounced?” continued Staunton. “By all means do so,” rejoined Edmund. “Iam so well pleased with Miss Emily that it is with no great pang I abandon my hopes of the Signora. And now I wish you good luck in the affair you are taking in hand.” There was a passing smile upon Lord Harold’s countenance, which seemed to imply that he thought Edmund avery great fool for his pains: but as at this moment Lord Petersfield addressed some particular question to Saxondale, the latter did not notice Staunton’s look. Soon afterwards the gentlemen proceeded to the drawing-room where coffee was served round; and then the whole magnificent suite of state-apartments was thrown open for the dance. Carriages kept rolling up to the doors of Saxondale House, depo- siting their aristocratic burdens, and then rushing away again to make room for fresh arrivals: so that by ten o’clock the brilliantly-lighted rooms were thronged with an almost countless company ; and @ was quite (EO) 0)(0)(0) <S (E)