The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 164: what you’re looking at

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150 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT, LL Oe truth of the dreadful affair to which his niece al- ,“ perhaps you will condescend to give me some luded: nor had she the courage to enlighten him fully on that head by an unreserved confession of the bath-room scene and its shocking results. «he quarrel which took place between myself and my brother Algernon upwards of a year ago,” she continued, “ was caused by his discovery of my frailty. Yes—he beheld me one day walking with the object of my unlawful love—he observed our tender embraces—and he subsequently remon- strated with me upon the impropriety of my con- duct. Hence our dispute—hence that fatal alien- ation of even the affections of my own brother from me!” «‘ We will not speak of him, Ernestina,” said the Marquis, empliatically. ‘ Let us now talk only of yourself. Can you and will you leave your hus- band ?” “But how am I to ensure myself against his per- gecutions in future?” asked the lady. “If I leave him abruptly, without mutual consent——” “ Are there any terms upon which he will con- sent?” inquired the nobleman. “You are acquainted with his character, my dear uncle « “J comprehend you, Ernestina. Money—money —everything may be done with him by means of money. ‘Tell him, then, that I will allow him a thousand a-year, on condition that he consents to a separation from you and that he retires to the Continent, where his income shall alone he payable.” “J will do so, my dear uncle,” said Ernestina; “and no words can convey to you the deep sense of gratitude which I experience for this kindness on your part. To-morrow or next day I will come to you again and report Dysart’s answer.” Ernestina then embraced Lord Leveson and took her departure, deeply affected with the in- terview. —- rr CHAPTER XLV. THE HUSBAND AND WIFE. Iz was one o’clock in the morning when Ernestina arrived in a hackney-coach at Beechey Manor. Her husband had been sitting up carousing with his alleged friend Mr. Jones, although he was not thus waiting in expectation of his wife’s return: on the contrary, he was much surprised on hearing her double knock at the front door. He answered the summons himself, Mr. and Mrs. Underdown having long previously retired to rest: and the moment Ernestina entered the hall, he said in a tone of greedy anxiety, “ Well, is it all right ?” ‘ Wretch!” muttered Ernestina, as she flung upon him a look of mingled scorn and hatred; and she immediately observed by his flushed counte- nance and the unsteady manner in which he held the candle, that he had been drinking deeply. «What was that you said?” he demanded, brutally, uncertain whether he had heard aright. She gave him no response: but snatching the light from his hand, proceeded into the dining- room, where she filled a tumbler with water, which she drank at a draught. | “‘ Now, then,” said Dysart—for we need no longer style him by his assumed name of Bradshaw,— er ee me ee account of your proceedings: unless you like to defer it until to-morrow morning——” “As well now as at any other time,” she ex- claimed, with a demonstration of spirit so marked and unmistakable that her husband prepared him- self for a scene. “ Well—and do you intend to pick a quarrel with me?” he demanded, fiercely. “I care not whether I quarrel with you, or not,” she replied. “You see before you a desperate woman——” “Then [ll very soon knock your desperation out SE of you,” exclaimed Dysart, staggering forward | with clenched fist and upraised arm to strike her. “ Beware !” she cried, snatching up a knife from — the table on which the supper-things still remained: then, stepping back, but brandishing the weapon, while her countenance was pale with rage, she — said in a hoarse tone, “ Dare to strike me, wretch, | and I will plunge this knife into your heart—al- though I were to mount the scaffold to-morrow morning for the murder !” “What the devil ails the woman?’ exclaimed Dysart, shrinking back in terror: then, throwing himself upon a seat, he said, “I am prepared to listen to anything you may have to tell me.” ““You are doubtless anxiously expecting me to place the other five hundred guineas in your hand,” she observed, with a fierce bitterness in her tone and an implacable hatred in her looks: “ but you will be disappointed—for I have returned without them.” “Then have you not seen the gentleman?” ds. manded Dysart. “I have,” she responded coldly. a “ And did he cheat you?—er did you play the prude ait the last moment?” inquired her husband, half starting from his chair, but sinking back into it the next instant as he saw that his wife was really nerved with an unusual spirit. “The person whom I encountered in Soko Square,” she said, still with that same freezing bitterness of voice, “was my own uncle, the Mar. quis of Leveson.” “By Jove! this is unfortunate,” exclaimed Dy- sart, startled and almost astounded by the intelli- gence. “But of course you made some excuse— you declared it was all a mistake ¥ “E did no such thing,” interrupted Ernestina, “He took me home with him—and we had a long and serious conversation together. The result was that he is prepared to make you, through me, a certain propusition——” “ What is it?” demanded Dysart, abruptly. “ He will allow you a thousand guineas a-year on condition that you retire to the Continent, where the revenue thus afforded by his bounty ean alone be received by you:*—and as Ernestina thus spoke, she fixed her eyes upon her husband with —— — an expression which told him as eloquently as such | speaking orbs ‘could do, that her own mind was irrevocably made up to some settled project. « And is there no other condition affixed to this splendid proposal on your uncle’s part?” demanded | Paul Dysart, who already more than suspected | what was coming, and who gave utterance to these | words with a savage irony. « A separation between you and me,” responded Ernestina, with icy calmness. ji MCOMmliGboOooks-coO