The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 55 about to give. The moment a visitor arrives, you will hasten to your own apartment and pull down the window-blind. But you will on no account quit the room until I send word that you can doso. On the contrary, you will remain there to listen atten- tively for the bell in the passage: and the moment you hear it ring once, you will draw up the blind. Do you understand me?” “ Perfectly, my lord,” was the reply. ‘But if you should hear the bell ring éwice, Brock- man,” continued the Marquis, “ you will, at the se- cond peal, hasten down to the Crimson Drawing- Room, where I shall in that case need your presence.” “Very good, my lord,” answered the valet. ‘ Has your lordship any farther instructions?” he inquired, wondering whether he was to receive an explanation of the extraordinary proceedings and precautions just detailed by his noble master. ‘Nothing more, Brockman,” was the response. “JT am now going straight to the Crimson Drawing- Room, where you can order breakfast to be served up.” The valet bowed and withdrew, considerably dis- appointed at being thus left in the dark relative to the affair now in progress. The moment the door closed behind him the Marquis opened a drawer and took out several Bank-notes to the value of two thousand guineas. Having carefully copied the numbers of the notes upon a slip of paper, which he locked up in the drawer, he placed the notes them- selves in his waistcoat pocket, and then descended the stairs to the Crimson Drawing- Room. This apartment, which borrowed its distinctive epithet from the hue of the draperies and the cushions of the chairs and sofas, was furnished with the most luxurious splendour. It was very lofty— and the ceiling was painted to represent the sky at the hour of sunrise, in order that the rosy tints which the artist was thus enabled to introduce should match the crimson paper on the walls and the colour of the furniture’s rich trappings. The mirrors in this superb apartment were four in number and of enormous size. Magnificent porcelain vases were filled with flowers that rendered the atmosphere fra- grant; and the light, softened and subdued by the hangings at the windows, was of that auroral tint which the sun-beams borrow when passing through bowers of full-blown, blushing roses. There were two doors to the Crimson Drawing- Room—one opening from the landing, and there- fore serving as the usual means of ingress and egress; and the other, at the opposite side of the apartment, leading into a suite of chambers to which the dependants of the household generally had no access. ‘The key of the door thus commu- nicating with that secret range of rooms, was al- ways in the possession of the Marquis; and when those rooms required cleaning and dusting, the housekeeper and Stephen Brockman were exclu- sively entrusted with that duty. It was of this suite that a rumour existed to the effect notified at the commencement of our narrative: namely, that they contained pictures and statues of such a character as to excite maddening desires even in the breast of the sternest anchorite or the coldest virgin. But to resume our tale. The Marquis of Leve- son seated himself in the Crimson Drawiny- Room, and partook of the chocolate that was served up. ———————— ee reenmmenrnnemnenen 6 6) Ff H (E18 (0 8) CSS (O) While thus lingering over his breakfast, he re- viewed all the precautions he had been adopting, Contrary to his habit upon first rising in the morn- ing, he had dresssed himself for the day, because he did not know how soon his expected visitor might come, or how late he might be kept wait- ing for the arrival. He had ordered pistols to be placed ready at hand in case of need: and he had devised the means of summoning his valet, if his presence should be wanted. He had numbered the Bank-notes; and the drawing up of the blind in Brockman’s apartment was also a portion of the ramified preparations he had made, Pleased with his review of these arrangements, the Marquis finished his breakfast, and rang the servants’ bell for the footman to remove the silver tray. The domestic who answered the summons brought in some letters which had just arrived by the twopenny post; and the nobleman proceeded to examine them with the leisurely ease of one whe is pretty well assured that his circumstances in life are a guarantee against the arrival of any dis- agreeable correspondence. The first letter which he opened, ran as fol- lows :— ** Tuesday evening, September 17th, 1814. ‘Start not, my dear uncle, when you see my hand- writing and learn that I am once more in London. I re- turned on Sunday evening, but am preserving the strictest icognita, for reasons which you can too well divine. IL propose calling upon you to-morrow (Wednesday) at about twelve o’clock. Pray be at home—and, what is more, contrive to be disengaged and alone, as 1 wish to speak to you on matters of the greatest importance. ‘** Your affectionate niece, ‘““ERNESTINA DYSART.” * Poor Ernestina!” said the Marquis to himself, as he laid down the letter. “She is the only one of the whole family that I ever loved. But then, while yet a mere girl—and before that unfortunate marriage into which she was inveigled—she nursed me during my long and serious illness——Poor Earnestina ! Yes—l will see her—to be sure I will see her !” And the Marquis rose to ring the servants’ bell, in order to give orders that his niece, Lady Ernestina Dysart, should be admitted when she called at mid-day: but suddenly recollecting that he had already issued instructions to the effect that every one, no matter who it was, should be shown up into his presence, he returned to his seat. Resuming the examination of his letters, he opened the second one on the pile which the foot- man had placed before him; and he read its cou- tents as follows :— “ Tuesday evening, September 17th. ‘** My lord, ‘‘ Much as I deplore the necessity of holding personal communication with your lordship, cireumstances never- theless compel me to request an interview in the course of to-morrow. I shall therefore wait upon your lordship at about one o’clock. “‘T have the honour to remain, my lord “Your lordship'’s obedient servant and nephew, *“ ALGERNON CAVENDISH.” “The insolent boy!” ejaculated the Marquis, tossing the letter indignantly upon the table. “ He disowns his relative—and then requests an inter- view! And doubtless, if the world knew all, he would be termed high spirited—and so forth!