The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 152: what you’re looking at

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146 eee ee THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. that they ave the beauties they have been repre- sented . “But you have not as yet spoken to them ?” interjected Redcliffe, as if with a careless manner. “Oh, no!—they are all but inaccessible, and this constitutes the first difficulty that has to be encountered. Nevertheless, I am not to be fright- ened by such obstacles. And now, as we are speaking with frankness, Mr. Redcliffe, I must tell you something.” “To be sure—in all frankness,” was this gentle- man’s response. “You already know,” continued Madame An- gelique, drawing her chair a little closer towards Redcliffe, and assuming an air of mysterious confi- dence, “that I enjoy the patronage of some of the highest and wealthiest personages in the realm. By the bye, do you happen to be acquainted But no! If I recollect aright, M. Bertin as- sured me that you are a perfect stranger in Lon- don.” “ A perfect stranger,” replied Redcliffe. “IT was about to observe,” continued Madame Angelique, “that to one only of my patrons have I previously mentioned anything concerning these oriental women; and he has charged me to keep them for him. In a word, sir, his Grace I mean the personage of whom [I speak, has pro- mised me no less a sum than a thousand guineas.” “And I, Madame Angelique,” exclaimed Red- cliife, “unhesitatingly promise you double the amount, on the mere faith of your representations in respect to the extraordinary beauty of these women, Would you have an earnest of my liberality? It is here:’—and he flung down a bank-note upon the table. Madame Angelique gracefully inclined her head in acknowledgment of the retaining fee; and glancing rapidly at the note, could scarcely repress a start of surprise and exultation when she saw that it was for five hundred pounds. But instan- taneously recovering her self-possession—as she did not choose to suffer her new patron to perceive that, well though she was paid by others, she was nevertheless but little accustomed to a display of - such munificence as this—she observed, “It isa compact, Mr. Redcliffe; and not to another soul will I speak of that Indian lady and her dark- eyed Ayah.” “No—there must be the strictest honour in our dealings, Madame Angelique,” responded Redcliffe ; “and if you play me false, I shall never more set foot in your establishment. But what guarantee have I that you will not suffer me to be forestalled by him to whom you have previously spoken? You ere now let a word drop, showing me that he is a Duke; and how can I possibly hope to com: pete with a personage of such high rank, and no doubt of such wealth, as his Grace to whom you have alluded ?” “Tt is all a matter of honour, Mr. Redcliffe,” answered Madame Angelique !—“no, not of hon- our—of self-interest. There! I put it in that light. You will pay me double what the Duke has offered; and the bargain is your’s—not his. Be- sides, the Duke has gone to his country-seat in Hampshire, and will not return till the middle of February. In the meantime we may pexhaps bring matters to an issue.” From this discourse Clement Redcliffe had no difficulty in comprehending that the Duke to whom the infamous woman alluded was his Grace of Marchmont. “Well, Madame Angelique,” he said, “I put faith in your words. And now, with your per- mission * “TJ understand you, sir,’ she interrupted him, with a meaning smile. “ There are at this moment four beautiful young ladies in my house and by the bye, one of them, a splendid creature, is going down into the neighbourhood of that very Duke’s country-seat in the course of a few days. This is between you and me. You will see her presently. Her name is Lettice Rodney.” “ By all means, introduce me to your four beau- ties,” observed Redcliffe. “ Have the kindness to follow me, sir. They will doubtless be in the saloon by this time: they were performing their toilet when you arrived.” Thus speaking, Madame Angelique rose from her seat, and led the way out of the boudoir. She conducted Redcliffe to the saloon; and having in- troduced him to Lettice, Armantine, Linda, and Eveleen, with many smiles -and simperings, she retired, closing the door after her. The four girls were as elegantly dressed as when we first pre- sented them to the reader: the table was covered with wines and refreshments—the atmosphere was warm and perfumed—every feature of the scene was but too well calculated to infuse heat into the blood of the coldest anchorite. But Redcliffe experienced no such fervour. There was a deep sense of disgust in his mind,—a disgust at the gilded iniquities into which he was being initiated—a disgust too at the part which circum- stances had led him to perform. He nevertheless assumed the most cheerful air that he could possi- bly put on. He sat down in the midst of the meretricious group, and at once glided into conver- sation with them. He soon discovered that they were well-bred, intelligent, and accomplished ; and that they were as fully able to converse on intel- lectual matters as to fritter away the time in vain shallow frivolities. He spoke of his travels in far- off lands—he told them amusing anecdotes—he exerted all his powers to interest them. At first they liked not his aspect; they thought that he was haughty, stern, and seyere:—but they soon began to exchange rapid and significant glances amongst themselves, to the effect that they were agreeably disappointed, and that he was a most delightful and entertaining personage. They had already received a hint as to his liberality; and they therefore did their best to appear amiable on their own side. But all the while Redcliffe was thus conversing with them, he was in reality studying their indi- vidual dispositions and characters so far as it was possible for him to do so under circumstances which threw an artificial gloss to a certain extent over them. He had a purpose to carry out; and he required one of these females as an agent. Fain would he have decided upon addressing him- self to Lettice, inasmuch as he had learnt that she was shortly to repair into the neighbourhood of the Duke of Marchmont’s country-seat: but he saw something in her which forbade the idea of his making this young woman his confidante. He felt assured that she was not to be trusted. Next he studied the German girl, Linda; but be saw CONNICLOOO S (C©)