The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 386: what you’re looking at

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

omen ———i‘i—sC~*™” eS a a ee a ee ne nay nm i a ee a a By me a a a ke PII RE a I — Sea a Rr ee I ap ee se ent ee 350 But before Christian had time to give him an nnswer, the door opened; and the friendly moun- tebank made his appearance. Edgar surveyed him with the intensest anxiety: but it only lasted for a few instants,—inasmuch as the man drew forth a billet which he presented to the lieute- nant, “Heaven be thanked!” ejaculated Beverley: and recognizing the handwriting, he pressed the letter to his lips. “You had better withdraw now,” said Christian to the mountebank: ‘‘butcome back presently in case there be aught else wherein your services may be rendered available.” The juggler retired; and in the meanwhile idgar Beverley had torn open the precious billet and was deeply absorbed in its contents. Chris- tian glanced at him for a moment, to assure him- self that all was right; and the look which he thus flung, led to a satisfactory conclusion, inas- much as his friend’s countenance was radiant with JOY. ‘Yes, my dear Ashton,” exclaimed Beverley, grasping our hero’s hand when the perusal of the letter was finished; “ the hopes you have held out will be realized. Here! read for yourself.” “ No,” responded Christian: “a communication of that kind is sacred.” “ But, my dear friend,” rejoined Edgar quickly, “I have no secrets from you! Besides, should 1 not be wanting in a proper confidence—would it not be unkind—ungenerous 7 “ Lovers,” interposed Christian, “ write to each other in that fond endeazing strain Which consti- tutes the sanctity as well as the charm of their correspondence. I can assure you that I have a delicacy in reading the letter: pray sit down and tell me all that it is necessary for me to know for the furtherance of the plans in which I am so heartily and so gladly succouring you.” “You shall have your own way,’ answerea Beverley. “‘But perhaps you will be surprised that I am thus happy and joyous when [I tell you that this very note,—which gives me the assurance of my Laura’s unwavering love, and of her readi- ness to be rescued by me from an odious captivity, —likewise acquaints me with the fact that I am naught but a poor lieutenant who henceforth must look upon himself as having nothing but his pay.” “JT can of course understand,” said Christian, ‘that if you run away with Miss Hall—whom, by the bye, you denominated Neville in your his- tory a “Because her name is Laura Neville Hall,” re- marked Edgar. “I was about to gay,” resumed Christian,” “that I can well understand how your uncle will at once stop your allowance: but he cannot alienate from you your rightful heritage if he should die without lawful male issue.” “Yes—but he has that power!’ answered Beverley : “ this note conveys to me the fact. Some old document, which a lawyer has just disinterred from amidst dusty mouldering papers, establishes the right of breaking off the entail. What care I for that? Laura will be mine—and if we be poor in one sense, we shall be rich in the wealth of our heart’s love. Oh, yes, my dear Ashton! I am supremely happy—I am full of hope and confi- ? a = a en I i THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. dence—we will scatter all difficulties to the winds —and never, never will you have served a more grateful friend than I shall prove myself to you !” “TI know it,’ answered Christian. “ And now tell me, what course are we next to pur- sue P” “It is as we suspected,’ resumed Beverley: “my villanous uncle seeks to make Laura his bride; and her vile sister alas! that I should be thus compelled to speak of my beloved’s nearest relative ! is the chief agent in carrying out the hoped-for sacrifice of youth and innocence to old age and iniquity. But by some means Laura has succeeded in lulling them into security; and by a wrong interpretation of certain words she has uttered, they flatter themselves that she has given her consent. Not however that their vigi- lance is relaxed: on the contrary rf “We will baffle them, however watchful they may be!” exclaimed Christian. “ Pray pro- ceed.” “Tt appears that Laura sleeps in a chamber situated between two others,” continued Beverley. “The firss— which opens from the landing —is occupied by her sister Mrs. Oxenden: then comes her own: and beyond that is a dressing-room in which a bed has been made up for the accommo- dation of a horrible negress whose influence has been used to coerce and intimidate the poor girl.” “ But is there a window to Miss Hall’s apart- ment?” inquired Christian hastily: “I mean, is there a window looking upon the front or back of the house P” “It looks upon the front,” answered Beverley ; “and she has so accurately described it in her letter, that we cannot possibly mistake it. She moreover tells me that it will not be difficult for her to retire to her chamber at about half-past nine o'clock this evening: the negress will not seek the dressing-room until ten; and Mrs. Oxenden will not repair to her own chamber until half-an- hour later. Whatever, therefore, is to be done, must be accomplished between half-past nine and ten o’clock.” “There are thirty good minutes,’ exclaimed Christian; “and almost as many seconds would be sufficient for our purpose. We will enlist the ser- vices of the friendly mountebank—we will have a postchaise-and-four in waiting—and if success do not crown our enterprise, I shall never have been more mistaken in all my life.” Our hero and the leutenant continued to deli- berate upon the details of their plan until the friendly juggler returned to the hotel. He re- ceived his instructions, together with a liberal reward for the faithful execution of his mission of that day; and the man took his departure in- finitely delighted with the lucrative employment which he had thus temporarily found. In the same way that love at one time feeds itself with the wildest hopes, so at another does it torture itself with a thousand anxieties. Yet, paradoxical though the phrases may seem, love’s hopes are ever interwoven with mistrust, and its apprehensions are permeated with beams of hope- fulness. Love hopes on in the face of despair itself; and it sometimes despairs when it ought to hope. It is a passion which in its association — —- ——— ee aan ee ana ee soe ee me ee ee TT TN _- . AMIE (E©) VOOKS {E(0)