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

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE ~ 63 COURT. theless not to be deceived by an assurance which was belied by her deliverer’s look and manner: “you only tell me this to set my mind at ease. Oh, I understand!’ she exclaimed, a light sud- denly breaking in upon her soul: “you will be forced to obey those false and unnatural laws which society denominates the code of honour! But it shall not be so,’ she added, abruptly re- gaining a degree of firmness, and her countenance expressing a promptly-taken resolution. “ You have acted generously towards me: I will perform my duty towards you.” “What do you mean?” cried Meredith, in astonishment. “ Will you let me know, sir,” inquired the young girl, timidly and bashfully, “the name of him to whom I am under such deep obligations ?” Octavian now understood her in a moment. She purposed to give the proper authorities notice that a duel was to take place; and she hoped that by adopting this course, she would prevent it without suffering his own honour to be compromised. But in the first place, Octavian was no coward—and indeed thought lightly of the prospect of the im- pending duel ; and in the second place he saw that if the authorities were to interfere to prevent it, the worst construction would be put on such a result by his antagonist, who would doubtless pro- claim to the world that Meredith himself had deli- berately prompted the young girl to give private intimation to the magistrate. So rapidly did all these thoughts flash through his mind, that there was no apparent interval of hesitation or reflection on his part, ere he replied to the query she had put, by saying in a collected off-hand manner, “ My name is Richard Percival !” “Then, Mr. Percival,’ immediately added the young girl, “ accept my gratitude for your generous conduct towards me.” With a graceful inclination of the head, she was hastening away: but Octavian was almost imme- diately by her side, saying, “ Will you not suffer me to learn who it is to whom I have been enabled to render the service which is deemed deserving of thanks ?” The young girl stopped short, and reflected gravely for a few moments. It was evident enough that she was deliberating whether she should tell her name: it was also evident that she feared it would savour of ingratitude and actual rudeness to decline ;—for she at length observed slowly, “ You have a right to ask this question, sir. My name is Christina Ashton.” “Then, Miss Ashton,” at once responded Lord Octavian Meredith, “ you will permit me to escort you to your own residence, for fear lest you should again encounter any individual who, wearing the garb of a gentleman, possesses the attributes of a ruffian, and is unable to appreciate the innocence and the respectability which ought to be a suffi- cient shield against such treatment as you ere now experienced.” “T should be sorry, Mr. Percival,’ answered the maiden, “to engross any more of your time. Pray suffer me to continue my way alone.” “Miss Ashton, I have read your thoughts—I have fathomed your intentions!” exclaimed Me- redith. “You are going straight hence to a magis- trate Now, if I promise faithfully that I will not engage in a duel e “Alas, sir!” said Christina, “you cannot dis- pose of your own actions in this matter. ‘I have read in books of that false code of honour which, belonging to a bygone barbarism, has been en- grafted upon our modern civilization A “Miss Ashton, I entreat you not to take’the step which you meditate!” interrupted Octavian. “ Do you know that you would expose me to some- thing far worse than the hazard of losing my life ? —you would expose me to that of losing my honour? The world would call me coward; and I swear unto you that in spite of all the magisterial and police authority, I would vindicate my repu- tation and my character!” “Ah, is it so?” murmured Christina mournfully : for she was smitten with the truth of what her deliyerer had just said. “You see therefore, Miss Ashton,” resumed Octavian, “that if actually challenged by that per- son, | must go out with him. I will no longer attempt to deceive you: for such is the real truth. Do not however be alarmed on my account. If mortally wounded, I should in my last moments be rejoiced to think that I had rendered a service to an amiable young lady such as you are.” The tears started into Christina’s eyes at the bare thought of a fellow-creature’s existence—per- haps a most valuable one—being jeopardised or lost on her account; and moreover, for a natu- rally sensitive disposition and for a feeling heart, there was something irresistibly touching in the tone and manner in which Octavian had last addressed her. She still lingered,—forgetful in the agitation of her mind that the interview had already been too much prolonged, considering that she was standing there conversing with one who was almost a total stranger to her: for we should State that though she herself had on former occa- sions been noticed by Meredith, she had never observed him. Jmdeed, so far as she was con- cerned, she did not reeollect having ever seen him before the present occasion. “You perceive, therefore, Miss Ashton,” con- tinued Meredith, “that you really must suffer this matter to take its course; and that you would be ° doing me a positive injury by any direct inter- ference. At the same time, I fully appreciate the generosity of your motives; and I feel myself bound to offer that you shall be made acquainted with the result. If I fall in the impending duel, some friend of mine shall wait upon you with the intelligence: but if I survive, I will do myself the pleasure of calling, to convince you personally of my safety.” Had Christina Ashton been less inexperienced than she was in the ways of the world, she would have penetrated this somewhat insidious and per- haps not altogether handsome endeavour to draw from her lips an avowal of the place of her abode: but artless and guileless herself, she was unsus- picious of underhand dealings on the part of others. The same motive which had prompted her to mention her name, now at once instigated her to mention her address: and haying hastily done so, she again bowed and continued her way. , Meredith had no longer the faintest shadow of an excuse for detammg her—though he would gladly have gone on lingering in conversation with a being whose beauty had made such a deep im- _—__ a Rh a cea a ea a MICLOOKS Co CO