The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 350: what you’re looking at

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

348 THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. oo draw s> largely, but I have a purchase to complete, | which there is no ascent, and, like a wreck caught which I intend as a surprise to my lord.” in the eddies of a whirlpool, must follow the blind “Good morning, your Jadyship,” replied the banker, secretly blessing his stars that his own wife was net troubled with any such expensive tastes. From the bank she drove to the park, and there dismissed her carriage, under pretence of walking in the inclosure, ordering it to wait for her in an beur’s time at her milliner’s, a fashionable lady’s general place of morning call. “Bless her!”’ said the old footman, who had lived so long in the family that he almost felt himself to form a portion cf it— some work of charity, I'll be bound. We have a good master and mistress, John.” This was addressed to his companion, a tall youth from the country, whose simplicity, however, was not so easily imposed upon. Being a young handsome fellow, he had been too well initiated by the ladies’ maids and the society of his brethren of the shoulder- knot, not to believe implicitly i in all he heard. He was with her on the evening when she met Faddle in the park, and impradently drove with him in her carriage round the circle. The expression of his incredulity, however, did not venture beyond a know- ing smile. Mrs, Agatha, her ladyship’s maid, had the reputation in the servants’ hall of being equally charitable and devout as her mistress, and he knew how well the character she had obtained served her as a cloak for the indulgence of her passions. It is astonishing how soon a young man’s eyes are opened in London, especially if he happens to be six feet high and good-looking. From St. James’s Park the peeress hastily crossed into the Mall, and made her way up the Haymarket to the lodgings of her paramour. Her veil, of thick Brussels lace, was closely drawn over her counte- nance to avoid recogni‘ion; not that it was likely, at such arm hour, she would encounter any of her female friends; still the precaution was not unwise to avuid being recognised As she approached the cham- bers, Faddle, who had been impatiently awaiting her at the window, descended, and the private door was open before she had time to raise her hand and knock. “ [ have kept my promise,” she exclaimed, breath- less with terror; “there is the money. You know I promised, dear Frank, that your sister would bring it you herself,” “Sister!” he repeated, “ you are an angel; but I cannot thank you in the streets. Come in,” “ Impossible! Should any of your servants recognise me.” “T have sent them all away.” “‘ Any of the other inmates,” she urged, prudence struggling with desire. “There is no other person in the house. The upper part is mine, and this the only staircase, Do not hesitate, uoless you wish me to consider that your visit is of charity, notlove. I am not se fallen,” he added, “as to accept an alms even at your dear hands.” “ Alms—charity! Oh, Frank, you know how you wring my heart by these unkind repreaches! You time.” impulse of her passions. offering him the rote: case, which was inlaid with ber arms and coronet; “it is the offering of a sister’s love to a brother’s necessities.” | gladly pocketing the gift, case andjall, His quickeye | — had observed the cyphers and blezonry, and hethought | that it might one day be useful to his purposes. escape last night! my lord was in the house. Fortu- | — nately, from the half-drawn curtains of my box, he | — imazined I had left; had he entered it by any chance | — —I tremble even at the supposition—what would have been my fate? disgrace—infamy !” more convenient. And here,” he added, “is such a | pretty key, it seems intended by Cupid for a lady’s | keeping.” é' of cut steel, which had served the same occasion with | — more than one whom he had betrayed and aban- | doned. The countess resisted: her pride was hurt at | the idea of coming voluntarily to the lodgings even | — of the man for whom she had sacrificed her honour, | and it required all his entreaties and weill-acted de- | spair before he could prevail on her to accept it. | have fulfilled my promise and must leave you.” some pictures in the adjoining room. wf woman, he had a strong avimal paysion. Her volup- tuous person was suited to his taste, and he felt a | secret pleasure in possessing a mistress whose race | dated from the Conquest, and whose virtue had been | impregnable to all but him. resistance, he drew her into the adjoining chamber, | his eyes sparkling with triumph and desire; there, despite her tears and protestations, he so excited her, that her marriage vow was again forgotten in the fierce desires of unlawful love, ? house, The carriage had been a long time waiting at the milliner’s. John thefootman smiled to himself I as he remarked that the shawl of his lady was worn | on the reverse side to that when she jJeft the heuse. \ stood at the window, watching the receding steps of know that I am devoted to you—tbat I am a wife and mother! Weil, I will come in, but remember it must be the last time. Do rot abuse my confidence.” The tempter smiled as he heard the words “last He knew that when a woman has once | yielded her honour to the man she loves, there is no | of the past, which had left a blight upon her heart, | last time. She has fallen dewn a precipice, from “ Now will you take the money?” she exclaimed, *“ As a loan, soon te be repaid,’’ said the deceiver, i “Ob, Frank!” she resumed, “we had such an , “ We must meet there no more; my chambers are | He forced inte her hand a highly ornamented key | “ And now, then,” she said, rising as she spoke, “I ) “ Not before you have seen all my trea:ures, I have “ Nay, Frank,” Although the libertine had no love for the deluded | Throwing his arms around her, despite her faint More than two hours had elapsed before she left the | “She is mine!” muttered Faddle to himself, as he his victim; “mine, body and soul! past all recal. ‘ She loves me with that passionate love which knows no pause between gratification and destruction, Let | — me see; three thousand pounds! No bad beginning | for the recovery of my fortune: in six months it shall be ten. I wonder how she obtained it! by asking ’ her husband? Pooh! that were too good a sks Her diamonds—ay, it must have been aaa Fortune send that she has more of them! idiot Wilmett were but once disposed of, my anal i would be at rest.” Soon afterwards he took a drive in the park, where | he encountered Nancy anc Sir Henry; the latter | smiling with happiness and love—for the poor girl, } touched by his delicacy and kindness, had consented to | his wishes; the former, saddened by the recollection | fi “* How devilish pretty she looks!” rauttered her be- 7 j rn omichbook om.