 Section 76 of Mysteries of London, Volume 4, this is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Mysteries of London, Volume 4 by George W. M. Reynolds. Explanations. The reader needs to be informed that if Lord William were amazed at the discovery of the relationship subsisting between two ladies whom he had hitherto deemed to be perfect strangers to each other, Mrs. Sefton was not less astonished at having her daughter, thus unexpectedly introduced into her presence, and at such an unseasonable hour. For a few minutes, however, she had no leisure or reflection, joy at once more being unable to strain that beloved child to her bosom, triumphing over all other considerations. But when the first gosh of feeling had somewhat subsided, a horrible suspicion entered her mind. Could Lord William have seduced Agnes away from the care of those friends to whom she was consigned? Could he have entertained the vile and derogatory idea of using the villa as the receptacle for a young creature whom he intended to make his mistress? Did he suppose that Mrs. Sefton would lend herself to such an atrocious proceeding, and had he unconsciously brought the child to the house of the mother, thinking to make a pander of the latter to the dishonor of the former? All these thoughts flashed with lightning rapidity to Mrs. Sefton's mind as disengaging herself from the embraces of Agnes, she turned towards Lord William, and with flashing eyes and quivering lips, peremptorily demanded an explanation of the circumstances which had rendered him the companion of her daughter at such an hour. Trevelyan instantly divined what was passing in the lady's bosom, and perceiving at once the awkwardness of his position on the grounds of her suspicions, he hastily gave such explanations as were satisfactory to Mrs. Sefton, Agnes herself corroborating the main facts. Pardon me, my dear friend, said the now-happy mother taking Trevelyan's hand and pressing it fervently in token of gratitude. Pardon me if for a moment I entertained the most unjust and derogatory suspicions. Mentioned them not, madam, exclaimed Trevelyan warmly, but let your daughter seek that repose which she must so deeply need, and I will then, as a man of honor, explain to you how I became interested in her, and how it was that the Mrs. Mortimer, whose name has already been mentioned, happened to bring her to my house. A slight smile, almost of archeness, played upon the lips of Mrs. Sefton as she turned towards Agnes, a smile which seemed to intimate that she already knew more than the young nobleman fancied, but was not vexed with him in consequence of the facts thus known to her. Come with me, dearest girl, she said, addressing her daughter, and I will conduct you to a chamber where you may obtain a few hours repose. You need not bid farewell to his lordship, for I have no doubt he will honor us with his presence at breakfast when you will see him again. Agnes blushed and cast down her eyes. She scarcely knew why, as these words met her ears, and again the arched smile played upon her mother's lips. Trevelyan observed that there was some mystery, though not of a disagreeable nature in Mrs. Sefton's manner, and in a moment with galvanic swiftness, the reminiscence of the tears upon the portrait, and the lost letter flashed to his mind. The ladies disappeared, and Trevelyan threw himself in a chair to muse upon the discovery which he had thus made, and which was well calculated to afford him pleasure, in as much as it was evident from Mrs. Sefton's manner, and the significant words she had uttered relative to the meeting at the breakfast table that she was not inimical to his suit. In a few minutes she returned to the room. My dear madam, Trevelyan, rising and advancing to meet her, you already know that I love your daughter, Agnes, that I adore her, and you have already divined how the letter which you must have missed came to be lost. Return, Mrs. Sefton, with a smile. Yes, madam, and I likewise observed the trace of a tear upon the portrait which I painted from memory, continued the young nobleman. Oh, then you can make allowance for the feelings of a mother, exclaimed Mrs. Sefton, with enthusiasm, and you will forgive me. That act of apparent ingratitude, nay, of treachery, I mean the perloining of a document so sacred as a sealed letter, and at a moment too when I sought your aid and you so generously afforded it. It is for me to implore your pardon as a mother for having dared to address such a letter to your daughter, said Trevelyan, with some degree of embarrassment. Then let us accord mutual forgiveness, exclaimed the lady, extending her hand which was immediately pressed with the fervor of gratitude. I'm well aware that my conduct in taking that letter was improper to a degree. She continued after a short pause, for pray consider all the circumstances. I do, I do, interrupted Trevelyan, and you have nothing to explain. I am delighted at the discovery that the beautiful and much-loved Agnes is your daughter. Delighted also to think that by the perusal of that letter you have acquired the certainty of the ardent and honorable feelings which animate me with regard to her. And Agnes is deserving of your affection, my lord, said Mrs. Sefton. I'm convinced that she is in heart and soul, all she appears to be in genuineness, amiability, candor, and virtue. Oh, I am well assured of the value of that jewel, which in due time I shall implore you to bestow upon me, exclaimed the generous and impassioned young nobleman. And I rejoice that you not only observed the letter in my apartment, but that you also took it, for it has enabled me to discover my child, whom I had fruitlessly sought for years, and whom I longed to embrace, added Mrs. Sefton, wiping away the tears of joy that started to her eyelashes. Oh, my lord, you may conceive my surprise, my joy when I beheld that portrait in your portfolio. Although I had never seen my child since her infancy, yet it seemed as if a heavenly inspiration imparted to me the conviction that I was then gazing on her likeness. At all events I murmured to myself while contemplating it, such must Agnes now be, tall, beautiful, and with innocence depicted in her countenance, even as this portrait. And then I wept as I thought that the dear girl was lost to me forever, buried in some seclusion by one who cruelly kept us separated. I closed the portfolio, rose, and mechanically approached the mantle. There I beheld the letter, and the address immediately riveted my attention. Miss Agnes Vernon. Oh, yes, it was my own dear daughter whose portrait I had been contemplating, and I was not mistaken, for I may be allowed to say without incurring the imputation of vanity, then in the countenance of the portrait I traced my own lineaments. And then on discovering the letter I felt assured that nature's promptings had not been misinterpreted by me, because I knew that Agnes passed under the name of Vernon. That fact I accidentally learned years ago through my husband's solicitor, who was permitted from time to time to give me the assurance that my daughter was alive and in health. You can now conceive, my dear friend, how strong were the emotions which agitated within me, and which influenced me in seizing upon the letter, tearing it open, and devouring its contents. And your first impression was doubtless, one of indignation against me, for having dared thus to address your daughter, said Lord William Travellian. Far from it, I can assure you, returned as a seftan in a tone of the deepest sincerity, I already knew enough of your character to be well aware that you were honorable in principle and generous in heart, and the whole tenor of the letter was respectful and delicate, though earnest and decided to add the lady with a smile, as Travellian's cheeks were suffused with a deep blush. Besides, my dear friend, she continued in a serious tone, I have acquainted you with the history of the crushed hopes and the blighted affections of my own early years, and I should be the last person of the world to raise an obstacle in the way of a pure and honorable attachment on the part of those in whom I felt interested. Then you approve of my suit in respect to your daughter, exclaimed Travellian, his handsome countenance becoming animated with joy, and you will not refuse me her hand. When she attained her twenty-first year, my lord, replied Mrs. Seftan in a solemn tone, until then I dare not dispose of her hand in marriage, she is now nineteen. Two years to wait to exclaim Travellian mournfully, and in the meantime how many adverse circumstances may occur to separate us. Yours is the age when hope smiles most brightly, said Mrs. Seftan, and if your affection for my daughter be as strong as you represented, believe me, my dear friend, that time will not impair, but rather strengthen and confirm it. Were years and years to elapse, there Agnes could become mine, I should not love her the less, exclaimed Lord William, but this may not be so with her, indeed I have no reason to hope, much less any assurance that she in any degree reciprocates my passion. Agnes will not prove indifferent to your lordship's merits, said Mrs. Seftan encouragingly, but we must postpone any further conversation on this subject until another occasion. Behold the confusion that prevails in the house, she continued in a more cheerful tone as she glanced round the room at the various boxes and packages on which she had been busied when the arrival of Travellian and her daughter had compelled her to desist from her occupation. I am about to remove this morning to a beautiful little villa which I have taken at Bayswater, by those means I hope to destroy all trace of my new abode in respect to those who might seek to tear Agnes from my arms, but I have the law with me, yes the law is in my favor, she added, in an emphatic tone, and I will not surrender up my daughter to him. She checked herself and hastily, advancing to the window, opened the shutters. It was now quite light and having extinguished the candles, Mrs. Seftan returned to her task of placing various valuable effects in a box. Travellian volunteered his assistance, which was accepted, for circumstances had placed him and the lady on a footing of the most friendly intimacy together. I received your note on my return last evening, said Mrs. Seftan after a pause, and I regretted much to find that you had obtained no clue to the place where Sir Gilbert Heathcoat is confined. But you must remember, my dear madam, that no time has been lost, observed Travellian. It was only yesterday morning that we acquired the knowledge of Sir Gilbert's real position, and I have employed my valet, FitzGeorge, who is an intelligent and faithful man, to obtain an interview with Green Heathcoat's clerk and bribe him to serve us from the specimen of the fellow's character, which we had yesterday morning in this very room I entertained but little doubt of FitzGeorge's success. God granted it may be so, exclaimed Mrs. Seftan fervently, and if you succeed in discovering the den where Sir Gilbert is confined, how do you intend to proceed? Still, by Artifice, my dear madam, we must fight that bad man, James Heathcoat, with his own weapons. Oh, thank you not, my lord, that our unfortunate friend is hemmed around with all imaginable precautions to prevent his flight, demanded Mrs. Seftan. Doubtless answered Travellian, but the janitors and dependents of a lunatic asylum are as accessible as other people to the influence of gold. I, now more than ever, if possible, desire the restoration of Sir Gilbert, said Mrs. Seftan, and after a pause she added in a low and peculiar tone. I have many, many strange things yet to tell you, Lord William, but the present is not the most fitting occasion. In a few days I will explain everything, yes everything, she said emphatically, and thenceforth there will be no secrets between you and me. The lady again applied herself to the task of preparing for her removal, and the young nobleman assisted her with as much kindness of manner and good-tempered alacrity as if he were her brother or already her son-in-law. In this manner the hours passed away until the time peace struck nine, when Agnes descended to the breakfast which was now served up. A messenger was dispatched to the Mrs. Theobald to give them an assurance of the young maiden's safety, and in the course of the day the mother and daughter accompanied by Lord William removed to the beautiful villa, prepared for the lady's reception at Bayswater. Lord William remained with them until the evening when he took his leave, but not without observing that pleasure beamed in the eyes of Agnes, as he intimated his intention of becoming a frequent visitor at the villa. End of Section 76, Section 77 of Mysteries of London, Volume 4. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Mysteries of London, Volume 4 by George W. M. Reynolds. Laura Mortimer's New Intrigues. We must now return to Laura Mortimer whom we left in Paris and of whom we have lost sight for some time. It was in the evening of the fourth day after the incidents recorded in the preceding chapter that Laura was seated in her handsome drawing room, wrapped up in deep meditation. Her thoughts were not, however, of a disagreeable nature, forever and anon the fire of triumph flashed from her fine eyes, and a rich moist lips were wreathed into a smile. She held a book open in her hand, but her gaze was fixed upon the ceiling as she lay rather than set on the voluptuous cushions of the purple velvet ottoman. The windows were open and a gentle evening breeze which had succeeded the stifling heat of a Parisian summer day planned her countenance and wantoned with the luxuriant wringlets that floated over her naked shoulders. Those shoulders so white, so plump, so exquisitely shaped. The perfumes of choice flowers and the odor of ravishing oriental scents rendered the atmosphere fragrant. Gold and silver fish were desporting in an immense crystal globe which stood upon a marble table between the casements and two beautiful canaries were caroling in a superb cage suspended in one of those open windows. On the table near which Laura was placed, stood several crystal dishes containing the finest fruit that the Parisian market could yield. The luscious pine, the refreshing melon, strawberries of extraordinary size and exquisite flavor, cherries of the richest red and mulberries of the deepest purple. A bottle of champagne stood in a cooler filled with ice and in the middle of the table was a superb nose gay flowers. The entire appearance of the room and its appointments was luxurious and the extreme comfort being combined with elegance and the means of enjoyment distributed with taste. While she, the mistress of the place, the presiding genius of the scene, was pillowed voluptuously upon the immense velvet cushions, so complete was the abandonment of her attitude in her deep reverie that she seemed ten hundred times more charming than when her artifice devised a thousand study graces in order to effect a conquest and captivate a lover. One of her naked arms pumped white and beautifully formed, lay across her person as the handheld the book on which the eyes rested not and against the dark binding of which the taper fingers were set off in the dazzling purity of their complexion and the rosy tint of the almond-shaped nails. The other arm hung down negligently, not quite straight but gently rounded. The fingers of that hand playing mechanically with the ottoman's golden fringe thus swept the thick carpet. One of her legs lay stretched completely upon the ottoman, the other hung over the side, displaying the well-formed foot, the delicate ankle, and the robust swell of the calf, more voluptuously modeled than Venus, both all the elegance attributed to the form of that fabled divinity, handsome as Juno, without the stern imperiousness that characterized the queen of heaven, and with that subdued mobility of demeanor which Diana, when out of sight of her attendant huntresses, might have been supposed to wear, or a mortimer united in her own person the most fascinating of the charms belonging to the three principal goddesses of heath and worship. But let us endeavor to ascertain the subject of her thoughts as she lay thus wrapped up in a deep reverie. Forgeon appears, resolved to favor me, and I accept the auspicious omen with joy. The marquee is in my power, is my slave, and extricably shackled by my silken chains. Four short days have been sufficient to accomplish this victory. When first introduced to him in the Champs Elysees, I saw that he regarded me with attention, nay with admiration, and I at that moment signaled him out as the man who is destined to place me in a proud position to render me independent of Charles Hatfield's hated father. The evening before last I met him for the second time. This was at the party given by my music master. The nobleman was almost instantly by my side as soon as I made my appearance, and I knew farewell how to gain his favor. When handsome young men approached me, I received them coldly and continued my discourse with the marquee in a more animated and friendly style than before. I even hinted to him, or rather suffered him to believe, that it was a relief to escape from the frivolities of the average run of conversation in the indulgence of discourse on intellectual subjects. I saw that the old man was flattered, that he thought highly of me, and at word I secured his esteem as I had already acquired his admiration. We sat next to each other at supper, and he lavished all his attentions upon me, attentions which I accepted with an air as if they came from a young and handsome gallant. The marquee handed me to my carriage and solicited permission to call. I signified an assent with an ingenuousness that could not possibly have seemed affected, and he squeezed my hand slightly as he bade me farewell. On the following afternoon he called, this was yesterday, and he remained a long time, two hours passed, doubtless like two minutes to him, and I was completely triumphant. Never did I appear to such advantage, my glass told me that I was radiantly beautiful, and I could observe full well that my manner, my conversation, and the delicate artifices I called to aid were preeminently successful. The old man was ready to fall upon his knees and worship me. He was in that humor when he would have laid his whole fortune at my feet. He appeared to be longing to throw his arms around my neck and exclaim, Laura, I adore you. But when I had excited him to the highest possible pitch, I suddenly directed his attention to some subject of comparative indifference, and thus did I play with his feelings during two long hours. He went away half crazy, dazzled, bewildered, not knowing what to think or how to act, intoxicated with sensual passions mingling with the pure sentiments of a profound admiration and a cordial esteem. Then this morning he called again and I made him become my companion at luncheon. I effected to be rejoiced that he had thus unexpectedly dropped in as I had previously felt low-spirited and dull. He seemed charmed that his presence was calculated to cheer me. It was a delicate compliment paid to his conversational powers, and he was flattered and pleased. Oh, how admirably did I wind myself as it were around him during the three hours that he remained with me this morning. How successfully did I insinuate myself, as one may say into his very soul, not seizing upon his heart by a sudden attack, but gaining possession of it by means the more sure because so stealthy, not carrying that heart by storm, but gradually and imperceptibly in meshing it in snares and toils, whence it never can escape, so long as my real character shall remain a mystery to him? Yes. And this morning, too, was he not a thousand times on the point of falling upon his knees and exclaiming, Laura, I adore you, but still I tantalized him, still I worked him up to the highest possible pitch of excitement, and then suddenly discouraged him by some word of gesture that threw a coldness on all I have before said, in which yet would admit of no positive interpretation, so as to render him hopeless altogether. And now he is to return again this evening to return by his own solicitation. And this evening, yes, this evening, thought Laura, her lips, breathing into a smile of triumph, he shall fall down at my feet and exclaim, Laura, I adore you. Thus ran the meditations of this dangerous woman, so strong in the consciousness of her almost superhuman beauty, so competent in the power of her matchless charms and in the witchery of her guileful tongue. Yes, four days will have been sufficient to reduce the proud English noble to the condition of a captive kneeling at my feet. She continued in her silent but triumphant reverie. What other woman in the world can thus effect a conquest with such amazing rapidity? The Tigris hunts for her prey, pursuing the affrighted deer through bramble and through break by the margin of the lake in the depths of the forest. Amidst the trackless mazes of the wild woods, a long tedious and fatiguing chase with the possibility of escape for the intended victim after all. But the bow constrictor fixes its eyes upon its prey, fascinates it, renders it incapable of retreat, compels it even to advance nearer and nearer to its mouth, plays with it, tantalizes it, sets every feeling and every emotion into fluttering agitation, and even when about to gorge it, licks it over with his caresses. And thus do I secure my prey. I am the anaconda amongst women, none whom I choose to make my victim can escape from the influence of my witchery, the sphere of my fascination. With me it is no long tedious and worrisome chase, tis instantaneous capture and an easy triumph. And again the peculiar smile, half-hardiness, half-sweetness return to the lifts of the peerless beauty who felt herself to be ten thousand times more powerful in the possession of her transcendent charms than an Amazonian queen clothed in armor of proof and had to heal. Settling the bell at the outer door of her suite of apartments announced the coming of a visitor and in a few moments the Marquis of Delmore was hushed into the room. Laura had already assumed a sitting posture and she now rose to receive the English nobleman. Good evening charming Miss Mortimer said the Marquis taking her hand and gently touching it with his lips then leading her to the ottoman and placing himself at a short distance from her. He looked at her tenderly observing. You perceive that I am punctual to the hour in which I was to make my appearance according to the kind permission you granted me. Your lordship is most generous thus to condescend to enliven an hour that would otherwise be passed in loneliness by me. Said Laura bending upon him all the glory of her fine bright eyes and revealing the splendor of her brilliant teeth. Beautiful intellectual and agreeable as you are Miss Mortimer observed the nobleman. It is utterly impossible that you can feel yourself indebted to an old man like me for the recreation of a leisure hour. You would only need to throw open your drawing rooms to the elite of Paris to be surrounded by admiring guests. What if I prefer an hour of intellectual conversation to an entire evening of empty formalities ceremonial frivolities and the inane routine of fashionable Ray Union. Ask Laura with an affectation of candor which seemed most real most natural. You possess a mind the strength and soundness of which surprised me exclaimed the Marquis of Delmore enthusiastically. How is it that rich and beautiful young and courted as you are. You can have taken so just a view of the world that you have learned to prefer solid enjoyments to artificial pleasures and that you can so well discriminate between the real on which the gay and giddy close their eyes on the ideal or the unreal which they so much worship. You would ask me my lord I presume therefore I dislike that turmoil of fashionable life which brings one in contact with persons who flatter in a meaningless manner and we believe that a woman is best pleased with him who most skillfully gills his pretty nothings it is my lord because I do not estimate the world according to the usual standard because I'm not dazzled by outside glitter and external show if an officer in the army be introduced to me I'm not captivated by his splendid epaulets and his waving plumes I wait to hear his discourse before I form my estimate of his character then neither youth nor riches will prove the principal qualifications of him who shall be fortunate enough to win your hand said the marquee fixing his eyes in an impassioned manner upon the siren oh you would speak to me upon the topic of marriage exclaimed laura laughing galey to tell your lordship the truth that should be sorry to surrender up my freedom beyond all possibility of release to any man in existence what ejaculated the old nobleman do you mean me to infer that you will never marry I have more than half made up my mind to that resolution responded laura casting down her eyes and forcing a blush to her cheeks never married cried the marquee in unfeigned surprise and what if you happened to fall in love with some fine handsome eligible young man in the first place it is by no means necessary that a man should be fine handsome or young for me to love him answered laura as if in the most ingenuous way in the world and when I do love it is not a wit the more imperious that the person or the priest should vivid my hand to that of the object of my affections it is within the power of man to unite hands and that is a mockery but god alone can unite hearts and that is a solemn and sacred compact that should be affected in the sight of heaven only I scarcely understand you beautiful and mysterious being exclaimed that marquee drawing nearer to the siren who did not appear to notice the movement I'm aware that some of my notions are not altogether in accordance with those of society in general observe laura with an affectation of reserve and diffidence but since the conversation has taken this turn I do not hesitate to admit that I do hold peculiar opinions with respect to marriage you would have me understand this mortimer said the marquee that you were to find your affections in chain by some deserving individual you would not hesitate to join your destinies to his without the intervention of the church to cement the union your lordship has interpreted my meaning in language so delicate as to be almost ambiguous observe laura and yet why should the truth be thus wrapped up in verbiage I do not entertain opinions which I'm afraid to look in the face god forbid in a word then I would 10 000 times rather become the mistress of the man I love than the wife of him whom I abhorred and in loving the former and with him loving me is it not that union of hearts which as I air now said should be effected only in the sight of heaven and have you ever yet loved past the nobleman in a tone of profound emotion as he gays long and ardently upon the splendid countenance where on the light from the casements now fell with a rembrandt effect delineating the faultless profile against the obscurity that had already begun to occupy the end of the room most remote from the windows oh my lord that is a question which you can only ask me when we come to know each other better exclaim laura after a few moments pause and yet I already feel as if I had known you for as many years as our acquaintance numbers days said the marquis my thought yesterday and this morning too that a species of intimacy a kind of impromptu friendship has sprung up between us and now you are somewhat cold towards me your manner is not the same if I have been guilty of any want of courtesy towards your lordship I should be truly deeply grieved to exclaim laura surveying the nobleman with well-affected astonishment at the accusation uttered against her oh you's not such chilling language laura miss mortimer I mean quite the old nobleman have inclined to throw himself at her feet and implore her to take compassion upon him but I am mad I am insane to appeal to you thus he continued in a species of rage against himself how can I suppose that the society of an old man like me is agreeable to a young and beautiful creature such as you how can I give way to those glorious but fatal delusions that have occupied my brain for the last 48 hours oh miss mortimer word that I have never seen you and the old nobleman covering his face with his hands literally sobbed like a youthful lover quarreling with an adored mistress my lord my lord what have I done to offend you demanded laura as if deeply excited and seizing his hands she drew them away from his countenance well aware that the contact of her soft and warm flesh would make the blood that age had partially chilled circulate with speed and heat in his veins if you had attempted my life replied the marquee with fervent emphasis I should rejoice at a deed that would elicit such kindness from you as you manifest towards me now and thus speaking he raised her hands to his lips and covered them with kisses tell me how did I offend you she asked in a voice that was melting a musical even to ravishment oh let us think not of what his past he exclaimed but bless me with the assurance that you can entertain a sentimental friendship for the old man I would rather possess your friendship my lord than that of the handsomest and wealthiest young gentleman whom we met at the party the other evening responded the artful woman still abandoning her hands to the marquee did you not observe that I was pleased with your attentions that I refuse to dance in order that I might remain seated next to you and listening to your conversation that when the gay moths of fashion approached me with their fulsome compliments I exhibited signs of impatience and by my coldness compelled them to retreat that I gave no encouragement to them in any way yes yes interrupted the enraptured marquee I noticed all that and where I young men I should have felt myself justified in addressing you in the language of passion I abardened and sincere affection but although such are indeed my sentiments towards you I perceive all the folly and ridicule of daring to give utterance to them in your presence yet God knows that I am ready to lay my fortune at your feet and could I offer to place the coronet of a marginess upon your brow were you in the position to do so I should refuse said Laura emphatically all the rest I might listen to then you are aware that I am married interrupted the nobleman fixing an earnest and inquiring gaze upon her beautyous countenance remember to clear as as much replied Laura and it likewise a verse that you are not happy in your matrimonial connection I pity you from the bottom of my heart and I behold in the fact itself a new argument in support of my own peculiar tenants relative to marriage ties for assuredly you are endowed with qualities calculated to render a woman happy or I am deeply deeply deceived it is a sad tale and I dare not venture upon the narration now said the marquee with a profound sigh but should our acquaintance continue as I ardently hope it may I will someday give you the fullest and most ample explanations and you yourself charming creature is there not some mystery attached to you how happens it that at your age you should be so well acquainted with the world how is it that you seem free to follow the bent of your own inclinations uncontrolled even by your mother for rumor declares that you have a mother alive I'm independent of her in a pecuniary point of view my lord interrupted Laura and I am determined to consult my own ideas of happiness instead of adopting the standard of enjoyment and pleasure established by the fashionable world with the heavens that it lay in my power to ensure your happiness or even to contribute to it exclaimed the marquee gazing upon her with admiration and ardent passion long years have elapsed since I encountered any woman who inspired me with even half the interest that I feel in you and it seems to me that I become young again when in your sweet society and on my side answered Laura casting down her eyes and assuming a bashful demeanor I do not hesitate to admit that I experience greater enjoyment from your conversation than from that of any other nobleman or gentleman with whom I am acquainted just now my sweet miss mortimer said the marquee approaching still nearer to her and speaking in a tone that was low and tremulous with emotion just now you declared that all the rest you might listen to and I do not attempt to revoke the admission that does fail for my lips murmured the designing young woman turning a glance of half timidity and half fondness upon the old nobleman who in spite of a strong and vigorous intellect was rendered childish and plunged as it were into dot each by the fascinating ravishing influence of the siren enchantress what am I to understand by those words he asked in an ecstasy of delight oh is it possible that you can become something more to the old man than a mere acquaintance something more than even a friend I could wish to retain your good opinion your esteem forever said laura now turning upon him a countenance radiant with hope and joy he is scarcely possible I am dreaming does that delicious delusion a heavenly vision murmured the marquee in broken sentences for he was dazzled by the transcendent beauty of the hoary who seemed to encourage him in the aspirations which he had formed is it then so extraordinary that I should have learned to love one who is so kind so generous hearted so intellectual as yourself as laura leaning towards him so that her fragrant breath banned his countenance and her forehead for an instant touched his own great heaven is it possible that so much happiness awaits me cried the marquee scarcely able to believe his eyes or zirs then after gazing upon her for a few instance with all the rapturous ardor of a youthful lover he sank upon his knees before her exclaiming laura I adore you the designing woman's triumph was complete the marquee was inextricably entangled in her snares and throwing her arms around his neck she murmured oh it is an honor as well as a joy to possess your love then the old man covered the charming young woman's countenance with kisses and for several minutes not a word was spoken between them but it linked the marquee who could scarcely believe that he had won a prize the possession of which all the noblest hansomist and wealthiest young men in paris would envy him began to speak upon the course which it would be prudent for them to adopt laura at once gave him to understand that she should experience no sentiment of shame in appearing as his mistress and she undertook as well indeed she might do to reconcile her mother to this connection which she had formed let us then return to england without delay said the marquee the business which has brought me to paris is now in such a position that an agent may manage it for me but tell me is your mother dependent upon you entirely answered laura anticipating the course which her noble lover was about to adopt and your fortune is doubtless largely continued interrogatively it is not nearly so large as rumor has alleged was the reply still it is handsome competency for one person then as there shall be nothing having even the slightest appearance of selfishness and my attachment towards you laura resumed the norbleman you must immediately assign all your property to your mother and i will at once yay at once give you a proof of the boundless devotion with which you have inspired me permit me the use of your death for a few moments laura rang the bell in order rosalie to bring writing materials and when this was done the marquee seated himself at the table and wrote something upon a sheet of paper he next penned a letter which he folded up sealed and addressed and turning towards laura he said this draft beloved girl is for the sum of 60 000 pounds payable at sight at my bankers in london this letter which you will have the kindness to send through the post tomorrow is to advise them of the fact of such a check having been given and to prepare them to meet it so that there may be no hesitation in paying such a large amount for it will be my joy and delight to enrich you my dearest laura so that the old man may to some extent repay the immense obligation under which he is placed by the possession of such a heart is done i would not have you remain wealthy through your own resources henceforth you must owe everything to me for if you cannot be my wife in name you shall at least be the share of my fortune as you have consented to be the partner of my destinies your generosity my dear marquee only binds me the more closely to you exclaim laura lavishing upon the old man the most exciting and apparently fervent caresses at the same time permit me to remind you that there is nothing selfish in that affection which so suddenly sprang up in my bosom towards you because i am no needy adventurous no intriguing fortune hunter and you are well aware that many french noblemen would be proud to lay his title at my feet where i disposed to decorate my bra with the coronet my father who as you have doubtless heard accumulated some money in india left me well provided for and that fortune i shall cheerfully abandon to my mother preferring to remain dependent on yourself ah your father dwelt a long time in india exclaimed the marquee as if struck by a sudden idea is it possible then that i could have encountered your mother in england but no that woman could not have been the parent of such a lovely charming creature as yourself to whom do you allude my lord demanded laura now seized with the apprehension that her mother might be known to the wealthy lover whom she had succeeded in in snaring and whom she intended to fleece of the greater portion of his fortune it was but a momentary thought that exists no longer in my mind dearest respond to the noblemen who as he gazed upon the bright and splendid being before him felt an ineffable disgust at having even for an instant associated her in any way with the loathsome old hag to whom he was alluding the fact is he continued i met a certain female in london or rather in the neighborhood of london a short time ago indeed just before i left england and this moment bore the name of mortimer it is not altogether an uncommon one observe laura maintaining an unruffled countenance though her heart palpitated with continued apprehension the singularity of the coincidence is that the female to whom i'm alluding announces herself as the widow of a general officer who died in india presumed the marquee my lamented father was a merchant said laura then of course there can be no identity in that case continued the noblemen besides having an intimate acquaintance with all military matters as i myself held the post of secretary of war many years ago and have since taken a deep interest in that department i'm unable to state that no general officer of the name of mortimer has recently died in india the woman then of whom you are speaking was an imposter said laura interrogatively i have little doubt of it answered the marquee but let us not dwell upon a subject so perfectly indifferent to us we were talking of our plans will it suit you dears laura to quit paris tomorrow or the day after at latest tomorrow if you will the young woman hasten to reply for she now trembled lester mother should suddenly return and perhaps prove though unintentionally a marplot through all the plans which are intriguing disposition had conceived tomorrow then be it said the marquee at noon i shall call for you in my traveling chariot we will return by easy stages to london and on our arrival in the english capital the handsomest mansion that money can procure shall be fitted up with all possible speed for your abode i care not for a splendid dwelling in london itself replied laura rather let me have some beautiful and retired villa in the suburbs where you can visit me at your leisure and where we can pass the hours together without intrusion on the part of a host of visitors your ideas on this subject concur with mine observe the marquee enchanted with the belief that laura intended to retire from the fashionable world and devote herself wholly to him this inclusion of our charming villa will be delightful and i think i can promise he added with a smile that the said villa will have more of my company than my town mansion but i shall now take my departure although with reluctance it is however necessary for me to make certain preparations this evening as i am to leave paris thus unexpectedly tomorrow for a few hours then my laura adieu adieu the old man embraced the young woman with the most unthamed unaffected fondness and as his arms were cast about her neck and he felt a bosom heaving against his chest he longed to implore her to allow him to remain with her until the morning for the dalliance and maturings he had already enjoyed had inflamed his blood and he aspired to be completely happy without delay but he feared lest he should offend her about any manifestations of sensual longings quarry flattered himself that the connection which had commenced between them had its origin and sentiment on her side he accordingly withdrew but reluctantly from her embrace and took his departure promising to call for her punctually at noon on the following day in of section 77 section 78 of mysteries of london volume four this is a labor vox recording all the bravox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit laborvox.org mysteries of london volume four by jarred w m reynolds an unexpected visit and a dreaded arrival the moment laura heard the outer door close behind the marquee of delmore she exclaimed aloud i have triumphed i have triumphed he is in my power he fell at my feet he said laura i adore you and the proof of his utter credulity is here here thus speaking she clutched the draft for 60 000 pounds devoured it with her eyes and then secured it in her writing desk yes 60 000 pounds she murmured to herself as she resumed her voluptuously reclining position upon the ottoman 60 000 pounds gained with but little trouble and in a short time it would scarcely matter if i never touched another piece of gold from his purse where i am now independent of him of the hated hat fields of all the world but i will not abandon my doting english marquee in a hurry i will not cast aside a noble man who is so generous so rich so confiding no no he will be worth 200 000 pounds to me and then yes then i may espouse a peer of high title my fortune is assured my destiny is within the range of prophecy i have taken a tremendous depth this evening an hour has seen me grow suddenly rich already the possessor of 60 000 pounds thanks to this more than human beauty of mine thanks to that witchery of manner which i know so well how to assume and thanks also to that fascinating influence wherewith i can invest my language at will the marquee has become my slave thus does the strong minded the resolute the intellectual man succumb to woman when she dazzles him with her loveliness and bewilders him with her guile 60 000 pounds now own me as their mistress it is glorious to possess great wealth but is an elysian happiness a burning joy a proud triumph to feel that i am released from the thralldom of those hat fields or rather from a state of dependence upon the father of him whom i lately loved so well and my mother too my selfish intriguing deceitful old mother who has ever hoped to make a profitable market of my charms and hold despotic sway over me at the same time she is no longer necessary to me and i may in a moment assert my independence should she dare to attempt to tyrannize again the mad old fool to fancy that she will succeed in discovering torrents or even if she did to hope that she could compel him to discourage the treasures which he has periled his life here and his soul hereafter to gain she will return to me penniless totally dependent upon me and i shall allow her a small income uncondition that she locates herself in some obscure spot whence her machinations and her intrigues cannot reach me not for worlds would i have her fastened to my apron strings in london that london wither i am about to return and where i may at hope to punish that mr had filled who for a time so savagely triumphed over me no my mother must be forced into seclusion her notoriety of character would ruin me constantly incurring the chance of being discovered as the mrs slingsby of former years certain to be recognized as the mrs fits hardinge who was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the murder of the old miser and having evidently entered into some intrigue which has brought her under the notice of the marquis of delmore she can no longer be allowed to associate with me her day has gone by mine has scarcely begun laura the beauty is wanton unprincipled laura had reached this point in her musings when she was startled by an unusually violent ringing at the front doorbell and in a few moments a gentle man burst into the room his impatience having urged him to cast away all ceremony and dispense with the introductory agency of rosalie who had uttered an ejaculation of surprise on beholding him captain barthelma cried laura in an astonishment which even surpassed that of her abigail yes my angel it is i exclaimed the enthusiastic young italian as bounding towards laura he caught her in his arms his lips were instantaneously fastened to her right mouth and remembering the night of love and pleasure which she had passed with him she experienced no vexation at his sudden and most unexpected appearance can you pardon me for this intrusion he demanded at length loosening her from his embrace but seating himself closely by her side on the ottoman and taking her hands in his own can you pardon me i ask adorable woman he repeated gazing upon her in boundless and passionate admiration it seems that it were useless to be offended with you she replied smiling with full of joyous sweetness oh then you will not upgrade me you will not reproach me with having broken the solemn promise that i made you to depart and seek to see you no more in paris he exclaimed but even if you were inclined to be angry laura it could not injustice be upon me that your wrath would fall you must blame your own matchless beauty you must take all the fault onto yourself i feel that i cannot live without you ever since we parted my brain has been in a ceaseless ferment my soul a prey to incessant excitement by day and by night has your lovely image been before me by day and by night have i fancied that i heard your voice pouring forth the most eloquent music i have dreamt that your lips breathing odours and bathed with sweets were pressed to mine and your looks beaming love and happiness and joy have ever been fixed on mine oh my imagination has maintained me in a condition of such pleasing pain that i have been in a species of restless elysium a giddy and sometimes agonizing whirl although the scene was paradise at length i could endure this date no longer and win at a considerable distance from paris on the road to italy i suddenly and secretly quitted the service of the grand duke oh what madness what insanity exclaimed laura grieved that the handsome young casta sicallan should have made so deep a sacrifice for her in as much as his generous devotion had not only flattered her pride but also touched her soul it may be madness it may be insanity repeated lorenzo bartholma with impassioned warmth but those words must in that case be taken only as other terms for the deepest sincerest and most ardent devotion were i a beggar on the face of the earth i should have acted in the same manner because i should have come to you i should have thrown myself at your feet i should have implored you to render me happy and in return i should have toiled from morning to night to make up for the deficiency of my means generous lorenzo exclaimed laura speaking with more sincerity than had characterized her words for years ah then you are somewhat touched by my devotion angelic woman cried the handsome young officer drawing her still more closely towards him and passing his arm around her slender waist but happily i am no pauper fortunately i'm not dependent upon my own exertions when i was with you before my adorable laura i told you that i possessed a competency and i then offered to link my destinies with yours for ever now my circumstances have materially altered and i rejoice in the fact for the french papers of this day contain intelligence of the death of my cousin the count of carignano at montoni and by that unexpected event i have succeeded alike to his title and his princely revenues oh my beloved lorenzo exclaimed laura now giving way to all that tenderness towards him which was really in accordance with her inclinations but which her more selfish interests would have prompted her to subdue and stifle had not this last announcement met her ear oh my beloved lorenzo she cried pressing closer to him so that he could feel her bosom throbbing like the undulations of a mighty tide for she was now powerfully excited alike morally and sensually how can i reward how recompense this generosity on your part by becoming my wife yes my wife laura if you will returned the enraptured young man for you know not how i love you how intense is the passion with which you have inspired me i am blind and deaf to all everything save your beauties and your witching voice if you be the greatest profligate the world ever saw i care not so madly do i love you and when this delirium shall have passed away lorenzo murmur laura concealing her burning countenance on his breast you will repent the rashness which induced you to wed with one who had so easily abandoned herself to you when a complete stranger and whom whom you knew to be on chase even then she added her voice becoming touchingly low and tremulously plaintive to suspect even for an instant that i should ever repent of making you my wife laura is to doubt my love said the count of caragnano for such we may now call him and that wounds me to the very soul it's sufficient for me to know that you are an angel of beauty and i reck not if you are a demoness in character but that i am sure is impossible your loveliness may have led you into temptations and your temperament may have induced you to yield but that you are generous good amiable i am convinced laura and that you will prove faithful to one who places all his own happiness in you and who will study incessantly to promote yours oh of that i am well assured also say then my adored one can you consent to become the countess of caragnano with a revenue of 12 000 a year not for the dross oh not for the despicable dross murmur laura scarcely able to restrain her joy within reasonable bounds and induce her suitor to believe that no selfish interests were mixed up with the motives for that ascent which she was about to give not for vile and sordid gold lorenzo do i respond in the affirmative to the generous proposal that you have now made to me because i myself am possessed of a fortune of 60 000 pounds but it is because i love you yes i love you my handsome lorenzo say no more laura beloved laura interrupted the impassioned young nobleman straining her to his breast then fondly oh how fondly did he gaze upon her upon her that guileful woman reading the reflection of his own voluptuous feelings in her fine a large eyes and then bestowing upon her the most ardent caresses several minutes passed away minutes that glided by with rapid and silent wings and the handsome pair scarcely noticed that a single second had elapsed since last they spoke tell me my sweet laura at length said the count toying with the glossy and fragrant tresses of her hair tell me what meant certain words which you addressed to me on that evening when i was first blessed with your kindness you declared that you could not marry me although you are not married that you could not be my mistress although you are not the mistress of another and that you could not hold out any hope to me although you were pledged to no other man that language apparently so mysterious is easily explained said laura forcing a deep flesh into her cheeks as she spoke and winding one of her snow white and naked arms around her lover's neck so that the contact of the firm warm flesh against his cheeks and the blood rushing through his veins and boiling currents i had abandoned myself to you in a moment of caprice no of weakness of passion which i could not subdue i had yielded to an invincible impulse not knowing its nature and not waiting to ask myself the question but when you had been with me a short time i felt that i could love you yes deeply tenderly love you and as i fancied that even though you protested the contrary you could entertain no lasting affection for me but on the other hand would soon regret any hastily and rashly formed connection i was resolved not to place my own heart in jeopardy nor incur the risk of loving well and then sustaining a cruel disappointment for i feared that you addressed me in an impassioned tone only because you were laboring under the delirium of passing excitement and strong though effervescent feelings thus was it then for my own sake that i spoke mysteriously to you in order to convince you of the necessity of seeing me no more but now my lorenzo now that you have had several days to reflect upon the proposal which you then made me now that i have received such unequivocal proofs of your love and that i no longer fearless you should be acting in obedience to a sudden impulse oh now i say i can hesitate no longer and i will become your wife the count of cargnano drank in the delicious poison of her words until his very soul was intoxicated and loving so well as did this generous hearted confiding young man he paused for an instant to demand of himself whether he were loving wisely but he was contented to risk all and everything happiness honor fame and name in this marriage upon which he had set his mind he longed he burnt he craved to possess laura all together to have her to himself and he felt jealous of all the rest of the world until the nuptial knot should have been tied it is in this humor and in such a temperament that the highest pier will marry an actress who would jump at an offer to become his penchant mistress for a few hundreds a year and laura what was passing in her mind the readers may easily conceive and yet less there should be one or two of imaginations so opaque as not to be able to divine her thoughts we will describe them as succinctly as possible she had run down the institution of marriage when in conversation with the marquis of delmore because she knew that he was already bound in matrimonial bonds and that she therefore could not become his wife the result was that she was enabled to consent to become his mistress with much less apparent violation of decency and without the risk of shocking his feelings and his mistress she would have become as she indeed promised had not the arrival of the count of kaurak nano turned her thoughts into an entirely new channel and placed her interests altogether in a new light from the moment that he announced his title and his wealth laura resolved to throw the poor marquis of delmore overboard and accept the proposals of the italian nobleman in fact fortune appeared to favor laura marvelously ere now she had beholden a coronet at the end of a vista of some years in her musings she had said the marquis will be worth two hundred thousand pounds to me and then i may espouse a pier of high title such was her ambitious speculation previously to the arrival of lorenzo and now since he had come she no longer need pass through the apprenticeship of mistress to one nobleman in order to become the wife of another no a coronet was within her grasp a few days a few hours might behold her countess of kaurak nano with a husband of whom she could not but be proud and not with an animated corpse bound to her side here was another triumph for laura another cause of glorification in the possession of those matchless charms which thus captivated so hastily and triumphed so effectually within a few short weeks she had seen charles hatfield the marquis of delmore and the count of kaurak nano at her feet the first and last had enjoyed her favors the second was in anticipation of them and in that anticipation had paid sixty thousand pounds to the first she was wedded and their marriage was a secret to the last she had consented to be allied and their union would be proclaimed to all the world oh associated with all these reflections were triumphs glorious triumphs for laura mortimer and as those thoughts rushed through her mind as she lay half embraced in the arms of the fond and doting italian nobleman the delicious rosiness of animation spread over her cheeks and kindred fires flashed from under her long silken lashes how beautiful art thou my adored one exclaimed kaurak nano as he contemplated the glorious loveliness of her looks and then he pressed his lips to that mouth which was so voluptuously formed and which rather resembled a luscious fruit than anything belonging to human shape oh how I long to call thee mine to know that thou art indissolubly linked to me but say tell me when shall this happy happy union take place when will thou accompany me to the altar let us depart for england without delay my dearest lorenzo murmur laura lavishing upon him the most tender caresses and there in london our marriage can be celebrated immediately after our arrival have you any tie and business on hand to retain you in paris none in the world was the answer and even if I had everything should give place to the accomplishment of my felicity and the fulfillment of your wishes then let us take our departure as early as convenient tomorrow morning said laura and we shall not separate in the meantime observe the uncount straining the siren to his breast she murmured a favorable reply and after some minutes of tender dalliance she hastened to give her servants the necessary instructions relative to the preparations for her departure a delicate supper was then served up and the sparkling champagne made the eyes of the lovers flash more brightly and enhanced the rich carnation glow of their countenances the timepiece struck eleven and they were about to retire to rest when rosalie hastily entered the room and approaching laura said in an undertone mademoiselle your mother has this moment arrived i told her that you were engaged and she awaits your presence in the breakfast parlor it is my mother dear lorenzo laura observed to the count who had not overheard the abigael's communication but her arrival will not in any way interfere with our arrangements she hastened to add perceiving that the young noble man's countenance suddenly expressed apprehension and yet you yourself appear to be but little pleased at this occurrence dearest laura he whispered gazing fondly upon her i could have wished it were otherwise she responded but no matter there is nothing to fear i am independent of my mother have patience for 10 minutes and i will return to you with these words she pressed his hand tenderly and then hurried from the apartment the discreet rosalie having already retired the moment she had delivered her message laura hastened to the breakfast parlor and there she found her mother whose garments indicated that she had just arrived in paris after a journey in an open vehicle and on a dusty road end of section 78 section 79 of mysteries of london volume four this is a labor box recording all labor box recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit labor box org mysteries of london volume four by george w m reynolds laura and her mother another interruption here i am in paris once more per dita laura i mean said the old woman without moving from the seat which she had taken and without offering to embrace her daughter and i am within the fortnight stipulated to you have traveled post from calais or boulogne doubtless observe laura interrogatively for your clothes are covered with dust and it is evident that you are not cooped up in the interior of a diligence i may therefore conclude that you were successful in your search after torrens and your designs upon him she added fixing a penetrating glance upon her mother's countenance i was so far successful that i obtained certain intelligence concerning him responded the old woman but i failed altogether in my hope of becoming the possessor of his money and what was the intelligence to which you elude demanded laura who felt convinced from her mother's manner that she had not failed in the object of her journey i learned beyond all question or doubt that torrens really was the murderer of purseable but that he himself had met with a violent death ah torrens is no more exclaimed laura then bending a look full of deep meaning upon her mother she said in a tone of equal significance you went to london to be revenged upon him and he is dead he has experienced a violent end well i understand you i read your secret and you need not be more explicit by heaven you wronged me laura exclaimed the old woman starting an astonishment and alarm as the justice of her daughter's horrible suspicion became suddenly apparent a suspicion that she herself had so unconsciously engendered by the mysterious manner in which she had announced torrens's death it is not worthwhile disputing upon the subject said laura in a tone which convinced her mother and indeed was intended to convince her that no explanation could now possibly wipe away the suspicion alluded to you are doubtless well pleased that torrens is no more and that is sufficient per dita laura i mean said the old woman speaking as if her tongue were parched or as if ash is clogged up her throat why should you take the light in uttering things to vex and annoy me for some time past indeed ever since the date of your connection with charles hatfield a barrier has appeared to rise up between us we seem to act towards each other as if it were tacitly understood that we are enemies or that we mutually harbored distrust and suspicion i am aware of it mother and it is all your own fault answered laura you sought to exercise over me a sway to which i would not and never will submit and you menaced me in a manner not easily to be forgotten but you had your revenge for you abused me violently retorted mrs mortimer with a malignant bitterness of accent acknowledged and you yourself must admit that you provoked my resentment but let us not remain here banding words which may only lead to an useless quarrel circumstances have opened to me a grand career a career in which my happiness and my interests may be alike promoted and i have accepted the destiny thus favorably prepared for me in a word i'm about to marry a young italian noble man whom i feel i can love whom i already love indeed and who possesses a proud title and princely revenues ah you are about to be married said mrs mortimer speaking as if the project were perfectly natural and without an objection but in her heart in the depths of her foul and vindictive soul she was rejoiced for this alliance would place her daughter completely in her power the reader will remember that the old woman was aware of laura's union with charles hatfield but that the young lady herself was totally on suspicious of that fact being thus known to her mother yes resumed laura i'm about to be married i leave paris for england tomorrow morning i return to london because i am now independent of the hatfields and at my leisure i shall devise means to avenge myself for the insults i have received at their hands it now remains for you and me to decide upon what terms we are to exist in future be friendly and i shall allow you a handsome income be hostile and i shall dare all you can do against me i am sorry that my daughter should think it necessary to propose such alternatives said mrs mortimer state what you require me to do to settle in france wherever you please responded laura and i will grant you an allowance of two hundred pounds every three months the pecuniary portion of the conditions is liberal enough said mrs mortimer but the rest is as despotic and galling as the terms which mr hatfield made the other day with you i much regret that prudence should compel me thus to dictate to you returned laura there is however no alternative tis for you to yield to my conditions or open war will at once commence between us i consent i agree said the old woman who knew that the time was not yet come for her to show her teeth in defiance of her daughter so much the better exclaimed laura but in a tone indicating that the matter was one of perfect indifference to her for she little knew little suspected how irretrievably her marriage with the count of corrigano would place her in her mother's power and now i have one question to ask you speak per dita observe the old woman pray remember that my name is laura cried her daughter petulantly you perceive how necessary it is that we should dwell apart from each other your imprudence is really great and the question i am about to put to you refers to some matter in which you doubtless compromised yourself are you acquainted with the marquis of delmore the marquis of delmore repeated mrs mortimer with an expression of continents denoting the most unfamed astonishment no certainly not i have heard of him it is true but only in the same way that one hears of any other person conspicuous for rank wealth or station i have never seen the marquis of delmore to my knowledge perhaps you have been in his company without knowing who he was resumed laura at all events have you recently represented yourself in any circle or place as the widow of a general officer whom you stated to have died in india the system of duplicity which the old woman determined to adopt towards her daughter had so well prepared her to sustain any questioning or cross examination on any point that she did not betray the least surprise nor did her countenance undergo the slightest change as that interrogatory suddenly brought to her mind the conviction that mr vernan and the marquis of delmore must be one and the same person without at the moment perceiving how this discovery could be in any way useful to her but still acting with that reserve and wariness with which she had armed herself in order to meet her daughter she resolved not to mention a single word of anything that had occurred in london relative to the beautiful recluse of the cottage her father and lord william travellian accordingly and without the least hesitation nor quailing nor changing color beneath the penetrating gaze which laura fixed upon her she said i do not remember ever to have made any such representation as that to which you allude it is singular this coincidence mused laura audibly and yet it is of little import to me it would appear at all events that you must be acquainted with the marquis of delmore of whom you speak said mrs mortimer in a careless and indifferent tone scarcely where the words uttered when a violent ringing at the front door was heard and in a few moments of voice instantly recognized a light by laura and her mother exclaimed to rosalie has your mistress retired to rest yet i must see her immediately the abigale suspecting that it would be better not to allow the marquis of delmore for he the visitor was to be broad face to face with the handsome young italian on hesitatingly conducted the nobleman into the parlor where laura and mrs mortimer were holding their interview but the moment rosalie had closed the door behind the marquis he uttered an ejaculation of mangled astonishment and rage and springing towards mrs mortimer exclaimed ah i meet you again by old woman give me up my daughter tell me where you have hidden her and he caught her violently by the arm i know what you mean my lord said the old woman hastily but you accuse me wrongfully wrongfully repeated the marquis his continents white with rage no no i only accuse you justly for it must be you who have spirited away my child my beloved agnes it is false ejaculated the old woman with an emphasis which made him release his hold of her and fall back to our three paces false you say he cried oh then if you have really not done this flagrant wrong but if you are in possession of any clue i am i am interrupted mrs mortimer seeing in a moment that a reward was to be obtained in her spite against lord william travalion to be gratified at the same time for she did cherish the bitterest animosity against that young nobleman on account of his conduct towards her win four days previously she had taken agnes fernan to his house in park square and yet i cannot conceive you to be innocent in this matter exclaimed the nobleman surveying her with deep distrust and aversion and all this time taking no notice of laura so profoundly were his feelings engrossed by the subject which now occupied his mind for wherefore did you visit the cottage where agnes dwelt why did you intrude yourself upon her presence all that can be readily explained my lord responded mrs mortimer not losing an atom of her self possession then tell me where my daughter is tell me what has become of her cried the nobleman in an appealing tone and if you have been concerned in removing her from the cottage i will forgive you nay more i will reward you handsomely your daughter is in safety that much i can inform you at once said mrs mortimer thanks thanks for this assurance grind the old nobleman clasping his hands together in gratitude for the relief thus imparted to his mind then suddenly recollecting the presence of laura he turned towards her and in a tone of mingled suspicion and reproach said but how is it that i find you with the very person of whom i spoke to you somewhat disparagingly two short hours ago she claims some distant relationship with me my dear my key laura hastened to observe but without manifesting the slightest embarrassment while the rapid and intelligent sign which she made to her mother and which was altogether unperceived by the nobleman was fully understood by the old woman ah that is on account of her name being mortimer said the marquis completely satisfied by the answer which laura had given him especially as the old woman offered no contradiction and now i must request you to accede to some alteration in our plans for tomorrow he continued drawing laura aside and speaking to her in a low tone on my return just now to the hotel where i am staying i found a letter containing the afflicting intelligence that a daughter of mine a daughter whom circumstances have compelled me to keep in the strictest seclusion had suddenly and most mysteriously disappeared from her dwelling in the neighborhood of london this happened five days ago but mrs kifford my dear child's housekeeper and i may almost say guardian did not immediately write to me hoping that agnes would return oh you may conceive how deeply this event has grieved me i sympathize sincerely with you my dear marquis interrupted laura affecting to wipe away tears from her eyes for it suited her purpose to remain on good terms with the old nobleman until she should have cached her draft for the 60 000 pounds yes i sincerely sympathize with you she repeated and i can anticipate the proposed alterations in our arrangements you intend to start immediately for england without a moment's unnecessary delay said the marquis who was greatly excited by the intelligence he had received from mrs gifford the instant i returned to my hotel a post chase and four will be in readiness for me but may i hope that you will follow me to london as speedily as convenient i shall depart tomorrow my dear marquis at the hour already arranged responded laura and deeply do i regret that my preparations are so backward as to render it impossible for me to offer to become your traveling companion at once dearest laura murmured the marquis for a single moment losing the remembrance of his affliction in the doting passion he had formed for the beautiful woman who was thus grossly deluding him our separation will not be very long he continued and i hope that when we meet in london three days hence i may have good news to tell you respecting agnes now madam he exclaimed aloud turning towards mrs mortimer who while affecting to be examining the mantle ornaments was vainly endeavoring to catch the sense of what was passing at a little distance between her daughter and the marquis now madam he said approaching her with an abruptness that made her start i do not think i shall be insulting you if i offer you a hundred guineas for the information which you professed yourself able and willing to give relative to my daughter my dear and well beloved agnes a hundred guineas my lord exclaimed mrs mortimer contemptuously if you really love that young lady whom you call your daughter you must surely consider that it is worth five or six times the amount named in order to regain possession of her laura dearest i mean miss mortimer said the noble man impatiently as he turned towards the young lady obliged me with writing materials and i will speedily satisfy this woman's rapacity perhaps i might also exact a recompense for keeping secret the good understanding which exists between your lordship and dearest laura and which you so unguardedly betrayed observed mrs mortimer in a tone of bitter sarcasm and with a malignant glance darted from her snake like eyes at her daughter silence woman ejaculated the marquis speaking with the emphasis of authority then the writing materials being now placed before him he sat down and wrote a check which he tossed across the table to mrs mortimer saying i am sorry that i have not enough money about my person to satisfy your demands i am therefore compelled to give you a draft upon my london bankers and you will perceive that it is for six times as much as i at first offered you he added dwelling on the words which the old woman had herself used to indicate the amount of her expectations yes my lord i see that it is for 600 pounds she observed coolly and quietly as she folded up the check and secured it about her person and now i will tell you what i know concerning your daughter and i take heaven to witness that i will not mislead you if you do my good woman interrupted the marquis you will find payment of the check stopped at the bank go on and delay not for my time is precious in a word my lord said mrs mortimer the contemptuous manner in which she was treated by the haughty peer being fully counterbalanced by the handsome bonus that had just fallen into her hand lord william travalion whom you doubtless know well by name if not personally is deeply in a mord of your daughter and he employed me to take a letter to her i acquitted myself of the task but miss agnes is a perfect dragon of virtue and i could make little impression upon her god be thanked ejaculated the marquis fervently well although lord william's passion is honorable enough i have no doubt yet miss agnes and is it lord william who has taken her away demanded the marquis unable to restrain his impatience or any longer endure the tortures of suspense no my lord it was her mother said mrs mortimer watching through profound curiosity the effect which this announcement would produce upon the noble man ah then my worst apprehensions are confirmed he exclaimed in a tone of poignant anguish but do not give way to despair my lord said mrs mortimer for miss agnes subsequently escaped from the house where her mother placed her oh i then she loves me still me her father exclaimed the marquis in accents of joy and she yielded not to the wiles of that woman but proceed madam proceed he cried suddenly interrupting himself and again speaking in a tone of impatience having escaped as i have just said resume mrs mortimer agnes fell into the power of ruffian from whose hands i was fortunate enough to rescue her and not knowing precisely whether to take her i thought it best to consult lord william travail in upon the proper course to adopt his lordship who is a man of honor and pray remember to tell him that i say so she added with a slight accent of malignity his lordship immediately placed her in the care of a lady of his acquaintance and it is to him that you must apply my lord marquis for the address of your daughter's new abode and all that you have told me is true exclaim the old noble man if it should prove otherwise your lordship has in your own hands the means of punishing me responded mrs mortimer true cried the marquis and now i am somewhat consoled by the tidings you have given me my daughter is safe and in the society of honorable persons i thank you madam he then turned away to shake laura cordially by the hand ere he took his departure you will leave tomorrow at midday dearest he said in an undertone to her whom he fondly hoped to make his mistress but who was so grossly deluding him yes without fail was the reply and on your arrival in town you will instantly send me word at which hotel you take up your temporary residence continued the marquis i shall hasten to join you and hope to have a charming villa ready to receive you you are too good my dear marquis to think too much of me at a time when your heart is so severely lacerated on account of your daughter said laura like by speaking in a whisper there is nothing that i would not do for you beloved laura responded the infatuated old noble you hold already a check for 60 000 pounds that is nothing to what i will do for you my dearest angel and if i allude to pecuniary affairs at all it is to convince you how anxious i am to ensure your happiness not only now but likewise when i shall be no more thus speaking the marquis of delmore pressed laura's hand fervently and was about to hurry away when suddenly recollecting something he drew her still farther aside and said in a very low whisper have nothing to do with that woman dearest i dislike her looks i mistrust her altogether she is evidently and adventurous oh how could i have ever supposed even for an instant that such a wretch was the mother of such an angelic being as my laura another fond and impassioned look another pressure of the hand and the marquis was gone of all this latter dialogue which took place between that noble man and laura and which was carried on in a very low tone mrs mortimer who strained all her auricular faculties to catch even a syllable succeeded only in overhearing a very short sentence but that one sentence she did manage to catch and a highly significant as well as deeply important one was it for her and these were the words which she thus caught you hold already a check for 60 000 pounds quickly as the first glass of sparkling wine infuses a delicious sensation throughout the entire frame so speedily did that one sentence create a burning joy in the breast of the old woman she saw through it all laura had weedled the marquis out of that immense um and now she intended to jilt him and espouse the italian noble a check for 60 000 pounds thought mrs mortimer within herself while the marquis and laura were still whispering together 60 000 pounds well we shall see it is better than a paltry 600 and while thus musing she affected to be smelling the flowers on the mantelpiece until the door suddenly opened and closed again instantaneously and then she turned round towards laura for the marquis was gone and you assured me that you knew nothing of the noble man who has just left us said laura fixing her eyes with cold contempt on her mother i knew him only as mr vernon until i saw him here this evening was the answer but it was to him that you had passed yourself as the widow of a general officer in the indian army persisted laura and yet you denied having ever made such a representation to anyone you perceive mother that i cannot trust you you are full of duplicity and deceit even to me and still you complain that a coolness subsists between us i may observe on my side laura retorted the old woman with a subdued and cunning malignity that you were not more communicative to me relative to the marquis of delmore than i was disposed to be to you we are therefore even upon that score and at all events let us not dispute i shall now leave you laura for i am well aware that my room will be preferable to my company it is my present intention to remain in paris and from time to time i will send you tidings of my whereabouts so that you may duly remit me my quarterly income as promised just now the check of the marquis i shall send through the medium of some peresian banker the old woman then took her departure a cool goodbye being all the farewell salutation that passed between her daughter and herself as she crossed the threshold of the handsome suite of apartments thank god she is gone thought laura as she hastened to rejoin her handsome kestel sykalin who was growing impatient of her protracted absence the haughty and self-sufficient creature murmured mrs martimer to herself as she hastily descended the stairs she is completely in my power at my mercy in every way and did the old woman remain in paris and fulfillment of her declared intention no we read and exhausted by travel as she already was but animated with an indomitable energy mrs martimer hastened late though the hour now was to procure a post chase and four and while laura was passing a night of voluptuousness and love in the arms of the handsome count of karak nano her mother was speeding along the road to a loin on her way back to london end of section 79 section 80 of the mysteries of london volume four this is a labor fox recording all labor fox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit labor fox dot org the mysteries of london volume four by george w m reynolds the lawyer's head clerk it was about four o'clock in the afternoon of the day following the incidents just related that mr james heath coat the lawyer was seated at his writing table in that private office which we have already described to our readers when a low timid knock at the door fell upon his ears come in he exclaimed in his short abrupt and almost brutal manner well knowing that the individual about to enter was the poor wretch whom he bullied when in an ill humor and whom on all occasions he was want to make his vile agent and spaniel like slave creeping up as usual rather than walking with the natural dignity of a man towards the table mr green bowed humbly and waited until his dreaded but almost hated master should deign to give him leave to speak well mr green said heath coat after a pause of a few minutes during which he waited to see whether his groveling surf would dare to open his lips until he received permission for the lawyer was a man who liked to ascertain the full extent of the power that he wielded over his subordinates and also to make them feel that he did exercise that power well mr green what news this afternoon and throwing himself back in his armchair he passed his thin yellow hand through his iron gray hair if you please sir i have several things to report as you were so much engaged this morning that you could not give the time to hear me observe green and that subdued an almost a frightened tone of voice which years of servility had rendered habitual to him for such is ever the case with those who mistake the most abasing sicko fancy for proofs of respect and here we may observe that it is only in the demoralizing and degrading influence of royal courts that this disgusting suceration is adopted as a species of homage to the divinity raised up by man's stupid and most rehensible idolatry ah i recollect i was busy this morning exclaimed mr heath coat well what have you to report please sir resumed the trembling clerk gregson the upholsterer has put his affairs into the hands of goodman and meanwhile who have got all his creditors save yourself sir to sign a letter of license and mr goodman has been here this afternoon to say that unless you will give him your name also his client must inevitably go into the gazette then let him go and to the devil also if he chooses vociferated mr heath coat flying into a passion a most unusual thing with one so cool calculating and self possessed as he goodman and meanwhile are what are called honest attorneys conscientious lawyers straightforward practitioners and they will exert all their energies to carry their client through his difficulties but i will thwart them mr green by god i will thwart them gregson shall go into the gazette even if i lose every penny he owes me i hate your honest attorneys and his lips were curled and bitter irony and demonic malignity go on sir he exclaimed savagely as if it were his wretched clerk who had irritated him thompson sir the defendant in jones case you know resumed mr green was arrested yesterday in pursuance of your orders sir i took the liberty of mentioning sir that his wife had just been confined well exclaimed mr heath coat impatiently and that his eldest child was at the point of death sir added green more timidly than before well what next demanded the attorney the poor child has since died sir the poor child indeed who cares a fig about a child why you are growing quite soft hearted mr green said heath coat in a tone of cutting irony the poor child indeed i suppose the wife has died also he added with heartless jocularity indeed sir i am sorry to say you are right in your conjecture responded green scarcely venturing to make the announcement no is it really the case though exclaimed heath coat startled for a moment at finding that what he had said as a brutal jest turned out to be a solemn and shocking truth well what next he demanded mastering those emotions which he was ashamed at having betrayed thompson himself sir driven to despair by these numerous afflictions cut his throat in prison this afternoon added mr green is this possible cried mr heath coat again excited to a degree more powerful than the clerk had ever before observed but speedily subduing his feelings by dint of a strong and almost superhuman effort so sudden and effective was it he said well it is not my fault modlin sentimentalists will perhaps lay his death at my door i am afraid sir that all the three deaths will be attributed to you interrupted green with an affectation of exceeding meekness while from beneath his brows he darted a rapid glance of fiend like expression at his master a glance which denoted how the man in his secret soul feasted upon the pangs which now rent the heart of the attorney i am tough enough to bear everything that people may say of me mr green observed heath coat in his usually cold tone of irony but proceed with your communications bill's wife sir called this morning you know bill the man you put into white cross street prison and whose wife and children have been starving ever since really mr green interrupted heath coat fixing a stern look upon his clerk it would appear that you are purposely entering into minute details this afternoon in order to annoy me of course i know who bill is was sir if you please said green with difficulty concealing the savage delight that he took in thus torturing or at least endeavoring to torture his master what do you mean sir demanded heath coat savagely that bill died in the infirmary at white cross street last night sir responded green his tone and manner becoming more abjectly of syquitous in proportion as his internal joy augmented at the increasing excitement and irritation of his master the man was doubtless a drunkard green observed heath coat roughly and therefore when no longer able to get liquor the reaction carried him off i dare say sir that you know best and i am sure you must be right return the clerk with a low bow but the man's friends do say that a more sober hardworking and deserving fellow did not exist and therefore i suppose that his death will be laid at my door exclaimed heath coat now for the first time in his life glancing timidly almost appealing at his clerk as if to implore him to devise some excuse or start some paliation that might ease his troubled conscience but green whose very obsequiousness and servility afforded him the means of venting his spite on his hated master pretended to take the observation as an assertion and not an interrogatory and replied in a humble tone your foresight and knowledge of the world sir are beyond all dispute and as you say veal's death is certain to be laid at your door but of course you are perfectly indifferent to the tittle tattle of scandalous tongues heath coat rose from his seat or rather started from it and walked rapidly up and down the room thrice he felt sorely troubled for hardened as his heart was obdurate as his soul had become he could not shut out the whispering voice of conscience which now proclaimed him to be the author of all the deaths that his clerk had enumerated and while he was wracked by these painful convictions the thought suddenly flashed to his brain that green had displayed a savage delight in detailing those horrors and man of the world as James heath coat was it occurred to him as a natural sequence to the suspicion just mentioned that his clerk hated and abhorred him acting under the influence of these impressions he stopped suddenly short close by the spot where green was standing and he fixed his snake-like gaze upon the shabbily dressed senile-looking self-debasing individual who appeared to be maintaining his eyes bantimidly and reverentially on the floor as if his master's emotions were something too sacred to look upon green mr. green exclaimed heath coat laying his hand with such abruptness and also with such violence upon the groveling wretches shoulder that he made him start convulsively though he knew all the while that his master had accosted him and was also gazing on him yes sir cried the clerk raising his eyes diffidently toward heath coats countenance do you conceive that the deaths of those people can be right justly attributed to me demanded the lawyer speaking in a low measured and solemn tone and looking as if he sought to read into the most secret depths of his clerk soul do you I say dare to associate any act or deed of mine with their fate he asked raising his voice while his face became terrible to gaze upon who I sir ejaculated green as if in astonishment at the questions put to him and his own countenance assumed such a sinister aspect that heath coat surveyed him with increasing suspicion and distrust yes you cried the lawyer ferociously now mark me green he continued in a lower and more composed tone of voice if you dare to harbor ill feelings towards me if even a scintillation of such feelings should transpire from your words or manner I will crush you as I would a worm I will send you to new gate abandon you to your fate and if necessary help to have you shipped for external exile my god how have I deserved these implied reproaches these terrible menaces demanded green his countenance expressing real alarm and his whole frame shivering from head to heel perhaps you have not deserved them and in that case they will serve as a warning said heath coat now becoming suddenly calm and imperiously scornful but I think that you did merit all I have uttered and now you know me better perhaps then you knew me before however let all this pass I do not for an instant suppose that I possess your affection but I will guard against the effects of your hate answer me not sir you cannot wipe away the impressions which this afternoon seen has conjured up in my mind and now proceed with anything more that you may have to tell me fox the iron monger sir resumed green in a more timid and servile tone than ever and with a manner so cowed and groveling that it completely veiled the strong pantings for revenge and the emotions of bitter burning hate which dwelt in the clerk's secret soul fox the iron monger sir has realized all his property and absconded did I not tell you to issue execution against his goods without delay demanded heathcoat angrily I obeyed your commands sir as soon as the usual farms were gone through responded green but in the interval the man knowing the steps you were taking against him sold off everything and ran away no one can tell wither then all your intelligence is evil this afternoon mr green said heathcoat what about mrs. Sefton the spy that I said to watch her has reported her removal from kentish town to a house at bay's water sir answered green and as she has a young lady with her a miss vernon it appears she does not seem to be busying herself in any way that might interfere with your interests but that insolent young noble man that lord william travail in demanded heathcoat I do not think he is troubling himself anymore in the business sir answered green good and well ejaculated the attorney these latter tidings constitute something like an agreeable set off in respect to all your former communications ha he cried suddenly interrupting himself as the clock proclaimed the hour five already well you may go now green and see that your spies keep a good lookout upon the movements of mrs. Sefton and lord william travail in I will sir was the reply and the clerk bowed himself out of the office half an hour afterwards mr green was winding his way towards the aristocratic quarters of the west end and at length he entered a respectable-looking public house in the neighborhood of portland place having called for some refreshment he took up the newspaper to while away the time until the arrival of the person whom he was expecting but he could not settle his thoughts to the perusal of the journal he read an article through from beginning to end and when he reached the termination he had not retained a single idea of the subject the fact was the man's mind was excited and bewildered by the scene which had taken place that afternoon with his master he felt that he had been trampled upon treated with every possible indignity despised menaced and almost spit upon and he was compelled to suffer all to bear everything to endure those flagrant wrongs without daring to murmur but I will be avenged terribly avenged thought he within himself as he bent over the table in the public counts parlor supporting his head upon his two hands yes even though I should sacrifice myself I will be avenged sooner or later for years and years I have been his slave his menial his instrument his tool and he has kept me in such utter subjection that it was not until lately I remembered that I really possessed a soul in a spirit of my own the hard-hearted cruel remorseless wretch I hate and abhor him with a malignant hatred and a savage abhorrence no words are strong enough no terms sufficiently potent to convey even to myself an idea of the magnitude of that aversion which I now entertain for him but if he has me in his power in one way he is at my mercy in many other others he little suspects how deep and inside I possess and to his affairs his machinations his dark plots he thinks that I behold but the surface he knows not that I have bathroom to the bottom at this point in the clerk's musings the door of the parlor was opened and a respectable looking man dressed in black but with a white cravat entered the room you are somewhat behind your time mr. Fitzgeorge said green as this individual who was lord William Travellians valet seated himself by the clerk's side only a few minutes responded Fitzgeorge and now to business without delay it is fortunate that we are alone in this parlor at present otherwise I should have proposed to adjourn to a private room have you thought well of the subject I mentioned to you yesterday I have was the answer delivered in a tone of decision and I am prepared to meet your wishes but remember that I told you how completely I am in the power of the villain Heathcote and if he were to discover that your noble master received his information through me he cannot possibly detect your instrumentality in the business provided you do not betray yourself said Fitzgeorge then I cannot hesitate to serve you responded green here are a hundred pounds in advance of the sum promised you continued the valet producing bank notes to the amount named and the other moietyp shall be paid the moment the information you are about to give me shall have proved to be correct it is a long long time since I could call so much money my own said green with a deep sigh as he gazed upon the notes half doubting whether it were possible they were about to find their way into his pocket take up the money and use dispatch for my time is precious exclaimed Fitzgeorge the clerk followed the first suggestion with amazing alacrity and his sinister countenance was now as radiant with joy as such a face could be your master is generous very generous he said as soon as the notes were secured in his waistcoat pocket and I will serve him to the utmost of my power the madhouse to which Sir Gilbert Heathcote has been consigned is kept by Dr. Swinton and is situated in the neighborhood of the new church facing the end of the Bethnel Green Road I am well acquainted with the locality said Fitzgeorge the church you speak of is in the Cambridge Road and stands at one of the angles of the green precisely so answered the clerk and the lunatic asylum looks upon the green itself it's back windows commanding a view of globetown but here is the exact address continued the man producing a card from his pocket that is all I require said Fitzgeorge three days hence you can meet me here again and if in the meantime I should have discovered that Sir Gilbert Heathcote is really confined in Dr. Swinton's asylum the other hundred pounds shall be handed over to you the valet and the clerk then separated end of section 80