royalty restored-第31章

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　therefore　obliged　to　confine　the　expression　of　his　feelings　to　glances。　　These　she　refused　to　interpret；　and　he；　becoming　weary　of　a　pursuit　which　promised　no　happy　results；　turned　his　attentions　to　the　Countess　of　Chesterfield；　who　seemed　in　no　way　loath　to　receive　them。

This　charming　woman　had　married　my　Lord　Chesterfield　in　compliance　with　a　family　arrangement；　and　discovered　too　soon　she　had　no　place　in　the　heart　of　him　whose　life　she　shared。　　His　coldness　to　her　was　only　equalled　by　his　ardour　for　Lady　Castlemaine；　whose　lover　he　continued　to　remain　after　his　marriage。　　The　affection　his　wife　had　offered　and　he　had　repulsed；　in　the　dawn　of　their　wedded　life；　changed　by　degrees　to　disdain　and　hatred。

Now　as　chamberlain　to　the　queen　my　Lord　Chesterfield　had；　apartments　in　the　palace；　by　reason　of　which　the　countess　became　an　habituee　of　the　court。　　The　moral　atmosphere　of　Whitehall　was　not　calculated　to　strengthen　her　conjugal　virtue；　but　its　perpetual　gaiety　was　destined　to　dissipate　her　sense　of　neglect。　It　was　not　possible　for　a　woman　endowed　with　so　much　beauty；　and　possessed　of　such　engaging　manners；　to　be　disregarded；　in　a　court　entirely　devoted　to　love　and　gallantry；　and　accordingly　she　soon　became　an　object　of　general　admiration。　　This　was　by　no　means　pleasing　to　my　Lord　Chesterfield；　who；　though　he　had　wilfully　repulsed　her　affections；　was　selfishly　opposed　to　their　bestowal　upon　others。　　Accordingly　he　became　watchful　of　her　conduct；　and　jealous　of　her　admirers。

Prominent　amongst　these　were　James　Hamilton　and　the　Duke　of　York。　The　former　was　her　cousin；　and　her　husband's　confidant；　in　consequence　of　which　my　lord　failed　to　associate　him　with　the　suspicion　he　entertained　towards　all　other　men　who　approached　her：　　the　latter　he　regarded　with　the　uttermost　distrust。　　His　royal　highness　had　before　now　disturbed　the　happy　confidence　which　husbands　had　placed　in　their　wives；　as　my　Lord　Carnegy　could　testify。

The　story　which　hangs　thereby　had；　a　little　while　before　the　duke　fell　in　love　with　Lady　Chesterfield；　afforded　vast　amusement　to　the　court；　and　was　yet　fresh　in　the　recollection　of　many。　　It　happened　that　his　royal　highness　became　enamoured　of　my　Lady　Carnegy；　daughter　of　the　gallant　Duke　of　Hamilton；　and　friend　of　the　gay　Lady　Castlemaine。　　Lady　Carnegy　loved　pleasure　mightily；　painted　her　face　〃devilishly；〃　and　drove　in　the　park　flauntingly。　She　was　endowed　with　considerable　beauty　of　form　and　great　tenderness　of　heart；　as　many　gallants　acknowledged　with　gratitude。　　Now　when　the　Duke　of　York　made　advances　to　her；　she　received　them　with　all　the　satisfaction　he　could　desire；　an　intimacy　therefore　followed；　which　she　was　the　better　able　to　entertain　on　account　of　her　husband's　absence　in　Scotland。　Whilst　my　Lord　Carnegy　was　in　that　country；　his　father；　the　Earl　of　Southesk；　died；　and　he　succeeded　to　the　title　and　estates。　　In　due　time　the　new　earl　returned　to　London　and　his　wife；　and　was　greeted　by　rumours　of　the　friendship　which　in　his　absence　had　sprung　up　between　my　lady　and　the　duke。　　These；　as　became　a　good　husband；　he　refused　to　believe；　until　such　time　as　he　was　enabled　to　prove　their　veracity。　　Now；　though　his　royal　highness　did　not　cease　to　honour　my　lady　with　his　visits　on　her　husband's　return；　yet　out　of　respect　to　decorum；　and　in　order　to　silence　scandalous　tongues；　he　from　that　time　invariably　called　on　her　accompanied　by　a　friend。

It　therefore　came　to　pass　that　one　day　he　requested　an　honest；　foolish　Irishman；　Dick　Talbot；　afterwards　Duke　of　Tyrconnel；　to　attend　him　in　his　visit　to　the　lady。　　He　could　scarcely　have　selected　a　man　more　unfitted　to　the　occasion；　inasmuch　as　Talbot　was　wholly　devoid　of　tact；　and　possessed　a　mind　apt　to　wander　at　large　at　critical　moments。　　He　had　but　recently　returned　from　Portugal；　and　was　not　aware　my　Lord　Carnegy　had　in　the　meantime　become　Earl　of　Southesk；　nor　had　he　ever　met　the　lady　who　shared　that　title　until　introduced　to　her　by　the　duke。　　When　that　ceremony　had　been　duly　performed　and　a　few　sentences　interchanged　between　them；　Talbot；　acting　on　instructions　previously　received；　retired　into　an　ante…room　and　took　his　post　at　a　window　that　he　might　divert　himself　by　viewing　the　street；　and　observing　those　who　approached　the　house。

Here　he　remained　for　some　time；　but　the　study　of　mankind　which　the　view　admitted　did　not　afford　sufficient　interest　to　prevent　him　becoming　absorbed　in　his　own　thoughts；　and　indifferent　to　all　objects　surrounding　him。　　From　this　mental　condition　he　was　presently　aroused　by　seeing　a　carriage　draw　up　to　the　door；　and　its　occupant　descend　and　quickly　enter　the　house。　　Talbot　was　so　forgetful　of　his　duty　that　he　omitted　apprising　the　duke　of　this　fact　or　making　any　movement　until　the　door　of　the　ante…room　opened；　when　he　turned　round　to　face　the　intruder。　　Then　he　started　forward　and　cried　out；　〃Welcome；　Carnegy！〃　　for　it　was　no　other　than　he。　　〃Welcome　my　good　fellow！　　Where　the　devil　have　you　been；　that　I　have　never　been　able　to　set　eyes　on　you　since　we　were　at　Brussels！　　What　business　brought　you　here？〃　　he　continued　in　the　same　breath；　and　then　added　in　a　tone　of　banter；　〃Do　you　likewise　wish　to　see　Lady　Southesk；　if　this　is　your　intention；　my　poor　friend；　you　may　go　away　again；　for　I　must　inform　you　the　Duke　of　York　is　in　love　with　her；　and　I　will　tell　you　in　confidence　that　at　this　very　time　he　is　in　her　chamber。〃

My　Lord　Southesk　was　overwhelmed　with　shame　and　confusion；　and　not　knowing　how　to　act；　immediately　returned　to　his　coach；　Talbot　attending　him　to　the　door　as　his　friend；　and　advising　him　to　seek　a　mistress　elsewhere。　　He　then　went　back　to　his　post；　and　with　some　impatience　awaited　the　Duke's　return；　that　he　might　tell　him　what　had　happened。　　And　in　due　time；　when　he　had　narrated　the　story；　he　was　much　surprised　that　neither　his　royal　highness　nor　the　countess　saw　any　humour　in　the　fact　of　Lord　Carnegy's　discomfiture。　　It　served；　however；　to　make　the　duke　break　off　his　connection　with　the　lady；　and　likewise　to　amuse　the　town。

Remembering　this　incident；　my　Lord　Chesterfield　kept　a　watchful　eye　upon　the　duke；　who　he　observed　made　advances　towards　the　countess；　which　she；　in　her　generosity；　had　not　the　heart　to　repulse。　　But；　as　his　royal　highness　could　see　her　only　in　presence　of　the　court；　my　lord　derived　some　satisfaction　from　knowing　he　was　witness　to　such　civilities　as　had　yet　passed　between　them。　　The　duke　was；　however；　anxious　to　have　a　more　particular　occasion　of　conversing　with　my　lady；　and　in　accomplishing　this　desire　her　brother　Lord　Arran　was　willing　to　aid　him。

It　happened　about　this　time　an　Italian；　named　Francisco　Corbeta；　who　played　with　great　perfection　on　the　guitar；　arrived　at　court。　His　performances　excited　the　wonder　and　delight　of　all　who　heard　him；　and　the　instrument　which　produced　such　melody　speedily　became　fashionable　at　court；　to　such　an　extent；　that　a　universal　strumming　was　heard　by　day　and　by　night：　　throughout　the　palace　of　Whitehall。　　The　Duke　of　York；　being　devoted　to　music；　was　amongst　those　who　strove　to　rival　Signor　Francisco's　performance；　whilst　my　Lord　Arran；　by　the　delicacy　of　his　execution；　almost　equalled　the　great　musician。　　The　while　Francisco's　popularity　increased；　his　fame　reaching　its　zenith　when　he　composed　a　saraband；　to　learn　which　became　the　ambition　of　all　delighting　in　the　guitar。

Now　one　day　the　duke；　not　thinking　himself　perfect　in　this　piece；　requested　Lord　Arran　to　play　it　over　for　him。　　My　lord　being　a　courteous　man；　was　anxious　to　oblige　his　royal　highness；　and　in　order　that　the　saraband　might　be　heard　to　greatest　advantage；　was　desirous　of　performing　it　upon　the　best　instrument　at　court；　which　it　was　unhesitatingly　acknowledged　belonged　to　my　Lady　Chesterfield。　　Accordingly；　Lord　Arran　led　the　duke　to　his　sister's　apartments。　　Here　they　found　not　only　the　guitar　and　my　lady；　but　likewise　my　lord；　who　was　no　less　astonished　than　disturbed　by　their　visit。　　Then　my　Lord　Arran　commenced　the　famous　saraband；　whilst　the　duke　commenced　to　ogle　my　lady；　and　she　to　return　his　glances　in　kind；　as　if　both　were　unconscious　of　her　husband's　presence。　　So　delightful　did　they　find　the　saraband；　that　Lord　Arran　was　obliged　to　repeat　it　at　least　twenty　times；　to　th