The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 297: what you’re looking at

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

on account of Sagoonash’s flight, inasmuch ndora had given her to understand that the calamity to Mr. Redcliffe might be the ¢s for Obristina had yet to learn that her brother’s benefactor bore a lordly title. The Queen had assured Christina that she acquitted her of all blame in reference to Sagoonah’s escape: but stil! the maiden reproached hereslf for not having exercised a sufficieat degree of vigilance. Indora found her weeping in her chember; and before she broke the fatal tidings, she renewed her de- elaration that Christina was utterly abeolved from all blame on the one point which so sorely troubled her. Then the aad intelligence was imparted ; and Christina learnt for the first time all the mysteries which hed hitherto attached themeelves to him whom she bad only known es Mr. Redcliffe. Wild was the anguish of our heroine on hearing how terribly the Queen’s presentiment was fulfilled, and how stupenduus was the mischief which had resulted from "es eacape. Obristian Ashton pow arrived at the villi. had been passing some hours with Isabella Vin- cents; he had returned to Mortimer Street at the weual hour for dinner; and there he learnt from Mrs. Macaulay the terrible’event which had taken place, and the rumour of which had just reached the landlady. Half frantic on his benefactor’s ac- count, and firmly convinced of his innocence— although until this moment he had ever believed in Bertram Vivian’s guilt—Obristian sped to Bow Btreet: but the case was over—and Lord Olandon had been removed to Newgate. Ohristian, in a state of mind bordering upon frenay, proclaimed his intention of hastening to the prison to see his benefactor; but he was assured that it was too late that day to obtein admittance. He therefore sped to the ville, which he reached at the moment when the Queen had G@nigied her ead narrative to Christina. The three—namely, her Majesty and the twins —were now grouped together in an apartment un the ground-floor; and they were conversing %in deep mourntulness on the one etgrossing topic. “But we must not ir!” said the Queen: “for God is powerful and just—and he will make the innocence of our friend apparent. « Gradually for a long time past have incidents been develop- ing themeelves towards this end; and the sudden explosion of to-day may prove after all ¢ necessary: link in the chain, ecoording to the inscrutable swale ° of heaven. Ob, no! we must not de- epatr !”’ The twins gathered comfort from Indora’s words; and it moreover occurred to them thet she entertained and projects which she did not cenit i bopes deem it requisite at that instant to make known, There was a long interval of silence; and the lamp which was burning upon the teble, shone upon the three mournful countenances of those who were wt tay the twine, to feel deeply position in Lord Olandon was placed. '* Bhe front door of .the villa was standing open ; end it now struck the Queen and the twins that of the room iteelf was agitated. They looked in that direction: the door opened slowly; and Ohristina at once recognised 4 THE MYSTERIES OF THE OOURP. the dress whieh had been purioined from her own chamber. “Sagoonah!” was the ejaculation which in mingled horror and astonishment burst from her lips. “Yes, i¢ is I—the wretched, the guilty Sa- goonah !” said the Hindoo woman, as she advanced into the room. ° She flung off the borrowed bonnet which she wore; and as the light of the lamp fell upon her countenance, it showed that a ghastly expression sat upon the natural duskinees of her complexion. Christian and Christifia had started up from their seate in disgust and abhorrence towards the vile authoress of the calamity which had stricken their friend ; Queen Indora was rendered speechless with amasement at the presence of one who she thought would never seek to behold her counte- nance again. “Lady, said Sagoonah, advancing towards the Queen, “as you hope for mercy in the next world, have mercy upon me in this !” “ Bagoqnah,” replied Indora, coldly, and almost sternly, “there are deeds beyond all pardon ; and you have been guilty of one to-day. Depart hence |—for if you linger, it will be only to pro- voke me to wreak a vengeance upon you |” Lady, if you would kill me,” answered the ayah, in a voice expressive of utter misery, “you would be rendering me a service, at the same time that you would be inflicting a moat righteous doom. ‘You cannot loathe me more than I loathe myself: you cannot hold me in greater abhorrence than I am eelf-abborred in the intensity of my own feelings. JI have been mad: but now I have become lucid—and the clearness of my mind is horrible. Through the deep clear waters of the rivers in our own native land, have I beheld hideous monsters agitating in those profundities; —and thus on looking down into the depths of my own soul, flo I discern things that afpal, and shock, and borrify me. Although I must suffer terribly hereafter, I am suffering terribly now There isa hell upon earth; and this hell has com- menced with me. Now, lady, can you not have pity upon me,—-yow who are so good, eo generous, so merciful |” There was an indescribable anguish in Sagoo- nah’s tone—a kindred agony in her looks. Her large cosl-black eyes appeared to burn with the fearful fires that were consuming her within; and” |< their terrific lustre played like flashes about her brows, as if she had received a portion of the doom endured by the fallen angels in that pandemonium to which the blasting lightnings of heaven had hurled them down. Obristian aod Christina looked on, appalled—dismayed—yet full of intensest loath- ing and horror, as if upon the corpse of one who had died of the plague and had come to bring its hideous infection unto them. Queen Indora rose from ber seats there was a death-like pallor upon the delicate duskinese of her oumplexion; but her aspect was cold, stern, and implacable. “Sagoonab,” she said, “it is impossible I can pardon you! There breathes not upon earth a more guilty creature than yourself. _ I look upon you as something more hideous, more envenomed, and more dangerous than the very reptile which some time back you brought? into the house that is might deel death to me with ite poisoned fangs.” ene eneenneene eee, beeen ee ee GON GOO G SS (CO)