The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 305: what you’re looking at

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€ nee a Y received from my sister a letter giving me <he hope that the ) period for such vengeance was near at hand—~—— “Fo deal frankly with you, Amy,” interrupted Christian, “ i¢ was upon these pointe that I came to confer with you. You cannot have forgotten all you told me when I was last here a few months back. ‘You gave me to understand that your sister Marion was secking to succour you in your plan of contemplated vengeance. You informed me likewise that she had become connected with Wil- son Stanhope; and I have reason to know that Wilson Stanhope himself had some dark dealings with the Duke of Marchmont. Now I must in- form you, Amy, that several persons are o in weaving the web so tightly around Marchmont that if he should recover from this dangerous ill- ness into which his own tortured and berrowed feelings have no doubt plunged him-——~” “Good heavens! what mean you P” exclaimed Miss Sutton, as a sudden auspicion flashed in unto her mind. “Is.it possible that the safety’ of Marchmont himeelf is compromised by the arygst of his brother Lord Clandon P” “You must not question me, Amy,” replied Christian Ashton. “Iam not now at liberty to explain everything I know.” But this muoh I will tell you—that if you will abandon your own isolated so widbiMtbens scheme of vengeance, and co-operate who, inspired by no vindic- tive feelings, are anxious only to expose wrong and meke right come uppermost—if, in a word, Amy, you will league with us, and throw as it were into the common stock, all such means of prosecuting our plan as you may be enabled to afford——” “Ob, yes!” exclaimed the young woman, with a fierce enthusiasm; “ anything, Mr. Ashton, so long as there be a chance of inflicting a terrible chastisement upon the headgf him to whom I owe my d and my ruin!” “There is every chance, Amy!” rejoined our hero. “ Tell me, therefore, in which manner and to what extent you can assist us P” “You know, Mr. Ashton,” ¢ontinued Axy Button, “that my frail and unfortunate sister Marion quffered herself to be handed over as the mistress of Wilson Stanhope. She knewefrom me that this man Stanhope had been connected with the nofarious plans of the Duke of Marchmont: she knew likewise that it was my aim to avreak a fearful vengeance, if possible, on Marchmont’s head. She resolved to succour me. For some weeks has she been living under the protection of Wilson Stanhope, towards whom she has displayed every evidence of affection ; she has lavished her caresses upon him—she has insidiously assailed him with cajoleries—she has adopted every means to win his completest confidence. I need not tell you that he is dissipated—that fhe is addioted to wine—and that his habite are often intemperate. Thus hes she succeeded in gleaning from him cer- tein of the utmost importanes, but of which Tyo om unaware ;‘for with a becoming she would not entrust them to an epis- .correspondence. That these secrete, how- oret,; vould be ruinous to the Duke of Marchmont if tnaile known, I have not the slightest doubt. I was pagers mype pes of a speedy ven- geenes, when the intelligerte reached ‘me of the | desire. ri f vile Duke’s serious illness—en illness which me. thought might end fatally, And I was striivng. hard to regain sufficient health and strength to re- pair to London to see my sister, and ascertain from her lips all that she had gleaned from Stan- hope in the moments of his ebriety, or when he was under the influence of her cajoling blandish- ments |” “You have told me sufficient, Amy,” replied Christian, who had listened with the deepest at- tention to the young woman's narrative, “ to decide me how to act.” “But there is one stipulation which I must make {”” ejaculated Amy, with a sudden access of flerce excitement; “and it is that whatsoever ven- geance you wreak upon the Duke of March- mont-———”’ * Understand me well!” interrupted Christian. “It is no vengeance which we are endeavouring to wreak: it is an attempt to expose his iniquity throughoué all its various ramifications—and as I before said, to make the right come uppermost, All bis crimes shall be made to pass like a hideous phantasmagoria of apectres before his eyes; and those who have been the accomplices or the wit- nesses of his several deeds of turpitude, shall be marshalled in dread testimony against him. On that occasion, Amy, you shdil be present !” “ This ie what I require ’ ejaculated the young womans: “ it is for this that I was about to stipu- late ! Make use of me as you will: but remember, Mr. Ashton, you pledge yourself that I shall not be forgotten when the crowning moment of retri- bution arrives.” “You shall not be forgotten, Amy,” rejoined our hero. “On the contrary, your presence will be needful. From inquiries which I last night caused to be instituted in Belgrave Square, there is every prospect that the Duke of Marchmont will survive this illness, though so dangerous, into whieh ‘he has been plunged.” “Ob, 1 am rejoiced | IT am rejoiced |” exclaimed Amy Sutton ; 3 and the ferocity of a tigress glistened in her eyes. © The aspect of her countenance did Christian harm to contemplate its but he could not utter a remonstrance nor breathe a syllable of rebuke: he needed the services and the co-operation of Amy Sutton; and he was forced to avail himself of her vindictive feelings for the carrying out of his own purposes. Hoe remained in discourse with her for « some time longers and on rising to take his leave, he addressed her in these parting words——— “Tarry you here for the present, to regain health and strength as speedily as you can; and when the moment approaches that your presence will] be’ required elsewhere, you will receive a timely notification from me. You can let me know in a few days how your convalescence pro- ; so that I may haye the assurance of your ability to travel some little distance when the period for action shall arrive. “Were I ypon the bed of ‘death, ”” ejaculated the young woman, with another fierce glaring and flashing of the eyes, “I would not fail to obey your summons!” “Farewell,” said Obristian: “the interval will mot be long before your wrongs, Amys will be avenged as terribly as you yourself could possibly COMIC OOO© SS (CO)