The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 312: what you’re looking at

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

a TT a aa aE a oT a a tae a taaaatas é THE MYETERIRG OF THE COURT. “is thers any peril to be risked? is there any punishthent to be incurred?” “Not if you obey mo with resdiness,” replied Mr. Colemea. “And the tribunal,” casid Mra. Oxenden— “whom is it to try P’—but though she put the question, she more than half suapected what the ‘answer might be, if it were given at all. “16 is tot for you Yo question me thus,” re- sponded Mr. Coleman. ‘Suffiep it for you to know that the Duke of Marchmont was guilty of a heinous crime in instigating a miscreant to take the life of an Eastern lady of oxalted rank; but, as you are aware, the agsassih blow was dealt at the bosom of another. Of that crime, madam, you have had a horrible consciousness: it is this that has giveth you your power over the Duke of Mareh- nfont—it is this that has enabled you to plunge into all possible oxtravagances at his expense; and you have hushed the scruples uf your con- acience on account of the gold which he bus lavished upon you! Now, madam, you may judge to what extent I might he enabled to compromis® you by any revelations made from my lips: you can no longer remdin insensible of my power to compel you to follow my directions in all things— or else, madam, to give you into tho hands of justice as an accessory after Yhe fact in the crime which the Duke of Marchmont instigated against the Eastern lady.” “‘ But tell me, sir—tell me, Lentroat,” exelaimed Mrs, Oxenden, “how acquired you the knowledge of all these things P” “Providence, madam,” answered the lawyer solemnly, “often suffers the web of cfime to be woven throughout long years, and to be shrouded in the deepest mystery. But in the end that same Provulence, by ita own certain though insceatable workings, causes the circumstances of the crimes themselves to become the sourco and the means of their own betrayal: and thus it is in the present instance. Now, madam, I have asid enough—=I have even said more than I had intended when first entering in(o yuur progencg; aud it is for you to decide whivh courso you will adopt. I leave not this house without you. I havo ordered a post- chaise tu be here at cleven o’clock. It now wants @ quarter to that hour,” continued Mr. Coleman, consulting his watch; “‘and in one capacity or anothor will you presently take your seat in that _ chaise. It will either be as a prisuuer, in tite charge of a cunstable, to repair to Bow Street: or it will be aa & witness to appear at that tribunal } of which I have spoken.” “Then I will go with you im the latter capa-| against bis forehead. city !” replied Mra. Oxenden. ‘Goud, madam,” rejoined Mr. Colomane “ Make your preparations: L await you here.” Mre. Oxenden loft the room, ahd repaired to her bed-chambcr, —-tu which she summonod her maid that a few necessaries might be packed up for the contemplated joutney. Though sufficiently ill at eate in her own sind, she nevertheless now es- suttied a certain vutward calainess of demeanour ; and she told ber dotnestic that the visitor was a legal gentleman who had valled relative to some property which had beon left hor, aad that she was eorapelted to proceed with him fur 4 little distanee travelling; and almost itmediately afterwards Alexis Oliver made his appearance by means of « private staircase. Palo, lahguid, and suffering from the previous night's debauoh, the young gentleman by his aspect bettayed the dissipation in which ho hud indulged. Mrs. Oxendem at once perceived it; and she eaid petulantly, “In spite of yuur pro- mises, Alexis, you have relapsed into those ways that make you look horrible, instead of boautiful, as you ought to bel” “ Now, do not be angry, wiy dear creature!” he exclaimed, at once plying her with cajoleries. “I fell in with dome friends—and you know that a man is cofapolled to do as others do,” “Tam going awag for a dey or two, Alexia-—— indeed I know not exactly for how long,” said Mrs. Oxenden ; “ and therefore I cannot find it in my heart te scold you-——” “Going away ?” be ejaculated. “ And may not Eaccompany youP I is doubtices on some party of pleasure-———" “OF pleasure indeed {” cried Mrs, Oxoniden, with a sickly smile, “I fear that it will bo very diferent! Bat I know got how it is—you havo won all my confidence—I have kept no secrets from you-and I will* tel} you what has just vc- ourred,” ° Bhe then described the object of the lawyer's visit, and reeapitulated the greatér portion of what be had said to her. I(t happoned however that she did not mention him by name. A look of dismay gradually expanded over’ the boautiful but pale and dissipated countenanos of Alexie: his reminis- cences, which were previously all confused, began to settle thameelves and to acquire lucidity: he retrospected over the proceedings of the previous night; and dow he remombored how the young gentleman whom he only knew as Mr. Craven, had wormed out of him all the seorets he had learnt from the lips of Mrs. Oxenden. Ie was shocked and frightened at hic folly: he fancied that he himself was the author of afi that was now Sevurring to Mre. Oxenden; and the trouble of hie miad was betrayed ia bis looks. “Good heavens, Alexie!” shu ejaculated, as a suspicion flashed across her brain: “is it possible that in ypur, tipsy moments you van have betrayed meP Yes, yes—I soo that itso! But at least tgll me, Alexie, to whom you havo so incautiously spukon<tor I will not accuse you of having acted wilfully !” “ Fool—idiot that I have been!” oricd the young map, dashing hie open palm violently ““T would not for worlds have done this! I¢ was last night—hearen unly knows how I could have been se» mad———" “But who—whoP” demanded Mrs. Oxenden quickly,—“ who wero the peuple that you wore with P”’ “A Captain Stanley, and a Mr. Craven.” “T know neither of them,” said Mrs. Oxenden, deliborating over the nam%s which she had thus heard. . “ Captain Stanley,” coatinued Alexis, “is about four-and-twenty—very good-looking—hoe weare « moustache—his mantiors are clegant. As for Craven, he is a tall, slender, elegant youag man sito the country. Having given this explanation, | —with a profusion of datk glossy bair large dark ane entered her boudoir to arrange etiwwmeE her tuilet for} eyoa-—about nineteen [ should think. Ahi‘ by COLUM LOAO© SS (CO)