The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 323: what you’re looking at

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

$20 there—his own pensioned mistress —was indeed another blew thet struck upon the heart of the Duke of Marehmont more severely than the two preceding ones dealt through the medium of Amy utton and Wilson Stanhope. “ But if that testimony be not sufficient,” oon- tinued Queen Indora, after a pauso of more than a minute, “ there is one here present who can give ampler evidence. That man has confessed every- thing; and if it be neodful, the world may know how you, prisoner, svvorned him to deal the as- sassin-bluow which, though inten@ed for myself, nevertheless sravte the bosom of the unfortunate Sagoonah. He can tell likewise how you visited him in hie dungeon-cell, when he waa a ceptive in the hands of justice—and how you furnished him the means of effecting his escape.” The Burker, who was seated next to Mrs. Oxenden, gave a sort of low subdued grow) as he removed the mask and revealed bis hideous coun- tenance to the Duke. The nobleman had already recuynised him—but had scarcely fancied that he could have told eo much; and therefore it Wis ip- deed another and severer blow which thus struck the guilty Marchmont. “ And now,” continued Queen Indora, “ for the last of these witnesecs who 1m thie place”—and she emplpsised the word printed in italico—* may be specified as one who can bear fearful evidence against you. In more than one instance has she been the agent and accomplice of your iniquities. It was by her insidious representations that my unfortunate dependant Sagoonah, who is now no inore, was led to meditate murder in respect to mnyself. Yes, prisoner—you sec that your crimes in all their details and phases aro well known to me! That woman—the only one who now re- mains veiled—has borne testimony againat you, as the rest have already borne it. But sho has spoken of things relating to whioh thése others who aro present have not been enable& to speak. Do you remember that one evening you by appointment met this map,--and the Queen pointed towards the Burker—“ in a lane near a certain villa on Brixton Hill? Do you rewember,likewise that angry words took place between yourself and that man—that he demanded more of yuu than you chose to give—that you drew forth your purse tu bestow upon him a portion of its eontents—but that he, being resolved to possess himself of the whole, felled you from your horae? You seo that he at least has maintained no reserve in respect to anything that concerns you! Nor bos that woman. Do you recollect, prisoner, I will proceed to ask, that you were borne to the villa unto which I have already alluded, and that for some while you re- muined there insensible ? Yea—you recollect all thie! But you have yet to leara, prisoner, that in the first moments of your reviving consciousness you suffered words to escape your Jips—or rather they involuntarily flowed from the vefy tountains of your troubled conscience; and those worda, pri- soner, were heard by Madame Angelique, who was in attendance upon you. Fearfyl indeed were those words—and to a fearful crime they pointed! If you doubt om ask that witness herself! She will tell the uti. Thud, speaking, Queen Iadora made a sign for the women whom she indiosted to throw back her | veils but the gully Duke of Marchimont had al- ‘ e TK MYSTERIES OF THD COURT. realy more than suspected who she was; and therefore he waa not surprised when he beheld the countenance of Madamvu Angelique. But if he were not surprised, he was nevortheless stricken another blow; and this was far the severest of all: fur Queen Indora’s language had pointed towards that other crime which was the most terrible of the many that blackened his conscience, as it was the one likewise concerning which hoe had hoped that there would be the greatest difficulty in putting forward dny substantial proof. He now appeared to be utterly unmanned : the bold Lardi- hood that he had assumed, fordook him: every remnant of the air of defianco adupted at the out- set vanished away; and ho was on the very point of sinking on his knees and imploring mercy. But again did a thought strike him: again did the very desperation of his circumsjgnecs nerve him with a preternatural courage, Therefore, quick as lightning, was the bold effrobtory assumed again; and tho air of defiance was adopted. It was still neck-or-nothing with this man who felt thut he stdod upon a mine, for the explomon of which there were a thousand chances againat only one tat he might possibly escape. * Queen Indora,” he said, now breaking silence for the first time, and endeavouring to throw a tinoture of scorn into his accents, “ you have marshalled against me an army of witnessos which constitute a goodly company to sit by the ado of your Majesty. Commencing on tho right land, thore is a notorious debauches—an uuprineipled profligate, whose relations have long cast him off, and whom society has repudiated--a man who, even according to your own avcuunt, has ever been willing to sell himself fur guld. ‘You aro rich, Queen Indora—the wealth of the wealthiest por- tion of the Indies is at your disposal—and perhaps therefore you have well paid that man for bis pre- sent services; and in propurtion to the reward given him is his zeal to beur fulse testimony against me.” . “If ever I told tho truth in ay life, my Lord Duke of Marchwupt,” exclaimed Wilson Stan- hope, “it shall be told agatnst you now, if hee Majesty comuwand me to speak out !” “Let us hear te prisoner to the end,” said Queen Indora, in the cold firm voice of autho- rity. . wy ext,to your Majesty,” continued the Duke of Machmont, “sits a female who adwite’that she has Jost her virtuc, and that she has no claim to rank amongst the mocest of her sex. It is casy for one who hase been a willing paramour, to turn round upon him whom in the world’s canting lan- guage she calls her soducer; and disappointed be- caure I have not lavished gold upon her and established her in a palatial mansion as my acknoWledged mistress, she is ready in her vindie- tive spirit to besp false calumnies upon my head.” “Villain that you are!” exclaimed Amy Sutton, her cheeks flushing with rage and indignation, and her eyes flashidg fire; “you know that I rejected your overtures with scorn and contempt—and that you triumphed over me by the basest of satanic arts! But heaven be thanked, the day of your doom is arrived—and I am present to witness yous downfall {” “Lot the prisoner pcuceed,” said Quoen Indors, e ECOMRniclacae SS (CO)