The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 328: what you’re looking at

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

Sam $15 en eee upen their eats. Astonishment was depicted upon | lips; and she thankfully secepted all, the propo- toeir cuunteoatices: but there was at least one | sitions which had just been made. amongst them who was rejoiced at the good for- “To you, Mrs. Oxenden,” continued the Queen, tune of our young hero—and this was Amyj “TI can have but little to say—indeed nothing Sutton. * It now only remaina for me,” continued Queen Andora, “to announce my intentions to sume who aro here present, and to address a few parting words to the others. For the remainder of this night you will all be reconsigned to the places which ypu have respectively occupied siaee you be- came tho inmates ot Oaklands; and to-morrow you will all individually depart hence. Let me hope that te solewn sceno’which you, Mr. Stan- hope, have this night beheld, will have apon you a salutary effect—and that henceforth you will strive by sumo honourable means to earn your livelihood, instead of selling yourself as the instrument of wrong doing and crime, tor patrician gold, That your band 1 noc atamed with murderer's blood, must ratlher be attributed to accidental circumstances than to a positive absence of a mogt criminal readiness on your part: fur on the night when you drove your bargain with him who then bore the title of Duko of Marchmont, every syllable that passed botween you was heard by Bertram Vivian ; and it was Ais appearance at the casement behind the chair in which yok wore seated, that. produced mo tremendous an effe€6 upon that crimmal, To you, however, Mr. Stanhope, I need say nu more— unlesa it be to repoat my earnest bope that all you bavo this night witnessed may have its sala- tary influenco upon you. From these things learh that though wickedness may prosper fot » time, yet that in the end this prusperity is certain to turn ivto the bitterest adversity.” The Queen paused for a few momentse—while Wilson Stanhope, hanging down his head, seomed tu experience all the effect which her impressive words were intended to convey. “Amy Sutton,” resumed the Queen, now ad- dreasing this young woman ine kiud and com- passionating tone, “you have been rendered the victim of a villain, and if yoursoul has cherished 2a poignant feeling of vengeance against Lim it is impossible tu blame you. You have now witnessed his duwnfall; and that feeling must be thereby appeased. In this native land of your's it is Baucely probable that you could henceforth expe. menee bappmess, Ina short time I shall retyro etu my own cuuntry ; aud I propose that you chould fullow me tluther. I offer you about my own per- son 4 situation of confidence and emolument; and your welfare shall be in my charge. Your sister may accompany you if you desire it, and if you think that by removing her from the scone of those temptations which have proved fatal to hef honour, she will bo led to repentance and to a better course of life. To my person, however, she cannot be attached: but when I reach the capital city of my own kingdum, I will place her in somo position that may afford her the opportunity of eatin: the bread of honest industry. The frail nod erring Marion was yesterday retaoved from the houss in which she has been dwelling in dishunuur ; and she is now the occupant of a humbier home, where you may juin her until the period for my departure to ny own native clime shall arrive.” Amy Sutton threw heraelf at the feet of Qaeen more than to reiterate the hope which [ bave ex- pressed to Mr, Stanhope that the scene of this nivht may have a beneficial influence upon you. You will be restored to freedom: tv-morrow you will go forth into the world again; end if you be wise you will endeavour by the respectability of your future career to make as much atonemont as possible for your past misdeeds. The ydung nau on whom you have been lavishing the gold which you recejved as the prico of your own infamy, has been wounded in aduci whieh he hiruaself provoked : but his injury was slight—aad nv disugrocablo con- sequences will ensue: On the contrary, that inei- dent has been productive of beneficial results for Alezis Oliver. He has been made to feel the derradation of the position in which he was living with you: he is‘rocouciled to his family; and opportanities will be afforded him of pursuing an honourable career. You must not therefore hope that the object of your infatuation will be restored to you;~—and now once sgain do I express tho hope that your own conduct will experience an alteration for the better.’ Mrs. Oxenden listened with a subdued sullen- ness to the eptech which thus flowed from Queen Indora’s lips; and perhaps she would bave given some intolent reply if she had dared, ‘But she was in awe of that illustrious lady who oxer- cised the power as well as manifested the inolina- tion to reward or to punish: though as for peni- tence, Mrs. Oxenden possessed not a heart that was sasceptible of the influences which might lead to such contrition. “As for you, man of many crimes,” proceeded Iudora, now addressing herself to the Burker, “it were an outrage agaigst society to leave you with- out chastisement, If you were handed uver to the grasp of your country’s law, your life would be furfeited, and you would expiate on the scaffold he numerous iniquities of which you have been guilty. In mY estimation, however, the punish- ment of death is odious; and I hold the opinion that the great oriminul should be treated as a ferocious beast, to be cuntined within bare that ho may not fullow the bent of his brutai bloodthirsty Metincta, It is my purpose to transport you with the leas possible delay to my own native country ; and there yuu will be confined in « fortress tur the remainder of your hie. In pronouncing this punishment, I must remind you that you have to congratulate yourself on cscapieg that doom which would be yours if you were to be subjected to the ordeal of British justice.” The Burker made no reply: but his fetocious countenance expressed tne utinost satisfaction at the intelligence that he was to be dealt with in a manner that would leave him in possession of life. “You, vile woman,” preceeded Queen [ndora, mow addressing hefeelf to Madame Angelique, “have committed crimes which cannot be left un- punished. If not «a rmurderess, in fact, you have been so in heart: for deliberately and in cold blood ‘did you instigate the unfortunate Sagoongh to toake attempts upon my life. Sou have amassed Indura, whose hand she presked in gratitude to her| a fortune by a career of infamy; and you ebuall 8 rr a ane ee THE MYSTRETER OF THR COURT. ECOMRniclacae SS (CO)