The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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ee as@ume an air of cagfposure; andthe began to apo- logise for his awkwardness in running against him. But Jou& saw plainly enough that something had transpired not only to dise@hcert his fellow-page, but to agitate him profoundly. «Nevertheless, as Sellis did not. volunteer any explanation—but, on the contrary, sought to veil his excited feelings as much as posyble—Joux did not think it right to question him upon the subject. In the midst of the apologies*that Sellis was making for his awk- wardness, he suddenly broke off to inquire whither Joux was going.—‘ 7® speak to Neale, waethe re- sponse. ‘No: you cannot see him; he is engaged,’ exclaimed Sellis, with a strange wildness of look and «a most unaccountable abruptness of tone. ® Come aiong with me: and clutching Joux by the ‘arm, he led him into his lodgings. There he be- came more composed—or else put on a forced composure; and taking wine and brandy from the cupboard, he invited Joux to welp himself. The invafid child was asleep at®ghe time; and Mrs. Sellis joined her husband and Joux in the parlour. Sellis mixed her a littlesbrandy-and-Water: Joux took some liquor also ; bift Sellis himself abstained entirely, as was his habit. Joux remained there for about an hour, during which interval Sellis s‘emed to recover his wonted cheerfulness and self-posses- sion—or if not, he at all events concealed his emo- tions so successfully that his wife filed to observe anything peculiar about him, b®yond the anxiety which he expressed qnaccount of his child, Pre- sently the surgeon returued, and pronounced the little invalid to be better, assuring Sellis that there was not the slightest danger. Joux then took hig departure, wondering wat could possibly have been the caus8 of that extraordinary excitement which he had witnessed, and of that singular eja- culation which had burst from the lips of Sellis, when rushing ao precipitately along the passage. It was now past eight o’clock in the evening; and Sellis remained with his wife until ten. During this interval he was engaged in reading; and Mrs. Sellis did not observe anything pecu.iar io his man- mer. Embracing her,and the children with his wonted affection, angobserving that he should be up early to ascertain how the invalid little one had passed the night, he withdrew to his own room.” “ And this was at ten on the memorable fight ?” said Lady Prescott, inquiringly. e “Yes,” responded Mrs. Bredalbgne. “The Duke of Cumberland, who had gone to a concert, re- turned soon after midnight and retired to his own apartment, where Neale was in agtendance., Then But at about half-past tWo o’clock in the morning the hall-porter was alarmed by a cry of ‘ Afurder ;' and starting up, he beheld the Duke of Cumber- land in his night-shigt, which was covered with slept by herself in another part of tite pgemises, was instantaneously fetched. The alarm spread thgougli the palaceu—and while one footman ran to summon fhe Duke's medical attendants, another went to call in the guard. The Duke, leaning upon Neale’s arm, returned to his apartment, whither Joux, who had been roused by the alarm, speedily repaired. An inquiry avas then made for Sellis, ‘Ge and ‘tell him that his Royal Highness has been well nigh murdéred, said Neale.—Joux accordingly sped amig the passage towards Sellis's room, and Ee ee ee ee rare ar Er gee —_—_——_—-_---- «® __— a a a SR SU co FE a 9 AS a Si AIT aN <I gD ~—?P all was guiet in the palate for a couple of kours., blood. Neale was with him—and Mrs. Neale, who. * 5 5 s on his way he was joined by Mrs. Néale and the porter. On opening the door, an appalling spec- tacle presented itself to their view, Scllis was lying dead upon the couch, his throat .cut in so horrible a manner that his head was nearly severed from his body. A. razor, covered with blood, was lying upon the floor. The body was completely dressed, save and except the cravat,- coat, and shoes: it seemed as if tht=unfortunate min tad thrown himself on the bed as one does when over- exhausted or else when not feeling any inclination to retire to rest altogether, and that sleep had stolen upon,him—that sleep whence he was never to awake! The wash-basin was half full of water é@tained with blood; and on the edge of the basin were the marks of bloody fingers plainly visible. The cravat was upon the tuilette-table — the coat folded ups and placed on a chair: the de- ceased’s watch was in the pocket at the bed’s head, That Sellis had been murdered, was the convic- tion which instantaneously struek Joux: the first glance which he threw upon the appalling scene, showed him that this was no case of suicide, but a foul assassination {” “Heavens!” ejaculated Lady Prescott, in a tonegf horror. ‘Poor creature! — unfortunate man {” ‘| must now observe,” resumggeteMrs. Bredal- bane, “that the hall-porter and Mrs. Neale did not advance into the room at all, but the former fe- Snained for #few moments transfixed with hofror upon the threshold, while the latter fled to raise the alarm that Sellis had committed suicide! Such was uo doubsthe impression made at the instant upon the woman’s mind. The hall-porter, on re- gaining his self-possession, gurried away likewise to Spread the same rumSur; and Joux was Icft alone in the room where the frightful tragedy had taken place. Advancing nearer towards the couch. he observed a sheet’ of paper lying upon the floor. He picged it up: ét was a half-finished letter in the handwriting of Selfs--and as Joux hastily ran his eyes over the first few lincs, a tree mendous secret was suddenly revealed ta him. He understood it all! The excitement of Sellis anf the ejaculation which had burst from his lips in the passage—yes, even this murder itself—~all was explained! But footsteps were approaching ; and Joux thrust the letter into his pocket. next moment a serjeant and file of men, who had been fetched from the guard-house, made their appearance at the room door. ‘The serjeant’s name was ,Creighton; and entering the chamber of death, he gazed in horror upon the scene. ‘As he turned away, he observed the razor upon the floor, and picking it up, placed i¢ upon the table. He then wéat out, followed by Joux; and the room was locked up. The guard retired—and Joux, hastening to the Duke’s réom, found that Sir Henry Halford and Mr. Home, the eminer® medi- cal practitioners, had arrived and were dressing his Royal Hifhness’s wounds, which they pro- nounced to be severe, but not mortal. Joux heard the account which the Duke gave of the affair, and then hastened to shut’ himself up in his own room, to read the letter of which he had as yet only caught a glimpse of the few first lines, What his feelings were while perusing that letter—whst his reflections were after he had read it—I shall not pause to explain new: you shall have am ope. The * | ter nee nn eee THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. — | | | | | | | | | | — er fe a inn 12) cS) CO ElOOO