The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 199: what you’re looking at

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186 THE MYSTERIES OF THE OOURT. hirth to, the child, we are not yet in ew condition: fully to prove it, That her sister Emma disposed of the corpse in the lake, is beyond all doubt ; and that it was wrapped tn a garment belonging to Agatha, is equally certain. But still these evidences do not glace the main point beyond all doubt. It might atill be alleged that as the Miss Owens were in the confidence of the Princess, those little circum- Stances just mentioned were natural enough. It is therefore necessary to obtain a confession from the lips of the sisters; and this cannot be elicited from them by suasion or remonstrance—no, nor even by mtre threats and menaces of expusure. All these they have no doubt firmly made up their minds t» dare and defy. It can theréfore only be under extraordmary circumstances of terror, best ealculated to make a sudden and awfal impression ypen the mind—to give the mind, indeed, a sudden shock, and unnerve it by the abrupt development of a apectacle of horror-—it is only by such means as these, I say, that a fall and complete confession can be extorted from the lips of those three de- praved and heartless young women. Now, Baron Bergami, do you begin to understand why I hava retained the loathsome corpse of that child be- neath this roof?—why I have deposited ié¢ in the dissecting-room as the most fitting place for = an object to be viewed?” “Yes+I understand your motives now,” an- swered Bergami. or other to entice the three sisters kither——” , , “Such is my object,” replied Loftus. “ Had I personally bean sent for by the Princess to-day, as { had hoped would be the result of Lady Prese cotv’s visit, I should have contented myself for the moment by revealing to her Royal Highness enough to place her at once wpon her guard as a preliminary to the corplete revelation of all details when my plans are matured, I should then have sought a gecret opportunity of inducing the three sisters, by nears of durk and mysterious threats, to come to Dr. Maravelli’s house .this | § night. But n6w; from the turn which events have tuken, these results must be brought about through other meas. In plain terms,. Baron Bergami, it is now for you to entes actively into co opera- tion with me in carrying out wy aims. To you, then, must I intrust the task of indacing or com- pefiing the three sistere—Agatha, Emma, and Julia—to come hither this night !” “f will do go,” was Bergami’s prompt reply. | “Good!” ejaculated Loftus. “Now then let us understand eagh other thoroughly. At midnight punctuully the three sisters mu-t be at the front dvor of this house: for midnight is the hour when the mind, by a variety of influences and asso- ciations, is most sensitive to the overpowering effect of circumstances of horror.” * At midnight,” rejoined Bergami, “those three youn, woyen shall be at the front door of Mara- velli’s house—-—Avt least, so far as it will depend upon myself to urge, coerce, or persuade them, AS a matter of course, no means must be Jett un- iried. If I find that they ara more accessible to cajolery than to threa's, I will use the former: but at all eventa I will do my best to easure their pre- sence here.” “] shall rely upon you," said Loftus: “for re- member how much depends upon the success of this feature in our plau, aud how vitally important “You purpose by some means | it is to wring from those girls tho whole truth relative to the child, so as to relieve the character of the Princess from so serious an aspersion.” T appreciate and understand all you “ay,” re- marked Bergami:™and I shall now speed back to the villa to perform the part which you have entrusted to me.” “ But be earefal, Baron,” said Loftrs, “in what you may reveal to the Princess. It would be un- wise to tell her everything at once. These are things that should only be broken by degrees— for they are but too well calculated to prove over- powering to asensitive mind,” “This suggestion on your part shall I also fol- low” said Bergami. “ Indeed, I will so manage matters that the Princess shall not at once be plugged into an inordinate degree of excitement. Moreover, it;will perhaps be as well that the Misses Oven shyuld not be allowed to perceive how very serious gatterr are beooming—Jest they should hesitate to come this night to Maravelli’s huuse to seo you.” ... " After @ little additional disceurse upon the de- tails of the plan now in execution, Baron Bergami took his leave of Jocelya Loftus; and quittiug the house, he retraced his way inthe direction of the villa. qGuasaaa c . CHAPTER CLVILL tuR PRINCESS ene. HUBBARD. Wui.n: pursuing his path homeward, the Baron was suddenly aroused from a reverie of a deep, absorbing, and painful character, by, hearing his name mentioned. He louked uj}, and beheld Mrs. Rapger. ., ., This ledy,had hever been a favourite of Berga- mie. Not that he was a man who formed opinions waren a mre or who easily surrendered him- elf up to, pr ejadiges and antipathies: but he cer- ts lnly had never.been inclined to entertain a high opinion of Mrs. Ranger. Now that he had disco- vered from Jocelyt’s revelation that she was a per- fect Hecate of iniquity, he recoiled with a sudden sensation of loathing as he thus found himself in her presence. But almost at the self-same instant did the thought flash to his mind that he might to some extent make use of this woman, in respect to the purpo-e which he had “a view relative to the Oweus; and conquering his repngnauce accord- ingly, he acknowledged her salutation. Nevertheless, Mrs. Ranger immediately saw that the Baron felt a loathing at her presence, aud that even thie act of courtesy which he had just per- formed—reserved, constrained, and cold as it seemned —was a forced effort and not a spoutancous polite ness. . Something unpleasant has occurred, Baron,” she saic, accosting him in such a manner as to show she desired to lead him inta conversation. “Yea, Mrs. Ranger,” responded Bergami, fixing his eyes with a jook of deep meaning upon hers “something unpleasant haé indeed occurred,” “You have seen Mr. Loftus and Lady Prescott?” asked Mra. Ranger, eagerly. “TF have not seen Lady Prescott since she was at the villa ere fow: but I have seen Mr. Leoftua, liow knew you that he was at Geneva ?” @) AOC) cS) CO