The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 345: what you’re looking at

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

of eee eee ess (a iim. =< Hh eum ES eee NN ae OD semmstee He _ Ba . -_ -t2 55 ow 8 '. © e--6 = = een eee OS nt 8 ee 832 inv look to his face: lis lips were comprossed—and though tho nature of his thoughts could not be, decyphered, yet was it full evident that it was no agreeable tupie on which he was pondering. The doctor, finding that he did not renew tho conversa- tion, throw himsclf back in bis corner of the oar- riage, anit gave way to his own reflections. He thought of the discovery he had made in respect to the anatomized corpse—his visit te Bob Shakerly at the knacker’s yard—the old man whom he had taken into his houso: and he thought likewise, as indeed he often and deaply thought, of that un- kuown lady whom ho had loved so long, and with such a profound, constant, enduring affection ! The horses went quicl#; and in less than half-an- Jrour from the moment they had started from the pliysigian’s house in Conduit Street, the equipage dashed through the iron gates of the rajlings fencing the grounds iu tho midst of Whicn the Earl of Castlemaine’s mansion stood, The gas-lfmps were still burning beneath the portico; and the mument the vehicle stopped, the hall-porter opened the front-dour. Lord Castlemaine alightedy followed by the doctor; and he led the way up a splendid staircase, iuto a drawing-room where lights wore burning. “Sit down,” said the Earl: “for I must speak to you for afew minutes. er ladyship,” he continued, after a bricf pause, during which he appeared to norve himself as it were with an effort to give ex- pression to what le was compelled to s#y, “was takon ill just now on our returndrom @ party at the Duke of Harcourt’s. I do not know that her illness is at all dangerous—I glo not think it is:” and bis lips curled strangely as he thus spoke—it might be in scorn—it might be with other omyfions~but which it was impossible to decide. “At all cvents, ductor,” he continued, “you will soon ascertain: and observe! I desire that you communicate to me the exact truth.” “ Whercfure, my lord, should you address me in this manner?” asked the physician, with a certain dignity not unblended with indignation in bis looks. “Tf you haye no faith in me, I cannot consider it an honour that you have called me in upon this occasion.” : ‘“‘ My dear Dr. Forney, you must not be angry with me,” said the Earl of Castlemaine, taking the physician's hand and pressing it with more warmth than he was generally aecustptaed to display. “ But perhaps you will understand me better presently. You can nowtascend to her ladyship’s chamber—-you know the way—I shall await you here.” | The physicidu accordingly quitted the drawing- room; and mounting the next flight of stairs, reached a landing whence two long, carpetted, and splen- didly decorated corridgrs branched off — one to the right wing of the building, the other to the Ictt. In tho latter, and at the extremity of the corridor Jeading thither, the Karl of Castlemaine’s own privite chambers wero situated : while pre- cisuly at the opposite extremity—ndmely, in the right wing—wes the elegant suite of apartments oc- cupicd by her ladyship. Dr. Ferney, who knew the, way woll, turned into the brilliantly lighted corridor loading to the rooms of the Countess; and passing by somo admirablo specimens of sculpture—some im- mense Ohinese vases, exhaling perfumes—and some smaller ones filled with flowers, he reached the door VUES Ges = eer, eh 2 oT eo: es eye =e aon ee, a Oo ee = Oe THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. es - coment of the ahte-chamber. Auvckuy peitly, it ways iun- mediately ppened by tho principal lady’s-maid of the Countess. She was a woman of about forty— highly respectable—discreet and reserved—not given to gossipping nor scandal—and devotedly attuched to her mistress. She was gveeping—and, indeed, looked much distressed. The moment the dour was opened, the doctor’s ear caught wild and delirious cries; and he recognised the ,vuice of Lady Castle. . aine. | “Ja your mistross’ very bad, Mrs. Broughton ?” inquired Ferney, as ho ontered the ante-chamber. “Oh, sir—she is raving. For God’s sake, como!” Mrs. Broughton accordingly led the physician through a sitting-room {jltod'up with mingled cost- liness and taste—thenco into a boudvir furnished in a still more elegantananner—and thence again into a spacious and handsume bed-chumber, where Lady Castlemaine was sittihg upon 4 sofa, giving vent tu thé@ delirious cries which the doctur had heard, and struggling with two of her maids. The clevant apparel which sho had worn at the ball, had Leen torn off Her~a morning wrapper enveloped her :form—her hair was hanging in elisorder over her half-naked shoulders—her fuco was pale—her {ea- tures were distorted? there was frenzy in her looks, ant delirium in her ravings. But the moment Dr. Ferney made his appearance, she either recognised man—and instantaneously ceasing her crics, threw reelf back upon the sofa. Dr, Ferney bade tho two junior maids rotire for the present, while he «remained alone with Lady Castlemaine and Mrs. Broughton. Then he spoke in southing tones to her ladyship: but she did not appear .to comprehend him. She gazed in a sort of vacint wildness upon his countenanco for soveral minutes, then suddenly placing her hands before her eyeg, ehe gave a subdued shrick and sank back insensible.. ‘The proper rpstofatives wero admi- nistered; and when the Countess was returning to herself, the other maids were summoned from the adjoining apartment to convey her to her couch. Scarcely however was she depquited in tho bed, when the ravings of her delirium brvko forth anew: and Dr. Ferney wrote a prescription which he dosired might be sent off to the nearest chemist’s at once. The two junior maids were again dismissed from the room; anid when tly had retired, Dr. Ferney, taking advantage of a temporary lull on the unfor- tunate Indy’s part, said, “Tell mo, Mrs. Broughton, how all this came about.” “ My lord and her ladyship,” replicd the woman, scarcely able to subdue her sobs as she spoke, “re- turned home at about a quarter to two o'clock, from Harcourt House; but the moment her ladyship alighted from the carriage, sho was agised with a fainting fit—and his lordship taking ber in his arms, bore her up-stairs to this chamber. I and the other maids, not, hearing the carriage arrive, were not immediately in attendance. But I was the first to come hither; and I found his lordship tearing off my lady’s apparel to give her air.”———Hero Mra, Broughton hesitated for a few moments, and then added in a low voice and with hesitating manner, “Soon “afvarwards his lordship suddenly broke away, saying that he would fetch the doctor: and then, sir, kc went for you.” * I uuderstand,” observed the physician. him, or else became overawed at the presence of a. nef WOR e1-- + RPE CRC See —'8 TO Oe oo: oe, COMIC OOS ier SS (CO)