The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 360: what you’re looking at

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

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Wer age O-Ses | 3° ape e-agewey A T upon your let¥ing mw know what they want df you ? | will defeat all my enemies yet: Iwill defeat thom— You are well aware that your reward will not be | deficient.” “ Depend upon it, ma'‘am—you shan'ihe képt in the dark,” responded Chiffia. - But still one word™ more!" remarked Lady Saxondale, after a few instants’ deep reflection. , “You are going back tc London——" “Yes: I shall walk all the rest of this night.” 'Woll, well, you aro going book to London, I say =—and no doubt Mr. Gunthorpe and Mr. Deverill will be going back to London also, Now, if they should both visit jou again at that place in, Ager Town, ave there no means——But you understand me P”—and the lady looked with dark and ominobs significancy at the Cannibal. | “Well, I think [ do, ma’am,” he replied, a hor- rible leer corroborating his words. “ Yes—it’s quite possible for thern two gentlemeA to tumble down into a’ eollac at the Billy Goat and break gheir necks—or disappear somehow or another in such an | unaccountable way that thétr friends shal never know what the deuce to think of itt——"",__ | “1 do not wigh to hear any more,” interrupted Lady Suxondale: then in a low murmuring voioe, she added, as sho again fixed her eyes with a look of deep meaning upon the Cannibel, “But this much I may say—I dislike tho8e two persons so uch that if you did’ happen to come with the intelligence that they had disappeared so unac- countably as you state, ‘I think that in my satisface tion I should make you a present of a couple of thousand guineas.” , “Ab! that’s something like!” ‘exclaimed the Cannibal, a ferocious joy appearing upon chis countenance. ‘Not another word, ma'am, upon the subject. I dare say you will seo me again before long.” i : “Every Monday and Thursday night,” added Lady Saxondale, “‘at eleven o'clock, I ckall look into the chapel. And #ow you must take your de- ture.” Chiffin delayed not- to follow this intimation, and succeeded in effecting his egress from the building by means of tho window in the adjacent tapestry-chamber. Lady Saxondale, extinguishing the light, regained ber own chamber without being observed by any inmate of the castle: and when she was alone, she sat down and gave way to hér reflections. “Can that man be trusted?” she asked herself. “ Did he Aot meditate treachery towards mo when agreeing to admit that odious Gunthorpe, and that Deveril—who is alike loved and detestei—into the castle? I can scarcely understand the ‘rue mean- ing of the viliain’s conduct. But ro matter. [ will write to him no more: nor will °) farther place myself in itis powor. If the hints |} have thrown out and the immensity of the rfward I havo offered, shall tempt him tp removd’ these enamies from my path, eo much the better: and if he should ever dare to proclaim that he received the hint from me, who would believe him? No one— But how could it have been tha§ William Deveril was at Gainsborough the other day? Was it obtain a sccret interview with Florina? Ah! and that girl’s coolness and reserve towards mo! Yee, yes—assuredly she has seen Deveril, and he lias done his bost: to prejudice her against tae, But I = and I will triumph !” * But, Oh! at what a prico were Lady Saxondale’s victories to be won and triumphs to be accomplished ? She herself shuddered at the idea. On the following morning, when tho postman from Gainsborough oalled at Saxondale Castlo with . letters for some of its inmates, hu related to the domestics such particulars of the horriblo and mys- - terious murder which had taken place on the pre- | vious night, as were current through tho town. Lady Saxondale had not yet descended fram her own chamber ; and Lucilla, oneof her maids, brought her up the intelligence which she had just received from the other servanta after the postman had called. Her ladyship, who could not of course admit that sno had received the samo tidings during the past nigh affected to be alike shocked and amaded. She asked for farther particulars. Lucilla went on to infortn her that Mr. Gunthorpe and Mr. Deveril had discovered the: bodies, and that they were going to be examined as witnesses at the coroner's inquest in the course of the morning. Lady Saxondalo in- quired if‘suspicion attached itself to any one: but erate point the maid could give ber no explaua- on. On descending to the breakfast-parlour, Lady Saxondale fuund Lady Macdonald, Juliana, and Florina already assembled there. The tidings had reached their ears; and they were unfeignedly shocked and astounded. Lady Saxondale attentively watched Fiorina’s countenance when the name of William Deveri] was mentioned; and she saw that “he young damsel] exhibited signs of considerable emotion. Her ladyship wa: half inclined, through sheer malicviousness, to throw out a hint that Mr. Gunthorpe and the young artist were thomselvos suspected of the crime: but this she felt would be tov preposterous, as not a word to that effect had been mentioned by the pustman or by any of the do- mestivs retailing his intelligence. “ Have you seen Lord Harold this morning?” ins quired Lady Saxondale of Florina. “TI have: and I am grieved to say that he is not so well as I had hoped and oxpected to findhim. He has passed a good night—but is has not rondered him the benefit which might have been antici- pated.” * Doubtless he feels the bruises more to-day,” said Lady Macdonald, “than he even did yesterday. It eee — —_——_- ee 8 ———— 2 ew ae &: Oe ee TY oC ae = O- ee ow eo Se eee ew —_ ae a ee a a a . ee eee ee mee De < P . -. is always the case; dad persons in our sphere of © life,” she added, using her favourite expression, ‘are more tender and delicate than tho lower ordc's, whe think nothing of common accidents.” _ “Ts your brother acquainted with the horrible tra- gedy the intelligonce of which has just reached us ¢” asked Lady Saxondale, again addressing herself to Florina. - an “TI thought it better to tell him of it,” she re plied. “ An invalid is always more ur loss nervous; and I was fearful that he might feel the shock, if the tidings wore too abruptly communicated. For, Oh! thete ig something truly horriblo in the retieo- tion that while we wore all seated together in the drawing-room last ovening, and Herold was slum- bering profoundly in his couch, such a terrific crime was being accomplishod within two or three miles of the castle, and we utterly unsuspicious of the 00- ourrenco {” ; a Cee = = =e ee ee ee eee . = -. . ECOMRniclacae SS (CO)