The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 186: what you’re looking at

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

THY MYSTRBIES OF THE COURT. PD | * Amy, I am in that state of mind,” ejaculated | Marchmont, “* when any atlvice is most welcome— | snot useful! e 2a — Your's “shall be followod—aad I thank you for it. Come!—we will watch at this door. Even if we atay for hours wili we yatch !” Marchmont and Amy Sutton eccardjugly posted themselves at the door of the dgom where this con- | versation hed takeg ‘plate. Bboy keph the doce | ajar in such a gaqner that they could -both look | | | t LL RS, in Cen IEOAGAINY mish A ANGRY esled soso! OCT 7 Gragrh ens “eee, tke a “be followed!” responded the Duke. forth into the corriiot; atid: thys in «profound silence did about tpenty minutes pass away, Then a door was hoasd te open gently at a little div. tance: the Duke nudged his companion as if in an excited manner; and she marmured; “ Aysh t” in the lowest possible tone, Footsteps yere heard atealing slong the corridor --then tho rustling of @ dregs; and in about a minuto a figure passed with apparent cautiousness along. Of course the reader understanda full well that this was none other than Lettice Rodney, who was acting in accordance with the instructions sho had received from the Duke, The black yeil was over her head in such a manpor a4 to conceal her hair and shade her features: but there was quite sufficient light in the passage for Amy to recognise the dress ; and when tho Bgure bad passed, sho ge- treated a few steps into the room. “Now, Amy,” murmured tha Duke, in « daep hollow voice, as he also quitted the doer and closed it,— ‘‘ what say you P” “T am afraid, my lord, that thers can be no doubt of it,’ she responded. “ But is your Grace sure that you beheld my mistress onter Mr. Stan-. hope’s room ?” “Can I doubt my own eyes?” asked the Duke: “and does not that stealthiness af proceeding which you have just witnessed—does it not, L say, cquiirny all I have told you ?” “ And now what will your Grace .do P” inquired Amy, who was radeed all but convinced that the misircas whom she had hitherto beliaved the very pattern of virtue, purity, and frankneas, was the personification of profligacy, viciousness, and hypo- crisy. “ What will I do?” eried the Duke :--* what in heaven’s name can I do ”’ he asked, with the air of one who was bewildered and distracted. “It ig truo that for some timo past her Grace and myself have not been on the very best terms together; and I dare say that I have been looked upon as a cruel and hard-hearted husband who #]-treated his wife. But if the world only knew the infirmitics of hor temper However, { need not trouble yo with such explanations. You ask moe what I wil do; and you haye counselled me to take no pr¢, oipitate step ” ~ And this advice, my lord, I respectfully but earnestly veature to repeat,’ said Amy Sutton, “Tt shall be followed—rest assured that it shall “LT will ereate no disturbance; whatever is tu be done, ‘shall be performed in a suitable and becoming manner. A divoree-——this 1s the only course!” “And yet, my lord,” sad Amy, “there is etill the pussibility of some mistake: for remember that 1 have*not seen ber Grace issue from Mr. Stanhope’s chamber.’ e “True!” ejaculated the Duke, as if now struck by the fact for the first time. “1 will do nothing reshly [I will think over it! Do you return to = = Se ont wy, ia oe agen UWE A your QWnh Yom. 1 peed not enjoin Oh the dreadful affair secrof until seaeay' beg 8 longer posgible. You are prudent and dig Ah! you advised me kindly; and kindnoge such circumstances, mugs be rewarded. b thi purse--—--and remember, Amy, not a lool | "* ayliable ta your mistress to-morrow to how thay she isaugpepted! And now good night” 0°” “Accept my thanks, my lord,” said the lady's maid, 8 she alutehed the purse and hor ear caught Sha stale softly back to her own shember end a fow minutes afterwards the Duke of Marchmont, in an equally atealthy mapper, went down the pri- ivate staircase, and rejoined Laettice,—who had foynd her way to the little room. ta which she was seo poteadnoed, and where @ light had been leit urning. ae “Everything goes well,” suid. Marchmont, with a lock of triumph, ad he ponred ber out another glass of champagne. “Op Mondey night myst repeat the performance. I will maus run down fo you betwean eight and ning o'c and tell you which particular dresy you avo to put og. And now farewell, J sve that the business will be brought to a termination much more apeedily than I had even dared hape or anticipate at first; and in a few days you will be enabled to return to London.” } Lettice took fer departure; and the Dulko of Marchwont stole up to hig owp chambér, chuckling at the progress that was already made in the vilo conspiracy against his innogent wife. you = k, wom Ki. OHAPTER XXXTY. THE POND, © } Accogping to the plan which hg had in view, the Duke of Marchmont observed on the Monday evening what particular dross Layinia wore; and he was inwardly delighted by the recollection that there was « duplicate thereof in the podseasion of Lettice at the farm-house. At about nine o'clock on, thig evening of which we are now writing, he rose from: his chair iy the drawing-rodup whbre he was seated with the Duchess and the Hon. Wilsoa Stanbepo ; and complajning of a dréadful headache, said be should take a ramblo through the grounds with the hopo of dispelliug it. But on ‘issuia forth from tho mansion, he made the best of bis way to the farm-house—gavo Letticg the requisite information with regerd to the particular dress ahe was to put on—and then began to retrace his steps homeward. a The evening was very different from that of the Saturday when Lettice took hey Bré$ trip on her nefarious wigsion to Oaklands. It was indeed just such au eyening as that on which Christian had accompanied the Duke, to garry the box to the farm-house. It was dark and windy; and March- mout drew his cloak more closely around him asa ho had to breast that gusty wind on his way back to the mausion. On nearing the pond, the sur- face of which gaye forth a feeble shimmering light, he quickened his pace ; but all in & moment he stopped short, and staggered as if about to fal), on beholding a dark form standing on the very | 176 eS ee a SE EE aes NS ST a ES esi —————---— sage -§ a= | i e Ape REE | OS eee ore ee en rans SRE se; EP Ray t= sng Ss a, PD NOG SS