The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 299: what you’re looking at

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

iD i600 888 “ Yos—and they specially mentioned the name of the Stanleys,” responded Madame Angelique. “Ab, I recollect !—I saw something hinted about another person being bebind the scenes: but I ean’t fancy who it could be.” “T don’t know why,” said Marchmont, “but if bas occurred to mo that the same individual who _ extorted the confession from Lettice of all that business down at Oaklands in the winter—whose voice she thought familiar, if you recollect, but whose face she could not catch a glimpse of —may have been her secret friend throughout this last affair ?” “But now that it is all over,” cried Madame Angelique, “it is scarcely worth while to bewilder onéself with conjecture. Fortunately my name did not transpire at the trial “ No—it was fortunate,” observed the Duke. “By the bye, have you ever heard anything about Eveleen O'Brien ?” “Ah! there’s another ungrateful wretch,” ex- claimed Madame Angelique, again gotting excited over ber wrongs. “She tov has turned penitent! and I’m sure that if penitence becomes an epidemic, like the cholera or anything of that sort, I shall have to shut up shop. No—not while [ have such patrons as your Grace!” cried the in- famous woman, thinking it nocessany to pay the Duke this compliment. Marchinont roso to take his departurc,—pre- vious to doing which, however, he placed a roll of bank-nutes in Madame Angelique’s hand, as an earnest of his liberality in respect to her precious machinations with regard to the Princoss Indora. Karly on the following morning the Duke sent off a message to Oaklands with a letter containing suitable instructions to Purvis, the steward, with regard to the reveption that was to be given to the oriontal lady; and ao httle care had he tor the feelings of the Duchess, that he did not even think it worth while to add a hint to the effect that the gircumatance of this visit to be paid to Oaklands by the lady in question was to be for ever with. held from her Grace's knowledge. At the same time that the messenger set off for Oaklands, the injamous Madame Angelique furwardod a letter to the post, addressed to the Lady Indora, acquainting her thet their Graers the Duke and Duchess of Marchmont bad tho ploasure ot placing their country-seat in Hampshire at ber ladyship's dis- posal for so long a time as it might be agreeable to her to sojourn on that domain. Madame Angelique was careful to assure Indorn in this letter that the Duke and Duchess were occupying their town-mansion, and had no thought of gomg into the country for the present,—that thorefore the Lady [ndora would be perfect wistresa of Oaklands—and eho (Madame Angelique) wished her ladyship all possible health to unjoy her rambles about the beautiful scenery of the domain. We ought perhaps to observe that Sagoonah had remeined altuyether in ignorance of that warning letter which Mr. Radcliffe had sent to the Princess: for Indora had not chosen to terrify her ayah by making her aware that she was tho ob- ject of any evil design. She had therefore con- tented herself at the time with issuing precau- tionary instructions of a general character,—the faithrul Mark, the majordomo being the only ! THE mreenniy baal THE OOURT. one of the servants to whom she confided the nature of that letter. Thus it happened that the name of Mr. Redcliffe was never mentioned by Sagoonah to Madaure Angelique. The Princess Indora duly received Madame An- gelique’s note; and without communicating its contents to a soul, commenced her preparations for departure. She informed Christina that par- ticular business would take her away for a few days,—during which interval sho hoped the young maiden would not feel dull ndér lonely; and she gave her permission to invite her brother Chris- tian to pass those few days with her at the villa if she thought fit. Her Highness ordered a post- chaise to be in attendance for the ensuing day ; and as she perceived that the faithful Mark—the comptroller of ber little household—wore a some- what anxious countenance as these preparations were going on, she summoned him into her pre- sence —availing herself of an opportunity when she was alone. “TI am well aware, Mark,” sho said, “that you entertain a deep interest in my bohalf; and you are probably afraid that I am about to fall into some snare which is being set for me. But you need have no such apprehension. The busness which takes mo hence for a tew days, 1s connected with a matter vitally concerning my own interests. [ see my way clearly: but I bave thoughé it ne- cessary to tell you this much, in order to relieve your mind from any misgiving.” “T am truly rejoiced to hear your ladvship speak thus confidently,” answered the steward ; “and my mind 1s indeed more at ease.” JTe then bowed and withdrew,—-the Princess not volunteering another syllable of explanation ; and Mark had no undue curiosity: it was suffi- cient for bim that {ndora seemed to know per- fectly well what she was about. On the following morning the Princess appa- relled herself, with Christina's assistance, In one of the European costumes which Madame <An- gehique bad sent hume. This was tho first timo that the King of Inderabad’s daughter found her- self thus dressed; and it would have been difficult for even the most scrupulous critic in respect to temale loveliness, to decide whether she looked handsumer in the picturesquo garb which she was wont to wear, or in this apparel made after the most recont Parisian fashion. Tho superb figure of Indora, with all its richness af contour and the admirable modelling of its lmbs, gave its own shape as it were tu whatsoever costume she chose to adopt; and hers was a besuty so far tran- scondinug all the advantages which feminine charme aro wont to derive trom the toilet, that it indeed mattered but little what fashion or style she fol- lowed. The corsage of an English dress could not set, off the grandeur of the bust more completely than the oriental caftan—nor the Parisian bonnet impart additional splendour to the dark glory of her hair. In her new costume—unaitended and alone— the Princess Indora entered the post-chaise ; and on leaving the villa, all the instructions she gave to the postilions were that she was going into Hampshire. Thus no one at that ville, exceps Sagvonah herself, was aware of the Princess’s destination; and the Princess suspected not that her ayah knew it. ee ed wee ae ee ow 9 eee oie ee ei ie nn ie ELOOO© SS