The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 251: what you’re looking at

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238 “Simply,” responded Christina, “that I have some little acquaintance with the gentleman who penned this billet: and my brother—who hag occa- gionally visited me here, with your ladyahip’s kind permission—ig far more intimate with him.” ‘Indeed! you know Mr. Redcliffe?” said In- dora, gubduing as well as she was able the thrilling trepidation which she ever felt on breathing that name. . Christina praceeded to explain how she herself had once lodged in the same house where the note was dated—and how, on subsequently meeting Mr, Redcliffe, she had been enabled to intereat him w the caso of the poor seamstress, Mary Wright. She went on to expatiate an Mr. Redocliffe’s hounty towards that unfortunate creature,—showing how delicately yet unostentatiously his ministrations ‘were rendered yntil she sank into the eternal sleep of death. Indars listened with the deepest inward interest: but she had sufficient guard over herself . prevent her countenance from betraying all she elt “ And that was not the only good deed on Mr. Redcliffe’s part that bas come to my knowledge,” continued Christina. “Through him the dreadful purposes of a wicked husband towards an amiable and innocent wife, were completely frustrated; and I am proud to reflect that my brother Chris- | dre ‘tian playad no insignificant part on the gide of justice and virtue.” “Tell me this narrative,” said the Princass: “the little you have already spoken on the subject interests me.” Christina accordingly entered ypon the recital of those incidents which are so well known to the reader, gnd the full particulars of which ghe had reogiyed from her brother's lips. Jn the course of ber history, it hecame necessary to speak of the pond by the side of the road, in the vicinage of Oaklands, where the murder had been committed nearly nineteen years back;—and to the entire narrative did the Prinocas listen with the ytmost attention. | “No wonder that the young woman Letitia Rodney,” remarked Indora, “ahould have been so overwhelmed with horror when accosted by Mr. Redcliffe by the side of that pond in the deep darkness of the night !” “The tragedy which took place there so many years ago,” rejoined Christina, “was a very dread- ful one. My brother Christian read the account in @ piece of an old newapapes when he was first in the employment of the Dake of Marchmont.” ‘“ And did he recite to you all the particulars P” asked the Brincess. “Briefly so,” responded Christina. “ Yes—it was a ead tale—full of a romantic and fearful interest: but it hag left a dread stigma upon the names of the Duchess Eliza and of Bertram Vivian.” The Princess Indore rose from her seat and advanced towards the window, from which she gazed forth in silence for two or three minutes. At length egain turning towards Christina, ghe said, “ Our conversation has flawed into a channel which bas interested me. [ have a complete file of a London newspaper in the boudoir: you are far more expert than I am in everything which re- lates to the concerns of your own country :—will you endeavour to find for me the accounts of the THE MYSTERIES CF THE COURT. | particular tragedy of which you have been speak- ing ?” “With pleasure,” answered our heroine: and away she tripped to the hondoir,—the Princess shortly afterwards following. Christina referred tq the volume which contained the set of news. papers for the year 1829; and she had little diff- culty in discovering the accounts of the appalling tragedy at Oaklands. They ran through several numbers; end even for weeks and months after it occurred, t were occasional peragrapha re- ferring to it, and chronicling the various surmises that were abroad at the time in respect to what had become of the Duchess Elisa and of Bertram Vivian. All these did Christina mark with ink, so as to be morse easy of reference for the Princess Indora; and having finished her task, she was aboyt to retire,—when Sagoonah entered, bear- ing 9 letter addrassed to the young maiden. The volume of the Zimes which she had been searching, lay open upon the table: the ayah’s dark eyes glanced for an instant towards it, as if in wonder at the colossal subject of her Royal mistress’s and ber youthful companion’s studies: she presented the letter with that graceful inclination of the form which showed all ite willowy and bayadere- like elasticity to auch advantage—and then with- We Christina instantaneously recognised the hand- writing of Lady Octavian Meredith; and she passed into the drawing-room to peruse the letter. Therein Zoe informed her that though her health had improved since Christina left, it was not yet sufficiently re-established to enable her to fulfil ber promise of calling upon her at the Princess In- dora’s residence: but she begged our heraine to come and pass @ few hours with her on the follow: ing day,—adding that she should be otherwise altogether alone, as Lord Octavian had promised to spend the whole of that day with his father ths Marquis of Penshurst. Christina could not help thinking that there was a certain significancy in this latter notification, and that it was meant as an assurance that she migh¢ in all safety accept the invitation without the fear of encountering Mere- dith. The young girl caught a sigh rising up is her throat: but by @ strong and hasty effort she subdued it; and though in the solitude of her own chamber, she blushed at this half-betrayal of her own weakness unto herself. To divert her thoughts into a new channel, she sped back to the boudoir,— where she found the Princess deeply en- gaged in the perusal of the newspaper-volums which Christing had marked for the p The young maiden handed Zoe’s letter to her High- ness: and whan the Princess had read it, she said, with her wonted amiability, “I understand, my young friend, that you seek my permission to accept her ladyship’s invitation. It is cheerfully accorded ; and the carriage shall be at your disposal to- morrow.” Christina thanked the Princess for her kindness; and returning to her own chamber, she penned s note to Lady Octavian Meredith, to the effect that she would be with her at noon an the following day. Tho approaching visit naturally brought recent incidents back to the young maiden’s mind with some degree of vividness. She was almost certain that Zoe either suspected or eles positively knew her husband’s passion: for this alone could COMMIC DOO Col