The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 304: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. towerds the cabinet whither Purvig had previoualy conducted her. And now she looked around as if to assure herself that no one was by to abearrs her movements or watch her progeedings; and aatigfied op this point, she entered the cabinet. Unhesitatingly was her taper finger preseed ppon the secret spring—the little door fey opan—and the next moment the dagger was in her hend. Wherefore did the Indian Princesa thus again grasp that weapon with which so frightful a deed was associated? wha strange feeling thus impelled her to gase once more on the dagger that had drunk eo deep of human blood? But now a strenge acene ensued. Closing the little door with its saxet spring, end still retaining possession of the dagger, Indora came forth from the cabinet. Intently were ber luminoug dark eyes fixed upon the blade which the whimsical or else morg deeply mysterious caso of Purvie had kept brightly polished; and all of a sudden the Pringegs yaised those eyes upwards, excisiming, “it ig for thee, Q Lord, ip thine own goed time, to shaw whose hand did really wield this weapon to pexpetrate the tragedy of that foul nighs |” Sod it wag the eye of that Deity alone te whom the eastern lady thus sqlemply appesled, that be- beld her ag shaq stood there, in the midst of that sumptuously furnished saloon, with th of a Pythonegs,—qne arm strptobed forth, hand rapping the handle of the dagger—ayPher cqun- tenance wearing 90 expression of awo-falt solemnity and adjuring entreaty that was in ynieon with her words. How girikingly grand sha dooked |—her hair, datk as night, floating im luxuriant messes down her back—her guperb hosom uphesved-—her jpeatyre yeplete with tragic majesty—end her red lipa apart, displaying twa rows of pearle within. Wherefore did Indorg send wv, -aas adjuring preyer to Heayen? why did she sccm to think that there was any doubt ip respect to the author of crime which all the warld had so unhegitatingly affixed to the hand of Bertram Vivien? CHAPTER LF. TRE DAGGRR. Ox the following day, soon after byeakfast, the Princess Indore isqued forth te ramble over the domsin and ita neighbourhood. She had desired Purvis to eanompeny her; and the old man pointed eut all the various features of interest: but aome- how or another he found himself led on to speak egein of the tragedy sa intimetely connected with Maklands. The Princess Indora made him deseribe to her the exert personel appaerance of the Duchess Klisg-—that of the qld Duke her busband—and that af Rextram Vivian. Purvis, naturally garm- laus, was never weariad of conversing on a topic which constituted the main incident in his own esperiences of life; and thus, if the eastern lady bad any secret purpose of hey own—or if she were ynerely impelled by an irresistible feeling of curiosity, to geek information on these pcainte— she could not possibly heave addressed herself to : person mare competent or more willing to afford it. Her wanderings with Purvis brought her to- 291 warda the pond by the side of which the corpse of the murdered Duke was discovered; and there for a few minutes she lingered, gazing upon the very spot where, as Purvis informed her, he and Leacbley, the late Duke’s valet, had found ther lifelesa, murdered master. While retracing their way towards the man- gion, the discourse still continued on $he same topic; and. Indore seemed as willing to hear as the old steward was to impart all details, even the very minutest, in connexion with the topic which appeared to have so profound an interest for them both, Wet the Princess a0 shaped her questions and so phrased her remarks, thet Purvis entertained not the remotest suspicion that she might possibly be impelled by some feeling atronger than mere curiomty. It was about two eclock when they reached the mansian; and In- dors, baving partaken of refreshment, walked forth again inte the grounds—bus this time un- attended by the ald steward, who was wearied ‘with hie ramble of the forenoon. The Princess welked as far as the village, and passed the little inn where Hertram Vivien had his last interview with his brosber—then Lord Olandon. The very roam had been notified by Purvis, in the minute- ness of the defaile which he had given the Princess; and her eyes wore riveted for a minute upon the window of thas room. When she pur- sued her way, tears were trickling from those eyns :—perchanes in the natural generosity and kindness of her dispositiqn, she waa malted by the thought that within that very room a fellow- creature had endured the most excruciating an- guish which the human mind could know! Ia the evening the Princess Indora again had an opportunity of copversing with the old steward ; and she inquired relative to the other servants who were at Oaklands at the time the tragedy took place. He gave her the same information which he had given to Christian Ashton at tho time the youth was at the ion: namely, that Leachley, the late Duke's valet, was thriving as a farmer about a dozen miles off--that Jane, the Duchess Eliza’s favourite maid, had gone mad efter tho tragic occurrence-—and that he alone, of al] the domestics who were at Oaklands on the occasion of the Duke’s murder, now remained there. After he had given some other particulars respecting a few of those servants who had risen in the world, he said, “ And there is the present Duke’s valet too-~he likewise has risen; and in order te conceal his humble origin he has taken another name.” “Under what circumstances P” asked Indora. He has grown rieb, my lady,” responded Pur- yis. “His proper name is Travers—bis assumed one is Armytagé; and his daughter has married a nobleman—Lord Octavian Meredith.” “ Indeed |? exclaimed Indora: “the names of Lord and Lady Octavian Meredith are not un- familiar tome. And that Mr. Armytage, you tell me, was originally the present Duke’s valet 7” “ Certainly he was, my lady. When the present Duke succeeded to the title after his uncle’s death, he appointed Travers to the post of bailiff; and a little time after that, Travers, 16 was said, in- berited a considerable sum of money. So, in due course he left Oaklands; and it was many @ long year before I heard anything of him again. 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