The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 308: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. who was evidently bewildered—indeed half-frensied by the thoughts that were agitating in his whirling brain. “Forgivences? No!’—and Indora et onre turned to leave thé drawisg-room. “Kor heaven's sake, stop!” cried the Duke, hastening towards her in a osnpplicating manner. “If you will not grant me your perdon, af all events give me the assurance that you will do me no Seon bad «} have triumphed so effeetually in the cir- cumstances to which you allude,” replied Indora, “that I need scarcely hesitate to promise that it is my purpose to keep silent in respect to your iIn- famy. But anderetand me well,—that if you dare breathe a single syliable prejudicial to my honour —{ff it come to my knowledge that when heated with wine, and in that boasting mood which at times takes of all libertixes, you have proclaimed the faet that I was 4 visitross here,—- in a word, my lord, if you have the hardihood to make an allusion to me in the least way dis- respectful, that moment shall I be absolved from my pledge—I will go before a I will acquaint hint with all that occurred—not even omitting’—and here Indora’s dark eyes were 295 to the drawing-rooi, he was on the point of ring. ing the bell with a view of putting certain questions to Purvis; but he thought better of it, and re- paired to the breakfast-pariour. He had no appe- tite——but he was @gore athirst: his throat felt as if he had been swallowing ashes. He ordered wine, ~—some choice specimen of the light and cooling vintage of the Bhine; and when he had partaken copiously thereof, he proceeded to his dressing- room to make some improvement in his toilet. Afterwards he wandered out upon his domain; and for hours he reflected upon all that had oc- curred—or we should rather say that he continued . to be harassed and agitated by a variety of the most painfal thoughts. On returning to the mansion as the dinuer-hour approached, he again felé an inclination to put cértain inquiries to Purvig; and again was he by a second thought prevented. The dinner passed, —that dinner to which he sate down all alone; and wien it was over, he again went wandering abont like ah unsettled spirit. When the dusk was closing in, he re-entered the mansion; and as he repaired to the drawing-room, one of the domestics preceded him with wax-lights. Then, as if his mind was suddenly made up in respect to a point fixed penetratingly upon the Dake—“ not even | on which he had so often hesitated throughout this omitting, I say, the circumstance how I defended | agitated day, the Duke abruptly said to the do- myself with that self-saine which dealt; death to the uncle whose title and fortane you in- herited !” Having thus spoken, the Princess Indore issued , from the drawing-room; and the Dake, elosing the door behind her, threw himself upon a sofa and gave way to his agitated refiections. In a few minutes a domestic entered, saying, “The Lady Indora has ordered your Grace's plain carriage to be immedintely gotten in readiness, to take her to | the nearest post-town; and she will leave Oaklands in less than half-an-hour,” The Duke gave no answers; and the domestic withdrew. Marthmont comprehended wherefore the meseage had been sent: it was to give him to understand that as Indora was on the point of taking her departare, it was not for him to fulfill the pledge giten her in his hastily written note, that he would quit the mansion immediately after the interview which he bed bessught her to grant. The carriage was soon i readiwes and the Princess departed from Oakian the handa of Purvis a Mberal au divided amonget the domesties—although the ge- nerality of them little deserved this bounty at her hands, inagmueh as they had been prepared to follow their riaster’s instructions in respect to sup- porting the tale of the Duchess being beneath that roof. Wo may observe that munificent indesd was the present Which Indora made to the steward for his own especial behoof; and she had found an opportunity of expressing her thariks for the well- meant note which he had thrust under her door.. sue the eal nothing to him in respect to the The Dake of Marychmont behehl Indori’s depar- ture from the drawing-room window; and the instant the carriage drove away, be sped up-stairs to the room which she had oecupied. He searched everywhere for that dagger—but he discovered it | not: is was nowhere in the chamber. Returning mestic, * Bid Purvis come hither |” In a few minutes the old steward entered the apartment: but even stil] the Duke felt disin. clined to approach the particular topic. At length | however he said, “Purvis, something so strange oceurred last night, that I have made up my mind to speak to you on the subjeet-———and yet it is so | painfal a one that you will not wonder I have | throughout this day dreaded to approach it.” The old steward was utterly at a loss to con- jecture what could have thus ocourred,—though on the other hand he was scarcely at a loss to comprehend what the painfal topic must be; for whenever such an allusion was made beneath that roof, it was always at once taken for granted that it referred to the tragedy of nineteen years back. “ The fact is, Purvis,” continued the Duke, “I had some little design in respeet to that lady; but of course that's my own affair, and nothing to do With any of my servants. I was misled as to her charecter—I. thought she was imelined to bo gay, whereas I found th® very reverse to be the case. However, the with yeu, may point on which I desired to apeak weapon of defence—and the weapon was——you know what I mean! .Ié wae the. eame identical one which my wretched. brother used——"” in shingled | “Yeo-—and E sco that yeu know womething about it!” exclaimed the Buke.. “That dagger, my lord ?”’ cried the old steward,. terrible past ?” * Wy lori, i aint dboply sorry,” said Purvig— “but. I ’ begin 40 noderstend-——~” “Explain yourself |—hasten to explain yourself Tell me the whole truth, whatever it may - 1” avd Marchmont was labouring under the violent excite=. ment of sumpense, ‘My lord,” rejoined Porvis, “I have done no- be explained in a few words, Last, tight, Purvi, I found that lady armed with a © Comme, tell me f- Think you that it is a pleasant thing for me to have peraded before my ayes that mesiorial of the (GO) an (C DOO Col