The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 315: what you’re looking at

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

a 302 “Proceed, my lord—proceed!” cried the old man, who was under an influence which strangely attracted him towards the long lost one. “There was a lady staying beneath this roof,” eontinued Bertram; “and though unseen myself, I beheld you wajking with her.” “Yes, my lord—it was an eastern lady,” an- ewered Purvis; “and I regret to add that it was for no-honourable motive she was somehow or aa- other led to come hither.” “But she experienced no outrage at my bro- ther’s hands f’”’ said Bertram quickly. - The old steward hesitated for a few moments: and then he answered, “I warned her, my lord— yes, I warned her—I considered it to be my duty. She defended herself—and it was——” But he stopped short :.for be was jast upon the point of adding something the bare idea of which struck him as fearful to a degree, considering the person to whom he was thus speaking. — “Finish your sentence—and deal with me frankly,” said Bertram. “I have particular rea- sons for the questions which I am now putting, and for those which I may yet have to put.” “No, my lord—I cannot, I cannot!” murmured the old man. “Purvis, I beseech you—ney, I implore and en- treat—by all the misery I have endured——” “ Well, my lord—it was with a certain weapon ———-Ah! for heaven’s, sake do tell me—do, for God’s sake justify the wild hope which thrills in my heart! Say the one word which shall make me believe that it wae not your hand———” “Parvis, give not thas way to your feelings,” _imterrapted Lord Clandon; “bat for heaven's sake be calm and collected. I understand you. That eastern lady defended herself with a certain weapon. But how came it in her hand? Tell me, Purvis, [ conjure you—tell me ev ing !” Purvis to explsin,—bat with many seif-interruptions and impassicned ejaculations, as various thoughts were excited in his mind in rapid succession,— how Indora had arrived at Oaklands —how he had escorted her over the mansion and through the grounds—how she had questioned him much in respect te the long-past tragedy— how he bad shown her the fatal weapon, which he had preserved—how she had so mysteriously and stealthily possessed herself of it—how ere her deperture she had restored it to the piace where i¢ was kept—how the Duke of Mar¢hmont had questioned him on the subject—and how they had gone together to the oabinet to ascertain whether it was there, when the wax-light was so suddenly dashed from his Grace’s hand. During this re- etal, Bertram was frequently compelled to en- courage the old man to proceed—to soothe his excited feelings—to check him when he sought to become the questioner—and te induee him to extend his explanations to those details of Indora’s ramble to particular spots which specially related to the tragedy of a bygone year. For upwards of an hour did Lord Clandon and the steward thus remain m conversation in the deep darkness of that chamber, until at length the mysterious visitor was about to take his departure. “Purvis,” he eaid, “you have rendered me a service the extent of which you may some day eomprehend. Bat by everything sacred do I again eomjure you to treat this visit of mine asif it had THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. never taken piace! Nota syliabie to your master ! not a word to your fellow-servants! Remember, Purvis,” continued Bertram in a tone of the deepest solemnity, “for the present I am under the ban of the law—and I need but hint at what would be my fate if through any indiscretion on your 39 “My lord,” interrupted the old man, sobbing violently, © I would not do sucha thing! No, I could net—eren if I did not entertain that wild hope——*” “Enough!” ejaculated Bertram ; wremef in the steward’s hand was for an instant in his own. ~ The next moment there was the sound of a door cantiously opening and shutting: afl was then silent in the chamber. Sleep presently fell upon the steward’s eyes; and when he awoke in the morning, he was at a loss to conjecture whether the main incidents of the night were a wild and fancifyl reality, or whether it were dream. CHAPTERE LVYII. THE DUKE. It was evening—the evening of the dey which followed the incidents of the memorable night depicted in the previous chapter; and Madame Angelique was seated as usual fn her elegantly furnished a ent, when the Duke of March. mont was announced. She had littl: expected to see him so soon: but she rose from her seat with the conviction that she might congratulate him on his success with the oriental lady,—w she stopped short on bebolding the ex exptession of his countenance. It was pale and careworn: there was a restless trouble in the eyes—and it was also evident that he had been drinking. -“What in heayen’s name is the matter, my lord ?” she asked: seized with consternation lest she herself should become involved in some dilemma with respect to the macbinations which she had now no doubt had resulted in failure. “Perdition take me, and everybody as well as everything elec!” said the Duke, flinging himself upon a peat. “ Give mea glass of wine. No—s tambler! Fill it up to the brim—spare not your champagne !”” | “ But, my lord, do tefl me,” sald Madame An- gelique, het countenance turning so deddly pele that the rouge sate like plastered patches upon it, —* do tell me——” “The wine, I say!” ejaculated Marchmont fiercely. With trembling hands Madame Angelique filled a tumbler with champagne; and the Duke tossed it off at a draught. “Phere!” he said, endeavouring to force him- self to laugh with an air of gaiety; “now I am cheered. It is astonishing what admirable effects are produced by wine—delicious wine !”” “ Pray tell me, my lord, what has occurred ?”’~—~ and the infamous woman was still quivering with spense. “All your precious schemes resulted in no- COMMIC DOO Col