The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 377: what you’re looking at

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B66 Christine was s9 overcome by her varied feelings, —thenkfulness for Indora’s providential escape, astonishment at the mirecplous manner in which it had heer acgomplished, and horror at the thought af go deadly a reptile havipg been in the house, that phe nearly fainted. The Princcss sustained hey young friend in her arms, embracing her affec- tionately : Christina exerted a strong effart ta re, gein her self-possession ; and a flood of tears gave har effectual relicf, Mark was now summoned; and the result of the investigation was made known ¢o him~ran an- noyneement which he received with feelings not far different from those which inspired Christina Ashton. “T cannot understand, my lddy,” he said, “ how ayoh a reptile could be here: for the veriest child knows that there are none indigenous to this coyntyy. Jt must have egcaped from the Zoolo- gical Gardens, or else from some itinerant mena- goria; bus heaven be thanked for its disoovery and deatruction, ere droad mischief wag wrought by ite venomous ” “JT peed not remind you, Merk,” observed In- dora, “how it suits my purpose to retain « atrict iweognite here; and how desirous J am therefore te avoid attracting any particular notipe on the pert of the publip. It is therefore my pleasure that this pccyrrenoe be kept strictly secret; and you will enjoin the Boglish domestics not to speak of at to theis acquaintances, nor to make it a sub- o oan ject of gossip amongst the tradesmen with whom we deal. hil aecompanicg the messengers from my royal r” Mark bowed and withdrow,+-taking the towel and its loathsome contents awey with him. We need hardly say that with the exeeption of Se- goonah, every one in the servants’ hel) was smitten with horsor and astonishment on hearing what Mark had to relate, and on behalding the proofs of his story, But the wily ayah so well played her awn part, that she seemed to be as much affected as the rest—or even more so. Mark and the groom went forth together to bury the fragments of the cobra in the garden; while Sagaoonah, hag- tening upratairp, glided into the drawing-room and falling upon her knees at Indora’s feet, took the hand of her Highness and pressed it to hor lips, as if in congratulation at the escape of a well-beloved mistress. And Indora, who supposed herself ta be thus well beloved, payeasingly smoothed down tha long dark hair of hor slave,—et the same time thanking her for what she naturally gon, ceived to be a proof of her affectionate devotion. The messengare and the interpreter took their departuso from the villa; but it was mot yntil late bour on this memorable night that the ig- mates retired ta rest; for alike in the drawing- yoom and in the servants’ hall there wag much to @on verse upon. On the following day Madame Angelique re- appeared in that neighbourhood: for under all the circumstances which are known to the reader, she was deeply and peinfully anxious to ascertain what progress Segoonah was making in the diabolical enterprise she had undertaken,—whether it was as yet carried out,—and if ngt, when it would be. | Mention this likewise to the intaspreter | THE MYSTERIES OF THE OOURT. to be so sought—was on the look-out. She ap- proached the fenca where their collognies were wont to be held; and Madame Angelique flew thither. At first ‘she thou ght, by the cold, rigid, statue-like air of the darkly’ beautiful Hindoo, thas the deed wag already accomplished: in fact, sa confident was she that such would be the announce. ment she was on the point of hearing, that she experienced gn inward feeling of savage joy, Sa- goonah seemed to penetrate what was passing in Nar mind: for she said in that voice of monotonous coldness which she so often was wont to adopt, “ You are exulting without 9 cause: the Lady Tn- dora, yet lives—end is likely to live Jang,” “Sagoonah--my dear 6 ssthese wards from your lips!” exelaimed Madame Angeliqup, in mingled disappointment and dismay, ** Yes-—-those words from my lips,” the ayah, coldly as before, “ Last night the ter- ribla project which you yourself suggested, was put in train-and it failed, I tell you thag the Lady Indora possesses a charmed life,” continued Sagoonah, with a sudden emphasis half solemn and half of passionate vehoemence: “‘and heaven itself manjfests its power on her hohalf. To meditate further mischief against her, would ba to fight against the deities themselves! J will not again dare such an ‘unholy strife! Ask me not for deteils---»] will give none!” * But you musts-you myst!” apelaimed Madame Angelique; “for yesterday I visited the Gardens after you bad left—I took care to inform myself that your party had been and was gone— I looked in the septile-house—and, Sagoanah, the deadly cobra was missing !” “ And that cobra was taken away by my band,” rejoined Sagoonsh, « terrific brightness suddenly flaming up in her large black eyes, “Think you therefore that the hand which dared grasp the reptile, trembled to depogit it in the couch of her to ensure whose death my own was dered? No! —I did all that youy infernal wickedness syug- geated, and thet my own fearful courage was enabled ta accomplish. But heaven intervened wondroysly--mirecylously |-and the dead reptile --dreqd now no longer—is buried in thig garden, I tell you, woman,” added Sagoonah fiercely, “that those who serve the cause of Hell cannot possibly prevail against the blest of Heaven :—and the Lady Indora is thus blest! Begone—tempt me no more! All your arts and wiles—your cajoleries and your instigations—are vain and fruitless. Never more will I be led by thom-= never more will I bend to them! Begone, womay ~-and beware how you seek this place again!” There was a wild eloquence in Sagoonah’s lawguage which earresponded effectually and im- pressively with her aspect, as she thts spokes. Hee yen burnt with a supernal lustre: they glowed in the magnificence of their brightness—their splen- dour was effulgent, but terrible and overpowering. Hey nostrils dilated—her lips wreathed like those of a pythoness when enunciating prophecies with an inspiring frenzy. Her tall form was drawn up to its full height,—-the swelling bosom upheaved beneath the white draperies that only partially concealed thoee contours as well rounded as if be- longing to a statue of bronze ;—and altogether the The ayah—more or less suspecting that the in-| appearance of that Hindvo woman struck terror famous woman would thus seek her, and wanting | and dismay into the heart of Madame Angeliguc. (COLL (C DOO (GO)