The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 189: what you’re looking at

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

| '% ¢ “ And now, William Dudley,” continued Arthur, after a short pause, “you may wonder that I should have atill retained you in my service during the last sixteen days. I had two objects in contempla- tion by thus acting. The first was to ascertain whether the spectacle of your young master re- covering health and strength, after reaching the very verge of the grave, and retracing the path to life and vigour in spite of the venom which you had infused into his veins,—I was anxious, I say, to entisfy myself whether such a spectacle would move gour heart—touch you with remorse—and awaken better feelings within your soul. Had this trial cesulted in your favour, I should yet have enter- tained the hope that you were not past redemption : { should have considered that it was well worth while to attempt the salvation of a fellow-creature in such a case. Then, in due time, I should have taken you by the hand—and I should have said, ‘ Dudley, I know all! But you have repented— and I forgive the past az sincerely as if it had-never been /—Alas! it is not in my power thus to address you. Night after night has the poison been mixed with the beverage placed by my side; and morning nfter morning has the chemist said to me, ‘ The water is envenomed still And now,.as if to crown your tremendous guilt, you seek my chamber in the middle of the night—with what intent I need not tell you, miserable man that you.are !” “Mercy—mercy, Mr. Baton! My God! spare me f” moaned the wretched Dudley, again sinking on his knees and joining his hands in entreaty— while the horrible workings of his countenance bore dread testimony to the nature of ¢he-emotions that were excited in his breast. “I have already informed you that it is my in- tontion to spare you, so far as the law is concerned,” said Arthur, scarcely able to conquer a sensation of loathing aud abhorrenpdGn respect to the man. in whom he had been so cruelly deceived. “Rise, sir—rise, I command you—and hear me out.” The valet resumed his standing posture at the. tuot of the bed: but his eyes were cast.down—for he was unable to look in the face of that young man who had been so kind a master, and towards whom he had acted as a veritable fiend. And all this while Fernanda remained seated, motionless as a statue—and as a statue pale and glacial in outward appearance: but heaven alone can tell how dire—how terrible were the feelings that agitated in her upheaved bosom. “TI have now explained my first motive for re- taining you in my service since'the day on which I discovered your gailt,” resumed Mr. Baten, con- tinuing to address himself to. the valet, on whose ears his words fell with a power and effect that shoek him to the jowest confines of his being : and yet Arthur's language flowed in a ealm—measured —urnexoited strain; as if 16 were an.unbiased and meroifol judge who was speaking. “My escond motive,” he continued, “was intimately. associated with my iutentions respecting Miss Aylmer; and as it appears that you bave no secrete with each other, I will speak frankly and openly. Know then, Fernanda, that I went this morning.to Mre. Lind- hey’s house in order to obtain an interview with yous; and my object was to offér-you-my hand.” The young lady started at this strange announce- ment: but, instantly recovering herself, che said in a to yourself credit for a deed of generosity, now that you may safely vaunt it without being expected to repeat the proposal. “I take Almighty God to witness that such is the truth—the solemn truth” exclaimed Arthur Eaton, emphatically. “Would you have other evidence thereof in addition to my word, seek your uncle the Earl of Desborough—seek the Countess and ask them to tell you all I said to them last = Yon doubtless told them that I was a polsoner —but that you would forgive me!” returned the young lady,. witha bitterness and a malignity which showed how relentless and diabolical was her hatred towards him whom she had once loved with such an impassioned fervour. “ No, Fernanda,” rejoined Arthur: * had I! thought of betraying you to your nearest relatives, € should not have hesitated to give you up to jastice. But I reasoned within the secret depths of my own soul—and I reflected that I had wronged you—that I had driven you to the desperation which prompted you to wreak so terrible a retribu- tion—and that it was for me to make amends. Therefore did I hasten this morning to Fore Street ; and: had J found you ic that place still, I should huvesaid, ‘ Fermanda, God: ie giving me back my health ; and ina fow weeks. I chail be perfectly re- suscitated. Aynin‘do I offer you my hand ; éad now you cannet.dosuec me of an'anzistyto make az atone- ment oniy when under the influence of that remorse serous, Fernanda, even as I seek to be just: let us Sorget the past, and live in hope of a happier futurs.’ —Thus should. I have.spoken; and if you had still refused to accept the only amends which lay in my pewer to propese, at all events a weight would ‘have been semoved frum: my-caonseience. I should not here revenled to you the fact that I had dis- covered the secret of. my malady and that youwere ine to-thte:tomb ;.and if you:had: proved a good wife to: me, never should a word or losk on my part have led you.to suspect that your pastiniquity was so fally known in.all its details t me. I should have-besh happy in your repentance—your contri- tion ;—and J should have considered that I had saved a soul from that eternal ruin towards which my own conduct had driven it ig the beginning to take the first step. Now, therefore, you can un- derstand, William Dudley,” added Arthur Eaton, once more turning to the valet, “ my second motive for hitherto retaining you in my service. For as it was my intention to keep from Miss Aylmer the cireumstance that I had discovered the cause of my malady, I should likewise have observed the same profound secrecy in that respect towards w Oh! my good kind master, what a wretch 1 have been I!" exclaimed the valet, wringing his hands, while tears trickled down his cheeks. “Peace, drivelling fool!” ejaculated Fernanda, turning sharply round upon him. “ Nay—speak not thus,” sald Arthur Eaton, in a severe tone of' rebuke, ashe fixed his eyes almost sternly upon Miss Aylmer. *~ Would to God that words of contrition might come from your lips f° “Never * cried the young lady, starting from her-chair. “I see that you have turned a saint, tone of icy coldness, “It te well uset you wake 1 Arthar Haton— perhaps a hypoorite—and 1 now —— EO AOC AAUG SS ee « co