The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 209: what you’re looking at

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een cece cncnnncnmcce eee nee eee EE e NT —————e«— NS 196 sacter alike as an Amazon and as one of the most which she had repaid her husband's fond indulgence and foolish confidence. No wonder, then, that tears now trickled slowly down her cheeks as the whole picture of her career presented itself to her memory and passed before her mental vision with dioramic effect: no wonder that she sighed and felt dull as she reflected that the old man who had loved her so tenderly was m0 more, and that under whatscever circumstances concerning the safety of my papers. Go on, boy,” she cried, turning again towards Wasp. “ Germain and the messenger came last night at about twelve o’clock,” continued the page; “and when Sir John Lade heard the nature of their busi- ness, ho was seized with a sudden tremor and be- came speechless. The servants carried him up to bed—the physicians were sent for—but he never spoke again—and fn less than an hour——” “He was a corpse,” added the buntress, im a low and mournful voice. “Poor Sir John! she ex- he had breathed his last, she was not there to re- | her tone page, and speaking in a voice that was indeed much changed from the gay hilarity which had so recently thrilled through the room. “It was a sudden fright, my lady—caused by sownething which I have yet to explain,” observed Wasp. “Ah! then unpleasant things have occurred” exclaimed the huntress. “ But of what nature eould they be ? Speak, my boy—and keep me not another moment in suspense.” “Late last night, my lady,” resumed Wasp, “two men came to the house and declared that they had an authority to search the premises. I instantly recognised one of those persons——” “ Who was he?” demanded the Amazon. “Germain, the Prinoe’s French valet,” was the : peply. | “ Ah!— this is indeed important!” ejaculated Lady Lade, flinging a giance of mingied interest and trepidation upon Mrs. Fitzherbert, whose countenance suddenly assumed an expression in- dicative of the presentiment of evil which simul- taneously sprang up in her mind. “Yes — one was Germain, my lady,” resumed Wasp; “and the other announced himself to be a messenger from the Home Office.” “Good heavens!” cried Lady Lade: * what could sach a visit portend ?” “They said that your ladyship was suspected to have been leagued with certain seditious individuals whom the authorities had already sent out of the egantry,” conti continued Wasp; “and as the Habeas Corpus remains suspended, the Home Office had power to enforce search warrants granted by the magistrates in such cases.” era ce is at the bottom of all this!” mur- m: Amazon, ing hastily aside to Mrs. = speaking y “Perhaps he knows that you are with me, and has conjectured the course which you intended to pursue on my behalf?” observed Mrs. Ki from whose cheeks had now fled all the blushes with which the incident of the kiss had waffused them, and whose whole form was quivering with the nervous excitement of mingled suspense and terror. “Qh! he is capable of wreaking upon us the direst revenge—I know he is!” added the | panaPPy lady shudderingly, as she thus revealed her acquaintance with one of the darkest traits in the character of the Prince. “ Let us hear the end of all this,” said the Amazon; part, I am overwhelmed with consuming terrors on “and we shall then know what to think. For my “ While that sad scene was taking place ir one room,” continued Wasp, “the two men were ran- sacking the furniture and cupboards in all the others.” “And the -desk in the safe in my bed- chamber 2” demanded the huntresa, no longer able to restrain her impatience, and yet putting a ques- tion to which she dreaded to receive an answer. “They found it, my lady,” said Wasp: “they opened it——"* “ Enough !" cried the Amazon: “I wish to hear no more.” “Then your worst fearsare confirmed 2” whispered Mrs. Fitzherbert, hastily. “ Yese—and I am now powerless to assist you af Windsor,” responded Lady Lade, in a low deep tone of concentrated rage: then, with a sinister gloom upon her countenance lately so radiant with amiles, and her fine white teeth closely set, shd whispered hissingly, “But I will be revenged, as sure as there is a God in heaven !” Both Mrs. Fitzherbert and Miss Plantagenet gazed upon the Amazon in dismay: for there was something ferociously terrible in her manner, her look, and her gesture as she gave utterance to that dark menace. And it was at this crisis in the scene, that a carriage drove up to the door of the sponging- house, the arrival of which instantaneously at- tracted the inmates of the room to the barred win- dow. “Two ladies have alighted,” said Mrs. Fitzher- to | bert: “but they entered the house so abruptly that I could not distinguish their faces.” “ But whose carriage is it 7” demanded the Amazon. “There are no arms upon the panels,” replied Mrs, Fitzherbert; “and yet I should know that livery——Oh! if they be really visitors for me,” she exclaimed, suddenly recollecting herself and turning round in affright towards Miss Planta- genet. And this young lady was about to beat a precipi- tate retreat into the bed-room adjoining, when the door of the parlour itself was flung open by the ob- sequious Mr. Crimp—and the Duchess of Devon- shire, accompanied by the Countess of Desborough, entered the apartment. CHAPTER CLXXITII. FRESH SCENES IN THE SPORGING-HOUSE. Mas. FiezueReert was for aninstant on the point of shrieking out and becyming overwhelmed with confasion—for she knew that the Dachess of Devon AOOLK (COLUM