The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 303: what you’re looking at

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I received from my sister a letter giving me the hope that the period for such vengeance was near at hand——” “To deal frankly with you, Amy,” interrupted Christian, “it was upon these pointe that I came to confer with you. You cannot have forgotten ali you told me when I was last here a few months back. You gave me to understand that your sister Marion was seeking to succour you in your plan of contemplated vengeance. You informed me likewise that she had become connected with Wil- son Stanhope; and I have reason to know that Wilson Stanhope himeelf had some dark dealings with the Duke of Marchmont. Now I must in- form you, Amy, that several persons are engaged in weaving the web so tightly around Marchmont that if he should recover from this dangerous ill- nese into which his own tortured and harrowed feelings have no doubt plunged him———” “ Good heavens! what mean you?’ exclaimed Sutton, es a sudden suspicion flashed in unto her mind. “Is it possible that tho safety of Marchmont himself is compromised by the arrest of his brother Lord Clandon ?” “You must not question me, Amy,” replied Christian Ashton. “Iam not now at liberty to _ explain everything I know. But this much I will tell you—that if you will abandon your own isolated and individual scheme of vengeance, and co-operate with those who, inspired by no vindic- tive feelings, are anxious only to expose wrong and make right come uppermost—if, in a word, Amy, you will league with us, and throw as it were into the common stock, all such means of prosecuting our plan as you may be enabled to “Oh, yes!” exclaimed the young woman, with a fierce enthusiasm; “anything, Mr. Ashton, #0 long es there be a chance of inflicting a terrible chastisement upon the head of him to whom I owe my degradation and my ruin !” “There is every chance, Amy!” rejoined our hero. “Tell me, therefore, in which manner and to what extent you can assist us P” “You know, Mr. Ashton,” continued Amy Button, “that my frail and unfortunate sister Marion suffered herself to be handed over as tho mistress of Wilson Stanhope. She knew from me that this man Stanhope had been connected with the nefarious plans of the Duke of Marchmont : she knew likewise that it was my aim to wreak a fearful vengeance, if possible, on Marchmont’s bead. She resolved to succour me. For some weeks bas she been living under the protection of Wilson Stanhope, towards whom sho has displayed every evidence of affection ; she has lavished her caresses upon him—she has insidiously assailed him with cajoleries—she has adopted overy means to win his completest confidence. I need not tell you that he is dissipated—that he is addicted to wine—and that his habits are often intemperate. Thos has she succeeded in gleaning from him cer- tain secrets of the utmost importance, but of which I myself am still unaware ; for with a becoming pradence she would not entrust them to an epis- tolary correspondence. That these secrets, how- ever, would be ruinous to the Duke of Marchmont if made | pnown, I have not the slightest doubt. I was ing myself in the hopes of e speedy ven- geance, when the intelligence reached me of the THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. vile Duke’s serious illness—an illness which me- thought might end fatally. And I was striivag hard to regain sufficient health and strength to re- peir to London to see my sister, and ascertain from her lips all that she had gleaned from Stan. hope in the momente of his ebriety, or when he was under the influence of her cajoling blandish- ments |” “You have told me sufficient, Amy,” replied Christian, who had listened with the deepest at- tention to the young woman’s narrative, “to decide me how to act.” “But there is one stipulation which I must make !” ejaculated Amy, with a sudden access of flerce excitement; “and it is that whatecever ven- geance you wreak upon the Duke of Mareh- mont——” “ Understand me well!” interrupted Christian. “It is no vengeance which wo are endeavouring to wreak : it is an attempt to expose his iniquity throughout all its various ramifications—aend as I before said, to make the right come uppermost. All his crimes shall be made to pass like a hideous phantasmagoria of spectres before his eyes ; and those who have been the accomplices or the wit- nesses of his several deeds of turpitude, shall be marshalled in dread testimony against him. On that occasion, Amy, you shall be present !” “ This is what I require!” ejaculated tbe young woman: “ it is for this that I was about to stipa- late! Make use of me as you will: but remember, Mr. Ashton, you pledge yourself that I shail not be forgotten when the crowning moment of retri- bation arrives.” “You shall not be forgotten, Amy,” rejoined our hero. “On the contrary, your presence will be needfal. From inquiries which I last night caused to be instituted in Belgrave Square, there is every prospect that the Duke of Marchmont will survive this illness, though eo dangerous, into which he has been plunged.” Ob, I am rejoiced! I am rejoiced !” exclaimed Amy Sutton; and the ferocity of a tigress glistened in her eyes. The aspect of her countenance did Christian harm to contemplate it: but he could not utter a remonstrance nor breathe a syllable of rebuke: he needed the services and the co-operation of Amy Sutton; and he was forced to avail himself of her vindictive feelings for the carrying out of his own purposes. He remained in discourse with her for some time longer ; and on rising to take his leave, he addressed her in these parting words——”’ “Tarry you here for the present, to regain health and strength as speedily as you can; and when the moment approaches that your presence will be required elsewhere, you will receive a timely notification from me. You can let me know in a few days how your convalescence pro- gresecs ; ao that I may have the assurance of your ability to travel some little distance when the period for action shall arrive.” “Were I upon the bed of death,” ejaculated the young woman, with another fierce glaring and flashing of the eyes, “I would not fail to obey your summons !” “ Farewell,” said Christian: “the interval vill not be long betore your wrongs, Amy, will be avenged as terribly as you yourself could possibly —V————— SE Se cette peep COMME OOO SS} (CO