The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 318: what you’re looking at

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

| | THE MYSTERIES OF THR COURT. is my husband recovering from his dangerous ill- neoes—scarcely is he convalescent—when two emis- saries from your Majesty present themeclves at the house and demand an interview with him. They insisted upon seeing him alone: but I would not leave him—TI clung to him—nothing could induce me to tear myself away from him at a moment when presentimente of danger had irresistibly asized upon my brain! Then they whispered some words in his ear: those words I could not catch—nor would he tell me what they were. But their power was talismanic, and their effects 80F givings to which she had already alluded as having haunted her fancy when listening to the ravings of her husband in the delirium of his fever ! Queen Indora had purposely mentioned the name of Lord Clandon in order to prepare the Duchess somewhat for the terrible denoxement of all the proceedings which were now in progress ; and yet it wrung the heart of the generous Queen to be compelled thus to shock, harrow, and appal the soul of a lady who was already unfortunate enough—whose affliction was already 90 great— and who was so completely innocent in respect to upon him were awful! Orushed and overwhelmed | every one of the misdeeds that were this night to as if tho call of doom had emitten his ear, he murmured forth his readiness to obey the eam- | | from her seat in order to put an end to the inter- mons which your Majesty hed sent him through those emissaries. Then was it that I learnt for the first time that you were of queenly rank; and I knew that if ever the diadem of mercy sat gracefully on the brow of any throned lady, it must be upon your’s—and I resolved to accompany my bueband! It was as a captive in the power of your emipsaries that he was brought hither: it was ass criminal that I beheld him ere now separated from me. And here—in his own mansion, where none but he or I should command —do we seem to be aliensand strangers! Our very steward dictates to us: the domestics, assembled , in the hall, look on in gloomy silence as we pass! | Ob, madam! my pind is filled with horrible : For heaven's sake tell me, what does it | elerms ! all mean P” “ It is impossible that I can give your ladyship any explanations now,” responded Indora. be charged egainst her husband. “I beseech you, lady,” said Indora, now rising view, “to summon all your fortitude to your aid, and to take refuge in the resignetion taught by the sublime truths of that Christianity in which I believe as well as your Grace. Whatsoever is now prorressing must be accomplished, as if it were the irresistible progress of destiny iteclf! I¢ is no persecution devised against your peace :— heaven forbid! Certain circumstances are engens dered by the misdeeds of men: and, alas! it too often bappens in this world that innocent beings become the victims thereof. So it may be now ! What is right must be asserted; and whatsoever is wrong must be proclaimed. Again I aay, Duchess of Marchmont, summon all your forti- tude to your aid: and it were ungenerous—it were, cruel—it were even wicked on my part to abstain from giving you this warning! I must now leave you: but I will summon into your presence an “ Ob ! did you not tell me on the former ooca- | amiable and excellent young lady who will do her sion when we mat,” exclaimed the Duchess of | best to soothe solace and console you.” Marchmont,—* did you not tell me that for my sake would you forgive all his offences towards yourself P-—did you not bid me return to my hus- band and assure him emphatically that it was on my acceunt your pardon was accorded ?”’ Ajl this is true, lady !” answered Indora, etill. with the most compassionating tone and look: “but do you not remember that at the time I gave Lavinia listened with a look of dismay, and yet with a certain expression of gratitude, to this solemnly delivered speech. It portended some- thing dreadful in respect to her husband ; and her own tremendous fearg were now frightfully sug- gestive. She could not speak—she could not give utterance to a syllable in reply to the Queen's address: but again sinking at her feet, she took your Grace to understand there was a reservation | Indora’s hands and pressed them to her lips, as if on behalf of ancther—and that though I pardoned your husband for his misdeeds towards myself, I had not the power to acquit him of whatsoever offences he had been guilty of towards that | other 7” ‘¢ -Yos, moet gracious madam,” replied the to implore that as much mercy might be shown to her husband as circumstances would permit her Majesty to show. Indora etified a sob which threatened to con- vulse her own bosom; and pressing the hands of the Duchess, she stooped down, kiseed her fore- Duchess, soxiously, and full of suspense; “all head, and devoutly murmured, “ May heaven, my this I remember well ! to whom your majesty alluded at the time—was it not nah P” “ No,” rejoined Indora. “ That other to whom But was not that other afflicted friend, sustain you |” The Queen then issued from the apartment where this moet painful interview had taken place; and she found Purvis waiting for her on I alluded, and on behalf of whom I so emphe-| the landing. tically expressed a reservation—that other for | “Send Miss Ashton to the Duchess,” said In- whom indeed I had no power to speak, but for| dora to the old steward; “and bid her remain whom on the contrary I was myself working— , with her Grace until her presence shall be required that other, lady "—and after a few moments’ hesi- elsewhere. Then having done this,” added In- tation, Indora added, “that other was Lord: dora impressively, “let the proceedings of the Clandon |” | tribunal at once commence!” The coantenance of the Dachess, already exceed: | Purvis bowed; and then said, “ May I be so ingly pale, now became ghastly white: and she bold as to ask your Majesty whether the twins seemed as if she were about to faint. Horrible have a foreknowledge of all that is about to take suepicions—frightful misgivings, had evidently place ?’ smitten the unfortunate lady, even to the extent “Nu, Purvis,” answered the Queen: “as little of almost overpowering, crushing, and prostr.ting es possible bas been said to them—and they ere her utterly—those same suspicions and thosc mis- ignorant fur what object they have been browght WE girs ean eap «a @ @- > Gee ae 6 - =E=wee ga ET ee (CO G OOO SS} (CO