The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 194: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. ‘\ speak to you; and if you would avoid scandal and | 8 disturbance, I pray you to return quietly to the shop you have so recently left.” The lady had stopped short on being thus clutched and thus addressed: the chemist’s son felt by her arm that she was trembling violently— and indeed, veiled though she were, it was evident that her whole form was thus agitated. But quickly recovering herself, she said in a voice that sounded cold and composed, though low, “I live c'dse by. Pang with me—and I will do whateo- ever “ But, her sal at once responded the chemist’s son, “you are proceeding in a contrary direction to the address which you ere now gave me.” “That is quite true,” she rejoined, in the same collected manner : “but I had other purchases to make. I have a friend living close at hand; we will proceed thither: and then you can not only explain yourself, but I will convince you that I am of the highest respectability. “ Madam,” replied the youth, “ what I require to be done can be accomplished in a single mo- ment, Give me back the phial, and receive your in return.” “Fool!” suddenly ejaculated the stranger lady, who during this brief and hurried colloquy, had taken something from beneath her shawl with the hand that was : for the chemist’s son still retained a firm grasp on her right wrist and at the same instant that she uttered that word, some powder was thrown in his eyes, which natu- rally made him start with the sudden pain. The lady burst away from him: he shouted for the police, while wiping his eyes with his hand- kerchief: a crowd soon gathered around him—he gave a hurried description of the female’s appear- ance—and several persons set off in every direc- tion in pursuit. But all attempts to overtake her were unavailing; and meanwhile the young man had been conducted into a house close by, where water was furnished for him to bathe his eyes. It was some innocuous powder that had been thus thrown; and beyond the temporary pain, he ex perienced no farther therefrom. On returning home, he recounted to his father all that had occurred; and he then learnt that the address given by the of the poison, was false. The old chemist deemed it prudent to repair with- out delay to the Prefect of Police, and narrate the entire particulars ; and this functionary consented, under all circumstances, to forbear from insti- fating any penal proceedings against the chemist’s Tt would appear that the Prefect had not the slightest conception who could be the female that had purchased the poison. He consulted half-a- dozen of his most experienced agents, and those who were best acquainted with the personal ap- pearance of ladies moving in the fashionable sphere: but asa matter of course there were more than one, and more even than fifty, with light or golden air whom these agente recollected in a moment; and it was therefore impossible to fix upon any one in particular. For several days afterwards the chemist’s son accompanied one of the agents to all the most fashionable resorts, to see if he could recognise and point out any lady resembling her who had punghased the poison: but this endeavour likowge proved unavailing. 137 Six weeks passed away; and the occurrence ceased to be thought of by the few to whose knowledge it had come. We should however observe that not a single line relative thereto had found its way into the public journals,—so that the female who purchased the poison, might be supposed to have remained unaware of the procecdings thus taken to discover her. It was in the middle of the night, at the ex- piration of this interval of six weeks, that the household of the Baron de Charlemont was sud- denly alarmed by the violent ringing of the bells communicating with the chamber occupied by that nobleman and his wife. The principal lady’s-maid was the first to answer the summons; and shoe was met on the threshold of the chamber by the Baroness, who seemed in a violent state of agita- tion, and desired her to hasten and arouse her aunt immediately, as the Baron was seized with apoplexy. Another maid, who immediately after made her appearance, was directed to bid one of the men-servants run instantaneously and fetch medical assistance; for that the Baron appeared to be dying. Both of these maids perceived a strong odour of vinegar and perfume in the chamber; and they of course cuncluded that the Baroness had been applying restoratives to her husband. The aunt speedily reached the chamber, where she found her niece apparontly if'a fainting state, and the Baron de Charlemont lymg a corpse in the bed. The aunt herself was so dreadfully shocked that for some minutes she required from the female-servants who gathered in the room, as much assistance as her niece. But at length, by the time the medical man arrived, they were both somewhat restored to self-possession. The Baroness seemed to be much affected : but there was nothing so unnaturally frenzied in her grief as to give it the air of being assumed and over-done. On the contrary—as subsequently described by the wit- nesses thereof—it gppeared the natural ebullition of a young wife’s feelings, when so rudely and suddenly deprived of a husband who, if he pos- sessed not her love, at all events had gained her esteem and gratitude by his kindness towards* her. In short, it was representéd to be just that species of affliction which was likely to be shown under circumstances where there could not be any fervid or impassioned love. When sufficiently composed to give an account of the tragedy, the narrative of the Baronoss amounted to these par- ticulars:— On retiring to rest, the Baron had complained of an uneasy feeling and dizziness in the head—a fact corroborated by his valet, who had assisted him ta, undress in a room adjoining the bed- chamber: but after he had sought his couch, he felt eomewhat better. In the middle of the night the Baroness, who slept lightly, was awakened by her husband groan: she started up—and by the light burning in the room, perceived that he was in a fit. She instantaneously applied such restoratives as were at hand—or at least which she belieyed to be calculated to havo that effect : and finding that he was rapidly becoming worse, she rang the bells to arouso the household. In the interval, however, between the appearance of the two maids and the coming of her aunt, her husband expired. The medical man attributed the death to apo- l,l ire cence oe = (COL (C DOO CS (COL