The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 217: what you’re looking at

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210 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. sommitted, when she thought that if by still | ghastly countenance. The man retired: and thea holding her peace, he might be led to farther revelations in the course of fresh appeals and entreaties, it would be all the more serviceable to her. She accordingly continued silent. “ Harriet, this passes all endurance!” cried Staunton: “you are either treating me with cold indifference, or with contempt. Perhaps you are even gloating over my miseries? perhaps you hate me? and peradventure my sufferings and my humiliation constitute a delicious vengeance for you? Oh, but it is too cruel for you to treat me thus! ‘You should remember what I did for you —the riak that I ran—the guilt I accumulated on my soul! Harriet, speak to me—or I will compel you. J am growing desperate — wild —mad|! Harrict, I say, speak to me!” And as Adelaide still continued silent, Lord Harold Staunton gave vent to an imprecation of rage, as he stamped his foot upon the floor. ‘Well then, hear me for the last time,” he exclaime!. “I told you that I would not use threate—and I will note but I will give you a warning. That bottle of poison has fallen into my uncle’s hands; and Chiffin confessed to him how it was obtained—that {% was procured by me in your room at the Castle. The Marquis, recol- lecting the suddenness of Mabel Stewart's death beneath the roof of this very house, accuses you of the murder; and he points to that poison as the means whereby it was Now, Harrict, listen! If still sv much for his nephew that I feel convinced he would take no step to strike that nephew a blow the medium of one who had become his wife. But unless you marry me, it is impossible to pay what course my uncle would adopt. Therefore in an alliance with me there is absolute safety for yourself: you see that it is no threat I hold out—it is a warning that I give! What eay you, HarrietP One syllable—yes or no—and my suspense will be at an end.” Again he paused: again was there a long in- terval of silenee. He paced to and fro—but with- out approaching near enough to the sofa to have his suspicions excited. “Will you not answer? One would W.ink you dead,” he exclaimed, furious with rage, “only that the rustling of your drese is beard. How is it to be, Harriet? Speak! By heaven, I will wring an answer from your lips!” Rushing forward, hé was about to clutch her by the arm, when Adelaide, rising from the sofa, said in a firm and collected tone, “ Your lordship is mistaken in the person whom you have been addressing.” A half-subdued ejacelation of horror burst from the itps of Lord Harold Staunton ; and staggering back, he sank like one annihilated upon a chair. “We had better huve lights,” said Adelaide, pulling the bell; “or the servants will think it that we sit 20 long in darknces.” Not another word was spoken till the domestie made his appearance with two lamps: for he had guessed wherefore he was summoned. As the first giare of light burst into that room, Adelaide perceived tht Harnid was still sitting in a perfect state of consternation and dismay: but fortunately for him, he was so placed that the marry me, my uncle has ! for nearly another minute was the silence pro- longed. “What do you mean to dof” at length asked Harold, slowly turning his haggard looks upon Edmund's wife: for of course he fully compre- hended that Edmund’s wife it was whom he had thus all along been addressing. “My lord,” responded Adelaide, who, having risen from the sofa, was now standing near the fire-place, her tall and splendid form reflected in more than one mirror, and her countenance reveal- ing a certain subdued satisfaction and triumph be- neath an expression of forced serenity,—“ you have no right to question me thus: we are perfect strangers to each other.” “It is true, my lady,” answered Harold, also rising from his seat, and approeching her, but still pale and trembling: “it ie true! And yet the cir- cumstances are so peculiaf-the error was 60 im- mense—the things I have said must appear so startling—in short, I feel that Iam altogether at your mercy———For God’s sake, deal leniently with me!” “Rest assured, my lord,” answered Adelaide, “that I shall take no unnecessary advantage of what I have heard. If I avail myself of it, it will not be in spitefulness or malignity : the revelations that have reached my ears, will only servo as wea- pons of defence in my hands. Do you understand me, my lord P” “I understand you but too well,” rejoitted the young nobleman, in mingled bitterness and an- guish. “ Kdmund’s mother is in your power—and you will make her feel that she is? Oh, insensate madman that I was———” “ But it is too late to deplore what cannot be recalled,” interrupted Adelaide: and a smile of scornful triumph, which she sought not to repress, played upon her rich red lips, revealing the bril- liancy of her pearly teeth. “You will ruin me altogether with her who is now your mother-in-law,” exclaimed Harold wildly. “You see what my hope is!—it ts my only hope! But do not think that all those things I said are true——No, no—they were the ravings of a fevered brain ” “ My lord,” again interrupted Adelaide, “ you are going the best way to anger me outright, by endeavouring to persuade me against the evidence of my own senses. Beware how make a woman fancy that you judge her for a fool: she can pardon almost anything but fiat f’ “No—de not be angry,” exclaimed Harold: “yor must make allowances for my feelings. From what I have said, you have lcarnt Lady Saxondale’s intentions towards you. I beseech you, endeavour to eome to some amicable understand- ing, whereby you may avoid the necessity ef be- traying what hasjust happened with me——-Oh, do —I beseech you! Teil me, is there aught I can do to serve you? Command me if you vil. know that I am at mercy: but again again 1 implore thet you wil use your power leni- ently.” “My lord, © promise to shat effect I have already given. You say that the Dowager Lady Saxondale is coming hither presently: do you not think that it will be more prudent for yeu to tthe cervant could not catch sight of his wan ant) your departure ore she matoe her aypeartncet —_ = ca —_ = 7 _- 2 <P TT» 0 Ee, iain (COIMUC DOO CS (COL