The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 335: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER CLVII. THE LAST PLOT. : Two days after the incidents which we have just related, Lady Saxondale said to Edmund and Adelaide after breakfast, “To-morrow morning I purpose to leave you. The warfare is at an end between us. That we can part with very friendly feelings, is not to be supposed: but af least let us separate in , and with a resolve to think on either side as little of the unpleasant past as possible.” ‘Well, mother,” answered Edmund, “I don’t want to vex or you, although there are many things which might induce me to do so.” “No,” observed Adelaide; “we will not have more angry words :”—but she could not repress « look of exultation at the thought that she was now completely triumphant, and that Lady Saxon- dale was utterly humiliated. “‘Yes—to-morrow,” said the latter, “ imme- diately after breakfast, I shall leave ‘Baxondale Castle—~most likely for ever! It is my intention to repair to the Continent, and to live in tranquil - geclusion for the remainder of my days. Ayain therefore do I beseech that the last few hours we are to spend in each other’s society, may be em- bittered as little as possible by allusions to the Her ladyship thus spoke in order to throw and for the purpose of still more convincing them of her sincerity, she wore a desponding, a dejected, and a humiliated look, as if feeling herself com- pletely vanquished and But all the while she had a certain pian agitating in her thoughts,—a plan which, if successfully carried out, would not merely md her of Adelaide, but would place Edmund completely in her power. It was a hideous and a diabolical fiendlike which had ever yet entered the mind of | this d and unscrapulous woman. If there be degrees in guilt—if there be shades and hues, some deeper and darker than others, in the sphere of criminality—then assuredly had Lady Saxondale prepared to stain her soul with the blackest and the deadliest of all. After having spoken at the breakfast-table in the manner already described, she wandered about from room to room, collecting such of her trinkets as she fancied te take with her, or might seem to fancy for such a purpose: and in short, she ap- peared occupied with her preparations for doe- parture. But all the while she was watching for an opportunity to speak to Edmund alone; and this opportunity was somewhat difficult to be obtained, inasmuch as Adelaide kept almost incee- santly with her husband. But just before luncheon- tine, Adelaide ascended to her chamber to make some little change in her toilet; and Lady Saxon- dale, anticipating this movement, watched her from her own room as she passed along the passage. Ehe then glided to the apartment where she hoped te encounter Edmund: nor was she disappointed ~—for she found him there alone. “ Edmund—dearest Edmund,” she hastily said, adopting a tone and manner of affectionate kind- ness,—‘‘it is absolutely necessary I should have THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. haif-an-hour’s conversation with you. You know not the importatice of the matter on which I thus seek to enlighten you——Yes, terribly enlighten you! You are in danger—you stand upon a precipice—and I alone can save you !” When Lady Saxondale first began speaking with that air of sceming kindness, Edmund gave one of his insolently supercilious smiles, and was about to tell her “not to bother him:” but the concluding words that thus met his ears, and the awfully impressive tone and look of warning which accompanied them, struck terror to his heart. “ ‘What do you mean, mother?” he said. “Pray don’t keep me in suspense.” “T cannot tell you now. Adelaide will return in a few minutes: she must not seo us speaking together !”” “Then is it about her?’ demanded Edmund, nervously. “ Do not question me now. I will tell you all presently: you shall thes judge whether what I have to say is important or not. But I charge you not to breathe a syllable to your wife! Do not let her perceive there is any new secret between us! You must give me an opportanity——” “I know how!” quickly in Edmund, who was most seriously frightened. “ When I go up to drees for dinner, I will steal out of my toilet- room and come to cham “J will be there,” answered Lady Saxondale. “And now compoee yourself !—be as usual towards Adelaide! You know not how much depends upon your behaviour in this respect !”” Having thus spoken, Lady Saxondale hurried from the room, and flitted back to her own cham- the bell rang for luncheon, when she proeseded to the apartment where it was served. Edmund and Adelaide were already there; and a glance showed her that the former was maintaining his wonted demeanour towards his wife—eo that her ladyship most | felt assured she had succeeded in thoroughly When the repast was over, Lady Saxondale retired altogether to her own chamber; and remained there, occupied with her thoughts, until about half-past six o’clock,—when the door opened, and Edmund made his appearance. “ Now, mother, for heaven’s eake what is it ?” he exclaimed, his looks showing how strong was the impression which her words had made upon him in the middle of the day. “You must be calm, Edmund—you must sum- mon all your courage and all your self-possession to your aid! Indeed, you never in all your life required the exercise of the strongest power of self-control so much as you do at present.” “Go on, mother! I will do as you tell me! See, I am composed. Now, what is it ” “Did you ever hear, Edmund, of a certain Count de 8t. Gerard P”—and as Lady Saxondale thus spoke, she fixed her large dark eyes penetrat- ingly upon the young man's mean and ignodle countenance, to ascertain the impression which the mention of that name would create. “St. Gerard? Yes, to be sure!” he answered, a strong feeling of jealousy at once springing up within him. “ And you have read—or yer have heard,” com- tinued her ladyship, “the full particulars of (COL (C DOO CS (COL