The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 337: what you’re looking at

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334 ehe answered, compelling THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. him to rise up from his quivered all over as he said, ing him to rise up from his quivered all over as he said, “You mean, mother, suppliant posture, “I meant that I would eounsel | that I must take her life P” you how to save if.” “TI will go to a mayistrate—I will hurry off to Hawkshaw or to Denison—I will go to the constable at Gainsbo —anything to get rid of this dread- ful woman !”—and he was fearfully excited. “ Insensate boy! will you be tranquillised P” ex- claimed her ladyship sternly—though in her heart rejoicing with a fiendish satisfaction at these violent gusts of passion, which showed how effec- tually she had instilled the poison of jealousy and infused the influence of terror into his soul. “And wherefore not ?’ demanded Lady Saxen- dale. “Is it not in self-defence? If she attacked you with a sword, would you not snatch it from her grasp, if you could, and slay her therewith P— and is she not now meditating Dy, insidious means to take your lifeP Are not all the blandishments she lavishes upon you, so many subtleties to lull you inte a false security f Shall yeu not therefore be justified in the from her grasp —turning round upon her suddenly—and dealing her pee death which she purposes to overtake “ What would you say to a magistrate? It would | you P” be a mere vague and unsupported accusation. I could not stand forward as a witness——Alas! now you perceive the consequences of having done your best to place me in that woman’s power! But is it possible, Edmund, you have been all along so infatuated as never to entertain the slightest misgiving as to her intentions towards you P” “ Misgiving ?’ echoed Edmund: “TI have sel- dom been free from it! I have been haunted by vague terrors: my fears have followed me in'my dreams—I have fancied that I was encircled in the coils of a monstrous t——"” “ And as you live,” cried Lady Saxondale, “it fe a serpent in whose power you have placed your- eclf! Know yeu not that the most venomous of enakes have the fairest and loveliest of skins? Oh, my poor boy!” she added, pretending to be affected unte tears, and to be seized with a sudden revival of love towards one whom she in reality hated with the most cordial detestation,—“ must be guided by my counsel! it is for me to save uw 1”? “Speak, mother—speak!” exclaimed Edmund, completely beguiled by the tone, the look, and the manner she had assumed. “You see the position in which you are placed,” continued her ladyship. “ Adelaide menaces life: if she should fail, St. Gerard will take it. They have vowed between them that you shall perish by poison, or fall beneath the assassin's knife. Adelaide, who murdered one husband, is familiar with crime and all ite means and re- sources, and will not scruple to attempt the life of a second husband. But if she fail, her paramour is ready to take up the enterprise; and he who 90 well knew how and where to find a ready agent to deliver you from the mad-house, will know how and where to find the same or ‘another to have you waylaid and assassinated.” “Mother, speak!—what am I to dof” asked Edmund, in a deep hollow voice. “What are you todo? Are you a man—and do you not in the first place pant for revenge against the woman who has beguiled you with her treachery, who has dishonoured you with her profligacy, and who now meditates your death P”’ “ Yes—revenge! revenge!” muttered Edmund, whuse fiendish malignity of dispositio.: was ter- ribly excited. “Well then, revenge!” resumed her ladyship ; “and at the same instant you consummate your revonge, may you rid yourself for ever of this demoness in human shape who seeks your life !” “Ah!” ejaculated Edmund: but agai he» “‘Would you have me poison her?” inguired Edmund, with a look of unfeigned horror. “ Aye—poieon her! Why not? But no,” added Lady Saxondale more slowly, as she reflected that after the tragedy of Mabel Stewart, a recurrence of a sudden death in the family might seem sus- picious. “Some other plan must be adopted. But first of all, Edmund—tell me, are you re- solved ?”” “TI am, mother!” was the - “It is my -only alternative—the only means by which I can possibly eave myself.” “You never spoke an more truly. Now look you, Edmund: the River Trent rolls deep near the bri the banks are high. A female, if plunged into those waters, and encumbered by her apparel, could not scramble up the shore, if he who thrust her in was prompt and resolute in driving her back. She must drown—she must die! Nothing could save a woman in such a case! you | Well, even now you scarcely seem to understand me: you gaze upon me with a sart of vacancy, as if I must be explicit in every detail, even the mi- nutest. Then be it so!” “ Proceed, mother,” said the young nobleman, now quivering nervously again. “To-morrow,” resumed Lady Saxondale,—“ yes, to-morrow, I eay; for delay is dangerous, and you know not how soon after I am gone, the drep of poison may be poured into your coffee or your wine—or how, when you are sleeping, the phial of venom may be placed to your lips——” “Horror!” groaned the miserable young man, whose feelings were worked up to just the very pitch which Lady Saxondale desired. ‘Yes — to-morrow, I say,” she continued,— “when I have taken my departure, you and Ade- laide can walk out together. She will be all en- dearing blandishmentse—you must be all apparent confidence; and you will chuckle, and rejoice, and laugh together, at having got rid of me. You will lead Adelaide along the bank of the river: there is a beaten pathway—and it is pleasant walking there on these fine frosty days. When at a suffi- elent distance from tho castle, and beyond the bridge—where the water runs so deep, the stream is 20 wide, and the banks are so high—you will sweep your eyes around to assure yourself that no observer is near, and you will suddenly thrust her into the riter. Need I say any more? Her cries will echo around : you may raise shouts of seeming horror and vociferate for help. If theec shouts are heard, so much the better: the more effective loss will be thrown over the deed. In any case, when you sce that she has sunk the third time-—— remember, Edmund, the third time '—you may (COL (C DOO CS (COL