The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 338: what you’re looking at

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-— THE MYSTERIES OF THR COURT. fush away—you may hasten back with all the appearance of frenzy and frantic grief to the cas- tle—you may deprived you of your beloved wife. Now, have you the courage of « man—— Yes, you must have when you think of all your wrongs! And I warn you to be deluded not by her blandishments! The more endearing they may become, rest assured the nearer is the hour when the fatal poison is to be administered. It is for you to anticipate it :—it is for you to eave yourself by making away with her——Aye, and avenge yourself at the same time ! Will you do it ?” “J will, mother !"—and Lady Saxondale saw that Edmund was resolved. “But in the meanwhile, everything depends upon the demeanour you assume. Remember, she is keen and penctrating: a word or a look will betray you !—and if so, your life, even before my departure, is not worth a single hour’s purchase. Now gol—return to your dressing-room—and when we meet at the dinner-table, let me sce that you for once in your life can model yourself to the exigences of the occasion, anil maintain the strictest control over your f Lady Saxondale and Edmund separated for the present,—he returning to his toilet-chamber, she remaining in her own apartment,—he to compose his feelings as well as he was able, she to chuckle over the detestable scheme which she had devised and which appeared to have every prospect of terminating as terribly and as tragically as she could wish. The reader cannot have failed to perceive how artfully and how skilfully this de- signing woman had seised upon certain incidents —had given a different complexion to them—had tortured and twisted them, so as to suit her own purpose—and had accumulated a terrific mass of evidence against Adelaide. Bad though Edmund’s wife herself was, yet was Lady Saxondale’s sto utterly devoid of foundation: for the Count de St. Gerard was not, nor ever had been, Adelaide’s paramour: he was incapable of conniving at’ a murderous intent, much lees of entertaining one to be executed by himself;—and Adelaide harboured not the slightest idea inimical to her husband's life. Lady Saxondale, Edmund, and Adelaide met at the dinner-table; and the first rapid search- ing glance which her ladyship threw upon them both, convinced her that Edmund was ex more presence of mind than he had ever before displayed, and that his wife suspected nothing wrong. In tho same manner did the evening pass away; and when they sought their chambers, Lady Saxondale said to herself, “I shall triumph | iid But it cost Edmund a tremendous effort thus to cast a veil over his real feelings, and maintain his wonted demeanour towards his wife. He however succeeded in doing so. Firmly believing every syllable his mother had told him, because her state- ment appeared to be so fully borne out by a variety of facts within his own knowledge,—he regarded Adelaide as an intending murderess in respect to himself; and therefore felt that his life depended wholly and solely on his own conduct and bearing towards her. Thus did the very desperation of his position, us he believed it to be, arm him with kind of courage which he had never experienced m before. But when he went to sleep, the horrors of his waking thoughts followed him in his dreams ; that a terrible accident has-| and once again did he fancy that he was writhing in the immense coils of a fearful serpent tightening around him. So powerful were his convulsive movemente—his spasmodic throee—his heavinga, and tossings, and strugglings in his sleep, that his wife was awakened by them: and when, believing him to be under the influence of some terrible night-mare, she kissed him,—for it was her policy now to enchain him to her by the ten- derest blandishments,—his fevered i made him fancy that the reptile which encircled him, was licking him with ite forked tongue, to cover him with its loathsome saliva previous to the process of deglutition. He awoke with a strong start and a wild cry: but fortunately, ere his wildering senses became collected, he gave utter- ance to no word which betrayed what was upper- most in his mind. Adelaide therefore still re- tained the belief that he had been labouring under the influence of a night-mare; and when he com- posed himself to slumber again, it was far less disturbed. The morning came: Lady Saxondale, Edmund, and Adelaide met at the breakfast-table; and still was the first-mentioned of the three satisfied that — the other two were in the same relative position as on the previous evening—namely, that Edmund had said nothing to excite Adelaide’s suspicions, and that she herself remained without the slightest misgiving. The travelling-carriage was ordered to be ready for Lady Saxondale at ten o'clock ; and the moment for arrived. “Tam about to leave you, ascording to my pro mise,” said her ladyship, addressing Edmund and Adelaide. “ Farewell!” She extended her hand to her daughter-in-law, who held it for an instant with a look of cold reserve: she then proffered it to Edmund, who pressed it far more warmly, as if in gratitude fer the warning and the counsel she had given him on the preceding day, as well as a significant assurance that her advice should not be disregarded. She descended to the carriage,—Edmund and Adelatie accompanying her to the threshold of the castle, for the sake of appearances. She found an oppor- tunity to dart one rapid look of deep meaning upon Edmund—and stepped into the vehicle. It rolled away; and Adelaide whispered to her husband, as she accom him back to the drawing-room, “ Your lady-motber has a fine day for her journey,’—the words being uttered with a smile of mingled irony and triumph. “ ‘Yes, dearest Adelaide,” answered Edmund,— «go fine that, if you please, you and I will enjoy it likewist for ourselves. We will ramble forth toge- ther; and while tioms at having got rid of my mother, will discuss our plans for the future.” CHAPTER OLVIIL THE RIVER. Lorp Saxowparte and his wife rambled forth from the castle, the latter leaning on the arm of the former. Adelaide was new completely happy « (COL (C DOO CS (COL