The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 85: what you’re looking at

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74 DR eee cc a tord’s ebject, dexterously evaded the questions thus | the complicity of Lady Saxondale there, we oure put; and Mr. Paten returned to his establishment | selves may be convinced of it—but we could not po wiser in that respect than when he hed issued | establish the no forth. CHAPTER CIIL THE VILLA. Ir was not forgotten at William Deveril’s abode | woman whom he had reseued from the Trent, and aie hee See ee ee ee Marquis at the boosirig-ken, was to pay a Visit. the present occasion; and as the young maiden was no stranger to her brother's affairs, she with &s much anxi the Marquis ves, as to what would be the result of the interview that was They were all three seated in that same front perlour on the ground-floor which has been alluded to in a previous chapter. The evening was exceed- ingly sultry; and the easement, which reached down to the floor, stood partially open: but the curtains were drawn over it inside; and the lamp was burn- ing upon the table. “We have been speaking,” said the Marquis, after a brief pause in the conversation, “ altogether of the expected visit, to exclusion of other topics: but two or three I was on the puint of observing that with regard to our adventure of the | other night——” “Ah, that dreadfal night!” murmured Angela, with a shudder: “what a providential escape! [ yet who could have foreseen it” said the “But I was about to observe that the and the oftener I reflect upon the incident night, the more I am convinced that the wretched woman who had already sought to work you so serions an injury, William, was the instigatrix of that stupendous treachery.” “Lady Sexondale!” said our young hero. “ Yes, my lord, circumstances do indeed too plainly point fA to her as the employer of that dreadful man who | so righteously met his doom—fearful thuugh it were |” “It could have been none other than Lady Saxon- dale,” observed the Marquis. “ Who else could be interested. in getting rid of both of us at the same moment? And then too, we had previously re- ceived proofs that she was in correspondence with that man. Moreover, his employer must have been some one whose proffered bribe far outweighed whatecever amount of money the miscreant might have hoped to get from us. Yes, Lady Saxon- dale—and Lady Saxondale alone—was the instiga- trix of that diabolic crime!” “‘And has not your lordship as yet taken mea- sures,” inquired William, “to wean away Lord Harold Staunton from the dreadful companionship of Lady Saxondale P” “ Not yet—not yet,” replied the Marquis. “ What measures could I take? Did we not expect some startling revelations from Chiffin? and was it not all a snare to plunge us into destruction? Im respect to ee and interest as Willism and | against her: we have dence of its truth. If we were to accuse e or d lives, ehe would boldly and indignantl #¢ would be all we should require to serve the two- fold purpose in view: namely, to rescue my nephew from the power of that evil genius who has cast her y propagated, self, But, ab! methought I heard the garden gate “Doubtless it is the woman,” observed Angela, giancing towards a time-piece on the mantel: “ for it only wants two minutes to nine o'clock.” Bilenee now prevailed in the parlour, the three occupants of which were plunged in a state of cun- siderable suspense. A single knock—but given somewhat imperiously—was heard at the front door: the female servant hastened to answer the summons; and just as the time-piece began ringing forth, with its silver notes, the hour of nine, Madge Somers made her appearance. “T am punctual,” she said, in her terse abrupt manner: and without ceremony she took a chair. When thus seated—with her face towards the Marquis of Eagledean, Angela, and Deveril—her back was towards the half-open casement which the eurtains covered. “‘Yes—you are punctual,” said Lord Eagledean ; “and as you may suppose, we are all three pro- foundly anxious to learn what you have te comme- nicate. This young lady,” he added, glancing towards Angela, “ie Mr. Deveril’s sister.” “ Ah! his sister, eh?” observed Madge, with a singular expression of countenance: but as it im. mediately passed away, and her looke-tesumed their usual harsh and rigid she said, “I told you, William Deveril, that I would meet you here at the iration of a month—day for day and hour for hour—from the time when the appointment was given in Lincolnshire. I have kept my word. But of what avail would it be for me to boast this punc- tuality, unless in the meantime I had discovered him whom I vowed to seek for ”’ “Thompson ?” ejaculated our hero, with a sudden start that denoted the feverish anxiety which gal- vanised him at themoment. “And have you found him P have you been succeseful ?” “ Assuredly,” answered : “or else where- fore am I here? Did I not assure you that if he were still in the land of the living, I would find him out—and that if he were dead I would obtain proof of his decease? But he és alive—I have dis- covered him. Scarcely an hoar has elapsed since I parted from that man whom I have thus so un- weariedly sought.” “‘Then the secret which I imagined to have died with my poor father, is now known to you?” said eer (GO) mG DOO CS (COL