The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 187: what you’re looking at

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178 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. awe ees and anon the wind ecemed to be speaking to her , in human tones, as if reproaching her for the. wickedness wherein she had played a part. And then, too, these sounds—at times when the wind sank somewhat—resembled the moans of murder borne upon the agitated air. Occasionally too she fancied that she heard footsteps approaching rapidly from behind; and she shuddered at the thought of being seized upon by lurking robbers —shuddered too more dee - still at the reflection that this same road might possibly become the scene of another hideous tragedy—hereelf the victim! And eyer qng anon through the deep darkness, shapes—darker than that darkness—ap- peared to flit; gq tha} there were moments when she shrank withiq herself—when sho tremblad to the very confingg of hor being—while sho felt as if awfal horrgg would turn her brain. Lavinia, thou wast alpaady avenged somewhat, in the frightful sengations which this guilty creature ex- pericnced! And now ahe knew hy the turning in the road, that she was drawing glose tayardg the pond; and her limbs appeared ta {gil hes. Hep knees knevked together—her teeth ghattered: wildl did she ecek with straining eyes ta paneleate ¢ darkness, and assure herself that there was ag uncurthly shape standing on that scene of murder. Vividly back to her miud came tho incidents of another channel, and suggesting tle horriblo theught that she was in the hands of a robber and assassin. “Tf tell you that you have nothing to fear in the form of violence,” answered the individual,—who, we may as well observe, was none other than Clement Redcliffe: “but it is necessary that wo should have some little conversation together.” “Conversation ?”’ said Lettice, wildly echoing the word: but eo bewildered and lost in terror was she as to be at the moment unconscious of what she was saying. “Conversation—Acre 7” ‘*- Yes—here !" replied Redcliffe: “for this is a epat where the guilty sonscience becomes too eeply appalled not to make such atonement as may be in its power. Compose yourself. I need not apologize for constraining you to linger yet a little while in the bleak night-air,—you who hesitate not to faco it in order to pursue your path of mischief!” “ What mean yaqu?P” asked Lettice, almost in a dying tone: for sho at once comprehended that al- lusion waa thus made to the nefarious transactions in which she had been engaged. Her terror was however so far abated, that she ne longer apprehended violengee on the part of him wha was thus addressing her; and she endeavoured, thraugh the darkness, to obtain some idea of his features. Indeed, the suspicion had stolen into her her first night’s walk to Oaklands,—when twice j mind that his voice was not altogether unfamiliar she fancied she beheld a dark ghape—once dis-;to her—at least in its accents—though its deep appearing from the midst of the road, and the} solemn tone was different enough from the hilari-. secund time on the opposite side of the hedge. | ous one he had forced himself to assume on the oc- Not for an instant could ghe sq persuade herself: casion of his visit to Madame Angelique’s abode. that those were mere fangicg, as sho had hitherto | But the collar of his cloak was drawn so high up suceccded in doing :—they were in her brain with | over his countenance, and his hat was pulled co all the awful hoggor of realitics. With a mighty ' much forward, that Lettico was totally unable to effort she strove §9 gather up the remnants of her | discern his features, She saw that he was tall, shattcred, ecatteged courage; and she somewhat! and upright as a dart as he then held himself: but succceded as sha drew close to the pond. The! these circumstances afforded no clue to the esta- feeblest possibla glimmer rested upon its surface: | blishment of an identity. shudderingly she looked that way to pee if any; “ You ask what I mean ?—and in a few words I shape of terrax intervened to break thig glimmer: ing: but there was nope, Her pausage rose some- what higher: the papd was passed—she began ta breathe more fygely,—whon she became aware that she was no} aloce—that there was game ane by her side. A scream rang wildly faxth from her lips; and she dropped ag if g bullet had at the instant penetrated her heart. As lettice Rodney slowly came back to con- sciousness, shg thought that sho wags awaking from a hideous, horrible drcam: hy$ a scnse of awful numbing consternation came slowly and chillingly over her as sha gradually becamc qware of her position. She was by the aide of the pond, half supported in the arms of some one; and water had been eprinkled upon her countenance. “You have nothing to fear,” said tho indi- vidual, whose voice sounded low and dcep to the care of the appalled Lettice. “Who aro you?—for God’s sake tell me who will explain mysclf,” said Mr. Redcliffe, still pur- posely disguising his yoice as much as possible, so aa {9 pass undiscoyerad through tho interview. “Tt hae come ta my knowledgo—it matters not how-—that you ape engaged in the vilest and most abominable pursnif that a human being could possibly enter upan, short of such a deed as that which hap gendered this very spot so awfully memarghle. But it is a pursuit which becomes doubly atrocious when adopted by a female against another of her own sex. J am no stranger to the outlines of thie most oxecrable conspiracy. At this very moment you wear bencath that cloak a dress which is the counterpart of one belonging to the Duchess of Marchmont. On Saturday night you paid your first visit to Oaklands. I watched you—I dogged your footsteps—as I hare done this night again 7 | * Ahl” ejaculated Lettice, as Redcliffe’s words explained to her the mystery of that shape which aro you!” she cried, starting up in a species of , sue had scen, and which now after all proved to be frenzy. |a reality—though a reality devoid of the preter- “IT am o human being, as you are,” was tho natural associations which at one time had seemed response; “although a guilty conscienco may to belong thereto. “For heaven's sake, sir, tell smite you with the dreadful thought that I come me who you are, and what you mean to uo with from another world.” mc? Do not—do not give me up to justice!—da “Aud what would you with me?” inquired ' not ruin me! I have been Icd into it—I have Leltice, all ber fears now suddenly flowing into: been drawn on!”’-—and the wretched creaturo COMMUC DOO CS (COL