The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 190: what you’re looking at

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EEE eee a ee ES |e THB MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 181 dued tone than he had hitherto adopted,. “ I am could have induced the young man to proclaim well aware that it is unpleasant, and indeed: himself the champion of Lavinia’s innocance. afflicting. for you——” “ Amy,” interrupted the Duchess, advancing to- wards her maid, and looking her fixedly in the face ; “if you have an accusation to make against me, it requires no preface. Speak out! Do you know aught to my disparagement ?—have you ever “I would much rather not have been called . Upon,” said the young woman, who notwithstand- ing her constitutional coldness and indifference, was really embarrassed, confused, and distressed, “to give utterance to a word “Ah! then you do know what is going on!” exclaimed the Duchess. “But speak! What have you to sayP Hesitate not—fear not—but ak, I command you!” “Would it not be better,” inquired Amy, turn- ing her troubled looks from one to the other, “ if » "your Grace were to throw yourself upon his lord- ahip’s mercy——” “ Amy, this is an insult!” cried Lavinia, with all the dignity but distress of outraged innocence. « There is sume horrible misconception! Proclaim it at once, that I may speedily refute it !” ‘‘ Alas, madam,” said the young woman, who was smased at the confidence with which the Duchess spoke, but yet could not do otherwise than attribute it to a bold hardihood,——“ appear- ances are indeed so much against your Grace—— “And those appearances?” demanded Lavinia, with mingled imperiousness and vehemence: 980 that the usually mild, gentle, and soft-speaking Duchess appeared quite another being in the eyes of her dependant. “Speak ont, Amy!” cried the Dake. “If I must, ” resumed the lady’s-maid, “it is my painful duty to declare that I saw your Grace issue from the chamber of Mr. Stanhope——” “ What?” cried the Duchess, the burning blush of indignation and outraged modesty in a “ soment euffusing her countenance; and then her looks in the space of the next half. dozen seconds indicated all possible varieties and transitions of excited feeling—astonishment and distress, anger and be- wilderment, uncertainty and terror. “ You dare say that, Amy? Yow to be guilty of such dread- ful wickedness! It is falsel—false as ever tho vilest falsohood in this world could be !” “It is true!” thundered the Duke: “for I myself beheld you with mine own eyes, as Amy herself did !" “JI repeat,” cried the miserable Duchess, now again completely overwhelmed by tho astounding nature of the charge,—“ I repeat, and I call heaven to witness that it is false!’ “It is true—too true!” vociferated the Duke, stamping his foot violently upon the carpet. “It is false!” exclaimed another person, who at this moment threw open the door and sppeared upon the scene. It was Christian Ashton. The guilty Duke of Marchmont was for an in- stant staggered by the presence of his secretary, and by the bold denial which had isaued from his lips. He was seized with perplexity and bewil- derment; but quickly recovering his self-possession, he cast a rapic mental glance over whatsdcver circumstances he thought there might be that What was there but the affair of the box ?—and — how could Christian possibly know what that box had contained ? “ Begone, sir!’ cried the Duke, fire flashing from his eyes. “ How dare you intrude upon our privacy ?” ** Becausé I have a duty to perform,” responded our young hero, as.he advanced into the room: and Marchmont was now struck by the fact that he carried a large parcel tied up in brown paper. The reader may conceive the increased amaze- ment of Amy Sutton at the new turn which the matter appeared to be taking; and he may like- wise imagine the mingled hope and suspense which Lavinie felt from the same cause. Christian’s mien and bearing were quite different from what they were wont to be. The natural gentleness of his looks had altered into a decisiveness which was almost stern: the retiring nature of the mild and unobtrusive youth had given place to the manly firmness of one who had a special part to perform and who was resolved to accomplish it. The Duke grew more and more apprehensive: & thousand vague fears racked him: the basis upon which his whole iniquitous proceeding was founded, seemed to be crumbling away,—while he was still utterly at a loss to conceive from what particular point the disruption was arising. “J repeat,” said Christian, quailing not for a single instant in the presence of his ducal cm- ployer, “the words I ere now uttered—that the accusation against the Duchess is falsee——yes, false as the heart of him who invented it!” “‘ Oh, yes, it is false!’ cried havimia: “heaven knows it is false! But accuse not my husband, Mr, Ashton !—he himself must have been cruelly deceived by circumstances !” “IT wish I was enabled to confirm your Grace’s assurance,” responded our young hero: “ but it is not in my power to do so. My lord, everything is known, and shall be boldly proclaimed if you pro- voke such an exposure. Suffer me to whisper one word in your ear.” “This is too impudent!” ejaculated the Duke, goaded almost to frenzy, and not knowing how to act. “Oh, Mr. Ashton, what have you said?” cried the Duchess, all the sources of her affliction be- coming turned into a new channel. “It is impos- sible his Grace could have done this wilfully !—— Ob, no! you wrong him—you wrong him, I can assure you |” “T pee that it becomes necessary for mo to speak out,” said Christian, with the same firmness of look, tone, and manner as before. Lettice Rodney has confessed everything: and here are proofs——” “Enough!” exclaimed the Duko, bounding for- ward to seizo upon the parcel whence our young hero had just torn off the wrapper. “ Good heavens!” cried the Duchess: “ my own dresses !’’ “ Ah!” said Amy Sutton, astounded at what sho also thus beheld. “No,” cried Christian, “they are noé your Grace’s dresses: but they are counterparts — duplicates—the use and purport of which his lord- ship can but too well explain.” ‘© My lord, COLL (C DOO CS (GO)