The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 247: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

238 “Simply,” responded Christina, “that I have some little acquaintance with the gentleman who penned this billet: and my brother—who has acca- gionally visited me here, with your ladyahip’s kind rmission—ig far more jntimate with him.” “Indeed! you know Mr. Redcliffe?” said In- dora, subduing as well as che was able tho thrilling trepidation which she ever felt on breathing that name. Christina proceeded to explain how she herself had once lodged in the same house where the note was dated—and how, on subsequently meeting Mr, Redcliffe, she had been enabled to interest him in the caso of the poor seamstress, Mary Wright. She went an to expatiate an Mr. Redoliffe’s hounty towards that unfortunate creature,—showing how delicately yet unoatentatiously his minigtrations ‘were rendered yntil she sank into the eternal sloep of death. Indara listened with the deepest inward interest: bu$ she had sufficient guard over herself to prevent her countenance from betraying all she felt. : “ And that was not the anly good deed on Mr. Bedcliffe’s part thet has come to my knowledge,” continued Christing. “Through him the dreadful purposes of a wicked husband towards an amiable and innocent wife, were completely frustrated; and I am proud to reflecf that my brother Chrie- ‘lian played no insignificant part on the side of justico and virtue.” “Tell me this narrative,” said the Princess: “the little you have already spoken on the subject interests me.” Christina accordingly entered ypon the recital of thoee incidents which are so well known toe the reader, and the full particulars of which she had received from her brother's lips. Jn the course of her history, it became necessary ta speak of the nd by the side of the road, jn the vicinage of jaklands, where the murder had been committed nearly nineteen years back;—and to the entire parrative did the Princo listen with the utmost attention. “Noa wander that the young woman Letitia Rodney,” remarked Indore, “should have been so overwhelmed with horror when accosted by Mr. Redcliffe by the side of that pond in the deep darkness of the night!” “The tragedy which took place there ao many years ago,” rejoined Christina, “was a very dread- ful one. My brother Christian read the account in @ piece of qn old newspaper when he waa first in the employment of the Duke of Marchmont.” * And did he recite to you all the particulars P” asked the Princess. “Briefly so,” responded Christina. “ Yes—it was a sad tale—full of a romantic and fearful interest: but it hag left a dread stigma upon the names of the Dachess Eliza and of Bertram Vivian.” The Princess Indore rose from her seat and advanced towards the window, from which she azed forth in silence for two or three minutes. t length again turning towards Chrigtina, she said, “ Our conversation has flawed into a channel which has interested me. J hava a complete file of a London newspaper in the boudoir: you are far more expert than J am in everything which re- lates to the concerns of your own country :—will you endeavour to find for me the accounts of the THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. particular tragedy of which you have been speak- in g ie “With pleasure,” answered our heroine: and away she tripped to tha boudoir,—the Princess shortly afterwards following. Christina referred ta the volume which contained the set of news- papers for the year 1820; and she had little diffi- culty in discovering the accounts of the appalling tragedy at Oaklands. They ran through several numbers; end even for weeks and months after it occurred, ¢ were occasional paragraphs re- ferring to it, and chronicling the various surmises that were abroad at the time in respect to what had become of the Dughess Elisa and of Bertram Vivian. All these did Christina mark with ink, so as to ba more easy of reference for the Princess Indora; and having finished her task, she was aboyt to retire,—when Sagoonah entered, bear- ing @ letter addressed to the young maiden. The volume of the Zimes which she had been searching, lay open upon the teble: the eyah’s dark eyes glanced for au instant towards it, as if in wonder at the colossal subject of her Royal mistress’s and ber youthful companion’s studies: she presented the letter with that graceful inclination of the form which showed all ita willowy and bayadere- like elasticity to such advantage—and then with- drew. Christina instantaneously recognised the hand- writing of Lady Octavian Meredith; and she passed into the drawing-room to peruse the letter. Therein Zoe informed her that though her health had improved singe Christina left, ig was not yet sufficiently re-established to enable her to fulfil har promise of calling upon her at the Princess In- dora’s residence: but she begged our heroine to come gud pass @ few hours with her on the folluw- ing day,—adding that she should be otherwise altogether alone, as Lord Octavian had promised to spend the whole of that day with his father the Marquis of Penshurst. Christina could not help thinking that thera was 9 certain significancy in this latter notification, and that it was meant as an assurance that she migh¢ tn all safety accept the invitation without the fear of encountering Mere- dith. The young girl caught a sigh rising up ia her throat: but by @ strong and hasty effort she subdued it; and though in the solitude of her own ehamber, she blushed a¢ this half-betrayal of her own weakness unto herself. To divert her thoughts inte a new channel, she sped back to the boudoir,— where she found the Princess deeply en- gaged in the perusal of the newspaper-volume whieh Christina had marked for the purpose. The young maiden handed Zoe's letter to her High- ness: and whan the Princess had read it, she said, with her wonted amiability, “J understand, my young friend, that you seek my permission to accept her ladyship’s invitation. It is chaorfully accorded ; and the carriage ahall be at your disposal to- morrow.” Christina thanked the Princess for her kindness ; and returning to her own chamber, she penned a note to Lady Octavian Meredith, to the effect that she would be with her at noon an the following day. The approaching visit naturally brought recent incidents back to the young maiden's mind with some degree of vividness. She was almost cartain that Zoe either suspected or else positively knew her husband’s passion: for this alone could COMMUC DOO CS (COL