The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 291: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. losing rank—position—fortune ? Did you not therefore say to yourself that would for ever silence the lips that alone could tell the tale: for you knew that mine were already sealed by that guilty love which had subsisted between us!” “If I have listened to you in silence,” responded Adolphus, “it is not that my blood has ceased to boil with indignant impatience. Ethel, Ethét, is you who thus with a detestable disttiauiitich {4 persevere in abtributing the crime to me !—it is you, I say, who hope to make me fancy that You tyally did not perpetrate that crime! You motives :—you had every motive! swayed your heart when I spoke of wedding Tua. bella? Ah, confess that it was through love of me you did this deed !—confess it, Ethel, and I will pardon you———but for heaven’s sake perse- vere not in ascribing it unto ine !” “T also, Adolphus, have cutbed my impatience,” answered the Countess, “thit { might give you & fair chance for retractatiot, cofifession, and atone- ment :—but you are obstinate! Now listen. We will not blind our eyes to the fact that the crime rests between us two: for no oti living being had a motive in perpetrating it. Tt was therefore I or you who committed it——and you know, Adolphus, that it was yourself!" “Ab, Ethel! you have indesd md traly,” he exclaimed, “that i lies betivebn hs two: bat you will not look me much longer in the face M44 with such astounding dissimoulation deny that the guilt was wholly and solely yours |” The Countess literally ground her teeth With rage; and then she muttered Im @ voice that Was hoarse with the same feeling, “Miscreant, you know that you are a rourderer ” “No, fiend in feinale sliape! it is you Who are s murderess ”—and having thus Spoken, the Earl of Lascelles walke: abrtiptly forth from the room. The Countess flung herself upon the tofa, and ere way to bitterest weeping and most donvalsing 80 aqme. 0 — Gua Tureen weeks had Madame Angelique ete: and the oriental iad project into execation The Duke of zetia Wh out of aay on some ean Varthobs Angelique ink bo op 6 communicate with to this effect to the ee ba Edn, the bare time that she sent home © Yhe Huropesin costumes which her Highness Three weeks, A elepacd since that Visit which Christina to Zoe, and when she had: every reason to believe that this amiable lady sus- pected the passion which her husband cherished | for our heroine. Christina had been un- happy since that date: but she had endeavoured to hm her feelings as much as possible from the Princess,—though the latter on three or four ak of that I comprehend ‘pot the terrific jealétiiy which occasions kindly questioned her whether she had not something which troubled her mind? Chris- tina gave evasive responses; and these tended to confirm Indora’s suspicion that her young friend was not altogether happy. Accordingly, one day when they were seated to- gether in the elegantly furnished drawing-room, the Princess said in a gentle voice, and with a look © most benevolent sympathy, “Iam afraid, Christina, that you have something which upon your mind? If it be so, tell me itate not to make a confidante of me. Iam d—TI love you—and I wish you well.” ‘am deeply grateful to your ladyship,” an- Christina, “for the many, many kindnesses h I experience at your hands: I have every respon te be happy you miss the society in which you ma 4 to mingle when at Lady Octavian Meredith}? Here it must be dull for you——” “Oh, no—fer from it!” exclaimed Christina, hoping to Vivert ths conversation into some other channel. aT love the life which I am leading here-———* =I kndw that you always speak with sincerity,” observed thé ; “and therefore my mind Bt come op al print Indeed,” she added, with a smile, “ is well occupied—for you saampetion yourself. It is exceedingly kind of you to take so much pains in teaching Sazoonah to read Engtixh accurately :—but are you sure that she does hot take advantage of your kindrress ?” “Oh, no, my lady!" exclaimed the amiable hristina. is so willing a pupil, that I experience the utmost delight in instructing her. I had not been y days in your ladyship’s house, before 1 w that Sagoonah was most anxious to make herself hly acquainted ome the Englizh | She had already a ery tolerable idea of my native tongue: but she wished to be able to read it—and your ladyship would be surprised, if you now heard her, at the rogress she hab made.” “JT have no doubt of it,” observed Indora; | “for she is @ young woman of remarkable intel- ce.” At this moment the object of the conversstion entered thé room to make some announcement to her mistress; and those three females constituted a group which the eye of even an anchorite could not have surv with indifference. The Princess a3 | Indore, in her superbly picturesque garb, and with | her magnificent charms, half.reclining wpon the cklands | velvet fashions of the note tho aysly wath he darker style of loveliness, standing before her in my | that attitude of respectful attention which she was wont to adopt—and the youthful Christina, in- - vested with that exquisite virginal beauty which rendered her a being so well calculated to excite the tenderest interest,—these three, we repeat, being thus grouped, would have formed an ad- mirable subject for the pencil of the artist. An hour after that conversation between the Princess and Christina, woe shall find the latter seated in another room, in company with Sagoonah, who was engaged in the practice of her English reading. Here was another interesting spectacie, —that Hindoo woman, evidently exerting all her powers to render herself proficient in the task (COIMUC DOO CS (COL