The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 295: what you’re looking at

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296 SHB MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. were only just audible. A sickening sensation upon Christina, What if Zoe had been listening? Rapid as the lightning casts its blaze wpan the entire canopy of heaven, did the damsel review her own conduct during the wildly agitating scene with Octavian Meredith; and she saw that ehe bad not given utterance to a single word that she could now wish unspoken. On the contrary, every syllable that had issued from her own lips | she was precisely such as she would hava ytteyad if able at the time deliberately to ponder what she was about to say. With this consciousness of perfect rectitude af behaviour, her presence af mind was completely regained—her strength af purpose was recovered ; and she ascended to Zoe’s ehamber. She found Lady Ostavian Meredith seated jn an easy chair, with a languid and enfecbled appesr- ance—but otherwise with en air of serene com: posure. “It must have been a servant whose footsteps I heard,” was the thought which rapidly traversed Christina’s brain: “for if Zoe had been listening, she could not possibly thus dissemble |” “Pardon me, my dearest friend,” said Lady Octavian, in that gweetly soft plaintive voice which for some time past had been habitual to her; “ pardon me for having thus long left you ta your- | ma self—but I was seised with such a sense af ox- haustion that I was compelled to sit down and vest. Hore, Christina! gcoopt this trifle from ana who loves you;”—-and she presented our heroine with a locket of choicest workmanship, and con- taining some of her own hair. Christina pressed it to her lips; and then obey. ing some strong impulse, she sank upon her knega +—took Zoe’s hand—gnd covered i¢ with her kisses and her tears. She sobbed audibly—but spoke nat and yet there was a world of eloquence in tha whole proceeding an her part for not more plainly could the meaning of her almost involuntary con- duct have been expressed if she had exclaimed, “ Pardon me, dearest Zoe! I know that I am the oause—though heaven can attest how innocently— of all you suffer !” Yet those words were sot spoken; and whether Zoe comprehended the silent eloquence of the veeping and Kneeling maiden’s proceoding, must ko left for the reader to eonjecture. Certain it is that Ledy Octavian wound her arms around Christina’s neck—strained hes te her boeom— sobbed and wept hikewise; and thus were their | pr farewells expreased ! - When Christina agam found herself in the ear- Fiage, as if bore CHAPTER LIV. SHE EXPLANATION OF 4 PLOT. Ir was evening; and Madame Angelique was seated in her elegantly furnished reom,—the table well spread with dessert and wine. It wee evident expected somebody; for she frequently con- sulted her watch,murmuring to herself, “This note specified nine punctually, and it is consider- At length the door opened, and q domestic an- nounced the Duke of Marchmont. “JI know it is shameful to keep a lady waiting,” said his Grace, with a sort of forced good-humoured, jooularity ; “but I was detained at the Club where I “Better late than never, my lord,” responded Madame Angelique; “and naw if your Grace would honour me by taking a lass af wine, I will explain how I have in § extain matter in which your is inte “Is it that of the Indian lady p” inquired the Duke, as he helped himself ta gome wine. “By heaven ! I hope your answer be in the affirma- tive—though I care not even if i¢ should bp to tell that the hopa points towards that ayah of her's: for the t beanty of ane iq equalled by the darker glory of the othar’s. “Ah! then you have seen them, my lord P’ ejaculated Madame Angelique, with 9 smila of es ee You had sq piqued my curiosity a fow weeks ago, when you renewed the subject one night that I was here——” “That your Grace went and laid wait at Bays- water to patch a glimpse of them in their carriage ? web, my lord?’ said the milling with ax arch “ Precisely so,” responded Maychmont : “end I was so interested that I want a second time. On the first occasion I beheld the lady and Ter ayah ; and, good heavens! what wondrous beauty en the part of each} The soepnd time I saw the lady with @ young English girl, whom to my astonishment [ at once repognised. She is Migs Ashtan—the sister of that very identiesl young dog who spoilt my game in respect to Btanhope end my wi Bhe was at first with the Merediths— to tell you the truth, I had marked her out aq my ay?” * And why, my losd, should you npt hogour her with your favoys in her turn?” inquired Madame. we. “I have never seen pher—at least ing | not to my knowledge: but if she be worth any tegaining the villa, she hastesed up fo her own chamber, where she once more gave way to the ‘wild outpouring of her engnish. ns QU ie troyble—— Worth any trouble?” exejaimed Marchmant : ‘ehe is worth as mueh trouble as either the pastern lady or the gyah! She ig of o ravishing beauty; and those three together ne form 9 group such as you, Madame Angelique, never had in the esloon adjagining—pbegutiful ag I Ledmit. your houris are. But eome—tall mo what iq this par 9) “The eastern lady, my lord, will be ip your power,” replied the jnfammous women, “whenever you think fit to say theword. I took the business in hand myself—and fortune fayoured ma I CO IMULUG C) DOO CS (COL