The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 303: what you’re looking at

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

ee 294 were the power which she wielded at the moment, —whether it were by the mingled scorn, indi tion, and defiance af her looks—whether i¢ were by the ing air ehe had assumed—or by the terrible recollectiona which the sighs of the d vividly conjured up in the mind of the Duke,— certain it is that he at ance obeyed her; and atijl pale as death, trembling in every limb, gad like a conscience-stricken being, he dragged hi from the room. Tmmediately afterwards tha Princess Indara rang her bell violently—and then hastened to lock up the dagger again in the box where she had previausly secured it. The summong was speedily answered hy one of the maids who had preyiaualy attended ypon her; aud Indors said in a calm firm vaice, “I choose not to sleep here alone: you rust remain with me for the rest of the night.” Having thus spoken, she locked the doar of the ehamber; apd placing the key under the pillow, lay down on the couch,—bidding the maid yndregs herself and share i¢ with her. The young woman ventured not a single question, nor even a word of comment; she comprehended full well that the Duke had experienced an indignant repylae; and in her heart sho was far from scrry—for even in the shart time that Indora had been beneath that roof, her amiable manners had made a certain impression on all the domestics who had happened to come ix contact with her. Thus the night was passed by the virtuous and well-principled Indora in fullest security: but it was not as a guarantee far such security that she had iusisted upon the companionship of the servant-woman. Shp had no fear that the Duke would renew hia infamous attempt: it wag in ordar that vat the elightes$ breath of suspicion might tarnish her fair fame—that no whiaper of scandal might haye eyen the faintest ground to asperse her honour, that she had rung thus rio- lently for the dependant, and commanded that de- pendant to remain with her throughout the night. But how was this night passed by the Duke af Marchmont? ‘We cannot tell. The eye of heayep alone peheld him in solitude his own THR MYSTERIEG OF THE COUST. moment that interview was over. The ros which the seryant brought beck, was a verbal ane, —to the effect that the eastern lady weuld grant the Duke 9 five minutes’ interview, for the purpose agger | of receiving the renewed expressiqn of his con- trition, i the drawing-yoam, oq in about half- -nour. And dpring that half-hour the wretched Masch- moat peced to and fro in the most restless anxiety gleaming in hig ayes, and displaying iteelf in the quivering of his ashy lipy. At length the door opened—and the Princess made - SppearAnce. She was apparelied ia ® plain neat tmvelling-cos — yeaching up to her throat, but ate tightly to the form, and thug displeying the superb coptaura af that grandly symme shape. There yas « certain eol in her loaks, which covered "7 ather deeper feeling ; gud as sha advanced juta the enor. she said in a vpies that was as glacially omutieg- fone ot her gapen t, “Fou wiah to spesk to me, my 0. “For heaven's sake, lady,” exclaimed the miserable Duke, “tell me what I am to a your hands? { know the outrage pe shomin able——” ake of Marchmant ig capeble of “But the D anything,” interrupted thd sinepes, “ where his “ But that scene last aight” gq the Duke, “appeared to have———Perdition !” he vehemently cried: “I know nat whet to sey |—~ I mean that it had 9 signifieancy ——” “ Assuredly ao,” ansyered Ipdora. “It bad the significangy belonging to the fixed determination af a virtuous yoman fa defand her honoyr, eves though she stretched ite assailant deed at her feet.” “But wherefore, Jady—wherefore,” asked. the Duke, trembling benny from bead $o foot; “ did you arm yourself with that—that e” “It is the custom of my country,” wag [ndora’s cold , “for aw whep jn a strange stean, is Gureeand beraslt with all guitable de- ences.” “Then 704 picked up that weapon gomeyherp chamber, to which—bafiled, defeated, ghastly, aud | hy acciden y by P” cried the N tremblipg—he retired. But to audge by isap-| “ Yes—by accident,” waa Indorg’s answer, gtill pearapce when he issued from that chamber at aa | glacially given. early hour in the morning, the night must have| “But whore? wherel’ demanded the Duke: been 9 terrible ane far him. He loakad as if his| and his scrutinizing regards were keenly ape limbs had pot heen once stretched upon his couch | the lady’s countenanee, as if to penetrate whet! —ag if hia eye-lidg had not for a gingle moment | any ulterior thopght or feeling, matiya ac signi closed in slumber; so h and carewarn was he, that he appeared as if a preterngtural hand had seized upon him and hurled him in & mo- ment qa dazen years onward glong the pathway of ime. e On iaquing from that chamber hebweep mx and seven in the marning, he bore a letter in hig hand; and summoning 9 female domestic, bade her take the letter to the eastern lady'¢ apartment, and bring him back the response. Ite contenta were limited to a few lines,—declaring that dazzled by her beauty, and jnfatuated to a degree that over. powered his reason, he had obeyed an impulge which was irresistible—that ip the humblest terms he craved her forgiveness—and that he besought her to grant hima five minutes’ interview beforp ; he took his departure, which he would do the Te, alpen, ee ED caney,"ley_ hidden beveath Tint iy. Signi aspect. N Where did I Gnd the daggar?’” sha anid: “a Yas in one of the rooms of the mansion. Bpf ey question me thus? Methough}, wy land, t was to hear the humblest apology — FX aha indignantly exclaimed—apd nog ber eyes flaabed fire. “No langnage jn the world hes power to ganyey an excuse for guch yillapy as yours, I will telf you frankly, my Jord, thet I read your p I was yot decejved by the iserably shallow artifice so flimsily wrapped up ip the tale af your wife's arrival and indispositios. Consequently I was prepared—and you know bow well!’ ) “But will you not pardan me? will you not pranounce the word forgiveness !” cried the Duka Qf no ” CO IMULUG C) DOO CS (COL