The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 311: what you’re looking at

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302 ‘‘Proosed, my lord—proceed!” cried the old man, who was under an influence which strangely attracted him towards the long lost one. “There was a lady staying beneath this roof,” continued Bertram; “and though unseen myself, I bebeld you walking with her.” “Yes, my lord—it was an eastern lady,” an- ewered Purvis; “and I regret to add that it was for no-honourable motive she was somehow or an- other led to come hither.” “But she experienced no outrage at my bro- ther’s hands?” said Bertram quickly. - The old steward hesitated for a few moments: and then he answered, “I warned her, my lord— yes, I warned her—I considered it to be my duty. She defended herself—and it was——” But he stopped short:-for he was just upon the point of adding something the bare idea of which struck him as fearful to a degree, considering the person to whom he was thus speaking. “Finish your sentence—and deal with me frankly,” seid Bertram. “I have particular rea- sons for the questions which I em now putting, and for those which I may yet have to put.” “No, my lord—I cannot, I cannot!” murmured the old man. “Purvis, I beseech you—nay, I implore and en- treat—by all the misery I have endured-———” “Well, my lord—it was with a certain weapon ——Ah! for heaven’s, sake do tell me—do, for God’s sake justify the wild hope which thrills in my heart! Say the one word which shall make me believe that i¢ was not your hand———” “Purvis, give not thas way to your feelings,” interrapted Lord Ciandon; “but for heaven’s sake be calm and collected. I understand you. That eastern lady defended herself with a certain weapon. But how came it in her hand? Tell me, Purvis, [ conjure you—tell me ev ing!” Purvis proceeded to explain,—bat with many self-interruptions and impassioned ejaculations, as various thoughts were excited in his mind in rapid succession, how Indora had arrived ab Oaklands / drin —how he had escorted her over the mansion and through the grounds—how she had questioned him much in respect te the leng-past tragedy— how he had shown her the fatal weapon, which he had preserved—how she had so mysteriously and stealthily possessed herself of it—how ere her she had restored it to the place where excited feelings—to check him when he sought te become the questioner—-and te induee him to extend hie explanaticus to those detelis of Indora’s THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. never taken piace! Nota to your master { not a word to your fellow-servants! Remember, Purvis,” continued Bertram in a tone of the deepest solemnity, “for the present I am under the ban of the law—and I need but hint at what would be my fate if through any indiscretion on your 9) “My lord,” interrupted the old men, vielentiy, ~ I would not do such a thing! No, I could not—even ff I did not entertain that wild hope-—-—" “Enough!” ejaculated Bertram ; an! pan the steward’s hand was for an instant p in his own. The next moment there was the sound of a door cautiously opening and shutting: afl was then silent in the chamber. Sleep presently fell upon the steward’s eyes; and when he awoke in the morning, he was at a loes to conjecture whether the main incidents of the night were s a wild and fancifal reality, or whether it were dream. CHAPTER LVIL THE DUER. Ir was evening—the evening of the day which followed the incidents of the memorable night depicted in the previous chapter; and Madame Angelique was seated as usual fn her elegantly furnished apartment, when the Duke of h- mont was announced. She had little expected to see him so soon: but she rose from her seat with the conviction that she might congratulate him on his success with the oriental lady,—w she stopped short on beholding the ex exptession of his countenance. It was pale and careworn: there was 9 restless trouble in the eyes—and it was also evident that he had been inking. “What in heayen’s name is the matter, my lord P’* she asked; seized with consternation lest she herself should become involved in some dilemma with respect to the machinations which she had now no doubt had resnited in failure. “Perdition take me, and everybody as well as everything else!” said the Duke, flinging himself upon a peat. “ Give me a glass of wine. No—a tambler! Fill it up to the brim—spare not your champagne !” “But, my lord, do tell me,” sald Madama An- gelique, het countenance turning 80 deddly pale that the rouge sate like plastered patches upos it, —* do tell me——" J ™ = “The wine, I say!” ejaculated Marchmont fiercely. ‘With trembling hands Madame Angelique filled a tambler with champagne; and the Duke tossed it off at a draught. “Phere!” he said, endeavouring to force him- pelf to laugh with an air of gaiety; “now I am cheered. It is astonishing what admirable effects are produced by wine—delicious wine !” “Pray tell me, wy lord, what has occurred ?”-— and the infamous woman was still quivering with puspense. “All your precious schemes resulted in no- COMMUC DOO CS (COL