The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 323: what you’re looking at

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

$14 THE MYSTERIES OF THE OOURT. Christina, “that night is the season for the wan- derings of those who are guilty in deed or those who are equally sinful in purpose, — the season too, Sagoonah,” added Christina, with a deepening impressiveness, “when Murdes stalks abroad——~”’ “Hush, Miss Ashton—hush!” said Sagaongh, with a visible terror depicted upon her ocounte, nance. “You frighten me—you strike terror intg the depths of my soul! Rest assured that I will wander about the house no more. Believe me,” continued the ayah, in a tone of mingled entreaty and persuasion,—“ believe me that you have mgde a deep impression upon me! I see that you are right—I will henceforth follow your advice in all things: but may I hope that you will keep silent as to this occurence of to-night P” Christina reflected for a few moments : and then she said, “It will be the second time, Sagoonah, that I shall have consented to shield you from the displeasure of your mistress: but remember thas it is the last! You have solemnly pledged yous- self that you will not repeat eneee nocturnal wanderings—and I believe you. But if in this og any other way you transgress for the future, I shall] feel it my duty to speak with frankness to the Lady Indora. Teoollect that I eat her bread as well as you do; and I am bound to ogee for her interests.” . “ My sweet Miss Ashton,” said the ayah, taking Christina’s small white hand and pressing if to her lips, “ you shall never again have cause to be angry with me, And now good night.” Sagoonafi glided noiselessly from Christina's chamber, and ascended to her own. When there —and when she had closed the door behind her— she took from beneath the folds of her garment a long dagger with 9 ghastly gleaming blade and a handle of curjous oriental workmanship, inlaid with mother-of-pearl. As she consigned it te her trunk, her eyes flashed sinister fires; and she murmured to herself in her own native tongue, “ Fool that I wag to yield even for a moment to the influence of that English girl’s language. But when she spoke of Murder stalking abroad it did indeed send a thrill through me like that of a remorse !” | The ayah sate down and reflected deeply for some minutes. There was evidently a struggle within her bosom: those better feelings which Christina’s language had partially excited, were in conflict with others of a dark and deadly nature; and, alas! the latter prevailed—for at the end of her meditation, Sagoonah’s splendidly handsome countenance assumed an expression of the firmest decision ; and with another sinister flashing of her luminous dark eyea, she ejaculated, “ Yes—it shall be done !” Throughout the following day Madame An- gelique was kept in trembling nervous 9 plished, she should be certain to hear of it there. No—not a syllable!—and the shopwoman whe served her, merely remarked on the fineness of the weather, but alluded not to any incident of hor- rible interest. Madame Angelique returned to her house in London, and sent out for the evening papere—but still without having her frightfal guriogity gratified. It was evident therefore that the deed had sof been done. Marchmont called ia the evening; and it was determined that if on the morrow the intelligence so anxiously awaited did mot reach the vile woman’s ears, she should repair to Bayswater and obtain another interview with Sagoonah. It was an almost sleepless night which Madame Angelique passed: for she felt assured, consider- ing all circumstances, that the Lady Indora was bent her ruin; and in order therefore that her ow safety might be secured (as she fancied) it was napossary that the eastern lady should perish. She spec in the morning ill with feverish anxiety : but all the forencon passed without the wished-for intelligence reachipg her. Again, in the after- noog, she repsired ( Bayswater: she entered another shop—but no unusual excitement marked the looks og the discourse of serving-men or custaggers: it wag anly too clear that the deed Madame Angelique proceeded into the neigh- bourhood of the Prineecss Indora’s villa ; and che watehed ynti] she saw Mark, the faithful major- domo, isege forth from the premises. Then, s0 soon as he was out of sight, she hastened towards the fenep ; and in 4 few minutes Sagoonah made her appearances, “I thought you would have come yesterday,” said the ayah, immediately upon reaching the fenee. “I fancied that you would be only too anxious to learn ghethez it wag done—and if not, why it was left undone.” ‘My dear Sagoonah,” answered Madame An- gelique, quivering with suspense, “I felt so cer- tain that youy courage would not fail you—I was so convinced that you were endowed with such an indomitable fortitude———* “Cease thoes idle flatteries!” interrupted the syah with impatienes, “I have but a minute to tarry here. Listen! here isan English girl be- neath this roof-——” “TI know it,” said Madame Angelique : ‘“Chris- tina Ashton !” “And so long as that girl is here,” continued Sagoonsh, with rapid ytteranse, “my arm is paralyzed. I need say no more, It ie notin my power to devise or execute any acheme to get rid of her: this must be @ task for you to undertake and to accomplish.” “But how?” exclaimed Mademe Angelique, stricken aghast by the armouneement. “It may take days and daye to put some sizatagem into , suspense every moment expecting to hear the intelligenes, | execu from some source or another, that a frightful deed of suicide had been ted during the past night in the district of Bayswater. But hour after hour passed and no such tidings came. In the afternoon the vile woman proceeded into the ueigh- bourhood of Bayswater, and entered a shop with the air of one whose sole and legitimate object was to make some little purchase: for she thought to herself that if the deed had been really accom. “If you, then, are so defielent in means for a emall undortaking,” intesrapted Sagoonah coldly, “how can you possibly fancy that I shall incar every risk and make every sacrifice for a great undertaking? Understand me well! Rid me of that girl, and the deed shall be done: but #0 long as she remains there, I will not make another effort towards its accomplishment.” Having thus spoken, Sagoonah turned abruptly en Trent eas SS DE eS eres (COL (C DOO CS (COL