The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 372: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. nevertheless sufficient to strike the extreme sensi- tiveness of the astute snake-charmors.” « But as for a cobra being within theee walls, my lady,” said istina, “jit is simply impos- , sible !”—and yet as she spoke she shuddered at the bare idea. “¥ will question him again,” the Princess. “ But look at him !—assuredly this is no groundless nor mere panic terror under which he is labouring °” She addressed the Hindoo in a few words: his answer was given with rapid utterance and vehe- ment gesticulation, as if while jn the expression of a positive conviction he were only held back by a sense of the respect due to a superior from up- braiding her Highness for doubting him. “He persists in his assertion,” said Indoga, again turning to our heroine. “Do no} alarm yourself—bnt something must be done. I know this man well—he would not attempt to deceivo me-—— Besides, look at him again, and judge for yourself ?’ Christina indeed had not taken her eyes off the Hindoo: bis agitation was painfully increasing— and she was convinced that it was mostreal. He appeared to be writhing as if in actual torture— shuddering to the innermost confines of his being : his teeth chattered as if with the cold—the perspi- ration stood ijn large drope upon his bronzed fore- head. The Princesse addressed him : he spoke vehemently, bat still with the completest res ness, in reply;—and he extended his hands as if he asked for something. “He persists in declaring that there és a cobra in the house,” said the Princess, again speaking to Christina; and he asks for some musica} instru- ment, which, if he once possessed it, would dispel all his terror and make him feel that he suddenly be- comes the master of the serpent with no fear of falling its victim.” «© Wark has a flageolet,” hastily suggested Chris- tina: “ your ladyship knows that he is fond of shutting himself up in bis own room and playing it-———-” “An excelient thaught of your's, my sweet young friend,” responded Indora ; “and as certain orders must be issued, it is absolutely necessary to summon one of the servants at any risk.” “ At any risk, my lady P” said Christina, turn- ing pale. “Then you yourself begin to be- heve ” “I know not what te think,” interrupted In- dora. “On the one hand it seems imposnible— bat on the other it strikes me that the matter is not to be neglected. The longer I look at that man, the mor I am But we are wasting time, Chrietina! Have the goodness to ring the bell twice: it is the special sammons for Mfark.” The bell was rung accordingly; and it was promptly answered : for Mark was in the hall con- versing with the Eoglish interpreter who had ac- companied the two messengers to the villa. Mark, as the reader will remember, had himeelf been in India; and he was therefore well pleased to fall in with a feliow-countryman who had just arrived from that orient elime, and whe could tell hima all the news. Mark’s presence in the hall had been productive of one beneficial effect—although be little suspested it: for it prevented the ayah 363 from stealing up-stairs to listen on tho landing at what was taking piace in the drawing-room—a proceeding in which the wily Hindoo woman was very likely to have indulged, were it nat that she dreaded the idea of exciting Mark’s suspicion. She had ajready said in the servants’ room that her work was all done yp-stairs—no bell sum- moned her—she had no excuse for ascending those stairs—and they were so situated with respect to the entrance-hall and the landing shove, that if she had gone up and loitered on the latter, she would have stood every chance of being detected by Mark who was stationed in the former. But to resume the thread of our narrative. Mark answered the sammonps given by the double ringing of the drawing-room bell ; and the Prin- cess hastily explained to him the strange but serious apprehension entertained by the Hindoo messenger. The faithful domestic was himself somewhat staggered—though it was certainly singular for an Englishmgn to be told that there was @® venomous reptile of India within the walls of a dwelling on the outskirt of London: but still he was staggered, because he beheld the excessive agitation of the Hindoo, and his experiences of Indiau life were sufficient to convince him that it was a real terror onder which the emissary was labouring. Besides, Mark was prudent—and he knew full well that as an apprehension was created, it would be better to have it dispelled as soon as possible, no matter whether it should be proved groundless or else justified by the resylt. “Say not a word to the other domestics,” ob- served the Prineess hurriedly, though not for an instant did she lose her presence of mind: “ it will be useless to terrify them-———” “ But Sagoonah and Tippoo, my lady, will hear the music,” suggested Mark ; “and they will know what it means.” “True!” ejaculated the Princess: then, after a moment's ction, she added, “Go you first and fetch the flageolet—then return to the servants’ hali—see that all the domestics are there—lock the door—put the key in your poeket—and tell them what you will. At all events you will prevent them from rushing frantically about the house, or escaping into the garden But go, good Mark —and for heaven’s sake look well on the staircase and elsewhere—for if the horrible suspicion be in- deed correct———-But go, Mark—I am needlessly wasting time !” Tho faithful intendant of Indora’s household quitted the room; and immediately he had dis- appeared, the junior messenger who now seemed to have become more calm, said something to the Princess. © Ho still perseveres in declaring that there is a cobra within the walls of this villa,” said the Princess to Christina: “but since the door has been opened and shut twice daring the last few minutes, he says that his instinotive susceptibility tells him that the reptile is not here, in this room—hut in some other—and he thinks over- head.” “ heavens, the bed-chambers!” ejaculated Christina, who af each successive stage of these singular proceedings was more deeply catehing the infection of terror notwithstanding the natural strength of her mind. “Do not be alarmed,” replied the Princess, (COL (C DOO CS (COL