The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 375: what you’re looking at

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866 Christina was so overcome by her varied feelings, ——thankfulness for IJndora’s providential escape, astonishment at the mireculous manner in which it had heen acgamplished, and hosray af the thought af go deadly a reptile havipg been in the house,— that phe nearly fainted. The Princes sustained her young friend in her arms, embracing her affec- tionately : Christina exerted a stpong effort to res gein her self-possossion ; and a flood of tearp gave Mark was now summoned; and the resulé of the investigation was made known to him-an an- noyncement which he received with feelings not far different from those which inspired Christina “T cannot understand, my lady,” he said, “ how syah a reptile could be here: for the voriegt child knows that there are none indigenous to this countyy. Jt must heve egoaped from the Zoolo- gical Gardens, or elsa from some itinerant mena- geria; but heaven be thanked for its discovery and destruction, ere drogd mischief wag wrought by its venomous fangs |” “T peed not remind you, Mark,” observed In- dora, “how it suits my purpose to retain a strict iucognita here; and how desirous J am therefore to evoid attracting any particular notige on the pert of the public. It is therefore my pleasure thet this pccyrepnep be kept strictly senret; and you will enjoin the Bnglish domestins not to speak of it ta their aoquaintanoes, nor to make it a sub- ject of gossip amongst the tradesmen with whom we deal. Mention this likowise to the intaspreter | wha aepompanics the messengesa from my royal father.” Mark bowed and withdrew,--taking the towel and its loathsome contenta away with him. We need hardly say that with the exeeption of Sa- goonah, evesy one in the servante’ hall was smitten with hogror and astonishment on hearing what Mark had to relate, and on beholding the proofs of his story. But the wily ayah so well played her awn part, that gha seemed to be as much affected as the rest—or even more so. Mark and the groom went forth together to bury the fragments af the cobra in the garden; while Sagoonah, hag- tening up-steirs, glided into the drawing-room-~ felling upon her knees at Indora’s feot, took the hand of hep Highness and pressed it to hor lips, as if in congratulation at the escape of a well-beloved mistress. And Indora, who supposed heyself ta be thus well beloved, oareasingly smoothed down tha long dark hair of her slave,—at the same time thanking her for what she naturally gon; cajved to be a proof of her affectionate devotion. The massengars and the interpreter took their departure from the villa: but jt was not until a late boyr on this memorable night that the in- mates retired tq rest; for alike in the drawing- yoom and in the servants’ hall thare wag mugh to | the gonverse upon. On the following day Madame Angelique re- appeared in that neighbourhood: for under all the circunstances which are known to the reader, she was deeply and psinfully anxious to ascertain what progress Segoanah was making in the diabolical enterprise she hed underteken,—whether it was as yet carried out,—and if net, when it would be. The ayah—more or less suspecting that the in- | famous woman would (hus spek hez, and wanting THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. to be so sought—was on the look-out. She ap- proached the fencg where their colloquies were wont ta he held; and Madame Angelique flow thither. At first ‘she thou ght, by the cold, rigid, atatue-like gir of the derkly't begutiful Hindoo, thas the deed was accomplished: in fact, sa confident was she that such would be the announce. ment she was on the point of hearing, that sha experienced an inward feeling of savage joy, Sa goouah sepmed to penctrate what was passing in har mind: for ahe said in that voice of monotonous caldness which she so often was wont éo adopt, “ You are exulting without 9 cause: the Lady Jn, dora yot lives—end is likely to live Jang,” “Sagaonsh—my dear §Sagoonah-sthese words from your lips!” exclaimed Madame Angeliqus, in mingled disappointment and dismay, “‘'Yes--those words from my lips,” responded the ayah, coldly as before, “ Last night the ter- ribla projeet which you yourself suggested, was put in train—and it failed, I tell you that the Lady Indora possesses a charmed life,” continued | Sagoonah, with a sydden emphasis half solemn and half of passionate vehemence: “and heaven itself manifests ite power on her behalf. To meditate further mischief against her, would be ta fight against the deities themselves! J will not again dare such an ‘unholy strife! Ask mo nos for deteils——»] will give none!” * But you must~e-you myst!” apslaimed Madame Angelique; “for yeaterday I visited the Gardens after you had left—vI took care to inform myself that your party bad been and was gone— I looked in the reptilashouse-—and, the deadly oobra was migsing |” “ And thst cobra was taken away by my band,” rejoined Sagoonsh, # terrific brightness suddenly figming up in her large black eyes, “Think you therefore that the hand which dared grasp the reptile, trembled to deposit it in the couch of her to ensure whose death my own was dared? No! —I did all that your infernal wickedness sug- gested, and that my own fearful courage was enabled ta accomplish. But heaven intervened wondroysly—-miracglously !|-rand the dead reptile -+-dreqd now no longer—is buried ip thig garden, I tell you, woman,” added Sagoonah fiercely, “that those who serve the cayse of Hell cannot poasibly prevail against the blest of Heaven :—and the Lady Indora is thus blest! Begone—tempt me uo more! All your arte and wiles—your cajoleries and your instigations—are vain and fruitless, Never more will I be led by them-~ nevey more will I bend to them! Begone, woman ~-and beware how you seek this place again!” There was a wild eloquence in Sagoonah’s language which corresponded effectually and im- progsively with her aspect, as she thts spake. Hes eyes byrnt with a supernal lustre: they glowed in of their brightness—their splen- dour was effulgent, but terrible and overpowering, Hey nostrils dilated—her lips wreathed like those of a pythoness when enunciating prophecies with an inspiring freosy. Her tall form was drawn up to ite full height,—the swelling bosom upheaved beneath the white draperies that only partially concealed those contours as well rounded as if be. longing to a atatue of bronze ;—and altogether tha appearance of that Hindvo woman stsuck terror and dismay into the heart of Madame Angeligu-. (GO) iC C) DOO CS (COL