The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 318: what you’re looking at

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lies there was what the parcel or something of that sort; and so perhaps she was acoustomed to wear this very identical dress. De- pend upon it, my lady, that my opinion isn’t far wrong. “Perhaps not,” said Lady Saxondale, with the appearance of her wonted calmness. “ But the incident is of no consequence now: itcannot assist the But here she stopped short ; and stooping down, affected to examine the texture of the wet garment. “Please your ladyship, wif& due deference,” suggested the butler, Lin this incident ought to be made known to a “ And please your ledyship,” added the steward, “such is my idea. murder was as mysterious as it wes horrible; and everything at all connected with it, must of necessity be made public.” “ Besides,” continued the butler, “there are in- stances where poli cers are 80 uncommon sharp, that the slightest clue puts them on the right scent—aend a new link in s chain serves as a guide to the detection of the guilty ones.” “* Yea,” anid the peasant: “I am determined to go to some Justico-of -the-peace, and tell him what have found. It eando no harm if it does no good. Besides, it would seem as if the thing sat heavy on my conscience, if I didn’t do so. Let me seo— who's the nearest justico—Mr. Denison or Mr. Hawkshaw? By the bye, I have got a call to make in the direction of Hawkshaw Hall; antl s0 Tl go straight off there at once.” An ion of trouble, which she could not possibly subdue, passed over the features of Saxondale, as man thus , servante all beheld that look on the part of lady spoke. The their fo a prompt to jump at an extreme conclusion, felt her confirmed. own suspicion fully “Well, my good fellow,” said Lord Saxondale, thinking # better to put a stop to this matter, if O16 possible, “I don’t know that you need trouble Squire Hawkshaw——Just leave the dross here, and J’ll deliberate what is to be done with it.” “ Beg your lordahip’s parcon,” replied the pea- sant; “but this is a matter fr a « justion to sift. I should have gone t off with it at once: only just as I ¢ ¢ out of the river, the steward was as woe got talking om the sabjene T coca as far as the castle. No offence, my lord, for not taking your lordship’s advice : but where murder has been done, no good ever comes of keeping a thing in one’s own hands —and I sha’n ny feel casy in my mind till I have delivered this dress up to a justi “Well, my good man, have your own way,” in- terrupted Lady Sexondale. “I see that you are very wet—you have been in the water. Go to the eorvants’ hall, and get some refreshments before you set out on your walk.” Having thus spoken, Lady Saxondale turned away, beckoning Edmund and Adelaide to follow her; and she began ascending the stair-case. Her son did at once accompany her: but his wife lin- gered in the hall; and as the domestics were mov- ing away in company with fhe peasant, who had rolled up the dress, and whom they were conduct- ing to their own premises to give him some re- freshments,—A.lolaide beckoned Lucilla towards er. “What dreadfuld murder was this, my girl,” she inquired, “to which allusion has been made? I aoe nee are! and I know that soy lord end Ler ladyahip will give me no particulars, for posing that she was thus questioned through ordinary curiosity on the part of Adelaide “it was indeed a Let me seeP It hap- pened four or five months back To be sure! Lady Maedonald and Lady Florina Staunton were staying at the castle——Yes, and Lord Harold too 99 “Ah! Lord Harold Staunton was steying here at the time—was he ?” “Yes, my lady. I recollect he was ill in bed : he had been thrown from one of Mr. Hawkshaw’s horses, which he would persist in riding. It was very mad of his lordship, you know, when he was implored not to do it: for the horse was a very spirited one-———” “Well, but about this dreadful tragedy,” said Adelaide. “ Dreadful indeed, my lady! The victims were an and her servant———the dancer's mame was Mademoiselle d’Alembert: but if I re- collect right, her real one was Emily Archer ; and she was a splendid creature, as I have heard say. Well, my lady, they were both found shot dead on the bank of the river—one through the brain, the other through the heart———” “ And was this in the middle of the night ?” in- quired Adelaide. ** Oh, no—not in the middie of the night. About ten o’clock, as near as I can recollect.” “ And where were they going ?” “Ah! that nobody knows,” responded Lucilla. “It was thought at the time——” But here she stopped short, perceiving the im- mense error she was about to commit, and into which she had almost been inadvertently betrayed (COL (C DOO CS (COL