The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 319: what you’re looking at

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

316 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. in the somewhat excited state of her thoughts under the influence of those horrible recollections which had been so forcibly brought back to her mind. “What were you quired Adelaide. “Oh! nothing, my lady ——” * Nonsense! you were about to say something. Speak candidly: there is naught to which you can give utterance in respect to the present topic, that will offend me.” “TI would rather not, my lady. I was foolish— very foolish,” responded Lucilla, becoming every instant more and more confused. “Now I beg that you will speak candidly,” said Adelaide. “Nay, I command you. Proceed: not be afraid of giving me offence.” “Well, my lady, since you order——but pray don’t mention to his lordship———I would not for the world make mischief——indeed, I would rather not say any more——” “Lucilla, this is foolish. Proceed.” “Well, to be sure, it was before my lord was acquainted with your ladyship; and so there’s no harm done.” “What is it P”’ demanded Adelaide impatientty. “Do not trifle with me thus.” “I was only going to observe, my lady, that if his lordship did really know something of Emily Archer——-I suppose young noblemen will be gay . now and then—— “To be sure! I comprehend you. Of course it has ing to do with me. Emily Archer was intimate, you mean, with Lord Saxondale? Don’t be frightened, Lucilla: you have not offended me—and [I shall not mention that I have learnt anything from you. But I sup- pose his lordship was not here at the castle when the murder took place?” “Oh! no, my lady: he was in London, and had not been here for some time. His lordship never liked the castle: it was too dull——” “ But where was it thought that the two women were going at the time P” inquired Adelaide. ' “Well, my lady, it was whispered that Miss Emily Archer and her maid were coming to the castle for some purpose or another.” . “Why wait thought so ?’” “Oh, for several reasons. In the first place,” continued Lucillu, “what could they have possibly been doing in the neighbourhood between nine and ten at night, unless they wers coming to the castle? They were stopping at an hotel at Gains- borough at the time. Then again, what could they have come into Lincolnshire at all for, except to see her ladyship, or else in, the hope of finding Lord Saxondale down here? Perhaps, my lady, his lordship may have turned neglectful in Lon- don But there is yet another reason why I think they were coming to the castle.” “‘ And that reason ?”’ said Adelaide. “ ‘Why, my lady, the very day before the one in the evening of which the murder took place, a post-chaise drove up to the castle—a lady got out —and her maid remained in the vehicle. The lady gave no name, and said it was uselesa, as she was not known to Lady Saxondale; but she had a long interview with her ladyship, and then went away. It never struck any of us at the time that this going to say, Lucilla?” in- This unfortunate been the very came that came to the castle: but some days after the inquest, when we read in the county papers full particulars and descriptions, we thought they must be the same. Of course you know it was not for her ladyship to go to the in- quest and gay anything about the matter: because it was rather a delicate subject in respect to my lord ;—and whether or not the females were the same who called at the castle, and whether or not they were again coming here in the evening when they were killed, had nothing to do with the cir- cumstance of the murder. Poor things! they were no doubt waylaid by some ruffians.”’ “No doubt of it,” observed Adelaide. “J hope your ladyship will not mention that I have been talking so much on the subject,” said Lucilla, who dearly loved a gossip, but who now began to reflect that she had been ing very frankly and familiarly indeed to Lord Saxondale’s wife upon a topic which was rather of a delicate “ Fear not, Lucilla,” responded Adelaide: “it is entirely my own fault that you have been led into these explanations.” Having thus spoken, Adelaide slowly ascended the staircase towards the apartment where she expected to find her mother-in-law and her hus- But in the meanwhile let us see what had been taking place betwixt these two. It will be re- merobered that when Lady Saxondale directed the servants to take the peasant with them and give him some refreshments, she had beckoned her son and her daughter-in-law to follow her up-stairs. Those stairs she ascended mechanically, scarcely what she was doing: for, as Adelaide had but too truthfully suspected, her air of cold out- ward composure was only a mask which the natural strength of her mind and a sort of des- perate courage enabled her to assume in order to conceal the horrible feelings and terrific appre- hensions that were agitating in her soul. It was not until Lady Saxondale reached the apartment that she observed her son only was following her, and that Adelaide had remained below. “ Where is your wife?” she said, with nervous quickness, as she turned and threw a strange look u und. “I don’t know—I thought she was with us,” he replied. “I scarcely know what I am thinking or doing———U pon my word, it seems as if I was in the midst of some curious dream! But now, mother, what means all this? Tell me at once——" ‘* Question me not, Edmund!” she interrupted him, her entire form visibly shaken with a cold tremor, which she could neither reprees nor con- ceal, “Think what you will—but I conjure you keep a seal upon your lips: breathe not a word to @ soul—answer no questions which your wife may put—and it will be all to your advantage. [I cannot leave the castle immediately—it would look too strange: but in three or four days I will depart —and never more shall you be molested by me. This I solemnly swear.” “Well, at all events it is something observed Edmund: and, then as he felt all his horrible suspicions in respect to his mother felly confirmed, he could not help adding, “ But, my lady and ber maid who were murdored, might have | God! what made you do that ?” (COL ( 5 DOO CS (COL