The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 382: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 881 CHAPTER CLXVII. THE BANDITTI’S TOWER. Whew Juliana came back to consciousness, she found herself stretched upon a bed in a poorly furnished apartment: two of the women whom she hed already seen, were bending over her, adminis- restoratives: her husband, standing at the foot of the curtainless couch, was gazing upon her. She seemed to be awaking from a hideous dream. Wildly her looks were flung around, as if to acquire evidences that she dreamt no longer: then, aa the sickening, horrifying convietion swept in upon her soul, that everything she fancied was in- dod but toc. terribly ‘ran, she closed her eyes again, as if to shut out whatecever objects made her thus keenly alive to her fearful position. Slowly however she opened those orbs once more ; and in mute consternation—under the influence of an awful numbing dismay—she looked slowly The ane small window was deeply eet in the thick of the chamber, and had no dra loa fow cheiny a rue upon tie foor— the bed abo lay on-and some other wifline article of furniture, constituted the appointments of the room in which the brilliant Juliana, who at Saxon- dale House had slept upon down, and beneath a canopy of velvet, with draperies of satin and | y muslin, now found herself. The two women who ministered unto her, were exceedingly handsome ; and with their picturesque apparel, and the pro- fusion of jewellery which decorated their persons, they seemed far superior to the wretchedness of their abode. Her husband, as already stated, was standing at the foot of the bed,— ing with an outward air of calmness the effect which would be produced in his wife by this awakening to the consciousness of her position. His arms were folded across his breast: he looked like one who was resolute to meet whatsoever upbraidings might be levelled him, and to glory in the fact that he was the famous robber-chief Ramon de Collantes. He now made a sign for the two women to leave the chamber; and when they had departed, he took a chair and sat down by the side of the couch. Juliana shuddered visibly at his approach. For an instant a look of sternest displeasure ap- peared upon his countenance: but as it quickly paseed away, he said in a lofty tone, as if he chose to rise high above all reproach and upbraiding which might be vented him, “ Now, Juliana, at length you are in the home to which you have so much to come !” “This my home?’ she exclaimed, with another visible tremor, as her eyes swept around the dreary, desolate apartment. “No, no—I will not remain here! Let me go hence! I will depart alone !’—and she sprang up from the couch. _, “ Not so, Juliana!” said her husband, catching her by the wrist, and compelling her to at down by the side of the couch: though in justice it must be observed that he used no more force than was absolutely necessary. “You are my wife—and here you must remain.” “Remain here ?”’ she ejaculated: and for an instant she was about to give vent to a violent —— eee eh OS Vee ee eee wees ie 8 eee, ee eee gust of mingled rage and grief: but the demeanour of Ramon de Collantes overawed the one, and compelled her to stifle the other. “Tell me,” she eaid, suddenly growing calm—but it was the un- natural calmness of utter despair,—“ have you brought me hither to dwell amongst brigands P”’ “ For the last nine months you have been the wife of a brigand-chief,” answered Collantes ; “ and must accept your destiny.” “ Yes—but I knew it not_——God knows how far —how very far I was from sus it.” “To be sure!” ejaculated her husband: “how could it have been otherwisoP We each had our secrets; and we kept them as long as we could. ‘You had been the paramour of other men when you were wooed by me: I was a bandit-captain when I wooed you. I have promised to reproach you not: in common justice should you abstain from up me.” “But that falee title which you assumed?” ejaculated Juliana, half frantic. “T had as much right to usurp the rank of a nobleman, Juliana, as you had to assume the posi- tion of a virtuous woman. If I werea false Count when I led you to the altar, you were not a virgin- bride when you came into my arms.” “My God!” murmured the unhappy lady, again shivering all over: then suddenly she cried, “ But how was it that my own maid deceived me? how was it that she assured me you were all that ou represented yourself—that you visited at the Spanish Embassy in Parie——" “ Because your maid was accessible to my gold,” answered Ramon de Collantes. “ Do you sup- pose, Julians, that I foresaw not that you would make inquiries ? I knew that you were a thorough woman of the world ; and I played as deep a game as your own.” “Why did you marry me?” demsnded Juliens abruptly. “ Because I loved you—truly and sincerely loved you! TIlove you now—and shall ever love you, unless you give me cause to hate, you. I more than half suspectéd, when I wooed you, that some- thing had gone wrong with your antecedents. But I cared not for that! It was sufficient that you struck my fancy—and I resolved to possess you as 3 wife.” “ And that tale of the change of Ministry, when we were travelling southward———” “ An opportunity which presented iteelf for de- an excuse not to bear you into Spain, but So ott oh on the Pyrenean frontier, whence I myself pay periodical visite——" “To your tntendant P* said Juliana, with bitter sarcasm. “Do not speak thus—or I shall not love you much longer,” answered Collantes, haughtily and sternly. “ Rather thank me for having from time to time re-entered Catalonia to join my brave band for a few days, and levy contributions on travellers who “ And that mah who had been a iabourer on your estates ”’ said Juliana, still somewhat irani- cay: Shough not with so much bitterness as before. “‘A scoundrel who was once a member of my band, but who through very cowardice deserted. For want of a passport, he lingered just over the frontier; and my evil destiny threw me, as jyva om EEE OC ee, ~~ ow ey ee ee eo, (COL (C DOO CS (COL