The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 391: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERISZS. the damnable wrong which you have perpe- trated f° And the nobleman, covering his face with his hands, broke forth into the bitterest lamentations. But Rameey saw that he was safe—that no posi- tive retribution was intended—and that the Earl was prepared to strain every nerve and put every possible violence upan his own feelings rather than suffer it to be known to the world that the resus- eitated criminal had been his own friend and his wife’s lover. Yes—all this the villain saw and com- bended; and so appalling had been his fears at that the joy occasioned by this assurance of tmpunity and sense of safety nearly overwhelmed aim. And now that he was thus relieved from the most rending apprehensions, he experienced an ardent curiosity to learn how everything had been so sud- denly discovered. Could the Countess have re- pented, and betrayed the secret of her amour and intended flight? No—that was a conjecture in- consistent with her character, her love, and her strength of mind. Besides, the idea would not account for the detection of his imposture as Gus- tavus Wakefield, and his identity as Philip Ram- acy. How, then, was the discovery made? The mystery was impenetrable: it defied all the efforts ef imagination! Not for an instant did it strike him that the visit of the artist and the exhibition of the picture could have any connexion with the endden catastrophe. do not proceed in my direct to Liverpoa and thence depart without delay for America—I will show you no more mercy, but proclaim the fact of your existence to the world and set the blood-hounds of justice to hunt you to that de- struction which you have escaped once f” Having thus given vent to the menaces which his outraged feelings suggested, the Earl of Desbo- rough quitted the reom, banging the door violeatly behind him. He repaired to his wife's chamber, which was darkened by the heavy curtains being drawn over the windows. Around the bed several were speaking in those solemn whispers in which words are exchanged by the conch of an invalid. Two phy- sicians, a nurse, and three of the noble lady's female attendants were gathered there — watching the patient who was sleeping, but with an uneasy and convulsing slumber. “What was the cause of this sudden fit?” in- quired one of the physicians, addressing himeeif to the principal lady’s-maid. “I do not know, sir,” was the reply. “The Eerl and her ladyship were inspecting a picture in a room down-stairsa, when suddenly a fearfai shriek echoed through the house. We ran to the parlour fom which it proceeded—and we found the Earl dread- folly agitated and her ladyship insensible.” “Ah! some family matter, doubtless,” observed the physician. “Is there any danger, sir?” inquired the lady’s- “Mr. Ramsey—or rather Mr. Wakefield,” re- | maid. sumed the Earl, again exercising a mastery over his feelings, —“ for it makes my blood run cold in my veins to call you by the former name,—matters have reached that appalling crisis when reproaches are a folly and an absurdity. No possible invective which my lips might frame, could convey an idea of the tremendous sense of diabolical outrage which my soul experiences. Words are useless in dealing with such a case. The wrong is inflicted: tte nature is horrible to contemplate! But, Oh! with what excruciating bitterness of feeling must I admit that 1 myself was to a great extent the ac. ‘gessory to my own‘dishonour and to my wife’s im- measurable shame. For I knew that you had be- come her paramour—— My God! I knew it--—and now my punishment is a hell of the heart's emoe tions ” And, springing from his seat, the Earl began to pace the room with all the frantic agitation of one whose brain was turning. But suddenly pausing in his demented walk, he confronted Ramsey, saying in a low hoarse tone, “ The sooner we separate, the better. In another sour it will be dusk; and my travejling-carriage will be at the door. If you consent to repair atraight to Liverpool and thence embark for the United States, my purse is at your command.” “ Greedily—gratefully do I embrace the oppor- tunity,” exclaimed the resuscitated. “Talk not to me of gratitude—profane not good words by breathing them with your polluted lips said the Eari, his voice now suddenly changing to a nate vehemence as he surveyed Ramsey with ks of indescribable disgust and abhorrence, “Here are five handred pounds for your use,” he exclaimed, teasing down a purse heavy with gold aod rustling with bank-notes: “and, by the living God ! if you ventare to remain in Eugland—if you “The greatest danger,” was the prompt reply. “Your noble mistress has received a shock which may end fatally—or perhaps impair the nervous system for the remainder of her days———” “Oh! my poor mistress” sobbed the dependant, who was devotedly attached to Lady Desborough. It was at this moment that the Earl entered the room; and, advancing on tiptoe towards the bed, he fixed his eyes with mournful earnestness upon the countenance of his wife. The maid-servants retired—and the nobleman, seating himself by the side of the couch, took Eleanor’s hand in his own. It was cold—icy cold: he pressed it to his lips—he wept over it! Oh! the unhappy nobleman loved his wife tenderly—tenderly ! For upwards of an hour did he remain watching over her as she slept her troubled sleep. No ran. cour was in his thoughts with regard to her—no animosity in his looks: bat he was all love, and affection, and pity, and compassion—that generous- hearted Ear! ! At length, as a sudden remembrance struck him, he looked at his watch; and, gently abandoning Eleanor’s hand, which all this time he had retained in his own, he issued noiselessly from the room. H ing to an a t the windows of which were in the front of the house, he looked forth into the Square. The travelling-carriage was at the doors the pos- tilion was already in the saddle. . A man, enveloped in a cloak, emerged from the house and entered the chaise, which immediately drove off—the occupant drawing up the blinds as it rolled away from the mansion. Then some degree of relief was experienced by the Earl of Desborough, as he retraced his way to his wife’s chamber: for the resuseitated criminal was no longer an inmato of his dwelling ! COMIC OOO (Cc SS a CO