The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 358: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 47 upon your letting me know what they want of you P You are well aware that your reward will not be deficient.” : will defeat all my enemies yet: I will defeat them— and I will triumph !” But, Oh! at what a price were Lady Saxondale’s “Depend upon it, ma’am—you shan’t be kept in | victories to be won and triumphs to be accomplished f the dark,” responded Chiffin. “But still one word more!” remarked Lady Sexondale, after a few instants’ deep reflection. “You are going back to Londona——” “Yes: I shall walk all the rest of this night.” * Well, well, you are going back to London, I say —end no doubt Mr. Gunthorpe and Mr. Deveril will be gning back to London also. Now, if they should both visit you again at that place in Agur Town, are there no means——~-But you understand me?” —and the lady looked with dark and ominous igni at the Cannibel. “Well, I think I do, ma’am,” he replied, a hor- rible leer corroborating his words. “ Yes--it’s quite possible for them two gentlemen to tumble down into a collar at the Billy Goat and break their necks—or disappear somehow or another in euch an unaccountable way that their friends shall never know what the deuce to think of it——” “J do not wish to hear any more,” interrupted Lady Baxondale: then in a low murmuring voice, she added, as she again fixed her eyes with a look of deep meaning upon the Cannibal, “ But this much I may say—I dislike those two persons so much that if you did happen to come with the intelligence that they had disappeared so unac- countably as you state, I think that in my satisfao- tion I should make you a present of a couple of thousand gui ” “Ah! that’s something like!” exclaimed the Cannibal, a ferocious joy appearing upon his countenance, “Not another word, ma’am, upon the subject. I dare say you will see me again before long.” “Every Monday and Thursday night,” added Lady Saxondale, “at eleven o'clock, I shall look into the chapel. And pow you must take your de- ure.” Chiffin delayed not to follow this intimation, | q end succeeded in effecting his egress from the building by means of the window in the adjacent ber. Lady Saxondale, extinguishing thelight, regained her own chamber without being observed by any inmate of the castle: and when she was alone, she sat down and gave way to her reflections. “Can thet man be trusted?” she asked herself. “Did he not meditate towards me whea agreeing to admit that odious Gunthorpe, and that Deveril—who is alike loved and detested—into the | enstle? I can scarcely understand the true mean- ing of the villain’s conduct. But no matter. I will write to him no move: nor will I farther place myself m his power. If the hints I have thrown | out and the immensity of ‘the reward I have effered, shail teunpt him to remove these enemies from m She herself shuddered at the idea. On the following morning, when the postman from Gainsborough called at Saxondale Cactle with letters for some of its inmates, he related to the domestics such particulars of the horrible and mys- terious murder which had taken place on the pre- vious night, as were current through the town. Lady Saxondale had not yot descended from her own chamber ; and Lucilla, oneof her maids, brought her up fhe intelligence which she had just received from the other servants after the postman had called. Her ladyship, who could not of course admit that night, affected to be alike shoeked and amased. She asked for farther particulars. Lucilla went on to discovered the bodies, and that they were going to be examined as witnesses at the coroner’s inquest in the course of the morning. Lady Saxondale in quired if suspicion attached iteelf to any one: but on this poins the maid could give her no explana- William Deveril was mentioned; and she saw that the young damsel exhibited signs of considerable emotion. Her ledyship was half inclined, through sheer maliciousness, to throw out a hint that Mr. Gunthorpe and the artist were themacives suspected of the crime: but this she felt would be too preposterous, as not a word te that effect had been mentioned by the pustman or by any of the do- “TI haves and I am grieved to eay that he is nod 0 well as I had hoped and expected tofindhim. He has passed a good night—but it has not rendered him the benefit which might have been antici * Doubtless he feelé the bruises more to-day,” said Lady Maedonald, “ than he even did yesterday. It io always the case; and pereons in our sphere of tife.” she added, using her favuurite expression, “arg more tender and delicate than the lower orders, who think nothing of commen accidents.” * Is your brother acquainted with the horrible tra- gedy the intelligenee of whieh has just reached us ?”” asked Lady Saxondale, again addreasing herself to “IT thought it better to tell him of it,” she re- “ An invalid is always more or leas nervous ; y path, so much the better: and if he | and I was fearful that he might feel the shock, if should ever dare to proclaim that he received the | the tidings were too abruptly communicated. For, hint from me, who would believe him? No one—/ Oh! there is something truly horrible in the refleo- But how could it have been that William Deveril ' tion that while we were all seated together in the was at Gainsborough the other day? Was it to drawing-room last evening, and Harold was slum- ebtain a secret interview with Florina? Ah! and that giri’e coolness and reserve to ! Yes, But I a cr rey — ee de rrr em a a TIT TT oP I a = REP ED, , bering profoundly in his eouch, sueh a terrific crime me | was being accomplished within two or three milee yes—assurediy she has scen Deveril, and he has inst me. of the castle, andewe utterly wosuspicious of the em | eurrcnes §” COMIC LOO