The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 139: what you’re looking at

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128 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. fashion, and half-Oriental in ite style—which she had worn on the preceding day: but she had changed that dress for an evening costume, ac- cording to her wont, when she performed her tuilet for dinner. This semi-English, semi-Eastern garb which she had put off, as we have just said, lay upon the couch in Indora’s chamber. That chamber was now entered by Sagoonah, who lost | no time in apparelling berself in the drees which she thus found upon the bed: and from the Queen’s jewel-caskets she took many valuables, as well as a large sum in gold and bank notes which she found in a writing desk that happened | in to be unlocked. Concealing this wealth about her person, Sagoonah flung a thick and costly veil over her head. <A few minutes afterwards she issued noiseleesly forth from the front door of the villa. The evening had closed in: but it was a beautiful clear one—aend all objects were plainly visible in the flood of argentine lustre which poured down from a cloudless sky. We must for a brief space leave Sagoonah, just as she is beginning to glide through the garden attached to the villa; and we must return to an individual of whom indeed we have very recently spoken. This was Barney the Burker. At about four o’clock in the afternoon of the day of which we are writing—and which was the one following his adventures with old Jonathan Car- nabie and with Jack Smedley—¢he Burker bent his ateps a second time towards Queen Indora’s villa. He was habited in his Jewish garb which we hava already described, and which was indeed a most effectual di the peering vision of even the keenest sighted officer of justice. The dense foliage of evergreens, shrubs, and trees which embowered so large a portion of the grounds attached to the villa, afforded the Burker an easy opportunity of penetrating into the enclosure unperceived by any of the inmates of the dwelling. He concealed himself in the midet of that clump which was in the immediate vicinage of the fountain, and which had afforded him a hiding- place on the ing day. Presently he bebeld Indora walking through the grounds, in company with a gentleman whom he instantaneously recognised. This was the one who had pursued him almost to his capture at Wood- bridge, when he had saved himeelf by plunging into the river,—the same too whom he had seen on the preceding evening at Mr. Chubb’s front door. But the Barker was ignorant that the gen- tleman bore the name of Clement Redcliffe. Queen Indora was then apperelled in the same costume in which the Burker had seen her on the preceding day: namely, the semi-English, eemi-Eastern garb, of which we have been speaking. He was not long in perceiving that she gazed with tenderness on her com : he saw that she loved him. At first the magnifcent beauty of the Queen pro- duced upon the Burker an almost overpowering influence, similar to that which he experienced on the previous day: but this gradually wore off, as in his ambush he reflected on the absolute neces- sity there was for him to accomplish the task assigned by the Duke of Marchmont, and reap those rewards which were to be the price of his iniquity. Besides, the Barker hated Mr. Redoliffe, against whom he entertained a bitter spite on ac- count of the affair at Woodbridge; and he con- ceived that by fulfilling the Duke of Marchmont’s mission in respect to Indora, he should be at the same time his vengeance on her com- panion. Thus was it that the miscreant was on the present: occasion nerved with all his wonted satanic. energies for a purpose of tremendous mis- chief. Bat Mr. Barnes by no means intended to perpe- trate the crime while Indora was walking with one who even if he did not prove a protector, might at least serve as a defender. He thought it very probable that Indora might presently remain alone in the garden; at all events he determined to wait. His hiding-place was deeply embowered in foliage: he was buried amidst laurels and bays; and when the dusk should be closing in, that am- bush would be perfectly impenstrable. There were a few moments, however, when the Burker experienced a mortal terror: for a stray dog, entering the grounds, began barking violently in the immediate vicinity of the spot where Barney was concealed. With what bitter impre- cations did the miscreant curse the yelping cur! and with what infinite satisfaction would he have driven his long clasp knife into the brute’s body! The animal stood apon the edge of the border in the midst of which the evergreens were planted,—barking with all ite might: so that the circumstance speedily attracted the notice of Queen Indora and Mr. Redcliffe. They advanced close up to the spot: for a moment the Burker dreaded lest Mr. Redcliffe should make a minute inspection of the place: but immense was the miscreant’s relief when that gentleman contented himself with merely driving the animal away. Shortly afterwards Mr. Redcliffe took his leave of Queen Indora; and then followed the interview between himeelf and been described. But in the meantime Barney the Burker continued in his ambush. He had often waited hours for an opportunity to accomplish some deed of evil; he was by no means likely to abandon his present enterprise, so long as there might by any probability be a chance of achieving it on this occasion. Besides, as well for him to remain an hour or two more in a place where his safety was comparatively secared, than to go wandering about the bye-streete of the metropolis, or sit down in some public-house, with the chances of being recognised and captured. The time passed—the shades of evening fell: but as the stare came out and the weather was so mild and beautiful, the Barker thought to himseif he would tarry yet a litde longer in case Indora should by chance come forth to take another ramble. Presently his ear cenght ¢ the rustling of a drees at no great distance: he listened with sus- pended breath: nearer it came — he heard the flowing ekirt of the costume sweeping over the grass, and then brushing by some plant overhang- ing the border. The Burker peeped forth; and the next instant his hand clatched his clasp-knife —for he felt aseured that it was Indora of whom he caught sight. Yes—the very same costume which he had seen her wear that day and on the preceding one !—and though the veil was now over her head, yet was it evident beyond all possibility of doubt that this was his intended victim! All of a sudden there was a rush from amidst the trees: a faint shriek escaped the lips of the GOMGOOO (G which has already , (CO