The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 286: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THR COURT. Q75 not his hand upon either, nor ordered the con- stable in uniform to take any one into custody. Marchmont and Armytage began to breathe more freely: but Mr. Coleman’s misgivings increased. “There is an inner room,” said the Inspector, advancing towards the door of the spartment in which Mr. Redcliffe was all this while concealed. “ I¢ is private!” exclaimed Mr. Coleman, placing his back egainet it. “ Private, or not private,” said the Inspector resolutely, “I must do my duty. Come, sir-—have the goodness to stand aside, or I shell be com- pelled to use force.” ‘“‘ Beware how you violate the privacy of my offices !’’ exclaimed Mr. Coleman: but the agita- tion and distress which he displayed, more than ever convinced the police officials that he whom they sought was in the adjacent room. The Inepecter was just upon the point of laying his hand upon the lawyer for the purpose of re- moving him by force, when the handle of the door was turned from within, and a voice exclaimed, “ Resist them not, my friend! I surrender!” It was with a low gasping moan that Mr. Cole- man stood away from the door: it opened—and Mr. Redcliffe came forth. The Duke of March- mont gave such a start, and such an indescribable expression swept over his countenanee, that fright- ful indeed must have been the feelings which were tearing like vultures at his heart; while Armytage gave utterance to a ery of amazement. As for Sagoonah—while lightnings shot forth from her eyes, she drew her lithe bayadera form, clad in Christina’s garment, up to ite full height; and her duskily handsome countenance assumed a look of fiendish satisfaction. But it appeared as if Clement Redcliffe beheld not either of the three whom we have just named: his countenance wore a marble composure—his form was erect—his step was firm as he issued from the inner room; and there was not the slightest agitation of his lip nor vibration of his dark eyes to denote any feeling of uneasi- ness within. “‘ Officer, do your duty!” he said, in a firm but glacial voice. “TI arrest you, my lord,” replied the Inspector, “on a charge of murder. You are Lord Clandon by title—better known as the Hon. Bertram Vivian.” “JI am he,” reeponded the prisoner. “Cole- map, you will accompany me. Spere your hand- cuffs, sir!” he added, turning in a dignified man- mer towards the police-constable who had just produced the manacies. * “It is not my purpose to offer the slightest resistance.” The constable was overawed by the manner in which he was thus addressed; and, at a glance from the Inspector, he replaced the handcuffs in his pocket. Lord Clandon—as we must now call Mr. Red- cliffe, alias Bertram Vivian—walked forth from the room without bestowing the slightest notice upon either the Duke of Marchmont, Armytage, or Sagoonah ; and descending the stairs, he entered the cab, aceompanied by the Inspector and the police-constable. Mr, Coleman intimated that he would follow immediately. Sagoonah likewise de- scended the atairs; and the Inspector said to her, “You must confe on to the police-office: we shall require your presence there.” The ayah accordingly took another cab, and re- paired to Bow Street. Mr. Coleman remained behind for afew minutes with the Duke of Marchmont and Mr. Armytage. The lawyer's countenance was exceedingly pale, but no longer agitated: it was firm and resolute. Armytage appeared utterly overwhelmed, crushed, and spirit-broken with everything that had taken place: the Duke of Marchmont was evidently labouring under the almost stupefying sense of a horrible consternation. His countenance was ghastly; and he gased upon Mr. Coleman as if this gentleman were the arbiter of his doom. “ My lord,” said the solicitor, addressing himeelf with a cold sternness to the Duke, “the event which has just occurred renders it unnecessary for your Grace to remain another moment here. Upon that event I shall offer no observation———~” “ But—but,” eaid the Duke, in almost a dying tone, “you will take thie cheque—you will settle this business for Mr. Armytage 7 No, my lord !” interrupted Coleman. “I de- cline your Grace’s intervention altogether. Mr. Armytage will remain with me, to talk over these matters. At his peril will he disobey me!” “But, Mr. Coleman,” gasped forth the Duke, with a desperate but vain effort to assume an air of composure, “as Mr. Armytage’s friend you will at least suffer mo to speak to him in private.” “Not another syllable, my lord!” exclaimed Coleman resolately. “And now I insist that your Grace immediately leaves my office.” Armytage—with his elbows resting upon the table—had buried his face in his hands; and he was moaning lamentably—while the words, “ Oh, my poor dear Zoe!” escaped twice or thrice from his lips. The Duke of Marchmont lingered with the air of a man whose desperate circumstances impelled him to make one more effort to save himself from the uttet destruction which he saw to be immi- nent: but when he looked at the sternly resolute countenance of the lawyer, he was compelled to admit the conviction that everything was indeed hopeless in that quarter. He accordingly issued from the room, reeling and staggering as if under the influence of wine. Mr. Coleman suffered a minute or two to elapse, in order to give the Duke time for departure ; and he then suafmoned one of his clerks from below. “Mr. Price,” he said, in a hurmed whisper te this clerk, “ you will follow the Duke of March- mont—you will watch him day and night—you will dog him whitherscever he goes—and if he attempts to leave the country, you will at onee give him into custody——” The clerk etarted with astonishment; and it was & perfect consternation that seized upon him when Coleman whispered a few more words in his ears. The lawyer placed a sum of money in the clerk's hand for whatscever expenses might be incurred in the mission now entrusted to him; and he whisperingly said, ‘‘Be cautious—be silent! I know that I can rely upon you !” “You mey, sir:”—and the clerk issued from tho room. Another of the dependants was now summoned from the lower office; and when he made his ap- pearance, Coleman said, “ Mr. Ingram, you will remain here with Mr. Armytage till my return. a en ee COMIC OOOlK<S conn