The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 287: what you’re looking at

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Fears... ~ = - == 276 Let no one have access to him; and if he should endeavour to escape, call in a police-constable and give him into custody on a charge of forgery.” Armytage had all this while remained with his | countenance buried in his hands: but when he | THE MYSBTERIEG OF TITE COURT. bearer. On reaching Mortimer Strest, be had learnt from Mrs. Macaulay—as the disguised In. spector had previously done—that Mr. Redcliffe (as he was then called) had gone to his solicitor’s in Bedford Row, Holborn. Thither Mark pro. heard that mandate given by Mr. Coleman to the | ceeded, little suspecting the fearful nature of the clerk, he threw himself at the lawyer's feet, im- ploring his mercy. “ Everything depends upon yourself,” replied leman; “and you can now more than ever understand how your testimony will become so needful.” Having thus spoken, the lawyer issued from his office—descended the stairs—and engaging a cab, which happened to be passing along Bedford Row, he proceeded to Bow Street. Before concluding this chapter, we have one explanation to give. The reader will recollect that Mr. Coleman had received a letter upon the perusal of which he had taxed Armytage with forgery. This letter was from another solicitor, who had first of all discounted the bills for twenty thousand pounds that have been so frequently mentioned. Those bills, as we have seen, had fallen into Coleman's hands: for with the aid of Mr. Redcliffe’e money he had taken them from the original discounter. This discounter had that very day happened to discover that the acceptance of some mercantile firm had been forged by Armytage to those bills; and he had accordingly written to communicate the fact to Mr. Coleman. This was the letter which, as we have seen, was received by Coleman a few minutes previous to the sudden bursting in of Sagoonah and the police-officials. CHAPTER CXXXVIILI. THE PRISONER IN THE DOCK. THE magistrate at Bow Street had not quitted the office, although it was now past the usual hour for his retirement from the bench : but he awaited the result of the expedition on which the In- spector had set out. It was not very long before this official returned, accompanied by his prisoner. The crowd that usually hangs about a police-office, ' bad diapersed in the belief that the business of the day was over:‘the newspaper-reporters had like- wise taken their departure; and the court iteclf remained empty until the magistrate and his clerk were fetched from their private room by the intimation that the prisoner who was ex- pected, had just arrived at the office. The magiz- intelligence that awaited him. His astonishment and consternation may therefore be imagined, whea he learnt from one of the clerks that Mr. Redcliffe had been arrested on a charge of murder, and that he was none other than the Duke of Marchmont's brother, Lord Clandon. Of this fact Mark was hitherto completely ignorant; and it filled him with as mach surprise as the incident of the ar- rest excited his grief. He sped away to Bow- street: and as we have seen, arrived there shortly after the proceedings had commenced. To prevent any confusion, while the reader re- fers to some of the earlier chapters of our narra- tive, it may be as well to remark that daring the life-time of the Duke of Marchmont, Haugh (the present Duke) bore the title of Lord Clandon, while his brother was simply the Hon. Bertram Vivian. Bat when the murder of the old Dake gave the higher title to Hugh, Bertram as a neces- sary consequence became Lord Clandon ; and it is thus that we shall speak of him. On being introduced into the dock, Lord Clan- don lost not for an instant that self-possewion, calmly though coldly dignified, which at the mo- ment of his arrest he had worn at Mr. Coleman's office. He bowed to the magistrate: when his solicitor entered he bestowed on him a look of friendly recognition ; and when he saw Mark make his appearance in the Court, he beckoned him to the side of the dock, and bending over, whispered, “ You will break this intelligence as delicately as possible to your mistrese. But wait until you hear everything that takes place!” . Sagoonah had been conducted by the Police- Inspector to a seat just behind the witness-box ; and she now looked straight forward, not once turning her eyey after the first glance towards the victim whom her vindictive jealousy had consigned to that ignominious position. She beheld Merk make his appearance; but she affected not to per- ceive him. Her features were rigid; and dusky though her complexion was, yet a visible palenem, cold and death-like, sat upon her countenance. The Inspector entered the witness-box, and was sworn. He then addressed the magistrate as fol- lows :— “ Your worship is aware that about nineteen years ago the Duke of Marchmont of that day was found murdered at a short distance from Oak- lands, his country-seat in Hampshire. A Coro- trate accordingly returned to take his seat upon | ner’s Inquest pronounced a verdict of ‘ Wilfal the bench: the clerk placed himeelf at the table; | Murder’ against Bertram Vivian, otherwise Lord and Lord Clandon was now escorted into the dock. | Clandon. Warrants were issued for the appre- In addition to the persons already noticed, there | hension of the accused : a reward was offered by were only Sagoonab, the Inspector, and the con- | the Secretary of State for his apprehension ; ad- atable, besides two or three other police-officers, | vertisements were inserted in the newspapers— now present. But Mr. Coleman speedily made : but all without effect. The accased had taken his his appearance; and soon afterwards another in- | departure ; and during this interval of nineteen dividual entered the court. years, nothing ever rcached the ear of justice con- This last-mentioned person was Mark, Queen | cerning him until this day. From information Indora’s faithful major-domo. 1¢ will be recol-'! which I received, I have now arrested the pri- lected that her Majesty had despatched a note to |soner in the dock; and I charge him with being Mortimer Street, acquainting Lord Clandon with ' that same Bertram Vivian, otherwise Lurd Clan- Segoonah’s flight ; and of this nute Mark was the | don, against whom a verdict of ‘ Wilful Murder’ | Ce reese = COMME HOG (CO