The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 289: what you’re looking at

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

278 form's sake !—but still as a trial mast ensue, it is requisite we should glean every perticular. Queen Indora’s name must sooner or later be mentioned in the proceedings; and therefore as well to-day at this court, as in another place a short time hence. I beseech that your lordship will leave yourself entirely in my hands.” “My friend, I will do so,” answered Lord Clandon : and the solicitor retired to his seat. The Inspector now directed Sagoonah to enter the witness-box; and she was firet of all ques tioned by the magistrate in respect to her know- ledge of the obligations of an oath. Her answers were satisfactory; and she was sworn according to her own creed. Then—partly in reply to leading questions put by the Inspector and the magistrate, and partly of her own accord—she proceeded with her evidence. She spoke the English tongue sufficiently well to render it entirely intelligible ; and it was rather with a peeuliarity of accent than in broken phrases that she delivered her testimony. Her veil being raised, the extraordi- nary beauty of her countenance could not fail to strike those present to whom she was a stranger: her demeanour was coldly calm and collected; and her voice trembled not. But once—and once only—did she glance towards the prisoner in the Sock i and this occasion will be montioned in its place. She deposed that her name was Sagoonah—that she was about twenty-six years of age—that she had been left an orphan in her childhood—from which time she had been brought up about the person of Indora, Princess, and now Queen of In. derabad, an independent kingdom of Hindostan. She recollected that about sixteen years back, and consequently when she was only ten years old, an Englishman bearing the name of Clement Redeliffe arrived at the Court of Inderabad. He was in the Kast India Company’s service, and came to that Court as an accredited diplomatic agent on the part of the Governor-General, The King of Inderabad, for his own reasons, detained the Englishman at his Court, and caused a rumour of his death in the jungles to be propagated in other parts of India, so that it might reach the ears of the British fanc- tionaries at Calcutta. proceeded to state that the Englishman was treated with all possible distinction at the Court of Inderabad —his freedom alone excepted. He had sumptuous apartments assigned him ina pavilion attached to the Royal palace; he had slaves to minister unto him—e guard of honour to attend him; and riches were showered upon him. Those around him were ex- pressly ordered by the King to address with the respect due toa noble of the highest rank. He was the preceptor of the Princess Indora, whom he instructed in all European accomplishments, and whom he converted to Christianity. He was like- wise the King’s Privy Councillor, and was the means of introducing a multiplicity of reforms into the institutions of the country. All these were of the most liberal tendency; and thus, although he was known to be an Englishman and a Christian, he was an universal favourite with every grade of society in the kingdom of Inderabad. He was al- ways addressed as if he bimself were a Prince; and it was generally believed that he would espouse the Princess Indora, and become monarch of the coun- try whenever the old king should die. THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. It must be observed that Sagoonah related these facts in order to give her narrative as much pre- cision as possible; but that likewise much of the information she imparted, was elicited from her by questions, while the rest was spontancously afforded from her lips. She proceeded to depose that the Englishman Clement Redcliffe frequently implored his freedom, bat could not obtain it. Thus years passed on. At length, in the year 1845, an incident occurred which made Sagoonah acquainted with some por- tion of his former history. It appeared that an English traveller was found murdered in a wood in the neighbourhood of the capital; and amongst the documents discovered on his person, was a London newspaper. This newspaper fell into the SS ea La —_ _ as -_ a ees hands of the Englishman Clement Redcliffe. On | that very same day Sagoonah was walking in the Coart of Fountains belonging to the palace of In- derabad,—when she was the unseen witness of a meeting on the part of the Englishman and the Princess Indora. The Englishman threw himself at the feet of her Highness, imploring that she would intercede with her royal father to procure his freedom. He said that everything which re- garded his native country had hitherto been a per- fect blank to him; but that the newspaper which hed now fallen into his hands, contained a para- graph bearing allusion to his own family, and to his horror tending to criminate him in respect tos murder which he never even knew had been com- mitted at all. He mentioned the name of the Dake of Marchmont: he mentioned his owg real name of Bertram Vivian. His language was passi and vehement; and she (Sagoonah) thought he scarcely knew what he was saying at the time. Sagoonal continued to depose that she herself, during this in- terview remained concealed behind a group of shrubs, and that her presence there was not sus- pected by either the Englishman or the Princess. She never told either what she had overheard, but treasured it up in her own bosom. The English- man’s freedom was not accorded him; but some time afterwards he escaped from Inderabad. Then the Princess determined upon coming to Eng- land; and Sagoonah agreed to be her companion. Since they were in England—and very recently— Sagoonah had listened at the door when the pri- soner and Indora were conversing together; and she had heard enough to establish the conviction in her mind that he whom she had so long known by the name of Clement Redcliffe was none other than Bertram Vivian—or, more properly, Lord Clandon. “ And the prisoner in the dock,” said the magi- strate, inquiringly, “ is the same person of whom you are speaking ?”’ Now it was that Sagoonah turned her large coal black eyes upon Lord Clandon ; and they vibrated with that lustre which on former occasions hed struck him as so sinister, and which had subse- quently haunted him for a period afterwards. That look which she thus bent upon him was full of a fiendish satisfaction—of a hatred which had succeeded a once all-potent love ; and as she again turned her regards towards the magistrate, she said in a firm voice, “ It is he !” “ ‘When you first addressed me this afternoon,” said the Inspector, “ you entered into very minute details in respect to the murder which took place DOOKKS eS ce eg I minnnssniiemaiunamnense mune eeeeemereenmieeseeeee EAR ed (CO COMM