The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 72: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COUNT. had been expecting, made her heart flutter once more, and afforded hor not the leisure for the moment to hold any conversation with her de- pendant. She hastily bade Sagoonah introduce Mr. Redcliffe; and the ayah’s eyes—those burn- ing, brilliant, haunting eyes—flashed forth strange fires as she turned to execute the bidding of her ywistrees. Daring her temporary absence, Queen Indora composed her countenance as well as she was able: but it was difficult indeed for cne of her fine feelings and affectionate nature thus to put off even transiently the traces of that sorrow which the intelligence of her father’s death had excited in her bosom. Mr. Redcliffe entered; and Sagoonah, having ushered him in, immediately withdrew from the apertment. We should obeerve that the incidents we are relating occurred some days after that interview between Mr. Redcliffe and the twins, when he inspected the memorials of their departed mother; and on this particular evening Christina had gone to pass a few hours with her brother Christian at Mrs. Macaulay's. — was not therefore afraid of being detected while listening at the door of the apartment—and she did listen. Mr. Redcliffe entered, as we have said; and at once taking the hand of the Queen—though he as yet knew not that she was aught more than a Princess still—he said, “ Has your Highness re- flected well on the note which I sent you the other | morning by Christian Ashton ?” “T have reflected,” answered Indora, in a tremu- lous voice, with downcast looks, and with blushing countenance: “and yet there was no need for it— because—because my love could know no change— it is immutable ! it is immortal !” “Then, Indora, I am here,” resumed Mr. Red- cliffe, “to fulfil the pledge which I gave you when last we met within theese walls. I told you that I had a self-imposed mission to fulfil, and to inves- tigate circumstances which were enveloped in doubt and mystery. In a word, before I dared think of love again, it was needful that I should ascertain the fate of one who—-——” “No more!” interrupted the Queen: “I know * AllP” echoed Mr. Redcliffe. “Yes—it must be so—or else you would never have gone ” “Ah! you know that I went thither?” ojacu- lated Indora, at once penetrating his thoughts. “"Yose—but let me explain presently,” said Mr. Redcliffe. “Tell me, Indora—how did you learn sverything——”’ “And I also will explain presently!” rejoined the eastern lady. “First let us speak of that which is nearest to us—and dearest at least to me. You have discovered that she whom you sought is ne more——is it not so? is it not that which you would have me understand ?”’ “T¢ is,” answered Redcliffe. “And now listen to me, Indora. No man can be insensible of the boundless—the illimitable love which you have borne for me; and it is impossible I can repay it with ingratitude. On the former occasions when we met within these walls, I spoke—and perhaps spoke harshly—of my long, long detention in your royal father’s capital: but that I have forgotten— or at least forgiven. I know that you love me, Indora; you have given many, many proofs of it —aend it is not m my nature——no, by heaven! en OnE an aaaneRatamtietieeneneennneenemneneemnnsnsen damn etpemeneemneencaa a aa 61 it is not in my nature to plant a dagger in such a heart as your's!" “Clement,” murmured Indora, “these words from your lips infuse an unknown happiness into my soul!’ “Yet listen to moe again,” resumed Redcliffo, etill retaining her hand in his own. “The power of loving as I once loved—another-——” and his voice faltered ——=" ie dead within me. But if, all other circumstances apart, you can accept the hand of one who will esteem and cherish you-- who will lavish upon you all that tenderness which your own long-enduring love so much merits,—if you can be contented with an affectionate friend. ship which in itself will be a real love,—then, In- dora, you may claim me as a husband.” Tears trickled down the lady’s cheoks—for her heart was full of ineffable emotions: the words she would have spoken died upon her lips—bat to those lips she pressed Clement Redoliffe’s hand. “Listen to me again, Indora,” he continued, himself deeply moved. “You are beautiful—the handsomest of living women! You retain too all the first freshness of your youth—the jettiness of your hair will not for years to come be streaked with grey—nor the lustre of your eyes be dimmed. Bat how different is it with me! Though still in my prime, so far as years are concerned, yet am I prematurely old. My hair is streaked with grey -—_—and Oh! if the sorrows, the afflictions, and the wretchedness I have endured be taken into ac- count, it were no marvel if I were bowed down as though it were with an intolerable burden !’”’ “ Continue not thus, Clement!” interrupted In- dora, pressing his hand to her bosom and then to her lips. “As I have assured you before, I repeat the assurance now—that I only behold in you the idol of my own imagination. I see you as you were when first I learnt to love you in the far-off city of Inderabad; and, Oh! I shall ever love you! Though all in an instant your hair were to turn white, and your form were to be bowed, and you were to present the appearance of old age’s de- cropitude, I should love you—Oh, I should love you just the same! And think you, Clement, that there is not gratitude mixed up with this love of mine? Think you I can be unmindfal that it was you who were the preceptor of my childhood —who taught me whatsoever accomplishments I —and what is more,” added Indura solemnly, and in the fervour of a grateful piety, “ who in- structed me in the sublime truths of Christianity ? Or again, think you that I am unmindful of how you introduced the arts and sciences of civilization into my father’s Kingdom—how you taught him a liberal and enlightened policy—and how by virtue of your lessons he was enabled to advance his people to the highest point of prosperity and hap- piness? No, Clement—I have forgotten naught of all these things; and thus you see how fervid gratitude is interwoven with my love !”” Never had Indora seemed more eminently beau- tiful than while thus giving expression to those eloquent outpourings which flowed from her very heart. There was something sublime as well as something ineffably touching in her iovelinese at that moment—something grand and pathetis— splendid, and at the same time indescribebly inte- resting, in her looks. Redcliffe would bave been something less or something more than man if he CONIC OOO <S co