The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 79: what you’re looking at

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68 listened to him with a sort of dismayed stupefac- tion, as well as with haggard looks. He spoke not a word: but hastening, or rather staggering back like one-inebriate into the dining-room, he tossed off a large bumper of wine. Then, still in silence, he replaced his cheque-book in the writing- case, which he was about to lock,—when Stanhope, who had followed him thither, laid his hand upon his shoulder. The Duke, who had not perceived that he was so near, started with a visible tremor ; and again his haggard looks contemplated Stan- hope with a kind of vacant dismay. “ My lord,” said the latter, “ there is something more in all this than I comprehend. Either you were smitten with a real terror or a fanciful one. If the former, there must be a real danger, which I now incur as well as yourself: and if the latter, you must have a very evil conscience. At all events i¢ may be worth your lordship’s while to keep on friendly terms with me; and therefore you will scarcely lock up that writing-desk until you have given me some token of——what shall we call it P—your liberality-————that term will do:” —and Stanhope chuckled ironically. For a moment the Duke of Marchmont ap- peared inclined to resist with indignation his ex- tortionate demand : but a second thought induced him to yield. He accordingly drew forth the cheque-book, and filled in a draft for a thousand instead of for upwards of seven times that sum, as he had at first intended. Stanhope took the cheque—glanced at its contents—and on see- ing the amount, consigned it to his pocket witha complacent smile, as if he thought that when the sum had been dissipated he might reckon upon procuring more from the same quarter. He did not care to press the Duke for any farther expla- nation as to the scene which had taken place: he eaw that the topic was an unpleasant one : but he had his suspicion that the hint he had thrown out relative to the darkness of the nobleman’s con- science was very far from being incorrect. The Duke remained abstracted and thoughtful for the rest of the evening ; and Stanhope, anxious to escape from such gloomy companionship, retired early to the apartment which was provided for his reception. The instant that Marchmont was left alone, he rang the bell, and ordered Purvis to be immediately sent to him. The old steward soon made his appearance, with his habitual demeanour of respectfulness; and the Duke—motioning him to advance close up to where he had halted from a troubled walk to and fro—said in a deep voice, “ Purvis, something strange agein has occurred this evenin “ Strange, my lord?” said the old steward. “ And what is it?” “You remember that dream of mine—if it were a dream——Bat I begin to doubt——In short,” added Marchmont, most cruelly perplexec, “TI know not what to think———But who, P ‘ he suddenly camanded, “keeps the key of the conserva “It is sTways in my custody, my lord,” re- sponded the old steward. “When the head- gardener requires it, I give it to him: but he always restores it to me—for as Oaklands is so seldom occupied now by your lordship and her Grace, I am always afraid of a set of idle tramps and vagabonds getting into the place.” 2 i, gee ——— THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. “ Who bas the key at this moment P—who has had it all the evening ?” demanded the Duke hastily. “It is here, my lord,” replied Purvis, producing the key; “and the gardener las not had it in his since the forenoon.” “But those other rooms,” said the Duke,— “think you that anybody could have penetrated into them ?” “Not without my knowledge, my lord,” re- sponded the steward: “or at all events not without the knowledge of at least some of the servants. But may I be so bold as to inquire why your Grace asks ?” “T¢ is strange—most strange!” muttered the Duke to himseilf.. “Can the dead reappear P—or if he be living, has he come to revisit these scenes which——-” “TI am afraid,” said Purvis, “that something unpleasant has occurred to your Grace: for your looks are very much discomposed —— “Enough for the present !” interrupted March- mont. “I possess a feverish fancy when I think of certain things. Take care, Purvis, that all the doors are carefully locked before you retire to rest. And look well through all the rooms—behind the draperies—in every nook and corner, indeed; for the house is spacious—-and it is so easy for any evil-designing person to enter and hide himself. See that you attend to my instructions: but do not appear to be more assiduous on these points than usual in the presence of the other domes- tics.” The Duke of Marchmont waved his hand for Purvis to retire; and he then proceeded to his own chamber, where he locked himeelf in. We must now return to Mr. Redcliffe. After parting from the old steward at the statue, he sped along in the direction of the cottage, where he had left the unknown woman whom he had picked up in the road, as already described. During the short space of time occupied in retracing his way towards that cottage, Mr. Redcliffe reflected upon all that had occurred at Oaklands; and most pain- ful were these reflections, That Queen Indora was the object of the Duke’s murderous machina- tions, he well knew: but that he had paralysed them he was almost equslly certain. And now, on his return to the cottage, he hoped to be enabled to receive some explanation from the stranger- woman's lips as to how she had become possessed of the letter contained in the sealed packet: but he was doomed to disappointment. For, on re- entering the cottage, he at once learnt from the mistress thereof that the woman was ' “Gone !” ejaculated Mr. Redcliffe. “What do you mean ?—that she is gone of her own accord P or that the surgeon ordered her to be removed P” “No, sir,” answered the elder! y female: “she went away of her own Mr. Redcliffe passed into his little parlour, the mistress of the house following him; -and he then learnt the following explanations :— Shortly after he had left the cottage on his visit to Oaklands, the woman had begun to rally far more rapidly then at first; and she soon recovered her consciousness. She exhibited mingled terror and astonishment at finding herself in a strange place: then she rapidly felt about her person in search of her property. The mistress of the cottage CONIC OOO co