The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 362: what you’re looking at

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

reer rrr THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. X47 ke te eter Sag i ae Soe upon your letting me know what they want of you ? | will defeat all my enemies yet: Iwill defeat them— You are well aware that your reward will not be , and I will triumph?’ deficient.” | But, Oh! at what a price were Lady Saxondale’s “ Depend upon it, ma’am—you shan’t be kept in victories to be won and triumphs to be accomplished ? the dark,” responded Cbiflin. She herself shuddered at the idea. “But still one word more!” remarked Lady| On the following morning, when the postman -Saxondale, after a few instants’ deep reflection. from Gainsborough. called at Saxondale Castle with “ You are going back to London %g letters for some of its inmates, he related to the “Yes: I shall walk all the rest of this night.” domestics such particulars of the horrible and mys- “Well, well, you are going back to London, I say | terious murder which had taken place on the pre- —and no doubt Mr. Gunthorpe and Mr. Deveril | vious night, as were current through the town. | will be going back to London also. Now, if they | Lady*Saxondale had not yet descended from her should both visit you again at that place in Agar | own chamber; and Lucilla, oneof her maids, brought Town, are there no means But you understand | her up the intelligence which she had just received me ?”—and the lady looked with dark and ominous | from the other servants after the postman had called. significancy at the Cannibal. Her ladyship, who could not of course admit that “ Well, I think I do, ma’am,” he replied, a hor- | she had received the same tidings during the past rible leer corroborating his words. ‘ Yes—it’s quite | night, affected to be alike shocked and amazed. She possible for them two gentlemen to tumble down | asked for farther particulars. Lucilla went on to into a cellar at the Billy Goat and break their | inform her that Mr. Gunthorpe and Mr. Deveril had necks—or disappear somehow or another in such an | discovered the bodies, and that they were going to unaccountable way that their friends shall never | be examined as witnesses at the coroner’s inquest in know what the deuce to think of it “ the course of the morning. Lady Saxondale in- “1 do not wish to hear any morc,” interrupted | quired if suspicion attached itself to any one: but Lady Suxondale: then in a low murmuring voice, | on this point the maid could give her no explana- she added, as she again fixed her eyes with a look | tion. of deep meaning upon tie Cannibal, “But this| On descending to the breakfast-parlour, Lady much I may say—I dislike those two persons so | Saxondale found Lady Macdonald, Juliana, and much that if you did happen to come with the intelligence that they had disappeared so unac- countably as you state, I think that in my satisfac- tion I should make you a present of a couple of thousand guineas.” “Ah! that’s something like!” exclaimed the Cannibal, a ferocious joy appearing upon his countenance. “Not another word, ma’am, upon —<- reached their ears; and they were unfeignedly shocked and astounded. Lady Saxondale attentively watched Florina’s countenance when the name of William Deveril was mentioned; and she saw that the young damsel exhibited signs of considerable emotion. Her ladyship was half inclined, through sheer maliciousness, to throw out a hint that Mr. the subject. I dare say you will see me again | Gunthorpe and the young artist were themselves before long.” suspected of the crime: but this she felt would be “Every Monday and Thursday night,” added | too preposterous, as not a word to that effect had Lady Saxondale, “at eleven o’clock, I shall look | been mentioned by the postman or by any of the do- into the chapel. And now you must take your de- | mestics retailing his intelligence. parture.” “‘ Have you seen Lord Harold this morning ?” in- Chiffin delayed not to follow this intimation, | quired Lady Saxondale of Florina. and succeeded in effecting his egress from the; ‘Ihave: and I am grieved to say that he is not building by means of the window in the adjacent | so well as I had hoped and expected to find him. He tapestry-chamber. has passed a good night—but it has not rendered Lady Saxondale, extinguishing the light, regained | him the benefit which might have been antici- her own chamber without being observed by any | pated.” inmate of the castle: and when she was alone, she | ‘“ Doubtless he feels the bruises more to-day,” said sat down and gave way to her reflections. _ Lady Macdonald, “ than he even did yesterday. It “Can that man be trusted?” she asked herself. | is always the case; and persons in our sphere of “Did he not meditate treachery towards me when | life,” she added, using her favcurite expression, “ are agreeing to admit that odious Gunthorpe, and that | more tender and delicate than the lower orders, who Deveril—who is alike loved and detested—into the _ think nothing of common accidents.” castle? J can scarcely understand the true mean-| “Is your brother acquainted with the horrible tra- ing of the villain’s conduct. But no matter. I! gedy the intelligence of which has just reached us ?” will write to him no more: nor will I farther place | asked Lady Saxondale, again addressing herself to myself in his power. If the hints I have thrown | Florina. out and the immensity of the reward I have| “TI thought it better to tell him of it,” she re- offered, shall tempt him to remove these enemies! plied. ‘“ An invalid is always more or less nervous; from my path, so much the better: and if he | and I was fearful that he might feel the shock, if should ever dare to proclaim that he received the | the tidings were too abruptly communicated. For, hint from me, who would believe him? No one—' Oh! there is something truly horrible in the reflec. But how could it have been that William Deveril tion that while we were all seated together in the was at Gainsborough the other day? Was it to! drawing-room last evening, and Harold was slum- obtain a secret interview with Florina? Ah! and | bering profoundly in his couch, such a terrific crime that girl’s coolness and reserve towards me! Yes, | was being accomplished within two or three miles yes—assuredly she has seen Deveril, and he has of the castle, and we utterly unsuspicious of the oo done his best to prejudice her against me, But I! currence !” pe fc a ——— aemesitins i ne EEannEEEnEnnnedtitineess =e — eer a -__ Le ee a ern eee A — Se Tee eee Florina already assembled there. The tidings had . ECOMmMiclhoooks (CO)