The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 331: what you’re looking at

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

THE EXPLANATION OF A PLOT 311 The repast being over, and there being still two more hours of daylight, Indora resumed her wanderings through the mansion, but on this occasion dispensing with the attendance of Purvis. She revisited the picture-gallery, and thence proceeded to the chamber where, as she had been told, the Duchess Eliza took leave of her weeping servants when about to go forth alone from that mansion. where so much misery had overtaken her. In this chamber the princess sat down and gave way to a train of most mournful reflections, tears even trickling down her cheeks. Then she repaired to the room which was occupied by Bertram Vivian when he was staying at Oaklands, and there again did the princess linger in profound and painful medita- tion. Wherefore was she thus deeply interested in every circumstance and every scene at all associated with that tragedy of nearly nineteen years back? From that apartment the Princess Indora roamed to the magnificent saloon where the marble columns and the rich draperies imparted an air of truly ducal grandeur, and where there were such exquisite specimens of the sculptor’s art to be contemplated. But all these Indora appeared not now to notice; she seemed bent upon some purpose which absorbed every other thought and feeling. A strange light was burning in the luminous depths of her magnificent dark eyes, her lips were compressed with the decisiveness of that profound purpose of her soul, and her feet bore her straight toward the cabinet whither Purvis had previously conducted her. And now she looked around as if to assure herself that no one was by to observe her movements or watch her pro- ceedings, and, satisfied on this point, she entered the cabinet. Unhesitatingly was her taper finger pressed upon the secret spring, the little door flew open, and the next moment the dagger was in her hand. Wherefore did the Indian princess thus again grasp that weapon with which so frightful a deed was associated? What strange feeling thus impelled her to gaze once more on the dagger that had drunk so deep of human blood? But now a strange scene ensued. Closing the little door with its secret spring, and still retaining possession of the dagger, Indora came forth from the cabinet. Intently were her luminous dark eyes fixed upon the blade which the whimsical or else more deeply mysterious care of Purvis CORNICLOO SS (E©) im