The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 169: what you’re looking at

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

i a ts ry ot CHAPTER XLVI. THE RESULTS OF THE LETTER. A cry of horror rose to Ernestiva’s lips: but it was met—choked—and stifled, ere it burst forth, by a return of that tremendous consternation which had already seized upon her once within the last few minutes. ‘Transfixed to the spot where she stood behind the curtain, she was again cold— motionless—and rigid asa statue: and asa marble statue was she also pale! She knew not who the man was—she was even ignorant of his name: but there was something so fearfully sinister in his looks, that the presence of a loathsome reptile in the room could not have produced a more powerful effect upon her. And then, to think that such a man should be her hus- band’s guest—perhaps his friend,—a man who had dug a grave with all the cool unconcern of a matter of business, and who had handled and buried the corpse of her paramour with a kindred indifference,—the idea that such a man was an in- mate of the house, struck Ernestina with the direst horror. But she remained perfectly still and motionless behind the curtains, while the fellow tried the doors of the side-board. They were locked: and he gave vent to a fearful imprecation, which enhanced Ernestina’s alarm at his desperate character. * Well, this is devilish pleasant,” he muttered to ‘himself. ‘ Not to be able to sleep a wink—and to have nothing to drive away thought with. By jingo! ITll break open the doors of this cursed side-board——Ah! here are the keys, by Satan!” And this imprecation, which was uttered with a fearful emphasis, struck awfully upon the ear of the listening lady behind the curtain. Mr. Jones now proceeded to try one key after another; and in a brief space he succeeded in opening the wine-cooler of the side-board. To his supreme satisfaction he found a bottle of liquor; and having assured himself, by the test of a Jong draught, that it was brandy, he expressed his delight in audible terms. He then locked up the wine-cooler again, and took his departure from the room with the bottle in one hand and his candle in _ the other. | Ernestina’s breath appeared to return with an ease that increased in proportion as the retreating footsteps became less and less audible: and when some minutes had elapsed and the house was again | quiet, she stole forth from her hiding-place. But she had now to descend to the kitchen to procure _ alight for her candle; and, having done this, she retraced her way cautiously and stealthily to her _ chamber. The task of restoring the lock to its place upon the door did not occupy many minutes; and by the time the work was accomplished, she felt so _ thoroughly worn out and exhausted alike in mind and body, that she could scarcely undress herself. _ But at length she laid aside her apparel and sought the couch. At first she feared that the agitated | condition of her thoughts and the thousand topics which kept them in a dizzy whirl, would prevent her from obtaining that slumber which was so ne- - eessary to recruit her mental and physical energies for all that was to happen during the day now a oe ee CC sit—S iC SA SS ee eee ee eee THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 155 — ——- about to dawn: but nature speedily indemnified herself for the fatigues and rending anxieties that had been undergone. She soon fell asleep, and slept soundly too, When she awoke, her watch informed her that it was nine o’clock ; and she hastily quitted her couch. A glance flung from the window, showed her old Underdown working diligently in the garden; —and she felt assured that her errand had been accomplished. Perhaps the letter was already in the hands of the Chief Magistrate? —_— | | Ernestina felt that she had now a difficult part | to play—a part that was likewise loathsome and revolting to her feelings. For she was about to manifest the utmost submission to her husband— induce him to believe that there was a thorough revival of affection on her part—coax, wheedle, and caress him—and, in fine, adopt all possible means to lull him into a false security with respect to her feelings and her conduct. Scarcely was her morning-toilette completed, when Dysart unlocked the door and entered the room. The glance which ne flung upon his wife was followed by a gleam of triumph irradiating his countenance: for he read mingled contrition and submissiveness in her whole demeanour. “Well, Ernestina,” he said, in a mild voice, “is it to be peace or war ?” * Peace—by all means, peace,” she exclaimed: “that is, if I did not go too far last night to render peace impossible ?” “Since I asked the question, it must have been with the view of leaving the decision in your hands,” returned Dysart. “I thought you would see the folly of a rupture with me:—it could an- swer no good end—because our affairs, interests, and secrets are too intimately blended not to ren- der it prudent for us to work in harmony and in concert. Do you regard the matter in the same light ?” “Precisely,” was the response, delivered with much apparent earnestness. “ Besides, after all that has occurred I should not in any case desert you so long as my services may at any moment be required in your behalf ?” “What do you particularly allude to?” asked Dysart. “JT mean that if circumstances should render it necessary to use that document which I obtained from the Prince Regent——” “Of course! the thing would have to be ma- naged delicately and prudently,” exclaimed Dysart, *It could not be entrusted to clumsy hands—for my very life may be made to depend upon that paper.” “ Think you, then,” said Ernestina, approaching her husband with tears in her eyes, “that L would leave you in danger and difficulty, after taking so much trouble to procure that document? No,no: I do not possess a bad heart—although my temper may be hasty But you should make allowances for my feelings after such a scene as that which oc- curred last night in Soho Square. ‘To think that I should have been thus exposed to Lord Leveson! Ah! it was enough to goad me almost to madness — or plunge me into despair !” “Well, 1 dare say that I was too hasty and severe in judging you,” said Dysart. But come— we will say no more relative to the past: and let us be better friends for the future,” | | CORmmicloool C(O)