The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

LL LLL LLL OLED Le LTE TEE LLL THD MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 76 LLL LLL LL Ct “Foolish girl!” thundered the Minor Canon, as- | was appalled and horror-stricken ;—and sinking upon suming an air of diabolical menace,—“ you will force me to extremes! Look around you—behold the utter loneliness of this place. No human eye witnesses us: but how many spectral forms and invisible phantoms may be looking forth upon us from amidst the dense obscurity of these vaulted regions and the black dark- ness of its remotest nooks. Now, Louisa, Louisa— you behold before you a desperate man! His honour —his fame—his character—almost his very life—these are in your hands: and unless you kneel and swear by the great God who rules in heaven—by the shades of the departed monks and warriors whose remains lie buried beneath our feet or entombed in the cloisters overhead —by all your hopes of happiness in this world and of salvation in the next ;—unless, I say, you kneel and swear by all these that you will never reveal to a living soul aught of what has occurred to you in my house or at my hands a4 “No, no—I cannot take that oath!’ interrupted Louisa, whose blood had run cold at the terms in which it was couched. ‘‘ Besides, I will deal frankly with you—there is one to whom I must, for my own sake, reveal all that has occurred: otherwise I could not account for my absence from home, of which he must inevitably hear on his return to Canter- bury te “Ah! you allude to Jocelyn Loftus—my rival in your love ?” muttered the Minor Canon, with a terrible scowl of hatred: then, subduing his bitter feelings —or rather the outward manifestation of them—as well as he was able, he added, ‘“ But is it absolutely necessary for you to make him your con- fidant in this respect? What purpose will it serve to excite his angry feelings against me ?—what good will it achieve to unsettle his mind with rancorous thoughts and vindictive emotions? Remember, young lady, that wherever a battle is to be fought, two must fight it—and that he whose cause is most just and who wins the day, does not always come off scatheless himself.” ‘“ Nevertheless,” observed Louisa, her courage re- viving since she beheld a disposition on the part of the Canon to become the suppliant and to back his proposals of compromise by means of a sophistry which betrayed even to her inexperienced compre- hension the alarm that really lurked at the bottom of his mind,—“ nevertheless,” she said, ‘“‘ I must deal frankly and candidly with Mr. Loftus, be the con- sequences what they may. At the same time,” she added almost immediately, “ I think I can undertake to promise that he will forbear from any course which may tend to give publicity to this wicked outrage, provided you y “Oh! now you are dictating conditions to me, girl!” exclaimed the Canon, flying into an ungovern- able passion. ‘By heaven! I will sacrifice you to my safety—aye, and to my vengeance also—unless you take the oath which I have already prescribed ! Yes—and without reserve or exception, I say,” he added, ferociously. ‘Down — down — upon your knees, insolent girl—down, I commard you ; His looks were terrible with the rage and fury of a desperate man—the foam of a species of hydrophobic madness was upon his lips—and if he stopped short in the midst of his fiercely uttered words, it was not because he had nothing more to say, but because his throat grew so suddenly parched and his tongue so hot that he gasped and panted violently. Louisa’s firmness abandoned her in a moment: she her knees, she raised her clasped hands and lifted her dilated eyes, exclaiming, “ Mercy! mercy !” “T will show no mercy—I can know none!” gaid the Canon, in a hoarse and ominous yoice. “Take the oath which I have dictated—swear to observe an eternal secrecy with regard to the incidents of this night—or ¥ “No, no—you may kill me——Oh! you. may kill me,” shrieked the anguished girl,—“ but I will not take that dreadful oath !” “Then, by heavens! you shall go back to your prison-chamber in my house,” exclaimed the Reverend Bernard Audley: “and I will starve you into com- pliance with my wishes— into obedience with my commands !’’ And as he thus spoke he sprang forward and wound his arms about the sylphid form of the kneeling girl. A piercing scream burst from her lips: but one of his hands was instantaneously placed upon her mouth— and, despite of her struggles, he was bearing her away from the spot, when a female figure, clothed in black, suddenly appeared from: behind the pillars. “Ah! my evil genius!” ejaculated the Minor Canon—and he let Louisa fall from his arms. Her forehead struck upon the hard ground—/(for the crypt was not paved)—and she instantaneously became insensible. a * x % + w * * = * When Louisa awoke to consciousness, she was lying undressed in a bed—and a candle was burning in the room. A crowd of terrible reminiscences rushed into her brain ;—and wildly she cast her eyes around her. But all her apprehensions were soothed in a few moments —all her fears were dissipated—when she discovered that she was safe in her own chamber at the cottage. A certain painful sensation on the forehead caused her, however, to lift her hand to her throbbing brow —and her fair fingers encountered a bandage. Ah! then all those terrible reminiscences were not a dream: but everything which now was uppermost in her mind, bore the impress of reality! Her captivity— her flight—the scenes in the cathedral crypt,—all were true:—but how had her deliverance been effected ? While she was yet lost in conjecture, the servant- girl Mary entered the room: and perceiving that her young mistress was awake, she precipitated herself towards her—caught her in her arms—and embraced her with a fervour that evinced the depth and sin- cerity of her attachment. “ How long have I been here ?—and who brought me home ?” were Louisa’s first questions. “ An hour has elapsed since you were brought back in a deep swoon, Miss,’ was the reply. “It is now three o’clock in the morning Pr “ And my aunt—my poor aunt—how is she?” inquired the maiden, hurriedly. “As usual, Miss. Of course Ihave let her want for nothing—I have done my best to attend upon her, although terrribly grieved at your absence——” “And are there any letters, Mary?” demanded Louisa, a gentle blush appearing upon her cheeks which were previously as pale as marble. “ Yes—one, Miss :"—and the servant presented her with the letter, holding the ¢andle near the bed at the same time so as to enable her young mistress to read it. tn ne cn US TUES Tr ECOMICLMOOKS (€()