The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 292: what you’re looking at

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

— 286 were only just audible. A sickening sensation seized upon Christina. What if Zoe had been listening? Rapid as the lightning easts its blaze upon the entire canopy of heaven, did the damsel review her own conduct during the wildly agitating scene with Octavian Meredith; and she saw that she had not given utterance to a single word that she could now wish unspoken. On the contrary, every syllable that had issued from her own lips was precisely such as she would have uttered if able at the time deliberately to ponder what she was about to say. With this consciousness of perfect rectitude of behaviour, her presence of mind was completely regained—her strength of purpose was recovered ; and she ascended to Zoe’s chamber. She found Lady Octavian Meredith seated in an easy chair, with a languid and enfeebled appear- ance—but otherwise with an air of serene com- posure. “Té must have been a servant whose footsteps I heard,” was the thought which rapidly traversed Christina’s brain: “for if Zoe had been listening, she could not possibly thus dissemble !” “Pardon me, my dearest friend,’ said Lady Octavian, in that sweetly soft plaintive voice which for some time past had been habitual to her: “pardon me for having thus long left you to your- self—but I was seized with such a sense of ex- haustion that I was compelled to sit down and rest. Here, Christina! accept this trifle from one who loves you:”—and she presented our heroine with a locket of choicest workmanship, and con- taining some of her own hair. Christina pressed it to her lips; and then obey- ing some strong impulse, she sank upon her knees —took Zoe’s hand—and covered it with her kisses and her tears. She sobbed audibly—but spoke not —and yet there was a world of eloquence in the whole proceeding on her part: for not more plainly could the meaning of her almost involuntary con- duct have been expressed if she had exclaimed, * Pardon me, dearest Zoe! I know that I am the cause—though heaven can attest how innocently— of all you suffer !” Yet those words were not spoken; and whether Zoe comprehended the silent eloquence of the weeping and kneeling maiden’s proceeding, must be left for the reader to conjecture. Certain it is that Lady Octavian wound her arms around Christina’s neck—strained her to her bosom— sobbed and wept likewise: and thus were their farewells expressed ! When Christina again found herself in the car- riage, as it bore her homeward, she could scarcely recollect how she had reached it after that parting scene with the amiable tady whom she feared that she should never behold again. Profound was the affliction which Christina experienced; and on regaining the villa, she hastened up to her own chamber, where she once more gaye way to the wild cutpouring of her anguish. THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. $$$ $$ ee CHAPTER LIV. THE EXPLANATION OF A PLOT. Ir was evening; and Madame Angelique was seated in her elegantly furnished room,—the table well spread with dessert and wine. It was evident she expected somebody: for she frequently con- sulted’ her watch,—murmuring to herself, “This note specified nine punctually, and it is consider- ably past.” At length the door opened, and a domestic an- nounced the Duke of Marchmont. “T know it is shameful to keep a lady waiting,” said his Grace, witha sort of forced good-humoured jocularity ; “ but I was detained at the Club where I dined.” | “ Better late than never, my lord,’ responded Madame Angelique; “and now if your Grace would honour me by taking a glass of wine, I will explain how I have progressed in a certain matter in which your Grace is interested. “Is it that of the Indian lady?” inquired the Duke, as he helped himself to some wine. “ By heaven! I hope your answer will be in the affirma- tive—though I care not even if it should be to tell me that the hope points towards that ayah of her’s: for the magnificent beauty of the one is equalled by the darker giory of the other’s.” “Ah! then you have seen them, my lord P” ejaculated Madame Angelique, with a smile of satisfaction. “You had so piqued my curiosity a few weeks ago, when you renewed the subject one night that I was here - “That your Grace went and laid wait at Bays- water to catch a glimpse of them in their carriage ? —eh, my lord?” said the milliner with an arch smile. “Precisely so,” responded Marchmont: “and I was so interested that I went a second time. On the first occasion I beheld the lady and ler ayah; and, good heavens! what wondrous beauty on the part of each! Thesecond time I saw the lady with a young English girl, whom to my astonishment I at once recognised. She is Miss Ashton—the sister of that very identical young dog who spoilt my game in respect to Stanhope and my wife. She was at first with the Merediths—and to tell you the truth, I had marked her out as my prey.” “And why, my lord, should you not honour her with your favour in her turn?” inquired Madame Angelique. “I have never seen her—at least not to my knowledge: but if she be worth any trouble * “Worth any trouble?” exclaimed Marchmont : “she is worth as much trouble as either the eastern lady or the ayah! She is of a ravishing beauty; and those three together must form a group such as you, Madame Angelique, never had in the saloon adjoining—beautiful as I admit your houris are. But come—tell me what is this satisfactory intelligence which you have to im- part ?” “The eastern lady, my lord, will be in your power,” replied the infamous woman, “ whenever you think fit to say the word. I took the business in hand myself—and fortune favoured me I ao onnn VOG <SriGO