The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 320: what you’re looking at

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a een ee ee eee 314 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. Christina, “ that night is the season for the wan- derings of those who are guilty in deed or those who are equally sinful in purpose, — the season too, Sagoonah,” added Christina, with a deepening impressiveness, “when Murder stalks abroad “Hush, Miss Ashton—hush!” said Sagoonah, with a visible terror depicted upon her counte- nance. “ You frighten me—you strike terror into the depths of my soul! Rest assured that I will wander about the house no more. Believe me,” continued the ayah, in a tone of mingled entreaty and persuasion,—“ believe me that you have made a deep impression upon me! [I see that you are right—I will henceforth follow your advice in all things: but may I hope that you will keep silent as to this occurence of to-night ?” Christina reflected for a few moments : and then she said, “It will be the second time, Sagoonah, that I shall have consented to shield you from the displeasure of your mistress: but remember that it is the last! You have solemnly pledged your- self that you will not repeat these nocturnal wanderings—and I befleve you. But if in this or any other way you transgress for the future, I shall feel it my duty to speak with frankness to the Lady Indora. Recollect that I eat her bread as well as you do; and I am bound to care for her interests.” “ My sweet Miss Ashton,” said the ayah, taking Christina’s small white hand and pressing it to her lips, “ you shall never again have cause to be angry with me. And now good night.” Sagoonah glided noiselessly from Christina’s chamber, and ascended to her own. When there —and when she had closed the door behind her— she took from beneath the folds of her garment a long dagger with a ghastly gleaming blade and a handle of curious oriental workmanship, inlaid with mother-of-pearl. As she consigned it to her trunk, her eyes flashed sinister fires; and she murmured to herself in her own native tongue, “ Fool that I was to yield even for a moment to the influence of that English girl’s language. But when she spoke of Murder stalking abroad, it did indeed send a thrill through me like that of a remorse !” The ayah sate down and reflected deeply for some minutes. There was evidently a struggle within her bosom: those better feelings which Christina’s language had partially excited, were in conflict with others of a dark and deadly nature; and, alas! the latter prevailed—for at the end of her meditation, Sagoonah’s splendidly handsome countenance assumed an expression of the firmest decision ; and with another sinister flashing of her luminous dark eyes, she ejaculated, “ Yes—it shall be done!” Throughout the following day Madame An- gelique was kept in trembling nervous suspense,— every moment expecting to hear the intelligence, from some source or another, that a frightful deed of suicide had been perpetrated during the past night in the district of Bayswater. But hour after hour passed and no such tidings came. In the afternoon the vile woman proceeded into the neigh- bourhood of Bayswater, and entered a shop with the air of one whose sole and legitimate object was to make some little purchase: for she thought to herself that if the deed had been really accom- plished, she should be certain to hear of it there. No—not a syllable!—and the shopwoman who served her, merely remarked on the fineness of the weather, but alluded not to any incident of hor- rible interest. Madame Angelique returned to her house in London, and sent out for the evening papers—but still without having her frightful curiosity gratified. It was evident therefore that the deed had mot been done. Marchmont called in the evening; and it was determined that if on the morrow the intelligence so anxiously awaited did not reach the vile woman’s ears, she should repair to Bayswater and obtain anotber interview with Sagoonah. It was an almost sleepless night which Madame Angelique passed : for she felt assured, consider- ing all circumstances, that the Lady Indora was bent upon her ruin; and in order therefore that her own safety might be secured (as she fancied) it was necessary that the eastern lady should perish. She rose in the morning ill with feverish anxiety : but all the forenoon passed without the wished-for intelligence reaching her. Again, in the after- noon, she repaired to Bayswater: she entered another shop—but no unusual excitement marked the looks or the discourse of serving-men or customers: it was only too clear that the deed still remained undone. Madame Angelique proceeded into the neigh- bourhood of the Princess Indora’s villa ; and she watched until she saw Mark, the faithful major- domo, issue forth from the premises. Then, so soon as he was out of sight, she hastened towards the fence ; and in a few minutes Sagoonah made her appearance, “1 thought you would have come yesterday,” said the ayah, immediately upon reaching the fence. “I fancied that you would be only too anxious to learn whether it was done—and if not, why it was left undone.” . “My dear Sagoonah,” answered Madame An- gelique, quivering with suspense, “I felt so cer- tain that your courage would not fail you—I was so convinced that you were endowed with such an indomitable fortitude———” “Cease these idle flatteries!” interrupted the ayah with impatience, ‘I have but a minute to tarryhere. Listen! There isan English girl be- neath this roof: a “JT know it,” said Madame Angelique: ‘ Chris- tina Ashton !” “And so long as that girl is here,” continued Sagoonah, with rapid utterance, “my arm is paralyzed. I need say no more. It is not in my power to devise or execute any scheme to get rid of her: this must be a task for you toe undertake and to accomplish.” “But how?” exclaimed Madame Angelique, stricken aghast by the announcement. “ It may take days and days to put some stratagem into execution “i “If you, then, are so deficient in means for a small undertaking,” interrupted Sagvonah coldly, “how can you possibly fancy that I shall incur every risk and make every sacrifice for a great undertaking? Understand me well! Rid me of that girl, and the deed shall be done: but so long as she remains there, I will not make another effort towards its accomplishment.” Haying thus spoken, Sagoonah turned abruptly (c@) o(O(0)|< (E€@) 3