The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 51: what you’re looking at

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ee a em ee THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 45 eyes—foully murdered. A dagger, with which the deed was accomplished, remained between the shoulders, where it had been driven deep down. The unfortunate nobleman lay upon his face on the edge of the pond, into the stagnant water of which one of his arms hung down. For a few moments the butler and Leachley were so horrified at this frightful spectacle, that they were riveted in powerlessness to the spot: but recovering their self-possession after a brief interval, they raised the corpse. Life was extinct: the Duke’s countenance was cold as marble: he had evidently been several hours dead. “ Alas, he is no more!” murmured Leachley, tears starting from his eyes. “No more!” added the butler solemnly: and they gently laid the corpse down again. And now followed a most affecting scene. The faithful dog had seemed to watch the countenances of the two men, while they raised and sustained the corpse betweén them,—as if the animal itself entertained some instinctive hope that they might be enabled to recall their master to hfe. But when their looks told the worst, and those brief sentences were exchanged, Pluto gave one long, low, whining moan—a subdued lugubrious death-howl —and sank down dead by the side of the corpse. This incident called forth fresh tears from the eyes of the two domestics. In a few minutes— after having surveyed the scene in mournful silence —Leachley drew forth the dager, and wrapped it up in his pocket-handkerchief. Scarcely was this done, when the quick tramplings of a galloping horse reached their ears; and in a few moments Lord Clandon ‘was upon the spot. “Good heavens!” he exclaimed, throwing him- self from the horse, and sinking upon his knees by the side of the corpse: “my poor uncle! What fatal accident——”’ “Murder, my lord!” said the butler,—“ a foul and diabolical murder.” “ Murder!” echoed Clandon, starting up with horror depicted on his countenance. ‘“ But I be- hol@ no wound!”’—for the corpse was now lying on its back. “Here, my lord,” said Leachley, “is the fatal weapon :”’—and he produced the dagger from his kerchief. “ Bertram’s!” cried Clandon, the instant his looks fell upon it. “Mr. Bertram’s ?” ejaculated both of the do- mestics, with a simultaneous start of indescribable horror. “Did I say Bertram’s?” exclaimed Clandon. ** No, no—I recall the word Not for worlds would I impute——No, no—I did not say Ber- tram’s!” The two domestics exchanged looks of continued horror, but now blended with dismay and grief: for they both felt that Lord Clandon, having in the suddenness of agonized amazement let drop his brother’s name in connexion with the dagger, was now generously seeking to recall the word, so as to save that brother from the dread imputation and its consequences. “TI will ride back to the house,” said his lord- ship, “and procure assistance. But no—I should fall from the steed—I have not strength Go, one of you! It is my duty to remain here, and watch over the corpse of my poor uncle.” Leachley, the deceased nobleman’s valet, accord- ingly mounted the horse, and sped back to the mansion. Most of the male domestics were abroad, searching for their master and mistress: but some few, who had overslept themselves, were still at the house ; and of course all the female servants were there. The intelligence which Leachley brought, was but too well calculated to overwhelm all who heard it with consternation and grief. A carriage was speedily gotten in readiness; and Leachley accompanied it back to the spot, where Lord Clandon and the butler had remained in charge of the corpse. This was now placed inside the vehicle, which returned at a mourning pace with its sad burthen to the mansion. It was not till the lapse of some hours that the domestics j who had been on the search—including Travers, Lord Clandon’s valet—came back to the mansion; and as they returned one by one, it was to hear the afflicting intelligence of the Duke’s murder. We should not omit to observe that the remains of poor Pluto were likewise taken to the mansion ; and when a veterinary surgeon had examined into the exact nature of the wound of which the faith- ful animal had died, the body was buried in the garden, in the midst of a parterre of flowers. On the following day the County Coroner ar- rived at Oaklands, to hold an inquest over the corpse of the deceased Duke. A jury, consisting of tenant-farmers and of the principal house- holders of the village, was summoned for the oc- casion. ,The butler and Leachley deposed to the discovery of the corpse by the side of the pond. The dagger was produced; and Leachley,—being @ conscientious man, and determined. to do_his duty, no matter at what sacrifice of his own feel- ings and those of others,—mentioned the circum- stance of Lord Clandon’s ejaculation of his brother’s name the instant the fatal weapon met his eyes. The story in respect to the Duchess and Bertram had already got wind throughout the entire district: and thus the Coroner and Jury, in their own minds, naturally beheld in those in- cidents enough to strengthen the suspicion that the Duke’s younger nephew was indeed the assas- sin. Lord Clandon—or, as we ought now properly to style him, the Duke of Marchmont; for such indeed had his uncle’s death made him—was com- pelled to appear before the Coroner. He entered the room where the inquest was held, with a deep sadness upon his countenance; and for the first few minutes his sobs were plainly audible. The Coroner expressed for himself and the Jury the grief which was experienced at enforcing his Grace’s attendance under such distressing circum- stances: but they intimated that they had a duty to perform, and that it must be accomplished. The oath being administered to the new Duke of Marchmont the Coroner said, “I am about to put a question which, however painful it may be, your Grace is bound to answer on the sanctity of the oath you have just taken. Does your Grace know to whom this weapon belongs P” “Am I indeed bound to answer such a ques- tion?” inquired Hugh; and he appeared to speak with the greatest difficulty, so that all present compassionated his afflicting position. “Your Grace must answer,” said the Coro- ner, on) a) VOOKSKEO