The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 172: what you’re looking at

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

THE WOUNDED AYAH 149 superior officer said, ‘‘ We have heard from Mr. Clarkson’? — thus alluding to the surgeon — “ that an attempt at assas- sination has been made in your ladyship’s grounds, but that there are reasons why the affair should obtain as little pub- licity as possible. Nevertheless, my lady, it is our duty to investigate the matter, for which object we require whatever information you may have to give.”’ The queen recited the simple facts of how her ayah had been discovered in the garden in a state of insensibility, and with a deep wound between the bosom and the shoulder. Christian added that, after the removal of the wounded woman into the house, he had searched carefully about the spot, but had failed to discover the weapon with which the blow was dealt. The officers went forth to examine the place for themselves, Christian accompanying them, and Mark attending with a bright lamp, — which was, however, scarcely necessary, for the moon was pouring its full tide of effulgence upon the scene. The officers discerned the traces of large, coarse shoes upon the border and on the grass, and they were enabled to establish the fact that the intending assassin must have concealed himself in the midst of the clump of evergreens. They traced his footsteps to the pa- lings which he had leaped on quitting the grounds; they fol- lowed them through the fields, until they ceased in the neigh- bourhood of a road leading out into the country. Then the officers returned to the villa. ‘“I presume,” said the inspector to Queen Indora, “ that your ladyship has ne idea whether any one could have con- ceived a revengeful feeling toward your Hindu servant or yourself —”’ “Rest assured,”’ interrupted the queen, “ that if I could point out the man, justice should not be cheated of its due. But, candidly speaking, there are circumstances within my knowledge which may possibly unravel themselves and lead to a development of this mystery. Understand me well. Though these circumstances to which I allude are known to me, yet they do not point out who the assassin himself may be. More I cannot say, unless it be to add that the greater — the publicity given to this occurrence, the less will be the chance of those circumstances developing themselves from mysterious obscurity into an intelligible light.”’ ‘ If the woman should die, my lady,” said the inspector, EOMINGIOOKS (C(O)