The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 357: what you’re looking at

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

ye REYNOLDS’ WORKS vent to the terrific incidents of guilt which weighed upon her soul. ‘The messengers from India came at the moment,” continued the ayah, in the same murmuring broken accents as before. ‘“‘ The reptile was in the couch — all was pre- pared — death was in its sting — venom in its fangs, but Heaven would not permit my mistress to perish then. Take it from me, take it from me, that hideous reptile! Oh, take it, take it from me! Oh, oh!” Again was Sagoonah’s form convulsed with a violent shud- der; the bed shook under her, she writhed upon the couch, she half-turned around in spasmodic convulsion, again were her arms tossed and agitated wildly. This time Indora had not the presence of mind to apply her soothing influence; she was transfixed to the spot with the horror that like a nightmare filled her soul. This last revelation from Sa- goonah’s lips, in respect to the cobra di capello, was so fright- fully incredible, and yet all circumstances combined to pre- vent it from being for a single moment disbelieved. “That English girl, Christina Ashton,’ continued Sa- goonah, in feebler and more broken accents than those in which she had last spoken, “is an angel in earthly form. She has told me of the angels of her creed, and she is one, — she has spoken of herself. She is the good genius of my mis- tress; her presence is a talisman against all evil to Indora. No, no, vile woman! — no, no, Madame Angelique! I will do nothing more to Indora. Christina’s presence saves her. Fool! you carry her off, but she comes back, she escapes from your toils, she is an angel, an angel of her own creed. Nor can you dispose of her as you will— that angel — that angel — angel! ”’ Here was another revelation for the queen; the mystery of Christina’s forced abduction was now cleared up. “ Yes, Christina escaped from you, vile woman!” con- tinued Sagoonah. ‘“ She came back, to be the good genius of my mistress, who is kind to her. Oh, I will do no more to Indora. But that Englishman, the first whom I ever saw, the only one whom I ever loved — ah, his image is here — here — here! ”’ Sagoonah turned uneasily upon her pillow, and with a low, gasping sigh she laid her right hand upon her heart. Again she opened her large dark eyes, and she appeared to CORNICLIOOKS (E(0)