The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

52 REYNOLDS’ WORKS was resolved to take the earliest opportunity not merely to escape from the villa, but likewise to carry out all her original plans of vengeance. In the meanwhile it was necessary to dissemble. She must give no sign of consciousness, or else she would be questioned by the queen; perhaps she would be reproached. At all events, it suited her purpose in every way to simulate a prolonged unconsciousness of everything that was passing around her. Thus several days elapsed, and during this period Sagoonah so well played her part that no one who entered her chamber entertained the remotest suspicion how vividly the light of reason had flamed up again. It was as if a lamp were burn- ing within a tomb which the unsuspicious passer-by conceived to be inwardly plunged into obscurity. Sagoonah felt her strength rapidly increasing, and she soon saw that the mo- ment was approaching when she must put into execution her project of escape. The medical attendant declared that physically she was past all danger, but he expressed to the queen and Christina his apprehension that her reason was_ gone for ever, — this being the only hypothesis to account for that seeming absence of consciousness which the wily and treacherous Sagoonah so effectually simulated. And she heard the observations which were thus made by the side of her couch, and never once did a muscle of her face move sus- piciously, never once did a rush of blood to her cheeks betray her knowledge of what was thus passing around her. Sur- geon, queen, Christina, nurse, — all were deceived, all im- agined that Sagoonah remained in utter ignorance of her position. They knew not that within that apparently uncon- scious form the darkest passions were agitating, the deepest designs were being formed, and the vitality of the intellect. had sprung up with an unimpaired power. Days passed, as we have said, since her return to con- sciousness, and Sagoonah was now watching an opportunity of escape. It failed not to present itself. One morning, after breakfast, when both the queen and Christina were in the Hindu woman’s chamber, the following brief dialogue took place. ‘““It is my purpose, dear Christina,’”’ said the queen, “‘ to pay the promised visit this forenoon to Miss Isabella Vincent. You know that I assured your brother I would take the earliest opportunity to form that young lady’s acquaintance; GoOmicdooks (E()