The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 242: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 239 In the course of the afternoon the governor visited the prisoner’s cell ; and having inquired with all possible respect and courtesy after bis health, he said, “J think, Mr. Dysart, that I shall not ex- coed the bounds of duty by dropping a hint that may serve to tranquillise your mind.” “You are very good, my dear sir,” exclaimed the prisoner. % And this hint-———” “Is to the effect that you need not apprehend a very severe carrying out of the law,” responded the governor, with a knowing look. “The fact is, sir, I am a little in the confidence of certain per- sons high in authority——” “Ah! I understand,” said Dysart, seeing in this _ mysterious hint on the governor's part the realiza- tion of the announcement made to him by his wife. “It has been whispered to you that a reprieve and pardon may be confidently relied upon !” “Hush!” observed the governor, placing his finger to his lip in a meaning manner. “Say no more!” exclaimed Dysart, joyfally. “1 understand you, sir.” | “But not a word to the turnkeys—not a word even to your friends,” said the governor; “ for this is of the nature of a State secret, Mr. Dysart —and if I have ventured to drop a hint, it is be- cause I do not like to see you linger in suspense.” Thus speaking, the governor withdrew—and Mr. Paul Dysart sate down to his dinner as pleasantly and as comfortably as if his pardon had already been proclaimed to the world. Meantime Lady Ernestina had returned home to Albemarle Street: and she also enjoyed her dinner that day with as much zest as her husband expe- rienced in Newgate. At about nine o'clock in the evening Mr. Lawrence Sampson was announced; aud the lady received him with her wonted affa- “Sit down, Mr. Sampson,” she said, with a gracious stoop from the pedestal of her aristocratic hauteur,—“ and take a glass of wine. I have seen my poor husband to-day, and broke to his ears the matter which you mentioned to me last evening. I assured him that if he had really indulged in any love-affair or amorous intrigue unknown to me, I would freely and cordially forgive him; and I be- sought him to tell me the truth for the sake of Mr. Malvern, who was inconsolable on account of his father’s still unexplained and unaccountable disappearance. But Mr. Dysart assured me that he had no reason to suspect any female of treachery towards him. I then showed him the anonymous letter which had given the information leading to his arrest—but he did not recognise the haudwriting. His manner corroborated his words. I have therefore done all I could for you in the affair, Mr. Sampson—and in one sense I am sorry that the result is not more favourable to Mr. Mal- vern’s hopes of discovering a clue to his father’s fate; while, on the other hand, I rejoice that my husband has proved guiltless of any unworthy treat- ment calculated to evoke a female’s vengeance.” “J thank your ladyship for the trouble you have taken in the matter,” said the officer. “Would you have the kindness to give me back the anony- mous letter? It may serve on some future ovcca- sion——" “I have locked it up in my writing-desk, Mr. Sampson,” observed the lady, with the most perfect ecif-possession, although, as the reader will recol- lect, she had consigned the document to ‘the flames: “but the slesk is up-stairs in the drawing- room, and I will fetch you the note,” she added, rising from her seat. “I could not think of giving your ladyship se much trouble,” exclaimed Sampson. “Perhaps you will have the goodness to remit the letter to me by post at your ladyship’s convenience ?” * Most assuredly, Mr. Sampson,” said Ernestina: then, so soon as Larry had taken his leave, she murmured to herself, “Ah! even the cunning Bow Street officer is made a dupe by me!” Lounging in an arm-chair drawn near the fire in the dining-room, lirnestina sate meditating upon her various schemes and plots until past eleven o'clock : then, so soon as the domestics had retired for the night, she proceeded to assist Mr. Daniel Coffin in taking his departure from the mansion. Entering her uncle’s dressing-room, she opened the door by means of the secret spring; and the Hangman instantaneously came forth from the spartment which was furnished with the luxurious sofas, he having experienced no inclination to en- trust himself again to either of the arm-chairs in the central room of the suite. Guided by Ernestina, Coffin descended the stairs on tip-toe—and when they reached the hall, he said in a low tone and with a cunning leer, “ Ah! my lady, your friend the Prince is a precious ram customer. He's down to a dodge or two, he is !° « But he pays well those who serve him,” replied Ernestina, with a look of deep meaning : “and he is remorseless in his vengeance against those who deceive him.” “JZ shall be one of them that he pays well, ma’am,” answered Cofiin. He then stole ont of the house ;—and Ernestina, infinitely relieved by the departure of a man whose looks always produced upon her the impression of a hideous reptile’s gaze, tripped up-staira to her own chamber. But as she passed the door of her uncle’s roor, she was seized with a sudden inclination to return into the mysterious suite of apartments and ex- plore them fully. The deep silence that prevailed through the mansion, struck however ominously to her soul: and, continuing her way to her own room, she decided upon postponing the gratifica- tion of her curiosity until another occasion. CHAPTER LXIV. A CHAPTER TO WHICH WE CAN GIVE NO TITLE. Iv was nine o’clock on the Mouday evening which Venetia had named for her appointment with the Prince Regent; and his Royal Highness sate alone in a small but sumptaously-furnished room at QGarlton House. A side-door communicated with a bed-chamber, which was fitted up with even a surpassing luxury: but that door was closed for the present. The Prince reclined upon s sofa in the first- mentioned apartment; and he was giving free rein to all the voluptuous thoughts which the image of Venetia could not fail to conjure up in his easily excitable imagination. ‘Within reach of his hand stood a table spread with wines of many exquisite | ee a ECOMICHOOolKS.conn