The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

i, 184 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. “Shall remain thrown over all that reached my eare this night,” replied Mrs. Oxenden, “so long es your Grace performe a generous part towards me.” At this moment the door of the library was thrown open, anda footman exclaimed, “ Sir James Walmer’s carriage is waiting for Mra. Oxenden !” The Duke of Marechmont handed the lady forth with every appearance of a respectfal courtesy: they exchanged rapid but significant glances—and the equipege drove away. e The Dake returned for a few minutes to the library, to tranquillize the feelings which were still agitating within him notwithstanding that serene affability of manner which ‘he gssumed while escorting the splendid but infamous Mrs. Oxenden forth to the carriage: but it was no easy task for the iniquitous nobleman to quench the flames of the hell that was raging with volcanic power in his breast. It appeared to him as if by means of & crime he had only escaped from the power of one woman to fall into that of another; and he had already seen enough of Mrs. Oxenden to be aware that she would be imperious and exacting—that it was with no lenient hand she would sway the sceptre of despotism over him—but that she would prove his mistress in more senses than one. Vainly did the Duke endeavour to shut out from himeelf the realities of his position. He could not possibly blind his eyes to the conviction that every attempt which he made to disentangle him- self from the web which his crimes had woven, only tightened and drew it the more enmeshingly around him. He shuddered and he trembied as he thought of all these things; and Oh! what would he have given to recall the past, when, as Lord Clandon, he had merely to contend against pecuniary difficulties, but had not as yet steeped his hands in crime! Exerting himeelf to the utmost to regain his eelf-possession, and to banish all these horrible, torturing, harrowing apprehensions which were crowding in upon him, the Duke issued from the library and ascended once more to the ball-room. There he endeavoured to mingle with an appear- ance of gaiety amidst the throng that was really gay: but pleasuro sickened him, like daimties in the presence of one whose appetite is sated and palled. The very lustre of the rooms seemed to make his brain reel: he talked at random—he laughed without reason. His veins felt as if they were running with molten lead: he was glowing with a feverish excitement—intense, agonising. Thus a hectic colour sate like patches of vivid paint upon the ghastlinces of his countenance: but the guests were far, very far from suspecting how racked, tortured, and harrowed was the mind of their host. They merely looked at each other and emiled,—thioking that his Grace tad, during his absence of an hour or so, dropped in at some still more convivial party where his litations had ex- ceeded the bounds of prudence. It was half-an-hour past midnight, when the Duke of Marchmont was crossing the landing to pase from the ball-room to the card-room, that a- note was presented to him on a silver salver by one of his footmen. He at once perceived that the address was written in a beautifal female band, but which nevertheless appeared to have been somewhat tremulous, as if with excitement. ‘From whom does it come P” asked the Duke, who, with a timidity ever attefidant upon a guilty conscience, sought to glean beforehand some as- surance that it was not the harbinger of a fresh calamity. “I do not know, my lord,” wae the footman’s responce. “It was brought by a middle-aged maz, dressed in plain: clothes—bat having the ap- pearance of an upper domestic—such as a steward or batler. He only desired that the note shoald be given to your Grace; and he immediately de- ted 39 The mystery attending the delivery of the billet —or at least a mystery as it appeared to the Duke’s guilty mind—filled him with a cold terror; and proceeding to a room previously unoccupied, he opened the letter. Phe first glance at its sig- nature seemed to sear his very eye-balls: a cry escaped his lips: he reeled, and would have fallen but that he etaggered against a chair. Then he sate down; and Oh! how ghastly was his counte- nance now!—how that cold mortal dread had chased away fever’s hectic spots from his cheeke [ —and how fearfully did he groan in anguish! He passed his hand acroes his haggard eyes: he read the contents of the billet. It fell from his grasp ; and he sank back in the chair—not in a swoon— but with a sense of appalling consternation. And all this while the dancing was going on in the gilded saloons; and numerous lacqueys were arranging a sumptuous repast in the banqueting- room. Every window of the palatial mansion was glowing with light; and the roseate floods of luxury were streaming forth through the crimson draperies and the open portals into the Square. And belated passers-by or houseless wanderers stopped to gaze up at that lordly dwelling—each saying within himeelf, “Oh, how I wish I was the Duke of Marchmont!” Bat if i¢ had been given to any one of these to penetrate with a glance through those walls— to plunge a look into one particular room of that mansion, and to behold the rich and titled owner thereof lying back in his seat overwhelmed with the consternation of horror,—or if it had been possible for some spirit-voice to breathe the as- tounding truth in the ears of those loiterers and gazers,—the seif-murmured words would .have a God! I am sot the Duke of March- mont : ’ J CHAPTER COXT. THE WOUNDED AYAH. Wa return to Indora’s villa. When Sagoonah went forth disguised in the apparel of her mie- tress, the Queen was seated with Christian and Christina in one of the exquisitely furnished rooms on the ground-floor. The evening was sultry ; and on a remark to that effect being made by Indora, Christian rose to open one of the case- ments. At that very instant a half-stifled scream coming from the garden, reached his ears, as well as those of the Queen and his sister; and the two latter started up from their seats. Christian sprang forth upon the lawn on which the casement opened, and down to which the win- COM LOOOLK (CO