The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

138 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. was not the man to go to such a tremendous ex- treme. It was therefore evident that the Duke of Marchmont had found some other instrument to execute—or attempt the execution of his foul pur- pose against Queen Indora’s life: but still there were circumstances which prevented Mr. Redcliffe from denouncing the Duke before all the world 5 and the same considerations had led Indora to ab- stain from mentioning his Grace’s name to thé police-constables. “Indora,” said Mr. Redcliffe, taking het hand and pressing it with a grateful warmth, “ this frightful danger did you draw down upoti your own head by your magnanimous intervention in those affairs wherein I am deeply interested! But Providence has willed that you should e the peril—and the blow has smitten another. i need scarcely remind you that the moment has not yet come when we can deal openly with him whose riame it sickens and appals me to mention: but yet something must be done to paralyse him—to smite his soul with a new terror—and thus pre- vent him from daring to think of the ftenewal of his assassin purpose.” ‘* Yes, my dear Clement,” responded the Queen, “the tangled skein must go on gradually untavel- ing itself—gradually but surely, as for some time past it has been doing. And then——~” ‘ But in the meantime, I repeat,” {nterrupted Redcliffe, “ something must be done. Ah! Bret of all, for a moment, let us talk of Sagoonah. You have just told me of her singular behaviour, as éx- plained to you by Miss Ashton—how she pondered over the newspaper ‘files by night—and how she sought your own chamber. Thesé things ate sus- picious enough: but methinks that to a certain extent I have the power of reading them. Were it not for the dreadful circumataners of thit even- ing, I should have abstained from revealing to you something that occurred—and it is this.” Mr. Redcliffe then proceeded to explain all that took place between himself and Sagoonah—hbow she had declared her love—and how for & moment she had menaced him. He stated likewiee that he had on previous occasions been strack by the pe- culiar flashings of her eyes—and how thove looks had ever haunted him, as if fraught with a sinister and unknown terror, and as‘ if being ominous of evil. Indora listened with profoundest atonish- ment—an astonishment so great that it for a while absorbed all other feelings : but she was too noble- hearted and of too lofty a disposition to experience the anger of mere jealousy, or any vexation arising from a presumptuous rivalry on the part of her ayab. Ma And now what think you ?” she inquired : “ what do you deduce from ali that you have been telling me ?” “That Sagoonah has fathomed my secret,” re- sponded Mr. Redcliffe; “ and that she pored over the files of the Times in order to obtain a complete insight into the past. That woman was resolved to hold me in her power. I understand her disposi- tion well. If she could not have my love, she would give me her hatred : if she could not bend me to her purpose, she would wreak upon me her vengeance,” “Guod heavens !” exclaimed the Queen, with anguish depicted upon her countenance: “ and it was ail my fault, dear Clement, that the wretched Sagoonah has been enabled to penetrate the mys- teries which surrounded you—those mysteries which I had so fondly hoped were unveiled only to myself! It Was through me—alas! through me that those newspapers were thus thrown in her way. Ob! I have been indiscreet: but I could not possibly foresee——” * Blame not yourself, Indora—blame not your: self,” anid Mr. Redcliffe, again pressing the Queen's hand fervently, “All that you did was for the very best of purposes; and i¢ would seem as if Providencé Were upon our side: for rest assured that Sagoonah was bent upon some design of mis- chief against myself, or it may be against you, at the moment when the assassin’s dagger struck her down. It tsonly too evident that sho was quitting your service for ever. She had laden herself with your gold and your jewels that she might have wealtfi in her possesion : she had dressed herself in your apparel, either that she might throw off the character together with the garb of a menial—or elee that she might personate you in some manner that should bring dishonour upon your name. Yes —these are the obly alternatives which the circum- stances present té dur view: ahd the wretched woman has received 4, signal chastisement on the very threshold of her tniquitous purpose.” “Oh, that she dould have been 20 wicked!” ex- claimed the Queen; "and that FE should have placed sweh confidencd in her! I loved Sagoonah —yes, E loved her: or elee never, never should I have unbosomed my secrets unto her !”’ “Bhe fs now stretched upon a couch,” observed Mr. Redcliffe solemnly, “from which she may per- haps never ties again: or on the other hand, if she should recover, it will only be after a long and lingering illness ;—and thus for the present she is robbed of her sting in respect to both you and me. More than once have I seen that Providence is really working in my behalf; and if Sagoonah should die, ft will be by heaven's dispensation which chooses to remove € reptile from our path: whereas if she should reéovét, it is to be hoped that daring the interval that she must remain power- less for renewed mischief, the tangled skein will have oumpletely unravelled itself, and I shall have no longer any reason to dread her knowledge of my secret. But now, my dear Indora, let us speak in respect to yourself:—fur measures must be taken to ensure your safety.” “ Let nothing be done, Clement,” responded the Queen, “which may in any senso militate against your own intereste or tend to compromise yourself. You know—you know,” she added, with a look of ineffuble tenderness—but one that was full of a soft pure delicacy of holiest and chastest love as well as of the heart’s illimitable devotion,—“ you know that I would cheerfally lay down my life for your sake |” “1 know it, Indora—I know it,” answered Mr. Redcliffe, profoundly touched by this fresh prvof of the Queen’s attachment. “But think not for an instant I am so selfish as to suffer your safety to be any further compromised on my account. No, no —it must not be! 8 mething shall be done —and that quickly too. Ah, a thought strikes me! Take writing materials, Indora—sit down ard pen a few lines to my dictation.” ' Her Majesty at once complied with Mr. Red- cliffy’s desire; and as she sate at the table in the EOMICOOOLKS. CO