The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 151: what you’re looking at

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140 nexion between them? Ah! if so, he may be found at her house—he may visit her: she may be his wife—or his paramour? Who knows? What if I were to strike a tremendous blow and hand him over to the of justice? No, no: caution must be used! That blow might rebound upon myself. And who is it that has been stricken by the bravo’s dagger instead of Indora? How could the mistake have occurred? Oh, all this is dreadfully bewildering! My soul is on fire-—my heart burns: it is not blood which flows in my veins—it is molten lead. My very brain is seeth- ing in boiling oil. The pangs of hell are upon me now! Ob, my God! there sest be a hell here- after; for there is even one in this life !” And the wretched Duke of Marchmont, re- moving his hands from his countenance, and open- ing his eyes, glanced around him with ghastly shuddering looks of horror, as if he dreaded to be- hold Satan himeelf standing near, clothed in all the infernal majesty of those terrors which belong to his awful sovereignty. “And then this woman too!” ejaculated the Duke, thus suddenly and abruptly resuming his silent reflections: “ this woman who has discovered my eecret!”—and he alluded to Mrs. Oxenden: “can I sucesed in bribing her to silence? Yes, yes, this at least is practicable! But, Oh! what perils environ me! <A spark may cause the ex- plosion of a mine beneath my feet: a breath may destroy me! That villain !”—now alluding to the Burker: “if by accident he should be captured, he might tell everything. And if proof were de- manded, how could I now indignantly repel the charge of such a miscreant, when he would de- mand that Mrs. Oxenden should be found and brought forward to corroborate his statement ?” At this instant the door of the room opened, and the Duchess of Marchmont made her appear- ance. The beautiful and amiable Lavinia came alone: she entered timidly and hesitatingly, with anxiety depicted upon her countenance; and she stopped short on perceiving how ghastly and how haggard were the looks of her husband, notwith- standing the sudden attempt which he made to assume an air of mental composure. “My dear Hugh!” she said, again advancing towards him, “I fear that something dreadful has oceurred to distress you P” “Something dreadful ?” he ejaculated, half fiercely, half affrightedly: “ what mean you P” “Ob! do not be angry with me, my dear bus- band,” said the Duchess laying her fair white hand upon his arm, and looking up entreatingly into his countenance. “ Believe me, I am not in- different to your welfare——” “ Oh, indifferent indeed !” cried the Duke, affect- ing to laugh scornfully. “ Perhaps you have come to tell me that you have forgiven me for my past eonduct—as you have already told me on more than one occasion: and you think that I shall go down upon my knees to thank you P” “No, my lord,” replied the Duchess, the tears gushing from her eyes: “I neither think nor ex- pect anything of the kind. I seek no self- humiliation on your part. But I cannot forget that I am your wife: I cannot forget that the vows which I took at the altar, pledge me to certain daties which must b8 fulfilled ——” “Enough of this maudlin nonsense, madam |” THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. interrupted the Duke. “I understand you fall well. In thus speaking of your own duties, you insidiously and cunningly seek to remind me of mine.” “ No—you wrong me again! you wrong me, my dear Hugh!” said the amiable Duchess, the tears flowing faster from her eyes. “Will you put me to the test P Will you tell me wherefore you are afflicted P—and you will see how profoundly I can sympathize with you. Oh, for one kind word from your lips !”’ . “And why do you think that I am afflicted ?” demanded the Duke quickly. “In short, what do u mean P” “There is aomething in your manner—and— pardon me if I add that there is something also in your looks which prove but too unmistakably that you are afflicted. Oh! [declare solemnly, Hugh,” continued the Duchess, “that your interests are dear’4o me—very dear to me |—and I have seen this evening how you have laughed with a hollow laugh -— how you have spoken incoherently: and then too -———but pardon me for what Iam going to say ——I happened to overhear one of the domestics say to another that you had received a letter a mere glance at which had seemed to strike as if with a sense of some misfortune.” “Ah! you overheard that?” ejaculated the Duke, who could scarcely prevent himself from stamping his foot and crying out with rage. “Then you watch me—and you listen to conver- sations " ° “Oh! I entreat your forbearance, my lord,” said the Duchess imploringly: “ not for worlds would I give you offence! I have often and often seen that a singular and painful expression has flitted over your countenance: and I have been efraid yes, I have been afraid,” continued Lavinia meekly, “that it was on account of myself. But to-night your looksand manner have been so pecu- liar——and then too, the circumstance of that letter in a word, my dear Hugh, I was resolved to take a bold step and speak to you ina way which I have not before ventured upon. Will you forgive me? will you attribute my proceeding to ite true motive? And listen to me, dear Hugh,” continued Lavinia, with her tearful countenance upturned towards the Duke; “if there be anything I can do to contribute to your happiness—or if my presence be hateful to you, tell me so, and I will leave you ” “Ah! you would abandon me P” ejaculated the T)uke, acarcely knowing at the moment what he was saying—but probably speaking from the im- pulse of one who felt that he was not in a position to part with a single friend who was in any way interested ih his welfare: “ you would abandon me P and perbaps you would league yourself with my enemies P”’ “Heaven furbid!” exclaimed Lavinia vehe- mently: “never, never! But, Oh! your words are a revelation! You have enemies? Tell me who they aro: tell me how their enmity is deve- loping iteelf. Oh! now, my dear Hugh, you can put my affection to the test—and you will see that I have really known how to forgive and forget all the past !” “ Ab, this constant recurrence to the past!” ejac- ulated the Duke impatiently. “I meant it not as a reproach—much less as an GOMGOOO (G (CO