The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 153: what you’re looking at

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143 Duke. “I will tell you what you are to do for me, and how you may serve my cause.” The Duchess again smiled swectly upon her husband, and then quitted the room. ‘‘'Yes—she can serve me,” said the Duke to himself as soon as he was again alone. “She is loving, and she is faithful; and whatever may come to her knowledge, she at least will not betray me. No, no—she will assist me until the very last [” But as the reader may have understood, the amiable Lavinia little suspected how deeply her husband had immersed himself in the flood of iniquity : she could conceive no greater amount of guilt than that of which he had been culpable towards herself, as recorded in some of the earlier chapters of this narrative. She had vowed that she would not suffer herself to be deterred by aught which might come to her knowledge while acting on isis behalf; and the affectionate lady revelled in dreams of comfort and happiness, peace and love, to be enjoyed with him towards whom she was exhibiting s9 much magnanimous devotion. The newatapers of the following morning con- tained a paragraph relative to the occurrence at Indora’s villa; and i¢ may be as well for us to make the reader aware of the extent to which the particulars thereof had transpired. The paragraph ran in the ensuing manner :— “ Mrergnious Arrewrr at Assassrwattow.—A beau- tifal and somewhat secluded villa, sitaated in the neigh- bourhood of Bayswater and Notting Hill, was last evening the scene of a crime which is enveloped in con- siderable mystery. The villa thas alladed to, is inhabited by an Eastern lady of rank and fortune, who, it is be- lieved, was impelled by curiosity to visit our shores. - Amongst the domestics in the service of the Lady Indora, who inflicted upon her a severe wound with a knife or other sharp instrument. The cry which the unfortanate woman uttered, reached the eare of the Lady Indora ; and her ladyship, assompanied by some guests whom she was entertaining at the time, rushed forth into the gsr- den. The unfortunste Sagoonah was discovered senseless on the ground, wounded in the manner already described ; and she was at once conveyed into the house. Surgical assistance was procured ; and we are happy in being evabled to state that there is no reason to de- epeir of Gagoonah's eventual recovery. The police were quickly informed of the ciroumstence ; and on examiging the premises, they traced the footetepa of the assassin for some little distance, until the marks altogether dis- sppeared. The Lady Indora is quite unsble to account for the murderous attack made upon her dependant ; and thas for the present the deed is enveloped in the darkest mystery.” Sach was the paragraph inserted in the morn. Ing journals: and the Duke of Marchmont was thereby made aware of the fact that it was the ayah Sagoonah who had been stricken by the Burker’s weapon. He could only account for it by the con- jecture that the Burker must have made some ex- traordinary mistake: but his mind was relieved of a considerable load, inasmuch as it was evident that Indora was maintaining a profound silence in respect to her knowledge that he himself was the instigator of a crime of which it was intended that she should be the victim. On the mourning of which we are speaking, the Duke was breakfasting with his wife; and while THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. reading the newspaper, he gave vent to an ejacula- tion which startled her Grace. “This is extraordinary !” he exolaimed: and directing Lavinia’s attention to the paragraph, he bade her peruse it. “Tt is dreadful !” observed the Duchess when she had read the brief narrative. “But why did it elicit that ejaculation from your lips ?” “Because, my dear Lavinis,” the Duke an- swered, addressing her in those affectionate terms to which she had long been so completely unac- customed, “it is to this very villa that you are to proceed for me—and it is this self-same Lady In- dora whom you are to see.” The Duchess was astonished at these announoe- ments: but still not for a single instant did she imagine that her husband could have any con- nexion with the crime recorded in the paragraph. She accordingly said, “ You have only to express your wishes, Hugh, and they shall be fulfilled.” “TI told you, Lavinia, last night,” continued the Duke, “that I have enemies who are working against me; and the Lady Indoraisone. Ah! I see that the colour mounts to your cheeks—but your suspicion ig wrong : there has been no unlaw- ful connexion between that Eastern lady and my- self. Do not ask me to explain anything——” “No. Tell me how to act,” said Lavinia, “ and blindfold will I obey you.” “ Go to Indora’s villa,” proceeded the Duke of Marchmont; “ask for an interview with her lady- ship—tell her who you are—say that you are the Duchess of Marchmont—and then——” “And then?” said Lavinis, perceiving that her husband hesitated, “ And then,” proceeded the Duke, “ tell Indora that you bave heard from my lips that sho is at war with me: say that without having given you the slightest details, I have nevertheless acknow- ledged that she has reason to complain against me —use all the power of your intercession that there may be peace between us—hesitate not, Lavinia, to humble yourself, if necessary, in the presence of that Eastern lady—when addressing her, speak as the wife of him with whom she is thus at war— nay, if needful, go down upon your kneeq and beg that for your own seke that hostility may cease!" “ Good heavens !” ejaculated Lavinia, a blight- ing, withering suspicion now darting in unto her mind: and while becoming deadly pale, ahe glanced towards the newspaper. The Duke, averting his countenance, affected not to have caught that ejaculation from his wife's lips, nor to perceive the agitation which had emitten her: and he said, “ You have promised, you know, to obey me blindfold! You have already won my gratitude—and if you value my love, that likewise will become your's.” The Duchess was about to implore her husband in impassioned terms to set at rest the horrible suspicion which had just flashed in unto her mind, —when she said to herself, “No, it is impossible ! —he is incapable of such adeed! Besides, it hap- pened to the servant—and naught can regard her which may have passed between her mistrees and him !” Then the Duchess felt glad in her own mind that she had kept back the words that she was about to utter: for she fancied that they would have been outrageously insulting to her husband. COUMIUC NOOK 4 4