The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 310: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. “is there any peril to be risked? is there any punishment to be incurred ?” “Not if you obey we with readiness,” replied Mr. Coleman. “And the tribunal,” said Mrs. Oxenden— “whom is it to try ?’—-but though she put the question, she more than haif saspected what the answer might be, if it were given at all. It is not fur you to question me thus,” re- sponded Mr, Coleman. “Suffice it for you to know that the Duke of Marchmont was guilty of a heinous crime in instigating a miscreant to take the life of an Hastern lady of exalted rank; but, as you are aware, the assassin blow was dealt at the bosom of another. Of that crime, madam, you have had a horrible consciousness: it is this that has given you your power over the Duke of March. fnont—it is this that has enabled you to plunge into all possible extravagances at his expense; and you have hushed the scruples of your con- ecience on account of the gold which he has lavished upon you! Now, madam, you may judge to what extent I might be enabled to compromise you by any revelations made from my lips: you can no longer remain insensible of my power to eompel you to follow my directions in all things— or else, madam, to give you into the hands of justice as an accessory after the fact in the ‘crime which the Duke of Marohmont instigated againat the Kastern lady.” : * But tell mo, sir—tell me, I entreat,” exclaimed Mrs. Oxenden, “how acquired you the knowledge of all these things ?” “Providence, madam,” answered the lawyer solemnly, “often suffers the web of crime to be woven throughout long years, and to be shrouded in the deepest mystery. But in the end that same Providence, by its own certain though inscrutable workings, causes the circumstances of the crimes themselves to become the source and the means of their own betrayal: and thus it is in the present instance. Now, madam, I have said enough I have even said more than I had intended when first entering into your presence; and it is for you ¢o decide which course you will adopt. I leave not thie house without you. I bave ordered a post- chaise to be here at eleven o'clock. It now wants & quarter to that hour,” continued Mr. Coleman, consulting bis watch; “and in one capacity or another will you presently take your seat in that chaise. It will either be as a prisoner, in the eharge of a constable, to repair to Bow Street: or it will be as a witness to appear at that tribunal of which I have spoken.” “Phen I will go with you in the latter capa- city!” replied Mrs. Oxenden. * Good, madam,” rejoined Mr. Coleman. “ Make your preparations: I await you here.” Mrs. Oxenden left the room, and repaired to her bed-chamber,-—-to which she summoned her maid that a few necessaries might be packed up for the contemplated journey. Though sufficiently ill at ease in her own mind, ashe nevertheless now as- sumed a certain outward calmness of demoanour; and she told her domestic that the visitur was a legal gontleman who had called relative to somo property which had been left her, and that she was compelled tu proceed with him four a little distance into the country. Having given this explanation, 299 travelling; and almost immediately afterwards Alexis Oliver made his appearance by means of a private staircase. Pale, languid, and suffering from the previous night’s debauch, the young gentleman by his aspect betrayed the dissipation in which he had indulged. Mrs. Oxenden at once perceived it: and she said petulantly, “In spite of your pro- mises, Alexis, you have relapsed into those ways that make you look horrible, instead of beautiful, as you ought to be!” “ Now, do not be angry, my dear creature!” he exclaimed, at once plying her with cajoleries. “I fell in with some frieads—and you know that a man 1s compelled to do as others do.” “Tam going away for a day or two, Alexis —— indeed I know not exactly for how lung,” said Mrs. Oxenden; “and therefore I cannot find it in my heart to acold you " “Going away ?” he ejaculated. “ And may not I accompany you? It is doubtless on some party of pleasure 7 ‘Of pleasure indeed!” cried Mrs. Oxendan, with a sickly smile. “I fear that it will be very different! But I know not how it is—you have won all my confidence—I have kept no secrots from you—and I will tell you what has just oc- curred,” She then described the object of the lawyer’s visit, and recapitulated the greater portion of what he had said to her. It happened however that she did not mention him by name, A look of dismay gradually expanded over the beautiful but pale and dissipated countenance of Alexis: his reminis- cences, which were previously all confused, began to settle themeeclves and to acquire lucidity: he retrospected over the proceedings of the previous night; and now he remembered how the young gentleman whom he only knew as Mr. Craven, had wormed out of him all the secrets he had learnt from the lips of Mrs. Oxenden. He was shocked and frightened at his folly: he fancied that he himself was the author of all that was now occurring to Mrs. Oxenden; and the trouble of his mind was betrayed in bis looks. “ Good heavens, Alexis!” she ejaculated, as a suspicion flashed acroes her brain: “ is it possible that in your tipsy moments you can have betrayed meP Yes, yee—I see that itisso! But at least tell me, Alexis, to whom you have so ineautiously speken—for I will not accuse you of having acted wilfully !” “ Fool—idiot that I have been!” cried the young map, dashing his open palm violently against his forehead. “I would not for worlds have done this! It was last night—heaven only knows how I could have been so mad ° “But who—who?” demanded Mrs. Oxenden quickly,‘ who were the peuple that you were “A Captain Stanley, and a Mr. Craven.” ‘TI know neither of them,” said Mrs. Oxenden, deliberating over the names which she had thus heard. ! ‘* Captain Stanley,” continued Alexis, “is about four-and-twenty—very good-looking—hbe wears a muustache—bis manners are elegant. As for Craven, he is a tall, slender, elegant young man —with a profusion of dark glussy hair —large dark | ehe entered her boudoir to arrange her toilet for| eyee—about nineteen I should think. Ah! by ECOnmicloooe cS) | (CO