The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 314: what you’re looking at

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

7 ee ” THE MYSTERIES O¥ THE COURT. 808 was announced. Stanhope detested Christian, for the reasons which are already known to the reader ; but still he had a strong feeliag of curiosity to learn what our hero could possibly have to say to him. This feeling therefore imparted to Stanhope’s man- ner a certain tincture of eagerness, which pre- vented it from appearing sullenly constrained, as it otherwise would have been. As for Christian himself, he was cold and distant—while his coun- tenance wore 8 look of resnlution, which added to Stanhope’s curiosity, though without awakening his fears; for he little suspected what was to fol- low. Our hero bade him be seated ; and also taking a chair, he said, “ Mr. Stanhope, I am about to ad- dress you in a mauner for which you are evidently not prepared: but there is a fixed determination in my mind—and I warn you at the very outset that you will have to bend to it.” It would seem, Mr. Ashton,” replied Stanhope, “that you wish to fight another duel with the least possible delay.” | Rest assured, sir,” retorted our hero, but in a calm dignified manner, “that you are not ina position to demand any satisfaction at my hands!” “ Perhaps, sir, you will come to the point,” said Stanhope; “for I hate enigmas.” “You must know, then,” proceeded Christian, “that you are so completely in my power that you will presently go hence with me to a place whither I propose to conduct you—or on the other hand you will take your departure in the custody of an officer of justice.” Stanhope started, and turned very pale; for as the reader may suppose, his conscience was none of the purest, and there was more than one mie- deed at which words so ominously vague might probably point. “ I¢ may perhaps be sufficient,” continued Chris- tian, “to allude to a certain visit of yours to Oak- lands 7 “Oh! if that’s your game,” ejaculated Stan- hope, with a sudden feeling of relief as well as with accents of scorp, “I can afford to laugh at it, and perhaps at the same time chastise you for your impertinenco in darivug to deal in menacing language with me. The story is too old, Mr. Ash- ton! The Duke is not in a condition to say a word upon the subject : the Duchess does not want it revived; and your simple testimony in a court Of justice would be utterly valueless. What on earth your motive can be in furbishing up an old weapon, I cannot conceive id * Be not so hasty, Mr. Stanhope,” interrupted our hero: “ you and I are alluding to two different things. I was not for a moment thinking of that viait of your’s to Oaklands, when, as a conspirator against the reputation and the happiness of an amiable and innocent lady, your base designs were frustrated ——”’ “Then what do you allude to?” inquired Stan- hope, now turning pale once more: for something beyond a mere suspicion of the truth naturally flashed to bis mind.. “TI allude to another visit, Mr. Stanhope, which you paid to Oaklands:”—and Christian fixed his fine dark eyes significantly upon the conscience- stricken man. “ You perceive therefore that it is @ visit of a more recent date ” “Well, and what then ?” demanded Stanhope, endeavouring to assume an air of bravado and de- fiance. “Suppose that I went down to dine and pass the night at Oaklands—is there anything very extraordinary, considering the terms of intimacy on which I have been with the Duke id “ A horrible intimacy, Mr. Stanhope!” replied Christian impressively ; “the intimacy of crime!” “Crime?” he ejaculated, with another start. “Yes, crime!” repeated our hero, with a still stronger emphasis than before. “Oh, sir! were it not necessary that this interview should have taken place, [ would not dave willingly invited to my presence a man who could have coolly de- liberated over his wine upon a deed of murder !— a man who was prepared to sell himself as a bravo for the gold proffered by a miscreant who had not the courage to undertake the deed with his own hand!” Stanhope sat pale and ghastly, listening in min- gled terror and consternation to the words which came withering and scathiog from Christian’s lips. “You see, Mr. Stanhope,” continued our hero, “that more is known of your misdeeds than you yourself had fancied; and perhaps you begin to feel that you are veritably in my power! Every detail of the incidents that occurred and of the conversation which took place on that memorable night of which I am speaking, is known to me. The Duke purposed to hire you as an assasein; and you were willing to be hired! But at first you haggled at the terms. Fifteen thousand pounds was the price specified: you insisted on immediate payment—the Duke was equally firm in rejecting the demand! Ah! it was no wonder,” exclaimed Christian, with infinite abhorrence and loathing, “that there should have been much dis- trust between two such men !" Stanhope gasped with an attempt to make some reply; but he could not give utterance to it: the words wavered and died upon his ashy quivering ips. “At lengtb,” continued Christian, entering into all these details for the purpose of over- whoelming the man whom he sought to reduce com- pletely into his power,—“at length the compro- mise was effected between villanous cupidity on the one hand and sterling villany on the other; and for one-half the sum which I have named—to be paid in advance—you agreed, Mr. Stanhope — yes, ou bb “ Enough, Mr. Ashton !” exclaimed the wretched man. “What would you do with me ?—what would you have me doP Spoak—speak !—but spare mo and be merciful!” “ You see,” resumed Christian, ‘that when at the outset I warned you that you were in my power, I did not speak in vain. All that I have now told you can be proved, Mr. Stanhope, in @ court of justice—and shall be proved too, unless you do wy bidding !” “Ah! ever since that dreadful night,” said Stanhope, in a voice that was tremulous with tningled fear and horror, “ I have entertained the must terrible suspicions in respect to a certain personage—I mean the Duke of Marchmont. Tell me, is anything transpiring ” “ Ask me no questions !” interrupted Christian ; “but prepare at once to accompany me from this house to a piace whither I shall take you. If you COMME HOG 2 eee ey cS) (CO