The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 315: what you’re looking at

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304 value your own safety, your compliance is the only means of ensuring it. Refuse—and you know the alternative !” C..ristian walked to the window. It was an improvised and aimless movement at the instant : but as he glanced through the he beheld a police-constable slowly passing on the opposite side of the street. “ Refuse, Mr. Stanhope,” he exclaimed, “and the presence of that officer makes you aware of the alternative to which you will have to sub- mit !” Stanhope mechanically started from his chair, and likewise glancing from the window, bebeld the officer opposite. I¢ naturally struck him that Christian had purposely ensured the man’s attend- ance there; and with a ghastly countenance, he eaid, in a hoarse voice, “Spare me, I entreat you ! Bid me do what you will—and I obey blind- fold 1” “J, at least,” answered Christian impressively, “am incapable of ordering you to accomplish a crime! Great have your misdeeds been ; and if you would avoid their consequences, you will now come with me. Your absence from London may last some days; if there be any one to whom you wish to convey an intimation to this effect, write a note at once, and it shall be duly delivered |” Stanhope, availing himeelf of this permission, penned a few lines to Merion; and at the same time Christian sat down at the table and wrote to Marion’s sister, Amy. When the two letters were sealed, he rang for one of the servants, and bade the girl take them immediately to the poset. ‘* Now come with me,” he said to Wileon Stan- hepe. “We will proceed by railway to the nearest point of our ultimate déstination ; and beware how you attempt to eecape!—for at the first evidence of such an intention, I will mercilessly give you into custody.” “You have nothing to apprehend on that score,” replied Stanhope, who was now reduced to the most abject state of submission. Christian had his carpet-bag already packed for the journey: a cab was summoned; and he pro. ceeded, in company with Wilson Stanhope, to the station of that railway by which they wore to travel. As the reader has seen, the last few days had been full of activity and bustle, excitement and business, for our young hero: bat he had under- taken a task to which he had devoted all his energies, and which he was resolved should be carried out to a successful issue, so far as it de- pended upon himself. Others were labouring with equal seal in the same cause ; and every step that was taken, proved to be in precise accordance with the grand object that was being aimed at. The greatest interests were at stake; and it was there- fore no marvel that so much enterprising spirit should be displayed—so many plans devised and carried out in all their varied ramifications ! At the same time of which we are writing, the crisis had fully passed in respect to the Dake of Marchmont: and he was regaining a perfect con- sciousness of the circumstances which had plunged him into the fever that had menaced his existence. Bat, Oh! he knew not—very far indeed was he from suspecting—those other circumstances which were taking a rapid and sure development,—a THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. development which was effectually tending to strengthen the web that bisown crimes had woven and which was closing in around himself! CHAPTER CXLIV. THE TRIBUNAL. THE ecene now changes to Oaklands. It was about ten days after the incidents detailed in the preceding chapters; anda solemn ceremony was about to take place at the grand ducal mansion in Hampsbire. it was eleven o'clock at night; and we must ine troduce the reader into tho largest State drawing- room at Oaklands. But very different was its aspect from that which it was wont to wear: for it was now hung all around with black drapery ; and instead of being flooded with lustre, it was dimly lighted, so that the gloom which prevailed was made apparent rather than relieved by that feeble glimmering. As if however to throw this light upward with a ghastly effect, the floor was covered with white calico: but the ceiling, as well as the walls, was spread with sable cloth. Aé regular intervals the black drapery along those walls was gathered in such a way that the fulds had the appearance of black marble pillars; and thus the monotony of an unbroken surface was avoided. <A door standing half-open, showed that a strong light was burning within an inner room, and this added to the strangeness and striking awe produced by the general effect of the larger apart- ment. What this inner room contained, could not be descried from the other one; as the door was sufficiently closed for such concealment, unless the threshold were approached. At one extremity of that vast apartment was a dais, or platform, raised to the height of two ateps, and aleo covered with white calico. In the centre of the dais stood a large arm-chair, looking like a throne; and in this was Queen Indora seated. She was arrayed ia white : the luxuriant masses of her dark bair fell upon her shoulders and floated down | her back. She wore a flowing head-dress, which set off that sable hair to all the advantage which such contrast could afford. A magnificent shawl was thrown, as if negligently, over one knee; and nothing could exceed the solemn grandeur which invested that throned lady. There was a palenees upon the soft and delicate duskiness of her cheeks : her look was coldly resolute, without sternnese or implacability. She seemed the Sovereign about to perform an act of sovereign justice. Immediately on ber right hand, sat a female closely veiled; and a little farther on, upon the same side of the throne, another chair contained a gentleman who wore a black mask. On In- dora’s left, sat first of all another veiled lady— then a man in somewhat coarse apparel, but whose features were completely concealed by a visard of sablo silk ; and farther on was a female, eomewhat stout in person, handsomely dressed, and also closely veiled. Thus, to look along that line, the Queen was beheld seated in the middle, with two persons on her right hand and three upon her left. No other human beings were in that room at er (CO ClOOO