The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 321: what you’re looking at

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

@e om ae & ow emiie ee ED Ege aE a = $10 naa THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. there—hie own pensioned uistress--was indeed another blow that etruck upon the heart of the Duke of Marehmont more severely than the two preceding ones dealt through the mediam of Amy Satton and Wilson Stanhope. “But if that testimony be not sufficient,” oon- tinued Queen Indora, after a pause of more than a minute, “ there is one here present who can give ampler evidence. That man has confessed cvery- thing; and if it be needful, the world may know how you, prisoner, suborned him to deal the as- eassin-biow which, though intended for myself, nevertheless smote the bosom of the unfortunate Sagoonah. He can tell likewise how you visited him in his dangeon-cell, when he was a captive in the hands of jastiee—and how you farnished him the means of effecting his escape.” The Barker, who was seated next to Mre. Oxenden, gave a sort of low subdued growi as he removed the mask and sevealed his hideous soun- tenance to the Duke. The nobleman had already revegonised him—buat bad scarcely fancied that be could bave told so much; and therefore it was in- deed enother and severer blow which thus struck the guilty Marchmont. “ And now,” continued Queen Indora, “ foe the last of theee Witnesses who in this place”’—and she emphasised the word printed in italie—“ may be specified as one who esn beer fearful evidence against you. In more than one instance has she been the agent and accomplices of your iniquities. unfortunate dependant Segoenah, who is now no more, wae led to meditate wurder in respect to myself, Yes, prisoner-—you see that your crimes in all their details and phases are well known to me! That woman—the only one who now re- mains :ciled—has borne testimony against you, as the rest have already borne it. But she has spoken of things relating to which these others who are present have not been enebled to speak. Do you remember that one evening you by appointment met this man”—and the Queen pointed towards ‘the Burker—“ in a lane near a certain villa on Brixton HiliP Do you remember likewise that words took place between yourself and that man—that he demanded more of you than you chose to give—that you drew forth your parse to bestow upon him a portion of ite contentse—bat that he, being resolved to possess himself of the whole, felled you from your boree? Yoa ese that he at least has maintained no reserve in respect to anything that concerns you! Nor bas thet woman. Do you recollect, prisoner, I qill proceed to ask, that you were borne to the villa unto which I have already alluded, end that for some while you re- mained there insensible ? Yee—you recollect all thie Bat you have yet to learn, prisoner, that in the first momente of your reviving conssicusness you suffered words to escape your lipe—or rather they involuntarily flowed from the very fountains of your troubled conecience; and those words, pri- soner, were heard by Madame Angelique, who was im attendance upon you. Fearful indeed were those words—and to a fearfal erime they pointed! if you doubt me, ask that witness bereeif! She will tell the truth.” Thus epeaking, Queen Indora made a sign for ' the woman whom she indicated to throw back her weil: but the guilty Duke of Marchmont had al- Qing guepeee ~o-m-o= 2. it AES IT ES EO OE EEO) Wn Or: ee ae fg aa UOTE om ee om EE © oie arta! ready more than suspected who sho was; and therefore he wae not surprised when he beheld the countenance of Madame Angelique. But if he were not surprised, he was nevertheless stricken another biow ; and this wes far the severest of all ; for Queen Indora’s language had pointed towards that other crime which was the most terrible of the many that blackened his conscience, as it was the oue likewise concerning which be had hoped that there would be the greatest difficulty in putting forward any substential proof. He now appeared to be utterly unmanned: the bold hardi- hood that he had assumed, forsook him: every remnant of the air of defiance adopted at the out- set vanished away; and he was on the very point to throw of scorn into his accents, “ you have against me an array of witnesses which marshalled constitute a goodly company to sit by the side of é your Majesty. Comme It was by her insidious representations that my | there i eba profligate, whose relations have long cast him off, end whouw society hes repudiated—a man who, even escording to your own account, has ever been willing to sell himeelf for gold. You are rich, Queen Indora—the wealth of the wealthiest por- tion of the Indies is at your disposal—and perhaps therefore you have well paid that man for his pre- sent services; and in proportion to the reward given him ia his seal to bear falee testimony against me.” “If ever I told the truth in my life, my Lord Duke of Marchmont,” exclaimed Wilson Staa- hope, “it shall be told against you now, if her Majesty command me to speak ont !” “ Let us hear ¢.¢ prisoner to the end,” said Queen Indore, in the cold firm voice of antho- rity. “ext to your Majesty,” continued the Duke of Marehmont, “ette a female who admits that she bas lost her virtue, and that she has no claim to renk amongst the mocest of her sex. It is easy for one who has been a willing paramour, to tarn round apos him whom in the world’s canting lan- guage she ealls her seducer; and disappointed be- cause I have not lavished gold upon her and established her in a palatial mansion as my acknowledged wistress, she is ready in her vindic- tive spirit to heap falee calumnies upon wy head.” “ Villain that you are!” exclaimed Amy Snattos, her cheeks flushing with rage and indignation, and her eyes ashing fire; “you know that I rejected your overtures with scorn and contempt—and that you triumphed over me by the basest of satanic Bat heaven be thanked, the day of your doom is arrived—and I am present to witness your downfall !” «Let the prisoner proceed,” said Queen Indora, | np we on oe a © ae 0a lh ae, eee me eel COMME HOG cS) | (CO