The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 333: what you’re looking at

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

$23 mate form of the Duchess was borne into the mansion. The Duke ordered Mrs. Bailey’s car- - to be immediately got in readinesg to b take the Duchess away. Lord Clandon inwerdly , chuckled at the success which was thus attending ; his echemes: but he affected the utmost sympathy - with his uncle, and even spoke as if he were in. clined to plead for his brother. The Duchess sent a letter by one of her maids to Mrs. Bailey, with a request that she would present it to the Duke, for whom it was intended. Lord Clandon volunteered there: his purpose was fixed. But in order to play a part which should eventually avert or disarm suspicion, he affected to be deeply anxious that the Duchess should be found; and he offered a reward ¢o any individual who should discover her retreat. He went out as if to search for the Duchess—but it was in reality to look for his uncle. Ho how- ever failed in falling in with the Duke; and he re- tarned to Oaklands. Shortly afterwards his Grace yeappeared: bat Lord Clandon took good care not to throw himself in his uncie’s way. From his to perform this office; and he entered the apart- | valet Travers he learnt that the Duke had gone out ment in which the Duke had shut bimeelf. He dared not conceal the fact that he had beea an- trusted with a letter, for fear it should subse- quently transpire by some other means: but while appearing to study the language of conciliation, he in reality so framed his speech that it tended to aggravate and embitter his uncle move than ever, if possible, against the Duchess. He thus accom- plished the result at which he aimed : for the Duke positively refused to open his wife’s lettes, How- ever, on issuing forth from the Duke's presence, Clandon assured the maid that the Dyke Aad read the letter, but that his resolve wes not to be shaken. The Duchess seeing that her laat hope was gone, then left the house. In the meanwhile Bertram from the village inn had despatched a letter to the Duke; and whea Lord Clandon joined him at that tavern, Bertram informed him of the circumstange. The Duke re- ceived the letter, the contents of which filled him with a bewildering uncertainty, After all, Eliza might be innocent! He sent for Jane, her Grace's principal lady’s-maid; and from her lipe he heard that the Duchess had called God to witness her innocence, previous to her departure. Jane more- over informed the Duke that her Graoe’s writing- desk contained certain documents to which she had made allusion in the letter sent by the hand of Lord Clandon. The Duke flew to his wife’s boudoir—opened the writing-desk—and yead all the letters which gave him a complete insight into the loves of Bertram and Elisa at Oxford. Then a veil fell from his eyes; and be believed that hig wife was innocent. He rushed forth from the boudoir, and encountered Lord Olandog, who had just come back from the village after his interview with his brother. There was then a horrible olcar- ness in the mind of the Duke ; and the conviction smote him that Lord Clandon had been playing a most perfidious game. He bade Olandon follow him into the drawing-room; and there he at once ac- cused him in a manner whioh made Hugh imagine that his uncle had by some means acquired a posi- tive knowledge of his ty . Be was filled with confusion: the Duke be his guilt depicted upon his countenanee ) and he abruptly quitted his nephew in a way which testified all his displeasure. Lord Clandon was horrified on thus bebolding a gulf suddenly opening at his own feet and threas- ening to swallow him up. All bis schemes ap- peared to be redounding with overwhelming vio- lence against himeelf. The Duke would take back his wife, and would restore his confidence to Ber- tram! Ruin and disgrace would remain as the portion for the guilty Clandon! Then it was that in the utter desperation of his soul the horrible thought of assassinating his uncle flashed into his brain. It speedily settled and apquired consistency again, This was past one in the morning; and Lard Giandon pretended that he should retire to yeat,—bidding Travers call him early that he might get op horseback and renew the search after the Duchess, When Travers had retired, Lord Clandon stole dows from his chamber; and provided with @ pistol, gad with a dagger which he had taken from Bertram’s room, he sallied forth from the gaansion. His esearch on this occasion was not a long one: for he met his uncle close by the pond in the bye-lane. The Duke was indignant on re- cagnising Clandon; and he turned away from him. The nexé moment the fatal blow was dealt: the mourderer’s hand plunged the dagger deep down between his uncle’g shoulders. With a savage howl the Duke’s dog Pluto sprang at the assassin ; end Olendon instantaneously discharged his pistol. The faithful animel had caught the murderer by the skir§ of bis coat, and Clandon did not perceive thet a picoe hed been torn off. The dog fell wounded; and (he murderer rushed away. Regain- ing the mapsion, he stole up to his own chamber ang towed aff his clothes, still unsuapecting, in the hogrigle equfusion of his mind, that a fragment ef hig eoat bad remained in the dog’s mouth Goon after ei o'clock the servants of the house- hold were agein up; and on the portals being opened, the waqunded Pluto dragged himeelf in. Lord hearing the sounds of many voices down-ahaiza, hastily rose from his bed, and dressed himeglf in @ diMprent suit from that which he had worm of the time of the murder; for he natarally studied eveyy eiycumstance to prove that he hed praees: Hee bed for the less few hours. O2 te found the asrvants sar- rogading the doth had but an obser le the mouth the picce of Svavece was there at the time: of cloth, he was —and he rashed up to his wasters roam, he found the coat which Lord Olanden had thrown off; and while he was ye ining &4, that nobleman himeelf entered thechambez, JJe saw that it would be imposnble to conceal big guilt from his valet; and with a haggerd, ghastly look, he ssid, “Travers, be silent —be secret—and your fortune is made!” Travers bowed in silence: but by his own looks he showed that he understood his master’s mean- ing, and that he might be fully relied upoo. The corpee of the Duke was found; and by the devilish ingenuity of Lord Clandon, all circamstances were so wall combined as to throw the whole weight of suspicion upon his brother Bertram. From these explanations the reader can be at no loss to comprehend the details of the confession made by the murderer on his death-bed; and which were duly taken down by Mr. Coleman in the presence of Purvis and the physician. | COMIC DOG ae THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. (CO