The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 189: what you’re looking at

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

@e ¢ eee 172 “ And that object?” said Mrs. Lindley, in a voice of anxious Inquiry. “Does not regard you, madam,” responded Mr. Eaton, somewhat sharply, as if he thought her query to be impertinent. “But 1 had a twofold mo- ive in visiting this house to-day. My first and principal object was to see Miss Aylmer: my second was to hold a very serious conversation with you.” “With me /” ejaculated Mra. Lindley, unable to aubdue or conceal the strong spasm of terror which shook her entire frame; for her guilty soul was ap- palled with a thousand dreadful apprehensions sweeping through her imagination. “Yes, madam—with you,” repeated Arthur, em- phatically, and at the same time fixing upon the wo- man a look in which abhorrence, pity, and reproach were visibly commingled. “ Hush! do not speak too loud—walls have ears— che people passing in the street may stop to listen,” said the midwife, in broken sentences hoarsely whis- pered—while terror was evidently obtaining a firmer hold upon her. “T am not accustomed to use intemperate lan- guage, nor to speak with excitement,” observed Mr. Eaton. “ You have nothing to fear from me, either ; profound—alas! too profound—as my acquaintance with your crimes now is. I am not here as a minis- ter of justice, but as one who would urge you to re- pentance. No—for the sake of that young but guilty creature whom I first tutored in the ways of error, I will spare you. You need not, therefore, dread even at my hands: but I warn you, Mrs. Lindley, that this forbearance on my part depends solely upon the candour and truthfulness with which you shall respond to the questions that [ am about to put to you.” ‘What do you mean, good sir?” inquired the wo- man, her countenance becoming ghastly, and her whole form shivering and shuddering from head to foot. “ You spoke of erimes—or did my ears deceive me {” “ No—that was the word I used,” answered Mr. Eaton, solemnly. “ Crimes!” murmured the midwife, staring upon him with a dull vacancy, as if her senses were ap- palled. “ Rouse yourself to hear and understand me, wo- man, proceeded Arthur, in the same serious, im- pressive, and unexcited tone. “When I was here up- wards of a fortnight since, I discovered two docu- ments in yonder book-case—and of those documents I took copies. The one was a receipt for a slow poison —the other was its antidote. The poison had for montbs been circulating in my veins—the antidote is rapidly restoring me to health and life!” ‘““My God! you will send me to the scaffold!” moaned the wretched woman, falling on her knees at the feet of the Hon. Arthur Eaton. “No—I will pardon you, on the condition that I have named,” said the young gentleman, forcing her to rise and compelling her to re-seat herself. “O Lord! what will become of me?” she mur- mured, covering her haggard face with her long sxinny hands, and rocking herself backward and for- ward in astate of mind more easily conceived than explained. “Ttell you again that you have nothing to fear, beyond the etings of your own guilty conscience, if you answer my questions faithfully and truly,” said ton. “Oh! sir, how generous you are!” cried the wretched woman, endeavouring to compose her fea- tures and steady the thoughts that were whirling in her brain. “Demand of me what you will—I swear to reply frankly and honestly.” “Tn the first place, you will give me an explanation of the way in which my valet, William Dudley, was suborned to administer a slow poison to his master,” said the Hon. Mr. Eaton. “William Dudley is a distant relation of mine,” returned Mra. Lindley, terror compelling her to speak the truth. “ When Miss Aylmer first discovered that you did not intend to fulfil your promise and make her your wife, she resolved upon vengeance! This was while she was at her uncle’s seat in Derbyshire, and while you were staying at Marchmont Castle, in the same county. Her first impulse was to poison you— and by means of heavy bribes she won over William Dudley toherinterests. But Dudley recommended her to consult me; and when she was compelled to confess her situation to the Earl and Countess of Desborough, that nobleman inserted an advertisement in a news- paper to the effect that a place of the strictest retire- ment was sought fora young lady. In consequence of a letter which I received from William Dudley, I answered that advertisement; and thus was it can- trived that Miss Aylmer should hecome an inmate of my establishment. In the eyes of the Earl and Countess this arrangement had no appearance of having been previously concerted; and in due time Miss Aylmer took up her abode beneath this roof.’ ‘‘ Continue your narrative,” said Mr. Eaton. “ It has all the aspect of truth—and it is well for you that your explanations are thus candidly and frankly given.” * When once Miss Aylmer was here,” proceeded the midwife, encouraged by the young gentleman’s observations, “ you may readily conjecture how easy it was to concoct a scheme of vengeance on her be- half. Allured by the large sums which she lavished upon me—for she appears to have an illimitable command of gold—I consented in an evil hour to aid her in the accomplishment of her vindictive de- signs. Then did I reveal to her the mystery of that subtle poison for which I possess a receipt; and, in compliance with a letter despatched to Marchmont Castle, William Dudley solicited leave of absence to visit London for a few days.” “ T remember it well,” observed Mr. Eaton. “ Pro- ceed,” “He came hither—received his instructions, to- gether with the poison—and hastened back into Derbyshire,” continued the old woman. “ Imme- diately afterwards your mysterious malady comn- menced.” ‘6 Yes—this is true!’ murmured Arthur, shudder- ing from head to foot at the cold-blooded cruelty thus revealed. ‘“ Youare therefore satisfied that I am not deceiv- ing you now f” said Mra. Lindley, in a tone of anxiety. “ Too well satisfied—too well convinced that you are speaking the truth!” was the solemn answer. “ And you will spare me—you will not make use of this confession against ine——” “ No—no: I have already pledged myself on that head. And now, woman,” continued the Hon. Mr. Eaton, “ you will tell me whether this infernal poison is at woik elsewhere? Have you other victims——” “T solemnly and sacredly assure you that there GCOMNIGDOOKS THE MYSTERIES. | a i ES a OD EE _—— ee ee