The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 193: what you’re looking at

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

pee cE LT LL LC OL LL ALL LLL LEE LLL LLL LLL LLL LL LLL LLL LLL LLL 178 THE MYSTERIES, * And now, William Dudley,” continued Arthur, after ashort pause, “you may wonder that I should have still retained you in my service during the last sixteen days. I had two objects in contempla- tion by thus acting. The first was to ascertain whether the spectacle of your young master re- covering health and strength, after reaching the very verge of the grave, and retracing the path to life and vigour in spite of the venom which you had infused into his veins,—I was anxious, I say, to satisfy myself whether such a spectacle would move your heart—touch you with remorse—and awaken better feelings within your soul. Had this trial resulted in your favour, I should yet have enter- tained the hope that you were not past redemption: I should have considered that it was well worth while to attempt the salvation of a fellow-creature insuchacase, Then, in due time, I should have taken you by the hand—and I should have said, ‘Dudley, 1 know all! But you have repented— and 1 forgive the past as sincerely as if tt had never been ’— Alas! itis not in my power thus to address you. Night after night has the poison been mixed with the beverage placed by my side; and morning after morning has the chemist said to me, * The water is envenomed still ’ And now, as if to crown your tremendous guilt, you seek my chamber in the middle of the night—with what intent I need not tell you, thiserable man that you are !” : Mercy—imercy, Mr. Eaton! My God! spare me!” moaned the wretched Dudley, again sinking on his knees and joining his hands in entreaty— while the horrible workings of his countenance bore dread testimony to the nature of the emotions that were excited in his breast. tention to Spare you, so far as the law is eoncerned,” said Arthur, scarcely able to conquer a Sensation of loathing aud abhorrence in respect to the man in whom he had been $0 eruelly deceived, “ Rise, sir—rise, I command you—and hear me out.” The valet resumed his standing posture at the | foot of the bed: but his eyes were cast down—for he was unable to look in thé face of that young man who had been so kind a master, ad towards whom he had acted as a veritable fiend. And all this while Fernanda remained seated, motionless as a statue—and as a statue pale and glacial in outward appearance: but heaven alone can tell how dire—how terrible were the feelings that agitated in her upheaved bosom. “JT have now explained my first motive for re- taining you in my service since the day on which I discovered your guilt,” resumed Mr. Eaton, con- tinuing to address himself to the valet, on whose ears his words fell with a power and effect that shook him to the lowest confines of his being : and yet Arthur's language flowed in a calm—measured —unexcited strain; as if it were an unbiased and merciful judge who was speaking. “My second motive,” he continued, “was intimately associated with my intentions respecting Miss Aylmer; and as it appears that you have no secrets with each other, I will speak frankly and openly. Know then, Fernanda, that I went this morning to Mrs. Lind- ley’s house in order to obtain an interview with yeu; and my object was to offer you my hand.” The young lady started at this strange announce- ment: but, instantly recovering herself, she said in a tone of icy coldness, “It is well that you take justice. to yourself credit for a deed of generosity, now that you may safely vaunt it without being expected to repeat the proposal.” “JT take Almighty God to witness that such is the truth—the solemn truth!” exclaimed Arthur Eaton, emphatically. “ Would you have other — evidence thereof in addition to my word, seek your uncle the Earl of Desborough—seek the Countess —and ask them to tell you all I said to them last evening.” * You doubtless told them that I was a poisoner —hbut that you would forgive me!” returned the young lady, witha bitterness and a malignity which showed howrelentless and diabolical was her hatred towards him whom she had once loved with such an impassioned fervour. | “ No, Fernanda,” rejoined Arthur: * had I thought of betraying you to your nearest relatives, { should not have hesitated to give you up to But I reasoned within the secret depths of my own soul—and I reflected that I had wronged you—that I had driven you to the desperation which prompted you to wreak so terrible a retribu- tion—and that it was for me to make amends. Therefore did I hasten this morning to Fore Street ; and had I found you in that place still, I should have said, ‘ Fernanda, God is giving me back my health ; cena in a feb weeks I shall be perfectly re- suscitated. Again do I offer you my hand ; and now you cannot accuse me of an anxiety to make an atone- ment only when under the influence of that remorse which heralis an approaching dissolution. Be ge- nerous, Fernanda, even as I seck to be just: let us forget the past, and live in hope of a happier future. | —Thus should I have spoken; and if you had still “T have already informed you that it is my i=. refused to accept the only amends which lay in my power to propose, at all events a weight would have been removed from my consciénee. 1 should not have revealed to you the fact that I had dis- covered the secret of my malady and that you were the cause : no—that Secret would have accompanied me to the tomb ; and if you had proved a good wife to me, never Should a word or look on my part have led you to suspect that your past iniquity was so fally known in all its details to me. I should have been happy in your repentance—your contri- tion;—and I should have considered that I had saved a soul from that eternal ruin towards which my own conduct had driven it in the beginning to take the first step. Now, therefore, you can un- derstand, William Dudley,” added Arthur Eaton, once more turning to the valet, “ my second motive for hitherto retaining you in myservice. For as it was my intention to keep from Miss Aylmer the circumstance that I had discovered the cause of my malady, I should likewise have observed the | same profound secreey in that respect towards yourself.” “Oh! my good kind master, what a wretch I have been !” exclaimed the valet, wringing his hands, while tears trickled down his cheeks. “Peace, drivelling fool!” ejaculated Fernanda, turning sharply round upon him. “ Nay—speak not thus,” said Arthur Eaton, in a Severe tone of rebuke, as he fixed his eyes almost sternly upon Miss Aylmer. ™ Would to God that words of contrition might come from your lips !” “Never!” cried the young lady, starting from her chair. “I see that you have turned a saint, Arthur Eaton—perhaps a hypocrite—and I now | COLMA Ghbooksscom