The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 332: what you’re looking at

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

_ THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. ‘ 317 22 RS SS ee ae ee “ No—I must return to London,” said Deveril; ; languagé continue to pile up. mystery upon mys- “and therefore whatever. is to pass between us, let | tery.” | it take place now. I feel stronger than I was; and [ am already interested in the discourse.” “Then have the goodness to answer my questions,” rejoined the woman. ‘On his death-bed my father endeavoured to say something. He was stricken with paralysis, aud his speech came with the utmost difficulty. A few words however I did succeed in catehing——” ~ “ And those words?” demanded the woman, with an eagerness that contrasted strangely with her usually cold stern imperturbability of manner. “Those words were exactly these: —‘ Strolling players —manager—Thompson—could tell all.” “ And have you any idea of what those allusions meant ?”’ “T can only suppose that inasmuch as my father and mother had originally been connected with a troop of itinerant actors 4 “Ts your mother alive?’ demanded the woman abruptly. “No: she died between eleven and twelve years ago.” “What are you doing in the neighbourhood of Saxondale Castle ?” she now asked, in that peremp- tory way of her’s which seemed to imply that re- sponses must be given to her queries. . “‘T cannot permit myself to be questioned any far- ther,” said Deveril coldly. “Yes: but I insist upon having your answers !” exclaimed the woman: then observing that a sudden flush of indignation appeared upon the invalid’s countenance, she immediately added, “ There! now don’t be silly—I did not mean to offend you. It is the way in which I speak. Of course I do not wish to pry into your secret affairs: but if you had been to Saxondale Castle, it is somewhat important that I should know it.” “ And how so?” asked Deveril. “ You.must not become the questioner,” replied the woman. ‘ Do you know Lady Saxondale ?’— and she fixed her eyes with so singular, so peculiar, so earnest a look upon the youth that he felt troubled as if he were being plunged into a vortex of un- fathomable mysteries. “ Yes—I know her ladyship,” he answered: and he felt urged on thus to answer by a power stronger than himself. “ But I have not been to see her now—nor have I set foot within the -walls of Saxondale Castle. Indeed, I was never there in my lite.” “ Never!—Ah!”—and the expression of the woman’s countenance. now became so exceedingly singular that Deveril started up in the couch. ‘‘ What in heaven’s name,” he cried, “is the meaning of all this? Why do you look at me thus? To what is this conversation to lead? For Gud’s sake speak—explain yourself! Do you know that you are torturing me cruelly? and I deserve it not at your hands!” “‘ No indeed—you deserve not torture from me— for you have saved my life at the deep risk of your own :”’—and the woman spoke with an iwpressive- ness as peculiar as her looks. “ Pray believe me when I say that I would not torture you willingly, nor excite you unnecessarily. Lie duwn—compose yourself——” Tt is impossible so long as your looks and your —_—_———— Oe _..... t _—————— “Tt cannot be helped: I must pursue my own course. And now tell me—if you are acquainted with Lady Sasondale, why have you not called upon her at the castle? why should you be in the neigh- bourhood without seeing her, and yet knowing her ?” Deveril did not immediately answer: he paused to reflect what answer he should give, or whether anyatall. While thus deliberating, his eyes settled upon the woman’s countenance; and he beheld such an air of graye decision and solemn importance im- printed there, notwithstanding the repulsive harsh- ness of her features, that he was convinced she had really the deepest meaning in putting all these questions to him. Indeed, she was evidently not a woman who would interrogate him for mere idle curiosity’s sake. In her very rags and in her ugli. ness—aye, even in her sinister looks, there was a certain intellectual superiority together with a vigour of purpose apparent through all. He there- fore decided upon answering her queries last put. ‘Business with another person brought me into this neighbourhood. Who that person is, I ao not choose to name, and beg that you will not ask. I came not to see Lady Saxondale—and to speak plainly, I do not wish to see her. She has used me ill.” “Tn what way ?” demanded the woman. *T do not know that there is any necessity for being reserved on this point,” returned Deveril, “‘sance she has told her own tale to all her acquaint- anees. In a word then, I had for some months past been wont to give lessons in painting to the Hon. Misses Farefield at Saxondale House in Park Lane, London—until her ladyship made improper over- tures towards me 4 “ Ah!” said the woman, not loud but with a deep and almost subdued sound: and again was there something extraordinary but most unfathomable: in her looks. “ Proceed. You rejected these overtures, did you not—did you not ?” she asked quickly. ‘“T did: and this was my offence against Lady Saxondale. She proved vindictive,—bitterly, bitterly vindictive—and propagated the vilest calumnies amongst her friends, to the effect that it was I who had made improper advances towards her.” “ Let me look you full in the face. There! meet my eyes. Your’s quail not. Yes—you are speak- ing truly; there is sincerity in every feature. You are as goud as you are beautiful. Nevertheless, look me again full in the face, and repeat that it was not you that made the overtures.” “ As there is a God to judge me,” exclaimed De- veril, with indignant emphasis, “I did not do 80 It was her ladyship!” “Enough—I believe you as firmly as if I had been a witness of the whole scene. Therefore, after that occurrence,” continued the woman, “* you went no more to Saxundale House?” “T went to demand redress, but obtaining none, returned not again. Oh! now, for heaven’s sake, tell me the drift of all these questions!” and De veril spoke with anxious entreaty. “We must vo back,” said the woman, not heed- ing his earnest words nor his pleading looks, “ ta earlier times. You say your parents were strolling >? players ? » em Go NOOKS (CO)