The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 375: what you’re looking at

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

THE DUKE 353 wish to be introduced to one of those fine gentlemen of whom I have spoken to you, but you are afraid to fall unless your mistress has first set you the example? ” ‘‘ Dare you think,” asked Sagoonah, her eyes again flash- ing fire, ‘‘ that impure thoughts harbour in this bosom of mine?” and with a mechanical gesture she partially drew aside the snow-white drapery from her swelling bust. ‘ No, no; and if for a single instant I suffered you to imagine that I was merely yielding a preference to my mistress in respect to your vile purposes, it was simply because I did not then choose to enter into the slightest explanation with you. But rest assured that if I were brought into the presence of any one of the fine gentlemen to whom you have alluded — and if it were for an improper purpose —I would not be content with the mere brandishing of a dagger, as you say my mistress was, but I would plunge it deep down into the villain’s heart.” As the ayah thus spoke, her eyes kept flashing continuous fires, her nostrils dilated, her bosom swelled, and she drew that bayadere form of hers up with so queenlike an air that her whole demeanour astonished and terrified Madame Angelique. | “There is some strange mystery in all this,” thought the infamous woman to herself, and she was bewildered how to act. At length she said, ‘‘ My dear Sagoonah, you treat me most singularly — most unkindly. Are we not to act to- gether? ”’ “In what way? ’”’ demanded the ayah, who had all in a moment become calm and collected again. “ If I still sought the ruin of my mistress, there is no means of effecting it, for the chance to which I helped you has been flung away in the most dastard manner.” “Can you not possibly ascertain the real motive which induced the Lady Indora to visit Oaklands? That is all I now require,” continued Madame Angelique, “and I will lavish gold upon you if you succour me in my aim.” “Do you fancy, then,”’ asked Sagoonah, fixing her dark eyes penetratingly upon Madame Angelique, “ that the Lady Indora made use of you as an instrument to further her own views, instead of herself becoming your dupe and your victim? ” “ Yes,’ exclaimed Madame Angelique, “ that is the very CONMIC OOO) SS (€©) im