The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 188: what you’re looking at

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

a a RR en ee en IS 182 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. Amy Sutton hurried from the room, forgetting |Amy—Oh, I do indeed acquit you of any evil to close the door behind her; and the Duke, | intention! But I implore and beseech that clutching Christian by the arm, whispered to him | nothing of all this shall be allowed to transpire. in a hoarse voice, “ Not another word, I conjure ‘His Grace will treat me kindly in future L you!’— then he instantaneously added aloud, forgive him!—from the bottom of my heart I “There is something extraordinary in all this: but | forgive him! Tell me, Hugh, that hence- it shall be investigated. Of course I at once | forth Ms admit "3 And drawing her husband aside, she concluded “What your Grace cannot deny, and never ina whisper her hurried prayer that his behaviour ought to have impugned,’ interrupted Christian | would change towards her, and in the future come boldly : “‘ her Grace’s innocence !” pensate for the past. | “ For heaven’s sake,” said the Duchess, who had | “Tt will indeed be better that this should go no hastened to close the door—of which opportunity ! farther,” said Christian, availing himself of the her husband had availed himself to whisper ‘that opportunity thus to speak aside to Amy Sutton. urgent adjuration in Christian’s ear,—“ for heaven’s | “It is for the sake of the Duchess that I recom- sake let this dreadful transaction be calmly and | mend secrecy. You stand acquitted of all wilful dispassionately explained !” complicity in the odious affair. If there be “Yes!” cried Amy Sutton, who now burst back | exposure, a separation becomes inevitable between again into the room, with a degree of excitement | the Duke and his wife; and under such circum- she had never before in her life displayed: “ your | stances it is always unfortunate woman who suffers Grace’s dresses are safe in your own toilet- | most!” chamber! But these—thé very same! or at least “For my part,” responded Amy, “I have no the closest resemblance !”—and she hastily inspected | wish to bring about such exposure, now that my the contents of the parcel which Christian had | own character is cleared.” thrown upon the table. Scarcely had the young woman thus spoken, “ Now hear me,” said the Duke of Marchmont, | when Marchmont, accosting Christian, said in an whose countenance was deadly pale, and whose | abrupt manner, “ Come with me.” entire manner indicated the profoundest trouble “Yes—go with his Grace,” exclaimed the of soul, notwithstanding the almost preterhuman | Duchess: “but again accept my most heartfelt efforts which he made to appear composed. | gratitude !”—and she proffered the youth her hand, “Solemnly in your presence, Christian Ashton— | which he respectfully took. and in your’s also, Amy Sutton—do I recognise} He then followed Marchmont from tae room,— and proclaim her Grace’s innocence. Will this| Amy Sutton remaining with her mistress. The suffice? For a thousand reasons this affair must ; Duke led the way to another apartment; and the go no farther !” moment they entered it, he said to Christian, “Tt is for her Grace to decide,” said our hero. | “ You will keep silence in respect to this transac- The unfortunate Duchess could no longer blind | tion?” her eyes to the fact that her own husband was at “Tt was not even my intention to proclaim so the bottom of a foul conspiracy of which she was | much,” answered our hero, “if your lordship had to have been made the victim: but still she wished | suffered me to breathe a few words in your ear, to spare him as much as possible; and she there- | which would have convinced you that everything fore unhesitatingly exclaimed, “Oh, no! let not | was discovered.” the matter progress farther !” “And how was it discovered?” inquired the ‘But I also must be consulted in this,” said | Duke quickly. “Did you go and seek Lettice Amy Sutton, with that firmness which was charac- } Rodney? did Madame Angelique betray anything teristic of her. “I am dependent on my character | when you called upon her to fetch the box ?” for my bread,” she continued, fixing her eyes upon “ My lord, it is useless thus to question me,” the Duke; “and not for a moment must it be | answered Christian: “I am resolved to give no thought that I voluntarily or wilfully bore false | explanations. Suffice it for your Grace to have evidence against her ladyship.” received unmistakable evidence that everything is “T know enough of the circumstances,” inter- > posed Christian, “ to be enabled to state that it is quite possible you have been grossly deceived, and | vehemently. “I cannot remain in this state of that you fancied you beheld her Grace on particu- | doubt and uncertainty: I must know where the lar occasions when it was in reality another. And | treachery has been !” now the uses to which these dresses have been put “Treachery, my lord!”—and Christian’s tone are perhaps fully understood ‘, expressed a withering sarcasm. “ But I repeat, it | completely known tome. And now * But you must tell me!” cried Marchmont “Oh, enough! enough!” cried poor Lavinia, | is useless for your Grace to question me: I will her looks recoiling from the haggard, ghastly, | explain nothing.” guilt-stricken countenance of her husband. “One word?” said the bewildered Duke: “only “ Ah, I recollect!” suddenly exclaimed Amy, as | one word, I beseech you? Was it Stanhope him- a thought struck her. “ That veil which was worn | self over the head of her whom your Grace pointed “No, my lord. I will tell you thisgnuch—that out !”’—and she addressed herself to the Duke. the villain Mr. Stanhope went away in ignorance “ My lord, it was infamous of you !” of all that was to take place. But beyond this I “For my sake, let no exposure take place!” | shall say nothing more. [am now about to take murmured the Duchess, with appealing looks my departure; and I request from your Grace a directed alike towards Amy and our hero. “I thank certificate of good conduct.” you, Mr. Ashton, for your kindness: your noble} But Marchmont heard not the youth’s last conduct never can be forgotten by me! And you, | words: he had begun to pace the apartment in an Se : SS a - ee et Cr nes oe ne a emt IE wn ant Te RNS Te ee SEN EE ER ETN PE IT re ee - 7 ‘ ‘ .