The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 243: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. with the Earl on Christian’s behalf, they had found him inexorable. Lord Osmond therefore counselled the youth to look out for another situation, and offered to render him any service that lay in his power. Christian bashfully ex- pressed the hope that Miss Vincent would not suffer in her uncle’s estimation; and it was a solace to him, in the midst of his affliction, to learn that his lordship had expressed no particular views with regard to his niece; but had merely hinted that he should keep a sharp eye upon her for the future. , CHAPTER XLV. THE VISIT TO THE REGENT’S PARK. MEANWHILE Christina had been for a few weeks fulfilling the ght and pleasing duties which she had to perform towards the Princess Indora. These consisted chiefly in reading to her Highness —in practising music with her—and assisting her researches into the historical records and the in- stitutions of the British Empire. The Princess treated her precisely as Lady Octavian Meredith had done: namely, as a friend and as an equal; so that our youthful heroine experienced not the slightest sense of a dependent position. She took all her repasts with the Princess, and rode out with her in the carriage. Now that the fine weather had returned, they walked in the garden of an evening; and the more Christina saw of the King of Inderabad’s daughter, the greater was the esteem she experienced towards her. Christina had, on her first visit to the secluded villa-residence, been astonished at the mingled gumptuousness and elegance of that abode, which appeared to realize all her dream-like notions of oriental splendour, cr of those miniature palaces whereof we read in fairy tales. But far more was she amazed by the magnificent beauty of the Princess and the dark splendour of Sagoonah’s charms. Indeed, everything connected with this retreat of the oriental exotics was fraught with interest and novelty for the young maiden. Not the slightest idea had she of the motive which had brought the Princess to England: nor had she ' the least suspicion that Mr. Redcliffe had ever crossed that threshold. On the day that she first applied for the situation, Indora had confidentially informed her that her real rank was that of a Prin- cess ; but that in order as much as possible to avert public curiosity, she concealed her high position and passed merely as an oriental lady of fortune. Christina had mentioned Zoe’s name as that of one to whom reference could be made if requisite; and Indora—perceiving from the way in which Chris- tina spoke, that she was on intimate terms with Zoe—gave her permission to mention confidentially the real rank of the lady into whose household she was about to enter. Thus there was no breach of trust on Christina’s part in stating that much to Lady Octavian Meredith. Yor an hour or two every day, the Princess Indora shut herself up in that exquisitely ap- pointed boudoir which we described on the first occasion that we introduced her to the reader; and there she employed herself in examining a portion of twenty enormous volumes which were 237 piled up in the room, and which consisted of files of the Times for as many years as there were volumes. Once or twice during the first two or three weeks of her residence beneath that roof, Christina had occasion to enter the boudoir to speak to the Princess; and she found her poring over the leaves of those files with a most earnest intentness. The young maiden however attached no importance to the circumstance—but simply ascribed it to that love of instruction which the Princess displayed in all matters that concerned the affairs of Great Britain. One day, as Christina entered the sumptuously furnished drawing-room, she perceived a note lying upon the carpet; and fancying that it was some stray piece of paper of no consequence—but that it ought not to be left to mar the exquisite neatness with which the apartment was kept— she picked it up. A glance however at the paper showed that it was a letter; and without reading even a single word of it, she placed it upon the table. At that very instant the Princess Indora entered; and Christina, presenting her the note, said, “I found this lying upon the carpet.” The oriental lady’s superb eyes appeared to re- cognise it at a glance; and for a moment there was a gentle flush sweeping over the delicate duskiness of her countenance. Christina beheld it ; and mistaking its cause, said somewhat proudly, “Your ladyship” (for the title of Highness was not used beneath that roof) “ cannot possibly think that I would violate the sanctity of your letter.” “No, my dear Christina,’ exclaimed Indora, with the enthusiasm of generous frankness: “ not for a single moment could I do you such injustice ! Besides, after all,’ she added, as if she thought it necessary to account for whatsoever change of fea- tures might have inspired our heroine with that misapprehension: “ there is nothing in this note that you may not see. I received it some months back, as you will observe by the date.” Thus speaking, the Princess opened the letter ; and handing it to Christina, bade her read it. Miss Ashton obeyed; and with considerable sur- prise read the following lines :— ‘Mortimer Street, Cavendish Square, ‘‘ January 11, 1848. Mr. Redcliffe presents his most dutiful regards to her Highness the Princess of Inderabad, and begs to inform her it has come to his knowledge that some evil- disposed persons may probably seek to inveigle her High- ness or the ayah Sagoonah into a snare, for purposes to which Mr. Redcliffe will not farther allude. He however deems it his duty thus to put her Highness upon her guard; and if instructions be issued that no communi- cation 1s to be held by her Highness’s dependants with strangers, every needful precaution will have been adopted. ‘¢ Her Highness the Princess of Inderabad.” The moment she caught sight of the address from which the note was dated, and of the name of Redcliffe, an expression of surprise appeared upon | Christina’s countenance: but this deepened into alarm as she continued the perusal of the letter. The Princess failed not to observe the effect which it produced upon her; and perceiving that the surprise was something apart from the announce- ment contained in the note itself, she said, “ What thus strikes you, my young friend ?” DOOMKS (C(O) (e(6)