The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 244: what you’re looking at

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

SL eee ee ee li 238 “Simply,” responded Christina, “that 1 have some little acquaintance with the gentleman who penned this billet: and my brother—who has occa- sionally visited me here, with your ladyship’s kind permission—is far more intimate with him.” “Indeed! you know Mr. Redcliffe ?” said In- dora, subduing as well as she was able the thrilling trepidation which she ever felt on breathing that name. Christina proceeded to explain how she herself had once lodged in the same house where the note was dated—and how, on subsequently meeting Mr. Redcliffe, she had been enabled to interest him in the case of the poor seamstress, Mary Wright. She went on to expatiate on Mr. Redcliffe’s bounty towards that unfortunate creature,—showing how delicately yet unostentatiously his ministrations were rendered until she sank into the eternal sleep of death. Indora listened with the deepest inward interest: but she had sufficient guard over herself to prevent her countenance from betraying all she felt. *“ And that was not the only good deed on Mr. Redcliffe’s part that has come to my knowledge,” continued Christina. “Through him the dreadful purposes of a wicked husband towards an amiable and innocent wife, were completely frustrated; and I am proud to reflect that my brother Chris- tian played no insignificant part on the side of justice and virtue.” “Tell me this narrative,’ said the Princess: “the little you have already spoken on the subject interests me.” Christina accordingly entered upon the recital of those incidents which are so well known to the reader, and the full particulars of which she had yeceived from her brother’s lips. In the course of her history, it became necessary to speak of the pond by the side of the road, in the vicinage of Oaklands, where the murder had been committed nearly nineteen years back;—and to the entire narrative did the Princess listen with the utmost attention. “No wonder that the young woman Letitia Rodney,” remarked Indora, “should have been so overwhelmed with horror when accosted by Mr. Redcliffe by the side of that pond in the deep darkness of the night!” “The tragedy which took place there so many years ago,” rejoined Christina, “was a very dread- ful one. My brother Christian read the account in a piece of an old newspaper when he was first in the employment of the Duke of Marchmont.” « And did he recite to you all the particulars ?” | which Christina had marked for the purpose. asked the Princess. “ Briefly so,’ responded Christina. THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. particular tragedy of which you have been speak- ing P” “With pleasure,’ answered our heroine: and away she tripped to the boudoir,—the Princess shortly afterwards following. Christina referred to the volume which contained the set of news- papers for the year 1829; and she had little diffi- culty in discovering the accounts of the appalling tragedy at Oaklands. They ran through several numbers; and even for weeks and months after it occurred, there were occasional paragraphs re- ferring to it, and chronicling the various surmises that were abroad at the time in respect to what had become of the Duchess Eliza and of Bertram Vivian. All these did Christina mark with ink, so as to be more easy of reference for the Princess Indora; and having finished her task, she was about to retire,—when Sagoonah entered, bear- ing a letter addressed to the young maiden. The volume of the Times which she had been searching, lay open upon the table: the ayah’s dark eyes glanced for an instant towards it, as if in wonder at the colossal subject of her Royal mistress’s and her youthful companion’s studies: she presented the letter with that graceful inclination of the form which showed all its willowy and bayadere- like elasticity to such advantage—and then with- drew. Christina instantaneously recognised the hand- writing of Lady Octavian Meredith; and she passed into the drawing-room to peruse the letter. Therein Zoe informed her that though her health had improved since Christina left, it was not yet sufficiently re-established to enable her to fulfil her promise of calling upon her at the Princess In- dora’s residence: but she begged our heroine to come and pass a few hours with her on the follow- ing day,—adding that she should be otherwise altogether alone, as Lord Octavian had promised to spend the whole of that day with his father the Marquis of Penshurst. Christina could not help thinking that there was a certain significancy in this latter notification, and thaf it was meant as an assurance that she might in all safety accept the invitation without the fear of encountering Mere- dith. The young girl caught a sigh rising up in her throat: but by a strong and hasty effort she subduedit; and though in the solitude of her own chamber, she blushed at this half-betrayal of her own weakness unto herself. To divert her thoughts into a new channel, she sped back to the boudoir,—where she found the Princess deeply en- gaged in the perusal of the newspaper-volume The | young maiden handed Zoe’s letter to her High- * Yes—it | ness: and when the Princess had read it, she said, was a sad tale—full of a romantic and fearful | with her wonted amiability, “I understand, my interest: but it has left a dread stigma upon the names of the Duchess Eliza and of Bertram Vivian.” ‘he Princess Indora rose from her seaé and advanced towards the window, from which she cazed forth in silence for two or three minutes. At length again turning towards Christina, she said, “‘ Our conversation has flowed into a channel which has interested me. Ihave a complete file of a London newspaper in the boudoir: you are far more expert than I am in everything which re- lates to the concerns of your own country :—will you endeavour to find for me the accounts of the ao——ooOoOoOoOoooo young friend, that you seek my permission to accept her ladyship’s invitation. It is cheerfully accorded ; and the carriage shall be at your disposal to- morrow.” Christina thanked the Princess for her kindness ; and returning to. her own chamber, she penned a note to Lady Octavian Meredith, to the effect that she would be with her at noon on the following day. The approaching visit naturally brought recent incidents back to the young maiden’s miad with some degree of vividness. She was almost certain that Zoe either suspected or else positively knew her: husband’s passion: for this alone couid (CO) 0)(0(0)|< =|