The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 297: what you’re looking at

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i aaa a a cam OC Ter oT Rr THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. towards the cabinet whither Purvis had previously conducted her. And now she looked around as if to assure herself that no one was by to observe her movements or watch her proceedings; and satisfied on this point, she entered the cabinet. Unhesitatingly was her taper finger pressed upon the secret spring—the little door flew open—and the next moment the dagger was in her hand. Wherefore did the Incian Princess thus again grasp that weapon with which so frightful a deed was associated ? what strange feeling thus impelled her to gaze once more on the dagger that had drunk so deep of human blood? But now a strange scene ensued. Closing the little door with its secret spring, and still retaining possession of the dagger, Indora came forth from the cabinet. Intently were her luminous dark eyes fixed upon the blade which the whirasical or else more deeply mysterious care of Purvis had kept brightly polished; and all of a sudden the Princess raised those eyes upwards, exclaiming, “It is for thee, O Lord, in thine own good time, to show whose hand did really wield this weapon to perpetrate the tragedy of that foul night !” And it was the eye of that Deity alone to whom the eastern lady thus solemnly appealed, that be- held her as she stood there, in the midst of that sumptuously furnished saloon, with the air of a Pythoness,—one arm stretched forth, and the hand grasping the handle of the dagger—and her coun- tenance wearing an expression of awe-felt solemnity and adjuring entreaty that was in unison with her words. Uow strikingly grand she looked!—her hair, dark as night, floating in luxuriant masses down her back—her superb bosom upheaved—her posture replete with tragic majesty—and her red lips apart, displaying two rows of pearls within. Wherefore did Indora send 1. vaad adjuring prayer to Heaven? why did she seem to think that there was any doubt in respect to the author of a crime which all the world had so unhesitatingly affixed to the hand of Bertram Vivian? CHAPTER LV. THE DAGGER. On the following day, soon afte breakfast, the Princess Indora issued forth to ramble over the domain and its neighbourhood. She had desired Purvis to accompany ler; and the old man pointed out all the various features of interest: but some- how or another he found himself led on to speak again of the tragedy so intimately connected with Oaklands. The Princess Indora made him describe to her the exact personal appéarance of the Duchess EBliza—that. of the old Duke her husband—and that of Bertram Vivian. Purvis, naturally garru- lous, was never wearied of conversing on a topic which constituted the main incident in his own experiences of life; and thus, if the eastern lady had any secret purpose of her own—or if she were merely impelled by an irresistible feeling of curiosity, to seek information on these points— she could not possibly have addressed herself to a person more competent or more willing to afford it, Her wanderings with Purvis brought her to- 291 wards the pond by the side of which the corpse of the murdered Duke was discovered; and there for a few minutes she lingered, gazing upon the very spot where, as Purvis informed her, he and Leachley, the late Duke’s valet, had found their lifeless, murdered master. While retracing their way towards the man- sion, the discourse still continued on the same topic; and Indora seemed as willing to hear as the cold steward was to impart all details, even the very minutest, in connexion with the topic which appeared to have so profound an interest for them both. Yet the Princess so shaped her questions and so phrased her remarks, that Purvis entertained not the remotest suspicion that she might possibly be impelled by some feeling stronger than mete curiosity. It was about two o’clock when’ they reached the mansion; and In- dora, having partaken of refreshment, waiked forth again into the grounds—but this time un- attended by the old steward, who was wearied with his ramble of the forenoon. The Princess walked as far as the village, and passed the little inn where Bertram Vivian had his last interview with his brother—then Lord Clandon. The very room had been notified by Purvis, in the minute- ness of the details which he had given the Princess ; and her eyes were riveted for a minute upon the window of that room. When she pur- sued her way, tears were trickling from those eyés :—pérchance in the natural generosity and kindness of her disposition, she was melted by thé thought that within that very room a fellow- creature had endured the most excruciating an- euish which the human mind could know! In the evening the Princess Indora again had an opportunity of conversing with the old steward ; and she inquired relative to the other servants who were at Oaklands at the time the tragedy took place. He gave her the same information which he had given to Christian Ashton at the time the youth was at the mansion: namely, that Leachley, the late Duke’s valet, was thriving as a farmer about a dozen miles off—that Jane, the Duchess Eliza’s favourite maid, had gone mad after the tragic occurrence—and that he alone, of all the domestics who were at Oaklands on the occasion of the Duke’s murder, now remained there. After he had given some other particulars respecting a few of those servants who had risen in the world, he said, “ And theré is the present Duke’s valet too—he likewise has risen; and in order to conceal his humble origin he has taken another name.” “Under what circumstances ?” asked Indora. “He has grown rich, my lady,” responded Pur- vis. one is Armytage; and his daughter has married a nobleman—Lord Octavian Meredith.” “Indeed!” exclaimed Indora: “the nan‘~ Lord and Lady Octavian Meredith are n familiar tome. And that Mr. Armytage me, was originally the present Duke’s var “ Certainly he was, my lady. When t” Duke succeeded to the title after his u~ he appointed Travers to the post of little time after that, Travers, it” herited a considerable sur* ~ course he left, Oakland- year before I heard a “His proper name is Travers—his assumed. — 6)(0)©) (C(O) S (C(O)