The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 301: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. lth OLE | OLA ACL A 205 who was evidently bewildered—indeed half- frenzied by the thoughts that were agitating in his whirling brain. “Forgiveness? No!’—and Indora at once turned to leave the drawing-room. “For heaven’s sake, stop!” cried the Duke, hastening towards her in a supplicating manner. “Tf you will not grant me your pardon, at all events give me the assurance that you will do me no injury !” “1 have triumphed so effectually im the cir- cumstances to which you allude,’ replied Indora, “that I need scarcely hesitate to promise that it is my purpose to keep silent in respect to your in- famy. But understand me well,—that if you dare breathe a single syllable prejudicial to my honour —if it come to my knowledge that when heated with wine, and in that boasting mood which at times takes possession of all libertines, you have proclaimed the fact that I was a visitress here,— in a word, my lord, if you have the hardihood to make an allusion to me in the least way dis- respectful, that moment shall I be absolved from my pledge—I will go before a magistrate—I will acquaint him with all that occurred—not even omitting’—and here Indora’s dark eyes were fixed penetratingly upon the Duke—“ not even | omitting, I say, the circumstance how I defended myself with that self-same dagger which dealt death to the uncle whose title and fortune you in- herited !” | Having thus spoken, the Princess Indora issued | to the drawing-room, he was on the point of ring- ing the bell with a view of putting certain questions to Purvis; but he thought better of it, and re- paired to the breakfast-parlcur. He had no appe- tite—but he was sore athirst: his throat felt as if he had been swallowing ashes. He ordered wine, —some choice specimen of the light and cooling vintage of the Rhine; and when he had partaken copiously thereof, he proceeded to his dressing- room to make some improvement in his toilet. Afterwards he wandered out upon his domain; and for hours he reflected upon all that had oc- curred—or we should rather say that he continued to be harassed and agitated by a variety of the most painful thoughts. On returning to the mansion as the dinner-hour approached, he again felt an inclination to put certain inquiries to Purvis; and again was he by a second thought prevented. The dinner passed, —that dinner to which he sate down all alone; and when it was over, he again went wandering about like an unsettled spirit. When the dusk was closing in, he re-entered the mansion; and as he repaired to the drawing-room, one of the domestics preceded him with wax-lights. Then, as if his mind was suddenly made up in respect to a point on which he had so often hesitated throughout this agitated day, the Duke abruptly said to the do- mestic, * Bid Purvis come hither !” In a few minutes the old steward entered the apartment: but even still the Duke felt disin- clined to, approach the particular topic. At length from the drawing-room; and the Duke, closing | however he said, “Purvis, something so strange the door behind her, threw himself upon a sofa | occurred last night, that I have made up my mind and gave way to his agitated reflections. In a few! tospeak to you on the subject and yet it is so minutes a domestic entered, saying, “The Lady! painfula one that you will not wonder I have Tndora has ordered your Grace’s plain carriage to be immediately gotten in readiness, to take her to | the nearest post-town; and she will leave Oaklands in less than half-an-hour.” The Duke gave no answer; and the domestic withdrew. Marchmont comprehended wherefore the message had been sent: it was to give him to understand that as Indora was on the point of taking her departure, it was not necessary for him to fulfil the pledge given her in his hastily written note, that he would quit the mansion immediately after the interview which he had besought her to grant. The carriage was soon im readiness and the Princess departed from Oaklands,—having left in the hands of Purvis a liberal sum of money to be divided amongst the domestics—although the ge- nerality of them little deserved this bounty. at, her hauds, inasmuch as they had been prepared to follow their master’s instructions in respect to sup- porting the tale of the Duchess being beneath that roof. We may observe that munificent indeed was the present which Indora made to the steward for his own special behoof; and she had found an opportunity of expressing her thanks for the well- | meant note which he had thrust under her door. But she said nothing to him in respect. to the dagger. The Duke of Marchmont beheld Indora’s depar- ture from the drawing-room window; and the instant the carriage drove away, be sped up-stairs to the room which she had occupied. He searched everywhere for that dagger—but he discovered it not: it was nowhere in the chamber. Returning SL ee throughout this day dreaded to approach it.” The old steward was utterly at a loss to con- jecture what could have thus occurred,—though on the other hand he was scarcely at a loss to comprehend what the painful topic must be; for whenever such an allusion was made beneath that roof, it was always at once taken for granted that it referred to the tragedy of nineteen years back. “The fact is, Purvis,’ continued the Duke, “I had some little design in respect to that lady: but of course that’s my own affair, and nothing to do with any of my servants. I was misled as to her character—I thought she was melined to be gay, whereas I found the very reverse to be the case. However, the. point on which I desired to speak with you, may be explained in a few words, Last night, Purvis, I found that lady armed with a weapon of defence—and the weapon was you know what I mean! It. was the same identical one which my wretched brother used “ “That dagger, my lord ?” cried the old steward, in mingled astonishment and dismay. “Yes—and I see that you know something about it !” exclaimed the Duke. “ Come, tell me! Think you that itis a pleasant thing for me. te have paraded before my eyes that memorial of tL terrible past ?” “My lord, I am deeply sorry,” said Purvie “but I begin to understand i, “Explain yourself !—hasten to explain you Tell me the whole truth, whatever Marchmont was labouring under tl ment of suspense. “ My lord,” rejoined Purvis, “I (E(@) 6)(0)©) S CO