The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 369: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. nevertheless sufficient to strike the extreme sensi- tiveness oi the astute snake-charmers.” “But as for a cobra being within these walls, my lady,” said Christina, “it is simply impos- sible !’,—and yet as she spoke she shuddered at the bare idea. “JT will question him again,” observed the Princess. “But look at him!—assuredly this is no groundless nor mere panic terror under which he is labouring !” She addressed the Hindoo in a few words: his answer was given with rapid utterance and vehe- ment gesticulation, as if while in the expression of a positive conviction he were only held back by a sense of the respect due to a superior from up- braiding her Highness for doubting him. “He persists in his assertion,’ said Indora, again turning to our heroine, “Do not alarm yourself—but something must be done. I know this man well—he would not attempt to decetve me Besides; look at him again, and judge for yourself !” Christina indeed had not taken her eyes off the Hindoo: his agitation was painfully increasing— and she was convinced that it was mostreal. He appeared to be writhing as if in actual torture— shuddering to the innermost confines of his being : his teeth chattered as if with the cold—the perspi- ration stood in large drops upon his bronzed fore- head. The Princess addressed him again: he spoke vehemently, but still with the completest respectfulness, in reply;—and he extended his hands as if he asked for something. “He persists in declaring that there is a cobra in the house,” said the Princess, again speaking to Christina; and he asks for some musical instru- ment, which, if he once possessed it, would dispel all his terror and make him feel that he suddenly be- comes the master of the serpent with no fear of falling its victim.” “Mark has a flageolet,’’ hastily suggested Chris- tina: “ your ladyship knows that he is fond of shutting himself up in his own room and playing ——" “An excellent thought of your’s, my sweet young friend,” responded Indora; “and as certain orders must be issued, it is absolutely necessary to summon one of the servants at any risk.” “ Aft any risk, my lady ?” said Christina, turn- ing pale. “Then you yourself begin to be- lieve “JT know not what to think,” interrupted In- dora. “On the one hand it seems impossible— but on the other it strikes me that the matter is not to be neglected. The longer I look at that man, the more I am staggered But we are wasting time, Christina! Have the goodness to ring the bell twice: it is the special summons for Mark.” The bell was rung accordingly; and it was promptly answered : for Mark was in the hall con- versing with the English interpreter who had ac- companied the two messengers to the villa, Mark, as the reader will remember, had himself been in India; and he was therefore well pleased to fall in with a fellow- -countryman who had just arrived from that orient clime, and who could tell him all the news. Mark’s presence in the hall had been productive of one beneficial effect—although he little suspected it: for it prevented the .ayah 23 363 from stealing up-stairs to listen on the landing at what was taking place in the drawing-room—a proceeding in which the wily Hindoo woman was very likely to have indulged, were it not that she dreaded the idea of exciting Mark’s suspicion. She had already said in the servants’ room that her work was ail done up-stairs—no bell sum- moned her—she had no excuse for ascending those stairs—and they were so situated with respect to the entrance-hall and the landing above, that if she had gone up and loitered on the latter, she would have stood every chance of being detected by Mark who was stationed in the former. But to resume the thread of our narrative. Mark answered the summons given by the double ringing of the drawing-room bell ; and the Prin- cess hastily explained to him the strange but serious apprehension entertained by the Hindoo messenger. ‘The faithful domestic was himself somewhat staggered—though it was certainly singular for an Englishman to be told that there was a@ venomous reptile of India within the walls of a dwelling on the outskirt of London: but still he was staggered, because he beheld the excessive agitation of the Hindoo, and his experiences of Indian life were sufficient to convince him that it was a real terror under which the emissary was labouring. Besides, Mark was prudent—and he knew full well that as an apprehension was created, it would be better to have it dispelled as soon as possible, no matter whether it should be proved groundless or else justified by the result. “Say not a word to the other domestics,” ob- served the Princess hurriedly, though not for an instant did she lose her presence of mind: “ it will be useless to terrify them " “ But Sagoonah and Tippoo, my lady, will hear the music,” suggested Mark; “and they will know what it means.” | “True!” ejaculated the Princess: then, after a moment’s reflection, she added, ‘‘ Go you first and fetch the flageolet—then return to the servants’ hall—see that all the domestics are there—lock the door—put the key in your pocket—and tell them what you will. At all events you will prevent them from rushing frantically about the house, or escaping into the garden But go, good Mark —and for heayen’s sake look well on the staircase and elsewhere—for if the horrible suspicion be in- deed correct But go, Mark—I am needlessly wasting time!” The faithful intendant of Indora’s household quitted the room; and immediately he had dis- appeared, the junior messenger who now seemed to have become more calin, said something to the Princess. “ He still perseveres in declaring that there is a cobra within the walls of this villa,’ said the Princess to Christina: “but since the door has been opened and shut twice during the last few minutes, he says that his instinctive susceptibility tells him that the reptile is not here, in this room—but in some other—and he thinks over: head.” “ Good heavens, the bed-chambers!” ejaculated Christina, who at each successive stage of these singular proceedings was more deeply catching tha infection of terror notwithstanding the natural strength of her mind. “Do not be alarmed,” replied the Princess, (C(O) 6)(0)(0) S (C(O)