SELF-RAISED; OR, FROM THE DEPTHS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 279, 26 November 1890, Page 6

SELF-RAISED; OR, FROM THE DEPTHS.

A SEQUEL TO " ISHMAEL, OR IN THE DEPTHS." CHAPTER XXX.-(Continued.) A solitary nighb in her own boudoir would not seera to promise much enjoyment ; yeb Claudia was happier, because more peaceful now than she had aver been since her first arrival ab Casfcle Crag-rr. She sat on, letting t.ho hours pass calmly and silently over her, until the clock struck ten. Then, to her surprise,- she heard a knocking ab tha outer hall door, followed by the sound of an urriva!, and of ma»y footsteps hastening up the stair?. Claudia arose to her foot in astonishment, and at tho same momenb heard the viiiee of the viscount without, saying in ruffianly torve3 : • Burst) open the door then ! Don't you eeo it ia locked on the inside V And with a violent kick the door of Claudia's boudoir, which certainly was not locked, was thrown open, and Lord Vincent, with inflamed cheeks and blood-shot eyes, strode into tha room, followed by Mrs Dugald, Mrs Mac Donald and old Cuthberb. ' Keep the door, sir ! Lot no one pass out!' roared the viscount to his butler, who immediately shut the door and placed bimself against ib. ' My lord !' exclaimed Claudia, in indignant amazement—' What is the meaning of tbi3 violence ?' • It means, my lady, thab you aro discovered, run to earth, entrapped, cunmng vixen as you are !' exclaimed the viscount with an air ol vindictive triumph. Mrs Dugald laughed scornfully. Mrs Mac Donald turned up her chin contemptuously, , . Old Cuthbert groaned aloud. Claudia looked from one to the other, and then said : 'My lord, you and your Friends appear to have been sapping on very bad wino ; I would counsel you bo retire and eleep off its effects.' 'Ha-ha, my lady! You take things Cosily i I compliment you on your selfpossession !' sneered the viscoiant. Her heart nearly bursting with anger, Claudia threw herself into a chair, _ and with difficulty controlling her emotions, said : ' Will your Hardship do me the favour to explain your errand in this room, and then retire with your party as soon as possible? , ' Certainly, my larly, fehafc is bu*s reasonable, and is also just wkat I intended to do, , said the viscount, bowing with mock courtesy. And he drew a letter from his pocket and held ife in hia hand, while he continued to speak, addressing himself now to the whola party assembled in Lady Vincent's boudoir. ' Ib is necessary to premise, friends, thab my marriage with this lady was a hasty, ill-advised and inconsiderate one ; unacceptable to my family, unfortunate for myself, humiliating in its results. For some weeks past my suspicions wore aroused to the fact thofc all was not right between the visconnbess and another member of my establishment. Cuthberb, keep that door ! Let no one rush past !' «Ah, tne laird ; dinna fash yoursel'! 111 keep ib f groaned the old putting his Lack firmly against the door. ■ Lord Vincent,' exclaimed Claudia, haughtily, * I demand that you retract your words! You know them to be as false—as false as—"yotjKSELF ! They could nob be falser than thab !' ' I will prove every word that I have spoken to be true!' replied the viscount. Then continuing hia story, he said : 'This morning certain circumstances strengthened my suspicions. Among: others the persistence with which her ladyship, though in good health, and with no other engagement ab hand, resolved and adhered to her resolution to remain ab home, and miss the rare opportunity of seeing Mr and Mrs Dean in" their great parts of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Suspecting thab her ladyship' had some unlawful design in thus denying herself an amusement of which I know her to be excessively fond, and preferring to spend the evening at home, of ■which I know she is excessively tired, I ordered my faithful old se.rvanb, Cuthberb, to watch—not his mistress, Lady Vincent, but another individual—' Here old Cuthberb interrupted the epeaker with deep groans. Claudia remained sitting in her. chair, ■with her face aa pale as death, her teeth firmly set, and her eyes fiercely fixed upem the face of the man who was thus maligning her honour. Jle continued: ' How well my suspicions were founded, and how faithfully old Cuthbert performed hia you will soon see. It appears that we had but juafc started on our drive, ■when Cufchberb, watching the motions of the suspected person, saw him steal towards Lady Vincent's apartments. The old man glided after him, and, unseen himaelf, saw him, the miscreant, enter Lady Vincent's boudoir !' •It is as false as Satan ! Oh, you infamous wretch ! what form of puhishmenb ■would be ignominious enough for you ?'■ cried Claudia, springing to tier feet, her two eye* flaming with consuming wrath. Bub the viscount approached and laid his hand upon her shoulder, and forced her down into her seat again. And Claudia, boo proud to resist, v. r here resistance would be bub a vain, unseemly struggle, dropped into her chair and sat perfectly still—a.marble statue, with eyes of flame. ' The viscount, with fiendish coolness, continued : ' CuthbQrb watched and listened on the outeide of the door for some time, and then, thinking that the intruder had no intention of leaving the. room, he went and wrote a note, and senb ib by one of the grooms, mounted on a awifb horse, to me. Ladies, you all saw the boy enter the theatre and hand me thie note ! Your interest was aroused, bub I only told you that I was summoned in hasta to my lady's apartments, and begged you to come with me—' • And I thought her ladyship was perhaps ill, and- needed experienced help, or I shpuld not have followed your lordship into j thisroomV' said. Mrs, MficDonald,. who, however, made no motion to withdraw, Mrs Duguld's insulting laugh rang through the room. ' I bjpg. pasdpny mad&jn.; I know this i« not a pleasant scene for a lady to take, part in ! bufc I needed witnesses, and neees&ifey has no. law.. If you will permit), me,. I will, read bhe note I received,' said the viscount, ■w.itih a. diabolical sneer, as he unfolded the papier. He read, as foilojv,B : "It, i& a? as; jonr lajrdabipi suapteipueay If your lairdßhip yrifi come, yqur way honie at once, you, tyjtfi like find; the .stoful pair in me ledys DoMoir. ♦You know,' pursued" Lord , Vmcajat, 4 tjjat- w,e,hurled h,0«%e»,; \(q» caw iae aside wibh Cuthberb iit thj& hall; ia thai ehorb interview he informed tu© that he had remained upon the watch, the viljain* had, nob.yefc left. Lady. Vincent's apartments ; that.he was. BtjlJ w.ithin them-!' : /Oh, Cuthberb,! I believed: you to be.an. honest old man! Ifc is.awiful to find y,o« in leaguo with these wretches!' exclaimed i Claudia, in sorrowful indignation.

*Ou, mo leddy! I'd rabher these auld limbs o' mine bad been streakeb in death, ere I had to use them in siccan uncanny wark! But the Lord's will be dune !' groaned fcbe old man, in such sincere grief that Claudia was thoroughly preplexed. And all this time the viscount) was continuing bis cool, devilish monologue. •It was fcr thi3 reason, ladies, that I burst open i.V>6 door and called you in ; and it was to prevent the escape of the fellow that I placed Cuthberb on guard ab the door. Now, ray lady, that you understand the cause of Cue "violence " of which you just now complained, you will please to permit me to search the room. You cannot complain that I have a-cted with unseemly haete. I have proceeded with great deliberation. In fact, your accomplice has had abundant time to escape, if he had the means.' ' Lord Vincent, these outrages shall cost you your life !' exclaimed Claadia, in the low, deep, stern key of concentrated passion. 'All in good time, my lady,' sneered the viscount, commencing the humiliating search. Hβ looked in the recess of the bay window ; peeped behind curtains; opened closets ; and finally drew a large easy-chair from the corner ox , the room. • Pray, whom do you oxpect to find concealed in my apartment, my lord V demanded Claudia, white with rage. 'My respectable valefe, the good Mr Frisbia ! And here he is !' replied the viscount, sarcastically. And to Claudia's horror and amazement, he drew the trembling wretch from his concealment and hurled him into the centre of fcho room, where he stood with dangling aims and bending legs, pale and quaking, but whether with real or assumed foar Claudia could not tell, 4 How came this fellow in my room ?' she demanded, in consternation. 'Ay ! sure enough i how did ha come here?' sneered Lord Vincent. Mr 3 Dugal'd laughed. Mrs Mac Donald raised both her bands in horror. 'Coma ! perhaps he'll tell as why he came here !—Confess, you scoundrel ! S.ay what brought you here '.'exclaimed the viscounS, suddenly changing his tone from cool irony to burning rage, as he seized and shook his valet. •' Oh, my lord ! I will ! I will ! only let go my collar !' gasped the man, shaking or affecting to shake. 'Confess, then, you rascal! What brought you her© ?' ' Oh, my lord ! mercy ! mercy ! I will confess ! I will !' 4 Do ifc, then, you villain !' 'Oh my lord, I—l come—ab — a-fc —aiy lady's invitation, my lord !' 'You came ab Lady Vincent's invitation?' cried the viscount, shaking; the speaker. • Y-y-yes, my lord !' stammered the valefc. • You—came —at my invitation ? demanded Lady Vineenb, haughtily, fixing her eyes of fire on the creature's face. • Yes, my lady, you know I did ! It is no uso for us to deny it now ! Ah, my lady, 1 always warned you that we should be found oub,. and now sure enough we are !' replied Frisbie. Claudia clasped her hands and raised her eyes to Heaven with the look of one who would have called down fire upon the heads of these fiends in human form. Lord Vincent; continued to question his valet. ' Does Lady Vincent make a pracbice of inviting you to her apartments ?' • Y-y-yes, uiy lord !' •How often? , • Wh-wh-whonevor your lordship's absence makes it safe !' ' Then I am to understand that you are a favoured suitor of Lady Viucent'9 ?' 'Yes, yes, my lord! Oh, my lord, I know I have done very wrong ! I know I-*-' fDo you know that you deserve death, sir?' demanded the riecounb, in a voice of thunder. • Oli, njy lord • mercy ! raercy ! I know I am a greab sinner ! I could kill myself for it, if it wasn't for fear of losing my soul! All I can do bow is to repent and confess I I do repent from tha bottom of my heart)! and I will confess everything ! Yea, I will tell youv lordship all about ib and throw myself on your lordship's mercy !' cried this remorseless villain. ' Enough ! I wiah to heejr no more from you just ab present. Your confession would be scarcely fit for the ears of these ladies. Your testimony musb be reserved for a future occasion,' said the viscount. And then, turning to Claudia with the coolest and moet insulting hauteur, he aaid : ' And, now, what have you to say to all this, my lady V Claudia advanced into the ceptre of the room. Her step was firm, her bead erect, her cheeks burning, her eyes blazing, her whole form dilated and lifted to grandeur. She looked a very Nemesis, a, very goddess of retributive justice, as, throwing her consuming glance around upon the group, who fairly quailed before her, she said : '• What have " I to say to all this ?" —I say, Lord Vincent, be assured that you shall die fox these insults! I say that I know this to be a foul conspiracy against my honour, and »h feeble as it is foul ! Oh, reptilea ! base, crawling, slimy, venomous reptiles ! Do you really suppose that the honour of a pure woman ia of such a weak and sickly nature as to be deetroyed by the poison of your calumnies ? Fools ! —I shall leave this place for tomorrow ! I shall go at once to the American Legation and se§ our American minister, who is an old friend of my father. I will tell him all that has taken place and come to my knowledge, since I have lived under this accursed and polluted rqof ! I will advise with him as to the best measures to be taken for the discovery of my' poor old servant, Katie ! and for the unmasking and prosecuting to conviction the wretches who have conspired against my hoirour ! What! I am the daughter of Randolph Merlin! The blood of an Indian king, who never spared a foe, burns along my veins ! Take heed ! beware J escape while you may ! My lord, your fate shall find you, even though ib follow you to the farthest ends of tha earth ! You are warned I And now, as a few moments since my request that you would withdraw your accomplices from the room was disregarded, I must retire to my chamber.' And with the air and manner of an outraged 'queen, Claudia lefb the boudoir. 'Friends,' said Lord Vincent, turning to his female companions, ' your testimony will be hereafter required in this case. I beg you, therefore, in the name of justice, to make a mental note of what you have seen and heard to-night. Remember Lady Vincent's strange conduct in declining to accompany us to the theatre;* and resolving ito stay at home; remember the note that was brought me in my box, and our unexpected return home; remember particularly that, the door leading into Lady Vincent's apartments was fastened on the inside, and that I had to break ifr opes ; remember, also, that we found the wretch, Frisbie, concealed in the room* and tbab he madaa full confession.' 'Itis nob likely that; we shall forget it, my lord !>' said Mrs Mao Donald, gravely. ' No ! what horror !' cried Mrs Dugald. ' And now, ladies, I will no longer detain you from your n>.essfs§ary, res& r ' said the viscount, ringing the ball,-wbioh the housekeeper looking amazedjß.candaiiaed and full of curiosity, an&wered., 1 Murdoek, show tnie lady, Mra MacDonald, to the blue suite of, rooms, and place yourself at her service. Madaux, pray order- any refreshment ypu may re- ' quire. Goodvnighb; madam. Sister, gobdi night 1' * Good-night! good-nighb, my lord ! I shall pray that you may be able to bear this greab misforbune with the fortitude becoming -a, uxm J' said Mre Mao Donald,

' Good-night, brobher ! I shall pray the Virgin bo comfort you !' said Mrs Dugald. When the ' ladies,' attended by the housekeeper, had left bhe room and were quite oub of hearing, Lord Vincent turned to his accomplice and whispered: ' You did bhab capibally, Frisbie. You would make an excellenb aefcor ! Anyone on earth looking at you this evening and nob knowing bhe truth would have thought you were dying ol morbification and terror. You shook and faltered so naturally.' ' Oh, my lord !' returned the valet, in modest deprecation of this praise. • You did ! bub now I wish you bo tell me ! How did you manage to awaken bhe suspicions of old Cubhbert? How did you manage to draw his eyes upon you ? Arid draw him ou to watch you until you entered the room without seeming to know that you wore watched !' 1 1 tell you, my lord, thab part of my task was hard ! Bub I contrived to do it by pretending to watch him, and affecting to dodge oub of eight every time he saw me ! This excited his curiosity, and caused him to conceal himself in order to watch mo. When I knew that he had done this, I began to creep toward my lady's apartments, knowing full well thab he was stealing after ma. , 1 Bufc how did you contrive to get; into t'be boudoir V *X were list slippers, and your lord9hip knows that the thick carpets return no echo to the footstep, and thab the doors open afld snub silently. First I peeped through the keyholo, and I saw her ladyship >yaa sitting within the curtained recess of tha bay window, looking out at sea, her atbsr\bion being absorbed there, and her back be'og towards the door. So I just softly opened the door, entered the room, closing ib me, and concealed myself behind your lordship's own great easy-chair, that I knew was never drawn from ibs dark corner. , ' For the good reason that the owner is never bhere to occupy it!' eneered the viscount. ' Jus& so, my lord. And now I have told your lordship exactly how I managed matters, so as bo make old Cuthbert our accomplice without his ever suspecting it.' ' Old Cuthbert must think you a grand .rascal.' ' Hβ does me great honour.your lordship.' 4 There ! now go about your business, Frisbie. Of you musb get away from here by the morning's firsb light. Ib musb be supposed that you havo been kicked ovtb. Remain in the neighbourhood of Banff. You will be wanted as a witness, you know. , • Yes, my lord ; bub in tha meantime—l havo saved nothing ! I have no moans.' 'Oh, you mercenary rascal! You havo saved your neck from the gallows, if you h-ave saved nothing else ! Bub herearo ten pounds for present needs ; and I will take cars nofc to see you want for the future. Now bo off with you ! Your long stay will excitfc surprise and conjecture. ' Your lordship is too good !' said the caitiff, bowing himself o.ut. Lord Vincent soon after loft the boudoir and went down-stairs. In bhe hall he found old Cuthberb up and -waiting. •You here yeb, Cuthbert? Why don't you go to bed ?' •Ou me laird, I couldna sleep vvi the thought o' siccan dishonour befa'in the bouso !' groaned the old man. • The dishonour .attaches bub to one person, and bhe house will be rid of it when she is cast forbh,' said the viecounb. 4 Ou, me laird, for pity dinna do that. Send her her ways back to her am countrie. She's bub a wee bib lassie after a'! And ahe's awa , fra feyther and mither, and a her folk. And 'deed I canna bring mysel' to think that ill o' her, neither, 'deed no !' «Cuthberb ! are you out of your senses ? What are you talking aboub? The man vyas found concealed? in'her room, and being discovered confessed hie guilt,' said Lord Vincent. • Ay, me laird, bub she denied all Knowledge of him :. and she looked grand w> , tho majesty of truth, me laird. Folk dmna look thab way when they're leering. And the lad Friabio looked jusb as if he were leering. Folk dinna look as he looked when bhey're telling tho truth !' • Cuthbort, you aro an old dolt! Wβ do nob depend on Frisbie's word exclusively ! Wβ have the fact of finding him in bhe room.' • I misdoubt he c'en jusb hid himsel' in bhere for the purpose of robbery, unbeknownst to the "leddy ! And then cast the blame on "her to help to shield himsel', the villain I , ' Cuthberfc, you are in your dotage ! exclaimed the viecounb, angrily. • It may bo sac, my laird, bub I canna think shame o' the leddy ! Nay, I canna! Howbeib! richt or wrang, the shame has come till her ! Sac, me laird, in marcy take an auld man's counsel, and c'en jusb gie her her dower, and send her her ways to her feyther's house.' 'Cuthberb! your brain is softening. Hark ye! Get yourself oft to bed.' I Ay, me laird,' said the old man, meekly, as he withdrew to his den ; ' bub I cannot think sin o' the leddy, nay, lay, I canna !' When all the house was still, Lord Vincenb stole bo the aparbments of Mra Dugald. ' Oh, I have been waiting for you so long and so impabienbly,' she said, as she placed him a chair afc the dresaing-room fireside. I 1 came aa soon as all was quieb. Oh, Faustina, how I am sinking my soul in sin and infamy for your sake !' exclaimed Lord Vincenu, as a momentary qualm of shame sickened his heart. • Do you repent ib, then ?' she inquired, with a glance thab brought him to her feet, a slave once more, ' do you repent it ?' ' No, tny angel! no ! though we go to perdition, we go together ! together I and it is joy and glory to lose myself for you ! for you !' he exclaimed passionately, and attempting to embrace her. •Hal stop! beware! You are not free yeb! nor am I your wife !' exclaimed tho artful woman, withdrawing herself from his advances. « But I shall be free soon, and you shall be my wife ! You know ib, Faustina ! You know thab I am your slave ! You can do with me as you please ! Then why be so cruel aa to refuse me even one kiss ?' • That I may have nothing to reproach myeelf with in after time, when I shall be Lady Vincent. That you may not have to blusii for your second viscountess, as you have had to blush for your first 1' 'Oh, Faustina! how coldly cruel and calculating you sometimes eeem to me! Why do I love you so insanely thab you possess my very soul ? Why is ib, beautiful witch V 41 Because I love you so much, mm ami.' ' You do, you do ! You reaUy love mo, 'Tina ?' • Oh, I do. You know I do, more than life I , ' Then lefc Satan have me after death ! I do nob care !' replied this desperate fool. • Hush ! this is a dangerous topic. U makes me reel. Give me a glass of water, Malcolm, and let ua talk of something else,' said the wily siren. When she had drunk the water the viscount brought her, she said : • There is. a question I have been dying to ask you all day. Bub I could get no good chance to aek without the risk of being overheard. And that would have been ruin.' • What la that question, Faustina ?' The wom.au turned so deadly white that her black eyei gleamed like great Mils of jet from, a. fa,ce of etone, as sinking her voice to the lowest key, she said : ' What have you done with it V • Wi.bh whab, Fauabina ?' • With the dead body oj the black womani . The viscount, slowly lowered his finger and significantly pointed, downward. ' Down there ?' whispered Faustina. Tho viscount nodded. \

• Where we left it ?' 'Yes.' • Oh, bub that is nob safe! There is suspicion ! Suppose there should be _ a search ! suppose bhere shouW be a discovery ?' cried the woman, in alarm. For she, who was not afraid of committing the worst crimes, was terribly afraid of meeting their consequences. Be ab ease. I ehall not leave her there long ; th© sea ia near ab hand, , whispered tho viscount. ' Yes, you may cast her into the sea, bub the sea sometimes casba back its dead ! Especially when they have been murdered,' shuddered bhe woman. ' The sea will not casb her back,' said the viscounb significantly. • Oh ! you will tie a heavy weight to her body! bub when will you doit? Oh! I am in agony, until that is removed !' 'Be still! I hope to have an opportunity of removing ib to-night.' 'Bub you cannobdo ib alone ! let me help you ! I would rather help you !' ' No, I can and will do it without your help! Do you think, my angel, thab I would permit you to engage in such dreadful work V • I helped you to stop her breath,' said the woman hoarsely. • That was a work of necessity that presented itself suddenly before us. This is different).' - But I would rather help ! I would rather be present! I would rather see ! for then I should know to a certainty that it was gone !' she insisbed. ' Can you not trust me !', • No, no, I cannob trust anyone when my head is in danger of the guillotine !' • I tell you there are no guillotines in England.' • The other thing, then, which is worse, because ib is more disgraceful—hanging by the neck until one is dead ! Ugh ! No, I cannot trust you, Malcolm, where so much is at stake I' said the woman, with a terrible shudder. ' You have no confidence in me, then ? And yet you say you love me. Why, confidence is tho very soul of love !' ' Oh, yes, I love you, Malcolm ! I love you more than words can tell ! And ib is for your safety ac well as for my own that I am so cautious. And I have confidence in you, Malcolm. Only, being alone, you may nob be able to do bhe work effectually. I must help you. The house is all still; everybody has retired ; can we not go now and remove it?' ' No ; not now ! there is a vossel lying ab anchor close under tho shore. We musb waib until abe moves off.' ' And the vessel may lie there a whole week! And in the meantime whab becomes of bhe body ?' exclaimed Faustina, her eyes wild with apprehension. ' I am assured by those bhab know, that fche vessel will sail with the firsb tide tomorrow. So be tranquil. And now, Faustina, there is another subject which we must settle to-night. Lady Vincent leaves bhe castle early to-morrow morning. That is necesßary! and though ib cleaves my heart in two to part with you, I must do it for a season. The world musfc have no cause to talk of you and me, Faustina ; of you, especially, for of you it would be the moefe likely to talk.' 'Why of me?' inquired tho ex-opera, singer, testily. • Because, my dearest, you have more beauty and genius and fame than the world ever forgives in a woman, , answered the viscount, artfully. 'Oh !' said the eiren, wibh an air of arch incredulity. • And now, Faustina, ib shall be for you to docide. Shall you remain here, with Mrs Mac Donald for a companion and chaperone, while I go to London bo take the preliminary steps towards the divorce; or shall you go to Brighton or Torquay, or any other watering-place on the South Coast ?' Mrs Dugald was very astute; she answered promptly : . . ' Oh, I will remain here ! And then you will nob be jealous. There is no one here to admire me except Mrs Mac Donald and old Cuthberb and Murdoek.' • Blese you ! Blesa you ! I do believe you love me because you anticipate my wishes so readily, , eaid this devotee, fervently. 'And now you musb go, and say goodnight ! Ib is two o'clock in tho morning and lam tired to death. And mind about that below, you know ! And the first safe opportunity you have, come to me to help you to remove it. Mind !' said Faustina, raising her finger. 'I will mind! Good-nighb !—What? no kiss, even for good-night ?' he said, aa ehe recoiled from hia offered salute. 'No! I reserve my kisses for my husband !' she answered, archly. Thus" bbia evil woman, steeped to the lips in sin, affected the prude with the man she wished to secure. And while making and receiving the most ardenb protestations of love, disallowed the very slightest caress. The viscounb, baffled and dissatisfied, bub more determined than ever to marry this tanbaliaing beauty, left the room and retired to his own chamber. Mr Frisbie's work was over there, and Mr Frisbie himself was absent of course. (To be Continued Next Wednesday.)