The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

THE DOOMED WOMAN 95 ‘Mrs. Ranger, I solemnly assure you that I appealed to the syndics on your behalf,’ continued Jocelyn. ‘I repre- sented that the princess herself, deeply as you had injured her, craved not your life, that Baron Bergami, for whose heart the murderous blow was destined, sought not your death.” ‘‘ And what was the result? ”’ asked the wretched woman, with an agonized feverishness of impatience. ‘‘There is no hope,’ returned Jocelyn, solemnly. ‘“ The law will take its course.”’ Mrs. Ranger sank back once more upon the pallet. She seemed confounded; all hope was now evidently crushed within her. She said not a word, and it almost appeared as if the bitterness of death were at this instant passing away. Some portion of her natural strength of mind appeared to revive again, and, half-suppressing a convulsive gasp, she said, ‘‘ Now do I know the worst. I am astonished that even for a single moment I could have cherished the idea that mercy would be shown me.’’ Then there was a pause of several minutes, during which the unhappy woman appeared to be looking inwardly, com- muning with herself. | Jocelyn was most anxious to get away. The scene had altogether been painful beyond description, and though he did not choose to consult his watch, because it would be far too cruelly significant a hint for her how time was passing, yet he could tolerably well conjecture that nearly two hours must have elapsed from the moment he entered that cell. But he still experienced enough compassion for the miser- able woman, and, at all events, possessed feelings of too delicate and considerate a nature to hasten away at a mo- ment when such a proceeding would disturb the solemn meditation in which she was engaged. ‘“ Yes, I have now abandoned all hope,” said Mrs. Ranger, again breaking silence. ‘‘ But tell me, —for those who come near me in this dreadful dungeon will give me no information relative to aught that is passing without, — tell me, I say, how fares it with those unhappy girls, Agatha and Julia? God knows I did not mean to cause their sister’s death. Alas, poor Emma! ”’ ‘‘ Sad and sorrowful is the lesson which the fate of those three young women teaches,’ answered Loftus. ‘“‘ One, (C(O) nn) GDoOo <Si nin