The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 206: what you’re looking at

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

184 THE COURT OF LONDON which left her altogether denuded of resources. Melissa was, however, on the verge of confinement with her second child; and therefore Lydia, instead of obtruding her own sorrows upon her sister, remained to soothe and console her during the period of woman’s painful ordeal. Another daughter was born, and was named Louisa. But it was during the month following Melissa’s accouche- ment that a fearful discovery was made, and most indis- creetly, as well as even abruptly, communicated to the invalid lady through the imprudence of the monthly nurse. This woman, who was intemperate in her habits, had never- theless obtained considerable patronage amongst many of the ladies at the West End of London, and it so happened that she had attended on a certain Lady Malvern, the wife of Sir Archibald Malvern, a young baronet of considerable property but of somewhat dissipated character, who resided in Hanover Square. When Mr. Beckford called on Melissa, this monthly nurse at once recognized him as Sir Archibald Malvern. But he did not take any particular notice of her. His own son had been born about two years previous to the in- cident of which we are speaking. This interval had therefore elapsed since he had seen the nurse, and it was by no means probable that a gay, dashing, and thoughtless gentleman of the West End would recollect the countenance of an old woman. She, however, as just stated, knew him full well, and though she did not immediately betray the secret, nevertheless she retained it not thus sacred very long. Indeed, little more than a fortnight had elapsed since Melissa gave birth to Louisa when the old nurse, under the influence of spirituous liquor, let slip the fatal truth all in a moment, and Melissa, excited and agonized to a degree, at once saw in a hundred circumstances its dire confirmation. Lydia was with her unhappy sister at the time and vainly endeavoured to soothe and console her. Shortly afterward the self-styled Mr. Beckford himself arrived at the house, and entering the room without previous announcement, according to his wont, was at once accused by the almost frantic Melissa of the treachery he had practised toward her. It was impossible to deny the charge, and his conduct, indeed, was all the less pardonable, inasmuch as, from what the nurse had stated, he must actually have been married at the time when the chancery suit had compelled him to connicloookKks (CO in