The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 283: what you’re looking at

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

THE YOUNG NOBLEMAN 261 emanating from an inner room, now sounded loud and piercing. Rushing onward, Algernon penetrated into the adjacent apartment, and there did an astounding spectacle meet his eyes. A lovely young creature, imprisoned in one of the mechanical chairs, was giving vent to her anguish, while the Marquis of Leveson, in the maddened fury of his excited passions, was literally stripping her garments off her. Her dress was all torn open, her bosom was bare, and the nobleman, regardless of her anguished shame, was gloating upon her charms previous to making himself the master of them. The unexpected presence of Algernon filled the intended victim with hope, but inspired the marquis with the rage of disappointment. He imperiously com- manded Algernon to withdraw, covering him with re- proaches for an intrusion which he attributed to the basest sentiment of curiosity. But the young man would not obey his incensed uncle, and taking up a shawl from the carpet, he threw it over the shoulders of the young female, insisting that she should be immediately released from the bondage of the chair. The marquis dared not refuse compliance with his nephew’s demand. The girl was accordingly liberated, and a handsome sum of money was given by the unprincipled voluptuary to hush up the affair with her parents. The reader may easily suppose that Algernon was not likely to remain another hour beneath his uncle’s roof, and he insisted upon taking Ernestina away with him. The marquis, in tones of the most abject entreaty, besought Algernon not to expose him to the world, nor even hint at anything of a disparaging nature to his character in Ernes- tina’s presence. Algernon readily promised compliance with these requests, —in the first place, because it was contrary to the natural generosity of his disposition to inflict an. injury, and in the second place, because he was careful not: to say anything that might shock the purity of his sister’s mind. It was therefore agreed that Ernestina should be placed in the care of some distant female relatives, who resided a little way out of London, and for this proceeding some excuse was devised. Algernon, having seen his sister safe in her new home, set out upon a journey to the High- lands of Scotland, the sublime and striking scenery of which he had for some time been anxious to visit. After an absence of about a year, Algernon returned to (C(O) nf) GDoOo S (CO in