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.

A HUSBAND’S SELF -MARTYRDOM 91 at the first word which on those occasions fell from his lips she would start convulsively, as if some tremendous accusa- tion were about to be made against her. At the same time the colour would come and go upon her cheeks with strange rapidity; and while at one moment her veins would appear to run with lightning, at another the blood would seem to freeze in its crimson channels. The earl soon saw what was passing in her mind, and, animated by that compassion and that love which influ- enced all his conduct toward her, he was resolved to put a speedy end to a state of suspense, misgiving, and alarm, so torturing to her whom he adored despite of all she had done outrageous to his dignity as a husband and his feelings as a man. It was on the fifth morning after the terrific explosion effected by the exhibition of George Woodfall’s picture, and at about the hour of noon, that the Countess of Des- borough was permitted by her physicians to rise from her couch for a little while. Attired in an elegant déshabillé, the beauteous patrician lady was now reclining in an armchair placed at a short dis- tance from the cheerful fire in her bedroom; and when the earl was readmitted to the chamber and the attendants had withdrawn, he availed himself of this opportunity to make revelations which were perhaps less anticipated by his wife than they are by any one of the two hundred thousand readers of this narrative. ‘“‘My dearest Eleanor,” he said, “‘ the moment has now arrived when it becomes necessary that we should have some serious conversation together.” ‘“ Ah! the dreaded moment! ’? murmured the countess, in a hurried and agitated undertone, bounding at the same time upon her chair as if she were suddenly galvanized. “Do not be alarmed, Eleanor, dearest Eleanor,” said the earl, noticing the convulsive movement, but not hearing the half-agonized, half-despairing expression. ‘“ Let me at once and without circumlocution inform you,” he added, hastily, ‘“‘ that I know everything and that I pardon you.” ‘“ Everything! ’”? murmured the countess, in a faint and almost dying tone, while her heart experienced such a sinking that it seemed as if the very tide of life itself were rapidly ebbing away. IS (C(O)