The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 115: what you’re looking at

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

A HUSBAND’S SELF -MARTYRDOM 93 which occurred between us some few weeks ago, when you explained to me the hopes which animated you and the intentions that you cherished toward me on making me your wife — ”’ ‘““Yes, yes, I recollect,” interrupted the nobleman. ‘“ Oh, not a word that ever passed between you and me, Eleanor, has been forgotten. On that occasion to which you allude I told you that my hope was to gain your esteem and friend- ship, and my determination was to surround you with the most delicate attentions and unwearied assiduities — ”’ ‘* And on that same occasion, Francis,” cried the countess, “T acknowledged all that was great, generous, and noble in your conduct, and I assured you solemnly,” she added, casting down her eyes and blushing deeply, ‘‘ I assured you that I was then as pure and chaste a virgin as the infant babe. Yes, despite of the impassioned ardour of my nature, de- spite of those fervent longings which at times almost mad- dened me, I was still innocent in body, although perhaps impure in mind and in thoughts. And, oh, if since that period I have succumbed to temptation, opportunity, the irresistible force of circumstances, if I have yielded to all of these, and have lost my honour as well as your confidence and my own self-respect, oh, have pity upon me, have mercy, Francis, for I had struggled long and powerfully. Heaven knows how desperate were the efforts which for years I had made to repel temptation and guard mine inno- cence.” ‘‘ T have pitied you, my Eleanor,’ exclaimed the earl, “‘ and I have pardoned you. Merciful God! all that has happened I have well deserved and should have foreseen. “Twas I who deserved to be blamed, not you. With the lamentable physical misfortune which rendered me unfit for marriage, well knowing, in fact, that ten thousand sources of misery would eventually be summed up in the terrible word im- potency, I was a wretch to have induced a young, handsome, and impassioned woman to accompany me to the altar. Oh, as I have before explained the infernal mockery, *twas binding to the side of a corpse a being in whose veins coursed ~ the rich warm blood of a vigorous youth. But, O Eleanor, Eleanor! I have been tremendously punished, and I have likewise endeavoured to make you an atonement, even though your dishonour and my infamy were involved COMIC LOO