The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

A HUSBAND’S SELF -MARTYRDOM 95 head,” interrupted the earl, with the mournful calmness of a martyr. ‘“‘ The past cannot be recalled, and it is useless even to deplore it. But on that occasion when yourself and. the Duchess of Devonshire were indulging in the mutual outpourings of a secret confidence, the name of the Prince of Wales was mentioned by you both.” ‘““'Yes, oh, yes, | remember,” ejaculated the countess, a new subject for shame now presenting itself to her mind, as the conversation alluded to by her husband flashed vividly to her recollection. ‘‘ Oh, how can I bear thus to remain in your presence and have all my frailties and failings, my errors and my misdeeds, marshalled in dread array before my eyes! ”’ “Tt is not to torture you, Eleanor, that I am prolonging this discourse,” said the earl, “ but in order that we may have certain necessary explanations, and that my conduct may be appreciated by you in the proper light. Well, then, to resume the topic, painful though it be, I must remind you that the Duchess of Devonshire revealed to your ears the details of her own seduction by the prince; and from your lips then came the avowal that his Royal Highness had bestowed his smiles upon yourself and had sought to make you his victim. After the departure of the duchess, you came into the adjoining room, where you found me. As you are already aware, I had overheard everything. Oh, the mortal agony of that hour! Ages and ages of bitterness and woe and intense suffering were concentrated therein. For you had revealed to the ears of your friend my disgrace and your misfortune; and so deep, so crushing, so overwhelming was the humiliation I experienced that I stretched out my arms to the walls to give way and cover me with their ruins. You may conceive, then, how difficult it was for me to sub- due my emotions and assume a tranquil mien when you en- tered the apartment. No angry feeling did I entertain toward yourself, Eleanor, but the harrowing sense of mortal agony which I endured arose from the one grand, eternal conviction that I had done you a foul, nay, the foulest wrong, by becom- ing your husband.” ‘And yet, Francis,’ said the countess, in a faint and trembling tone, “ had you killed me when I thus appeared. before you, after all you had overheard, I should have merited my fate.’ (Gi @) Anyi } KS) {