The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

A HUSBAND’S SELF - MARTYRDOM 97 “Oh, this is painful, most painful!’’ murmured Eleanor, with a faint, hysterical shriek. ‘“‘ It is agonizing, excruciating.”’ ‘‘ And yet you must hear me to the end,”’ said the earl, rather in a tone of entreaty than of command. “ Well, I resolved, as I observed, upon that other alternative whereof I have already spoken; and remembering that the Prince of Wales had already sought to make you his victim, as you expressed yourself to the Duchess of Devonshire, I deter- mined to afford him the opportunity which he desired. With a suitable excuse I waited upon him; and his Royal Highness condescended,” said the earl, bitterly, ‘‘ to accept a loan of twenty thousand pounds from the man whose wife he sought to seduce. It was to receive this sum that he honoured us with his presence in the evening; and I was charmed to see that you were ravishingly beautiful and that he was dazzled and captivated. Yes, I was charmed, I say, inasmuch as the success of my stratagem appeared inevitable. His Royal Highness was easily induced to pass the night at the mansion, and I felt confident that he would not fail to profit by the incident. You remember that in the drawing- room a dispute arose respecting some particular quotation. I volunteered to fetch the book which would set the question at rest. On my return to the apartment, I saw at a glance that a complete understanding was established between yourself and the prince, or, at least, I fancied that such was the case. You retired, and I was left alone once more with his Royal Highness. Then, oh, then, a mortal sickness came over me, and I shrank aghast from the thought of my own self-martyrdom. The prince observed the change which had come over me, but I easily persuaded him that it was a sudden indisposition. A few minutes elapsed in conversation, and we separated. He retired to the apartment prepared for him, and I hastened to my own chamber. Great Heaven! what a night did I pass again! I felt that I had crucified myself, that I had planted a crown of thorns upon my own brows, that I had affixed the stigmata upon my own person. Lava boiled in my veins, hell raged in my soul, demons scourged my writhing spirit with whips of scorpions and of ~ flame. And yet, as God is my witness, Eleanor, I swear most solemnly that never once, no, not once, did a feeling of anger arise in my breast against thee. Though confident that thou wast locked in the arms of a lover — ” CORNUC } cS {