The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 141: what you’re looking at

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

PHILANTHROPY 119 thence escape to the library; but he had in view some project of far greater importance than the mere desire to pen a letter to Lord Marchmont. For the sake of appear- ances, however, he did write an epistle to that nobleman in the sense to which he had alluded, and as soon as he had sealed and addressed it, he stole forth from the library. No one was in the corridor, and, unobserved, he ascended the staircase. Fernanda had already tutored him so well that he experienced not the slightest difficulty in finding his way to Arthur Eaton’s bedchamber, which he boldly entered. : He was prepared for all eventualities. If any one were in that room, his answer was ready: ‘“‘ he had been inspecting certain books in the library, the dust had soiled his hands, and he knew that he might take such a liberty as to seek his friend Mr. Eaton’s apartment in order to wash them.” Such was the apology which he had at the tip of his tongue, ready to offer in case of need; but the lie was not wanted. He encountered no one, either on his way to the chamber or in the room itself. And in that room he did not remain a minute. What he did there, we need not at present disclose. Suffice it to say that he succeeded in accomplishing the purpose which he had in view, and, chuckling inwardly, he hastened back to the library. There he remained for a short time, in order to recover a mien of perfect composure; and at length he returned to the drawing-room, where he found his wife and Arthur Eaton conversing as agreeably as if there had never been any misunderstanding between them. Lord Holderness gave the letter which he had written into the hands of the young gentleman, with a request that it should be presented to Lord Marchmont on the return of that nobleman; and Eaton promised not to neglect the matter, although he again expressed his regret that so much importance should have been attached to it on the occasion of a friendly visit. | The newly created peer and Fernanda then took a most cordial and affectionate leave of the Honourable Mr. Eaton,~ and, returning to their carriage, they were speedily whirled away to Hyde Park, in which fashionable resort they drove until five o’clock. At this hour they were borne back to Cavendish Square (GK ®) mG 6)(0)©) So