The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

MR. CLARENDON 13 The newly created peer received the parchment from the hands of the beautiful Duchess of Devonshire; but he took it mechanically, staring upon her vacantly at the same time. It was evident that he could not believe his own ears, nor dared to trust his own eyes; he fancied that he was dreaming, and feared to utter even a word or make an abrupt movement lest he should awake and thereby dissi- pate the golden vision. But Fernanda snatched away the parchment, tore it open, and was in a moment convinced that the Duchess of Devon- shire had indeed spoken truly. The patent of nobility was drawn up in due form, and conferred upon Walter Octavius Clarendon, Esquire, the style and title of Baron Lord Holder- ness to be had and held by himself and male heirs so long as his posterity should exist. A document on foolscap paper was annexed to the patent; and the hasty glance which Fernanda threw over the former showed that the peerage was accompanied by the grant of a pension of two thousand pounds a year, ‘‘ for services rendered at divers times and in sundry manners to the sovereigns of these realms by the ancestors of the said Walter Octavius Clarendon, Baron Holderness, and likewise to enable him to maintain the dignity of his peerage.” — A glow of mingled pride and joy suffused the countenance of Fernanda; and her husband, observing the animated expression of her features, no longer remained skeptical with regard to his good fortune. Taking the papers from her hand, he perused them with attention; and by degrees, as he read, the colour came to his sallow cheeks, the light of ineffable satisfaction and triumph gleamed in his eyes, his nostrils dilated, his chest expanded, and a thrill of ecstasy passed over his frame as he felt that the object of all his ambition was suddenly and most unexpectedly attained. Forgotten was Octavia, unheeded now were her wrongs; and, elate with boundless satisfaction, the newly made peer expressed his gratitude to the Duchess of Devonshire for having been the bearer of the welcome tidings which now alone engrossed his attention. Turning toward Fernanda, he saluted her by the name of Lady Holderness, and em- braced her as fervently as if they had been courting for years and had married through love. Then, flinging open co Anyi } KS \