The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

36 THE COURT OF LONDON the impulse of one who feels that the hand so held in his own is trembling, and would therefore give it a reassuring pressure; then, leading her away from the room, the noble- man conducted his beauteous wife to the apartment where George Woodfall was seated. The artist rose and bowed respectfully to the Countess of Desborough. “Your ladyship will deem me very presumptuous,” he said, ‘‘in venturing to solicit you to inspect that portrait,” and he pointed toward the picture as it stood against a chair, wrapped up in the cloth in which he had brought it; “‘ but as I believe that I have been more successful in this achievement than in any former effort of my pencil, I was vain enough to hope that your ladyship, and you also, my lord, would not be angry with me for submitting it to your opinion. Itisa portrait, nothing more than a portrait, but the portrait of a great criminal whose name recently produced no incon- siderable sensation throughout the country.”’ ‘‘ And who may the hero of your picture be, Mr. Wood- fall? ” inquired the nobleman. “Your lordship remembers the romantic trial in which the Aylesbury bankers figured as the culprits and Sir Richard Stamford as the prosecutor? ”’ said the artist, interrogatively. ‘““ Oh, perfectly well,’’ was the earl’s prompt reply. ‘* And I, who cannot bear to read the accounts of criminal proceedings,’ observed Eleanor, ‘‘ was deeply, or rather, fearfully interested in that extraordinary trial. A lady of my acquaintance was present in the chapel on the morning when the condemned sermon was preached; and she assured me that one of the prisoners— Mr. Ramsey, I think — was @ young man whose external appearance aroused feelings of the profoundest sympathy.” ‘““I also was present on the sad occasion to which your ladyship alludes,’’ said George Woodfall; ‘‘ and it is Mr. Ramsey’s portrait which [ have painted, from the recollection of his features. So vividly did they become impressed upon my memory that I can at least take credit to myself for the fidelity of the delineation, whatever may be thought of the general workmanship.” Thus speaking, the young artist loosened the knots where the corners of the cloth were tied, and in a few moments withdrew the covering altogether. S (CO)