The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 267: what you’re looking at

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

A MEETING OF OLD ACQUAINTANCES = 237 board the Diana frigate, which was waiting to sail for North America. I was securely lodged in the ship; but Melmoth sprang into the deep waters, and under cover of night was borne either to death or safety, I know not which. The Diana sailed, some weeks passed, and already were we nearing the American coast, when we were overtaken by a fast sailing vessel which had been despatched after us, and which was the bearer of my pardon. This pardon had been procured for me by the intervention of a magnanimous friend; and now that I have returned to England, I am devoting myself to the task of persecuting this royal family which knows so well how to persecute others.”’ “And you are not aware what has become of poor Mel- moth’s family? ”’ said Rose Foster, with a deep sigh as she thought of the probability of the unfortunate creatures being foodless, houseless, and friendless. ‘“‘ T have not succeeded in finding the faintest clue to their whereabouts,”’ responded Meagles. Then, as he gazed in- tently upon the beauteous and indeed angelic countenance of the maiden, he said in a lower and deeper tone than was his wont, “‘ I thank you, Miss Foster, for the kind interest which you have displayed on my behalf; and I can assure you that while I was a sojourner upon the bosom of the Atlantic, I often and often experienced a profound anguish at the uncertainty in which I remained with regard to your fate. I remembered — oh, indeed, how could I forget— that you were left, when I saw you last, in the power of that princelyruffian whom I knew to be merciless and unprincipled, pitiless and-inhuman. I trembled for you—my God! I trembled for you, Rose —”’ ‘But Heaven shielded me, my good friend,’’? murmured the maiden; for she felt that the answer which she had just given him was in effect a declaration that her innocence remained intact and that she had passed pure and spotless through the ordeal of temptation, persecution, and violence. ‘Yes, the moment that I saw your beauteous counte- nance,’ exclaimed Meagles, “‘ when you raised your veil ere now in the Edgeware Road, I knew that Heaven had shielded you, for virtue, candour, and chastity are depicted upon your features the same as when I first formed your acquaintance at the beginning of this memorable year.” The partial excitement, or rather impassioned tone in (COMMUG 0))6) <S mn