The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 173: what you’re looking at

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

NEWGATE 155 A few minutes afterward a carriage dashed up to the governor’s dwelling, and a livery servant, leaping down from behind, gave a long, thundering knock which raised every echo in the Old Bailey. The front door was thrown open, the governor himself rushed down the steps, and, assisting Lady Ernestina Dysart to alight, he conducted her with the profoundest manifestations of respect into his own drawing-room. “IT wish to see my unhappy husband,” said the lady, assuming an air of intense affliction. ‘ Well, your ladyship, it is a leetle after the usual hours,” observed the governor, with his blandest tone and utmost suavity of manner; ‘ but of course I could not for a moment think of enforcing the gaol regulations in respect to your ladyship. Will your ladyship see Mr. Dysart in this apart- ment? ”’ ‘No, sir, I thank you,’ responded Ernestina. “ It is in the gloom and dreariness of his own cell that he requires consolation, and thither I shall trouble you to conduct me. But I may as well inform you,” she added, with a mysterious look, “ that I cherish every hope of obtaining a reprieve and a pardon for my unfortunate husband.” “I am delighted to hear it, my lady,’’ exclaimed the governor. ‘It is indeed an affair demanding the exercise of the royal prerogative of mercy,’ added this gentleman who a few minutes before had pronounced Varian’s case to be so very black. “Is there anything I can do to cheer Mr. Dysart’s spirits, anything your ladyship can sug- gest? ”’ ‘‘T thank you most sincerely,’”’ answered Ernestina, with a smile so gracious and condescending that it quite ravished the governor, who was one of those persons that consider the favour of aristocracy to be an inestimable benefit and would sooner lose their ears or their eyes than incur the displeasure of this said aristocracy. ‘‘ Yes, I think you can do something to cheer poor Dysart,’’ continued the lady; “and I shall not forget to mention your kindness in terms of gratitude to my uncle the Marquis of Leveson.”’ “What can I do to oblige your ladyship?”’ asked the governor, now lifted up to the seventh heaven of delight. ‘You may cheer my poor husband’s spirits from time to time by assuring him that he is certain of a reprieve CCOUMUCG 0)(0)6) (EO)