The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 243: what you’re looking at

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

212 THE COURT OF LONDON lady’s observations, and therefore was for a few moments at a loss to comprehend how he had done wrong; ‘ but I am sure I did not mean to give offence when I talked of the dis- coloured state of his lordship’s body. And as for my saying that it seemed as if his lordship the late marquis had been poisoned, the notion is absurd. But I made the remark before I knew whose coffin it was — ”’ “Enough upon the subject, Mr. Northwitch,” said the marchioness, in a voice which she now rendered mournful though firm. “ You have wounded my feelings deeply; but I pardon you, yes, cheerfully pardon you. I know you spoke inconsiderately — ”’ ‘“‘ T did, upon my soul, my lady,’’ exclaimed the sexton, quite concerned to think how much mischief his unguarded words had occasioned. ‘ We all know that you are a kind- hearted and excellent lady, and I would sooner cut my tongue out than allow it to hurt your ladyship’s feelings.” ‘I believe you, Northwitch,”’ said the marchioness, in a tone of compassion and forgiveness. “‘ But you must learn, my good friend, that the remains of the dead often present the most remarkable appearances, do they not, Mr. Roberts?’’ ‘* Assuredly, my lady,’ responded the clergyman, who, although a well-meaning and harmless kind of an individual, nevertheless carried his obsequiousness to the extreme of a fulsome sycophancy, and was therefore ready to corroborate everything that his aristocratic patroness might say. “The swollen and discoloured appearance of the corpse of my long dead husband,” continued the marchioness, in a tone profoundly mournful, “‘ is only one of the sad phases of decomposition, is it not so, Mr. Roberts? ” ‘* Beyond all matter of doubt, my lady,” was the reply. ‘‘ And most sad and distressing is it for me to have been doomed this day to gaze upon the remains of one whom I respected so profoundly on earth,’”’ continued the marchion- ess, ‘“‘ but who for long years past has been a saint in heaven. Ah! Mr. Roberts, I am no hypocrite, I am incapable of affecting.a feeling that is not intrinsically real. I therefore admit, with frankness and with candour, that I did not love the old and venerable nobleman who made me his wife, gave me his name, and bequeathed to me that fortune which dishonest pretenders would now wrest from my grasp; no, I did not love him in the true sense of the term, but I re- Gomilcbooks (E(0)