The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 263: what you’re looking at

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

232 THE COURT OF LONDON you are, my good friend, morally certain,’’ she added, with a stronger emphasis still. ‘“ Do not alarm yourself, do not let your wife and children give way to despondency. I will protect you, because I know you to be innocent.”’ “God be thanked, and Heaven bless your ladyship,”’ said Brooks, dropping upon one knee, seizing the fair hand of the marchioness, and pressing it to his lips. Then, springing to his feet again, he hurried into the adjacent room to convey to his family the solacing assurance which he had just received. ‘““ Now, Margaret,’ said Lady Bellenden, as soon as the noble lady and her faithful dependent were alone together in the parlour of Malden Farm, ‘‘ give me writing materials and I will leave a note for Richard, who will doubtless be here in the course of the day. He must travel post-haste after us, for to-morrow will be a busy and an eventful day for us in London.” ‘““ And these poor people here, Laura? ”’ said Margaret, in a tone of anxious inquiry. ‘““No harm shall be permitted to overtake them,” re- sponded the marchioness, emphatically. ‘‘ Were suspicion to involve them in any embarrassment or dilemma, the whole © truth should be at once proclaimed relative to the tragedy of Malden Bridge. Yes, everything should be revealed, happen what would! ”’ “T am glad to hear that such is your determination, my dear Laura,’”’ observed Margaret; ‘‘ and now for the letter, as I perceive that the travelling-carriage is in readiness.” The note was accordingly penned and given to Brooks to be delivered to Richard the moment he should arrive at the farm. The marchioness then expressed her thanks to the yeoman and his family for their hospitality, and, having once more assured them they had nothing to fear in respect to the discovery of Lord Raymond’s corpse, she took her departure in company with the faithful Margaret. CONNIE OOS (E()