The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 316: what you’re looking at

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

THE DEATH - BED 289 wince, as you express yourself, Caroline, and even in that incident were you signally avenged! ”’ “The conversation was interrupted at the time by the arrival of your solicitor, Mr. Cresswell,’’ resumed Caroline. “* He brought you the intelligence that Mr. Rigden had given him notice of the suit, and you repaired to your chamber to fetch the deeds.. I accompanied you thither; and now does a pang of bitter remorse shoot through my heart, as I call to mind the fiendish satisfaction which I experienced when the word ‘ Ruin,’ bursting from your lips, fell upon my ear. But merciless as an avenging angel, I wrote to Mr. Rigden to inform him of the fact that the deeds had been missed, and that their loss had filled you with dismay. On the same evening you went out — ”’ “Yes, I remember,’ said Florimel, in a musing tone; “‘ it was to Horslydown. But proceed, Caroline.” ‘During your absence a tall footman brought a note to the house,’’ continued the dying girl, ‘‘ and I suspected that he was the same whom you had mentioned in your narrative to Lord Montgomery. Indeed, from the studious manner in which he averted his countenance as he delivered the note and a message, I felt but little doubt upon the point; and the nature of the questions which you put to me on your return ratified my suspicions. The tall footman came back at mid- night; you went away with him, and I determined to follow. To be brief, I succeeded in obtaining an entrance into the darkened boudoir at the same time that the unknown intro- duced you thither.”’ “Good Heaven! then you know who she is,” exclaimed Florimel, in mingled astonishment and curiosity. ‘“ Tell me, Caroline, who is the woman that was enabled for a season to render me the slave of her fascinations, the victim of her magic allurements — ‘“‘ Patience, Gabriel, patience, and you sual know every- thing,’’ said Miss Walters, who appeared to acquire an increase of energy as she thus progressed in her explanations. ““You doubtless remember the discourse which took place between yourself and the Unknown on the occasion to which I am referring. She told you how passionately she loved you, and the sincerity of the avowal might be gleaned from the fervid tone in which she spoke, more even than from the fond ardour of her caresses. The latter might have arisen GomiilGcaooks (S©)