The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

28 THE COURT OF LONDON we had discovered your residence. But he is detained, I was told on each occasion, by particular business at Dover.’’ “And did you not write to him?’’ demanded Pauline, her tone now assuming an accent of reproach. ‘That is not our way of doing business, young lady,”’ replied the Gallows’ Widow. ‘‘ We never commit anything to paper, unless it’s absolutely necessary; and as we have been in hopes that Lord Florimel would return to town, we thought it most prudent to await his arrival. It will now be for you, miss, to write him at Dover.” ‘‘ And is it possible,’”’ exclaimed Pauline, another thought now coming uppermost in her mind, “that Mr. and Mrs. Page, who have affected such sincere friendship and deep commiseration toward me, are the vilest and most per- fidious of traitors? ”’ “They are indeed, Miss Clarendon,” cried Carrotty Poll. ‘Page is nothing more than a rascally schemer, and his wife was lately a common prostitute at the East End of London.” ‘Great Heaven!’’ ejaculated Pauline, shocked by this disclosure. ‘“‘ And I have been the companion of that woman.” ‘But you did not know her, miss,” said the Gallows’ Widow; ‘‘ and so you can’t blame yourself.” ‘Oh, but what will Lord Florimel think? What will he say?’ cried Pauline, recoiling more and more from the thought of the pollution with which she had been brought in contact. ‘‘ His lordship need never know who or what Mrs. Page is,”’ observed Carrotty Poll, ‘‘ unless you choose to tell him.” ‘““T should not think of acting with any disguise or du- plicity toward him,” said the young maiden, firmly. “ But - all this does not regard you, my friends,’’ she immediately added. ‘‘ And now that I feel sufficiently recovered to quit this house of infamy and danger, I shall take my leave of you, but not without renewed thanks for your intervention in my behalf.”’ And the generous Pauline extended her fair hand to the Gallows’ Widow, and then offered the same testimonial of her gratitude to the Kinchin-Grand and the Big Beggar- man’s daughter. They accompanied her down-stairs, and she regained her own dwelling in safety. CORNIELNOOLKS (E(0)