The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

SUICIDE OR MURDER? od a sum equal to, if not larger than, that amount which he has demanded as the price of his secrecy! ”’ ‘He has dared to write all this? ’’ exclaimed the earl, still trembling with rage and terror. ‘“‘ Nay, read for yourself,’ cried the countess, and drawing forth a letter from her bosom, she gave it to Lord Des- borough, who hurriedly perused the contents. ‘‘ Now are you satisfied, Francis?’ she asked; and, taking back the note, she deliberately lighted a taper and burned it. ‘“T did not doubt your word, Eleanor,’”’ said the earl; “but I was astonished at the villainy — the matchless villainy — of this wretch who seeks to turn into a source of gain and profit the immeasurable injury which he has inflicted upon you. Oh, my dear wife, this is an affair which must be left to me, this is a matter which I alone can settle! And depend upon it that the reckoning shall be terrible — ”’ ‘“ Once more, Francis, and let it be for the last time, I tell you that the affair is mine, and I alone can settle it,’”’ inter- rupted the countess, her voice, her manner, and her looks all denoting an irrevocable decision. ‘‘ Decide, then, my dear husband, decide: which shall be my doom, — that of a self-destroyer or of an assassin? ”’ ‘‘ Great God! we must not have recourse to such shocking expedients,”’ exclaimed the nobleman, shuddering to the innermost recesses of his being. ‘‘ Let us yield to the wretch’s extortion, let us comply with his demands, and let us live on in the hope that his persecution of you has in- deed ended. But should he again seek to molest you, Eleanor, then, oh, then, I will urge not a syllable against any course which you may decide upon adopting.” “No reliance is to be placed upon that man,” said the countess, in a voice which showed that her resolution was unalterable. ‘“‘ The same diabolical spirit which urges him to practise extortions now will only be sharpened and not appeased, strengthened and not satiated, by our concession. If we yield to-day, we may expect further demonstrations of his power to-morrow; if we show ourselves weak and timorous, he will become proportionately bold and merciless in his demands. No, we must put an end to this state of — things, which I at least can endure no longer. There was a time — but a short while ago — when I should have shrunk in dismay from the thought of suicide, and in horror from COnnICLOOKS (S©)