The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

102 THE COURT OF LONDON support of his assertion; and I likewise hope that you, whom I now address, will not consider that the present scene is nothing more than another act in the same after- dinner farce, but that you will treat the matter with all the solemnity and seriousness that should characterize a jury of honourable men.’ There was a tone of deep feeling in this speech which produced a visible effect upon all present; and the Earl of Curzon, now that his heart was somewhat warmed by the generous wine, was the very first to exclaim, ‘‘ By Heaven, Sackville, you shall have fair play!’ This sentiment was echoed by the prince regent, the Marquis of Leveson, and Sir Douglas Huntingdon; while Malpas, whose heart was sinking within his breast, tossed off two or three glasses of wine in rapid succession. But still sustained to a considerable degree by the courage which often arises from the desperation of a neck-or-nothing position, he rose from his seat amidst a profound silence, and spoke as follows: ‘Far be it from me to make a declaration of so serious and solemn a nature as that which I have put forth without being enabled to substantiate it. Hitherto we have all of us been apt to deal lightly enough with the reputation of women; and we should doubtless have continued to do so in the present instance, were it not that the lady in question has recently married one of our party, and that the husband himself is present. I will make no lengthy comment upon what I may term the imprudence, if not the actual indelicacy, of Mr. Sackville appearing amongst us under existing cir- cumstances; but I cannot help adding that whatever state- ments he may now hear to shock his feelings, he himself to some extent courts the feelings they are thus calculated to excite.”’ He paused for a few instants; and those who glanced furtively at Horace Sackville saw that he was evidently labouring under the influence of emotions which he had some little trouble to restrain. His cheeks had a hectic flush, like that of fever, upon them, his eyes were fixed, but unnaturally bright, and his lips were firmly compressed. His whole appearance indicated the inevitable bursting forth of a terrific storm; it was the volcano as yet sleeping, but surrounded by the fever-heat that preludes an explosion. COUN () LOVOKO KS (E(0)