The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTIRIES OF LONDON. renee we ee. pete — — . = —— == ee See eran = —————————E—————_ a ry [ope TE Pomme = Free ee =< : ra Soren ~ “Ma — ———— on ea 1 SO I a er ee cS ~ 2 9 be << = fees ont © Se a= —_ vt “- at S ~ wee ae He looked at the note of hand which he had re- ceived that night, and which bore the signature of Marston—for, in compliance with the suggestion of Mrs. Fitzhardinge, the infatuated Charles Hatficld had siened the document with the name to which he believed himsclf to be entitled. The first sensations of the miser, as he fixed his eyes on the “ promise to pay” at a specific date the sum of one thousand guineas, were of pleasure: for he calcu- lated the profit he had derived from the trinsaction— and he flattered himself that he had gained seventy yuineas in a single hour. “And with so little trouble, too,” he muttered to himself. Lut, in the next moment, a gloomy shade began to cross his countenance: for the thonght stole upon him that perhaps he had acted too precipitately—-that the women might have forged a number of papers to delude him—that, after all, there might be no such person in existence as Charles Tatfield. or Viecount Marston. “Pshaw!” he exclaimed emphatically, as he en- , deavoured to banish these unpleasant reflections from his mind; “it is all mght—and I am a fool thus to wield to misgivings, Why should not Tom Rain No.G7* —Mysteries or Lonpon. pial ae os be the mghtful Earl of Ellingham? Things more strange and improbable have occurred in this world. And if he be really the elder brother of the nobleman now bearing the title, why should he not have a son whois the heir to that title and likewise to the estates? Yes—yes: it is all feasible enough! Besides, amongst those papers were the marriage certificate of the late {Sarl and Octavia Manners—and the baptismal cer- tificate of their child. Well, then —granting that there is a Charles Hatfield,—cr, in other words, a Viscount Marston,—what is less extraordinary than thatso beautiful a creature as this Miss Fitzhardinge should have captivated the young noble? She is a splendid girl—a very splendid girl! Even in the plain garb which she wore this evening—a sort of dis- guise, no doubt—she looked truly bewitching. What eyes!—what a pretile!—what teeth! —what hair? Ah! I wish that I was a young man now—that J hav not these sixty-five winters on my head: I would even yet endeavour to rival Viscount Marston! But, no—no: that were impossible! ‘These young girls are smitten with titles more than with money: and, on my honour, Miss Fitzhardinge will Lecome the rank of Viscountess full well. She has the dignity—-the stateli- ness—-and yet the grace and elegance of a woman of a= -_—_- ——— ep cia ES (C(O) \G DOO SS (SO)