The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

82 THE COURT OF LONDON she wore a bonnet and was closely veiled, so that he had not on that occasion observed the change which was taking place in her looks. Now he saw her without bonnet, without cap, and without veil, her thin, lank hair hanging down on her scraggy shoulders, and her lean, shrivelled form wrapped in a gown which hung as loosely upon her as if in mockery wrapping a skeleton. He was shocked, he staggered back from the revolting spectacle. He could not conceal his dis- gust even if it had killed her upon the spot, and she not only noticed his manner but also comprehended the reason of it. “ You find me much changed, Mr. Loftus?” she said; and her voice, no longer aided by the false teeth, was mum- bling and almost inarticulate. ‘‘ T did not expect to find you looking cheerful and happy,” responded our hero, instantly recovering himself and speak- — ing in that gentle tone which was consistent with the gen- erosity of his character, for he would not willingly enhance the pain which he knew full well the wretched woman must experience. ‘‘ Indeed, I should have been very sorry to find you looking as you were wont to do, because that would have bespoken a hardness of heart which “under circum- stances — ”’ ‘Ah, under circumstances! ’”’ she repeated, quickly, and with greater strength of voice than before, as if the anguish of her feelings gave a power to her articulation. ‘“ Good God! and what circumstances? Death! death! The guillo- tine waiting for me—O horror! the guillotine!” and clasping her hands, that were skinny and skeleton-like, she quivered and shook with a convulsive trembling from head to foot. Jocelyn Loftus placed himself on a stool that was near the table, and said, in a low and agitated voice, “ Are you not prepared to die? ” “My God! can you put that question?” she exclaimed, hysterically, and her eyes actually glared from their caverned sockets, which were of a bluish, almost livid tint. ‘I sent for you to say that you must save me.” Loftus shook his head with mournful slowness. “ Why do you do that?’ she demanded, abruptly, and with a short gasp, as if her utterance were nearly choked. “ Why do you do that? ” “Can you not understand my meaning?” he said. “I \ COmichoookSs.€e in