The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 101: what you’re looking at

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

THE DOOMED WOMAN 83 was told that you were resigned, that you welcomed the visits of the good clergyman whom the authorities have allowed to penetrate to your cell. I had hoped that his pious ministrations had prepared you.” ‘‘ Oh, if all he says be true, what can I hope, where shall I go?” cried the wretched woman, her attenuated form again shaken by a convulsive shudder. ‘ He speaks to me of heaven and hell, of a heaven full of happiness and a hell formed of a burning lake — ah! and I have seen it in my dreams, too. Oh, the fierce flames, the molten fire, the raging sea of red-hot brimstone! ” ‘‘ But the minister has likewise told you that God is merci- ful, and that there is hope for the penitent? ”’ said Loftus. ‘“ Yes; but what surety have I that crimes like mine can be forgiven? Murder! Oh, it is the foulest, the most horrible of all black deeds. The blood of the victim sticks to one; all I see is blood-red. I behold you now through a crimson mist. It is horrible, horrible! ’’ and the wretched woman covered her eyes with her fleshless hands, the veins of which were like knotted cords underneath the skin. Jocelyn felt assured that her brain was touched, that her senses were impaired. He knew not what to say, or how to deal with the miserable creature under such circumstances. ‘“‘ Well, what are you doing here,’ she suddenly exclaimed, removing her hands from her shrivelled countenance, “ unless you have come to save me? You have the power — I know you have. A word from you to the syndicate will have the effect. Besides, you must save me. I cannot die, I am not prepared to die. I am old, and could not live long accord- ing to my natural span. Surely, surely it would be no great boon to accord me the year or two of existence which in the course of things would be mine. Let me be locked up in prison all the time. I do not ask to go out, but I ask to live. Heavens, I can do no more harm in this world. There is no scope for mischief in this dreadful place. Look around! A strong man in all his youthful vigour could not tear down those huge bars from the windows, nor break open that thick door, nor remove one single stone from the mass of masonry which makes these walls impenetrable as marble. Then, is it rational to fear that a poor, crushed, broken-down, en- feebled wretch like me could escape hence? No, no. Then why take my life? Why?” , (C(O) nn) GDoOo So! in