The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

94 THE COURT OF LONDON Mrs. Ranger, forcing herself to maintain a calmness which was nevertheless horrible to contemplate, because it was like the surface of ice upon a river in the depths of whose waters hideous monsters and reptiles lurk and agitate. ‘“‘ Maravelli is expelled the Genevese territory,” replied Jocelyn. ‘ There was nothing against him beyond having given his assistance in an illegal manner at the birth of a child, and I had promised to do my best. to save him from any serious entanglement with the law.”’ ‘‘ And why did you promise him that?’’ demanded Mrs. Ranger, eagerly. ‘“‘ Because to a considerable extent he aided some of my plans,”’ replied Loftus. ‘‘ This I explained to the authorities, and interceded for him. They accordingly considered that justice would be satisfied by his expatriation.”’ ‘‘ And will justice then be satisfied with nothing short of my death?”’ asked Mrs. Ranger. ‘“‘ Can you not, will you not intercede for me? ”’ “It is useless,’ returned Jocelyn. ‘But do you wish me dead? Is it your desire to hurry me to the scaffold? Do you thirst for my blood?” she demanded, with passionate vehemence. “Heaven forbid!’ was the quick reply. ‘ But I am powerless in the matter. Did it rest with me,” he added, solemnly, “‘ I should conceive that justice would be satisfied and outraged society should be content with dooming you to imprisonment for the remainder of your life. Indeed, that you may not carry with you to the grave a false senti- ment relative to my feelings, I do not hesitate to declare that I am averse to the punishment of death altogether.” “Then, in the name of God, do something to save me, I conjure you to do something to save me!’ and Mrs. Ranger fell upon her knees at his feet, looking up toward his counte- nance and raising her clasped hands. ‘“ Rise, Mrs. Ranger, rise,’ he said, in an earnest voice, ‘for I can allow no human being to kneel to me. Werel a king I would not permit it. Rise, therefore, ere I speak another word.”’ , “To obey you, I do it,” she said, slowly raising herself up, and standing before him in all the wretchedness of her physical ugliness and her moral degradation. ‘“ There, you see | am obedient. Now —” Commicloooks (C(O)