The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 185: what you’re looking at

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

APPREHENSIONS AND SUSPICIONS 163 adventures, my dear girl,’ said Miss Stanley, “ but since you have escaped in security and safety, no cause for regret or sorrow remains behind. I long to see this Jocelyn Loftus, the correspondent as well as the champion of princesses. He must be a noble character. But now tell me everything that concerns Clara. You said last night that she was stay- ing with some kind friends, and that she had been with them a year.” ‘“‘ Did I not name the Beckfords? ”’ asked Louisa, ingenu- ously. “The Beckfords! ”’ ejaculated Miss Stanley, with a sort of subdued scream and a convulsive start. ‘‘ What mean you? There are no such people in existence! ’’ she cried, in the excitement of her feelings, and without pausing to weigh the import of her words. Louisa gazed upon her in speechless astonishment. ‘““ Ah! since I have thus suffered that revelation to escape my lips,” cried Miss Stanley, still fearfully excited, “ I will not attempt to recall it.” ‘“ But, my dear aunt,” said Louisa, now recovering the power of speech, ‘‘ every letter which I have received from Clara speaks of Mr. and Mrs. Beckford. She is living with them, they have adopted her; it is they who have given her the means of supplying me with money, and indeed it was at their house that I saw Clara when in London.”’ “What dreadful delusion is all this? What fearful mystery is involved herein,” exclaimed the aunt, actually writhing in her couch with the tortures of misgiving and suspense. ‘“‘ The Beckfords’ house, you say. But where was it? In what square or street? ”’ “Oh,” returned Louisa, “‘ they have removed some time ago from No. 20, Hanover Square, to No. 13, Stratton Street, and it was at this latter place that I saw Clara.” ‘But did. you see any one passing by the name of Beck- ford?’ inquired the aunt, still with the most fevered im- patience. ‘No, Mr. and Mrs. Beckford were not in town at the moment. But here are Clara’s letters, confirming all I tell you,’ added Louisa, both pained and frightened at the strange manner of mingled incredulity, astonishment, and alarm in which her aunt gazed up at her. ‘“ Let me see them,” cried Mrs. Stanley. ‘ Leave all this (C(O) nn) GDoOo KS { i nin