The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 261: what you’re looking at

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

THE SICK - BED 239 I shall never quit this couch again, except to be laid in my coffin. There is therefore one request which I have to make — ” ‘“ Name it, Ernestina, name it,’”’ cried the marquis, “‘ and if it be in my power to grant it, rest assured that it shall be cheerfully fulfilled.’’ ‘TI could wish to see my brother Algernon before I die,” said Ernestina. ‘‘ Will you despatch messengers to fetch him hither, with the least possible delay? ”’ ‘“ You know, my dear Ernestina,’’ replied the marquis, “that he is on the Continent. I told you some days ago all that he has been doing — ”’ “ But if you despatch trusty envoys,” interrupted the invalid, ‘‘ with positive orders to travel night and day, can he not be brought back speedily? Oh, if you write but a few lines to inform him that his sister is dying, and that she implores him to come and see her, if only for a few instants, ere the hand of death shall close her eyes for ever, think you that he will not hasten to obey the summons? Yes, Algernon possesses a noble and a generous heart, and he will come, I feel persuaded that he will come. Grant me this request; it is the last, perhaps, I shall ever make, and you cannot conceive how great would be the relief to my soul to know that Algernon had been sent for.”’ ‘ Not a moment’s delay shall take place, my dear niece,” replied her uncle, ‘‘ ere the necessary measures are adopted,” and thus speaking, he rang the bell. The lady’s-maid immediately answered the summons. ‘Tell Brockman and John,” said the marquis, “ that they are to make instantaneous preparations to start off on a journey. A post-chaise and four must be ordered at once. And having delivered this message, bring me writing mate- rials.’’ Then, as soon as the maid had quitted the room, he turned again toward Ernestina, saying, ‘‘ I will send two of my domestics, so that when they reach France, one may take one route and one another, in case Algernon should be returning home, and thus there will be little chance of missing him. I will write two letters also, that each may be the bearer of one.” In a few minutes the maid reappeared with the writing materials, and the Marquis of Leveson, sitting down at the table, penned the following letter: (C(O) nn) (C 0)(0)©) Sai nin