The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XII PHILANTHROPY — THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE PLOT WueEN the Honourable Arthur Eaton manifested so re- markable a forbearance and so unparalleled a generosity toward William Dudley, whom he had detected in the very act of entering his room for a murderous purpose, he re- ceived from the penitent valet all the ill-gotten gains acquired by his subserviency to the criminal views of that tigress-woman Fernanda. On the occasion thus alluded to, Mr. Eaton had said to Dudley, ‘‘ For the present I will take charge of those wages of iniquity; to-morrow I will tell you how they shall be employed. Retire to your own chamber, and fear not that I shall treat you with severity. No, it is my purpose to afford you every opportunity of making your peace with Heaven and becoming a useful member of society.” And what was the project which the philanthropic young gentleman had in view? The case of his own repentant servant made him reflect upon the fact that many and many a sinner may be rescued from the paths of iniquity and redeemed from utter perdi- tion if, instead of being hunted to desperation as an outcast of society, the genial influence of kind treatment and re- formatory measures be adopted. For he felt that had he thrust William Dudley forth into the world, penniless, friendless, and characterless, the man must have perforce continued in the career of turpitude in order to obtain a meal and a bed. But, saved from this deplorable catas- trophe, the chances were ninety-nine to one that he would. thenceforth shun vice on account of the perils to which it leads, and embrace virtue for its own sake. These reflections led the Honourable Arthur Eaton to a 113 IS (C(O)