The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 312: what you’re looking at

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

282 THE COURT OF LONDON innocent of the stupendous turpitude imputed to me; and without a sensation of loathing and horror may you therefore remain at my bedside to hear the confessions which I am anxious to pour forth in your ears.” ‘‘ Even had you been guilty of that crime,” said the young nobleman, “‘I should have experienced no feeling of ab- horrence toward you now; but I should rather have con- tinued to look upon myself with additional upbraiding and reproach, inasmuch as I was the author of your ruin, and every incident that has since marked your career, whether misfortune or guilt, must have been regarded as the un- avoidable associations of that destiny which my conduct shaped and formed as it were for your guidance. But these revelations whereof you have spoken, Caroline — ”’ ‘“‘ Listen, and you shall hear,” said the dying girl. ‘‘ Draw close to me, that I may not be compelled to raise my voice too loud, and interrupt me as little as you need. I shall sur- render up my breath all the more happily if I make a com- plete atonement for any injuries which I have sought to inflict upon you. For now,” continued the young woman, gazing affectionately into the face of her seducer, “ now that I feel the approachof dissolution and that I must speed- ily quit this earthly sphere for ever, I experience a return of that love which my heart once cherished so fondly, so fervently for thee. Ah! the presence of death doubtless works grand and signal changes in the human mind, quench- ing the fires of evil passions, and reviving the flames of those which were wont to warm the heart with a holier and purer influence. I could not leave this world in anger with thee; I longed to breathe the word ‘ pardon’ with my own lips, and hear it fall from thine. My wish has been accomplished, and I feel happier, oh, much happier! But let me not waste precious time nor my own energies in giving expression to my feelings; rather let me at once proceed to deal with facts. Gabriel,’”’ she continued, in a more measured and a deeper tone, while she gazed half-timidly up into his counte- nance, as if now shrinking from the task which she had imposed upon herself, ‘‘ Gabriel, you can but too easily conjecture the motives which led me to seek an introduction to your dwelling in the disguise of the black page Rao. I will not-do more — at least for the present — than admit that I was animated by no friendly motive toward thee. Gomichdoo cS (EC)