The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

THE LAST MEETING 45 and that is money. By the aid of gold I may surround my- self with all the luxuries, the elegancies, and the enjoyments of life, and thereby form a barrier against the too frequent intrusion of overwhelming reminiscences. Gold, then, is now the deity of my adoration, — the idol of my worship. Wherever I can obtain it by fair means or by foul, I will joyously welcome its presence. And not from you alone, Countess of Desborough, shall I extort the glittering ore; but even upon higher personages still must the tribute be levied. Yes, I hold the means of enforcing all this — ” ‘““ And you have chosen to commence with me? ”’ exclaimed Eleanor, cutting short that long tirade which the wretch was delivering in a vein of malignant triumph. “ Well, be it so,” she added, resuming that cold and measured tone which afforded not the slightest clue to the real nature of the thoughts that were agitating in her bosom. ‘“ The amount you have demanded of me shall be placed at your disposal. But before we separate, I must so far relieve the intolerable bitterness of those feelings which I entertain toward you by proclaiming, Philip Ramsay, that madly, profoundly, de- votedly as I once loved you, so fiercely and intensely do I now hate you! ”’ And the words came hissing snakelike from between the lips that were ashy and quivering, and the splendid eyes of the countess darted forth fires at the same moment. ‘‘ Enough of this,” cried Ramsey, in an insolent tone of authority. ‘‘ I came not hither to be taunted or reviled; beware, lady, how I may become the reviler! ”’ ‘‘ Ah! I see that it is time to put an end to our interview,”’ ejaculated the countess, her right arm moving beneath the cloak which wrapped her form. “Give me the money, and let me take my departure,” said the criminal, greedily anxious to clutch the fruits of his extortion. | “TI have brought it in a bag, — gold and bank-notes all mixed together,’ continued Eleanor; ‘ but by the light of the moon you can assure yourself that the sum is correct.” ‘‘ T will take your word for it,’’ rejoined Ramsey, extending his hand to receive the hoped-for treasure. ‘‘ Give me the treasure.” “The reward of your vile treachery toward me?” ex- claimed the countess, in a tone of bitter inquiry. Gomilcsdoo eS (E@)