The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 356: what you’re looking at

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

334 THE COURT OF LONDON a strong effort to subdue the violence of his passion; ‘‘ but I beseech, I implore Miss Louisa Stanley not to betray me, and, above all things, not to breathe a word to the ruin of my niece.” Our heroine’s heart was too full of joy at her happy de- liverance to allow her tongue to utter a word; but Sir Douglas Huntingdon said, emphatically, ‘I promise you, Leveson, on my honour as a gentleman, that nothing of all this shall be revealed elsewhere.”’ Having thus spoken, the baronet hastily conducted Louisa Stanley into the Crimson Drawing-room, closing behind them the doors through which they passed. Lady Ernestina was no longer there; she had retired in shame, terror, and grief, to her own apartment, leaving the perplexing and menacing adventure to take its own course. | ‘‘ Miss Stanley,” the baronet now said, the moment they were together in the Crimson Drawing-room, ‘“ have the goodness to read this note.”’ The damsel instantaneously took the billet which was presented to her, and an ejaculation of joy fell from her lips as she recognized her sister’s handwriting. Tearing open the note, she read the following words: “13, STRATTON STREET, ‘Nov. 16, 1814. ‘The bearer of this, my ever dear Louisa, is a gentleman in whom you may confide. He will take you away from a place where you are surrounded by manifold dangers and will bring you at once to me. “Your affectionate sister, : ‘“* CLARA.” Words are incapable of describing the delight and happi- ness which now sprang up in Louisa’s bosom, even to the absorption for the time being of her grief on account of her lover’s presumed infidelity. ‘“‘Then my sister, my beloved sister, is indeed in town,” she exclaimed, “‘ and the marquis deceived me.” ‘‘ No, Miss Stanley, he did not altogether deceive you,” answered the baronet; ‘‘ for if he had not called in Stratton Street ere now, your sister could not, of course, have known CONNIE DOO KS (E(o)