The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

28 THE COURT OF LONDON you now, colonel, after the closing scene in this drama, as the countess so appropriately styled it? ” ‘“ Whatever has happened, Mr. Emmerson,” replied Malpas, moodily, ‘‘ ’tis you who have driven me to it. But now that you have heard my innocence proclaimed from the lady’s own lips, now also that you know every minute detail of the entire transaction, what course do you propose to adopt? ”’ ‘‘T am not decided at present,’’ answered the bill-broker. ‘You may, however, rest assured that I shall not take any step which may compromise the Countess of Curzon. But you will come to my office to-morrow morning and give me your own bill— mind, your own bill—for the amount which you owe me.” “Twill be with you punctually at ten o’clock,” said Malpas, deriving no small consolation from the manner in which Emmerson seemed disposed to treat the affair. They then took their departure from Mrs. Gale’s estab- lishment. Meantime the Earl of Curzon had been lounging in a restless Manner upon the sofa in the dining-room in Gros- venor Street, or else pacing uneasily to and fro like a chafing lion in his cage; and every now and then he had recourse to the wine-decanter. But instead of soothing his agitated thoughts, the juice of the grape added an artificial stimulant to that natural excitement which was torturing him, and though his spirit was so restless, the time hung insupport- ably heavy upon his hands. At length the timepiece upon the mantel struck eleven; and a few minutes afterward the carriage drove up to the front door of the house. The earl composed his features as well as he was able, and went out into the hall to meet his wife, for he felt anxious to have some conversation with her although he had not made up his mind what to say, or how to turn the wished-for discourse upon any topic which might suit his own purposes. But he was in one of those humours when a man of excitable temperament must have his say, even if for no other end than to pick a quarrel and find an issue for his pent-up spleen. ‘‘T hope you have passed a pleasant evening,’’ he said, accosting the lady, as she was hurrying through the GOMmMIGoDOOks (E(0)