The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

132 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ground for impertinent or malicious observations. You understand, Makepeace, eh? ”’ *“‘ Perfectly, my lord,’’ responded the valet, with his wonted obsequious bow. ‘ The policy was admirable, my lord, admirable.”’ ‘“‘ | was sure you would say so,”’ continued the earl. ‘“ Well, then, when you came and told me that, contrary to all pre- vious understanding, there was a young gentleman lodging in the same house where Miss Vincent had been placed, it set me a thinking; and when I do think, Makepeace, it is no ordinary affair, I can tell you. In fact, I always reason with myself, — there is nothing like it; I find it so much easier to convince myself than any one else. So, while I was thinking on this subject, I came to the conclusion that it was necessary to remove Miss Vincent from a house where she might run the chance of falling in love with somebody who would not be rich enough to make her his wife. One thought leads to another, Makepeace, and so it struck me that I might just as well have the girl home at once; for, after all, she had nothing to do with her deceased parents’ offences against me. I reasoned that she would be an excellent companion for the countess, and that if my son chose to fall in love with her, I really need not have any objection to their marriage. He will have plenty of money of his own, and, after all, the sooner he does marry the better.” “To be sure, my lord,’’ answered Makepeace. ‘“‘ And since you told me that Isabella had grown up to be such a beautiful girl, I thought it highly probable that Lord Osmond would fall in love with her. You see, I am very shrewd, Makepeace, very shrewd indeed. Do you know that when I was quite a boy — it was one day at a race-course —TI guessed under which thimble the little pea was, —a thing that nobody was ever known to do before or has ever done since. It was the very first time of guessing, and I won half a crown. I remember it perfectly well, because I played on and lost nine pounds afterward, which was all I had about me.” “Your lordship was always noted for intelligence,” ob- served the sycophantic valet. “Well, you see my calculations are becoming correct. I watch Lord Osmond pretty narrowly, and always in my presence he shows the greatest attention toward Miss Vincent CORMICOOOLKS