The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 266: what you’re looking at

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

A MEETING OF OLD ACQUAINTANCES — 235 arms, and here have I since dwelt in security and happiness. No, not in perfect happiness,’ added Rose, hastily; “ for I have entertained sore misgivings relative to yourself and the good-hearted working man, James Melmoth. The very day after I had found an asylum beneath this roof, I ex- plained to the Marchioness of Bellenden all the obligations I owed alike to yourself and Melmoth; and I besought her to send and make inquiries concerning you, as well as communicate to you both the fact that I had taken up my residence at her mansion. For I had heard nothing of either you or Mr. Melmoth since that day when you burst into Mrs. Brace’s house to rescue me from my royal persecutor, and when the constables assailed you both with their bludgeons. ‘‘ The marchioness accordingly despatched her confidential domestic Richard to execute my commissions; but on his return I was destined to hear accounts that filled me with the cruellest alarms. In Jermyn Street Richard was informed that you had been expatriated to America for seditious designs against the king; and that you had been sent off on a particular day which was mentioned by your landlady. In Westminster, Richard learned that Mr. Melmoth had likewise been transported on a certain day by the government authorities, and that his family had quitted their humble lodgings only four and twenty hours previously to my thus sending to inquire after them. Richard could not ascertain whither the poor mother and her children had gone; but he feared from the way in which the cross landlady of the lodging-house answered him, that she had behaved harshly toward them. Oh, how it grieved me to remain in that con- dition of uncertainty relative to those poor people! “ But while I was pondering upon the apparently ex- traordinary coincidence that yourself and Melmoth should have been expatriated on the same day and for the same alleged offence, it struck me that it was the identical day on which you had so generously flown to my assistance at Mrs. Brace’s house. Oh, all the treachery of the prince became apparent to me then in a moment, and I saw that yourself and the generous-hearted Melmoth had become involved in ruin on my account! I addressed a letter full of remonstrance, full of upbraiding, full of supplication to his Royal Highness, appealing to him on your behalf, and reminding him that his suppliant was the daughter of the man whom his crime CORNICLOOOKS (S©)