The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 268: what you’re looking at

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

A MEETING OF OLD ACQUAINTANCES ~— 237 board the Diana frigate, which was waiting to sail for North America. I was securely lodged in the ship; but Melmoth sprang into the deep waters, and under cover of night was borne either to death or safety, I know not which. The Diana sailed, some weeks passed, and already were we nearing the American coast, when we were overtaken by a fast sailing vessel which had been despatched after us, and which was the bearer of my pardon. This pardon had been procured for me by the intervention of a magnanimous friend; and now that I have returned to England, I am devoting myself to the task of persecuting this royal family which knows so well how to persecute others.”’ “And you are not aware what has become of poor Mel- moth’s family? ’’ said Rose Foster, with a deep sigh as she thought of the probability of the unfortunate creatures being foodless, houseless, and friendless. ‘“‘T have not succeeded in finding the faintest clue to their whereabouts,” responded Meagles. Then, as he gazed in- tently upon the beauteous and indeed angelic countenance of the maiden, he said in a lower and deeper tone than was his wont, “‘ I thank you, Miss Foster, for the kind interest which you have displayed on my behalf; and I can assure you that while I was a sojourner upon the bosom of the Atlantic, I often and often experienced a profound anguish at the uncertainty in which I remained with regard to your fate. I remembered — oh, indeed, how could I forget— that you were left, when I saw you last, in the power of that princelyruffian whom I knew to be merciless and unprincipled, pitiless and inhuman. I trembled for you— my God! I trembled for you, Rose — ”’ ‘But Heaven shielded me, my good friend,’’ murmured the maiden; for she felt that the answer which she had just given him was in effect a declaration that her innocence remained intact and that she had passed pure and spotless through the ordeal of temptation, persecution, and violence. “Yes, the moment that I saw your beauteous counte- nance,” exclaimed Meagles, “ when you raised your veil ere now in the Edgeware Road, I knew that Heaven had — shielded you, for virtue, candour, and chastity are depicted upon your features the same as when I first formed your acquaintance at the beginning of this memorable year.” The partial excitement, or rather impassioned tone in: COnnICLOOOKS (S©)