The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 291: what you’re looking at

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

260 THE COURT OF LONDON become a thief, —a professional thief, — and I am training my children to be thieves — ”’ “Good God! is this possible. Melmoth?” eceiaamian Tim Meagles, profoundly excited. ‘To be sure it is,” cried the unhappy man, endeavouring to smother all compunction beneath a forced and ferocious glee. “ And why not? Of what use is virtue? What recom- mendation is character? Noneatall! And do you forget that our acquaintance first began by means of robbery? Did I not plunder you in St. James’s Square? ”’ ‘“ Yes, and how deeply you regretted the action after- ward,” said Meagles, in an earnest tone. ‘“ Because you were a good man, and because I was only young in the ways of crime then,’ responded Melmoth. “But now I am as inveterately bent upon a career of what the world calls wrong, and plunder, and spoliation, and violence, as I once was resolute in maintaining my character pure and my name spotless. In sooth,’ he exclaimed, rising abruptly from his seat, ‘‘I have a mission to fulfil, —a destiny to accomplish; and when once all my work is done, I care not how soon I leave this earthly scene of wretchedness and trouble. I am now — yes, even now — preparing for a grand campaign, and you will speedily hear of the enact- ment of dreadful deeds. There is the surgeon who stole the corpse of my child, there are the inmates of the West End house on the threshold of which my wife sank down and died, and there is the prince whose tyranny first of all tore me away from my family, — there are all these, I say, to punish, — and none of them will I spare.” The man spoke with a terrible concentration of bitterness; and for a few moments he paused as he bent his eyes fixedly upon Meagles. “My good friend,” said Tim, in an imploring tone, é6 you Re, ‘Nothing you can urge, Mr. Meagles,”’ interrupted Mel- moth, calmly but firmly, “‘ will induce me to deviate from my purpose. But with regard to yourself, — with regard also to that angel of beauty and innocence, Rose Foster, — may Heaven bless you both! May God save each of you from such miseries as I have known and such torturing thoughts as I have experienced.” With these words Melmoth rushed abruptly to the door CORNIELIOOKS (E(0)