The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

120 THE COURT OF LONDON ‘“‘ And if it should be too late to-morrow evening, you will come early on the following day?”’ said Dysart, interroga- tively. ‘Ah! I shall be only too glad to bring you good news,” she answered, apparently with much emotion. ‘‘ But the result cannot be otherwise, for the prince regent must and shall fulfil the terms of his compact.’’ ‘It rests only with you to compel him,”’ observed Dysart. Then, in a solemn tone, he added, ‘‘ Remember, Ernestina, my life is in your hands.”’ ‘And I will save it,’’ she exclaimed, flinging herself into his arms. She then took leave of her husband; and as she returned in a hackney-coach to Leveson House in Albemarle Street, she said to herself, “‘ All suspicion on his part is lulled asleep; he places the fullest confidence in me, and I must manage to retain it until the very last.’ Then, as she threw herself back in the vehicle, she felt a cold shudder thrill through her form at the thought that if her plans were carried out with success, the ground which she had just passed over in the Old Bailey would in a few short days be covered with a densely packed multitude to witness the crowning catastrophe in Dysart’s career; but, angry with herself the next moment for giving way to what she deemed a weakness, she murmured, “ Yes, it 1s neces- sary; I must be rid of this demon whom I conjured up to torment me. Ah! it is the tenderest love which turns to the bitterest hatred and seeks for the most terrible vengeance.” On arriving in Albemarle Street Ernestina was informed that her uncle the marquis was engaged with Mrs. Owen of Richmond; and she was therefore compelled to wait till this lady had taken her departure, before she could see Lord Leveson. We may observe that Ernestina knew nothing of the conspiracy that had been hatched against the Princess of Wales, and in which the three oldest Misses Owen were engaged; and she therefore attributed her uncle’s intimacy with the mother of those young ladies to an affair of gal- lantry. The marquis and Mrs. Owen remained in private discussion together for nearly an hour; and at the expiration of this interval, when the lady had taken her departure, Ernestina ECORNICLIOOKS (C(O)