The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 199: what you’re looking at

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

176 THE COURT OF LONDON cautious a man to venture such a statement unless on good authority.” ‘“ When the sheriff comes I can ask him,” observed Dysart. “My good friend, that will be a breach of confidence,”’ said the chaplain, in a tone or remonstrance, ‘‘ and would probably lead to the loss of our situations for both the governor and myself.’’ “True! I had forgotten that,’’ exclaimed Dysart. ‘“ Will you be so kind as to ask the governor to come to me? ”’ ‘““Certainly,’’ replied the chaplain; and he once more quitted the cell. When left alone, Dysart walked backward and forward with a restlessness that he had not before experienced. He endeavoured to shake off the feeling, but it was rapidly growing upon him. Horrible thoughts began to spring up in his mind. What if the prince should have been playing him false all along, or alter his resolve at the last moment? What if Ernestina had been deceiving him? Or suppose that every intention and every assurance had been sincere in those quarters, might not the reprieve come too late? These thoughts were dreadful. The unhappy man, hitherto lulled into complete security, had now suddenly awakened, as it were, to a galling, goading, agonizing sense of the tremendous fact that his life hung to a thread. He would have screamed out, — he could have yelled with mortal anguish, but at the instant the paroxysm reached its crisis the chaplain returned to the cell, followed by the governor. The expression of the two functionaries’ countenances instantaneously relieved Dysart’s awful terrors. The effect was the same as the sudden pouring of oil upon the raging billows; and even before a word was spoken, he felt angry with himself for having yielded to the influence of such agonizing alarm. “Good morning, Mr. Dysart,’”’ said the governor, taking him by the hand; then, in a lower voice, he added, “ A sealed packet from the Home Office, directed to the sheriff, has just arrived. But for Heaven’s sake do not appear to know this fact; it is as much as my place is worth to have told you.” “ Not on any consideration would I injure you, my dear sir,’ answered Dysart, joyfully pressing the governor’s hand, “‘ after all your kindness to me. But is the sheriff EONMIE NCO KS () (E(0)