The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 303: what you’re looking at

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

270 THE COURT OF LONDON vengeance which I cherish against Emmerson, my resolve to wreak it, and consequently my motives for resuming my employment in his office.”’ ‘“ Well, it does seem strange that you should have spoken So very, very irankly,’’ remarked the earl, “ but perhaps: you will explain yourself.’’ ‘““T will, my lord,” said Varian. ‘‘ As a matter of course, your lordship can understand me well when I tell you that. the man who is pursuing another with unrelenting rancour seeks every opportunity to inflict the cherished vengeance. He will listen at doors, peep through keyholes, search amongst papers, pry into letters — ”’ ‘““ Ah! I do indeed understand you,” said the earl, with a erowing presentiment that he was about to hear something relative to himself. ‘‘ You have done all this? You have made some discoveries of an important nature? ”’ “Yes, my lord,’’? and Theodore looked steadily but sig- nificantly in the nobleman’s face. “Ah! I understand you,’’ said Curzon, trembling with anxiety and suspense. ‘‘ You have made some discovery that regards me? ”’ ‘“T have, my lord. But —”’”’ and Theodore hesitated. ‘You fear that it will be disagreeable? ’’ said the earl, with quivering lip. ‘“‘ Disagreeable! it will be worse, my lord, for unless you have any previous suspicion, it will be positively startling, perhaps overwhelming.”’ ‘Speak, Mr. Varian, speak! for God’s sake, speak! ”’ said the earl, in a hoarse voice, and, leaning forward on his seat, he looked Varian earnestly and searchingly in the face. “ But it will be terrible, very terrible, my lord — ” ‘“‘ Speak, I say, speak, I conjure you! Only be sure that you tell me the truth, and whatever you tell me, you must prove.” “Then listen, my lord,’’ resumed Varian, and, after gazing slowly around the room, as if to assure himself that there was no place where anybody might be concealed, he said, ‘‘ Prepare yourself, my lord, to hear something about her ladyship — your countess —”’ “Ah! ’tis as I thought,’ ejaculated the earl, but in the subdued tone of caution. ‘I was not altogether unpre- pared for this announcement. Goon. You see that I am Gomicbooks (ele) mn