The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 361: what you’re looking at

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

328 THE COURT OF LONDON must immediately be done. Malpas is capable of any atrocity, and now that he has once begun to threaten, he will not leave me alone. Emmerson’s letter, which he wrote this morning in your presence, and of which you approved, has reached Malpas by this time, and he will of course expect to hear shortly from me. Where can I procure five thousand guineas? My sisters, all my relatives, are away from town at this moment — ”’ ‘““T have it, dear lady!’’ suddenly exclaimed Gertrude. ‘“‘ Lord Sackville — ”’ “Oh, I could not possibly ask him such a thing,” cried the countess. ‘‘ Remember, he has not as yet received the crowning favour from me, and it would appear as if I were actually bargaining for the sale of myself.”’ ‘““No such thing!’ rejoined Gertrude, impetuously. ‘Every lady of rank either gives money to her paramour, or else receives money from him. Besides, in this frightful emergency, which is better, to lay yourself under an obliga- tion to Lord Sackville, or to stand the chance of annoyance, vexation, and exposure at the hands of Colonel Malpas? Moreover,’’ continued Gertrude, ‘‘ now that Emmerson has written to tell the colonel he has communicated the latter’s threats to you — ”’ “Yes, I understand,’’ said Editha. ‘‘ The colonel will be expecting some kind of communication from me. When first he was in prison he wrote to me, and I sent back his letters unread. Now he may avenge himself upon me.” ‘“ And remember,” added Gertrude, ‘‘ that inasmuch as the earl appears resolved to open every letter and parcel coming to the house, it may happen that Colonel Malpas will write to your ladyship and that his letter may fall into his lordship’s hands. If so, there would doubtless be grounds at once for separation and divorce, for, depend upon it, the colonel will not be delicate in his allusions to past affairs when once he does take up his pen to address your ladyship in the same threatening way he has already adopted in writing to Mr. Emmerson. ”’ “Yes, I see all the perils of my position,’’ observed Editha, “‘ and this Malpas must be silenced at any cost.”’ ‘And at any sacrifice, my lady,’’ added Gertrude, em- phatically. ‘ There is consequently no alternative but to apply to Lord Sackville.” _ Gomicbdooks (E(0)