The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 109: what you’re looking at

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

90 REYNOLDS’ WORKS time when we first loved, it is anguish, it is torture, it is crucifixion, to look upon you with the knowledge that you are lost to me, — that you are another’s. Oh, Eliza, you know not how much I was indebted to that love of yours. I never told you the truth before; I will tell it to you now. I was plunging headlong into the vortex of dissipation, I was weakly and shamefully suffering myself to be led on into vicious pleasures and the ways of extravagance, when you suddenly appeared on my path, clothed with all the bright- ness and the sweetness of a guardian angel. Iloved you; you loved me in return, and it was that delicious love of yours which made me an altered being. From that moment my existence has been one of purity and honour, and I can look the world in the face without being conscious of aught to raise up a blush to my cheeks. It was you who did this, Eliza, you who saved me. How much therefore do I owe you! with what grateful recollections is my love intertwined. Think you, then, that a love which is so blended with grati- tude can easily endure disappointment? No, Eliza, no. You are dearer to me than life, and to-morrow, when we separate, it will be for me like parting from that very life itself.”’ ‘Oh, Bertram, what can I say, what can I do, to com- fort you? ’’ murmured the almost heart-broken Eliza, as the tears rained down her cheeks and her bosom was convulsed with sobs. “What can you do, what can you say, Eliza? Nothing, nothing. There is but one thing— No, no, I dare not mention it; I will not entice you from your husband. But to leave you with him is to condemn myself to a life of horror, or else to cut it short and perish in the blood of a distracted suicide.’’ ‘“‘ Bertram,” shrieked Eliza, wildly, ‘‘ recall those dreadful words. Oh, recall them, I implore you! For my sake, for all the love I bear you — ”’ ‘“Oh, to hear you speak thus of your love,’’ cried the impetuous and impassioned Bertram, “ is the revival of Joy ineffable,’ and obedient to the impulse of the moment, he caught Eliza in his arms, he strained her to his breast. At that instant a cry so wild and savage that it resembled that of a ferocious hyena smote on the ears of Bertram and the duchess, and starting from each other’s embrace, they GEomicbooks.co