The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

THE AVENGING HUSBAND 95 her home. I thank you for the readiness with which you have complied with my request. Take the guilty woman with you; in a few days my solicitors shall communicate to you what my intentions are. Farewell, madam. Hugh, attend upon Mrs. Bailey to her carriage, and see that she accompanies her.’’ With these words, the duke was moving abruptly away, when, as a thought-struck him, he turned and said, “‘ If she goes down upon her knees, Hugh, to entreat and implore that you will bring a conciliatory message to me, I command you, on pain of my unforgiving displeasure, on pain of my eternal wrath, to refuse compliance.” He then passed into the nearest room, locking the door behind him, so that the quick turning of the key reached the ears of Mrs. Bailey and Lord Clandon, who remained upon the landing. In a few minutes one of Eliza’s maids de- scended from above, and presenting a letter to Mrs. Bailey, said, ‘‘ Her Grace entreats, ma’am, that you will hand this to the duke.” ‘‘ Indeed, poor soul,’’ cried Mrs. Bailey, ‘‘ I can do nothing of the sort, for the duke will neither hear nor see anybody on her Grace’s behalf. Unless indeed your lordship,’ she added, addressing Clandon, ‘‘ would make one last effort — ”’ “Yes, yes, I will,” responded Hugh. ‘“ Yes, I will! Itis a sacred duty, and even though I risk my uncle’s displeasure, I will perform it.’’ He took the letter, and hastened to knock at the door of the apartment in which the duke had shut himself. His Grace demanded from within who it was, and when Lord Clandon answered, the door was at once opened. The uncle and nephew remained closeted there together for about ten minutes, while Mrs. Bailey and the lady’s-maid waited on the landing. ‘* How is her Grace now? ” inquired the former, ‘‘ and why was it she begged I would not come into her room a little while back? ”’ “Her Grace, ma’am,”’ replied the maid, with a saddened countenance, “‘ looks as if she were ten years older than she was an hour back. But it was with a strange calmness she sat herself down to write that letter which Lord Clandon has so kindly taken into the duke. Heaven send that its contents may move his Grace! It was only because my Com (Q) LOOKS (E(O)