The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 185: what you’re looking at

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

158 REYNOLDS’ WORKS libertine who had insulted her, using threatening terms, talking of satisfaction, and declaring that her defender should hear from him, the proceeding assumed a significancy which, inexperienced as the young girl was in the ways of the world, nevertheless sent the thought flashing into her mind that a duel would possibly be the result of the occur- rence. <A mortal terror accordingly seized upon her, for to this innocent and pure-minded being it seemed shocking to a degree that two human lives should be thus risked on her account, and one of them the life of her gallant deliverer. Lord Octavian Meredith turned toward the beautiful stranger, and expressed his hope that she was now recovering from the terror into which the incident had plunged her. ‘A thousand thanks to you, sir,’ she answered, in a tremulously murmuring voice, “‘ for your generous behaviour. But did I rightly interpret the words which that rude person uttered? Oh, sir,” she continued, an expression of more than grief, for it amounted to a positive anguish, appearing upon her countenance as she raised her fine dark eyes toward Octavian Meredith, ‘‘I beseech —I implore that no life may be risked — ”’ ‘“Tranquillize your fears,’’ interrupted the young noble- man, in the gentlest and most soothing tones of his naturally harmonious voice. ‘‘ The man who could thus insult such a one as you must be in his heart a coward, and even should he, through fear of the world’s scorn, dare me to a duel, rest assured that I will chastise him.”’ ‘Good heavens,”’? murmured the young girl, all her worst fears being thus frightfully confirmed; ‘* you will risk your life! ”’ ‘‘Ts it indeed a matter of interest to you that I should take heed of my own safety? ”’ and in putting this question Octavian Meredith was irresistibly carried away by those feelings which he had originally experienced toward the lovely unknown, and which were now resuscitated more vividly than ever. ‘Can you ask me, sir,” she said, still speaking murmur- ingly and tremulously, and with affliction in her looks, — “can you ask me if it be a subject of consequence whether lives are to be hazarded? Oh, the bare thought is shocking! ”’ and under the influence of overpowering feelings, she laid her hand upon Meredith’s arm, gazing up entreatingly into his GOMIiGbooks (E(0)