The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 189: what you’re looking at

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

162 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘“T should be sorry, Mr. Percival,’’ answered the maiden, ‘to engross any more of your time. Pray suffer me to con- tinue my way alone.” ‘“Miss Ashton, I have read your thoughts—TI have fathomed your intentions,’’ exclaimed Meredith. ‘‘ You are going straight hence to a magistrate. Now, if I promise faithfully that I will not engage in a duel — ”’ ‘* Alas, sir,” said Christina, ‘ you cannot dispose of your own actions in this matter. I have read in books of that false code of honour which, belonging to a bygone barbarism, has been engrafted upon our modern civilization — ” ‘“ Miss Ashton, I entreat you not to take the step which you meditate,’ interrupted Octavian. ‘‘ Do you know that you would expose me to something far worse than the hazard of losing my life? You would expose me to that of losing my honour. The world would call me coward, and I swear unto you that in spite of all the magisterial and _ police authority, I would vindicate my reputation and my char- acter.” ‘ Ah, is it so? ”?’ murmured Christina, mournfully, for she was smitten with the truth of what her deliverer had just said. ‘You see therefore, Miss Ashton,” resumed Octavian, ‘“‘ that if actually challenged by that person, I must go out with him. I will no longer attempt to deceive you, for such is the real truth. Do not however be alarmed on my account. If mortally wounded, I should in my last moments be rejoiced to think that I had rendered a service to an amiable young lady such as you are.”’ The tears started into Christina’s eyes at the bare thought of a fellow creature’s existence — perhaps a most valuable one — being jeopardized or lost on her account, and more- over, for a naturally sensitive disposition and for a feeling heart, there was something irresistibly touching in the tone and manner in which Octavian had last addressed her. She still lingered, forgetful in the agitation of her mind that the interview had already been too much prolonged, considering that she was standing there conversing with one who was almost a total stranger to her, for we should state that though she herself had on former occasions been noticed by Meredith, she had never observed him. Indeed, so far as she was concerned, she did not recollect having ever seen him before the present occasion. GoOmMmicdooks (E(0)